Report Card Time. Time to face the music. Post game edition

Posted Mon, 09/08/2008 - 00:00 by Iron_City

QB’s – A++:  Ben Roethlisberger is a man amongst boys.  He plays fluid, effortlessly,  and his vision is up there with the best in the league.  He is methodical and surgical in his reads. .  He finishes with 147.0 QB rating and 9.8 YPA for the day.  That’s Johnny Unitas s@!t right there.  Backup QB Byron Leftwich has a windup that player in the league can steal 2nd base on.   He lacks touch and composure.  But he holds a clipboard as well as anyone. 

RB:s – A++: Fast Willie showed why he’s going back to Hawaii this year.   His vision and patience seem to get better every game and every season.  138 yards and hitting paydirt 3 times.  I didn’t see one flaw in his game.  Backup Rashard Mendenhall pounded the defense into submission into a stacked box late and I give the kid a win for holding onto the football.  Together they combine for a nice 4.7 YPC.

WR/TE – A++:  Another (++) grade for this unit.  The Steelers skill positions are set for a long time.  Other than a Santonio Holmes fumble and a bullshit pass interference call on Hines Ward, they also played fast and flawless.  Anyone saying Hines Ward is slowing down needs their head examined.  What really stuck out in my mind was the perimeter blocking of the TE’s and downfield blocking of the WR’s.

OL – B+:  The OL did allow a pair of sacks including a fumble and long return to one of the best young pass rushers and MLB’s in the league in Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans.  Other than that,  they completely dominated the P.O.A. and the left side of the line,  especially,  played fast and furious in the run game with Marvel Smith looking Anthony Munoz like downfield in the run game.  The new guy in the middle played pretty dam good as well and if this unit performs like this the rest of the way the Steelers are legit Superbowl contenders.

DL  - A:  Completely controlled the run game by holding the Texans to 3.8 YPC with a long of 14 yards that came late in mop up time.  The front remain as dominant as any group in the league and veteran wave player Nick Eason even notched a half a sack. 

LB’s – A+++:  Absolutely dominant.  Remnants of Blitzburgh.  3 sacks by James Harrison with counterpart Lamar Woodley recording a sack/FR/INT to have a big day himself.  Both will be up for AFC POW honors.  The trio of ILB’s played ferocious in the run game and quick in their drops.  James Farrior brings the heat up the gut while Lawrence Timmons closes on the ball carrier.  This unit is set and the best in the league.

Secondary – A:  Will the real Troy Polamalu please stand up.  He showed why he’s an All Pro and plays fast as hell as the safety tandem brought the heat while playing fast.  Texans all world WR Andre Johnson did grab 10 balls, although mostly in garbage time.

Special Teams – A+:  The coverage units were also completely dominant holding the Texans average starting field position at he 22 yard line and showed why guys like Donavan Woods made the roster.  They showed more discipline in each attempt than at any point last season.  The return game was adequate as well giving the Steelers average starting field position at the 26 yard line with rookie Rashard Mendenhall compiling a team leading 23 yard average.  Mewelde Moore proved to be sure handed with a couple fair catches and K Jeff Reed continued to not disappoint by coming out perfect again with a FG and 5 PAT’s.  New guy Mitch Berger came out with a sufficient 41.3 net.

Coaching – A++:  Mikey T. keeps the streak alive with 6 consecutive opening day Steeler wins by having his team fully prepared to compete.  I pray OC Bruce Arians continues his flawless gameplanning putting the naysayers to rest and what else can be said about the chancellor himself,  Dick LeBeau.  The guy is a mad scientist with a headset.