Pittsburgh: Blogging to the NC North Title '08

[MrBigglesworth]

I always have a million thoughts about my team running through my head, so I thought it would be a good idea to do something to keep them all straight. Then I thought, hey, why not write a blog which is all the rage right now so that everyone can experience the joy that is the Pittsburgh Power?

Let's check out the preseason battles:

3rd string QB

Normally a throw-away position, but since we may eventually be forced to trade the first two on the depth chart, it has added importance. Jerry Stclair is coming back from an injury, and was formerly one of the best QB's in the IFL. Darrell Wilson was pick 1-14 in 2004 by the old Chaos, and never lived up to the hype.

Back-up running back

Rodrigez is the clear starter, but we haven't been happy with the back-up play of Long the past couple of years. Richardson was a 4th round draft pick that impressed in preseason last year.

4th WR

Blackwell and Camp will start, with Ambrose Jones being the third guy. Richard, Little (coming off an injury), Thompson, and Treu will be competing for the fourth spot.

Cornerback

We are always tweaking the CB position. Phifer should be one starter, and probably Saltzman the other. Willingham, Hanshaw, and Burns are on the bubble and fighting for the nickle spot, while Beckman will hang around for ST duties.

That's pretty much it. Other than that, we are just trying to get through it with as few injuries as possible.

[MrBigglesworth]

First Preseason Game

3rd string QB

   Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int	Sckd
   10 Stclair		18	13	140	7.7	26	1	1	0
   8 Wilson		13	12	140	10.7	49	2	0	0

Both played well against Wichita's first team, but Wilson really excelled. Wilson takes the early lead.

Back-up running back

   Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD
   32 Richardson		29	139	4.7	20	1
   39 Long		6	53	8.8	44	0

Long had the one long run, but was pedestrian otherwise. Richardson looked fantastic all game. Edge to Richardson.

Fourth WR

 Receiving		Catch	Yards	Avg	YAC	Long	TD
   83 Blackwell		12	172	14.3	60	49	1
   88 Treu		2	8	4.0	3	5	1
   85 Little		1	5	5.0	0	5	0
   81 Richard		1	5	5.0	0	5	0

   Receiving		Target	Caught	Dropd	Yards	PassPlay
   83 Blackwell		13	12	0	172	26
   88 Treu		4	2	0	8	23
   85 Little		1	1	0	5	4
   81 Richard		1	1	0	5	2

Blackwell just stole the show. Didn't get much of a read on the other guys, but Treu looks like a rookie. Little probably isn't back from his injury.

Cornerbacks

   Pass Defense		Caught	Defnsd	Intrcpt	PassPlay
   33 Willingham		3	1	0	18
   42 Hanshaw		3	0	0	12
   47 Burns		1	0	0	16
   44 Beckman		0	1	0	17
   21 Saltzman		0	0	0	15
   
   Defense		Tackles	Assists	RunPlay	PassPlay
   42 Hanshaw		6	0	14	12
   47 Burns		3	1	11	16
   33 Willingham		3	0	16	18
   44 Beckman		2	1	19	17
   21 Saltzman		2	1	17	15

Hanshaw also forced two fumbles, but the lack of passes defensed was worrisome. No clear favorites here yet.

[MrBigglesworth]

Second Preseason Game

3rd String QB

   Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int	Sckd
   10 Stclair		18	11	71	3.9	11	1	0	0
   8 Wilson		9	5	48	5.3	13	0	0	1

Wilson slightly outplayed Stclair, for the second straight game. I'm going to move Wilson to the first spot in the depth chart and get him some work with the 'first' team a little more.

Back-up Running Back

   Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD
   32 Richardson		33	184	5.5	23	0
   39 Long		6	18	3.0	7	0

Richardson is preseason MVP. He is almost a lock to be the back-up at this point.

Fourth WR

    Receiving		Target	Caught	Dropd	Yards	PassPlay
   88 Treu		6	3	0	34	22
   81 Richard		4	2	0	17	9
   85 Little		2	2	0	5	2

Nobody is distinguishing themselves, but Little just doesn't look like he has anything left.

Cornerback

   Pass Defense		Caught	Defnsd	Intrcpt	PassPlay
   33 Willingham		3	0	0	18
   47 Burns		2	1	0	18
   42 Hanshaw		1	1	0	14
   21 Saltzman		1	0	0	18
   44 Beckman		0	0	0	14
   
   Defense		Tackles	Assists	RunPlay	PassPlay
   33 Willingham		3	0	13	18
   21 Saltzman		2	0	16	18
   47 Burns		1	0	9	18
   42 Hanshaw		1	0	11	14
   44 Beckman		0	1	11	14

Willingham is pissing me off. He doesn't really play run defense, he can't intercept the ball, he is just there to defend passes, and he isn't doing it. If he didn't have an affinity he would be cut this week.

[sovstar]

Tell me who you are going to cut, so I can plan ahead better.

Thanks

[MrBigglesworth]

Third Preseason Game

Third string QB

   Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int	Sckd
   10 Stclair		16	8	77	4.8	14	0	0	0
   8 Wilson		12	8	76	6.3	20	1	1	0
   2 Mueller		2	2	30	15.0	21	0	0	0

Wilson outplays Stclair. I don't know who to hang on to at this point.

Backup RB

   Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD
   32 Richardson		25	112	4.4	30	2
   39 Long		3	8	2.6	4	0

Richardson is a preseason God that Jeff wishes was on his team.

Fourth WR

   Receiving		Target	Caught	Dropd	Yards	PassPlay
   88 Treu		7	4	1	51	20
   12 Humphrey		4	3	1	26	11
   81 Richard		3	3	0	43	6

Nobody is playing that great, but I like how Richard has been playing. He has obvious special teams ability, so he has definitely made the active roster, and could see significant time backing up Blackwell.

Cornerback

   Pass Defense		Caught	Defnsd	Intrcpt	PassPlay
   33 Willingham		6	0	0	24
   47 Burns		2	0	0	22
   21 Saltzman		2	0	0	20
   42 Hanshaw		1	0	0	15
   44 Beckman		0	0	0	14

Willingham had a great season last year, but in the preseason he has been absolute garbage. I'm thinking I should cut him, but he has an affinity.

[MrBigglesworth]

Fourth Preseason Game

Third String QB

   
   Passing		Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	Long	TD	Int	Sckd
   10 Stclair		27	10	106	3.9	16	0	0	0
   8 Wilson		9	5	50	5.5	17	0	1	2

Stclair's numbers look like ass, but he did have 6 drops and didn't throw an int.

Back-up Running Back

   Rushing		Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD
   32 Richardson		21	95	4.5	14	1
   39 Long		4	25	6.2	18	0

Zeus in human form is finally held under 100 yards, but still gets 4.5 ypc. Jeff is impressed.

Fourth WR

   Receiving		Target	Caught	Dropd	Yards	PassPlay
   88 Treu		8	3	3	33	35
    81 Richard		3	3	0	41	10
   12 Humphrey		3	1	1	17	13

Cornerback

   Pass Defense		Caught	Defnsd	Intrcpt	PassPlay
   33 Willingham		3	1	0	18
   44 Beckman		3	0	1	16
   42 Hanshaw		2	0	0	22
   47 Burns		1	1	0	21
   21 Saltzman		1	0	0	19

Way to finally get a defensed pass, Willingham. A-hole. May have saved your roster spot, but we'll have to wait until the total stats are computed...

[MrBigglesworth]

Preseason Totals

Third string QB

Passing	Att	Comp	Yards	Yd/Att	TD	Int	Sckd	BdThrw	Dropd	Defnsd	Blockd	Hurried	Comp%
   10 Stclair	79	42	394	5.0 	2	1	0	6	8	6	6	8	53.2 
   8 Wilson	43	30	314	7.3 	3	2	3	3	0	5	1	2	69.8

Wilson obviously threw better, but Stclair had fewer turnovers. Wilson has more upside, and it looks like Stclair has lost more than it shows. Stclair will be cut.

Back-up RB

Rushing	Att	Yards	Avg	TD	Fum
   32 Richardson	108	530	4.9 	4	2
   39 Long	19	104	5.5 	0	0
   25 Poulos	6	15	2.5 	0	0

Richardson rushed for over 500 yards in just four games. Long had a better average, but his low ypc in his first two years means that I am going to give Richardson a shot. Richardson will be the backup running back week 1.

Fourth Receiver

Receiving	Targ	Catch	Yards	Avg	Avg/Targ	YAC	Long	TD	Dropd	PassPlay
   88 Treu	25	12	126	10.5 	5.0 	14	60	2	4	100
   12 Humphrey	12	7	66	9.4 	5.5 	11	45	1	2	43
   85 Little	3	3	10	3.3 	3.3 	3	8	0	0	6
   81 Richard	11	9	106	11.8 	9.6 	11	53	0	0	27

Former first round bust Ken Richard plays very well in the preseason, and earns the #4 WR spot. Humphrey had a good showing, and will be on the inactive list ready to go in in case a punt returner gets hurt.

Cornerback

Defense	Tackle	Assist	Int	IntYds	FForc	Recov	Caught	Defnsd	PassPlay
   42 Hanshaw	9	3	0	0	2	0	7	1	63
   47 Burns	7	2	0	0	0	0	6	2	77
   33 Willingham	16	0	0	0	0	0	15	2	78
   44 Beckman	6	3	1	28	0	0	3	1	61
   21 Saltzman	9	4	0	0	0	0	4	0	72

So I guess Willingham had two passes defensed. He had a ton of tackles, probably from tackling the guy he had just let catch the ball. Saltzman will start alongside Phifer, rotating with Hanshaw as the nickel. Willingham will be kept for his affinity. Despite a decent preseason, Burns may or may not be cut. Beckman will see time as a special teams player.

[MrBigglesworth]

Preseason Stars

Who had a good preseason for the Power?

• QB Darrell Wilson had an almost 70% completion percentage
• RB ThurmanRichardson ran for 530 yards and 4 TD's
• C Leland Vivaldi was 15/23 (65%) on KRB's and didn't give up a sack
• S Marshall Peters had 2 INT's and 1 defensed pass in only 16 pass plays
• MLB Vincent Harding led the team with 23 tackles and added a fumble both forced and recovered
• DE Jimmy Carlisle had 3 sacks, 3 pass blocks, and 4 hurries for a 7.9 PR%
• WR Will Blackwell led the team with 19 catches and 231 yards

[MrBigglesworth]

Final Cuts

1. WR Kelley Little - leading receiver in Power history, sad to see him go, but he just doesn't have it anymore after his injury. He will probably catch on somewhere though.
2. T Nick Rivers - was just a warm body brought in when Walz got injured
3. DT Chris Quarles - didn't get along with the new leader in the locker room, so needed to get the boot.
4. OLB Daniel Lincoln - good player for my defense but, like Quarles, didn't get along with the new leader.
5. S Stanley Lyle - had a decent preseason, but not good enough to crack my safety lineup
6. OLB Darrin Koss - was a great teammate for several years for the Power, but got injured last year and lost a lot of what made him stand out

[MrBigglesworth]

Week 1: Power 24, Shreks 21

Game Summary

Mueller drove the team down the field and took the lead on our first drive and we never looked back. The offense moved the ball the entire game, gaining 25 first downs, and the defense held down a Lansing offense that threw the ball down the field nearly every other play. Lansing had two drives to try and tie the game in the closing minutes, but failed to get a first down in either drive.

Big Time Players

• Rodrigez and Richardson combined for nearly 160 yards rushing
• Mueller was 22-30 for 196, 2 TD's, and an INT
• Edelstein caught 9 balls
• O-line gave up 0 sacks, 1 hurry, and were 13/34 (38%) on krb
• Hazzard tallied 5 hurries and Cajigal added 3
• Rousseau with 3 passes defensed
• Blackwell had 146 all-purpose yards

Notable Injuries

LT MacClelland, quest., 3 wks
MLB Raines, quest., 4 wks
LG Dronett, prob, 3 wks

Game Thoughts

We won on the road against a team that many predicted to win the division, so it was a good win. I still think that Madison is the team that we have to beat to win the division, though. Our offense moved the ball, and the defense looked really good against the run and limited the passing game of Nelson.