Pre-season # 1:  The Steelers got to do a rehearsal for the September 21st game against the Eagles (the one that means something).  Pre-season # 1 is important for folks looking to make the team and we got some looks at some new faces.  The Steelers looked good and all three units faired well.  I liked the free-agency addition of Keyaron Fox but I'm not sure he'll be around for the final 53.  The running back situation is a good news story as are the wide receivers.  #1 pick, Rashard Mendenhall, got his share of looks leading the Steelers with 34 yards.  Mendenhall is going to be a welcome addition to the backfield but needs a little work.  He needs to improve on his aggressiveness hitting the holes and learning not to run upright.  He destroyed veteran Quintin Mikell on his first pro carry.  Imagine the impact that Mikell would have received if Mendenhall would have dropped his shoulders rather than standing as tall as Yao Ming.   Limas Sweed led the way with receptions as part of another solid unit.  Sweed is going to be a special player and from what I've heard from Hardnosed after watching him practice for a week, the kid has a tremendous work ethic.  I've learned over the years, it is often useless to analyze Pre-season # 1.  This game was about first contacts and individual performances.  A few thoughts:

• The defense was vanilla but that was to be expected.
• Ernster had a solid game punting.  If he continues, he will re-enforce my argument about drafting punters.
• I had hoped that we'd see more offensive looks.  Philly took advantage of this.  They had passes thrown to 15 different targets to our six.  McNabb, while in the game, made some solid use of his receivers during a game.
• I thought one of the major plusses out of this game was the lack of penalties by the Steelers in the first half.  If I recall correctly we had one and the Eagles were at six or seven.  This shows some discipline and you don't normally see that during the first Pre-season game.
• Tony Hills may be this year's wasted draft pick.  I'm sure FC can comment further on this.
• The goal of a Pre-season game is to come out injury free.  That did not happen as Batch is out with a busted collarbone.  This injury is going to make camp interesting this week.  Tomlin said that he would not go on injured reserve, but I don't see how much choice he has in that matter.  The Steelers need a quality back-up and have little choice to wait until Batch is health, most likely after the bye week.  It appears, from the Post-Gazette, that Byron Leftwich may join the team today.  There were rumors that Culpepper was also going to be inked but that is looking like a typical Internet rumor.  Dixon played a good game but with the history of Ben, we need a QB that can come in and play at the pro level.  I think this is the end for Charlie Batch.  He has been injured before, he is old and I think he is done. 
• Dixon.  The kid really surprised me.  I did not watch a great deal of him in college, but I was surprised with him looking like a QB.  I was expecting a Kordell type QB.  He is a project and I think will develop into a good NFL QB.  But what do I know?  I recall a 3rd string QB that went 15-1 a few years ago.  You never know what is going to happen.

Saddest Picture of the Week:  As many know, Hardnosed attended training camp last week and was armed with his binos and camera.  He snapped this photo of Casey Hampton after practice ridding to the dorms in a golf cart (with the punter).  His head is buried in shame while passing by the crowds.  My question is: Why is he riding to the dorm?  Is that walk too rigorous for him?  I like Casey but he is on the PUP list right now due to his physical fitness level.  Tomlin took a hard line approach with him and I appreciate that.  I have little sympathy for an athlete that is paid millions to be out of shape; that is their job.  My old friend from stillers.com, StillMill, paid an unexpected visit to my house this morning on his way to Pittsburgh.  We've disagreed on many things but we agreed that while Tomlin took the hard line, why wasn't someone monitoring him earlier?  The anchor of the defense has turned into an anchor. 

The Olympics:  I'll fully admit that I had a dilemma on Friday.  Watch the Steelers or watch the Opening Ceremonies.  The reason is that I'm an Olympic junkie.  I planned my retirement around these games so I could watch the unprecedented coverage.  Many readers will think I'm nuts for watching a parade instead of the Steelers and Bradshaw2Ben would say I'm even crazier for watching a tape-delayed parade.  Thanks to Tivo, I watched the Steelers and then watched the Opening Ceremonies.  I've watched every Olympics since 1976 (first I really recall) and China raised the bar.  I can't dance or any of that crap but the Opening Ceremonies from Beijing was phenomenal and I can't wait to see someone try top it.  London has no chance to do it.  Israel and Palestine would both agree that this was the best Opening Ceremonies in Olympic history.  If you haven't watched it, you missed out on the best parade ever performed.

NFL Network:  Horrible production.  They have some great things during the week, but their games are miserable.  There are High School kids that can produce better shows.

What is Coming Up:

• The Gospel.  Often called one of the best pre-games on the web.  FC will lay it out for you.
• We will continue to be the only fan site that I know of that gives prizes for contests.  Hardnosed has one going now to pick the Final 53 man roster:  http://www.steelerfury.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5444
• We are looking at doing some sort of PodCast during the regular season.  More details to follow but Bradshaw2Ben has some knowledge in this and like everything else here, it will be first class.
• We may be doing some things with another site.  This week, I_C did a round table with www.postgameheros.com : http://www.postgameheroes.com/?p=2582 We have some ideas out there that will make both sites better. 
• More in-depth analysis from FC, Hardnosed, I-C and Perch on our main page.  Some of the best writers out there.  Remember, we are one of the few fan sites that are not message board centric.

• 3Rivers' Fantasy football leagues.  He runs one of the most competitive on-line drafts that you will find.  http://www.steelerf ury.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=9&sid=e9aa32c4fdd71b675b7355234cb8fd2e

< /ul>