what a good pickup. (not to mention he's only 25, and he has a ring)

hope is a beast.

Four straight games with a takeaway. Great pickup for our team, hopefully he can help lead us for years.

Book that man's flight.....he's headed for Honolulu!!!!!!!!

He's definitely one of the better defensive players on our team.

KVB was the single biggest force on the field today. He is the reason Carr was on the bench, and we got one defensive touchdown and set up for another. He was an animal today.

Book that man's flight.....he's headed for Honolulu!!!!!!!!

don;t be so sure, we thought Bulluck was going the past two years.

Now if we can just get a guy as good as Polamalu to play the other safety spot we could have a great defense.

Bulluck got the most fan votes for an OLB in the AFC last year, but didn't go cos it only counted for a 1/3 of the overall vote, I hope he does go to the pro bowl, he's played immense...

I think it's even less likely this year that any titan goes to the pro bowl. We'd need a major turnaround to get enough attention. The more years pass that we don't have a winning record, the harder it is to get enough attention to send people. KVB would be close to a candidate if those two sacks weren't called back. He'll get them in Houston....

I like the core of KVB, Bulluck, Thornton, Pac, and Hope...

now we just need our other 6 guys to be decent...

I like the core of KVB, Bulluck, Thornton, Pac, and Hope...

now we just need our other 6 guys to be decent...
robaire. he just needs a running mate at DT.

i truly believe that hope leaving that steelers D is the main reason they are sucking so bad this year... that and rothlisberger is being exposed as a product of their system....

I said from day one Hope was a great signing.

At least 2 out of the 3 FA pickups are doing well.
Hopefully Givens will step it up when he gets back.

3 of 4. Mawae is playing well.

i truly believe that hope leaving that steelers D is the main reason they are sucking so bad this year... that and rothlisberger is being exposed as a product of their system....

If you haven't noticed, and I wouldn't expect you to, the Steelers D is just as good as ever. The problem is that the Steelers lead the league in Turnovers. Thats not the Steeler D's fault. They gave up 38 points last week to Atlanta, but 28 of those points came off of turnovers by the offense putting the Falcons in great field position.

As far as Roethlisberger, He is struggling, but it wouldn't be because of: Face slamming off of car, 2 concussions in 4 months, appendectomy, infections related to appendectomy would it?

The guy has a nose for the ball. He always knows where the play is going. Smart, instinctual, and aggressive.

The anti-Woolfolk.

And you guys wanted to make him a safety.

:biglaugh:

The guy has a nose for the ball. He always knows where the play is going. Smart, instinctual, and aggressive.

The anti-Woolfolk.

And you guys wanted to make him a safety.

:biglaugh:

Uhh, you do realize that he is a safety correct?

Uhh, you do realize that he is a safety correct?
woolfolk is a corner

3 of 4. Mawae is playing well.

4 of 5 Robaire is also playing well.

As far as Roethlisberger, He is struggling, but it wouldn't be because of: Face slamming off of car, 2 concussions in 4 months, appendectomy, infections related to appendectomy would it?

It isn;t like Big Ben has ever torn up games anyway. And if it was because of his Face slamming, concusions, appendectomy and infections why is he playing?

Hope seems to be what we haven't had since Blaine Bishop, a truly great strong safety.

At least 2 out of the 3 FA pickups are doing well.
Hopefully Givens will step it up when he gets back.
in all fairness tho, givens hasnt had any real opportunities, he showed what he can do after the catch at miami, but we havent gotten the ball to him at all, which is hurting us, and very disapointing for him

Hope has earned the privalage of having Gunny own his jersey

If you haven't noticed, and I wouldn't expect you to, the Steelers D is just as good as ever. The problem is that the Steelers lead the league in Turnovers. Thats not the Steeler D's fault. They gave up 38 points last week to Atlanta, but 28 of those points came off of turnovers by the offense putting the Falcons in great field position.

As far as Roethlisberger, He is struggling, but it wouldn't be because of: Face slamming off of car, 2 concussions in 4 months, appendectomy, infections related to appendectomy would it?

i dont know if you are being smart-alec... or just saying i dont watch much steelers ball... really dont care but...

the only defensive stat that the steelers are doing better in this year than last is interceptions... and thats because teams are moving tha ball through the air better than last year against them
every other defensive category the steelers are behind where they were after 7 games last year.

still pretty good numbers though.. i'll give you that.
but hope was a bigger part of that D than

Hope 4DMVP

how is Hope's replacement doing in Steel town?

how is Hope's replacement doing in Steel town?


****ty, just like the whole team

Quick Trivia: Can anyone name his replacement?


Cuz I can't.

ryan clark

Ok, the ex-Redskin.

i dont know if you are being smart-alec... or just saying i dont watch much steelers ball... really dont care but...

the only defensive stat that the steelers are doing better in this year than last is interceptions... and thats because teams are moving tha ball through the air better than last year against them
every other defensive category the steelers are behind where they were after 7 games last year.

still pretty good numbers though.. i'll give you that.
but hope was a bigger part of that D than

You left out the most crucial reason they are a little bit behind on Defensive ranking than last year. Take a look at Time of Possession, the offense if turning over the ball to the tune of 2nd or 1st in the NFL turnover margin. Any defense left on the field too long will get tired.

Hope is doing better because he is playing in his natural position. He was a SS/FS tweener when the Steelers took him in the draft. They played him at FS after two years of riding pine because, be honest, would you rather have Hope or Polamalu at SS?

Hope is a fine player, but he just wasn't that valueable in the Steeler System. FS in the Steeler system plays Deep in Cover-3 alot (Basically covering Polamalu's rear so he can roam free.) Secondly, take a look at Ryan Clarks stats. He is the new starting free safety picked up in FA from Washington at a 1/10 of the cost of Hope.

Ryan Clark- FS Through 7 games

Year G Tk Ast Sck Stf FF FR PD Int Yds TD
2006 7 30 11 0 0.5 0 0 3 1 -1 0

Chris Hope- 2005 Season (16 Games)

Year Team Tk Ast Sck Stf FF FR PD Int Yds TD
2005 PIT 70 27 0 1.5 1 1 5 3 60 0

Clark already has 3 passes defensed in 7 games versus 5 for Hope all of last year. Clark will end up with the similar stats to Hope when Hope was a Steeler. Now don't get me wrong, Hope was a great pick-up for a talent devoid team, especially at safety. The smartest thing Fisher/Schwartz did was to put Hope at SS and move Lamont out of that role.

There is a Reason that the Steelers never have a Cap crisis like the Titans, they know when to and when not to pay players push money into future years. That cap strategy of Reese's really payed off. I almost forgot how many Super Bowl wins the Titans had between 99 and 2005.

And interceptions usually don't happen because teams move the ball better against you by air. Actually it means that teams are having less success. Teams aren't passing the ball more on the Steelers, the Steelers have always forced teams to pass against them with a tough run d. The single reason the Steelers D is statistically ranked lower than last year is the turnover margin and TOP by the Offense.

By the way, I meant that you probably do not watch alot of Steeler football.

how is Hope's replacement doing in Steel town?

See above, he is doing very comparable.

It isn;t like Big Ben has ever torn up games anyway. And if it was because of his Face slamming, concusions, appendectomy and infections why is he playing?


The Steelers were in position to Draft Big Ben for a reason, remember? The Steelers were 6-10 the previous year from 2004. In 2004 the Steelers started 6 new players on offense and defense. Ever look at the first half stats of Steelers games? Ben throws the majority of his passes in the first half. The run/pass ratio in the first half of Steeler games in 2004/2005 is 50/50 run to pass.

Another quick question. Which active quarterbacks have more 4th quarter comebacks than Ben Roethlisberger? Try 3: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Carson Palmer. That puts him ahead of 28 other quarterbacks.

Did you not watch the playoffs? I know the Titans weren't in the play-offs, but they still happened. The Steelers changed their whole philosophy and came out passing, thats why they rattled of 4 straight for a SB win.

He is playing after all of this trauma because he is a competitor, plain and simple. TN is fortunate they finally have a competitor at the QB position this year with some character.

I also guarantee you that Ben has a great game against the Broncos this Sunday.

Last year and draft selection has nothing to do with why Big Ben is playing now, if he is still suffering from those off-season and season injuries he shouldn't be playing.

it is as simple as that.

Last year and draft selection has nothing to do with why Big Ben is playing now, if he is still suffering from those off-season and season injuries he shouldn't be playing.

it is as simple as that.


I happen to agree. I believe his cognitive abilities are not where they used were previously to all of the body and brain trauma he has suffered over the last six months. I was all for placing him on PUP for the first Six games. I feel he rushed back to play to soon.