The Steelers looked positively awful to start their game with the Browns on Sunday. I mean, they were downright abysmal. I couldn’t believe what I was watching during the first quarter. Fortunately, once Ben Roethlisberger got going, so did the Steelers. The Browns may be much improved, but they’re not in the Steelers’ league just yet. This was a game the Steelers had to win and they got it done. The loss by Baltimore makes it even more important for Pittsburgh, because next week the Steelers take on the Ravens in Baltimore. That too is one the Steelers must win.
• They may have scored a late touchdown in the first half, but I didn’t like what I saw from the Steelers coaching staff. They waited forever to use their timeouts and some of the play calls left me scratching my head. Mike Tomlin will never be confused with Bill Belichick on game day. He’s lucky his team scored before the half, otherwise the Yinzers would have had a field day.
• I learned back in junior high football that any kickoff or free kick after a safety is a live ball. How the Steelers’ special teamers didn’t know that is absurd. Yet three players, most notably Ryan Switzer, let the Browns’ kick after the Steelers had recorded a safety go untouched on the Heinz Field turf. Stupid, utterly stupid. The fault lies with the players, but I wondered why the Steelers’ coaches, most notably special teams coach Danny Smith, didn’t tell the players it’s a live ball when the Browns punted on their free kick? The Steelers were lucky it didn’t cost them a game. I’m guessing you won’t see that kind of boneheaded play again from Pittsburgh, at least I hope not.
• James Conner is the man. He’s now shown that he is a top caliber NFL back. Conner was outstanding against the Browns and is getting better game by game. There’s no doubt the Steelers can win with him as their primary back. Conner isn’t just a great story, you know the kid who beat cancer. He’s also a heck of a football player, who is now a major cog in the Steelers’ offense. Le’Veon who?
• Which brings us to the absent Le’Veon Bell. Will he or won’t he show up to the Steelers’ facility this week? The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday. Even if the Steelers want to trade Bell they can’t unless he shows up and signs his franchise tag. If not, the Steelers have no choice but see if he shows up for the rest of the year. Even if he returns it’s hard to imagine Bell will unseat James Conner as the Steelers’ number one back. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens next in this never ending saga.
• IUP made it look easy against Seton Hill. The Crimson Hawks jumped on the Griffins early in the rain to make their game a laugher from the outset. IUP still faces an uphill climb to make it back to the playoffs. They need to keep doing what they’re doing and get some help. They next face always tough Edinboro on the road.
• Penn State got off to one of the worst starts I’ve ever seen against Iowa. The Nittany Lions looked completely out of sync. They gave up two safeties, yes you read that right, two safeties. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before. Once they finally woke up they looked halfway decent. It looked like the game, and Penn State’s season, might be over when quarterback Trace McSorley hurt his knee. Somehow he shook off the injury and came back to lead the Lions to the win. McSorley is one tough kid and a real winner. He may have saved the season with his gutty performance.
• Pitt won a thriller in the rain at home against Duke. The Panthers rallied a couple of times from ten points down to pull out a win in the final seconds. It was a fun game to watch if you weren’t a defensive coordinator, and a big win for the Panthers. It also keeps them alive in the ACC race.
• Maybe hitting the road was what the Penguins needed. They looked terrific during their four game swing through Canada. They bonded both on and off the ice and have to feel good about themselves after some early season shaky performances. Oh, and Sidney Crosby can still score goals, something he hadn’t done before the trip. His backhander at Edmonton was another one that will go on his personal highlight reel.
• For decades Boston Red Sox fans suffered. Now, they’re celebrating their fourth World Series title since 2004. The Sox, who I picked to win the Series in six games, took care of the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. They were clearly the best team in baseball, both in the regular season and in the playoffs. I adopted the Red Sox as my second favorite team back in 1967. Way to go, Red Sox!
