Should they have put Antwaan Randel-El in for Tommy Maddox?

It was clear that Tommy can no longer guide the Pittsburgh offense. Perhaps the coaches should have tried to go with something different? :shrug:

On the other hand, he's only 5'9" tall. The defensive linemen for Baltimore would've had a field day batting down passes (or intercepting). We also couldn't afford to have a good receiver like him get hurt.

What do you think? Was this the coaching staff's screw-up?

It's going to be an interesting race for the AFC North. If Big Ben stays healthy, then I think they have a decent chance of running the table after the Indy game, which is a toss up in my mind (as long as Big Ben plays).

Pittsburgh
Indy, Cinci, Chicago, Minnesota, Clevland, Detroit

Cincinnati
Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, KC

My bet is that Pittsburgh wins the last four, with only Cinci and Indy in doubt. I also think that Cinci wins their last four with only Pittsburgh in doubt. I think Pittsburgh, to win the North, NEEDS to beat Indy next Monday to secure the North, otherwise it'll get interesting, and might be decided by a tiebreaker.

He was a QB at Georgia

The way they played today Hines Ward could have thrown to HIMSELF, and the offense still would have looked better than it did. :)

:evilgrin:

In my opinion.

Ward's senior year at UGa was '97
Randle El''s at Indiana was '02


http://www.nationalchamps.net/NCAA/heisman/heisman_trophy_winners.htm

That was so sweet. I remember being on message boards with Tennessee fan who were making borderline racist remarks about it.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.....

With two losses they could legitimately think a win at Indianapolis next Monday night could possibly provide home field in the playoffs, since they would own the tiebreaker over the Colts. But now that's all but gone. Of course, the Steelers have lost plenty of home playoff games under Cowher so maybe not such a big deal.

Maddox's confidence is shot. Throwing the pick return against Jacksonville in OT a few weeks ago eroded what little faith the team had in him.

He seems incapable of getting it back!

The Steelers need to get their shit together. The offensive line didn't exactly have a good game.

Maddox had ample protection, and the times that it broke down he just stood there like a tree. Sometimes getting hit head on, so there was no way he couldn't have seen the guy coming. He didn't even try and dodge, it seemed.

Big Ben makes plays happen by his mobility. He's difficult to bring down, and he scrambles really well. Not to mention his passing is heads and tails above Maddox.

Honestly Maddox didn't even look like NFL caliber. Batch, I was worried about, but proved himself to me in his one half of football. I think he's a good QB, I hope that half of football was enough to get him a look from other teams as a full time starter.

Maddox though. Good lord. Can't throw, can't run, can't scramble, what the hell's he doing back there?

Bring back Big Ben. Yikes.

He had 150 yards passing by half-time!

If sounds like Ben is still iffy for the Indy game. Oh lord, I can't bear the thought of Maddox playing against Indy.

Let's cross our fingers that Ben will be healthy. :)

Honestly as soon as they announced that Maddox was starting the vast majority of Pittsburgher's silently wrote the game off. You could feel the difference around here today. If they had won, people would have been pleasantly suprised.

So as far as the fans, and I bet the team goes, they realize that it's just a different offense under Maddox, than even under Batch. I'd be tempted to cut him, even at this poitn in the season. Cowher should have put Randel El in and just seen what happened.

Anyway as far as home field 'advantage', it hasn't worked out well for the Steelers lately in AFC championship games, so as long as they can skip the wild card round, get some rest, and then have one home game, before they travel to Indy for the Championship, I'll be happy.

Will he be ready for Indy? I can't remember what his injury is.

"Kick me!"

Rod Rutherford off their practice squad and give Tommy his release. Mix Rutherford in with Randle El at QB - couldn't be that much worse than Tommy.

I'm really ticked at Cowher's personnel decisions this year. Why was Duce Staley incactive again? He's supposed to be healthy. What is Cowher not telling the fans?

Cowher's fallen too in love with Willie Parker. Parker's an ok back but I don't think he'll ever be a great back.

I think this team may not make the playoffs this year or will be a wildcard. I really don't think they will get past the first round if they do. IMHO this team is not as good as last year with the exception of a very few players like Ben.

The coaching all around sucks a bit this year.

Give Rutherford some time to learn the system. They need a backup who can run at least a little bit!

The coaching was extremely poor on Sunday, and that's not the only time this season it's been that way.

:hi: