QOTD: QBs

A new thread.

Something I was thinking about a few weeks ago: if Big Ben was going to miss, say, four regular-season games due to injury, and you could have any quarterback in the league replace him, who would it be? And remember, that quarterback will have the same o-line issues that Ben has had for years. Manning, Brady and Rivers are all obvious choices, I think, but here's my guy:

Aaron Rodgers.

He does a lot of the same things Ben does -- takes a beating, holds onto the ball, makes plays with his feet -- but hasn't yet had the same success. Maybe that's why we don't hear more about him. Or maybe it's a vast right-wing sports media conspiracy perpetrated by those who can't quit Brett Favre. Certainly one or the other, though.

Al Everest Thread

Alternative title: Middle-of-January-and-the-Steelers-Aren't-in-the-Playoffs thread.

Saturday Non-Steelers Game Thread

Here's to hoping the Colts win by 100. Oh, and go Cards. Or Saints.

Sean Kugler, Everybody!

JJ Cooper is one of the most optimistic people I know, so when he writes things like, "The Steelers have found their new offensive line coach, and it's clear that Sean Kugler must have had an excellent interview with Mike Tomlin because he sure didn't get his new job because of his resume", I'm not expecting much to change with the o-line.

One more thing: JJ and Gretz talk about the Arians hire here. Good stuff.

Steelers To-Do List: FIX RUNNING GAME

Concerning the notion that the Steelers must "regain their core identity" …

Just a thought: maybe the defense should regain it's core identity. If the thinking is that the running game should be able to "finish games," I'd just point out that the 2009 Steelers season was doomed mostly because the defense couldn't "finish games."

Pittsburgh had the lead in the fourth quarter 12 times in '09. They won nine games. Pretty sure that's not all on the running game. (By the way: NFL rules allow teams to get first downs through the air, too. Even in the final period. It's almost as if people are spinning a wheel and "running game" randomly came up. "Let's fix that!")

Yes, the running game could be better, but Ben could be better, too. Maybe we should trade for Peyton Manning.

I'm overstating it, obviously, but here's the point: how about people focus on the biggest problems and work back from there? I'm fine with drafting an o-lineman because the Steelers need one. But if the idea is to draft an o-lineman so the Steelers can "run when they want to" because the AFC North is a bruising division, well, that's dumb. I'll say it again: where was this talk last season when the Steelers' had a similarly average running game?

Since then, the passing game has gotten much better and the defense has gotten markedly worse. So the solution is to invest limited resources in getting back to smash-mouth football even though smash-mouth football guarantees nothing? That makes sense.

Here's to hoping Bobby April gets hired so we can change the subject. Lord have mercy.

Come On, Asteroid! Game Thread

And if no asteroid, go Pats. Just for this week, though.

Saturday's Wild Card Game Thread

So here's your Saturday game thread. I'm actually traveling as I write this on my iPhone so keep that in mind as you notice the normal-than-usual number of typos. Anyway: I have no idea which AFC team deserves to lose today, but as many of you have pointed out previously: go asteroid (!) in the Ravens-Pats get-together Sunday.

The Fancy-Pants Digital Age

Well, depending on when you started the clock, we're either two or three days into Bruce Arians' new (old) tenure. And I'll repeat what I've said all along: he's the least of this team's worries. I know there are concerns -- and I don't dispute those -- just pointing what should be obvious.

And I think we're all in agreement on that. I mention it because, as was pointed out in the last thread, media folk around the series of tubes (made popular by Senator Stevens!) have sorta blurred the lines between professionalism and just spouting off opinions.

But as Glenn pointed out, in the particular instance of Wex, Twitter and BA, it had more to do with getting the story wrong (and perhaps the out-of-nowhere anger that followed) than it did with sharing his personal thoughts on the matter.

And like most of you, I think opinions are a good thing. If you want news, you can read the newswire. I mean, the reason HSS works so well is because we all have a common interest, IQs above 80 (give or take), and relatively thought-out opinions on the Steelers. The days of columnists sermonizing to the unwashed masses are long gone. It's an idiotic model -- I'd argue that we know as much (if not more) about the Xs, Os, draft, roster, etc… than Cook or Smizik (and certainly any national columnist). So why are they useful again? (Seriously, I'd love to hear a good answer to that question because I got nothin'.)

At this point it's cliched, but Bill Simmons had a lot to do with making the whole process more, for lack of a better word, transparent. Obviously, blogspot and Facebook and Twitter and whatnot have played a huge role, but you get the point.

Anyway, just continuing the conversation from the previous thread. And in what will become my signature until something happens: HIRE BOBBY APRIL. NOW.

He's Like a Zombie, You Can't Kill Him

So, to update: it looks like Bruce Arians is staying (that's the word this hour, anyway) and Larry Zierlein is not. As was mentioned in the previous thread, if that move was made to placate the torch-and-pitchfork crowd calling for somebody's head, well, that's a big fat fail.

I'm sure the decision was more measured than that (or at least I hope it was), although it seems a tad odd since the offensive line had its best season under Zierlein, and as DJ pointed out, it's not like the front five is chocked full of first-round picks. Just the opposite, in fact.

As for Arians' return, eh, I still can't get too worked up over it. Yes, he's made some dipshitastic decisions, and I would love to see the Steelers put up a few more touchdowns in first-and-goal situations (among other things, all mentioned in the previous thread -- that's just my pet peeve), but on the list of stuff this team needs to fix in the offseason, I don't think BA ranks particularly high.

If nothing else, maybe it'll push Tomlin into taking a more hands-on role in game-planning. Meanwhile, I'll repeat what I said yesterday: HIRE BOBBY APRIL. NOW.

(Honestly, I have no idea what the hold up is.)

Life After BA

So word on the street is that Bruce Arians will be gone at some point in the not-too-distant future. Also, apparently the Rooneys nudged Tomlin into the decision to make the change even though Tomlin wanted to Keep Arians. Something about "new investors" or some such.

Here are my questions: anybody worried about owners undermining a head coach 11 months removed from a Super Bowl win? And, two, who would you like to see replace Arians?

I'm a little worried about the former and have no idea on the latter. Oh, and HIRE BOBBY APRIL. NOW.

Draft Talk!

A few things:

* I'm all for hiring Bobby April ASAP, appearances of scapegoating be damned. Special teams is a huge problem and I don't think Ligashesky would be shocked if he got canned.

* Count me among those who are ambivalent about Bruce Arians. The Browns game was a debaclement and I have no idea why he refused to use Mendenhall as a pass catcher for most of the season, but it's not like the offense was the reason for all the fourth-quarter collapses. There are bigger concerns, I think.

* Finally -- and I'm half-kidding because it would never happen, but suspend reality for the sake of conversation -- would you trade the Steelers' 2010 first-round pick for Josh Cribbs, straight up? I would and I'm serious. He's the best returner in the league, he's a threat on offense, and he's the best returner in the league.

Did I mention he's the best returner in the league? Cribbs is worth what, a couple points a game? If the Cowboys are willing to part with a first-rounder for Roy Williams, this seems like a no-brainer. (Of course, you could argue that the Cowboys are stupid, which I would conveniently ignore.)

Keep Hope Alive

An Ike Taylor interception seems like a fitting end to the 2009 regular season.

Also: consider this the Hope and Pray thread for the rest of today's games.

Game Thread, Week 17: Miami Dolphins

Here goes nothing, Part II. (Prays for miracle.)