Post Game Grades - Packers/Steelers

After watching the film and then checking it twice...I will pinch hit for IC this week on the report card.

QB A

First the negatives....Ben refuses to chuck the ball out of bounds when nothing is there. Now the positives. Ben had 223 yards passing and 2 td's in the first half...Ben showed why he is elite in this game....He took the team on his shoulders and willed them to victory. Ben made 10-12 wow throws in the game.

RB's B+

Mendy showed his tool box in this game. Mendy was very effective in blitz pickup...Mendy made a ton of plays in the passing game(6 catches)...Mendy became a threat the Packers had to account for...He allowed Hines Ward and Heath Miller to gain some space in coverage...Willie Parker sparked the club with 2 excellent runs...He also showed some spunk in blitz pickup. Moore can run routes like a slot receiver...He must finish plays...Catch the ball son. Moore was decent in blitz pick up.

Wr's/ Te's A-

Cant drop the ball boys. Heath Miller made critical plays in the passing game....His route running was crisp....He worked to get open...Best game of the year in the passing game. Miller was hit and miss in the run game...Miller's effort was off the charts in this game...All I can ask for. Matt Spaeth did a nice job in limited action in the run game...DJ Johnson finds someone to hit every play...Johnson pancaked the outside man on the line of scrimmage on the Mendy Td run...He continued to block to the echo of the whistle...Thats effort. Wallace Ward and Holmes played like an elite trio...Wallace showed a ton of heart in this game...He suffered a nasty gash below his knee...Ran to the locker room got sewed up..Back to the field to make the play of his career. Hines Ward manages to get open....The man can't run...Its not his age...He's hurt...He made play after play in this game. Santonio Holmes is lightning in a bottle....He has refined his game...He is becoming a technician.

OL B

Max Starks was taken to the wood shed....Mathews had the ability to dip his shoulder and rush 8 inches off the ground...90% of the tackles in the NFL would have been shit out of luck in this game. Mathews is for real...Mathews has a ton of physical talent...He takes advantage of everything possible...He had the Steelers snap count down by the 2nd quarter. Ramon Foster was a bright spot in this game...He struggled in the run game...He was on point in the passing game...He played solid. Justin Hartwig was over matched in the run game...Raji is more Hampton than Ratliff as a nose tackle...Hartwig did one thing well in this game...He didn't get walked a ton in pass pro. Trai Essex really struggled...I hope Urbik is for real...Foster doesn't have the mobility to be a quality NFL starter. Willie Colon played a pretty solid game. Colon will never be a dominate right tackle in the run game...His lack of height and arm length make him average at best in pass pro.

DL C-

The Packers couldn't run the ball...The Steelers defensive line offered little to nothing rushing the passer. Casey Hampton would get an "A" grade...Kiesel a D....Keisel lost containment on Rodgers allowing him to scramble for a touchdown...He was non existent rushing the passer. Hood showed little....Kierschke just battles and battles.

Linebackers B-

I looked for James Harrison quitting...I just didn't see it. Harrison needs to utilize more finesse rush techniques...Harrison is going to bull rush or rip time after time rushing the passer...He needs to add the speed rush...Maybe a spin move....He has to make the tackle move his feet after the initial pass set. Farrior was in passing lanes all game....I think Farrior played a very solid game. Timmons was also solid...He needs to increase his film time....He is in spots to make plays...He just doesn't anticipate well. Lamar Woodley is fantastic coming up field...He is awful in space...Woodley does a nice job with play recognition...He doesn't have the athletic ability to make plays in mid range zone coverages.

DB's F

The Steelers defensive backs were lit up like Christmas trees. I can not think of one positive thing to say. Ike showed signs of life...Ryan Clark laid the wood a few times. Willie Gay is terrible...Joe Burnett has potential as a nickel corner....He is not best suited to play outside...Kennan Lewis come on down....You should be the next contestant as the Steelers starting LCB.

Special Teams B-

Kick coverage still sucks. Reed is money in pressure situations at home...Speds didn't pound the ball...He wasn't very efficient....Logan did a nice job returning kicks for the most part...I like Logan. The potential of the big play is always there. Holmes and Logan should split punt return duties.

Coaching B

I hate the empty sets....Arians called some great plays against the Packers....Love him or hate him...Have some creditability and give the devil his due. LeBeau should strap on a helmet...He can cover better at 72 years of age then Carter. LeBeau is working with Special Olympic type of players minus Troy...Troy is a great big eraser for this defense.