THE ONLINE VERSION OF THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE PITTSBURGH STEELERS FAN CLUB OF BALTIMORE, MD. NOVEMBER, 2001 *** PAGE 1 *** RUN, RUN AND RUN SOME MORE...
Six games into this season of 2001 and most folks would say this title pretty much sums up what the Pittsburgh Steelers are all about. Oh how wrong they are. Sure, Jerome Bettis is having a FANtastic year. He's on pace to eclipse the Steeler record for most yards gained in a year. Amos Zereoue is finally coming into his own and gives the Black'n Gold another dimension out of the backfield that we haven't seen since the days of Barry Foster and Ericc Pegram. It is why this team is the NFL's Number 1 rushing offense.
What most folks don't mention (at least not in complimentary terms) is the Steeler passing game. Kordell ranks near the bottom of the conference in his QB rating. Touchdown passes seemingly occur about as often as Jim Day passing up a plate of wings for a tossed salad. Yards per reception are usually in the single digits.
Very very rarely does the name Mike Mularkey get a mention when folks discuss the Steelers. Chances are most people can't even spell it. His mix of run and pass has kept opponents off balance all season and there's no reason to think that it's going to change.
Tim Lewis gets the same lack of respect. Folks don't talk about Tim Lewis when they talk about the Steeler Defense. Just like the running game, it is taken for granted. This is what Pittsburgh is always known for: a strong defense.
Very quietly, this defense is becoming one of the best in the league. No real big names there. Jason Gildon is the only All-Pro on the unit. Folks don't talk about Kendrell Bell, Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton, Chad Scott or Kendrick Clancy. You don't see a lot of folks wearing these jerseys.
My point is, most folks are WRONG !!! They're wrong because we're in FIRST PLACE. That's right, first place. Most folks thought the Steelers would be 8-8, maybe 9-7 before the season started. Barring a complete and total meltdown, that won't happen. Give me Stewart throwing for 125 yards a game. Give me Hines Ward with 6 catches a game for 50 yards. As long as it means W's in the win column, that's all that matters.
Most folks aren't Steeler fans. We're a special breed who know what it takes to win. We know that it doesn't matter how you get there; as long as you get there. Most folks can't say there in first place. We can. And we're here to stay !!!!!
"ONLY THE BOLD WEAR BLACK 'N GOLD"
Scott Himes, Clearwater FL
PSFCOB #625
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