1)The Good-Let's see. That is a head-scratcher. I was going to give the Good to WR Antonio Brown. He of the 7 catches for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns. Brown continues to show why he should be in the conversation as one of the best receivers in the NFL. But then I remembered the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for touchdown celebration. True, the refs through flags for everything short of a sneeze these days. However, if it's going to draw a flag, I dunno, how about you don't do it! More on that later. I also had a flashback to the flea-flicker pass that sailed right through AB's hands. It would have been a sure touchdown and difference-maker in this game. Sorry, #84 doesn't get the Good Award this week. Keep trying, bro. No, I'll present the title of "Good" to a consummate professional both on the field and off. I am referring to one Heath Miller. Heath dropped one early but made up for that transgression by catching 10 passes for 85 yards and 1 touchdown. See, rarely is Heath flagged. And when he is, it isn't for anything close to unsportsmanlike. He acts like he's been there before and goes about his business. Other players should take a page out of his book.
2)The Bad-Where does one begin when allowing an 0-3 team to come back and beat you? I know, I know. How about penalties? They say the definition of insanity is to do the same thing, over and over and expect a different outcome. I hear that the dictionary people at Webster will be putting the Steelers team photo next to that definition very soon. How can you expect to get flagged 13 times for 125 yards and still win a game? There continues to be a complete lack of accountability, or is it common sense, when it comes to penalties with this team. And it begins at the top. If the coaches don't do something to stop the penalties, the penalties won't stop. Maybe it's all white noise to these players now. It used to be that the defense would run through a wall for defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. I don't see that with these younger players. It's also disheartening to see S Troy Polamalu get flagged for a facemask. Take a look at Troy now, while you still can. He's lost a step and he's trying to overcompensate for it because he knows it. I realize you can't fine the players for penalties, the union wouldn't allow it. Last year Coach Tomlin took away the pool table, the ping pong table. What's left? Send them to bed without dessert? Every time the Steelers suffer a humiliating, embarrassing loss such as this (and there have been too many of them in the Tomlin-era to count), we always say the same thing (again with the insanity thing) "Back to the drawing board". Maybe it's time to take that drawing board and blow it up. We knew there'd be growing pains with the younger players, especially on defense. However, many of the young players have been around long enough to know. How many times does LT Kelvin Beachum have to get penalized before it costs him his job? I know in the real world, if you don't do your job, you're out of a job. No one wants to see that happen but no one wants to see losses like this continue to happen, either.
3)The Ugly-How's this for ugly? You kick a playoff team's butt on national television last week then lose to an 0-3 team at home that are licking their wounds from a 56-14 loss this week. You let a backup quarterback throw a crucial 41 yard pass on 2nd down to a wide receiver that was just signed off the street this week. Said wide receiver gets it down to your 5 yard line with 15 seconds left to play. Need I say more? If so, allow me to spell it out: Tampa Bay 27 Pittsburgh 24. The offense continues to allow themselves to be bogged down in the red zone and settle for field goals and the defense reverts to prevent defense when they have the lead. Again, blow up the darn drawing board!
The Steelers, now 2-2, managed to avoid the AFC North basement this week thanks to Cleveland's bye. They did lose ground on the Baltimorons, who are in 2nd place at 3-1 with a win. Cincy also had a bye and remains the leader at 3-0.
The Steelers travel to Jacksonville next week to battle the Jagoffs. Careful, Steelers, it's another winless team at 0-4. So get ready and get back in the win column this week, for crying out loud! Let's Go Steelers!!!!!!
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