2011 NFL Thread: The Lazarus Season - Part 8

[Darthphere]

The Steelers have been making his condition sound much better than it was throughout the week. The guy could barely walk. Being as I can only go based on what he and his coaches say, I was under the impression that he was relatively healthy. After seeing him, I know that isn't the case.

Matt falls into my trap again! Honestly, did you see him during warmups? I don't know how they let him play. He was even shaking his head no.

 

[Ness]

No they didn't. The Steelers lost it through bad coaching. The second Tomlin decided to play an injured quarterback who sucks in the pocket and allowed Arians to not adjust his play calling at all due to this, the game was lost. All before the first snap. Seriously Ness, I love your enthusiasm, but you're kinda delusional (as any sports fan should be regarding their team).

Oh please. The 49ers don't lead the NFL in takeaways and have a 11-3 record for nothing. And Aldon Smith wasn't going to be blocked. Charlie Batch wasn't going to fair any better. The average starting position for the Steelers was their own 15 yard line due to our special teams play. Any team that lose a game you could play the "oh it was bad coaching" card. Ironic what you're telling me in your last sentence.

Hindsight is 20/20. I bet if Charlie Batch started and the 49ers still won you'd be singing the tune of "Oh well if Roethlisberger played he would have won it for us."

 

[SpideyInATree]

we have a real qb...he just beat you
we still need to work on the red zone offense

What's this "we" stuff? You play for the 49ers? Work in their organization? Steelers fans around here do the same thing too and it's hilarious. "We" aren't doing anything. The team is...but you aren't. Maybe except sitting there watching them.

 

[The Incredible Hulk]

Is there any particular game the NFL moved 12 games to Saturday this week? I know Sunday is Christmas, but it's the NFL people will watch it whenever it's on. Does the Ginger Hammer have some gentleman's agreement with David Stern so they don't slaughter the awful NBA in ratings on their alleged biggest day?

 

[bgates87]

Is there any particular game the NFL moved 12 games to Saturday this week? I know Sunday is Christmas, but it's the NFL people will watch it whenever it's on. Does the Ginger Hammer have some gentleman's agreement with David Stern so they don't slaughter the awful NBA in ratings on their alleged biggest day?

Initially I thought that too but it's actually in the NFL's TV contract they can only play 1 game on Christmas if it falls on a Sunday: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_Christmas_games#2011_and_beyond

 

[Immortalfire]

What's this "we" stuff? You play for the 49ers? Work in their organization? Steelers fans around here do the same thing too and it's hilarious. "We" aren't doing anything. The team is...but you aren't. Maybe except sitting there watching them.

Please don't be one of those people who tell fans not to say "we" or "us" in regard to their team. I hear people telling other people that all the time, and they come across as absolute morons.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Please don't be one of those people who tell fans not to say "we" or "us" in regard to their team. I hear people telling other people that all the time, and they come across as absolute morons.

So I sound like a moron, huh?

 

[kane9321]

What's this "we" stuff? You play for the 49ers? Work in their organization? Steelers fans around here do the same thing too and it's hilarious. "We" aren't doing anything. The team is...but you aren't. Maybe except sitting there watching them.

fans do this..relax

 

[SpideyInATree]

all fans do this..relax

And I said, "Steelers fans do it all the time here". I know they do. Did you notice the

Means, I'm busting your chops?

Don't think that Immortalfire, a moderator, saw that either.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

So I sound like a moron, huh?

Just a wee bit but we still love ya.

That 49er defense is the definition of flesh eating when they lock it down & the rest of the NFC should be on notice. If the Chiefs can do what they did to Rodgers with a decent D & sticking to a gameplan, what could the Niners do to the rest of the teams in the playoffs?

 

[Erzengel]

he could..and he hast:

Yeah, I just checked the numbers and he's had 4 this year.

I don't want to make it look like I'm just discounting what the 49ers have done but Smith hasn't really impressed me especially in the Red Zone. I mean, as 49ers fans, a win is a win. But even during the draft, i was surprised they didn't try and get a new QB.

I guess we'll see in January how they do.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Just a wee bit but we still love ya.

That's because you're a Ravens fan!

You got some good news last night.

 

[Genesis 1.0]

Meh, it's about time we got a reverse; we beat the Niners & you guys get smashed.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Meh, it's about time we got a reverse; we beat the Niners & you guys get smashed.

Smashed doesn't even begin to describe that game. Steelers should have made sure that power never came back on.

 

[Immortalfire]

So I sound like a moron, huh?

I'm trying to help you not sound like one.

 

[Themanofbat]

Wow... as a Niner fan myself since 1982, I know what it's like to watch a great team year in and year out to win big... and unfortunately, I also now know what it's like to go 9 years without any success...

I've followed Alex Smith throughout his entire NFL career... and yes, I agree, he still has his work cut out for him... but watching him last night, making a few nice drop in ala Montana-like passes (no, I am NOT saying he is Joe Montana... Tom Brady is as close a QB that we'll ever see to compare to Montana), but I digress, watching him last night, making a few sweet passes, playing with some real confidence that he has NEVER had since Day One, seven different Offensive Coordinators... regardless of what happens in the playoffs, there's a renewed spark in the franchise that I haven't seen in a decade... so the BIG question about Alex Smith will be WHAT he brings to the table next season will all the same coaching staff in play... if he can steadily improve his play, that might shut his detractors up...

Oh, and to all you whiney little Steeler fans... christ, your team lost a game to a better team last night... end of story and move on to next week's game...

 

[SpideyInATree]

I'm trying to help you not sound like one.

I was joking with, kane. That's why I used the...

 

[SpideyInATree]

Oh, and to all you whiney little Steeler fans... christ, your team lost a game to a better team last night... end of story and move on to next week's game...

Who said anyone was whining. The Niners are good. The Steelers coaching staff has horrible decision making. When the Steelers team had one of the GREATEST coaches of all time and goes to a guy who can't think for himself it's quite frustrating.

Now the Steelers have a very short week to the next game with their already hurt starting quarterback even more beat up because they can't tell the guy to hit the bench.

The Niners deserved the win. They played better and showed they could make it to the Super Bowl. However, with a stronger game plan from the Steelers coaching staff...that game could have at LEAST been competitive. And thanks to Frank Gore I won my fantasy game too. t:

 

[Themanofbat]

The Niners deserved the win. They played better and showed they could make it to the Super Bowl. However, with a stronger game plan from the Steelers coaching staff...that game could have at LEAST been competitive. And thanks to Frank Gore I won my fantasy game too. t:

Thanks.

I've been reading this thread for a few pages, and this appears (I might have missed it) to be the first time a Steelers fan says that the Niners deserved their win... because it just came across like everyone of you guys were just trying to find reasons to why they lost other than being beaten by a better team.

They're both great squads... but last night, the 49ers were the better team.

Now if either of them could just beat those Ravens... t:

 

[Erzengel]

I don't know about the Ravens. On one hand, they seem to have been built to defeat the Steelers, yet when they go against the Jags, Seahawks or Titans they lose?

The Chargers I could understand.

 

[SpideyInATree]

I don't know about the Ravens. On one hand, they seem to have been built to defeat the Steelers, yet when they go against the Jags, Seahawks or Titans they lose?

The Chargers I could understand.

I've been saying it since week 1. The Ravens should just pretend they're playing the Steelers every game and they'd have gone undefeated. t:

 

[Genesis 1.0]

As I've been saying, the stats show that we underestimate any team deemed sub-par, we lose to teams we should beat because that's the mindset. It's odd because last season we came to play for EVERY game but we pretty much beat every team worth a damn.

So as long as we don't run into the Broncos in the playoffs, I expect us to play pretty f'n well.

 

[Matt]

Anyone else see the way that Tomlin cut it short and stormed out of his press conference today? He does not seem happy. Maybe he'll make the right call and do something about it (i.e. fire Bruce Arians). I've been pretty hard on Tomlin throughout his tenure in Pittsburgh. I see him as a slight upgrade from Jim Caldwell (a weak head coach who only enjoys success because he is playing with another man's team). Time and time again he has not made tough decisions that would benefit the team. This is his chance to prove me wrong. He needs to man up, tell Roethlisberger that he (Tomlin) decides who is on staff and who plays, not Ben and fire Arians.

 

[Denny67]

Then it is like I said, he is not a real quarterback. Teams should not win in spite of their QB.

I think too many people’s opinion of Alex Smith has been shaped by media perception. As a 49er fan I watch every single game and have seen Alex make some amazing plays. You are talking about a guy who has had 7 offensive coordinators in 7 years, was hurt for 1.5 season. Beyond that he has had two clueless head coaches, came into the league at the age of 20, was thrust into the starting role having never taken a snap from under center and with absolutely not talent around him due to the 49ers coming out of cap hell. Also to be clear not only Alex Smith struggled as a result of all that instability and lack of continuity; the entire offense did. Yet in spite of all of that he has managed to remain effective and now has a chance to not only gain the benefit of continuity but work with a coach and in a system that can identify and develop an offense that maximizes his skillset.

QBs who come into the NFL and are effective right out of the gate are the exception and not the rule, and even then they always seem to regress at some point. Mainly when other teams have an archive of film on them.
The majority of good to great QBs are developed, and grown and have been part of the same system, in same playbook and/or sat for years. Continuity and comfort for players in a system is the x-factor never accounted for when analyzing success or failure in team sports.

Alex Smith’s potential is just starting to finally be unlocked. When it finally fully is, there are many who are going to finally see how wrong they have been about him. However if anybody wants a preview, just go back and look at his highlights from Utah where in three years (3) he threw for 5203 years, 47 TDs and only 8 INT, ran for 1072 yards and 15 TDs. Culminating in a 21–1 record as a starter in college, and victories in the Liberty Bowl (2003) & Fiesta Bowl (2005).

Urban Meyer was very clear on his feelings about Alex and stated that Alex has a very analytical mind. He wants to fully understand everything about the offense and until he does he has periods of over thinking and struggling. But once he “gets it” and is no longer thinking out there, he is deadly and among the best he has ever coached. Moving forward, Alex Smith is about to be afforded the benefit of continuity.


I am going to enjoy watching him prove the world wrong.

 

[Ness]

W
Oh, and to all you whiney little Steeler fans... christ, your team lost a game to a better team last night... end of story and move on to next week's game...

But, but...Ben's ankle! And the bad coaching!