Tree of Life

27 Jul

Power wins big

published in category: Sports Talk Radio on Sunday, July 27th, 2014 – 6:26 pm

The Pittsburgh Power led from wire-to-wire, ending the 2014 regular season with its franchise record 15th win and also extended their franchise-best winning streak to 12 straight after a 64-34 victory over division rival Philadelphia Soul (9-9) in front of a season-best crowd of 9,549 tonight at CONSOL Energy Center.

Power quarterback Tommy Grady threw for 7 touchdowns and moved into 9th place on the AFL’s all-time touchdown list. Grady finished 15-of-23 for 136 yards. Receiver Prechae Rodriguez caught a game-high 4 touchdowns. Shaun Kauleinamoku caught 2 touchdowns and Hank Edwards and James Shaw each added one touchdown a piece for the Power.

Defensive back Virgil Gray had a pair of interceptions, breaking the franchise’s single-season record for picks. Gray also had a game-high 7 tackles – all solo.

The Power got on the board first when Grady found Rodriguez for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Kicker Julian Rauch’s extra point was good giving the Power a 7-0 lead. After a lengthy possession lasting 5:13, the Soul failed to convert a 4th and goal from the 7-yard line when Gray broke up a Dan Raudabaugh pass in the end zone. The Power used the turnover on downs to their advantage and 5 plays later, Grady found Edwards for a 7-yard touchdown catch extending the Power’s lead to 13-0. Rauch’s extra point was wide left.

The Soul started the 2nd quarter with another lengthy drive lasting 7:43. On 4th and 10 from the Power 14-yard line, Gray intercepted Raudabaugh, returning the ball to the Power 10-yard line. However, the Power could not capitalize on the turnover when they were stopped on a 4th and 1 at their 19-yard line. Philadelphia got their first points of the game at the 5:59 mark of the 2nd quarter when Raudabaugh found Anthony Jones for a 16-yard touchdown. Soul kicker Jon Striefsky converted the point after making the score 13-7. After a failed onside kick attempt, the Power would start their next drive at the Soul 10-yard line. Unfortunately, the Power could not take advantage of the good field position and turned the ball over on downs. However, Philadelphia could only advance the ball 4 yards in the ensuing series, giving the ball back to the Power with under a minute remaining in the quarter. Three plays later, Kauleinamoku hauled in his first touchdown of the game from 14 yards out. Rauch’s kick was good giving the Power a 20-7 lead. The Power defense held the Soul to a quick series – 31 seconds, forcing a turnover on downs with 12 seconds left. Grady found Rodriguez on 1st and goal from the 15-yard line for a touchdown. Rauch’s kick was good giving the Power a 27-7 lead heading into halftime.

The Soul’s first possession of the 3rd quarter lasted only 4 plays, as Gray made his second interception of the game and returned the ball 35 yards to the Soul 5 yard line. On the next play, Grady connected with Rodriguez for the duo’s third touchdown on the game. Rauch kicked an extra point making the score 34-7. On Philadelphia’s next play from scrimmage, back-up quarterback/jack linebacker Arvell Nelson intercepted Ruadabaugh and returned the ball 10 yards for a touchdown. Rauch added the point after extending the Power lead to 41-7. Philadelphia responded with a 7-play, 45-yard drive that ended with a Derrick Ross 1-yard rush for a touchdown. Striefsky’s extra point attempt was good and with 5:24 remaining in the quarter, the Power led 41-14. The Soul’s attempt at an on-sides kick was unsuccessful, as Kauleinamoku recovered the ball at the Philadelphia 10-yard line. On the next play, Kauleinamoku scored his second touchdown of the game from Grady. Rauch’s kick was good making the score 48-21. Philadelphia responded with a 28-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Bryan Randall to Emery Sammons. Striefsky’s added the extra point. Pittsburgh led 48-21 heading into the 4th quarter.

The Power wasted no time adding to their lead in the 4th quarter as Grady found Rodriguez in the end zone for the 4th time. This catch was from 4 yards. Rauch kicked the point after, making the score 55-21. Philadelphia answered with a score when Randall found Markee White for an 8-yard touchdown to make the score 55-27. The Soul went for a 2-point conversion – Randall threw ball incomplete behind the line of scrimmage, which is a live ball that resulted in a crazy chain of events in which five different players touched the ball forcing it backwards towards the Power end zone. Sergio Gilliam was the only person to possession the live ball, grabbing it at the 2-yard line and plunging into the end zone for a 2-point conversion. This increased the Power’s lead to 30 points at 57-27. With Nelson in at quarterback, the Power converted a pair of 4th downs in the ensuing drive that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown pass to Shaw. Rauch kicked the point after giving the Power a 64-27 lead. Philadelphia closed out the game’s scoring with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Randall to Jones. Striefsky kicked the point after to make the final score 64-34.

Next up for the Power is the first round of the 2014 AFL Playoffs at Orlando on Sunday, August 3 at CFE Arena. Kickoff for the game is set for 2:00 p.m. A Power victory over the Predators coupled with a Cleveland loss means the American Conference Championship game will be at CONSOL Energy Center.

MEDIA AWARDS

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Tommy Grady, Pittsburgh

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Virgil Gray, Pittsburgh

J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME

Arvell Nelson, Pittsburgh

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME

Rodriguez 4th quarter touchdown catch

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME

Sergio Gilliam’s 2-point conversion

Posted in Sports Talk Radio

 

27 Jul

STEELERS CAMP BLOG by Ken Laird

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, July 27th, 2014 – 6:13 pm

camp

The Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up Day 3 of Training Camp 2014 about twenty minutes early due to severe weather entering the Latrobe area. Thus ends the non-padded practice portion of camp, with live hitting and tackling due for tomorrow.

The first weekend at St. Vincent College passed without much major news to report beyond a few injuries that bear watching: safety Mike Mitchell beginning on the physically unable to perform list (groin), as well as running back Le’Veon Bell (hamstring) and wide receiver Martavis Bryant (groin) leaving Sunday practice early.

None of the above injuries are believed to be serious.

The Steelers are expected to welcome to practice LG Ramon Foster for the first time Monday as he returns from a personal absence (death in the family). In his place the team has filled in with Cody Wallace (who re-signed with the team on a three-year contract in the offseason) on Saturday and Chris Hubbard (who spent 2013 on the team’s practice squad). Wallace was running second team center on Sunday as opposed to first team LG.

One of Sunday’s featured drills was one of head coach Mike Tomlin’s signature “situational” drills with the team focusing on 3rd-down offense. In one notable snap, Ben Roethlisberger had four of his five skill positions filled by short targets: 5’10” Antonio Brown, 5’11” Markus Wheaton, 5’9” Lance Moore, and 5’8” Dri Archer. Roethlisberger chose to hit his one tall target, 6’7” tight end Matt Spaeth.

Archer, however, put his speed on display throughout the weekend on a number of swing passes and check downs. He’ll be one of the most watched newbies this week when the pads come on and the hitting begins.

Archer also was taking first-team reps at punt returns, with Wheaton, Moore, and Jeannette’s own Jordan Hall filling out the depth chart. No sign of Antonio Brown yet in the return game.

Ken Laird
Talk Show Host / Reporter
TribLIVE Radio at Triblive.com
M-TH 9am-1pm; F 10am-2pm

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

25 Jul

Goodell Suspension of Rice by Robert Norton

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, July 25th, 2014 – 8:38 am

Dear Mr. Roger Goodell,
I have a few very serious questions to ask you. You levied a suspension on Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens of 2 games without pay and an extra $58,000. This means Rice will miss the first two games of the 2014 season and lose around $700,000 of total pay. He didn’t take illegal drugs. He didn’t drive intoxicated. Ray Rice physically assaulted his fiancé. There is video evidence of him dragging her unconscious body from an elevator after the altercation. There is no question this happened and he even admitted as much. Where has your iron fist gone? Where are your morals? Since when is laying hands on a woman less significant and less punishable than alleged allegations, things that happened during a players college career, drug abuse, or driving under the influence? Think about that while I refresh your memory about a few past suspensions you handed out, and in some cases didn’t.
In 2010, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused by a woman in Georgia of sexual assault. He was questioned over and over again by the police and members of the GBI. Ultimately they felt there was not enough evidence to charge him with the accused crime. This means he was NOT guilty of a crime as his actions were not deemed punishable by law. However, you decided it was punishable under the leagues personal-conduct policy, originally suspending him for six games before reducing it to four.
In 2011, Terrelle Pryor was trying to enter the league earlier than he had planned due to an NCAA suspension for receiving free tattoos, driving a number of vehicles supplied to him and other players and making money for signing autographs. He entered the NFL Supplemental Draft and was selected in the third round by the Oakland Raiders. After being selected, you suspended him for five games. Five games for these allegations from his time in college at Ohio State.
In 2008, James Harrison was arrested for criminal mischief and simple assault against his girlfriend. He was NOT disciplined for these charges by the NFL and had his charges dropped in court when he completed an anger management class. I believe the chargers against him being dropped and the NFL taking no action against him were both wrong. He was however fined, in total, over $100,000 and suspended one game for helmet to helmet hits. In today’s day and age with what we know about concussions and head injuries I agree helmet to helmet hits are wrong and should be punished accordingly, but more so than assault, and more specifically assault against a woman?
All the way back in 2006, Odell Thurman of the Cincinnati Bengals was suspended for 4 games for missing a drug test. At the time he didn’t fail it, he just didn’t show up to it. An assumption can be made he missed it because he would have failed it but that is nothing more than an assumption. While under suspension for the missed test, he was suspended for two full seasons for driving under the influence. I have absolutely no problem with the suspension for the DUI. I feel suspensions for incidents such as this should be very strict. The problem however lies with your consistency in suspensions. Is missing a drug test with a DUI on top of it worse than striking a woman? That can be debated for days, but I don’t think it is.
This past offseason, Indianapolis Colts Owner Jim Irsay was caught driving intoxicated. He admitted to taking many medications but refused to take a blood test. In the vehicle he was reported to have over $29,000 in cash and other prescription drugs. He has also been linked to a woman, whom he gave a $139,000 townhouse, who was a known drug addict whom died of an alleged drug overdose shortly after his arrest. NFL team owners are essentially your bosses. Is that why you haven’t taken action against him? Why are you sending the message that it’s okay for an NFL owner to be associated with such people and incidents but not players?
What is the message you are trying to send to children who idolize these men and consider many of them to be their hero’s? From the looks of it you are telling them that striking a woman is wrong (anywhere from no suspension up to 2 games for first offenders) but smoking marijuana or taking any performance enhancing drugs is much worse (anywhere from 2 games to a 4 game suspension for first offenders). Since you took over as Commissioner of the NFL there have been 103 suspensions for substance abuse. Why have all of these been handled quickly and efficiently with mostly 4 game suspensions but, in the case of James Harrison, Ray Rice and others, these incidents have been handled with a slap on the wrist? The message you are sending to fans of the fans of the NFL, especially children, is just downright laughable.
Tell me if I’m wrong but I think I have it all figured out. It is worse to be have someone accuse you of a crime, take or use an NFL banned substance, drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or accidently shoot yourself in the leg (Plaxico Burress) than it is to strike a woman. That’s preposterous.
You are supposed to be setting an example. You, as well as the owners, coaches and players are role models for a countless number of people from all corners of the globe. Every Sunday during the NFL season I put on my teams jersey with pride. I wear it because I want to represent my favorite team as well as my favorite league. I wear it because I know there are more “good” people in the league, doing good in the community, than there are those who are doing wrong off the field. Every time I put on my jersey I also show my support to you because you are in charge of the greatest league in the world. I don’t agree with the message you are sending. It just doesn’t seem right to support you or your league now.
I do have one more question for you Mr. Commissioner. What happened to your leagues integrity?
I’ll understand if you need to grab a dictionary. You have to know what integrity means before you can answer.

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

23 Jul

Clint Hurdle Show

published in category: Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 – 10:14 am


Posted in Pittsburgh Pirates

 

23 Jul

Defensive Position Battles by Robert Norton

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014 – 8:55 am

The 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers defense ranked 9th against the pass, 21st against the run and 13th overall in the NFL. Looking from the outside one may think they had a pretty good year. However, anyone who has followed the Steelers and bleeds black and gold knows those rankings are far from the norm in this town. Digging deeper into the stats reveals something much more troubling. They finished tied for 18th in takeaways (14 INT’s/10 Fumble recoveries) and tied for 25th in sacks with 34. Pressure leads to sacks. Pressure leads to turnovers. This leads to the most pressing question surrounding the Steelers defense, where has all the pressure gone? The 2014 team is built with speed, and getting after the quarterback is the main avenue to success in a Dick LeBeau defense. We will see a lot of new faces on the defensive side of the ball this year, so let’s start with where the most change will occur, the men up front.
Defensive Line
Brett Keisel is no longer on the roster and Evander “Ziggy” Hood is preparing for his first training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In their place the Steelers brought in Cam Thomas, originally a nose tackle who can play defensive end from the San Diego Chargers, and they drafted Stephon Tuitt in the second round out of Notre Dame. Tuitt is the more athletic and physically capable of the two, but he is a rookie. Here’s a trivia question for you. In Dick LeBeau’s storied coaching career, how many rookies have started for his defense? Before you start trying to name names, I’ll tell you the number is zero. That is all about to change in 2014. With Cameron Heyward already penciled in at one end spot, the battle for the other is between Tuitt and Thomas. I would be shocked if Tuitt doesn’t only win this battle, but wins it running away. He is too special of a player, baring an injury, to be on the bench when the season starts. Also, don’t count out Da Beard coming back onto the roster at some point.
With the defensive end battle settled, the defensive tackle fight will come down to Steve McLendon and Cam Thomas. With these two guys fighting for a starting spot, let me be the first to say, Casey Hampton, we miss you. This is a very interesting contest between the two, given the run stopping woes of 2013. I see the McLendon holding off Thomas to start the season, but that could all change in a hurry if he doesn’t clog up the middle so the linebackers can roam free to make plays. Keep your eye on this battle all season, it could be something we’re talking about for months to come.
Linebackers
This is a position the front office has focused on in the past two drafts. Jarvis Jones, drafted in the first round in 2013 for the outside and Ryan Shazier was drafted in the first round this past May to roam the inside. The two outside linebacker spots are set. Jones and Jason Worilds were penciled in as soon as the team released Lamarr Woodley. The only battle here is at inside backer, but it still isn’t much of a competition. Lawrence Timmons will be, without question, the main cog that makes the defense run. The other side, however, is where the question may lie. Shazier will be battling the starter from 2013, Vince Williams. Williams did a decent job last season but he cannot physically compete with Shazier, who comes in and should be the fastest player on defense from day one. That says a lot about his skill set. If he ever gets out of position, he is faster than most receivers and tight ends in the league. Unless something very strange happens, not only will LeBeau have one rookie starter when the season begins, but two. Shazier and Timmons will be running wild in the middle of the defense. Do I see a rookie of the year? That may be a stretch but it most certainly wouldn’t be a surprise.
Secondary
Ike Taylor, to the displeasure of many Steeler fans, will be the top corner starting the season. There is no question he had a bad year in 2013. Was it a fluke or is father time catching up with him? Only time will tell, but to be blunt he has to be better for the defense to succeed this season. The other corner spot opposite Taylor is up for grabs with William Gay and Cortez Allen fighting for the job. Gay has shown flashes in his career but they have come too few and far between. Allen is four years younger and much quicker than Gay but the experience factor is in Gay’s favor. Being the NFL is now a passing league, it really isn’t more than a competition to see who will cover the slot as the nickel back in most packages. However, I see the Steelers sticking with the elder statesman for the starter in base packages and going with Gay.
Safety really isn’t much of a competition either. Ryan Clark’s days in Pittsburgh are done and Mike Mitchell was brought in from last year’s top rated pass defense in Carolina to replace him. Some are saying Mitchell will fight with returner Shamarko Thomas for the starting role across from mainstay Troy Polamalu. I just don’t see that happening. Mitchell was brought in to start for this team. He is more athletic, quicker and more physical than Thomas, which is what the Steelers love about him. Unless there is an injury, Thomas could play like Donnie Shell in camp and the preseason and still wind up as the top backup to both Mitchell and Polamalu.
Defensive Outlook
This year’s defense is set to be much younger and faster than in years past. Dick LeBeau is going away from his comfort zone and will start two rookies, Tuitt and Shazier, in two very important defensive positions. Youth and speed are just what this team needed to become more of a force in today’s NFL, and that’s exactly what they tried to bring in this offseason. However, there are two main questions facing this team as training camp looms just a few days away, and they are very closely related. First, can they get pressure on the quarterback? Pressure leads to sacks, turnovers and a shaky passing game. It leads to poor decision making from the opposing quarterback. This leads to the next big question for the defense. Can the unproven secondary be better than they were last year? If the men up front do their job and get after the opposing quarterbacks, the only answer is yes. If not, we may be in for another long season where scoring 30 points a game won’t guarantee a win. For the 2014 Pittsburgh Steelers defense, the key word is pressure. That’s not just the key word on the field, but off it as well. If they don’t get pressure on Sundays, many players and coaches could be feeling a great deal of it as the season progresses.
st-jones

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 

22 Jul

Brock Lesnar returns

published in category: Wrestling Reality on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014 – 3:06 pm


Posted in Wrestling Reality

 

22 Jul

Ike Taylor In-Studio

published in category: Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014 – 9:36 am


Posted in Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh Steelers

 

22 Jul

Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Position Battles and Outlook by Robert Norton

published in category: Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014 – 8:58 am

The Pittsburgh Steelers report to Latrobe on Friday with many question marks throughout their roster. Many positions will be up for grabs when the team takes the field for the first practice of summer this Saturday. Many new faces will be trying to unseat familiar ones on a team that went 8-8 for the second straight year. Some of these battles are for starting jobs while others are for backup or special team roles. Only one thing is certain, the team will look much different when this season opens versus Cleveland then when it ended against them last year.
Wide Receiver
There are four players who are locks to make the team. Antonio Brown, Marcus Wheaton, Lance Moore and Martavis Bryant will all be on the roster in some order when the season begins. The battle here will be for the second starting receiver behind Brown. Wheaton has a year under his belt with the team, albeit an injury filled one. Moore is entering his ninth season in the NFL and first away from New Orleans. His best season was in 2008 when he caught 79 balls and 10 touchdowns. Bryant is a rookie from Clemson who comes in with all of the intangibles but is very unpolished. The best bet here is for Moore to start opposite Brown with Wheaton coming in on three wide receiver sets and Bryant when four wide receivers are called for.
Justin Brown impressed coaches during OTA’s but is battling for a roster spot with free agent pickup Darius Heyward-Bey and Derek Moye. Brown, a sixth round selection in 2013, spent all of last season on the practice squad. DHB, a former first round pick, is a speedster who has done nothing but underachieve during his career. Moye cracked the lineup last season but only managed two catches, one of which went for a touchdown. I believe if the Steelers only keep one, it will be Brown. If they keep two of these receivers, Moye and brown should be the two with DHB the odd man out.
Running Back
The battle here is not about who the starter will be, or even who will remain on the roster. Le’Veon Bell will be the starter and feature back in Todd Haley’s offense with LeGarrette Blount set as the second string and change of pace back. Rookie Dri Archer is also all but guaranteed to make the team as the third back. His speed and small size give him the versatility and game changing ability every NFL coach covets. Will Johnson will be listed as the lone fullback on the roster.
The main question surrounding the backs is how will the touches get distributed? With Bell being the main guy, I see Blount spelling him at times and coming in for short yardage situations. Archer can, should and will play many roles for the offense. He will play running back as well as wide receiver and kick returner. I will not be surprised to see all three running backs on the field at once during different situations this season. They all bring different and valuable skills to the table and if used properly can present major problems for defenses around the league.
Offensive Line
The offensive line should and will be better this season because of the return of center Maurkice Pouncey from a season ending knee injury 8 plays into the 2013 season. It’s safe to say right guard David DeCastro, who was the one who mysteriously blocked Pouncey’s knee on that play and never seemed to mentally recover, will be back on board and ready to go when the season kicks off. Ramon Foster was undrafted but has turned into a fine offensive lineman and should man left guard in front of Roethlisberger. The major question marks rest in the tackles. Former second round picks Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert will be fighting for a starting job alongside former seventh round selection Kelvin Beachum. The best bet, before new offensive line coach Mike Munchak has an entire training camp to bring the best out of the young men, is the line will look the same as it did to end last season. From left to right it should be Beachum, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro and Gilbert. The biggest question with the line lies with Adams. Can Munchak get the best out of Adams, who has all of the potential but has not been able to put it use on the professional level? My bet is Adams will be better but will not start the season as a starter. However, as any Steeler fan will tell you, it’s only a matter of time before injuries happen up front and backups will be called on to fill the holes left behind.
Tight End
Heath Miller should be back at full strength for the entire season after getting a late start last year recovering from an ACL injury. Matt Spaeth will be on the field a good bit with Miller as more of a blocking TE. When Miller and Spaeth were on the field together last season the Steelers averaged almost 30 more rushing yards per game than without that pair. It’s safe to say they will play together a lot in two TE sets. Fullback Will Johnson will also play a good bit of his snaps at TE as opposed to fullback. 2014 seventh round selection Rob Blanchflower has an excellent chance of making the roster based on his ability as a big body to block and get open in space. The odd man out of the equation should either be David Paulson or Michael Palmer. Paulson has caught 13 balls in two NFL seasons with the Steelers while Palmer has only one reception under his belt last year. The deciding factor will be who can play a bigger role on special teams. My guess is Palmer will win the spot based on that alone.
Offensive Outlook
The 2014 Steelers offense should be improved from the 2013 version but two big questions loom. Will the offensive line remain injury free and will the young receiving corps be able to get on the same page as Roethlisberger? Those two questions will be the two biggest ones as the season begins and progresses. Roethlisberger should remain one of the most trusted and reliable quarterbacks in the league and he should remain more upright, thanks to a more seasoned offensive line coached by one of the best minds in the game in Munchak. The sky is the limit for the 2014 Steelers offense. The only problem is their floor is at the bottom of a steep hill. The line and receivers will be the key to their success. If they perform, anything is possible. The only problem is that’s a very

Posted in Pittsburgh Steelers

 



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