Steelers hobbling to a Division lead.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are reliving the past history of last year’s team.  Last year the offensive line was the Achilles heel for the team and this year is begging to look like a repeat itself.  Gone from last year’s team is Max Stark and Flozell Adams and Willie Colon who was signed with a contract extension this year has already been placed on the injured reserve list and is ineligible to return this season.  Jamon Meredith replaced Colon on the active roster.  Rookie tackle Marcus Gilbert injured his shoulder in the Indianapolis Colts game last week and tackle Jonathan Scott hopes to return to practice this week and may be available for the Houston Texans game this week.

The Steelers have experienced a roller coaster season so far.  They gave up seven turnovers and were called old and past their prime following the Baltimore Ravens game and then shutout the Seattle Seahawks and looked like the team that just returned from a Super Bowl season.  However just like last season this team finds a way to win.  Last week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts was expected to be a blow out turned out to be decided on a last minute field goal by Steelers’ kicker Shuan Suisham. 

This week the Steelers travel to Houston to battle the Texans.  The Texans have made major changes on defense and have added former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips as the Defensive Coordinator.  Phillips has also implemented the 3-4 defensive scheme had placed former number one pick Mario Williams as a linebacker instead of a down lineman defensive end.  Also added to the mix is Johnathan Joseph at defensive back.  The Texans have been impressive so far this on defense except for last week’s game against the New Orleans Saints.  The Texans lost that game in an old fashion shootout 40-33.

This week’s game will be determined in the trenches, whichever team control the line of scrimmage will win the game.  The Texans are undefeated when they have a rusher has over 100 hundred yards in a game, while the Steelers are looking to having an dominate running game again.  Also this game will be very important for later in the season with both teams have a 2-1 record home field advantage and playoff tie breakers could benefit the winner of this game.  Pittsburgh leads the overall series 2-1 and won the last meeting 38-17 at Heinz field in Pittsburgh.

Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Schuab will challenge each other’s defensive backs with deep and intermediate passes.  Both quarterbacks have been impressive so far this season and are not afraid to stay in the pocket to deliver the pass to their receivers.  This will be one of the best games that will be played this weekend.  According to NFL ticket exchange this is the hottest ticket that fans are trying to obtain.  Hopefully the all of the hype surrounding the game will live up to the actual game action.

Drew Pearson is throwing his talents to area charities.

Drew Person is a former Super Champion with the Dallas Cowboys.  Pearson has made three Super Bowl appearances with the Cowboys. Pearson was in town this past weekend as part of the Taste of North Austin at the Domain to promote Team Escalade by Cadillac. Pearson is a team captain for one of the teams for Team Escalade.

On September 22, thirty Escalades drove-away from the Arlington GM plant to begin their philanthropic, multimarket, multimedia campaign in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Each team represents one of the six charities and consists of a charity member, radio personality, and local athletes. The avid competition will be intense from the start, September 22 until the end, October 29th, a month log journey advocating each charity.

Cadillac will produce, publicize and promote a PSA for each charity. The charity that receives the most Facebook exposure through voting, sharing and acting for their PSA will receive additional media support valued at $150,000. The charities are: The YMCA, Ronald McDonald House, The Special Olympics, Love Hope strength, CureDuchenne, and Taylor’s Gift.

“All of the charities are connected with kids in one way or another either by muscular, financial or some other type of diseases that they may have. Each charity is trying to provide some type of relief for the kids that will allow them to compete on a level playing field to succeed.  We want to give back to the community using athletes to bring attention, awareness and also donations to each of the charities,” according to Pearson.  All of the charities are near and dear to Pearson.  Pearson has be personally affected by cancer, he has lost a father and a sister to cancer and currently has another sister living with the effects of cancer, because of the all of the advances that have been made due to research and development, without these advances his sister would not be alive today.

According to Pearson, “all charitable are important, but what we are doing with the kids are important also.  One charity Taylor’s Gift is also connected with Everson Walls of the Dallas Cowboys who his best friend Ron Springs also of the Cowboys needed a kidney transplant to save his life.  We went all over the country looking for a kidney match for Springs and as it turned out the best match turned out to be his best friend Walls.  Walls donated his kidney to Ron Springs, he donated his kidney to a former teammate and that extended Ron’s life.  Ron has since pasted away, but it was not due to the kidney transplant and the donation of the kidney.   There is a story like this that are connected to each of these six charities and they all are heart wrenching type stories and that’s why they need to get the word out about organ donor ship, muscular dystrophy and the advances that we have had with these”

To learn more about these charities and how to vote for your favorite charity you can visit www. teamescaladetexas.com. Also at the site you can find other locations where other celebrities will located.  The next event in Austin will be October 22 and 23 for the Austin Film Festival.

Cowboys Squeeze passes by the Niners and Texans limps from Miami.

Week two of the NFL season for the Texas teams proved to be very exciting for the Cowboys and costly for the Texans.  The Cowboys did not quit when it looked like they were heading for another loss when the often criticized Tony Romo returned to the game to will a victory.  While the Texan once strong at running back suddenly are very thin due injuries, must make some adjustments at that position.

Cowboys

The Cowboys found a way to play a complete game this week and played up to expectations against the suddenly surprising San Francisco Forty-Niners.  Miles Austin had a great day with 3 receiving touchdowns on 9 receptions for 153 yards.  However Austin injured his hamstring and may be on the sidelines for the next two weeks.  Dez Bryant did not play in the game and will be a game day decision for the Monday Night game against Washington Redskins.

The Cowboys defense did a very good job on Alex Smith of the Niners and held the team to 74 total rushing yards and contained them in the most critical part of the game to stop them from scoring and allowing the Cowboy offense to tie the score and eventually win it in overtime.  The Cowboys will get a much need boost on defense when Terrance Newman posted on his tweeter account that he will play his first game of the season on Monday night.

Prediction:  The Cowboys will lose to the Redskins 21-17 because of all of their injuries.

Texans

Ben Tate posted his second consecutive 100 yard day to help control the tempo of the game for the Texans and Andre Johnson, the former University of Miami Hurricane, return home to made some clutch receptions and to push the Texans to a 2-0 record.  Matt Schuab stated, “we were in this position last year, this is just one more piece  to the puzzle”.  The victory came at a very high cost.  Free agent defensive back Johnathan Joseph was injured in the game and will be reevaluated during the week and Arian Foster aggravated his hamstring injury and may be placed on the shelve for a while.  The diligence of the offense gave the defense plenty rest by control the time of possession by more than six minutes.

The Texans defense is living up to all of the hype of becoming a top tier unit by limited the Miami Dolphins offense to one touchdown and containing them in critical situations.    The defense was only on the field for only five minutes in the fourth quarter.  The defense had one fumble recovery, one interception by Joseph , which led directly to a touchdown and caused two quarterback sacks.  The Texans defense held the Dolphins to 5 drives of 5 plays of less for the game.

The Texans will be busy in the training room with many key plays having some type of injury that will need nursing as they prepare to face area rival the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.  The Saints defeated the Chicago Bears to move to 1-1.

Prediction:  The Texans will go to 3-0 with a 20-17 victory over the Saints.

Texans Roll and the Cowboys play Santa

 The opening weekend for the NFL season got off to an inspiring effort from some and a need for improvement for others.  The Houston Texans opened up at home with All Pro running back being a game time decision and at game time he was left in street clothes.  The Texans had their way with the Indianapolis Colts and won 34-7.  The Colts star quarterback did not play with a neck injury.  Unlike the Colts the Texans found an adequate replacement for their injured players.

Derrick Ward started the game for the Texans at running back and scored the game’s first touchdown, but Ben Tate finished with a bang.  After Ward left the game in the first half with an injury Tate has to carry the running load for the Texans.  Tate finished the game with 116 rushing yards and his first career touchdown.  Tate, a 2^nd year pro out of Auburn, when ask why he did so well he stated, “the key to every running back running the ball well is the offensive line.  James Casey and those guys did a great job.”

The Texans defense forced two fumbles on Colts quarterback Kerry Collins which both led directly to Texans touchdowns by the offense.  The new defensive scheme by new Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips contained the Colts offense in the first half.  Coach Phillips feels the defense has been, “so far so good.”  Rookie defensive lineman JJ Watt had 5 tackles and one fumble recovery and Mario Williams playing his first game a linebacker recorded two sacks.

The Texans will travel to Miami to play the Dolphins next Sunday.

Prediction Texans will go to 2-0 with a win over the Miami Dolphins 24-10.

Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys played excellent football for three quarters and made critical mistakes in the fourth quarter to give the game to the New York Jets by a final score of 27-24.  The Dallas defense played a very solid game and kept the Jets at bay for the most part.  A special team break resulted in a touchdown by the Jets special team.

Tony Romo threw consistently to big three Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten.  The trio finished with over 270 yards and two touchdowns.  Felix Jones only had 44 rushing yards in the game and only 64 total rushing yards for the game.  However in the fourth quarter the defense that had been so good gave the Jets a touchdown drive of 84 yards in just under 3 minutes to open the quarter.  Two offensive series later a Dallas punt was blocked for a touchdown for the Jets.  The Cowboys started the quarter with a seven point lead and wound up losing by 3 pts.

The Cowboys will travel to San Francisco next week to play the Forty-Niners.  The Niners are rebuilding under new coach Jim Harbaugh, but did win their season opening game by defeating Seattle 33-17.

Prediction the Cowboys will win their first game 31-24.  

The Steelers will win the Super Bowl if ……

The Pittsburgh Steelers return to the 2011 NFL football season with a bitter taste in their mouth.  The Steelers were just one touchdown drive from having another Championship in their trophy case.  Last year the Steelers were hampered with major injuries throughout the year.

This year in order for the Steelers to get another Championship they will need to do the following:

Keep healthy -  The Steelers are a team that is top heavy talent wise.  This team has very little depth at many positions especially in the defensive back field.

Offensive line – The center piece of the offensive line Maurkice Pouncey did not play in the Super Bowl and injured his ankle in the preseason.  The offensive line must do their job on a weekly basis.

Stay focus – the team must play every game as if it is a playoff game.  Other teams are always hyped to beat the Steelers.  The division is not as strong as it has been in the past so the Steelers must take every game serious.

Play Smart –  The nature of the Steelers team to be aggressive on every play both on offense and defense, so that mean do not get unnecessary penalties that extend opponents drives or hurt successful offensive plays.

Running game – The Steelers need to return to a more a balanced offensive attack.  Ben Rothlisberger has been a dynamic passer, but the Steelers need more production from the running game to extend drives and keep their defense on the sideline.

If the Steelers can dominate in these five areas they will be in position to beat any team in the league.

Texans looks to Make Noise in the South

For the last few years the Houston Texans were pegged as the breakout team for the season and over the those same years the Texans has posted a winning record only once.  The expectations have been clearly placed in the hands of Head Coach Gary Kubiak this season. 

The Texans have brought in former Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Wade Phillips and a new defensive scheme to Houston.  Another big change was moving Mario Williams from Defensive end to linebacker.  Johnathan Joseph the former Cincinnati Bengal defensive back arrives in Houston to give the defense the ability to get off of the field on third down. 

The Texan finished the preseason with a 3-1 record and in the final game the first team did not participate very much.  However in the first three games the offense and defense were very impressive from the beginning of the game until the end.  The Texans lost 5 games by seven or less points.  With the emphasis being placed on the defense in the off season the Texans hope to create opportunities rather than be a victim of circumstance.

The Texans open the season at home against conference rival and perennial playoff contender the Indianapolis Colts.  The Colts will enter the game potentially without All Pro and future Hall of Famer Quarterback Peyton Manning who has missed the entire preseason with a neck injury.  The Texans offensive is solid.  Quarterback Matt Schaub leads a very potent offensive that features two Pro-Bowlers, Arian Foster at running back and wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Prediction:  Houston will win the opening game against the Colts final score Jets 31-17.

Dallas Cowboys looks to shine the Star

All of the preseason games have been played and now everything counts.  Last season the Dallas Cowboys goal was to play the Super Bowl in their stadium.  This year the goal is not as lofty, they would like to return to respectability and make the playoffs.  There are many changes from the team last year, including a new Defensive Coordinator, Rob Ryan, the release of some notable players, Roy Williams and Marion Barber.  Ryan coached the Cleveland Browns defense last year.

Ryan hopes to bring an aggressive defense that will feature more blitzes from more positions than last season.  The defense will determine how far the team goes as a whole.  Terrence Newman who led the team with 5 interceptions last season did not play in the preseason.  In the four preseason games this season, the Cowboy defense did not do much to instill confidence with anyone.  This defense will be tested right out of the gate when they travel to play the New York Jets.  The Jets’ offense is well balanced and has played in the last two AFC Championship games.

The offensive did look very impressive in the preseason.  The offensive line went from being one of the oldest last year with an average age of over 35 years to one of the youngest this year with an average age of 25 years.  The offensive line will start the season with two rookies starting Bill Nagy out of Wisconsin and Tyron Smith from the University of Southern California.  Tony Romo looks to return to his Pro Bowl form and Felix Jones will continue to be an important part of an explosive offense.

Prediction:  Dallas will lose the opening game at the Jets final score Jets 24-21