Came to Play

Came to play - Game 4

Lawrence Timmons - All over the place
Ben Roethlisberger - nice throws and finally, a completed 4th quarter comeback
Rashard Mendenhall - Nice game
Shaun Suisham - Clutch kicks this week although I don't have much confidence in him
Ryan Clark - Huge strip of Vick

Didn't come to play

Willie Colon - you gotta be kidding me with all those holding calls
Antonio Brown/Mike Wallace - you guys gotta make some catches for your quarterback...Brown dropped that one in the endzone and Wallace couldn't hold onto a few including that lob from Roethlisberger which could have gone a long way

Misc - If Polamalu isn't 100%, why is he out there? Even when he was in, he wasn't a factor. He needs to be 100%.

 

Keisel showed up. As did the offensive line. Ben had the best protection today I've seen in a loooong time!!

 

Troy said he didn't have any problems with his calf leading up to the game so I'm not sure why he would have been held out.

Ben has plenty of 4th quarter comebacks.

 

I'd add- Jason Worilds, for coming in and doing well when Woodley went out, and Max Starks, for standing tall in pass protection and recovering a critical fumble- to the Came to Play list.

When DeCastro cracks the lineup, it will be for Colon, not Foster.

 

I'm always hating on Mendy for dancing in the backfield, but i give him mad props today for running like he used to, North, south, and find the holes then hit them hard. Only negative about Mendy is how he holds the ball while running, he lost it once for sticking it out too far instead of tucking it away. ( that drives me nuts) Looks like Redman is getting his strength back he was moving the pile again, always fun to watch.

Timmons was a monster today

 

Roehtlisger has had many comebacks...just not many recently. Going back to SuperBowl vs the Packers, he has had several chances to bring the team back. Not saying it's all his fault. It's been a team problem that they have not been able to come back in the 4th quarter, but he is the quarterback.

 

I agree about Mendy and how he holds the ball. It drives me nuts....I'm always yelling at the TV "HOLD ON TO THE BALL". Very careless and it will cost him and the team at some point this season like it has in the past.

 

Totally agree here. Worilds takes a lot of heat on this board, deservedly so, but I belive he played well today. I was glad to see him making some plays.

 

While I hate the way he swings the ball while running too, it really has not hurt in the past. Mendenhall has excellent stats when it come to touches per fumble - way better then most feature backs in the league. The one in the SB had nothing to do with the way he holds the ball, as 95% of RBs cough that one up when hit instantly with helmet on ball just after the hand-off by Mathews. The one he lost today just slipped out (I think cos it just started raining pretty good at that time).

 

Well... At least he didn`t contribute to the penalty fest, so, he shouldn`t show up on "The News"(Tomlin`s weekly review of mistakes)....
But Colon, and Foster, sure will..
I am one of Keisel`s biggest fans.
I was expecting him to take over a bit of the veteran leadership role vacated by Aaron Smith...
Unfortunately, I have yet to see it(And I HAVE been watching)...
He had probably his best season so far, last year, and I really expected him to continue, this year, but so far... He just hasn`t.

 

I was yelling at the tv about that too lol

 

I think they should just have Colon wear mittens, either that or just amputate his hands...that should reduce the holding calls.

 

I didn't say he was great, just that he showed up. He was aggressive. First time I saw him do anything this season.

 

There's just not enough negativity here for me to adequately respond, but here goes...

Antonio Brown was held by the Eagles' DB going into the endzone. Slowed him down just enough to disrupt his timing. Had the DB not pulled his jersey we would have had a highlight film. I saw it, why didn't the ref see it?

Actually I can't blame the refs for Colon's holding, he flat out pulled his man down every time. He's got to know better. Like on the long Mendy run that got called back. The clock in his head has got to say, Mendy is past the line, let up. But no, he tackles his guy to the ground long after Mendy broke through the line. The coaching staff needs to hold him accountable for this. No excuse, but this is only his 4th game in the last 3 years.

Just wonder how far Mendy would have gone had he not coughed up the ball in the open field. Thank God it went out of bounds.

 

Because when he goes out on the field he gets hurt. Better to keep him on the sideline and have the other team wonder if we are going to put him in.

 

Exactly how does that manifest itself? Throw deep until Troy comes in to stop it?

 

Yes I agree, I give Mendy props for the way he ran today. Especially in his first game back in awhile. He ran hard. Yes tuck that ball away Mendy!

Timmons was a monster today. Hope to see more of this from Timmons!

 

Honestly, and admitted this in another thread, I am just frustrated that Troy can't stay on the field. I love the guy and think he is one of the all time greats. He has been such a game changer in the past that it is hard for me to see him on the sideline watching the game. Anyhow, no more snarky post concerning Troy...he has earned every bit of my respect and I will give it to him no matter where he is gameday!

 

I believe in one of the interviews on Steelers.com, one of the reporters mentioned Timmons saying he had more free reign, that day. Maybe they are making play calls that have him holding back, based on scheme?

 

HERE! HERE!

 

Yeah, I always think someone's gonna just slap it away...

 

Perhaps the scheme was dictated by James Harrison being on the field

 

I thought Worilds came to play and of course HEEEEEEEEEEATH. I was also glad to see Timmons out there getting his name called. And if you pay any attention to what I usually say about him it aint good. But I can give credit when it's due.

 

Lol! Yeah the opposing offense paid so much attention to #92 that the other LBs were left alone. Tunch Ilkin even pointed that out on Steelers Live on Steelers.com.