Mendenhall excites Tomlin

The Pittsburgh Steelers may not be having the kind of season they hoped they would have, but head coach Mike Tomlin is excited about this new starting running back.

While Rashard Mendenhall had a very disappointing rookie season that was cut short with a shoulder injury, he is beginning to blossom in his second NFL season.

The running back has found his way into Tomlin’s doghouse at different times during the season, but it seems like he is finally starting to get what it takes to be an NFL player.

Tomlin said that Mendenhall is slowly rounding his way into an all-around running back who can not only run, but also block and catch passes out of the backfield.

He said that he is on the verge of becoming the next Ray Rice, which is very high praise. He has certainly taken away all of Willie Parker’s playing time, and it looks like the veteran will soon be on the free agent line.

Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 10:01 am by steve

Steelers sign Galloway

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran wide receiver Joey Galloway to a contract, giving them additional depth at the position.

The team is concerned about some injuries to their wide receivers corps for the final two games of the season.

The Steelers placed wide receiver Limas Sweed on injured reserve because of a non-football related illness.

Head coach Mike Tomlin refused to disclose exactly what is wrong with Sweed, citing his privacy.

Hines Ward is still battling a hamstring injury and might not play this weekend, so Galloway could have a significant role if he is unable to go.

Friday, December 25, 2009 at 10:03 am by steve

Steelers stun Packers, 37-36

The Pittsburgh Steelers used an amazing play as time expired to gain a 37-36 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a monster day, throwing for more than 500 yards and three touchdowns.

The biggest touchdown pass came on the last play of the game when the quarterback hit wideout Mike Wallace in the front corner of the end zone for the game-winning score.

It capped a long drive by the Steelers in the final two minutes of the game that potentially saved their season.

The Steelers are still on the outside looking in, but at least the victory keeps their ever so slim playoff hopes alive.

Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 11:45 am by steve

Steelers stunned by Browns, 13-6

The Pittsburgh Steelers saw their playoff hopes evaporate into thin air in a stunning, 13-6 road loss to the hapless Cleveland Browns on a very chilly night by the Lake.

For whatever reason, Pittsburgh could not get their offense untracked against a Cleveland defense that isn’t highly regarded.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger struggled all night to find open receivers and was sacked eight times.

The running game was effective at times but the Steelers elected to go with a more passing oriented attack.

The Steelers now have nothing left this year but pride to play for and the chance to be a spoiler for other playoff contenders.

Friday, December 18, 2009 at 5:36 pm by steve

Playoff Hopes on Life Support After 13-6 Loss to Browns

Five weeks ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers were 6-2 and looked ready to defend their Super Bowl championship deep into the playoffs.

Now, after a five game losing streak has knocked them down to 6-7, the Steelers will likely be watching the playoffs from their couches.

The Steelers capped an incredible slump with a 13-6 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, redeeming a miserable rookie season for Browns coach Eric Mangini, and casting serious doubts among the defending champs.

“To lose five straight coming off a Super Bowl from last year is embarrassing,” wide receiver Hines Ward said. “There’s nothing fun about losing games, especially five in a row. We’re better than that. We should play better than that. With three games left, you’re going to see who really wants to go out here and play for the pride of this organization and this city and who doesn’t want to be around here.”

Playing in a sub-zero wind chill, the Steelers had their worst performance of the year against the formerly 1-11 Browns, racking up only 217 yards of total offense. The Steelers rushing attack, usually the bread and butter of any Pittsburgh team, only gained 75 yards all night against the team that had the 32nd ranked rush defense coming into the game.

No wonder head coach Mike Tomlin called it the lowest point of the year for the Steelers.

“We’ve found new and different ways to not rise up at critical moments and we’re losing football games because of it,” Tomlin said. “This one happened in all three phases.”

Monday, December 14, 2009 at 12:01 am by bryan

Ward out vs. Browns

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without star wide receiver Hines Ward when they take on the rival Cleveland Browns.

Ward injured his hamstring toward the end of the team’s disappointing home loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Head coach Mike Tomlin warned the media all week that it was pretty doubtful that Ward would be able to play.

Expect rookie wide receiver Mike Wallace to see a lot more time on the field in Ward’s absence.

After losing to the Raiders, the Steelers find themselves likely needed to win out to reach the postseason.

Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 9:32 am by steve

Steelers stunned by Raiders, 27-24

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell apart in the fourth quarter in a stunning, 27-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Pittsburgh surrendered nearly 200 passing yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall was a force on the ground for the Steelers, rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown.

Wide receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward combined for more than 200 yards of receiving and two touchdowns.

With the loss, the Steelers have now put themselves in a precarious position in terms of reaching the playoffs.

Friday, December 11, 2009 at 3:59 pm by steve

Ward Practices Lightly, Still Unlikely to Play

Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward practiced lightly on Wednesday despite a hamstring injury, but he remains questionable for the Steelers’ game against Cleveland on Thursday night.

The Steelers, who have lost four straight games and suddenly find themselves in the thick of the playoff race after starting 6-2, desperately need all the offensive weapons they can get every week. But with the sadsack 1-10 Browns on the schedule tonight… if Ward was going to miss a game, this was the ideal game to be missing.

Tyler Grisham was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster earlier this week, giving the Steelers a potential replacement receiver in case Ward can’t go.

Cornerback William Gay, who was also questionable for Thursday night’s game after sustaining a concussion against the Steelers, practiced on Wednesday but is still listed as questionable.

The Steelers will have Charlie Batch as their No. 3 quarterback after releasing Tyler Palko from their roster. If they come down to the point where they need Batch to come into the game… they could be in serious trouble, as Batch continues to recover from a broken left wrist.

Thursday, December 10, 2009 at 10:16 pm by bryan

Steelers’ Ward, Gay Likely Out Against Browns Thursday

After a crushing loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday put the Steelers’ playoff hopes in serious jeopardy, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin announced a slew of injuries that his team accrued during the game.

Hines Ward, the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver, hurt his hamstring late in the loss to the Raiders on Sunday, and Tomlin called him “very questionable” for the Steelers’ upcoming game against the Browns on Thursday.

“We’ll see where it goes, but it’s not favorable for him,” Tomlin said.

Starting cornerback William Gay also suffered a concussion during the Raiders game on Sunday, and will likely miss this week’s contest against the Browns, given the NFL’s new concern with head injuries lately.

Tomlin is looking to make some significant changes to his starting line-up to give the Steelers their best chance to make the playoffs, as they would likely need to sweep the remaining four games to make it in.

One thing he’s not worried about? The reaction from his players to possible lineup changes.

“They’re pros,” Tomlin said. “I think they understand it, and I think to a degree they’ll agree with me. That’s the nature of this thing. We can’t stay status quo in terms of how we approach this thing and expect guys’ behavior or the outcome to change. That’s unrealistic.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 12:20 am by bryan

Slumping Steelers Shocked by Raiders, Upset 27-24

Yes, the Steelers have lost three straight and haven’t looked at all like the Super Bowl champions they were from last season… but they still entered their home game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday as two-touchdown favorites.

With Bruce Gradkowski at the helm for the Raiders, the Steelers sure weren’t expecting another fourth quarter collapse… but that’s exactly what happened, as Gradkowski tossed three TD passes in the fourth quarter of the Raiders’ stunning 27-24 upset of the Steelers.

The Steelers’ and Raiders’ defenses dominated the game for the first three quarters, giving way to an offensive shootout in the fourth quarter. The teams traded leads and touchdowns five times, with Gradkowski hitting WR Louis Murphy with an 11-yard TD strike with nine seconds left to swing the game one last time.

“We played poorly at a critical time, so you lose when you do that,” coach Mike Tomlin said.

In his first game returning from a concussion, QB Ben Roethlisberger was his usual effective self, completing 18-of-24 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns (along with one interception), but the Steelers defense allowed Gradkowski and the Raiders to move at will in the fourth quarter.

As a defense, you want to be dominant,” cornerback Deshea Townsend said. “The way to be dominating is when your team needs you to finish.”

“I can’t even describe how frustrating it is right now to be 6-6,” linebacker James Farrior said. “We thought we’d be doing a lot better at this point. But we are what our record says we are.”

at 12:18 am by bryan