"Our free agency was in part done last year when we did sign those guys. We're happy those guys didn't become free agents."-Kevin Colbert, director of football operations, talking about how the resigning of guys like Marvel Smith, Aaron Smith, Joey Porter and Alan Faneca the past few years lessened what the Steelers had to do this offseason through free agency.
For the complete Q & A with Kevin Colbert, take a look at Steelers.com.
Tarheels season marred by not doing 'the little things'
Tony Hutchens has an interesting take on how the Tarheel's season has shaped up so far. He makes some startling realizations about how the Heels could have easily won six more games if it weren't for mental mistakes down the stretch. Here's part of the post (check out the entire article here):
Yet again, the Tar Heels broke down at the most critical juncture of the game, losing Jarrett Jack in the waning seconds and allowing an uncontested game-winning jumper at the last second. This has occurred with alarming frequency this season and shouldn't still be happening going into NCAA play. Consider that the following has happened to the Tar Heels at crunch time this season:Tony points out that UNC has lost six games due to some blunder in the game's final 15 seconds of play. He goes on to make this very strong point:
12-20-03 The Tar Heels missed five different game-clinching free throws in the final 35 seconds of play and also fouled Chris Paul attempting a desperation three pointer with one second remaining allowing a second overtime in a triple-overtime loss to Wake Forest.
1-22-04 Raymond Felton fell down and allowed Todd Galloway to sink an uncontested three pointer with seven seconds to play to send the game into overtime. The Seminoles completed their comeback from 24 points down with the victory in the extra period.
2-5-04 Raymond Felton and David Noel collide and allow Chris Duhon to score the game-winner on an uncontested layup with seconds to play in overtime in a two point loss to Duke.
2-24-04 Despite knowing that Todd Billet would be launching a potential game-winning shot for Virginia, Sean May and Raymond Felton failed to execute on a screen and allowed Billet an open look and he nailed a three pointer with just 15 seconds on the clock. Then after being allowed ten minutes to prepare for their own potential game-winning shot due to the officials reviewing the clock, Felton threw a pass away to Rashad McCants in the two point loss to the Cavaliers.
3-6-04 Rashad McCants turned the ball over with 4 seconds to play and was unable to get off a potential game-tying shot in a loss to Duke.
With all this bad luck, the Heels are due for a run of good luck--I just hope it starts sooner (next Thursday) rather than later (next October).I'm not sure that happened six times in Dean Smith's entire tenure as head coach of the Tar Heels. And I'm not talking about winning and losing here. It's one thing to execute a well-prepared play but a good shot just doesn't fall, or to play good, hard-nosed defense and cause your opponent to put up a tough shot, yet they still make it to beat you. But it's a completely different thing to fail to even get a shot off on offense, or to continuously allow uncontested game-winning shots by your opponents. This trait must be corrected immediately or the Tar Heels will be sent packing as early in the Big Dance as they were this weekend at Greensboro.
