This is what Mike Tomlin means when he says there will be consequences to repeated penalties on special teams. 

Think about it DeMarcus.  Speed kills, but penalties will keep you from getting a game check.

Ranking the Steelers

Everybody has their list of team rankings, but this week I'll be starting a weekly ranking of the Steelers based on their importance to the team.  Numerous factors will be taken into account, including how they played in the previous game, splash plays, toughness, and how they fit the "Steeler Way."

I'd like to hear everyone's opinion on this and how you view the rankings.  Maybe you can influence me.
So, here's the inaugural list.  Check it out.  Who's in your top 5.  You can check out each week's ranking in a page to be created.

 

		Uniform
Rank	Player	Number	Position
1	Ben Roethlisberger	7	QB
	The most important player on the field.  Sorry Antonio.
2	Max Starks	78	T
	He's got Ben's back, great decision to bring him back.
3	Antonio Brown	84	WR
	Mr Do it All.  Should have been 1 for 1 passing.
4	Jonathan Dwyer	27	RB
	Outstanding performance.  T.O.P.
5	LaMarr Woodley	56	LB
	Int. changed mo.
6	James Harrison	92	LB
	Need to provide more pressure.
7	Heath Miller	83	TE
	Mr. Dependable.  Should be option 1 in red zone every time.
8	Ike Taylor	24	CB
	Shut down AJ Green….for the most part.
9	Maurkice Pouncey	53	C/G
	Over the long haul, a necessary piece, but he needs to stay healthy.
10	Willie Colon	74	T
	Wants to be the bad guy, was a bulldozer in this game.
11	Casey Hampton	98	NT
	Stopped up the middle, kept the running game quiet after first drive.
12	Brett Keisel	99	DE
	The beard, always solid run support.
13	Troy Polamalu	43	SS
	Secondary holds up, waiting for healthy return.
14	Ryan Clark	25	FS
	Quiet, but part of secondary that shut down Bengals receivers.
15	Doug Legursky	64	G
	What an insurance policy at Center.
16	Mike Wallace	17	WR
	Dropped passes could have cost the game.
17	Shaun Suisham	6	K
	Split the uprights every kick.
18	Lawrence Timmons	94	LB
	Silent.  Where are you Mr. Timmons
19	Mike Adams	76	OT
	Needs help, but learning on the job and improving.
20	Larry Foote	50	LB
	Missed Int cost a TD
21	Chris Rainey	22	RB
	First of many TD in career.  Found a hole and hit it.
22	Keenan Lewis	23	CB
	Saved a TD, helped Ike look good.
23	Emmanuel Sanders	88	WR
	Big reception at the end of game to maintain possession.
24	Ziggy Hood	96	DE
	Knocked down some passes, otherwise silent.
25	Ramon Foster	73	G
	Quiet, but running yards speak volumes.
26	Rashard Mendenhall	34	RB
	Inconsistent.
27	Curtis Brown	31	DB
	Quiet, but part of secondary that shut down Bengals receivers.
28	Marcus Gilbert	77	T
	Line played well in absence.
29	Jason Worilds	93	LB
	Average
30	David Paulson	81	TE
	Future of the TE position in the Burgh.
31	Drew Butler	9	P
	No news is good news.
32	Jerricho Cotchery	89	WR
	Comes through when needed
33	Ryan Mundy	29	FS
	Quiet, but part of secondary that shut down Bengals receivers.
34	Baron Batch	20	RB
	Lack of concentration costs another 6.  One of many contributors to flags on kicks.
35	Cameron Heyward	97	DE
	Waiting for a splash play.
36	Steve McLendon	90	DT
	Getting valuable learning time, will be ready when needed.
37	Cortez Allen	28	CB
	Solid play
38	Isaac Redman	33	RB
	Dwyer may take away some pt.
39	Leonard Pope	45	TE
	Paulson gaining attention at his expense.
40	Will Allen	26	S
	Quality backup.
41	Will Johnson	46	FB
	Value
42	Robert Golden	21	S
	Unnoticed.
43	Chris Carter	54	LB
	Harrison and Woodley healthy
44	Stevenson Sylvester	55	LB
	Harrison and Woodley healthy
45	Adrian Robinson	57	LB
	Harrison and Woodley healthy
46	Greg Warren	60	LS
	Unnoticed.
47	John Malecki	62	OG
	Waiting for opportunity
48	DeMarcus Van Dyke	30	CB
	Holding cost a nice return, not made a big play since first week.
49	Al Woods	65	DE
	Waiting for opportunity
50	Kelvin Beachum	68	OG
	Waiting for opportunity
51	Brandon Johnson	91	LB
	Waiting for opportunity
52	Byron Leftwich	4	QB
	Necessary
53	Charlie Batch	16	QB
	Necessary

The Good Rashard Shows Up

When the Steelers drafted Rashard Mendenhall, I wasn't overly enthused.  The Steelers were thrilled though so I deferred to the brilliance of Kevin Colbert's drafting expertise.  Still, Mendenhall came from Illinois, a program that has struggled for many, many years to get respect.  He had an outstanding year there his final college year with almost 1,700 rushing yards, but still I was not all that familiar with him..  Who was the last Steeler that did anything from Illinois.  You know who, it was, oh, it was.........  Well, I can't find one.  I don't know any Illinois player that had been a contributor for the Steelers.  But still, I saw a story that said Mendenhall was the Illini's best running back since Red Grange.  Maybe that's why I couldn't find an Illini player that had contributed, because the only ones that existed played decades ago.

So, I was a little cautious about this Mendenhall guy that the Steelers took that year.  His premiere was delayed by his fumbling issues and his lack of familiarity with the playbook. He was talented and fast, but fumbling doesn't get any rewards.  Then, he got his first chance to play by default when Fast Willie couldn't against the Baltimore Ravens.  The Ravens wanted a piece of the rookie and that was the extent of his first season.  30 yards and finished with a broken collarbone.  But still, you can't judge a player by that short of an audition.  But, still he treated the team like they had the plague for the rest of the year.  He stayed away while the team marched to the Super Bowl.  He rejoined the team and made appearances at the end of the seasong, but the time away from the team made an unfavorable impression.

He then began his steady climb to be a respectable running back in the league. He has had a couple 1,000 yard seasons and a near thousand yarder last year, which was actually a pretty good feat with the Steelers offensive line last year.  But then, he made regrettable comments after the military caught up with Bin Laden.  He was put under a magnifying glass and became very well known, but not for good reasons.
The point is that Mendenhall has had his ups and downs in his time with the Steelers, but yesterday was definitely one of the ups.  He had a victorious return on Sunday and he looked like he wanted to run hard to prove something.  At the beginning of the year I was looking forward to seeing what Isaac Redman could do.  After the lack of production the first 3 games I was hoping to see the good Rashard Mendenhall, and that's what I saw.  I saw a running back that helped the franchise quarterback drive the team down the field to set up a Shaun Suisham game winning field goal.  I saw a man on a mission to prove his knee rehab was done and he was ready to see some action.  Let's hope we continue to see the good Rashard this season.  Let's hope we only hear the good Rashard too.

Steelers vs Eagles