I Bought Dice!

I played tabletop Dungeons and Dragons back when I was in grade school. I played off and on into grad school. I don't remember playing after that, although I was pretty deep into PC RPGs by then. I tore through the SSI gold box games back then. I think my first computer RPG was Temple of Apshai on an old Atari 1200 XL.

But last year, I decided to give tabletop role playing a try again. Things had changed a bit since playing AD&D, I discovered. I dug into things a bit and settled on learning the Pathfinder system.

I hope to be starting up a skype-driven game in a few months. We'll have players from three different states on-line to play.

This week, I went to a local gaming store and bought dice. Not the ones below, but a bunch, ranging from four sided to twenty sided. I had given my old ones away many years ago.

It's kinda cool to have D&D dice again (even though we're not actually playing D&D). I'll be GMing four players and I think all of us have virtual dice rolling apps/programs, but there's something about tossing an actual 20 sided die on a table.

Hopefully we're only a week or two away from rolling up characters. We'll see how it goes, as none of us have played in about twenty years.

Defenses: more than the numbers

On the one hand, most of the pre-SB talk seems to be about Ben vs. Rodgers. But these two teams are built on defense.

On the other hand, they played just last season and it was a crazy, 37-36 shootout that Pittsburgh won on a long pass on the game's final play.

Both teams have better defenses' this year.

DEFENSIVE STATS

Points Per Game
1 - Steelers 14.5
2 - Packers 15.0

Total Defense
2 - Steelers (276.8 ypg)
5 - Packers (309.1 ypg)

Passing YPG
5 - Packers (194.2)
12 - Steelers (214.1)

Rushing YPG
1 - Steelers (62.8)
18 -Packers (114.9)

The Packers score 24.2 points per game: the Steelers, 23.4. The Packers threw for about 20 yards more per game. The Steelers ran for about 20 yards more per game.

You have to go beyond the numbers for this game.

Can the Packers O-line hold off the Steelers and give Rodgers time? Pittsburgh had 47 sacks and Rodgers is not very mobile in the pocket. Knock him silly (he's been concussed twice this year) and Matt Foley (formerly of Boston College) comes in.

Can the Steelers patchwork line (Pouncey is doubtful) keep the Packers at bay? Green Bay had 4 sacks, but no QB in the NFL is better at keeping plays alive than Ben.

Can the Packers receivers (five guys caught between 43 and 76 passes. Gregg Jennings is the only downfield threat) get open on Taylor, McFadden (probable to play) and Gay? Clark will have more opportunity to cover since he isn't going to be needed much in the run game.

Charles Woodson was Defensive Player of the Year last year. He and Tramon Williams are regarded as much better corners than the Steelers' guys. But on any play, Ben can go to Wallace, Ward, Brown, Saunders and Miller. And lately, Mendenhall. That's a lot of coverage needed. After you're certain it's not a run play.

Pittsburgh can run the ball. Green Bay can't (and won't against Pittsburgh).

Both defenses are very good. But Green Bay doesn't have as many big play guys. If the D keeps Rodgers from breaking out, they're done on offense. If Ben has a decent game (think Cardinals, not Seahawks), the Steelers have more weapons than the Packer defense can handle. Mendenhall will likely get a lot of work over the first three quarters as they try to slow down the linebackers. And if play action pass is working, Ward and Miller will get open underneath. And a safety needs to give help on Wallace's deep routes.

Green Bay doesn't run well, so the Steelers' #1 strength (run D) doesn't matter too much. But knowing that, the D can scheme more to stop Rodgers. The Packer D will have to respect Mendenhall while accounting for Ben's playmaking to a variety of receivers.

Again, I feel good about this matchup. The idea the Packers are this high-flying offense is a bit of a misconception. They tore apart Atlanta, but they only managed 21 against Chicago. I think the idea that Rodgers can throw for 350 yards and put up 30 points is wrong. And if it comes down to the fourth quarter, Ben has the experience; in the Super Bowl.

On D, I think Troy makes a big play or two and Lawrence Timmons has a monster game. On O, it's Ben.

HERE WE GO STEELRS!!!!

How about those Jets? HA HA HA

The culture of Jerkdom dominates the NY Jets under Rex Ryan. Damon Hack over at CNNBsi.com had a short piece on them yesterday:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/damon_hack/12/15/jets-woes/index.html?eref=sihp

A big difference between the Jets and Steelers; Pittsburgh knows they belong. They show up, play hard and take care of business.

Rex and the Jets are obnoxious blowhards. Thay talked during Hard Knocks and during the season. He was making sarcastic comments about the Pats being the best team just before their game. But they're like big bullies. The Pats simply punched them in the nose and beat them up. Then the Dolphins stood up to them. Jets crumbled like sissies.

New York is a teenager, strutting around, looking cocky and talking loud; wanting to play with the grownups. And the Steelers and Patriots are the adults. They just work and win.

I hate Rex Ryan and love that they're falling apart. Smoking cigars after beating Cleveland. What doofus'. I hope they stink up Pittsburgh and Chicago the next two weekends.

GO STEELERS

As God is my witness...

I happen to think that the training day episode of the British "The Office" is the funniest television moment ever. But before that, for a long time (and the current #2) my favorite was the 'Turkey Drop' episode of WKRP in Cincinnati. Absolutely hilarious.

If you haven't seen it, go find a copy of the whole episode. Here's a 30 second mashup.



Have a great thanksgiving and don't forget what the holiday is for. Praise the Lord.

VOTE!!

The apathy of Americans towards voting is both sad and disgusting. There is no privilege that Americans should cherish more than the right to select their representatives at all levels of government. Take a little time out of your day and go to the polls and cast your vote today.

And if you don't vote, then keep your opinions and comments to yourself for the next year. If you don't care enough to vote, I don't care enough about what you think to listen to you.

Steelers 2010 - A First Quarter Look

I watched the last seven minutes of the Ravens game on the NFL Network last night: it still stings. But we’re going to look at the positive of the first quarter of the 2010 season here.

3-1

Pittsburgh was a first down away from being atop every single NFL rankings list last weekend. Ben R. was suspended for four games. It’s not just that he’s a two time Super Bowl winning, possible Hall of Famer.  Bruce Arians has crafted an offense around Ben. The Steelers just can’t plug and play a backup QB as easily as most teams. It appears that early on, Mike Tomlin decided on Byron Leftwich, who got most of the first team snaps in the preseason. Then, with only a few more series’ left to play in the final preseason game, Leftwich messed up his knee and was out of the picture.

So now, barely tested third stringer Dennis Dixon was handed the reins for the opener. Basically, Tomlin was on his third QB game plan before the first regular season game.  Dixon struggled in the first game; certainly hamstrung by play calling that made Woody Hayes look like Sid Gillman (most of you probably didn’t get that reference). But they won.

Things opened up a little in game two and on Dixon’s first big run of the year, he dives headfirst and blows out his knee. Maybe the conservative scheming was because Tomlarians knew Dixon wasn’t smart enough to slide! So, in the second quarter of the second game of the year, Pittsburgh was being led by the fourth string quarterback: a guy who seemed likely to be cut before the season started. And Batch does just enough to win! Turns out it’s the same knee Dixon blew out his senior year at Oregon and he’s out for the year.

Pittsburgh now has their second straight road game with a deep on the charts backup QB; against a surprising 2-0 Tampa Bay. They completely open up the playbook, use Mike Wallace deep and blow up the Bucs with Batch putting up big numbers.  3-0!!!

And of course, the Ravens are coming to town, a game behind the Steelers. Batch has a bad game, missing open receivers and taking big sacks, but he leads a fourth quarter TD drive to garner a 14-10 lead before the Ravens snatch a win in the final minute.

The Steelers, using third and fourth string QBs, beat two playoff contenders and barely (and I mean, BARELY) lost to another likely playoff team. They are tied with several teams for the second best record in the AFC (behind the soon to be beaten 3-0 Chiefs). This is an excellent start.

THE RUNNING GAME

Pittsburgh has been unable to run well the last three seasons, though Mendenhall did go over 1,000 yards last season. They’ve been especially inept at short yardage. The Steelers are fourth in the AFC in rushing this year. Mendenhall is SECOND in the AFC and has a hefty 4.6 yards per carry. And he had some key runs late in that go-ahead TD drive last weekend. Plus, both Mendenhall and Isaac Redman have converted several short yardage runs and goal line TD runs. This is the best Steeler running game since Willie Parker (still unemployed) in 2006. With Ben back, hopefully the team will use the run to help make him more effective and not go all gunslinger again.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Steelers have one kick return for a TD and have given up none in four games. This is a massive improvement over last season. In fact, with four close games, the return and coverage games have been key.

DEFENSE

Really, this unit has been fantastic. One of the best I’ve seen as a Steelers fan. Now, they failed to get it done in the Ravens game, but I think that was scheme. When the Ravens drove most of the field before being stuffed at the three, LeBeau had them playing soft coverage, giving up chunks of yardage. And on the game-winning TD pass, I think they were blitzing Anthony Madison and Will Allen from the bench. McFadden was really on an island there. A little safety help while rushing the linebackers might have helped a lot. And while they did fail, the four play stop before that was impressive. William Gay made two TD-saving plays.

The other three games: except for when LeBeau has gone soft/prevent late, they’ve totally suffocated teams. They’ve been almost impossible to score on when they’re playing full bore. The D has given up four TDs in four games, and they almost had it at 3, which would have meant 4-0.

INJURIES

Last season fell apart when Troy as hurt in the opener (it just took a while to show). There have been some minor injuries to Casey Hampton, Trai Essex, Max Starks and Chris Hoke, but only Dennis Dixon has had a major one. Byron is capable of playing, though I’m sure the knee is still balky. They’ve stayed healthy and gotten turnovers. Those are the keys to the defense.

SO….

Pittsburgh is on a 2-5 run in the division since last year and HAVE to knock off Cleveland next weekend. I think they will. Then it’s at Miami, at New Orleans and at Cincy. Miami is a mediocre 2-2 but gets my vote for 2010 road clunker, so they need to be focused.

The Madden cover curse has struck Drew Brees: the high flying Saints offense is averaging fewer points per game than the Steelers’. Yes, the conservative, backup QB-driven Steeler offense has been more productive than the Saints.’ I think Pittsburgh can go into NO and get a win, though it’s going to be a tall order.

Then a key division game at Cincy. That team will be imploding soon. Picking up that win would offset the Ravens game. So, home with the Browns and then three road games against teams that think they’re playoff contenders. Pittsburgh could give two of them reality checks. 7-1 is not impossible, though 6-2 is a lot more likely and 5-3 wouldn’t surprise me. But the first quarter of the season featured suffocating D, improved special teams (No ragging on Reed: they were both pretty long and he’s entitled to one bad game a year) and an effective running game. If Ben comes back and gets quickly in sync, this can be a Super Bowl contender.

I’ll be back to my ‘glass half empty’ self next post.

Facebook is down? Quick, tweet!

Facebook, that opiate of 2010, was down for several hours yesterday (October 5). According to all known measurements, there was a very irregular spike in work productivity. Work levels returned to normal when service was restored.

I can't imagine how America got through an afternoon without reading the banal updates of hundreds of thousands of folks.

Fortunately, work (and intelligence) levels are back down to normal today.