What Will Hurt Us Most?

[Steelerkillers]

Just concerned about how our special teams and Corners will affect our chances of being the team we're expected to be this year. Of course everyones concern is-who will be the kicker? I think 1 of these 3 problems may haunt us. It seems as though the Steelers did everything right last year to win. Im expecting us to have a better season than they had. But, these issues must be addressed first of all. What do you guys think?????

[Alexir]

[quote name='Steelerkillers' date='31 August 2009 - 11:47 PM' timestamp='1251776834' post='227609']
Just concerned about how our special teams and Corners will affect our chances of being the team we're expected to be this year. Of course everyones concern is-who will be the kicker? I think 1 of these 3 problems may haunt us. It seems as though the Steelers did everything right last year to win. Im expecting us to have a better season than they had. But, these issues must be addressed first of all. What do you guys think?????
[/quote]

I actually though Corners were a strength on this team. Actually one of the biggest strengths on this team besides the defensive line and offensive line.

Well I would be worried a lot if we still had a crappy offense that our kickers were horrible but with this new offense we should be able to put TDs on the board more frequently. Hope they can make the extra points though....

Our ST will probably be our biggest weakness. AGAIN. Kind of shocked Harbaugh made Rosburg assistant head coach over Cam. Scratchin my head on that one.

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

[quote name='Alexir' date='01 September 2009 - 05:37 PM' timestamp='1251779847' post='227623']
[b]I actually though Corners were a strength on this team[/b]. Actually one of the biggest strengths on this team besides the defensive line and offensive line.

Well I would be worried a lot if we still had a crappy offense that our kickers were horrible but with this new offense we should be able to put TDs on the board more frequently. Hope they can make the extra points though....

Our ST will probably be our biggest weakness. AGAIN. Kind of shocked Harbaugh made Rosburg assistant head coach over Cam. Scratchin my head on that one.
[/quote]
I agree - we have very good starters. I worry more about kicking and special teams - we already weren't the best when we lost Marcus Smith.

[cursona pirate]

kickers because if it comes down to one field goal we better make it, even if its 27 yards "cough"!

[VA_Fan]

I agree with the the others about our kickers. I know it's been said but Matt needs to get a phone call real soon because it scares me to think of losing any game from a missed field goal attempt.

[CorvusCorax]

I still think we'll get (short) passed to death. I think that's one of our weaknesses. That and special teams. Hopefully this season proves me wrong. also, kicking (FGs) could possibly be our weakness as well.

[Jhyson]

I am in agreement with all of you. The kicking situation is a bit scary. I don't see the harm in at least bringing in Stover to back up and use if the guys we have now can't step up.

Should be interesting to see how ST do, especially cutting down on yards allowed following kickoffs.

[neepo13]

We will be fine at corner as long as Washington and Foxworth stay healthy, especially with Samari possibly having to call it a career. We could probably go with Webb if one of them got hurt and he'd probably get better as the season went on but if we ever lost them both we'd be in a very touch position. Frank Walker, even though he's been burnt toast this preseason, can spot fill in but not for an extended period of time. Remember Walker made Tavaris Jackson look like a an all pro last offseason but he did ok during the season. I havent been impressed with Carr at all and I honestly dont even want him.

Special teams will rebound. You have to remember that not all of the regular special teams players have been playing on every special teams play. We've been fielding guys that will never make it in the NFL for a good portion of the preseason because thats one of the only ways the coachs will evaluate them.

The kickers are a problem and will continue to be a problem. Gano has been terrible and Hauskcha hasnt been much better. They will both improve in the future but we really dont have time to develop a kicker right now. We need someone that we can depend on now.

[AngeloMixLA]

I'm concerned of the depth we have at WR , which is not much . I have faith in our offense , but if mason or clayton goes down , who's gonna step up ? Keep in mind kelley washington has been a career backup , don't really see him as a main contributor .

[JEEPercreepermd]

[quote name='CorvusCorax' date='01 September 2009 - 03:54 PM' timestamp='1251834888' post='227790']
I still think we'll get (short) passed to death. I think that's one of our weaknesses. That and special teams. Hopefully this season proves me wrong. also, kicking (FGs) could possibly be our weakness as well.
[/quote]
Giving up short passes doesn't really bother me too much, Miami and Tennessee both did that, and they scored a grand total of 17 combined points on us in the PLAYOFFS. Miami actually used the same approach the first time we played them and with pretty much the same result. Actually, usually the more a team trys to throw on us, the more they turn it over

[POE]

To be totally honest I am still a little nervous about our secondary. I don't have any fears of getting burnt deep or giving up those big plays like we used to which is a huge relief, however, these guys seem to be giving the receivers way too much space off the line of scrimmage and being physical isn't either of their forte', which is odd for our defense.

The kicker situation will pan out. When Haushka nailed the 50+ yarder last year everyone jumped on the wagon and called for Stover's head, the guy needs more game time reps which he should have gotten last season and in the end he will be fine.

Our ST will be the same as usual unless the penalties decrease then they can only get better, besides our constant on ST is Koch who is arguably the best punter in the game. Carr is an upgrade to Figurs and has proven that he can be a solid returner.

[CorvusCorax]

[quote name='JEEPercreepermd' date='01 September 2009 - 05:28 PM' timestamp='1251840505' post='227822']
Giving up short passes doesn't really bother me too much, Miami and Tennessee both did that, and they scored a grand total of 17 combined points on us in the PLAYOFFS. Miami actually used the same approach the first time we played them and with pretty much the same result. Actually, usually the more a team trys to throw on us, the more they turn it over
[/quote]

However, that's how we lost the 2nd Steelers game and how they got the controversial TD (I thought the Pats TD in '06 was more controversial) on us.

[varaven]

isnt it strange that billick was an offensive coordinator and when he head coached here our offense was terrible, and now harbs was a special teams coordinator and its looking like thats our biggest weakness.

[Bltravens]

actually in the first and 3rd steelers games, our corners got burnt deep on a pass play when it looked like the writing was on the wall for the steelers. The first game McAlister got burned deep on a Bart Scott blitz that he failed to bring down Roethlisberger and ill give McAlister the benefit of the doubt that he thought Ben was down already. But thats a prime example of why you dont take a second off, and get lazy. AFC champ game Holmes goes for 65 yards and a TD, if you look at all the Steelers recievers receptions they all come on big plays, Holmes 65/70 yards on 1 pass, Ward 45/55 on 1 pass and Miller had 3 catches for 65 yards. We eliminate these big plays from the Steelers and we win that game, Holmes doesnt go 65 yards for a TD and its 14-9 and we have the ball with 5 min left in the 4th even with Flaccos 2 ints (Polamalu's wouldnt have happened). So short dinking and dunking is better than long bombs, because eventually even the best at it (Pennington) makes a mistake.

[Steelerkillers]

[quote name='varaven' date='01 September 2009 - 08:54 PM' timestamp='1251852896' post='227860']
isnt it strange that billick was an offensive coordinator and when he head coached here our offense was terrible, and now harbs was a special teams coordinator and its looking like thats our biggest weakness.
[/quote]
thats toooo funny! However,definitely True!

[flynismo]

WR will hurt us most.

[smashmouth]

The Tight End position.. LJ Smith is need I say, fragile? And Todd Heap takes way too many kidney shots, gotta give him credit, he makes those very crazy tough catches look easy. But will either of them stay healthy enough?

After that we have Davon Drew.. who? A rookie that I have no clue about besides that the scouts say he could be a good pass catching TE, but lacks upper body strngth for blocking. And Isaac Smolko, same question, I believe he also has been battling a injury latley.