Steelers’ problem in on defense, not offense
PITTSBURGH – Have you been missing the point, dear Steelers fan? While you’ve been obsessing about the offensive issues at quarterback and running back, have you overlooked the reality that this team’s biggest problem is on defense?
In each of the last two home games, the Steelers have failed to protect a 17-point lead. The first time it happened was against the Atlanta Falcons, who aren’t a bad team. The Falcons’ Michael Vick is exactly the kind of quarterback who can take advantage of a weary defense late in games.
But the Cincinnati Bengals?
Is there any good reason why the Bengals were able to convert three consecutive third-and-10 situations in their comeback?
For all the juvenile WWF-inspired tough-guy gestures Steelers defensive players display when they’re introduced before the game, they don’t back it up on the field.
Most of the personnel is the same, so what’s the problem? Some of the players have complained about the schemes but the coaches have yet to call a formation that includes missed tackles as part of the strategy.
Years ago, Super Bowl veteran Dwight White caused a flap when he sized up his Steel Curtain successors and pronounced them “soft and cheesy.”
The current Steelers don’t deserve that label but they’re clearly confused and ineffective when it matters most. Forget about matching the legacy of the 1970s; they’re not even living up to the reputation they made for themselves last year.
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One of the positive recent developments for the Penguins has been the good work of No. 2 goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin.
Under any circumstances, Johan Hedberg shouldn’t start more than about 60 games. That’s especially an issue this year because the Penguins have 14 sets of games on consecutive nights and 11 clusters of three games in four nights.
It’s going to take two goalies and the Penguins don’t have the resources to go out and get a tested veteran to back up Hedberg.
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When exactly did football announcers fall into the terrible habit of saying, “As we said at the top of the show…?”
It isn’t a “show” to anyone except the production crew. Oprah is a show. West Virginia-Pitt is a game.
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3WS, your Penguins flagship station, has temporarily switched its worn-out oldies format to all Christmas music. This is consistent with 3WS policy: If a song is worth playing, it’s worth playing a million times. They started on Nov. 21, the better to cram in more grandmas getting run over by reindeers. It’s an odd twist that lets listeners hear Bing Crosby and Bruce Springsteen in the same 15-minute segment.
It’s also constant, except when Penguins broadcasts interrupt. In the spirit of the season (and format consistency), maybe Paul Steigerwald could “ho ho ho” on all Penguins goals with Bob Errey backing him on sleigh bells.
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Strange that three high-profile, successful baseball managers changed jobs this offseason and each moved to a worse competitive situation. Dusty Baker went from San Francisco to the Chicago Cubs, Lou Piniella left Seattle for Tampa Bay and Art Howe moved from Oakland to the New York Mets.
They’re all guaranteed more money and fewer wins.
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Imagine what Major League Baseball’s reaction would be if a member franchise announced it was going to take 22 of its 81 home games out of market to increase profits.
Yet that’s the plan MLBB has for this season, sending the Montreal Expos to Puerto Rico for about a fourth of their “home” schedule. The commissioner’s office runs the Expos and obviously makes up policy as it goes along.
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The New York Mets have introduced a “variable pricing” policy for tickets this year.
Basically it means tickets for prime games (weekends and good opponents) will cost more than other tickets. The Mets’ system has three levels – Gold, Bronze and Value.
“Gold” is restricted to their season-opening series and the visits from Atlanta, Seattle, St. Louis and San Francisco. “Bronze” covers most weekend series. “Value” means the Pirates are in town.
Sports correspondent John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehno@lycos.com.