Steelers Game Impressions

[membengal]

Thought I would try to start organizing the thoughts here:

1. People are misreading my comment on the Bengals "stealing" that one in the game thread, in that the Colclough muff was such a humongous turning point, and it was unforced. That said, I cannot remember how many games the Bengals gave away over the years in that manner at kind of point in the game. And, thanks to good coverage, they were there to capitalize on the mistake.

2. Carson Palmer is an absolute gunslinger. Took shots all day, got up, delivered his own blows. The TDs in the 4th quarter were daggers. One play, screw you, daggers.

3. Chris Henry is a full grown man. If teams don't stop quadruple covering CJ, Henry and Housh will make the Pro Bowl.

4. Madieu Wiliams. All Pro.

Still in a state of bliss.

Anyone else with thoughts?

[duus]

Yeah, my thoughts consist of good, tough teams and players find a way to win on the road ... especially in the division. We did. We win. They lose.

Those are my thoughts. Too excited to care beyond that right now. More later.

Who Dey!

[ArmyBengal]

The offensive line looked like crap... Call it Braham being out or whatever, but they looked like crap. We gave up to many yards rushing considering Rottenfurburger wasn't doing much, outside of showing why he isn't as good as people think... (Cue the trolls for excuses now)

Madieu was great in the redzone today and call me VERY impressed with Jonathan Joseph making some plays and laying some hits.

Carson is 10 times the QB Big Ben is and that isn't even an overstatement. (Cue the trolls again) I've said it before and will say it many more times I'm sure... The Steelers won the superbowl IN SPITE of Rottenfurburger not because of him... Leader my ass !!!

Chris Henry is the stud I've been pimping him to be forever now and how nice was it to have TJ back ??

Oh yeah, almost forgot, BENGALS are 3-0 !!!

WHO F*CKING DEY !!!

[Dan2330]

WINNING UGLY!

Play of the game, Carson on the play action touchdown pass to TJ after the fumble by the Steelers- everyone thought pounding run, hell even the cameraman was lost at first

[Ox]

Carson is 10 times the QB Big Ben is and that isn't even an overstatement. (Cue the trolls again)

Dude, the Trolls will not be around any time soon. WHO DEY!!

[schweinhart]

"Steal" is probably closer to the truth than farther away from it if it weren't for the fact that the Steelers are a pisspoor team right now....So it was hard to actually steal the game from hapless opposition. It would've maybe more like choked if the Bengals lost because they sure gave the Steelers more than numerous chances to do something...And the Steelers did nothing but blow their opportunities to make a game of it.

I really liked the WR play of Housh and Henry. Also like the way Rudi ran the ball, real workmanlike w/o lanes as wide as pastures like he got against the Clowns but certainly steady and strong enough to keep the Steelers somewhat honest in the box and in coverage w/o a healthy Polamalu.

Defensively, The Bengals just flat out sucked, sorry to say. They made some plays but they had better get their sh#t together if they want to contend and I do think they have the players to do it despite the significant drop off from Pollack to Jeanty and Dex Jack to K2 even though K2 did fine with the gift pick from Big Bozo at the end of the game.

[sturmunddrang]

I have been quite impressed with Kenny Watson. I was rooting for his spot to go to Dorsey before the season started, but he has convinced me otherwise the last couple of games.

I thought Kaesviharn played well. Still need Jackson back asap though.

Johnathan Joseph will be starting in Tory's spot very soon.

[HoosierCat]

Howdy all. Been out most of the weekend without web acess, but with free NFL Ticket, so it kinda balances out. Haven't read the game thread yet so here's my thoughts on the game:

1. Lucky, lucky, lucky Carson. He ought to be ordering those little church votive candles by the boatload because he just sucked for long portions of the day. His decision-making was the worst I have *ever* seen. Throwing into double and triple coverages, asking his recievers to go up and catch stuff they will get killed coming down with, holding the ball way, way, way too long. That isnt to say he didnt make some nice plays -- I loved the scramble -- but he was trying to do way to much today.

2. I love Brat's playcalling today. Mostly. I could nitpick but overall Phil Simms nailed it in his comments in the 3rd about how patient the Bengals were. They did not panic, they did not get pass haoppy, they did not abandon the run in a close game.

3. All the K2 haters are officially ordered to STFU for a week.

3a. I love this D. They were shaky early but came on as the game proceded. In he fourth they were hitting like...well...Pittsburgh Steelers. Busting up completions, knocking away passes, getting turnovers, I love it.

3b. Yeah he should have had the pick but we scored anyhow so all the Justin Smith haters can STFU for the week, too.

4. Pretty good job by the o-line. Carson got sacked a lot, yeah, but he was holding the ball way too long. If its not there dump it off or toss it out of bounds, you know LeBeau is going to send the kitchen sink so you just *can't* stand around with the ball, Palmer.

5. Two letters: T. J.

6. If Henry can stay out of jail he'll be better than Chad Johnson. Yes, I said "better."

7. On D, props out to Jeanty, K2, Joseph and Madieu.

8. All the John Thornton haters can STFU for a week, too. How do you spell Thornton? B-L-O-C-K.

Anyhow, that's all I can come up with off the top of my head. Now excuse me but my beer is empty...

[Pinkygen]

My thoughts.

1. O-line needs work, obviously.

2. Great to have TJ back. He is very good for those short and medium range things.

3. Lord, I hope Chris Henry does not get suspended soon.

4. Sorry Chad. At least you help free up the other receivers, and with the pressure the Steelers put on Palmer, I guess Palmer played it conservative and dumped too close receivers (when he had the time). And it's nice to see you, TJ, and Henry all lining up at the same time.

5. Jonathan Joseph is impressing me. Tory James is depressing me, and is getting burned all the time now. I think the switch should happen rather soon.

6. Madieu is a beast. And while I'd rather have Dexter Jackson, K2 did have his moments. Aside from the game-winning interception, he's also credited with forcing the last fumble, that gave us the go a-head TD.

7. What happened to the defense, especially on the run? I think we eventually did adopt the right strategy of stuffing the pocket and forcing Ben to throw, but against a better QB, that won't work. Also, I absolutely hate "prevent" defense. Whenever we beat the Steelers, we almost lose the game due to the prevent defense.

8. Special Teams was a difference maker.

9. Carson got it done when he needed to. He is starting to get a little sloppy in decision making, and having a porous line doesn't help. But in the end, he proved why we all love him.

[F.Cleveland]

Holy Crap. We went into their house and took it from them.... I don't care how it happened. Let yourselves be happy and not care how!!!!! 3-0 and playin for 4-0 at home next week!!!!! We could go into the buy week 4-0. At least wait 2 days to disect it.... I'm gonna go pass out..... Bengals win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side note: Today I used a "terrible towel" that I got at the playoff game, to clean my dogs' paws off this morning when they came in from playing in the mud. I shall do so every Sunday from now on....

WHO DEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kazkal]

Kenny was good today i'm glad we had him. even though seemed like whiffed on pass protection few times.

[aaronburr]

Our o-line struggled, but we're going to have to adjust to life after Braham. Guy-check will get better.

Defensively, it looked we're back to the bend-don't-break mentality. Hopefully it's because we were playing a good team, not because we're regressing to years past. Jonathan Joseph looked good, Tory James did not. KK makes the play at the end, but I'd still prefer to have Dexter back there.

Ben Roethlisberger is an average quarterback. He's not John Elway. He won't challenge for the team MVP, much less the league MVP. Doesn't mean he won't win games. That being said, the highlight of the day for me, was that Roethlisberger didn't turn that final drive into points. Win or lose, the Pittsburgh Messiah complex would have been out of control.

By the way, former Trojan Carson Palmer is finally getting the local coverage in L.A. that he deserves.

[combatbengal]

Hoosier cat, I agree with the Palmer stuff. He made some bad decision, waited to long a few times but also threw 4 TD's. The o line sucked! A lot of those sacks were not Palmers fault. He needs a little time to throw it. Our run def sucked! Why wasn't Adams in for the entire game? Speacial teams did a pretty good job! It was a ugly win against a tough team. However, a win is a win! We need to get Chad back into the game. He was open a lot today!

[Pinkygen]

Why wasn't Adams in for the entire game?

He's an old dude, and needs a break. Keep him in all the time, and he'll get worn down. The unfortunate price of the veteran.

[CPalmer9]

Adams is 350+pds...people that size dont play every snap and to think that he should is ridiculous

[Kazkal]

I hope chad can start getting more balls,even though him getting low yards is good thing because our other WR's are getting the balls but I still like chad making magic happen.

[skyline]

The biggest impression made on me today was the obvious growth in maturity.

The first quarter was just about as disheartening as they come. Still, they pulled themselves together, and made a game out of it. Then, after the horrendous second half start, I was sure they'd pack it in. They didn't.

Last year we lose this game.

My hats off to the coaching staff. They saw the meltdown last year in the playoffs, and it looks as if they've made significant strides in fixing those issues.

Who-Dey!

[sturmunddrang]

I hope chad can start getting more balls,even though him getting low yards is good thing because our other WR's are getting the balls but I still like chad making magic happen.

I actually think that him not getting many catches this week may be a good thing. I was kind of surprised to see him starting after that hit he took last week. I really believe he had a concussion last week, and don't want to see him get another anytime soon.

[Kazkal]

And we have peko the stud.

true that mybe he was more of a decoy this week and mybe next week but then come back full force after pats and have 12 120 yard games

[HoosierCat]

The biggest impression made on me today was the obvious growth in maturity.

The first quarter was just about as disheartening as they come. Still, they pulled themselves together, and made a game out of it. Then, after the horrendous second half start, I was sure they'd pack it in. They didn't.

Last year we lose this game.

My hats off to the coaching staff. They saw the meltdown last year in the playoffs, and it looks as if they've made significant strides in fixing those issues.

Who-Dey!

Very good point IMHO. Goes back to Simms' comment (and BTW I think he is one of the better game analysts out there) about patience. He said that he had watched all of the Bengals' games this year and he had been impressed with their patience, their dedication to the run, etc. I have to agree; they seem to be learning. By which I mean Brat is learning.

Someone, duus, I think, posted a stillers.com piece on the game in which the projection was that, if the Steelers jumped out to an early lead the Bengals would go into "panic mode" which would lead to mistakes. He was absolutely right to predict that, based on the past few years, because they usually did. Today they didn't.

The Bengals did something different today. They played the football equivalent of small ball. And they won. But even if they'd lost...I like that call. I like it a lot.

[Coy Bacon & Egg]

Let's add a thought to the early observation in this thread that the punt muff was an unforced error. Of course it was, and yet I think Larson deserves some props for doing his part. That was a 58-yard punt, granted with the wind -- he kicked it farther than Colclough expected, so he forced the opportunity for the "unforced error", and this is the sort of stuff that didn't happen for Cincinnati for 15 years. Larson has made strides from the time we all wanted his hide. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart, another guy who we all wanted to send packing, made the big recovery ... without that successful fight for the ball, it's just a long putn. And this is emblematic of the "we're getting better everywhere" line that we hear ML use. Depth showed today -- the list of missing key players we expected to depend on was long today. "Regular guys" from a year or two ago are getting more time and making more plays. Lots of little things are now tilting in our favor, which is what happens for good teams.

[HoosierCat]

Let's add a thought to the early observation in this thread that the punt muff was an unforced error. Of course it was, and yet I think Larson deserves some props for doing his part. That was a 58-yard punt, granted with the wind -- he kicked it farther than Colclough expected, so he forced the opportunity for the "unforced error", and this is the sort of stuff that didn't happen for Cincinnati for 15 years. Larson has made strides from the time we all wanted his hide. Meanwhile, Tony Stewart, another guy who we all wanted to send packing, made the big recovery ... without that successful fight for the ball, it's just a long putn. And this is emblematic of the "we're getting better everywhere" line that we hear ML use. Depth showed today -- the list of missing key players we expected to depend on was long today. "Regular guys" from a year or two ago are getting more time and making more plays. Lots of little things are now tilting in our favor, which is what happens for good teams.

Welcome CB&E! Nice first post. All I can say is: what he said.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Must be nice when your Qb has a bad day and throws 4 TD's and completes 70% of his passes.

Win ugly seems to be this team's forte - similar to last year. Parker gashed them badly and the o-line really struggled in every facet of things.

Then again so did the Jaguars last week and they didn't come close to scoring 28 points.

The Bengals' are playing with a sense of purpose and Palmer is on a quiet mission.

I guess I'm tired of saying the defense/ST's were "lucky," when they turn the ball over or make multiple INT's every single week. That is what they do. The only "lucky" part of things was the punt fumble.

[redsbengalsbucks]

What impressed me was:

that Pittsburgh's O-line and D-line dominated most of the snaps in this game and the Bengals were still able to tough out a win.

Carson was definitely not on top of his game today and still had 4 TD's and the win,

Madieu, O'Neal and Joseph!

Brat still needs to learn that when you have a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter, you dont drop back to pass and allow the other team to have another gift turnover. Three turnovers on 3rd and short today and all of them came when they were trying to pass.

Rudi needs just a little more help from the line than he got today.

Ghiacic looked like he was lost at times today.

James is not the same defender that he was last season.

Tackling is still an issue for this team.

and the most important thing is that the Bengals are now 2 games up on Pittsburgh with a head to head advantage.

3-0 is still good even if it was ugly.

For all you Steeler fans out there, your team looked better today than I thought they were going into the game.

WHO-DEY think gonna beat dem BENGALS!!!!

[BengalPappaw]

I liked what I saw with Johnathan Joseph -- he is really showing some good play making ability.

I did not like the O-line play -- even the vets were beaten too much.

I'd like to see Ahmad Brooks as a pass rusher. (I wish he had made the tackle on the goal line stand -- he over ran the hole)