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 The
Steeler Report
By Harvey Aronson
http://www.geocities.com/steelerhotline/
Game
Predictions - Week 17
Dateline: 12/22/00
Before we get to the predictions for the Pittsburgh/San Diego game on
Sunday, let's catch up on the other news from Steelers' camp. First, and
most importantly, one of my new favorite players on the team, rookie Dan
Kreider has been named "Steeler Rookie of the Year" by members
of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America. He
definitely deserved the award with Marvel Smith being inconsistent and
going from starter to non-starter back to starter. Plaxico Burress's
season ended with an injury and he was far from impressive when he was
playing. But it might be Jerome Bettis's opinion that counts the most on
Kreider. Reason being; Kreider is the one responsible for opening holes
for the "Bus" to run through. And, if not for an injury first
to Jon Witman, then his replacement Chris Fuamatu' Ma'Afala, Kreider may
have never received the opportunity. But when he did, he took full
advantage of it. When he made his first start against the Baltimore
Ravens, he did something that quickly got Bettis's attention. Kreider
ran into Ray Lewis, one of the Ravens' finest defensive players, and
pounded Lewis. Says Bettis about the play, "You hit Ray Lewis in
the mouth, you're doing something. For Ray to come to me and say he's
going to beat up the fullback, that was impressive because that meant
Kreider got under his skin. At that point, I was comfortable with him.
He came in and shored up a position that had a lot of question marks
after the injuries. He definitely gets my MVP award. The running game
wouldn't have been able to progress if he didn't come in." Why is
Bettis so gushy over Kreider? How about checking his before and after
numbers with Kreider as a starter and Witman/FU as a starter. Before
Kreider became the starter, Bettis rushed for 628 yards on 167 carries,
an average of 3.7 yards. When Kreider entered the fold, Bettis has
rushed for 662 yards on 162 carries, an average of 4.1 yards per carry.
Think Witman's job is in danger in 2001? I think so! And Bill Cowher
topped off the comments about the top rook by saying "Not only do I
think he was very deserving, but the players have tremendous respect for
him. He's been a very blue-collar player, a guy who's worked at it, and
they have a great appreciation for the job he's done. He's played with
such consistency for a guy who's never played in this
league."
Past rookies that have won the award are:
- 1984, Louis Lipps, WR
- 1985, Harry Newsome, P
- 1986, Anthony Henton, LB
- 1987, Delton Hall, CB
- 1988, Warren Williams, RB
- 1989, Carnell Lake, S
- 1990, Eric Green, TE
- 1991, Adrian Cooper, TE
- 1992, Darren Perry, S
- 1993, Chad Brown, LB
- 1994, Bam Morris, RB
- 1995, Kordell Stewart, QB
- 1996, Jon Witman, FB
- 1997, Chad Scott, CB
- 1998, Alan Faneca, G
- 1999, Troy Edwards, WR
- 2000, Dan Kreider, FB
Speaking of awards, Jerome Bettis has not only taken home the team
M.V.P. award, but has now been named winner of the "Chief
Award." An honor given each year to the player who best exemplifies
the spirit of cooperation with the media, an award that began with Art
J. Rooney Sr. Commenting on his latest honor, Bettis said, "I'm in
the media, I'm in the process. I understand the importance of the
information getting out, that's why I'm always willing to give the
information out. I believe the fans and the public have a right to know
what's going on. I hope it doesn't mean I'm giving up too much
information." This is the second time Bettis has won the award,
having done so also in 1998. He has his own show on KDKA radio in
Pittsburgh on Monday nights and also has a television show that goes on
air on channel 2 in the Steel City on Saturday nights.
Before we get to the predictions, be aware of one fact worth noting:
Pittsburgh has never won a season finale on the road, and playing on a
grass turf while playing under Bill Cowher. His final regular season
game record on grass is 0-5. The first loss on grass for Cowher was just
as it will be this Sunday, in San Diego back in 1994. The game meant
nothing to either team, but the Steelers lost to the Chargers then
duplicated the feat in the same scenario a year later. They also played
on grass the next three years in the season's final game, losing to
Carolina in 1996, to the Titans in 1997, and to the Jaguars in 1998. It
was 11 years ago that marked the last time the Steelers closed out a
season on grass with a victory. That win came against the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers in 1989. And, like our current situation, we needed a win
coupled with losses by several other teams to make the playoffs. The
scenario worked out in Pittsburgh's favor back then as they defeated the
Bucs, and they got into the playoffs, making it into the second round of
the playoffs before dropping a road game to the Denver Broncos.
Now for the predictions:
ESPN Staff (Joe Theismann, Merril Hoge, Sean Salisbury,
Schottenheimer, Mark Malone, Ron Jaworski, Mike Golic, Chris Mortensen):
All are picking the Steelers against the spread.
The
Sporting News Staff (Paul Attner, Dave Darling, Carl Moritz, Gary
Horton, Mike Nahrstedt, Matt Pitzer, Dan Pompei): All but Darling and
Nahrstedt
are picking
Pittsburgh.
Bob Harmon, CBS Sportsline: Pittsburgh 14, San Diego 13
Pro Football Weekly Staff (Hub Arkush, Ron Pollack, Neil Warner, Keith
Schleiden, Dan Arkush, Jeff Agrest, Trent Modglin): Only Dan Arkush and
Trent Modglin are picking the Chargers against the spread. All others
are picking the Steelers.
CBS Sportsline Staff (Len Pasquarelli Bart Wright Derek Harper):
Only Pasquarelli is picking the Chargers against the spread, the other
two are picking Pittsburgh.
Peter O'Brien, USA
Today: STEELERS, 30-17
Jay Novacek, MSNBC
Sports: Steelers
Gary
Dulac, Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Steelers, 20-9
--Harvey
Aronson, Steelers Hotline
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