Godfather A

Let's not forget that despite all the offensive shortcomings, we were in a position to win the game last week. A Steve Smith catch or higher throw to Crockett Gilmore would have done the trick.

Two issues in the first 5 games. One is the overall record and the second is the division record. Even a 3-2 overall record would be poor if both losses were in the division. However, a 3-2 record with all three wins in the division would look a lot different at that point.

Jacoby Ford and Cordarelle Patterson are both receivers. Leon Washington is a veteran running back with not much tread.

Jacoby Ford did not play in 2014. Leon Washington did.

One name Zrebiec did not mention was Leon Washington. He is both an experienced returner and a veteran running back. He was with Tennessee last year and he averaged a kickoff return average of 23.8 yards with 4 of them for over 40 yards. It appears that he is a free agent at present.

I still think that one possibility is Leon Washington. He is a running back/returner who could fill two roles.

Perhaps Leon Washington is someone to look at? While he was not with a training camp this year, he is an experienced running back and kick returner. Actually his last game with Jacksonville last year was a good one.

I am a pediatrician. I have treated Osgood-Schlatter's Disease frequently over the years. It is a child and adolescent disease that gets better when bones stop growing. Some adults will have easy bone bruising over that area even though the process has stopped. However, it is more of an issue with pain at the site than it is with impairment of movement. Thus there is no structural damage to the area. It is actually not in the knee but in the prominent portion of the tibia just below the knee.

Let's not forget the 10 playoff wins put Joe at 10th all time in that category. That is tied with Ben Roethlisberger and one game behind Peyton Manning, Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman.

I looked at the Harvard study. The author states: "Then, using ESPN's NFL depth charts, I aggregated each team's per game approximate value of what I considered to be the "Ccore" makeup of an NFL team: QB, RB, 2 WR, TE, Top 2 OL, the Top-4  Front "Seven" defensive players, and the Top-2 players from the secondary." So I went to the ESPN site and found the following: "2015 NFL Depth Charts for Fantasy Football" Updated Monday, July 20, 2015.  These are fantasy specific depth charts and may not always match the "official NFL team depth charts." The charts are based upon last year's statistics. Thus what the Harvard study says is that the 13 positions evaluated had lousy fantasy figures last year or those positions (wide receiver, tight end and cornerback) are replaced this year with people who have no fantasy production from last year. Bottom line is that the study says we had lousy fantasy figures last year and have new players in some of the key positions with no fantasy track record from last year.

What most people fail to realize is that Joe is in 10th place all time for playoff wins in a career. Five more over the rest of his career would tie him with Joe Montana for second place all time. The six retired quarterbacks ahead of him are in the Hall of Fame. The three active ones are Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

Of course last year in Mark Trestman's offense, Matt Forte was the leading receiver with 102 catches. Marcellus Bennett was second with 90 catches. Together they accounted for 1/3 of the touchdown passes.

Being a lineman is about leverage. That is basic physics. Physics is math at heart.

Steelers fans have over reacted to their success since the 70's. It is not a real surprise when you consider that they only had 8 winning seasons in their first 39 years.

That does nothing to change a rigorous opening schedule. After 5 games, we can have the discussion again. Wins over three division opponents and Oakland would set us up great for the rest of the season. Stumbling early against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh would bode poorly. The game is not played on paper.

It's interesting in how there is so much focus on stats when what is more important is wins. Joe has taken us to the playoffs every year but one (and I personally think the issue there was the knee injury in Detroit. He clearly did not throw the same those last two games. Watch him float a pass to Torrey at the beginning of the New England game when no one was within 15 yards but had time to get there). He has the most road playoff wins in history. At 10 playoff wins he is in the top ten playoff winning quarterbacks of all time. His 2012 performance in the playoffs was stellar. But he hasn't thrown for 4000 yards (only 3986). Give me a break.

nicknames are usually based upon accomplishments. Once he starts playing the nickname will be obvious. In the meantime, using a nickname will not necessarily match what he does on the field. Chill out.

Of course there is always the Edgar Allan Poe reference to the Maxx of Amontillado

Has anyone noticed that Joe is ranked 10th all time in playoff wins with all the people around him current or future Hall of Famers?

That is the kind of inner drive that cannot be taught.

Retiring the same year as Troy Polamalu splits the safety vote.

Matt Elam might do better this year with a secondary that doesn't have to move him to a different position every week due to injuries.

It will be interesting to see how high Brady gets on the top 100???

Having Steve Smith as a mentor will make him even better

I spent 9 years as a Commanding Officer in the United States Air Force. The training for that role included the three most important principles of leadership:

1. Take care of your people

2. Take care of your people

3. Take care of your people

I suspect that Terence West would have been the next pick until Cleveland grabbed him a few slots before Gilmore.