Pitt, Steelers headed in opposite directions

Two Pittsburgh football teams received extreme makeovers last weekend. Unfortunately, only one… Two Pittsburgh football teams received extreme makeovers last weekend. Unfortunately, only one of them came out looking better than before. The way these games were played, it might have been easy to predict the final scores, with one Pittsburgh squad winning and the other losing. One game featured a flea-flicker, a reverse, a shovel pass, trick formations and timely defensive stops. The other highlighted horrific offensive line play, questionable decisions by the quarterback and mediocre coaching at best. Who would’ve thought the latter example described the Steelers losing to the Eagles, 15-6, while the Panthers looked decidedly superior against Iowa? The Steelers are supposed to be the club that runs crazy plays, like lining up two quarterbacks in the backfield and then sending one of them in motion, resulting in a quarterback draw for a touchdown. The Steelers are supposed to be the team that blows through the opposing offensive line for a sack, and then follows that up with a forced fumble to seal a victory. The Steelers are supposed to be the squad with one of the greatest coaching staffs in football. Meanwhile, the Panthers are usually criticized for lack of imagination and capable leadership. Did Alfred Hitchcock formulate this twist? J. J. Abrams? Martin Scorsese? Regardless, both team’s performances last week could be critical for the remainder of their seasons. That’s great for the Panthers, but not so great for the Steelers. Pitt’s Dave Wannstedt and Matt Cavanaugh took plenty of heat from fans following the first two games of the season, particularly after Pitt fell in a major upset at home to Bowling Green on the first day of the season. Pitt’s pro-style offense didn’t produce much against Bowling Green and Buffalo. Star running back LeSean McCoy couldn’t find running room, and quarterback Bill Stull was rarely, if at all, asked to throw farther than 10 yards. Opposing defenses would load the box and dare Pitt to go long. Pitt wouldn’t. And there wasn’t an indication that something would change. Greg Cross hadn’t touched the field. Jonathan Baldwin was targeted once per game. But Wannstedt and Cavanaugh gave the offense a much-needed shot of Botox against Iowa. Cross and Stull were in the backfield as part of a new formation that the coaches unveiled. Cross’ first play at Pitt was a 17-yard touchdown sprint. Stull almost completed a flea-flicker, which caught Iowa off-guard. Aundre Wright surprised the Hawkeyes on a reverse. McCoy broke a long gain on a shovel pass. Coincidentally, the Pitt offense was most productive in the midst of these plays. Granted, for two quarters, conservatism ruled again, and the Panthers couldn’t move the ball. If Wannstedt and Cavanaugh continue to open up, the Panthers could challenge for the title in the weak Big East. Crazier things have happened. Meanwhile, the Steelers’ offense showed some ominous and potentially fatal flaws while getting smacked by the Eagles.. The offensive line stuck out. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked eight times, and backup Byron Leftwich was hauled down once after Roethlisberger left in the fourth quarter with an injury. Somehow, it could’ve been worse. Roethlisberger was constantly flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw balls away. Philadelphia seemingly blitzed on every play, and the line had absolutely no answers all day. With yearly Pro Bowler Alan Faneca in New York, the Steelers’ offensive line hasn’t jelled. Faneca’s replacement, Chris Kemoeatu, has been inconsistent and was easily rattled last week. Kendall Simmons is getting old. Willie Colon has struggled mightily at right tackle. Marvel Smith and Justin Hartwig have to anchor the unit. Equally as bad, Pittsburgh’s coaching staff failed to adjust to the Eagles’ all-out attack. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians didn’t call enough screen plays or three-step drop passes to break the blitzes. But the skill-position players didn’t help much, either. Willie Parker had no running lanes, and the receivers couldn’t get open. If these problems aren’t corrected, the wonderful Steelers defense could go to waste. Luckily, the AFC North is so bad that Pittsburgh could go 9-7 and win the division. The Steelers have a quality chance to bounce back on Monday Night Football against Baltimore. If they win big with a good offense, then they are back among the best teams in the NFL. If they lose, then it would take more than a facelift to make the team pretty again.