Look for two posts today.
This one on the Browns-Steelers game etc and the other on the Seahawks loss to the 49ers later after I arise from slumber.
If you would told that the Browns defense was going to step up and allow just ten points to the Steelers and Willie Parker would rush for 105 yards,but it would take 28 carries to do it-I would think that Cleveland would win and move to 1-1.
They didn't and they aren't as the Steelers won a 10-6 slugfest.
Plenty of thoughts on this,so not limiting myself to five.
Shawn's Thoughts
1) This loss goes directly on the ample back of Romeo A.Crennel.
His god awful clock management at the end of the half resulted in no points and his decision to kick a field goal with 3 minutes and change left in the game and rely on a defense that had performed above and beyond expectations instead of going for the first down was mind numbingly bad.
The first half issue was made worse by a bad decision by Derek Anderson and resulting in a interception,but consider this-since Crennel wasted so much time and then was forced to use a timeout (their last),Anderson had to make a quick decision with the following running through his head.
"Get the ball away,throw to the end zone,not much time".
Blame Anderson for the throw (and I do),but blame Crennel for putting him in a position to fail instead of succeed.
2) Shaun Rogers is a force and he is a stand up man as well.
Rogers had a superb game battling Steeler double teams,but as well as he played,I was more impressed after the game.
Rogers jumped offsides on a third down play that would have forced a Steeler punt and instead prolonged the only drive that produced a touchdown for either team.
Rogers took the blame for not only the play,but the loss of the game.
That is called taking accountability and being an adult.
Count me as a Shaun Rogers fan.
3) Accountability is a concept foreign to Braylon "Mr.Softee" Edwards,who continued his distaste for any route that does not involve him running fly patterns down the sidelines.
His third quarter drop of an almost certain TD in the game was one of several drops and his refusing comment after the game showed a characteristic lack of class.
4) Anyone want to tell me with seconds remaining in the game why Kellen Winslow was on the sidelines?
Your best offensive and toughest player isn't in the game with the game on the line?
If this was for anything other than an injury,someone needs to have their thought process questioned.
5) The Winslow-Troy Polamalu battle was fun to watch all night long.
Both guys won their share of the battles during the game..
6) From the nitpicky dept.
The NFL fines players for having socks too high or too low and for any detail that is different than the norm on the uniform,but yet they allow long haired players to obscure their name on the jersey.
Troy Polamalu is the worst offender of this,but the Browns have a few that do this as well,most notably Josh Cribbs...
7) Jamal Lewis is running hard,but another less than stellar game-19 carries for 38 yards.
A whopping two yards a carry!
8) Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald each were beat their share of times,but for the most part-give the defense a lot of credit,they played hard and well and showed heart by stopping Pittsburgh with seconds to go instead just tossing in the towel and allowing the clock to run out.
9) Anyone seen Kamerion Wimbley yet this season?
This was going to be the year that he busted out with the acquisitions of Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers,but I don't even remember seeing him close to Ben Rothlisberger in the game.
10) Same goes for Corey Williams.
Bonus Rounds:
Anyone want to try to count the calls for Brady Quinn this week?
The Steeler game was a must win,but the next two games are division games and on the road vs the Ravens and Bengals and they need to win both.
A split means 1-3 and that means trouble!
The Pirates beat the Cardinals 7-2 in a untelevised game,so I don't have comments for it.
3 RBI for Adam LaRoche,Nate McLouth hit his 25th homer and T.J Beam was the winner (2-1).
The Pirates start a four game set at home against the Dodgers tonight.
Pitching Matchup
Los Angeles:Hiroki Kuroda (8-10 3.93 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Ross Ohlendorf (0-1 8.10 ERA) 7:05
Bullpen Notes
Open to suggestions for names for the various "Shawn's thoughts".
Would like to have something unique for each team,but open to one regular name to be used for all things.
Tomorrow is the day that minor leagues teams can begin negotiating with big league clubs.
The Post-Gazette says the Pirates top choice is to remain in Lynchburg.
No kidding! Really????
Listening to Hockey Today on the way home from work,the guys were talking to a fellow trying to hype Kansas City for the "next expansion,in a year or two".
My god,the NHL needs LESS teams not more!!
Until later today
Photo Credit
Winslow-AP Photo
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