Between the Lines: Week 8

[Stryker]

Looks like Ben is coming back at the 4 week mark. I didn't think he had a chance at it, but here he is. I'm not concerned about the ligaments, as they should be fully healed (if he's without pain). My concern had always been the bone bruise, which will still be sensitive for another 2-4 weeks. Playing with a brace will protect the joint from another injury, and there is no way I'd send him on a field without one for the next 4 weeks. I'm happy to be wrong and will look forward to watching Ben play on Sunday.

Going 5-2 on the inactive list was my only bright spot as I went 0-3 on my predictions and also had Ben's timetable 2 weeks later, so my total is now 28-15. Dead wrong on getting the interior receivers in the game. I suppose I believed the trend of Lanrdy's arrow pointing up, only to get burned by it. Defense also did a terrible job of pressuring Alex Smith. No pressure, no turnovers, and we lose by our largest margin this season.

Our defense is not a great defense. We are a good defense that gets better results through pressure. The more pressure we get, the less time the secondary has to cover, and the more chances of a turnover occurring. This D is built up front. The front 7 is supposed to stop the run and then get pressure in clear passing situations. Having Cam Thomas attempt to run block last week was painful. Tuitt really doesn't get the credit he deserves, and Cam's criticisms are well founded. He has to do a better job playing low and keeping his hands clean. Otherwise, we'll see similar run plays up his side on Sunday for big gains. Tuitt's ability to create pressure and make plays on the ball carrier reminds me of the days of Aaron Smith. He can't get back quick enough, as it seems he is a keystone piece for our defense to excel at pressure.

Inactive List:
1. Vick - Looks like Jones will be the backup
2. Will Allen - Looks like a nagging injury. At least Golden is playing well.
3. Tuitt - Now I'm getting concerned on the type of knee injury he has.
4. Tarrence Garvin - Hurting his knee takes him out of the game.
5. Jessie James - So far he's been a healthy scratch all year, and there's no reason to think he won't be this week.
6. Stingily - I found it odd he was inactive last week as he's our only other T on the roster. Perhaps Legs is now officially the backup at every position?
7. Tyler Murphy - I only think we keep 2 QBs Sunday.

Since Beachum is now out, we get to see the 6'9" Villanueva play. Earlier this season I predicted that Villanueva would be the heir to the LT spot, after a strong showing in preseason. The Steelers knew what they had in him and may have made Beachum a fair to lower offer than he was expecting, because they had option 2 in the wings. Unfortunately, since Beachum is a free agent, and he will be out the next 9months rehabbing (a July timetable), I don't see any team making an offer on Beachum before training camp. His value has dropped significantly, and unfortunately, with for this type of knee injury, there isn't a good track record of OL returning to form after an ACL tear. I hope he can buck the trend and be productive, because Beachum can play any position on the line. His position flexibility is invaluable, so that alone will keep the steelers interest of signing him to a modest contract, on his possibility of returning to form. Though this contract won't be offered until next summer. Pending

It would be helpful to get Adams back, and since he was PUP designated, this week is the first week a PUP player can return to practice. Adams did not return, so the severity of injury to his back may be more significant that when he was PUPed. This does start a 5 week window period where a PUP player can be added to the active roster. If he doesn't return in 5 weeks, he's on the PUP for the rest of the year and is unavailable to play. PUP players, when they return to practice, have a 3 week window where they can practice, but not be added to the roster. The player must be added to the roster to participate in games, and at that point, you'd have to cut a player. Stingily would be the logical cut if Adams can return.

The only information I could find on Adams was he supposed to be out for 4 weeks after back surgery. We are now at 15 total weeks for his injury, so I'm interested to know what his specific back issue was, and why has he not responded well to surgery? There are too many types of back surgery to speculate what he had. I only hope the right questions can be asked during a presser to get more information on it. http://www.thescore.com/news/799449

Looks like Pouncey just underwent a 2nd surgery. http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...ond-surgery-on The bones are healing, but the infection is the issue. Since it was was not a surface cleaning and hardware was removed, this will increase the timetable for his recovery. 6-8 weeks is standard recovery for bones to reattach completely to new hardware, but I wouldn't anticipate Pouncey being anywhere near game shape at week 13-15. If he returns at all, it would be as a backup until he can strengthen his leg and return to game shape. That time table on the optimistic side would have him ready to start in the playoffs and perhaps the last couple games of the season. Get well soon big man! Pending

Shazier is returning this week, and I've read that he will be wearing a neck roll. This is a good sign, as a neck roll limits the neck's range of motion and can absorb impact to reduce the chance of his burner flaring up. Hopefully it's just what he needs for the confidence to play hard and not worry about his burner. JJ had a hip, and I'm assuming it was a hip pointer since he only missed one game, and on the mild scale at that. He should be good moving forward, as a lesser hip pointer injury is more of a painful injury than a debilitating one, and has a very low chance of reoccurring.

This week I am looking for Jones to Start and Ben to serve as the backup. Ben is good enough to practice and could come in if Jones is injured. It would be cool to see if they bring Ben on the field for 2pt or short yardage conversion attempts. This would add a wrinkle to KC's game planning and they would not be ready for it. Wrong

Lastly, I'm looking for our interior receivers to have a great game. KC has trouble covering the slot and TEs or RBs running routes. Their job will be even harder while committing 2 men each to limit AB and Bryant. Wheaton should excel on 3WR sets as well as Heath and Bell out of the backfield. I would predict that this will be Bell's best receiving game of the season, and Wheaton should hit a season high as well. Wrong

Defensively it is going to be pressure, pressure, pressure. KC has allowed 24 sacks this year, and the Steelers D is pretty good at getting to the QB. Alex Smith is not a very mobile QB, and he like to throw to his first reads. Tight coverage and good pressure will slow down his decision making allowing the front 7 to feast on QB pressures. The only unknown is the fill in for Tuitt. I would like to see Heyward play there instead of Cam, and let Cam and Big Dan shore up the middle. Heyward IMHO is the best at shooting a gap and it would be better to have his skills doing it on the end as opposed to up the center. Wrong

Predicted Inactives for week 7:
1. Vick - He is sitting as his hamstring will not be able to go for a bit Right
2. Tuitt - This knee injury concerns me, as the team has been awfully quite about severity and he's not practicing Right
3. Will Allen - His Ankle isn't ready to go this week Right
4. Ben Roethlisburger - takes Cortez Allen's slot. Since Murphy was activated, Ben will be a scratch. Right
5. Jessie James - Redshirting on the roster. Right
6. Chris Hubbard - Since the OL injury was to a tackle, his status as an inactive is unchanged and Legs gets the hat. Wrong
7. Chickillo - With JJ returning he's the odd man out Wrong

 

[Coach]

1. Vick - Looks like Jones will be the backup

I think he's thrown his last pass as a Steeler. Thank goodness!

2. Will Allen - Looks like a nagging injury. At least Golden is playing well.

Golden has impressed. Perhaps he's our best safety? Who keeps the job when Allen returns?

3. Tuitt - Now I'm getting concerned on the type of knee injury he has.

Yes. We have depth at ILB, but none on DE. A shame Tuitt was off to a great start.

 

[Shane Falco]

I don't think we're going to see Tuitt back at least until the after the bye week for the Seahawks game. Give that sprained ankle another couple weeks to mend. I'd rather sit him one more week than lose him for a long, long time. Golden and Mitchell are good safety tandem. Better than Mitchell/Allen. Golden has fresher legs and is faster than W. Allen. Back to Tuitt, if it were me, I'd try McClendon at and have Big Dan log more snaps in the middle. I'd rather that happen than another week of Marshmallow Thomas.