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Dick LeBeau Has “Resigned”

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Good-bye, Coach Dad.

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has “resigned” his position with the team in the wake of end-of-season meetings with head coach Mike Tomlin. No replacement has been named but it’s almost a foregone conclusion his protege, linebackers coach Keith Butler, will be taking the reins next season. The Steelers have blocked Butler from interviewing for defensive coordinator positions in recent years with the idea he’ll be LeBeau’s heir apparent. Well, looks like it’s time to see what the student has learned from the master.

At least this time the Steelers didn’t laughingly call LeBeau’s exit a “retirement.”Read More »Dick LeBeau Has “Resigned”

Wild Card Recap: Dog Day Afternoon

Steeler Dog

Two important things were learned from the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round of the NFL Playoffs.

1 – The Steelers high-powered offense is a collection of burned out light bulbs without running back Le’Veon Bell.

2 – Whatever concussion protocols the Steelers have in place, they might want to look into changing them.

The second point became extremely apparent when Ben Roethlisberger‘s head bounced off the Heinz Field turf during the last of the Ratbirds five sacks. Ben went to the sideline while Bruce Gradkowski came in and calmly converted a 3rd and 21. After three plays from the Polish Rifle, Ben returned and promptly threw a game-ending interception into triple coverage in the end zone. I have to think he wasn’t playing with all his marbles when he made that pass because otherwise I have no idea why he’d throw that ball into a crowd of Ravens with literally nobody open.Read More »Wild Card Recap: Dog Day Afternoon

Know Thy Wild Card Enemy: Baltimore Ravens

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The Baltimore Ravens.

Of course it had to be the Baltimore Ravens.

After a two season absence from the NFL Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers return this Saturday night when they host the Ratbirds at Heinz Field. If you’re going to return to post-season, why not make it another chapter in what is undoubtedly one of the best rivalries in football. This will be the fourth time since 2000 that the Black and Gold have faced the Ravens three times in the same season. The first time, they were quarterbacked by Kordell Stewart in his last grasp at greatness, the last two they were led by Ben Roethlisberger on his way to a Super Bowl appearance.Read More »Know Thy Wild Card Enemy: Baltimore Ravens

Todd Haley = Sooper Genius

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As we wait for additional updates on the health of Le’Veon Bell and look forward to Saturday’s sure to be epic Wild Card match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, let’s take a minute to look back. With mere hours left in 2014, I think today is a pretty good day to reflect on what the Black and Gold accomplished this past season. I realize the new rules making defense virtually illegal ensure huge numbers are put up all around the league but when you look at what the Steelers did on offense 2014 was truly and literally one for the record books.

And we have one man to thank for it: Todd Haley.Read More »Todd Haley = Sooper Genius

Le’Veon Bell Watch: Day 2

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Following Sunday’s thumping of the Cincinnati Bengals, Steeler Nation should be basking in the fact their team won the AFC North title and will host their first playoff game at Heinz Field since 2010. Unfortunately, everything the Pittsburgh Steelers have accomplished this season has taken a back seat to the status of superstar running back Le’Veon Bell. Bell left the game in the third quarter after his knee bent in a way only circus performers and some really talented porn stars are able to bend with many fearing his season may well be over.

The Steelers have been typically tight-lipped over his status, telling the area beat reporters nothing of note. No surprise there from a team that treats every scrap of news like a highly guarded state secret. It is pretty funny how the Black and Gold control the local hacks in much the same way North Korea controls their media puppets. I half expect one of them to write a story about how Mike Tomlin has never farted – excuse me, created a “flatulent disruption” – in his life.    Read More »Le’Veon Bell Watch: Day 2

Week 17 Recap: Winning The Battle, Losing The War

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It’s Black Monday for the twenty teams that didn’t qualify for the NFL Playoffs. It’s “cross your fingers and pray” Monday for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the first time since 2010, the Black and Gold are your AFC North champions thanks to a resounding 27-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The game itself was another solid performance by the Steelers in all three phases. The win catapulted them to the #3 seed and the privilege of hosting a playoff game at Heinz Field this weekend. However, every bit of good news was overshadowed when superstar running back – and team MVP – Le’Veon Bell left the game after taking a vicious hit to the knee early in the second half.Read More »Week 17 Recap: Winning The Battle, Losing The War

Know Thy Enemy: Cincinnati Bengals

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Hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas!

Steeler Nation found an early present under the tree last weekend when the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched their first playoff appearance after a two year absence. While making it to the dance was step one, the Black and Gold have higher aspirations. For them to come true, step two would be winning the AFC North and gaining home field advantage for at least the first round of the playoffs.

Standing in their way: the Cincinnati Bengals.Read More »Know Thy Enemy: Cincinnati Bengals

North Bowl Bumped To Prime Time

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Sweep The Leg Bengals!
Sweep The Leg Bengals!

For those who skipped Sunday Night Football, well, you missed an absolutely incredible Beast Mode run by Marshawn Lynch. You also missed the announcement that NBC was closing out the 2014 regular season by flexing this weekend’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals (aka the AFC North Bowl) into the prime time. While there are two other juicy match-ups, including a virtual playoff game between Atlanta and Carolina, I’m not really surprised they chose to showcase a team with an unparalleled national following like the Steelers.   

Which isn’t to say the North Bowl isn’t important in its own right.Read More »North Bowl Bumped To Prime Time

Week 16 Recap: Back Where We Belong

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Suck It, Haters!
“Suck It, Haters!”

The Pittsburgh Steelers ended their unbearable two year post-season drought in emphatic fashion, clinching a spot in the 2014 NFL playoffs with a convincing 20-12 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m not sure I’d call this their most impressive win of the season although it was easily the most solid. In my preview I talked glowingly of the Chiefs which, truth be told, was based almost entirely on their impressive stats. Going by what I saw yesterday, KC is certainly not the highest caliber opponent we’ve faced this year.

I call this win solid because for the first time this year, the Steelers performed well in all three phases. Nobody on offense put up huge numbers and there weren’t any memorable splash plays but as a group they moved the ball almost effortlessly against what was billed as a superior defense. Ben Roethlisberger was an efficient 18/25 for 220 yards, Le’Veon Bell had 63 yards on 20 carries and both Heath Miller and Antonio Brown caught 7 balls for 68 and 72 yards respectively. All this added up to scores on four of their six drives. Read More »Week 16 Recap: Back Where We Belong

Know Thy Enemy: Kansas City Chiefs

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Gotta love the irony…

The Pittsburgh Steelers weren’t a very good team last year. However, they were unquestionably one of the hottest teams in the AFC during the last month of the season. Thanks to the team’s ignominious start, they needed something akin to a miracle to make the playoffs. Against all logic, a crazy series of dominoes began falling exactly as they needed them to fall for them to essential backdoor into Wild Card weekend.

All they needed was the Kansas City Chiefs to beat the San Diego Chargers in the final game of the year.Read More »Know Thy Enemy: Kansas City Chiefs