Steelers football blog

Steelers sing LeBeau's praises

The architect of the NFL's top-ranked defense remains as overlooked now as his playing career has been taken for granted by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters through the years. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said he couldn't care less. "It's the quality of men we have playing for us - I'm blessed to coach them,'' said LeBeau, whose unit ranks No. 1 in the league in total defense for the second consecutive season.

"It's their effort, their execution. All I do is call the defense. They're the people that make it happen.''LeBeau has earned the respect of his players."It's been the greatest joy of my career,'' defensive end Brett Keisel said of working with LeBeau. "Since he came here, I think it really lifted all of us up. We all just really respect him.' Continue

Smith frustrated with lack of playing time

Starting free safety Ryan Clark said that all he wants is for the Steelers coaches to give him a chance to play. Anthony Smith made it clear he feels the same way. "I'm frustrated," Smith, a third-year veteran, said following practice Wednesday. "Playing all of those games last year and not being able to contribute, yeah, it's very frustrating."

Smith is second on the Steelers' depth chart at free safety. However, it is anything but a given he will start Monday night against the Washington Redskins if Clark is an injury scratch, as expected. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said earlier this week that veteran Tyrone Carter is the "lead candidate" to fill in if Clark doesn't play because of a dislocated right shoulder. He also said Smith is in the mix. Continue

Steelers battle injuries in specialty areas

That injuries have piled up for the Steelers doesn't make them unlike many teams in the NFL. Where the Steelers have been hit hard does set them apart.

Depending on how the Steelers' injury situation shakes out over the next couple of days, they could be down to their third punter and third holder this season. The Steelers will have a new long snapper for Monday night's game against the Redskins, as the team signed Jared Retkofsky Tuesday to replace Greg Warren, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Continue

Steelers begin search for long snapper

The Steelers will work out four players today at their practice facility as they try to fill the void they have at long snapper. Greg Warren went down with a season-ending knee injury in the Steelers' 21-14 loss Sunday to the New York Giants. Warren, who has been the Steelers' long snapper since 2005, had surgery Monday. Those vying to replace him are Jared Retkofsky, Tim Lindsey, Derek Rackley and Boone Stutz. Continue

Bad snap hands Giants 21-14 win

Their march through the NFC East Division is proving a costly one for the Steelers. In Philadelphia, they lost Willie Parker, Casey Hampton and the game. Yesterday, against the New York Giants at Heinz Field, they lost long-snapper Greg Warren and their second game in seven. "That's a championship-caliber football team,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the reigning Super Bowl champs came from behind to beat the Steelers, 21-14."It doesn't go down easy. It's tough to swallow." Continue

Ward's blocks polarizing, pulverizing

The Steelers use more than traditional statistics such as yards, receptions and touchdowns to measure the play of their wide receivers. They keep track of different blocks as well as missed ones because of lack of effort - and those include water-bucket blocks and knockdown blocks.

Water-bucket blocks are when a receiver pushes a defender all the way to the sideline. Knockdown blocks need no explanation. Nor is an answer required to the question of which wideout leads the Steelers in that category. "Who else?" wide receiver Nate Washington said last week with a smile. "(No.) 86, definitely." Continue

Steelers look forward to facing ex-teammate Burress

It is uncommon when the Steelers let go of a player in trade or free agency and he goes on to have a more productive career with his new team, perhaps because the Steelers rarely let go of players whose best years are ahead of them, not behind them. A case could be made for linebacker Mike Vrabel, who wasn't a starter with the Steelers but went on to become a Pro Bowl linebacker and Super Bowl winner with the New England Patriots.

Maybe even cornerback Rod Woodson, who went to the Pro Bowl four times with the Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders after the Steelers released him in 1996. But Woodson had already gone to the Pro Bowl seven times and was voted to the NFL's 75 th anniversary team during his 10-year stint with the Steelers. Continue

Steelers to persevere in wake of arrest

Calling Thursday's arrest of one of his starting receivers a "distraction,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Santonio Holmes will be inactive for Sunday's big game against the New York Giants at Heinz Field.

"His situation has created somewhat of a distraction. We want to minimize that as much as we can, remain focused on the task at hand, which is to compete and play against the New York Giants on Sunday,'' Tomlin said Friday following the team's final practice of the week. Continue

Big Ben, Eli in a class of their own

In a league whose greatest stars, historically, have been quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning will form a rare combination when they meet Sunday at Heinz Field. And it's not because their division-leading teams have identical 5-1 records. They are one of only three sets of quarterbacks in NFL history to be drafted in the same year and win Super Bowls. And they are the only pair to be drafted in the first round.

Roethlisberger was the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft and had instant success, going 13-0 as a starter his rookie season and winning the Super Bowl in 2005. Manning was the first overall pick in 2004 and, after some early struggles, led the Giants to the Super Bowl title last season, winning the Most Valuable Player Award in the process. Continue

Steelers' fines comments prompt NFL visit

The NFL attempted to conduct damage control Wednesday, meeting with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and selected players regarding numerous penalties and fines administered to the team in recent weeks. Ray Anderson, NFL executive vice president for football operations, came to Pittsburgh after Steelers players expressed anger and concern after the league handed down fines totaling $35,000 to linebacker James Harrison and wide receiver Hines Ward. Continue