At Odds With Life : Pittsburgh Steelers: Dan Marino, Kevin Colbert, Ben Roethlisberger, and other Random Thoughts.

Kevin Colbert, hands down, is the best general manager in the National Football League. His track record is insane. He has pulled gems from the late rounds: Chris Kemoeatu 6^th round, Larry Foote 5^thround, Brett Keisel 7^th round. He has signed undrafted players who were major contributors, Willie Parker and James Harrison. Amazingly, he also may have pulled the trigger on three future Hall of Famers in Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, and Maurkice Pouncey.

Here is my question. Why in the hell can’t he get it right with selecting a cornerback? Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy, but he shoots more blanks than an 80 year old man with a chronic weed habit. I truly thought once Tomlin came in, because he is a secondary coach, we would have better luck in that department. Wrong.

Some recent acquisitions at corner: Tuff Harris, Crezdon Butler, Anthony Madison, and Donavan Warren. Yea… Not exactly the 81 49ers….

Dan Marino NOT being drafted by the Steelers. I was watching the NFL network, and there was an episode about the best draft classes. Dan Rooney was quoted that his father Art was on his death bead and reportedly told him “You should have drafted Marino.” Powerful shit right there

I have a little insight as to why he may have not been drafted. Everybody knows that Marino fell in the draft because of drug use rumors. I have a buddy that is a functional crackhead/comedian. He told me “The first time I used cocaine was at a party at the University of Pittsburgh , and Marino gave it to me.” The next time I heard about his tendencies was when I was speaking with a player from the Kansas City Chiefs. He told me it was common knowledge that Marino would come to games drunk and proceed to throw for 400 yards…

O.K I know I have my black and gold tinted Steeler Homer glasses on right now, but Ike Taylor is the best pound for pound corner in the NATIONAL football league. Fuck Namdi Asomugha. I have watched Ike shutdown Terrel Owens , Chad Johnson, Andre Johnson, Randy Moss, and Larry Fitzgerald for almost four quarters of Super Bowl 43.

Ike Taylor is VERY good, plus he is as physical as or more physical than any corner in the league. He has to be in Dick Lebeau’s scheme. He is a shutdown corner who is tough against the run. I wouldn’t trade him for any other corner in the NFL.

My problem with him is that his hands have not gotten any better. We all know he couldn’t catch a cold running butt naked in Alaska . My thing is, where is the improvement over the years? We all hear about athletes working on some facet of their game to improve themselves. I have never heard a story about Ike Taylor staying after practice to catch 500 passes. Not to say that it didn’t happen, but I think we would have heard about it. If his hands improved he would EASILY be able to command $10 million a year, but that’s his bed…

I Love Ray Graham in a non romantic way. I wish Colbert could pick cornerbacks, like Pitt recruits running backs. Shady McCoy, Dion Lewis, now Ray Graham..Fuggedaboutit….

The Steelers offense is poised for a record setting year. I believe this in my heart. Whatever you want to say about our line the fact remains that we went to the Super Bowl with them. They blocked for a 1200+ yard rusher and protected a quarterback who threw for 3200 yards in just 12 games.

Rashard Mendenhall is ready for a true breakout year. He is a big, powerful man with very quick feet and sprinters speed. He is like the BUS in his senior year of high school. 230 pounds of Man. I feel that he will be used more in the passing game, which will make him even more dangerous. I look for Rashard to have over 1800 yards from scrimmage this year with 15 touchdowns to boot.

The Young Money receiving corps is going to be bananas. I love Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown because the game is not too big for them. They both have made big time plays in big time games as rookies. The sky is the limit for them, plus they have blazing speed and run precise routes. Look for the Steelers to put up numbers like the Greatest Show on Turf : the 1999 St. Louis Rams or dare I say score more than the record setting 1998 Vikings. Mike Wallace’s goal for himself is to get 2,000 yards receiving, which is a lofty but attainable goal. I’m hoping that Hines gets his 60 catches to get to 1000 for his career. This would be another step to validate his candidacy for the Hall Of Fame. Heath Miller is the best all around tight end in the game, his number suffered last year because Ben liked to show his Johnson to underage college girls…

Which brings me to Benjamin Roethlisberger. I hope all the haters and critics take their medicine because Ben is going to have a sick year. I’m talking about 4,000 yards 35 touchdowns type sick. He is in his prime as we speak, and he has a lot to prove. I heard Ben say that his goal is to win 5 rings, that shit can happen. Our Super Bowl window has been open for a long ass time, I always hear commentators talking about the window is about to close on some schmuck’s championship aspirations. Not over here! Our window has and will be open like motherfucker, especially as long as #7 is healthy and we keep drafting smartly. Remember you heard it here first, the Steelers will have an NFL record breaking offense in 2011..

Do you believe in reincarnation? If you don’t I have proof it exists.MaurkicePouncey is the reincarnation of Dermonti Dawson. If you were lucky enough to have seen Dirt play live, you know I know what I’m talking about. Both players are extremely athletic for big men, and they both have a mean streak. Both men can handle and move 350 nose tackles, and have the audacity to pull. Pulling from the center position!! It’s a Burgh thang, and you wouldn’t understand it.

I have been watching football for over thirty years and have only seen two centers pull. That includes little league, high school, college and professional. Those men are Dawson and Pouncey. I think part of the reason we lost the Super Bowl was because Pouncey was injured. My son is four years old. I hope Pouncey is retiring when my son is a junior in high school. Do the math….

Attention Hall of Fame voters take your head out of your collective asses and put Dawson in the Hall. He deserves it. That’s another article though…