2016 Pittsburgh Steelers

[Don Wassall]

As usual, the Steelers are a very black team. But the NFL continues to blacken, to the point that Pittsburgh is now just a run-of-the-mill team demographically rather than being noticeably blacker than almost all of the others.

Big Ben Roethlisberger is the indispensable piece around which the team is built. Now 34 and entering his 13th season, Big Ben has taken quite a pounding over the years as the team usually had a terrible sumo dominated offensive line “protecting” him. But Roethlisberger is strong as a bull and very tough and he’s still going strong, in fact he keeps getting better and throws as good a deep ball as any quarterback in the league.

Former first round pick David DeCastro from Stanford is the All Pro-caliber starting right guard. Due to injury, Alejandro Villanueva (of Spanish descent) worked his way into becoming the starting left tackle in 2015 and held off mediocre journeyman Ryan Harris in training camp this summer to keep the job to start the ’16 regular season.

The Steelers invested a large chunk of change during the offseason in TE Ladarius Green and his unrealized drooling upside after Heath Miller retired, but Green has been plagued by mysterious headaches and an ankle injury and ended up on IR, so second year Pittsburgh native Jesse James from Penn State is now the starter at tight end. James is tall and lean and can be a very good receiver, but the Steelers always utilize tight ends mainly as blockers and only secondarily as receivers.

Cody Wallace was very solid when starting at center last year after Maurkice Pouncey was injured (again) and is now a backup at center and guard, as is B. J. Finney out of Kansas State.

Landry Jones and recently signed Zach Mettenberger are Big Ben’s backups.

On defense, second year man Anthony Chickillo and rookie Tyler Matakevich both made the team as linebackers. Chickillo was drafted as a defensive end but was moved to outside linebacker last year. Both will be mainly special teamers as the Steelers keep drafting black LBs who are busts (Jarvis Jones) or who can’t stay healthy (Ryan Shazier, Bud Dupree). It’s telling that 38 year old James Harrison remains the team’s best linebacker after Lawrence Timmons. Matakevich was a tackling machine at Temple and will be in the NFL as well if/when he gets an opportunity to start.

Tackle Matt Feiler from tiny Bloomsburg is the only honky on the practice squad.

Starters:
QB Ben Roethlisberger
LT Alejandro Villanueva
RG David DeCastro
TE Jesse James

Number of White players on 53 man roster: 13

Grade: F+

 

[Don Wassall]

An unexpected surprise -- Anthony Chickillo played the most snaps of any Steelers outside linebacker Week 9 against Baltimore. Chickillo played 42 snaps, followed by James Harrison (38), Jarvis Jones (32), and Arthur Moats (28).

 

[Freethinker]

Maybe Trump really will win. The Crawfords playing a white OLB could be a sign of the apocalypse.

 

[Extra Point]

Maybe Trump really will win. The Crawfords playing a white OLB could be a sign of the apocalypse.

The Cubs win, the Steelers play a white linebacker and Trump wins. Sure signs.

 

[Don Wassall]

Ezekiel Elliott ran wild against the Steelers "defense," including a long TD to win the game with less than a minute left where he was untouched. On the last play of the game, Big Ben threw a pass to Antonio Brown, who instead of fighting for every possible yard in a desperate attempt to score a touchdown and win the game, chose instead to run out of bounds. Such a maneuver was unheard of pre-Caste System, but today's magical affletes do what they want and there's no accountability, especially if the player is a star like Brown, who epitomizes the selfishness of this year's foundering Crawfords team. The DWFs are plenty ticked off about it, but it will only take a nice play by Brown in the next game for all to be forgiven. Check out the play here: http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/11/tomlin-talked-antonio-brown-running-bounds/

 

[Don Wassall]

On a more positive note, here's a good article about Anthony Chickillo, who may be the team's best defensive player now that end Cameron Heyward is lost for the rest of the season. Though Chickillo is scheduled to go back to the bench against Cleveland on Sunday now that last year's first round draft pick Bud Dupree, who has been a bust to this point, is returning from injury. http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/11489338-74/chickillo-steelers-quarterback

 

[Jack Lambert]

Terry Bradshaw states the obvious and says Mike Tomlin not an elite coach. That's a bit surprising coming from him, but it's nice that he recognizes it nonetheless. Take away future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger, and that win-loss record looks a LOT worse for Tomlin.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ke-tomlin-pittsburgh-steelers-not-great-coach

 

[Heretic]

Terry Bradshaw states the obvious and says Mike Tomlin not an elite coach.

I saw that, too. Earlier today, I believe it was on BSPN.com, I saw a headline where the NFL is now forcing the "Rooney Rule" on all NFL assistant head coach hires as well. So, expect more incompetent (and anti-White racist) coaches like Tomlin in the near future in the NFL, as if it wasn't bad enough already...

 

[celticdb15]

Villanueva has impressed me at LT! Tomlin is lucky he has Big Ben! He wouldn't be ****!

 

[Leonardfan]

Strahan of course came to the defense of Tomlin today. Bradshaw stuck to his guns and he is totally right about Tomlin. He had Lebeau running the defense for many years and now the offense under Haley and executed by Big Ben. I could coach the Steelers and be successful with those types of coordinators and Ben at QB.

 

[icsept]

Tomlin's coaching prowess is limited to chest thumping, fist pumping, mean mugging, and trying to trip opposing players from the sideline.

 

[Van_Slyke_CF]

I was disappointed to see the dwindling playing time Chickillo and Matakevich got the last several weeks of the season. Hopefully they will get more chances next year for the entire season, but I won't hold my breath.

Ladarius Green was a joke. They need to bring in another talented white TE to pair up with Jesse James next season.

Let's see if they bring back Landry Jones. Experience tells me that Tomlin is aching to find another Dennis Dixon to hype, or another washed-up signal caller like Batch or Leftwich to get the white player total back down to about 10.

 

[Rocky B]

I was disappointed to see the dwindling playing time Chickillo and Matakevich got the last several weeks of the season. Hopefully they will get more chances next year for the entire season, but I won't hold my breath. Ladarius Green was a joke. They need to bring in another talented white TE to pair up with Jesse James next season. Let's see if they bring back Landry Jones. Experience tells me that Tomlin is aching to find another Dennis Dixon to hype, or another washed-up signal caller like Batch or Leftwich to get the white player total back down to about 10.

I was disappointed to see the dwindling playing time Chickillo and Matakevich got the last several weeks of the season. Hopefully they will get more chances next year for the entire season, but I won't hold my breath. Ladarius Green was a joke. They need to bring in another talented white TE to pair up with Jesse James next season. Let's see if they bring back Landry Jones. Experience tells me that Tomlin is aching to find another Dennis Dixon to hype, or another washed-up signal caller like Batch or Leftwich to get the white player total back down to about 10.

I saw that, too. Earlier today, I believe it was on BSPN.com, I saw a headline where the NFL is now forcing the "Rooney Rule" on all NFL assistant head coach hires as well. So, expect more incompetent (and anti-White racist) coaches like Tomlin in the near future in the NFL, as if it wasn't bad enough already...

I was disappointed to see the dwindling playing time Chickillo and Matakevich got the last several weeks of the season. Hopefully they will get more chances next year for the entire season, but I won't hold my breath. Ladarius Green was a joke. They need to bring in another talented white TE to pair up with Jesse James next season. Let's see if they bring back Landry Jones. Experience tells me that Tomlin is aching to find another Dennis Dixon to hype, or another washed-up signal caller like Batch or Leftwich to get the white player total back down to about 10.

 

[Don Wassall]

A day in the life of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Caste System NFL. Two different stories making news today, check these out. The first one concerns Antonio Brown, the second one Joey Porter and Mike Tomlin:

NFL salary cap should compel Steelers to trade Brown

by Ron Cook (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Let’s start with the three primary reasons the Steelers should keep Antonio Brown by signing him to a long-term contract that could guarantee him somewhere in the filthy rich neighborhood of $35 million to $45 million. He is a great player, arguably the best on the club. He is its hardest worker if James Harrison isn’t. He might be the best receiver in football, a guy who should be able to help you win Super Bowls.

Now, the three top reasons the Steelers should at least look into trading Brown before he goes into the final year of his contract next season: He will turn 29 in July and easily could break down or slow down by the time his new long-term deal ends. He has caused so many distractions with his silly, look-at-me antics that more than a few of his teammates are tired of it. It’s silly to give so much money to a receiver who touches the ball just seven or eight times a game when that money could go to making the team stronger at another position or two.

My suggestion to the Steelers?

Aggressively seek trade offers for Brown. I’m not suggesting the team give him away for a fifth-round draft choice the way it did Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes after the 2009 season. I’m just saying there might be a deal out there that could make the Steelers a better club. With Brown, the Steelers are 0-for-7 as far as winning Super Bowls.

The distractions are a real problem. Brown’s three excessive celebrations penalties early in the season were bad enough. But there was the incident in the first Miami game when he jogged back to the line of scrimmage, delaying his teammates from running their 2-minute offense. In more than one game, when he wasn’t happy with how he was being used, he frequently ran the wrong patterns, either because of a lack of focus or — worse — intentionally. It happened a week ago in the AFC championship. That’s inexcusable.

Then, there was the infamous Facebook Live video that Brown shot in the Steelers locker room after their playoff win Jan. 15 in Kansas City. Mike Tomlin loves Brown’s talent and commitment to football, but that video stunt infuriated him to the point he chastised Brown publicly and hinted that enough distractions could lead him to another team the way they did, say, Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. Of course, Tomlin has to take some blame because he helped create the monster side of Brown by letting him get away with the celebration penalties and the pouting. It’s like he keeps hoping Brown grows up, but Brown is no kid. Brown is not a bad guy or malicious person. He’s just not all that smart. It’s hard to imagine him changing now. It’s hard to imagine Tomlin being strong enough to force him to change.

full article: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...de-receiver-NFL-contract/stories/201701290090

Pros need to show respect in public

by John Steigerwald

You would think that most high school football programs would be thrilled to have a former Steeler as a head coach and the sons of the current head coach and one of his assistants as players, but, if there was a thrill for Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, it’s gone now.

Jason Gildon, a former Steelers outside linebacker who held the franchise sack record until James Harrison broke it this season, was the head coach, and he was fired shortly after the season ended.

Soon after that, the sons of Mike Tomlin and outside linebackers coach Joey Porter, transferred. So did Porter’s nephew.

It’s safe to say that there aren’t many people in the North Catholic community who are sorry to see the parents go.

By all accounts, the kids weren’t the problem.

Joey Porter was a big problem.

He made a spectacle of himself at home and on the road, even though he was with his head coach at the time.

During a game at Riverside in October, Porter ran onto the field to badger the officials. Remember, he’s a Steelers assistant coach and only a North Catholic parent.

North Catholic was penalized 15 yards and the officials asked the North Sewickley police to remove Porter. According to eyewitnesses, Porter told the cops, “If you want me to leave it’s gonna take more than just you.”

The officers working the game had to call for extra help.

Porter finally calmed down when the referee threatened North Catholic with a forfeit.

Mike Tomlin was also at the game, but not involved in the disturbance. But Tomlin did, on at least one occasion, according to a witness, pay a visit to the North Catholic locker room and drop multiple F-bombs while trashing the officials.

And during a home game at J.C. Stone Field, Tomlin and Porter were less than cooperative with Allegheny County police when they were asked to move away from a fence where they were obstructing the view of some fans.

The game ended before the cops had to remove them.

full article: https://www.indianagazette.com/news/columns/commentary-pros-need-to-show-respect-in-public,25795230/

 

[Extra Point]

One thing's for sure, Mike Tomlin and Joey Porter are low class individuals.

 

[Leonardfan]

A day in the life of the Pittsburgh Crawfords and the Caste System NFL. Two different stories making news today, check these out. The first one concerns Antonio Brown, the second one Joey Porter and Mike Tomlin:

NFL salary cap should compel Steelers to trade Brown

by Ron Cook (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Let’s start with the three primary reasons the Steelers should keep Antonio Brown by signing him to a long-term contract that could guarantee him somewhere in the filthy rich neighborhood of $35 million to $45 million. He is a great player, arguably the best on the club. He is its hardest worker if James Harrison isn’t. He might be the best receiver in football, a guy who should be able to help you win Super Bowls.

Now, the three top reasons the Steelers should at least look into trading Brown before he goes into the final year of his contract next season: He will turn 29 in July and easily could break down or slow down by the time his new long-term deal ends. He has caused so many distractions with his silly, look-at-me antics that more than a few of his teammates are tired of it. It’s silly to give so much money to a receiver who touches the ball just seven or eight times a game when that money could go to making the team stronger at another position or two.

My suggestion to the Steelers?

Aggressively seek trade offers for Brown. I’m not suggesting the team give him away for a fifth-round draft choice the way it did Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes after the 2009 season. I’m just saying there might be a deal out there that could make the Steelers a better club. With Brown, the Steelers are 0-for-7 as far as winning Super Bowls.

The distractions are a real problem. Brown’s three excessive celebrations penalties early in the season were bad enough. But there was the incident in the first Miami game when he jogged back to the line of scrimmage, delaying his teammates from running their 2-minute offense. In more than one game, when he wasn’t happy with how he was being used, he frequently ran the wrong patterns, either because of a lack of focus or — worse — intentionally. It happened a week ago in the AFC championship. That’s inexcusable.

Then, there was the infamous Facebook Live video that Brown shot in the Steelers locker room after their playoff win Jan. 15 in Kansas City. Mike Tomlin loves Brown’s talent and commitment to football, but that video stunt infuriated him to the point he chastised Brown publicly and hinted that enough distractions could lead him to another team the way they did, say, Terrell Owens and Randy Moss. Of course, Tomlin has to take some blame because he helped create the monster side of Brown by letting him get away with the celebration penalties and the pouting. It’s like he keeps hoping Brown grows up, but Brown is no kid. Brown is not a bad guy or malicious person. He’s just not all that smart. It’s hard to imagine him changing now. It’s hard to imagine Tomlin being strong enough to force him to change.

full article: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...de-receiver-NFL-contract/stories/201701290090

Pros need to show respect in public

by John Steigerwald

You would think that most high school football programs would be thrilled to have a former Steeler as a head coach and the sons of the current head coach and one of his assistants as players, but, if there was a thrill for Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, it’s gone now.

Jason Gildon, a former Steelers outside linebacker who held the franchise sack record until James Harrison broke it this season, was the head coach, and he was fired shortly after the season ended.

Soon after that, the sons of Mike Tomlin and outside linebackers coach Joey Porter, transferred. So did Porter’s nephew.

It’s safe to say that there aren’t many people in the North Catholic community who are sorry to see the parents go.

By all accounts, the kids weren’t the problem.

Joey Porter was a big problem.

He made a spectacle of himself at home and on the road, even though he was with his head coach at the time.

During a game at Riverside in October, Porter ran onto the field to badger the officials. Remember, he’s a Steelers assistant coach and only a North Catholic parent.

North Catholic was penalized 15 yards and the officials asked the North Sewickley police to remove Porter. According to eyewitnesses, Porter told the cops, “If you want me to leave it’s gonna take more than just you.”

The officers working the game had to call for extra help.

Porter finally calmed down when the referee threatened North Catholic with a forfeit.

Mike Tomlin was also at the game, but not involved in the disturbance. But Tomlin did, on at least one occasion, according to a witness, pay a visit to the North Catholic locker room and drop multiple F-bombs while trashing the officials.

And during a home game at J.C. Stone Field, Tomlin and Porter were less than cooperative with Allegheny County police when they were asked to move away from a fence where they were obstructing the view of some fans.

The game ended before the cops had to remove them.

full article: https://www.indianagazette.com/news/columns/commentary-pros-need-to-show-respect-in-public,25795230/

Man that second story is unreal Don but I am not surprised it was brushed under the rug and never gained any national media traction. I would love to see Keith Butler and Todd Haley leave after next season for other teams. I always had a disdain for Tomlin but that is the icing on the cake. If Big Ben was not the Steelers QB Tomlin would of been fired long ago. Grown men acting like that is beyond absurd.

 

[Don Wassall]

Man that second story is unreal Don but I am not surprised it was brushed under the rug and never gained any national media traction. I would love to see Keith Butler and Todd Haley leave after next season for other teams. I always had a disdain for Tomlin but that is the icing on the cake. If Big Ben was not the Steelers QB Tomlin would of been fired long ago. Grown men acting like that is beyond absurd.

Both stories are quite damning, but the Brown one is even more astonishing. He's basically being accused of intentionally running the wrong routes when he's pouting about not getting the ball enough, including in the AFC championship game. Of course his bs excuse will always be that he "forgot" how to run routes at times, so he'll get away with it and the media will never press him on it.

Radio show host Mark Madden, who I've mentioned before as he's an anti-White ogre a lot of the time, was talking about both stories all through his show yesterday. I listen to him sometimes when I'm driving, and I'll give him credit as he's the only Pittsburgh media figure who calls out the rampant thuggery on the Steelers, which extends even to an assistant coach and his buddy the head coach. But it's unlikely either story gets national "legs."

 

[Don Wassall]

Was doing some grunt work for a bit that could be done while watching TV, and since the 500 channels I get were all showing the usual garbage, I ended up at the NFL Network, which was showing the 1993 wildcard game between the Steelers and Chiefs (played on 1/8/94). The game, won by the Chiefs in OT 27-24, brought back memories of watching it in a bar when it took place.

Bill Cowher was hired as head coach when Chuck Noll resigned after the 1991 season. Cowher immediately darkened the team, and demoted RB Merrill Hoge, who had been the team's leading rusher the previous three seasons under Noll, though he always had to share carries with black running backs. Cowher converted Hoge, the last White back to run the ball at the time, to blocking fullback. In 1993, Barry Foster, who had replaced Hoge in 1992 in Cowher's first year as the featured back, injured his ankle and was out for the season. Cowher turned not to Hoge but to the immortal Leroy Thompson to replace Foster. Thompson averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in '93, and finished his instantly forgettable NFL career with a 3.4 average.

Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf were in the booth for the game. The Steelers had 3 White starters -- Hoge, QB Neil O'Donnell, and OLB Kevin Greene. They had an all-black o-line. The Chiefs started Montana, who was then 37, one year older than Cowher, 3 White o-linemen, and d-lineman Joe Phillips.

By then my only interest in the Steelers was in rooting for Hoge even though he rarely got to touch the ball. O'Donnell was a mediocre quarterback who threw two picks in the Super Bowl against Dallas two years later, instantly earning the perpetual wrath of the Steelers' DWFs. And in 1995, Pittsburgh drafted Kordell Stewart, which began a seven year nightmare of Cowher trying to turn poop into gold.

Hoge had memorably kicked ass in the 1989 playoffs against Houston and Denver, but the team then missed the playoffs during Noll's final two years. Hoge was clearly hot in the wildcard game against KC, taking a dumpoff pass at the line of scrimmage on the Steelers' first possession and turning it into a 33 yard gain on 3rd and 17. Gifford noted that it was the first time all season a team had made a first down against the Chiefs when facing 3rd and 15 or longer.

Thompson was his usual self, falling to the turf the instant any defender made contact with him. But Cowher of course would not go to the hot hand, as he was the wrong skin color. I was so angry watching that game. Montana led the Chiefs' comeback, adding to his legend. But if Cowher had gone to Hoge instead of Thompson, the Steelers would have won.

Here are the respective stat lines for Hoge and Thompson for the game:

Thompson: 25 rushes for 60 yards; 3 receptions for 4 yards; total: 28 touches for 64 yards
Hoge: 6 rushes for 27 yards; 3 receptions for 43 yards; total: 9 touches for 70 yards

Cowher mellowed a bit near the end of his long tenure with the Steelers, but for the most part he was a hard-to-stomach open wigger. The way he babied Kordell Stewart alone led to all sorts of nasty rumors that they were secretly married. I'm thankful he's stuck to the broadcast booth and hasn't coached again.