Houston We Have a Problem. A big Problem

What the fuck am I supposed to do? 

The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Houston 2-1. They got blown out by the Ravens, blew out the Seahawks, and barely beat a Petyon Manning-less Colts. The Texans were also 2-1 coming into the game and favored by 4 points, they won by 7. 


The game started off excellent for the Texans and terrible for the Steelers. The Texans scored a touchdown on their opening drive that lasted 19 plays, 10 minutes, and 55 seconds. 


The Steelers defensive looked old and slow, yet again. Maybe Warren Sapp was right? 


Arian Foster ran for 155 yards on 30 carries, including the game-winning 42-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. Foster reminded me of Fred Taylor today. Taylor used to do this to the Steelers all of the time. 


Teams are no longer trying to just spread the Steelers out and throw the ball. They're lining up motto-e-motto and winning the battles in the trenches. The Steelers are getting beat up front on both sides of the ball. 


Honestly, the Texans were doing a good job of keeping the Steelers in the game. They committed several key penalties in the first half, two holding calls, and a crucial block in the back call that nullified a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown. The score should have been 17-0 Houston at the half. 


The Steelers hurt themselves with penalties in the first half as well. Mike Wallace caught a pass for a first down inside Houston's territory, then he got called for taunting and the Steelers got moved back 15 yards. 


Towards the end of the first half the Steelers got the ball down inside the five yard line. Then center Maurkice Pouncey got called for a personal foul which moved the Steelers back 15 yards. That led to the blocked field goal. 


The offensive line as a hole was dreadful. Roethlisberger was sacked 5 times and was under constant pressure for most of the game, and has been for most of the season. 


Today was not the typical Ben trying to hold on to the ball too long either. Only 1 of Roethlisberger's 5 sacks were him trying to do that. The offensive line stinks and there's not much they can do about it. 


Roethlisberger threw the ball very well when he had time. Unfortunately he got hit late in the knee, again, and reportedly left the stadium in a walking boot and on crutches. 


That's what happens when you surround your $100 million quarterback with a $5 offensive line. 


Rasharad Mendenhall, otherwise known as Osama Bin Mendenhall left the game with a hamstring injury. Before he left the game he had 9 carries for 25 yards. Yet people treat Mendenhall like he's an elite running back. He's decent at best. 


Mendenhall 9 carries for 25 yards. Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore had 10 carries for 74 yards combined. Just saying. 

Mendenhall is looking very overrated right now. 


Hines Ward had a big drop on a third down after Roethlisberger made a nifty play to get out of the sack. Ward had one catch on the day. His play and value continues to decrease as the weeks go on. 


Wasn't Ward supposed to be in better shape because of Dancing with the Stars?  Hey it's not like Hines cares, he already got his trophy this year. 


Mike Wallace failed to get 100 yards for the first time this year but still had 4 catches for 77 yards. Wallace has clearly been the Steelers’ best player through the first quarter of the season. 


Antonio Brown had 5 catches for 67 yards but was targeted 10 times. Brown failed to make the proper adjustments on several blitzes. Brown is still young and raw in that area. 


James Harrison and Aaron Smith both left the game with injuries. Harrison left the game with what looked like a concussion and Smith left with a foot injury. 


The decision to bring back Smith is just looking worse and worse as the weeks go on. Smith hasn't been playing well and is once again injured. He's making $6 million this year and is one of the highest paid players on the team. That money could have very well went towards the offensive line. 


Same goes for James Farrior, Larry Foote, and Casey Hampton. All of these guys look old, slow, and washed up. Yet they're all making really good money. Hampton and Farrior are two of the 10 highest paid players on the team. 


The Steelers have invested the majority of their draft picks and money on an aging defense. They drafted two defensive ends in the first round of two of the last three drafts. Yet they kept both Brett Keisel, injured, and Smith, also injured. Good call. 


The Steelers vaunted defense got blown off of the ball all game, forced 0 turnovers and had 0 sacks. 7 of the Steelers' 10 highest paid players on the team are on the defensive side of the football. Yet none of the have made any plays. 


Troy Polamalu and the secondary actually played a decent game. Matt Schaub only threw the ball for 138 yards, although Andre Johnson left the game in the 2nd quarter. 


Steelers also had a 3rd and 2 inside the red-zone and did a draw from the shotgun formation after they had run the ball for 90% of a good drive. Why? Why not run the ball from a traditional formation or why not do a bootleg play-action pass there? Typical Bruce Arians. 


It's not panic time yet but if the Steelers don't improve their blocking and their run defense this could be a long year. More to come later. 


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