50-YARD LINE

Happy Hump Day! It’s time for your Steelers mid-week report. Your Pittsburgh Steelers are still stunned by the devastating home loss to the San Diegans this week. They need to pick themselves up and get back to playing focused, disciplined football. They’ll have to do so without some of the regulars. Ike and Adams are out this week. Colon had surgery and is also out, maybe for the season. Cortez Allen is a question mark with a hip. Keenan Lewis also has a hip but is probable. Good thing as their other corners don’t have a lot of experience. Curtis Brown needs to re-group from the torching he got last week. Josh Victorian was signed from the taxi squad and DeMarcus Van Dyke has only dressed for 2 of the past 7 games. They’ll need to toughen up as they face a Cryboys team that has won 4 of its last 5 and has 2 receives with at least 75 catches, Jason Witten (92) and Dez Bryant (75). Bryant has a broken digit but vows to play this week. The Steelers are also without former 1^st round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall. He missed last week’s game, saying he thought since he was inactive; he didn’t need to be at the game. There should be no such miscommunication this week as he’s been suspended for 1 game. Baron Batch has been signed from the practice squad. The running game will need all the help they can get as they’re ranked 31^st in the league in rushing. The Cowboys aren’t much better at 25^th in the league. Can anyone run the ball? We’ll see how the Steelers do with a patchwork offensive line. There was a rumor earlier in the week that Pouncey would move to guard and Legursky would start at center. Now the rumor is 1^st round pick DeCastro may start at guard and leave Pouncey at center. Whatever they do, they’ve definitely got to improve upon the porous running game and the putrid pass protection of last week. Meanwhile, we need playmakers to step up on both sides of the ball. Enough of the mental lapses with the penalties, dropped passes, and not playing to the whistle. This is professional football, guys. Start acting like it. I’ve heard some people say the Steelers can lose this game and still make the playoffs. Let’s hope the Steelers don’t have that mentality. You should never have to rely on other teams or back your way into the playoffs. Keep your destiny in your own hands. Let’s Go Steelers!!!!!!