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J-Unit · 08-07-2006, 06:18 PM

The steelers see a VERY hard schedule, I dont see thim winning 14 games, especially beating Cinnci twice.

**K Train** · 08-07-2006, 06:36 PM

Why not, as long as carson palmer has been playing he beat the steelers once by 6 points when ben broke his thumb and couldnt throw the ball accurate at all, he had 386 yards, but 4 picks and he doesnt throw alot of picks,(except the SB). My point is that the steelers have the bengals number and carson wont even play in the first one.

I really dont like making excuses, im not takin a win away from cincy, but the facts are there.

J-Unit · 08-07-2006, 06:53 PM

We are not sure if he wil play in the first one or not. The latest news is that him being ready for opening week was up in the air. However he might be able to go around week 3.

Blitzburgh Steelers · 08-07-2006, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Unit

The steelers see a VERY hard schedule, I dont see thim winning 14 games, especially beating Cinnci twice.

They beat the Bungles twice last year, and barely lost the 3rd game. Beating the Bungles twice is not going to be too hard, especially if Palmer is injured, and Thurman is in jail...errr I mean suspended lol. The Bengals don't have the defense to beat us, even if both teams were completely healthy. Last year, 2 of the 3 games the starting QBs were injured in. When our QB was injured, they won. When theirs was injured, we won. When both played, we won easily. Last year we beat them by 14 points twice....when they won it was by 7. Combined scores are 96-61. SO that's an average score of 32-20. It is a hard schedule though, that part I'll agree with you on.

J-Unit · 08-07-2006, 07:06 PM

Regardless if they beat the Bengals both times, they wont win 14 games. The schedule is too tough. How are they going to win more games this year, with not improving at all.

**K Train** · 08-07-2006, 07:11 PM

No way does he play in the first game, i was thinking around week 4, but thats a stretch. Him being way ahead of schedule is a false statement. You know who else was way ahead of schedule....chad pennington who still hasnt really played. If he comes back to soon he gets hurt and lewis wont risk that, hes an immobile QB but he still has to move. I tore my ACL two years ago, no way hes ready 8 months after, cincy is playing games saying he'll be ready

**K Train** · 08-07-2006, 07:27 PM

Its actually an easy schedule

Dolphins-opening week, prime time at heinz field coming off a super bowl..i'd be surprised.

Jax-Beat the tommy maddox steelers last year but it took 5 ints and 5 quarters.

Chargers-River will be lucky to have a winning season.

Cheifs-Have an awful defense, and no one runs the ball on the steelers.

Raiders-Aaron brooks with his erratic pass, might as well have kerry collins.

Broncos-Did you see the AFC championship...it was sad.

Falcons-Vick is trash, he cant pass and you cant run on the steelers.

Panthers-Steelers have corners that can cover steve smith, tough game but the steelers are amazing on the road.

Bucs-Chris simms isnt that good and caddilac wont run either.

Saints-Reggie Bush isnt that good

Browns-No

Ravens-Are good at home, but Steve Mcnair will get stabbed by ray lewis JK

Bengals-well, they are good, but they dont have defense.

Now realistically their not winning all these games, but they are all winable games. 14 wins is about right, they had 15 when he was a rookie.

And the two receivers and a safety in the draft, and the safety in free agency inst improving? they addressed all of their needs plus duce will take over short yardage since hes getting a training camp this year.

Blitzburgh Steelers · 08-07-2006, 07:48 PM

Damn, had a long post all typed up and it locked up when I sent it. I'll try to duplicate.

Ok, reasons why they'll be better this year than last. First off they wouldn't have lost more than a couple games at the most if they'd stayed healthy.

#1, Big Ben healthy. Most of the games they lost last year were because of the injuries to Big Ben. He was either out and the backup QBs threw the game away, or playing injured (Bengals game) and that led to bad passes cause he couldn't grip the ball.

#2, a more experience Fast Willie Parker. Last year was Fast Willie's 1st season with considerable playing time, and 1st year starting since HIGH SCHOOL. He still rushed for 1202 yards, and word out of camp is he's blocking and receiving so much better, and seeing things better so he'll be a stud this year.

#3, a more experienced Heath Miller. Heath started midway through last season as a rookie TE. He made huge plays at times, and this year he'll get a lot more chances, and he's really good already.

#4, Max Starks is back for his second year as a starter at RT. He looked very good last year towards the end, and should carry over to this year.

#5, Kenall Simmons will be back for his 2nd year starting next to Starks at RG. Simmons has been a 3 year starter, but missed all of '04 with injuries. Those 2 together on the right side should solidify the line...the left side is set with Smith and Faneca, and stalwart Hartings is anchoring it at Center.

#6, the WR should be faster this year. Washington and Wilson will have a 2nd year of experience in the system, and the 2 rookies should really be able to stretch the field, something they didn't have at all last year.

#7, Ike Taylor becoming a true cover corner. If he held onto the INTs last year, he's guaranteed all pro. Led the league in Passes Defensed, and admitted he dropped like 10-15 INTs he should've had last year.

#8, Bryant McFadden showed brilliance in big games making big plays as a rookie. He should supplant the average Deshea Townsend as our other CB. He's going to be damn good here soon, better than Ike I think.

The loss of the Bus won't be an issue. He was a backup, and he should've retired years ago anyway. Duce is a much better RB when healthy...look at '04, he tore it up prior to his injury, and all reports are that he was healthy for 2/3 of last season but inactive due to Bettis.

Kimo is easily replaceable, and his replacement in Keisel is familiar with the system, and will actually provide some pass rush ability that Kimo didn't have.

Randle El caught 35 passes last year, and had 3 pass attempts, easily replaceable.

Chris Hope at FS is the only loss I'm remotely worried about. Some Steelers' fans thought he was a chump; a product of the system, and easily replaceable. I thought he was pretty dang good though, and might be hard to replace. We do have 3 guys in there right now competing for the starting FS spot vacated by Hope's departure. Carter who has started at SS before in the NFL, Clark who had a role in WA last year similar to Hope's, and the 2nd round pick Anthony Smith, who is supposed to be a ball hawk and ST demon (field goal blocker especially).

So overall, the reason we'll be better is the experience of our key young guys I mentioned, and hopefully Ben will stay healthy. Or maybe more accurately, it's not so much we will be better, just without the injuries alone we would've been around 14-2 last year.