Cleveland Browns

2007 Record: 10-6

2007 PF: 402    PA: 382          

2008 Schedule difference:  Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills                               &nbs p;  

Team Strength: Scoring offense     

Biggest weakness: secondary               & nbsp;  

Key Areas of Concern: weak secondary – RB depth – QB controversy

Key Additions: 

D-linemen Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams were the big off-season splashes.  These two are expected to turn Cleveland’s biggest weakness into one of their core strengths.  Rookie Linebackers Beau Bell figures to push Andra Davis for a starting job.  Martin Rucker was drafted as an insurance policy on Kellen Winslow’s knees.  Donte Stallworth was added in FA to take some heat off of Braylon Edwards on the outside.  Rex Hadnot should challenge for a starting RG spot, and Terry Cousins was brought in as a band-aid over the Holly and Bodden loses.

Key Loses: 

Leigh Bodden was traded away for Shaun Rogers weakening an already suspect secondary.  Just after that Cleveland karma kicked in and Daven Holly was injured and cut.  LeCharles Bentley was cut, but never played a down for the Browns so he was really a non-factor.  Orpheus Roye and Ethan Kelley losses were offset by gaining Rogers and Williams.

Offensive Outlook: 

This will largely be the same unit from a year ago.  The offensive line is great on the left side and decent on the right.  The RB situation will remain a concern.  An aging Jamal Lewis is their only real threat, and if he can’t hold up there is nothing behind him. 

Donte Stallworth will present an upgrade over Joe Jurevicius with his deep speed.  Stallworth is far from a complete player however.  New Orleans, Philly, and New England all let him go over the past 3 years for a reason.  Paul Hubbard and Josh Cribbs will compete to provide some decent # 4 depth.  Winslow will now be backed up by Martin Rucker.  If Rucker pans out Cleveland could use some 2 TE formations.

Derek Anderson is the big question mark for the Browns offense.  He made a Pro Bowl last year but had only the 25th best completion percentage and 12th best QB rating in the league.  He faltered late in the year and began the season as a back-up.  If Anderson falters so will Cleveland unless Brady Quinn shows he is ready to go. Anderson very well may be the next Scott Mitchell and the tough schedule may bring that out of him.

Defensive Outlook: 

No unit has gotten more attention this off-season than the Browns 3-man front.  Adding Pro Bowl caliber players in Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams should be an immediate upgrade.  Shaun and Robaire Smith as well as rookie NT Ahtyba Rubin will make for a solid and deep unit.  The questions remain as to how well Williams will transition to a 3-4 and how Rogers will play at DE and NT.  One thing is certain though, when Cleveland uses 4-man fronts in passing situations their DT’s will be a holy terror rushing the passer up the gut.

At LB Andra Davis, Beau Bell, and Leon Williams will all compete for starting ILB duties next to D’Qwell Jackson.  Kam Wimbley is expected to be the beneficiary of the improved DL and Antwan Peek and Willie McGinest will split time on the opposite side.

The defensive secondary will be this teams Achilles heel.  Sean Jones is a quality starter at Safety.  After him it is a bunch of young guys and question marks. 

Brodney Pool has underperformed his 1st day draft status at FS.  2nd year CB’s Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald are penciled in as starters.  Behind them is FA journeyman Terry Cousins and UDFA’s Darnell Terrell, AJ Davis, Gerald Lawson, and Jereme Perry. 

This entire unit aside from Cousins has less than 2 seasons worth of starts combined.  If the front 7 doesn’t dominate Cleveland is in trouble.  I’d expect teams to come out in hurry up and spread the field exposing the week secondary much like what happened to the Steelers during the Scott, Alexander, Washington, Flowers, and Poteat days.  Bruce Arians is sure to remember that.

Special Teams Outlook:  

Josh Cribbs is the top return man in the game outside of that Hester kid in Chicago.  Dave Zastudil and Phil Dawson are solid vets at P/K.  The coverage units are fair, but didn’t get much help in the off-season.

2008 Season Projections:                                      

The Browns are the media darlings this year much like Saints and Bengals were last year.  We all saw how that turned out.  The teams had two very solid additions in Rogers and Williams.  I’m not buying into the Donte Stallworth addition as he was hardly a factor for the best offense in NFL history last year and was let go by 3 teams in 3 years. 

The loss of Bodden and Holly on the secondary could be crippling.   There is enough talent on the offense for them to again score points in bunches.  The defensive front should also be improved thus making Cleveland a better team.  However, Cleveland’s 10-6 last year was mostly smoke and mirrors.  They only beat one team with a winning record in the past two years.  That was vs. Seattle at home in OT.  The same Seattle team who lost every 1:00 east coast road game they played the past few years.  

Cleveland is a better team then they were, but playing against the big boys in the AFC South and NFC East along with a 2nd place schedule should set them back a bit.

Clowns 2008 Season prediction : 8-8  (T-2nd AFC North)

Pittsburgh Steelers

2007 Record: 10-6   

PF: 393   PA 269                & nbsp;        

2008 Schedule difference:  NE Patriots and San Diego Chargers                                &nbs p; 

Team Strength: Well Balanced O & D   

Biggest weakness: Pass Protection   

Key Areas of Concern: O-line – FS – DL Depth

Key Additions: 

Adding Rashard Mendenhall to a backfield that already had a Pro Bowl RB in Willie Parker should fix the Steelers RB depth issues.  Mendenhall will provide the power back that the Steelers lacked since Jerome Bettis retired.  Mewelde Moore will be a very solid 3rd down back and PR man.  Limas Sweed also fills a void at WR.  He will be a 3rd WR and perfect compliment to Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.  Justin Hartwig should immediately upgrade the Center position where Sean Mahan struggled mightily last year.

Key Loses: 

Alan Faneca is the Steelers only major loss.  He was a fixture in the Steelers running game for years, however his play had slightly declined and his pass protection left a lot to be desired at times.  Clark Haggans won’t be missed as 2nd year man Lamar Woodley was clearly the better talent last season.  Cedrick Wilson will only be missed by Patron’s Mexican Grill in Wexford, PA as he made the joint semi-famous by publicly slapping his baby mama in their bar.  You stay classy Ced!

Offensive Outlook:  

Can the Steelers find a way to improve an offensive line that lost its best player?  That is the major question mark for this team.  Chris Kemoeatu will step in at the LG spot and Justin Hartwig will take over at Center.  Marvel Smith should be vastly improved over his 2007 form after getting his bulging disc fixed.  There is a looming battle at RT between Willie Colon and the 7 million dollar man Max Starks

Aside from the O-line the Steelers skill positions are absolutely loaded with talent.  RB Willie Parker has the ability to score anytime he touches the ball.  He should be more effective with a lighter workload.  Rashard Mendenhall should do all the heavy lifting in short yardage and goal line situations, as well as salting away leads late in games.  Mewelde Moore should be a dangerous weapon out of the backfield on 3rd downs.

Adding the 6’4 Limas Sweed to the speedy Santonio Holmes and the gritty Hines Ward will give defenses fits.  Somebody will have to be single covered when all 3 are on the field.  Nate Washington will continue as a solid back-up and should be better than any #4 CB he would face in 4 wide sets.  Look for Dallas Baker to stick on the roster and add an additional tall red zone threat. 

When accounting for the Steelers backs and WR’s teams may forget about the TE’s.  Heath Miller is productive and well balanced, and Matt Spaeth is a mammoth target that caught 3 TD’s as a rookie in limited playing time.

Look for this unit to move the ball and score bunches of points; however sacks will again be a problem vs. teams with speedy outside rushers or dominant inside defensive tackles.

Defensive Outlook:  

Will the real Steelers D please stand up?  Is it the unit that led the league in pass yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and points allowed deep into the season?  Or is it the unit that got abused by the lowly Rams and Ravens offenses late in the year. 

The key may be Defensive end Aaron Smith staying healthy and Casey Hampton getting in better shape.  The starting D-line of the Steelers remains dominant; however depth is a serious question.  Back-ups Travis Kirschke and Nick Eason were abused routinely last season.  Will a rookie UDFA step up, or will Ryan McBean emerge as a quality player?  Something needs to happen here to improve the unit.

The linebacking unit will undergo some changes in 2008.  Long time starters Clark Haggans and Larry Foote should be replaced as starters by last years top two picks in Lawrence Timmons and Lamar Woodley.  James Harrison evolved into a Pro Bowler last year and he should greatly benefit from having a dominant force like Woodley opposite him.  James Farrior is still a solid ILB, and Larry Foote will provide some good depth.  Bruce Davis likely won’t see the field much, but may be used as a situational pass rusher in his rookie year.   Look for Timmons to also get a lot of looks in dime packages.

The secondary remains largely unchanged from last year.  Bryant McFadden and Deshea Townsend will again battle it out at CB for the #2 and #3 jobs opposite Ike Taylor.  Troy Polamalu is working to remain healthy for an entire season.  Opposite him Ryan Clark appears to be back after a major operation and illness.  If he has any setbacks Anthony Smith will again reclaim his FS spot.   Look for rookie Ryan Mundy to factor into the mix as well as Ty Carter has likely fallen out of favor with the staff after his putrid playoff performance.  Willie Gay should again provide a solid #4 CB option.                                                          

Look for the Steelers defense to be a top 10 unit again, however they should take a step backwards statistically due to the toughest schedule in the league.  They play a ridiculous 11 games vs. teams with a Pro Bowl QB.  If there are any injuries along the D-line, the unit may again have some struggles vs. the run.

Special Teams Outlook:  

The Steelers coverage units are historically shitty.  It’s hard to figure out why, so the coaching staff decided they spent too much time on the area last year and will neglect it this year to create some urgency.  

Rookies Mike Humpal, Bruce Davis, and Ryan Mundy will surely provide an upgrade in the area, as will Keyaron Fox if he sticks on the roster.  Second year punter Dan Sepulveda needs to live up to his lofty draft status.  At times he did, and at other times he looked like a wasted pick.  The talent is there, but the performance needs to be there every time out, especially in key situations. 

Jeff Reed made every single FG he attempted last year except one in a monsoon that was buried in 6” of mud, and another that would have been the longest in league history.  He does need to work on getting his kick-offs deeper, or Sepulveda needs to take the job away.  

The core of hungry young rookies coupled with putting some starters like Harrison and Keisel on the coverage units should be enough to fix the leaks.  The “all hands on deck” approach has been floated by Kevin Colbert, we will see if it works that way or not this year.

2008 Season Projections:                                      

The Steelers offense very well could improve statistically.  Adding Mendenhall, Moore, Sweed, and Hartwig is a nice haul.  The season likely will all come down to the trenches.  If the O-line can gel and the D-line can remain healthy the Steelers should win the division and be legit SB contenders.  If the O-line falters and the D-line depth gives out, this team could fall off to being a .500 team.  The murderous schedule should be enough to keep this team from getting a 1st round bye, but they should be able to sneak out a division title and home playoff game.                                

Steelers 2008 Season prediction : 10-6  (1st AFC North)
 

AFC North 2008 Division Preview         

By: Steel Perch

Baltimore Ravens

  2007 Record: 5-11    2007 PF: 275   PA: 384                     

2008 Schedule difference:  Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins                         Team strength:  Defensive front 7       Biggest weakness:  Passing offense            Key Areas of Concern:   QB – WR – Secondary depth – DL depth

Key Additions:   Call it addition by subtraction, but cutting Brian Billick loose and bringing in Cam Cameron the Ravens offense stands a good chance at improving.  Fabian Washington should add depth to a thin secondary.  If anything he will ensure that when injuries occur the Ravens defense won’t fall off the map again.  Don’t expect much from Flacco this year.  It’ll be a big jump from IAA ball to the AFC North.   He is a tall strong-armed pocket passer similar to Derek Anderson.  It’ll take a few years to develop him.   Ayanbadejo and Zbikowski should bolster an already solid ST’s coverage unit.  Gooden and Cousins were nice mid-round picks.

Key Loses:   McNair retired, but losing the McNair of last year is probably an addition.  Jon Ogden is in the same boat.  Both of these guys shot their load in the 2006 season.  In 2007 they weren’t all there.  Anderson and Smith’s losses should be easily replaced by Ray Rice.  All in all this team should be very similar to the one they fielded last year, just a bit deeper and possibly better coached.

Offensive Outlook:   Cam Cameron worked wonders in San Diego with an offense that had average WR’s, but a talented RB and TE combo.  Adding Ray Rice into the mix with Willis McGahee in addition to having Todd Heap should allow Cameron to manufacture some points.  Make no mistake though, with the QB situation still evolving this will be a power running team.  Even with losing Ogden, Baltimore has done a nice job of forming a big powerful run blocking O-line.  Ben Grubbs should be a Pro Bowl caliber OG this year.  Brown, Yanda, Chester, and Cousins make a solid stable along the interior OL.  Gaither and Terry may be a bit shaky at the OT spots, but should hold up in the run game.  Mason and Clayton are solid yet unspectacular players and Williams has a chance to develop into a real nice #3 guy.  They really lack an explosive playmaker however.   Quarterbacks Kyle Boller, Joe Flacco, and Troy Smith should battle it out for starter.  Troy Smith looked good carving up the Steelers last year, and reports are that he looks solid in OTA’s.   He could start and keep the job warm for Flacco.

Defensive Outlook:   It must be noted the biggest defensive addition for the Rats was keeping Rex Ryan in the fold.  He was a candidate for other jobs, and was also fired and on the open market at one point, but somehow found his way back home.    He is a top flight DC and the rest of the division should be sad to see him stay in the AFC North.

The Ravens front line remains dominant, but some holes are forming in the armor.  Kelly Gregg is 32 and Trevor Pryce is on his last legs at 33.  Pryce had trouble staying on the field last year as the injuries are mounting up on him.  Their depth, similar to the Steelers depth at D-line, is the picture of mediocrity.  An injury or two could flatten this defensive front.  Haloti Ngata is developing into a dominant force in this league as expected, but the Ravens did little to bolster this unit.

At LB an aging Ray Lewis is still more athletic than most every starting ILB in the league.  Bart Scott is solid, but a bit of a head case as noted by his antics vs. NE and comments after the Steelers game last year.  Rookie Tavares Gooden will likely get a shot to replace one of those guys after this season as they will be UFA’s. Suggs and Barnes are dangerous outside pass rushers and Jarrett Johnson will likely play opposite Suggs.           

The secondary was helped by adding Fabian Washington to the mix.  He will get a shot to replace Samari Rolle opposite Chris McCallister.  Ed Reed is still the best ball hawk in the NFL, but he keeps getting injured.  Landry is developing into a solid Safety as well.  Depth will still be an issue as Reed and Rolle are injury prone and the only talented depth is Fabian Washington.  Rookie Tom Zbikowski will primarily play ST’s and back-up SS.

Special Teams Outlook:  

Yamon Figurs proved to be a quality return man.  He netted over 1300 return yards and 2 TD’s as a rookie.  The Ravens coverage units are very good, and by adding Zbikowski and ST’s stand-out Ayanbadejo should only strengthen the units.  Matt Stover is a solid kicker and Sam Koch is an average punter.

2008 Season Projections:

The Ravens offense should improve a bit.  Expect a power running attack sprinkled in with a lot of passes to RB’s and TE’s.  The QB situation and lack of playmakers at WR will keep this offense from scoring in bunches, but with their defense 20 points can win them most games.  If they can increase their scoring output from 17 to 20 PPG they could make some noise.  Expect the defense to not be as good as their 2006 form, but they should be a bit better than the 2007 squad was.  Too many old injury prone players and lack of depth will hurt the defense.  They may be closer to a top 10 defense again, but won’t be the dominant Ravens D of old.  Their offense should be improved, but all-in-all this team is likely still 2 years away from being worth a shit.                                                &n bsp;          

Ratbirds 2008 Season prediction : 6-10  (4^th AFC North)

Cincinnati Bengals 

   2007 Record: 7-9    2007 PF: 380   PA: 385

2008 Schedule difference:  KC Chiefs and NY Jets                &nb sp;                                      Team Strength:  Passing offense   Biggest weakness: Defense as a whole                   Key Areas of Concern:   Youth in secondary – Defensive Front 7 – RB’s - Turds

Key Additions:     Adding Antwan Odom to the mix should help the Bengals pass rush out a bit.  Justin Smith was a solid player, but they never got the production out of him they wanted for a top 10 pick.  New DC Mike Zimmer can only help a defense that has floundered for the past decade.  Look for him to mix in some 3-4 looks with their base 4-3.  Depth at LB was a major issue last year and adding Keith Rivers and Darryl Blackstock should solidify things a bit.   Look for rookie DT’s Pat Sims and Jason Shirley to immediately enter and improve the 4 man DT rotation.          Both drafted players had some character concerns coming out, so Cincinnati seems to be the perfect fit.

With Chad Johnson disgruntled, Chris Henry cut/suspended, and TJ Housyourmama an UFA after the season, the Bung drafted up Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell early in the draft.  Simpson projects as a rangy possession type in the TJ Housh mold.  I’d expect him to be the #3 this year and to take TJ’s job after he leaves as an UFA next spring.  Caldwell is another speedy Florida WR.  They tend to be busts, but as a #4 WR and eventual #3 in Cincy he should carve out a nice niche.  Anthony Collins was a 4^th round steal.  Look for him to replace Big Willie Anderson after this year at RT or possibly Levi Jones at LT if his health doesn’t improve this season.  Signing Ben Utecht away from Indy gives the offense a dimension it has never had before, a TE to throw the ball to.

Key Loses:    

Justin Smith would have been a bigger loss had they not signed Odom instead.  I think Odom fills the need better anyway.  Losing Chris Henry is a bigger loss.  He was deadly as a #3 WR.  A healthy Odell Thurman would have been a huge addition, but he was also cut / suspended indefinitely.  Drafting turds never works out Cincy!   The loss of Madieu Williams should hurt a little.  Cincy had some solid rookie safeties last year, but the depth and experience at the position is very thin.

Offensive Outlook:    

With Ben Utech and rookie Matt Sherry in the fold Cincy will finally have pass catching threats at TE.  Unfortunately Utech is just as deadly to his own team as the opponent as he is a dropped catch machine.  The WR corps is among the most talented in the league.  Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmanzadeh are as good as it gets for a starting tandem.  Rookies Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell should fill the #3 and #4 roles very nicely.  More depth is available with rookie Marrio Urutia and veteran Antonio Chapman.  Cincinnati has just about every size and style of WR available and should be able to out up a lot of passing yards and points.  Carson Palmer will again be a fantasy football star.

Quality offensive linemen are in abundance in Cincy as Stacy Andrews will battle Willie Anderson for the RT job, and both are quality players.  At LT Levi Jones should be backed up by a quality rookie in Anthony Collins.  Whitworth is a good LG and the mediocre Bobbie Williams could be challenged at RG by Stacy Andrews or possibly rookie James Blair.  Their Center spot is a weakness with the ho-hum Erik Ghiaciuc as starter and no real talent behind him.

Running back is still a bit of a question mark for Cincy.  Rudi Johnson slimmed down last year in an effort to transform from a power runner to a speedy finesse guy.  That went over like a fart in church and this year he is recommitted to being a power back.  He is on the downside of his career and can’t be relied on as a feature back any more. Kenny Watson and Kenny Irons are the back-ups here, but really aren’t much of a threat.   Irons, if he can stay healthy, will be in his first full season with the team.  He should provide a quality situational threat out of the backfield in the passing game.  Watson is an over-achiever, but is still just a mediocre player.

With the O-line healthier than last year and with some more solid depth added, they should rebound from an average year offensively.  We have been hearing Marvin Lewis talk about adding a power running game to the offense and go with more of a ball control approach.  He definitely has the horses upfront to do it, but I am not buying it in the slightest.  The new talent at TE and WR coupled with the mediocre talent at RB means Cincy will again take to the air a huge percentage of the time, like it or not.            

Defensive Outlook:    

New DC Mike Zimmer has his work cut out for him.  The incompetent Chuck Bresnahan seemed to be a man without a plan and the cupboards aren’t quite fully stocked to say the least.  The D-line has some new talent to work with.  Odom and Geathers should form a respectable DE combination on the line. The talent behind them in Rucker, Fanene, and Craig is very lackluster though.  In the middle John Thornton is a washed up never was who will likely be challenged by rookie Pat Sims.  Look for Sims and fellow rookie Jason Shirley to factor heavily into Cincy’s DT rotation.  The other starter, Domato Peko, has played fairly well at DT the past two years.

Linebacker was a cluster f@!k for Cincy last year.  This year rookie Keith Rivers and Dhani Jones should be opening day starters.  Ahmad Brooks should secure the Sam job over Rashad Jeanty.  Darryl Blackstock will be in the mix as depth at WLB.

In the secondary 3^rd year man Jon Joseph along side 2^nd year man Leon Hall will make for a solid starting CB duo.  Behind them journeyman Deltha ONeal is their only notable CB for depth purposes.  The Safety spot should be an interesting battle.  Aging vet Dexter Jackson should win a starting spot and 2^nd year men Chini Ndukwe and Marvin White should compete for a starting job.  Rookie Corey Lynch may also factor into the mix.

Special Teams Outlook:  

The Bengals are still searching for their return specialist.  Glen Holt didn’t really cut it.  Rookie Andre Caldwell may win that job.  The Bengals coverage units are fairly average and the large rookie class should help a bit there, especially safety Corey Lynch.   Kicker Shayne Graham is amongst the best in the league, and Punter Kyle Larson is decent enough.

2008 Season Projections:

The Bengals figure to be in the driver’s seat in the AFC North as they finished in 3^rd place last year.  Every year since the AFC North was founded in 2001 the team that finished 3^rd the previous year won the division the next year.  The Bengals offense should be even more explosive this year.  Last year all the Bengals had was their top two WR’s and Carson Palmer who wanted to go deep.  That coupled with a banged up O-line, no TE threats, and a slower and weaker Rudi Johnson at RB led to a downturn in offensive production.  This year the O-line should be healthier.  Cincy now has some TE’s who can be legit threats in the passing game, and they should be able to field 5 dangerous WR’s at a time if they choose to.  The defense that yielded nearly 25 points per game should improve slightly.  They are deeper at LB and DT, but still have holes at all 3 levels and will field a very young and inexperienced group as a whole.  They could possibly field 7 players with 3 years or less experience in the league on defense at times, and the transition to a new DC with some 3-4 looks should take some time.   The biggest thing going for Cincy is that 3^rd place schedule. KC and the NY Jets are much easier opponents than SD and NE will be for the Steelers.

Bungles 2008 Season prediction : 8-8  (T-2nd AFC North)

"That offensive lineman is there to stop me from getting to the quarterback.  he might as well forget it.  He'll just get caught between the stink and the sweat.  I'll kick, slap, gouge.  On that field, i take no prisoners."---Dwight White, Half a Ton of Trouble, Time Magazine...December 8, 1975 

#78 and Steelers great, Dwight Lynn White passed away today after a blood clot reached his lungs following back surgery a month ago.

I have found memories of White and the rest of the front four of the Steel Curtain because these are the guys that I watched as a young kid.  White was a cornerstone of one of the fiercest front fours in the NFL, a reputation that lives in 2008.  Joe Greene got a lot of the attention but White, Greenwood and Fats Holmes (died in January 2008) were absolutely instrumental in making the Steelers known as the Steel Curtain (Steve Furness was also key and is no longer with us).  I'm fortunate enough to have an autograph of Dwight and the rest of the front four and I'm displaying that proudly today.

The front four consisted of four black football players that went to colleges that many have never heard of.  In fact, White was the only one whose father had graduated from college.  Dwight, Greene and Holmes all came from Texas schools.

Dwight was drafted in 1972 in the 5th round from East Texas State.  Other rookies in that class included Jack Ham, Larry Brown, fellow front four member Ernie Holmes and Mike Wagner.  Greene and Greenwood were already on the roster.White made an immediate impact.  The offenses were changing from running to running and passing and the defenses had to adapt.  The front four, under Coach George Perles, did just that.  Their stunts (back then known as "you" and "me" stunts) confused opposing offenses.  Dwight was famous for a move that upper cutted his offensive opponent in the shoulder.

The front four was a unique cast of characters.  L.C. Greenwood was introverted and Dwight White was the extrovert.  Greene was mean and Ernie was a mental case.  Their common denominator was physical, smash-mouth football.  In short, this group was feared.  There were some good defenses in the '70s but the Steel Curtain will go down in history and it was anchored by White and crew.  Time Magazine was a reputable magazine focusing on politics and real world issues.  The Steelers' front four made such an impact, that Time Magazine did a exclusive look at this group in 1975, in an article called Half a Pound of Trouble. 

Dwight White is one of 22 Steelers that played in four Super Bowls during the 70's decade.  White is in the history books as being the first Steelers player to score in a Super Bowl.  In Super Bowl IX, White recovered a Fran Tarkenton fumble for a safety.  In Super Bowl IX, the Steelers held the Vikings to 17 rushing yards.  The amazing thing about White is when they arrived in New Orleans for Super Bowl IX; White was hospitalized with pneumonia and a lung infection.  In the course of a week, he lost 18 plus pounds but was hell bent on playing.

White recorded 55 sacks wearing the Black and Gold (they didn't have official sack stats then).  White was listed on the Steelers' 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.  Dwight excelled on the football field and played a fierce game.  He also excelled off the field as a stock broker and mentor.  White was mean but a genuinely nice and great guy.  White was a football placer that worked a second job (many had to in the 70's) finding young black kids from Pittsburgh jobs.

But make no mistake, Dwight could play defense.  He'll be missed by many and his death was abrupt.  Watching him play on TV and in person and idolizing the guy makes this a hard loss for me and the Steelers Nation.

"There are circumstances", says Dwight, "when I get so angry and pissed-off that I'll do damage if I don't cool down fast."

"There's no question that I'm schizoid," says White. "I may be three or four people.  I know I can be evil."

Rest in Peace Mad-Dog.

QUESTION:  How many years did the number "8" go un-issued before Tommy Maddox was issued it? 

Most of you know that Swissvale72, his brother Tony and I traveled to Pittsburgh this weekend attempting to beat out other Cliff Clavins of Steelers knowledge and facts during the KDKA/McDonald's Steelers Trivia Challenge.  We took 4th place out of 18 teams due to the excellent preparation by our coach, SteelersQT.

A little background on the contest.  Over 300 teams sent in applications.  After some interviews and resume reading, KDKA selected 18 teams with each team consiting of three players.  The 18 teams were bracketed and the tournament would consist of six preliminary games, two semi-final games and a final game.  Each game is televised on KDKA and the airing starts on July 12th. 

How the Game Works:

There are five rounds per game.

Round 1:  Questions are asked to all three teams and the quickest team to buzz in gets to answer.  Correct answers earn you points, wrong answers subtract points.  If you buzz in before the question is finished they will not complete the question.

Round 2:  Questions are directed at each team focusing on stats.  Correct answers earn you points, wrong answers are not penalized. 

Round 3:  Questions are asked to all three teams and the quickest team to buzz in gets to answer.  There are pictures associated with this round.  Correct answers earn you points, wrong answers subtract points.  If you buzz in before the question is finished they will not complete the question.

Round 4:  Eight questions are directed at each team.  Correct answers earn you points, wrong answers are not penalized.  If you get all eight questions correct, you get an additional 25 points.  Of note, in we answered all eight questions correct in our semi-final.  We were the only team in the entire contest to do so.

Round 5:  Questions are asked to all three teams and the quickest team to buzz in gets to answer.  Correct answers earn you points, wrong answers subtract points.  There is a two minute clock and the host (Bob Pompeani) asks as many questions as he can get in the two minutes.  The clock is always running.

Game 1:

We showed up at the studio and were the first game to be taped on Saturday morning.  They put the three teams into a waiting room and a KDKA person briefed us on the rules.  Basic rules but she emphasized no swearing, fighting, or taunting the other teams so apparently they've had problems with this in the past.  We had a challenge right off the bat drawing Tomlin's Trivia Trio.  This team was a semi-finalist last year and had three years of experience in this contest.  Tony answered the first question correctly and I buzzed in on the second but there were some technical difficulties with the studio.  They had to restart the game and erased our points.  We quickly took the lead and never gave it up.  Advance to the semi-final round. 

The Semis:

Again facing some tough teams.  Our semi focused on Wild Card games.  On Saturday night, the producer called me on my cell phone and told me to make sure we brush up on Wild Card info.  I thought he was giving us some inside info for whatever reason (the long distances we traveled, the hat I gave Pompeani).  As it turned out, the producer called each team member to tell them what to prepare for.  Wild Card games suited us fine.  This was a frustrating round because we knew every answer, except for two, in the entire game.  We simply could not buzz in.  We were as efficient hitting the buzzer plunger and the Penguins were on a 5-3 power play.  At first I thought our podium was malfunctioning.  As it turns out, we were just slow. Tony's wife was watching us and said we were always a split second behind.  

Swiss has more detailed info on the rounds on the message board:  http://www.steelerfury.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4827

The Waiting Game:

The winners of each semi-final game advance to the finals.  To fill the third team in the finals the team that finished second in the semis with the most points gets in on a Wild Card berth.  We finished with 415 points and took second in our semi-final.  We had to wait and watch the next semi-final to see if our point total would hold water.  It didn't and we figured we missed the finals by two questions.  Us hitting the buzzer at Jon Whitman speed ultimately cost us a chance to be in the Top 3 and a chance to earn some better prizes other than the McDonald's gift card we won. 

We plan to be back.  The teams we faced were knowledgeable, die-hard Steelers fans and good guys.  One of note was a replay technician that works NHL, MLB, NFL pre-season games and all of WVU's televised sports.  this guy was working the replays in the truck on Saturday night during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup.  The three teams that made it into the finals were of top quality and rightly deserved the honor.  I felt the three of us complimented each other well.  Each of us had our own specialty and if one didn't know, chances are someone else did.

Special Thanks:

• SteelersQT, our coach.  QT can crack the whip with the best of them and got our minds off trivial stuff like the economy, elections, real work and focused us on the important hundreds of pages of Steelers facts.  QT has noticed our flaw and has immediately implemented an off-season training regimen of text messaging and X-Box in order to get our plunger fingers some speed and stamina.
• Tony's better half, Ms. Betsy.  Gracious lady and she was our one person fan club and came to the studio  both days to cheer us on. 
• Bob Pompeani, the games Host.  Very nice guy and I'd imagine he'd be a blast to share a few beers with.
• Bill Shissler, the games Executive Producer.  Took good care of us and we thank him for selecting our team.
• The KDKA and One Gateway Center folks.  Very accommodating and friendly, helped make it a good experience.
• The Steelers Interns.  You came up with some impossible questions but they tested each team. The question about how many rushing yards did Mewelde Moore have last year screwed up everyone.

On the first day of the NFL combine I knew this draft was going to be wide open. Most drafts you can sit there with a defined list of the top twenty prospects from each position. The 2008 draft was very unique; every time I made a list it would change two day’s later. I stated weekly I have no clue what the Steelers were going to do…If I would have told you one week ago the Steelers will draft the number two rated running back in the draft in round one and the third best wide receiver in the draft in round two without trading you would think I smoked myself retarded.

I traditionally grade drafts harshly…I rarely agree with the main stream media. I follow one team religiously The Pittsburgh Steelers…Some of you will disagree with my grading I accept and welcome it.

1^st Round

Rashard Mendenhall Running Back Illinois

I believe this is a great pick. He is a four tool back. He can run the ball between the tackles, bounce the ball to the edge…Mendenhall runs with a great body lean, low pads and great vision. Mendenhall is a very good receiver out of the back field…He has the ability to split out wide and run routes…Mendenhall is fantastic in blitz pickup.

He is a perfect compliment to Willie Parker. Mendenhall is twenty years young with little wear and tear on his body. The question marks you hear about Mendenhall are two fold. Ball security…This is an issue and he must improve…He was awful as a sophomore…Improved as a junior. Mendenhall didn’t play hard until he became a starter. I say bull poo.

Final thoughts…Mendenhall may have been the best back between the tackles in this years draft…I am elated with the pick.

2^nd Round

Limas Sweed WR Texas

Another great pick…Way to Go Colbert!!! Sweed is the big target Ben asked for. Sweed is a great talent…He was the top rated Wr on my board for this draft. Sweed is the only “Big Wr” in this draft who regularly gets separation to beat man coverage. Sweed is 6-5 he runs sub 4.5 with big soft hands…He understands how to use that big body to shield defensive backs and attack the ball at its highest point. Sweed is a very willing blocker with great character.

The Sweed pick made my first day…The major knock on Sweed is his route running. I disagree with that view…Vince Young and Colt McCoy are great leaders -  both have struggled with accuracy throwing the ball. Sweed is a hard worker…TO and Randy Moss struggle with route running as well…They had decent 2007 seasons…Sometimes big men don’t look pretty. Sweed’s wrist injury checked out.

Final thoughts…Two years down the road at this time we still will be talking how much of a steal Sweed was in round 2.

Round 3

Bruce Davis UCLA Linebacker

Davis has a motor that doesn’t stop…He is relentless getting up field and attacking the passer. He anticipates the snap count and beats tackles out of their stance. I don’t like this pick…I really like the player…I don’t see where he fits. Davis opened his career at outside linebacker for the Bruins…Was moved inside to defensive end his junior year and exploded for 24 sacks and 43 tackles for loss over 2 seasons. Davis drove PAC 10 tackles nuts.

Davis was supposedly very impressive at his pro day workouts and at the combine playing in space. If Davis can drop into coverage and make plays…This pick was brilliant. I expect Davis to rush the passer and give Woodley and Harrison a blow in nickel and dime looks in 2008. Davis has all the intangibles you look for in a player. He plays hard, he plays with a passion, he is a very sound tackler…He leaves everything he has on the field.

Final thoughts…There is no denying Davis can rush the quarterback and cause chaos in the opposing team’s back field…If the Steelers are right and Davis can drop into coverage he will be a steal.

Round 4

Tony Hills Texas OT

Hills was an awful pick. He does nothing well. He is weak at the point of attack. He has slow feet…He is undersized and lacks playing strength. I would not have signed Hills as an undrafted free agent. I can’t think of a single quality player Hills faced in college and he failed to dominate…He actually was dominated.

Slow weak and small don’t feed the bull dog in the NFL

Final thoughts…Think Paul Wiggins…Think Chris Conrad…Think Kris Farris…Yeah that bad

Round 5

Dennis Dixon Oregon QB

Dixon has NFL arm strength. Dixon has NFL heart and composure. Dixon has a lot of tools to work with. Pre Knee injury he was a legit 4.5 guy…He out ran most defenders he faced. Dixon is not a scrambler and he is willing to read a defense…He has stones like Ben…He will sit in the pocket and take a pounding to hit the open receiver.

I have an opinion on drafting a quarterback…The player must be able to lead…Dixon is a natural leader. The player must have enough arm strength to make the opposing team respect the vertical passing game…Dixon has plenty of arm strength. The player must be able to process information quickly and make sound decisions with the ball…This I am not sure of…The players must have 2 seasons starting with at least a 60% completion percentage…Dixon does.

Final Thoughts…Charlie Batch is 34 years young…Ben plays quarterback like a kamikaze…Dixon has a lot of tools to work with…Pre Injury he was considered a second round pick…I would have preferred a defensive end…Dixon could develop into a quality player and become an asset to trade away in the future

Round 5 B

Mike Humpal Iowa LB

Tough farm boy with plenty of heart…He is a far better athlete then most people expect. Humpal doesn’t have blazing straight line speed…He plays sideline to sideline with plenty of quickness…He reads blocking schemes as well as any backer in this draft. Tom Bradley defensive coordinator at Penn St compared Humpal’s skill set and passion for the game to a former Steelers linebacker…Jack Ham.

Humpal is a run stuffing machine. He reads… He reacts…He tackles…The whistle is blown…Time for the next play. Humpal also does a decent job in zone coverage…He struggles to open his hips and run with a back or a tight end…He won’t be asked to do that often in Pittsburgh. Humpal doesn’t look pretty…He just gets the job done.

Final Thoughts…At this time next year at least ten of you will own Humpal Jerseys…He is not flashy…He is just consistent…He also hits like a cement truck when he comes free. I expect Humpal to contribute on special teams in 08…He could replace Farrior in 09

Round 6

Ryan Mundy FS Woody High

If he makes the team I will be amazed.

Final Thoughts…See above

I would also like to take the time to welcome Perch to the staff.

Meet the rookie class for the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Steelers.  (provided by www.nfl.com)

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Check back here often for the Steelerfury.com live blog, featuring thoughts and comments from Hardnosed, FC, Iron_City and Perch.

2:56PM EST - Hardnosed

We're a few minutes away from the ceremonial crowing of Jake Long as the #1 pick. That's when things get interesting. Kansas City has 13 picks - if they want Matt Ryan, they might need to go up and get him. Rumor has it the Atlanta Falcons will select Ryan with the 3rd pick. Reality or smokescreen?

3:00PM EST - Hardnosed

Raja Goodell introduces the "new streamlined version" of the NFL Draft, to massive boos. Before walking the catwalk, Jake Long was standing with Merton Hanks, who is now a senior manager and assistant director of operations for the National Football League.

3:13PM EST - Hardnosed

Schefter is reporting that Matt Ryan is the Falcons' pick. If so, it's unlikely the Falcons would still want to trade into the bottom of the first round. It also increases the chances of Kansas City taking an offensive lineman with the 5th pick, which could start a run on lineman. This is a bad thing for the Steelers if they wanted a lineman - their best chance was for the Falcons to take Glenn Dorsey and for the Chiefs to snag Matt Ryan at #5.

3:25PM EST - FC

The Steelers trade down possibilities with the Falcons went down the toilet after the Falcons selected Matt Ryan. The Falcons better find some linemen to protect Ryan...They better find some recievers who can catch the ball. I am suprised by the pick...I expected Glenn Dorsey to be the pic.

3:27PM EST - FC

The Raiders select Darren Mcfadden...I'm not suprised. Al Davis likes the Home run...DMC can take it to the house any time he touches the ball. How far does Dorsey fall? Do the Saints trade up?

3:30PM EST - Hardnosed

Saints will be all over Dorsey. We'll see if Jammal Brown is involved - that could really help the Steelers as far as linemen being available.

Did anyone see Al Davis' brother working the phones for the Raiders?

3:38PM EST FC

Chiefs take Dorsey...BPA. I like the player...Hate the pick..The Chiefs need OL DE CB help. The Chiefs offense was anemic last season. I dont believe Brody Coyle is the answer at QB...Larry Johnson has a ton of miles on those legs. Dorsey has to be the second coming of Warren Sapp to be a value pick.

3:43PM EST Hardnosed

I'm happy to see Gholston NOT go to the Pats. There are questions as to how good he's really going to be because of his motor, but he's a freak who could have really helped the Patriots.

3:46PM EST FC

J -E- T - S had to take Gholston...Smart pick...Gholston will mature into a every down pass rushing demon. The only knock on Gholston coming into this draft was motor...He will take downs off. Mangini and his staff will get everything out of Gholston.

3:47PM EST Hardnosed

Patsies are on the clock. Some mocks had them taking a lineman here, and I just can't see that. The Pats are likely trying to trade down, or they'll sit tight and take a corner. I've got to believe this is too high for Keith Rivers or Jerod Mayo.

3:51PM EST FC

And we have a trade....Pioli is a mad man. He has something going every year. I believe the Saints will go with a Trojan...Sedric Ellis

3:53PM EST Hardnosed

The Ravens traded down, the whole way to 26. That's a long way to go. Jaguars will select Derrick Harvey. There are 15 picks until the Steelers' pick, and even Ryan Clady is still on the board. Things are looking good for the PS, but the run is coming. Will Albert or Otah survive?

3:54EST FC

Saints take Ellis. I give the Saints credit...They are trying to build a defense. Ravens trade down with the Jags...Derrick Harvey looks like the pick

3:57PM EST SteelPerch

The AFC North team weaknesses remain. The Bengals defense will not get a dominant DT as Ellis was taken 1 pick before them and the Ravens missed their franchise QB in Ryan. They only have a tradeable 2, 4, 5 since their 3rd is a comp pick, so they probably can't get back into round 1 for the #2 or 3 QB.

4:05EST Hardnosed

Bengals select Keith Rivers. Great pursuit guy, very athletic. However, he's not very physical. Rivers is Odell Thurman without the baggage. Still, it's a major plus that the Bengals got stuck with Rivers - visions of Glenn Dorsey were probably dancing in many a Bengals fan's head.

4:08EST FC

The Bengals pick Keith Rivers...Rivers is a typical Bungels defender. I am not fan of Rivers...He looks great in shorts...He doesnt play with enough nastiness for my taste. I have a feeling the Pats take Mckelvin or Albert

4:09PM Hardnosed

12 picks to go, and Clady, Albert, Otah and Williams are all on the board. There's still a strong chance that they're all gone. The next few picks after Buffalo will tell the story. I have to admit, it's great to be a little over an hour in and be done with 10 picks.

4:14PM FC

Thank God the Pats took Mayo...I have watched him play at Tenn...I was not a fan...He doesnt take on blocks well at all...He doesnt read and react at a high level. He maybe a star...I've been wrong before. I think Mayo is a bust...Not half the player Al Wilson was at Tenn

4:23PM FC

Broncos select Ryan Clady...Great zone blocking tackle for a zone blocking team...Perfect fit. I am fan of the player...2 years down the road he will be considered the best LT in this draft

4:25PM Hardnosed

I'm with FC about Clady - he will be a much better left tackle than Jake Long. Carolina takes Jon Stewart. Great pick for them, and it keeps the tackles on the board. Chicago, Chiefs, Texans and Eagles are the threats left at OL.

4:35PM Hardnosed

Wow, Chris Williams goes before Otah and Albert. If the Steelers want either one, they should make a move. Detroit at 15 wouldn't shock me as far as a trading partner is concerned. The nice thing is, there's going to be a run on CB's as well.

4:41PM Hardnosed

I'm not entirely sure why KC felt the need to trade up. I don't think the Cards were a big threat for Albert. Maybe someone was trying to move into the Cards' slot.

4:48PM FC The Chiefs select....Brendan Albert as soon as I heard the trade announced I knew Albert was gone. The Chiefs are off to a good start in this draft...Dorsey and Albert is a nice start to any draft. I expect the Cards to take Mendenhall

4:56PM Hardnosed

And the Steeler fans rejoiced. Gosder Cherilus is off the board. I have to say that I'm shocked he was taken that high. For the Steelers, it's a waiting game. Houston's biggest need is at left tackle as far as their line goes, so Otah likely doesn't figure in. Philadelphia is still a major threat, but they might be enticed by their choice of wideouts.

5:03PM Hardnosed

Joe Flacco is going to be a very nice, very immobile target for Steelers' pass rushers. Dan McGwire, anyone?

5:09PM Hardnosed

Otah is off the board. The Steelers CANNOT reach down their draft board for an offensive lineman. They've got to be honed in on another position - they could have moved up to 19 with a 3rd round pick if Otah was their man. A receiver would not surprise me in the least. Hopefully Henne and Brohm stick around - the Steelers might find a suitor.

5:28PM Hardnosed

Sam Baker at 21? And a 3rd and a 5th as well? Stubby, shoddy-kneed Baker?

5:45PM Hardnosed

What a courageous pick by Kevin Colbert. He thought outside the box and brought in a talent that was projected to go within the top 15th picks. Kemo and Starks will love blocking for this guy, and power football is coming back to Pittsburgh. For those knocking the pick, Mendenhall has the potential to be the best Steelers running back since Franco Harris. He is the total package of size and speed, and is a natural runner with the vision and instincts that Willie Parker lacks. Parker will be more effective now that Mendenhall is on the team.

6:07PM Hardnosed

Duane Brown is the initial first round shocker, going 26th overall to the Texans. No matter what you think of the Mendenhall pick, it definitely wasn't a reach. Brown at #26 is a reach. If the Steelers want even a 2nd tier tackle, they might have to trade up in the 2nd round.

6:33PM Hardnosed

The Miami Hurricane's string of 14 years with a first round pick continues, as Kenny Phillips goes with the last pick of the first round. Chad Henne is available for the Miami Tuna.

One of the only knocks on Rashard Mendenhall is the fact that he doesn't carry the ball securely. Kirby Wilson has some work ahead of him to cure Mendenhall of some bad habits while he's toting the ball.

7:32PM SteelPerch

Well I nailed the Donnie Avery in the early 2nd, but figured he'd be the 3rd or 4th WR by then. WOW he went early and the big WR's are still on the board!

We are 9 picks away from the Steelers pick, and if Cincy passes on Groves I think he'll be a Steeler.

8:15PM Hardnosed

Limas Sweed is a great pick in the 2nd round and once again a terrific value.  Sweed and Holmes will make it difficult for teams to bring the kitchen sink against Ben.  Throw in Ward and Miller and it's quite a receiving corps.  Of course, the OL remains a question mark.  However, the re-signing of Starks and the signing of Hartwig gave the Steelers a lot of flexibility.  It appears highly likely that Starks will open at RT and Colon will compete with Kemo to replace Faneca.