Big Lead Sports Bar

8/06/2007

Steelers to Challenge '72 Dolphins?

STEELERS 20

SAINTS 7

MIKE TOMLIN 1-0

There's nothing like some patented internet overreaction after the first preseason game of the year. But the Pirates are the Pirates, and it's still going to be a while until the Penguins suit up. So if I choose to celebrate a nice opener from Mike Tomlin and Company, bear with me. There's not too much to say, but let's get right into the 2007 Hall of Fame Game:
  • Quite a nifty 55-yard connection by Ben Roethlisberger and Cedrick Wilson on the first series. Yep, he's a Game Manager. Right.
  • I'm hoping four catches for 99 yards will stuff a sock in Wilson's "I want the ball" mouth this week.
  • Nate Washington's drops are already in midseason form.
  • On a team with Willie Parker, Kevan Barlow, Najeh Davenport and Verron Haynes, here's the Steelers' leading rushers: Carey Davis (68 yards), Gary Russell (41 yards) and Larry Croom (29 yards).
  • Brian St. Pierre was sharp, with 129 yards and a TD. Somewhere, Brian Jackson is smiling.
  • 413 yards of offense tonight. I know it's the preseason, but that's an encouraging sign.
  • I liked what I saw from rookie William Gay, and I was even more impressed with his interview with Wolf on the radio postgame show. He really appreciates the opportunity to play in the NFL and sounds like he would do anything to make the team.
  • Tyler Palko finished 4-8, for 53 yards and an INT. He's probably not going to push Drew Brees for the starting job just yet. And he did a nice job of trying to get WR Robert Meachem decapitated by the Steelers' bloodthirsty secondary.
  • The Steelers' first preseason game led off the local news tonight. Yes, our city has their priorities in order.
  • Despite Sunday's result, don't forget, at least one person believes the Saints will be better than the Steelers this season.

More net reaction

Calmer, with less chin and spittle, Mike Tomlin coaches his first Steeler win [Chuck Finder, PG]

Steelers start strong in 20-7 victory [Ed Bouchette, PG]

Steelers Notebook: Players pushing LeBeau for Canton [Ed Bouchette, PG]

Wilson gets his point across with big game [Gerry Dulac, PG]

Steelers win in Tomlin's debut [Scott Brown, Trib]

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Is 1-0 in Meaningless NFL Games [Ryan Wilson, Steelers AOL Fanhouse]

5 comments:

Adam said...

Totally meaningless game.

Chis Collinsworth said Mike Tomlin sent a message tongiht.

W/E. Thats crap. Ben Played 1 series against an average defense. Batch wasn't in there much longer.

Theres nothing I hate more than NFL preseason. While many steeler fans say Pirate season ends when training camp starts, I say screw that. I'd rather watch the Bucs lose games that count than drag my ass to Latrobe 30 times to see which fat ass can block other fat asses better.

Call me when the real games start.

P.S. Palko stinks. (insert F-word joke)

Stoosh said...

Adam,

I've been to Steeler camp once (1999) and there's a reason why I won't go back. If it wasn't the 40-something, sweaty, smelly, hairy, Lambert-jersey-wearing, still-living-in-mom's-basement yinzer pushing me out of the way for Amos Zereoue's autograph, it was the army of paternity-suits-waiting-to-happen, decked out in their finest Wal-Mart spandex, who thought nothing of running over little kids waiting for autographs because these Sharky's leftovers thought they might have a shot at part of Jerome Bettis's paycheck.

I can do without it.

I don't mind the preseason games as much, partially because I like watching some of these backups play. I don't get delusional like some fans do/will and insist that Carey Davis has a shot at unseating Willie Parker. But I do like watching some of these guys get a shot and see if I recognize any names from college ball.

Suffice it to say, I don't think Palko will be on Meachem's Christmas card list. I'm not sure what to make of Palko as a pro QB...I have a feeling he may stick around for about five years as a #3/practice squad guy, and then go on to a nice career in coaching either at the NFL or college level.

AJ said...

Was it just me, or did I hear Chris Collinsworth actually say several positive things about the Steelers last night?

TheStarterWife said...

AJ - He might have, but I was too distracted by the fact that Collinsworth said Vick would play again.

I'll admit I got a little to excited watching the first half of the game last night, but I was just so intent to see how Tomlin was with the team.

Louis Lipps is my homeboy said...

I was excited, just because it was nice to see the Steelers again. I always get a little excited over the first preseason game, but by the 2nd and 3rd one I could care less.

Never-the-less, the Steelers are alwaya a sight for sore eyes after another summer of the Pirates.

I went to training camp once. I might go again next week when I'm in town. I mean, I go to Pirates spring training about 5 times per year, so why not?

And yeah, I hate preseason because you see some nice stuff, your brain says "Steelers doing good, get excited!!" But then you realize it's only preseason and you calm back down.

It's kind of like when you have a dream that something awesome is happening, and you wake up and realize it was just a dream and you're all dissappointed.

Be on the lookout for my official "Why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are better than the Steelers" article.

I don't know how I'm going to do it, seeing as though I don't think that they're better than the Steelers, and I don't even particularly like them... but unless an actual Buccaneer fan steps forward, you guys will have to settle for an article from a guy that simply lives in Tampa.