Five More Opinions On The Pittsburgh Sports Scene, And Around The World
As is the case every month, I like to take a look at the sporting world and provide my opinion on six different things, so without further ado, here we go:
1. If the Pittsburgh Pirates fail to reach the playoffs, this season has been a disappointment.
I did not have this view going into the season as I was seemingly among the view that the Pirates still needed to impress me. Last season is a thing of the past and I personally wanted to see the Pirates make a return to the playoffs. This year, with some help, they are on track to accomplish that.
At this writing, the Pirates are 1.5 games ahead of Milwaukee, which is 1-9 in its last 10 games and have not put back-to-back wins together since Aug. 24-25 against the Pirates and San Diego Padres.
The Pirates also hold the same 1.5 game lead over the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have lost six of their past nine games. With the Pirates currently facing the Philadelphia Phillies, followed by the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, these are teams that are under .500 on the season and should result in several wins.
Following that the Pirates are at home against the Brewers and on the road against the Braves and that could determine the final wild card positioning.
2. For those of you who watched the first half of the Pittsburgh Steelers game Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, you all were wondering where this Steelers offense came from.
It was harmonious and best of all did not involve too much of offensive coordinator Todd Haley. It was a Ben Roethlisberger-orchestrated attack and you can tell because this team goes and Roethlisberger goes and he loves the no-huddle offense. The second half however were the Steelers that fans have been accustomed to seeing for the past two seasons, plus preseason this year.
Offenses had the Steelers’ number and they are not fooling anybody. Now the scouting report on beating the Steelers defense is clear: use a no-huddle offense. It worked for the Philadelphia Eagles in the preseason and more importantly worked for Brian Hoyer and the Browns to the point that they almost stole the game.
Head coach Mike Tomlin knew this was coming but could do nothing to stop it. You can use the excuse that a Dick LeBeau defense is hard to execute, but it all falls on the players to perform and once again in the second half, they did not do so. Tomlin’s media remark about the defense having good days and bad days defending the no-huddle also is ridiculous.
These are for the most part proven players that can succeed with the rookies having the potential to get there. If I’m Baltimore, I am in the no-huddle for as much of the 60 minutes you possibly can be.
3. Thursday’s game has become a must win for the Baltimore Ravens.
Following a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, the Ravens will take on the Steelers in its second home game in as many weeks. Much has been made about how quarterback Joe Flacco needs to become an on-field leader once again and despite 345 passing yards, his one touchdown and one interception performance will not cut it.
Steve Smith has taken a leadership role and will be expected to continue to do so. Not only will the Ravens need to win this game, but they have to do it with all of America watching. After the Ray Rice drama that has unfolded the past couple of days, many are passing blame along.
I personally think the NFL and Ravens both knew about the videos but chose not to do anything until public outrage and if that is true, that is tragic. The Ravens did not present a united front either, forcing head coach John Harbaugh to awkwardly stand at the podium by himself to answer questions.
Not only do the Ravens need this win to potentially keep their season alive, they need this win to keep their team alive and in a positive mindset.
4. Serena Williams had a down year for her standards.
She had not reached a grand slam quarterfinal until this U.S. Open. Williams had a rough Wimbledon to the point of withdrawing during a doubles match with her sister Venus. Serena could not get a serve over the net let alone bounce the tennis ball. It was a scary sight to see and she cited a virus as the reason.
All the more reason that her 6-3, 6-3, 75-minute victory over her friend Caroline Wozniacki was impressive. Williams dominated with her signature tenacity and powerful ground strokes. This clearly affected Wozniacki, who had three service aces and one winner for the entire match.
Williams also tied Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova with 18 grand slam championship victories. You could tell how overcome with emotion Williams was upon winning and even more so when she received jewelry to commemorate the win. This is the happiest I’ve seen Williams and you know the best part? She’s not done, far from it.
One more grand slam championship will tie her for third all-time with Helen Wills-Moody and would put her five away from the record held by Margaret Court. Is Serena Williams the best of all-time? That’s a discussion for another day, but her performance in Flushing Meadows, New York could not have been more impressive.
5. Okay I’ll admit it, Pitt football has impressed me so far.
I expected it to be 2-0 at this point of the schedule, however I did not think it would look as seemingly automatic as it has looked. A lot of people are saying that the team has taken on head coach Paul Chryst’s mindset. The only person who may believe more than Chryst is ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who has the Panthers making it to the ACC Championship game.
You know what? He may not be that far off.
In two games, Pitt has 719 rushing yards. James Conner should be in the current Heisman Trophy discussions with his 372 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Because of that ground game, quarterback Chad Voytik has been able to relax a bit more and Tyler Boyd is able to heal from the Week 1 injury he received.
Defensively, the Panthers had eight interceptions all of last season. This year they already have five, two of which are from Terish Webb. The defense, which concerned me coming into the season, has tackled an opposing player for a loss 13.5 percent of the time this season versus 10.5 last season – a team which had Aaron Donald imposing his will.
With the way Pitt has played so far, the rest of this schedule is winnable and maybe Herbstreit was right. Obviously time will tell, but the early signs are rather encouraging.