Preseason Game 1 : Steelers @ Redskins : 08.12.11

[Palmetto Steel]

Time to get this 2011 season underway!!!

... HERE WE GO, STEELERS. HERE WE GO!!!...

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Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Washington Redskins - Preview
by seton hall and steelers
Aug 10, 2011

Football will finally begin again for the Steelers on Friday when they face the Washington Redskins in their first preseason game. This will be the first time the Steelers will play since their devastating defeat one Sunday last February. Anyways, here are my players to watch and a prediction.


Players to Watch

• Limas Sweed: We all want to see if Sweed can finally live up to his #1 WR potential. This is his first of four chances to earn a roster spot and with Emmanuel Sanders ruled out of Friday's game, Sweed will likely get significant playing time.
• Keenan Lewis: Lewis has a ton of talent and maybe this is the year he can stop being so dumb. He has the tools to be our #2 corner this year and I really hope he shines on Friday
• Anthony Gray: Gray will have a tough time making the roster but he can make strides towards making the team with a good game on Friday. He has a ton of talent and now he gets to show it.
• Baron Batch: Batch will be trying to make the team as a the 4th RB and he can show his talent on the field now. He has had a great camp so far and now he can prove himself.
• Weslye Saunders: Saunders has great talent and physical tools and he can show his talents on Friday. He will likely get reps with the second team and we know he can catch passes but he needs to show that he can block as well.
• Jonathan Scott: He will likely be our starting LT this year so I want to see how he does. I think he will shine in his limited playing time on Friday.
• Chris Scott: He has looked great in camp so far and he could possible start on Friday at LG because Kemo is out. If he does get the start, it will be interesting to see how he looks.
• Stevenson Sylvester: He has been having an awesome camp and I want to see what he does on the field. I think he is the replacement for Farrior but he needs to start proving himself.
• Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward: I know they are two players and should be on two bullets but I am saving the last spot for a special player. I am really interested in seeing if Hood can continue to reek havoc on the opposing teams offense like he did last year and I really want to see what Heyward is made of.
• KING ISAAC REDMAN: He will be the 2nd RB on the depth chart and I want to see him go beast mode.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...dskins-preview

[Palmetto Steel]

Pittsburgh at Washington

NFL Preseason Preview - Pittsburgh (0-0) at Washington (0-0)

(Sports Network) - The battle for the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback job moves from the practice field into game conditions on Friday, when the Burgundy and Gold hosts the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers at FedEx Field in the preseason opener for both teams.

After ending Donovan McNabb's short-lived and unsuccessful tenure in Washington by trading the unhappy veteran to Minnesota just prior to the start of training camp, the Redskins are staging an open competition at quarterback between two unlikely candidates, journeyman Rex Grossman and seldom-used fifth-year pro John Beck.

Beck, who hasn't thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season contest since making four starts as a rookie with Miami in 2007, had been considered the favorite entering camp, but may not get a chance to prove his worth early on because of a recent groin injury that has the BYU product questionable to play on Friday.

Grossman, Washington's starter for the final three weeks of last year's turbulent 6-10 campaign, is expected to operate the first-team offense against the Steelers. If Beck is indeed held out, free-agent pickup Kellen Clemens would be next in line for snaps as the ex-Jet tries to throw his name into the mix.

Quarterback isn't the only position being contested as the Redskins embark upon their second season under head coach Mike Shanahan. Ryan Torain will be attempting to hold off newcomers Tim Hightower and Roy Helu and remain the team's starting running back, while incumbent Graham Gano faces a challenge from newly-signed veteran Shayne Graham at the kicker's spot.

With Torain presently sidelined with a broken hand, Hightower is in line to draw the starting assignment in the opener. The Virginia native was acquired by Washington in a July 31 trade with Arizona after spending his first three seasons with the Cardinals.

Helu is one of several rookies whom Redskins fans will get their first look at, a list that includes defensive end Jarvis Jenkins (2nd Round, Clemson), wide receivers Leonard Hankerson (3rd Round, Miami-Florida) and Niles Paul (5th Round, Nebraska) and running back Evan Royster (6th Round, Penn State).

It's unclear as to whether Washington's top 2011 draft choice, Purdue outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, will be making his debut, however. The converted defensive end sustained a bone bruise in his knee early on in camp and has just begun getting up to speed.

The Redskins' defense also figures to be without two other projected starters, with safeties LaRon Landry and Oshiomogho Atogwe dealing with Achilles and hamstring injuries, respectively.

Pittsburgh enters this preseason with far less drama than the previous summer, when the well-publicized suspension of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was by far the team's biggest storyline. The standout signal-caller should see sporadic action at the beginning of this contest before giving way to backup Byron Leftwich, with grizzled vet Charlie Batch and youngster Dennis Dixon later beginning their battle to stick as the No. 3 man during the second half.

The Steelers may hold out a number of key contributors to last year's AFC title run, with reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu (Achilles) and All-Pro outside linebacker James Harrison (back) topping the list of potential candidates to sit.

Second-year wideout Emmanuel Sanders, Pittsburgh's projected No. 3 receiver this season, will definitely miss Friday's game after recently undergoing foot surgery.

The Redskins have won 13 of 18 preseason tilts against the Steelers, with the teams also playing to a 10-10 tie in 1972.

Washington was a 17-13 victor in the most recent bout in the series, which took place at FedEx Field in 2009.


http://content.usatoday.com/sportsda...kins/2011/8/12

[Palmetto Steel]

5 Players to Watch in the Steelers’ Preseason Opener
AUTHOR: Craig
Aug 12th 2011

‘Yesterday was Thursday, today is Friday.’ Wow that Rebecca Black is a lyrical genius. Well it’s true. It’s Friday (not that Rebecca Black is a genius) and that means Washington DC will be full of Black and Yellow jerseys as the Steelers roll in for the preseason opener against the Redskins. I don’t usually put much stock in the preseason games. Full price for a game where the first stringers only play a couple series is pretty annoying. But the games are a necessary evil for coaches to fully evaluate players who will become second and third on the depth charts – something that any true football fan realizes the importance of. Let’s take a look at five players to keep an eye out for in this first preseason game.

1. WR Limas Sweed

Attachment 30154th year receiver Limas Sweed is still fighting for a respectable spot on this Steelers roster. Sweed’s name is usually not synonymous with praise. In fact, Sweed has been one disappointment after another. He has the potential to be another big target for Big Ben, but has never shown any consistency and only brief flashes of brilliance. Many speculate that this is Sweed’s last shot at making the team. With the addition of veteran receiver Jerricho Cotchery mid-week, the pressure is on. Making matters worse, Sweed has been hampered by injuries practically since the beginning of camp – the biggest being a shoulder ailment.

Sweed will need to step up in this first game and show that consistency the coaches have been looking for. Look for Sweed to play complete halves over the preseason as long as he can keep his shoulder and ankle healthy. It’s the final year of his contract – no time like now to show if you got the stuff.

2. LB Jason Worilds

Attachment 3017Worlids was the Steelers’ 2nd round pick in last year’s draft. He hasn’t had much playing time having to sit behind James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley for one of the OLB positions. When he has been on the field, he’s had some good plays and shown good form with his tackling.

This needs to be a bit of a breakout preseason for Worlids. James Harrison has three things working against himself – his back, his aggressiveness and his mouth. Any or all of those will more than likely land him on the sidelines with a suspension or injury sometime during this season. That means Worlids will need to be ready to step in and fill those big shoes.

3. DE Cameron Heyward

Attachment 3016How could the Steelers’ #1 pick in the 2011 draft NOT make it on this list. The son of Craig ‘Ironman’ Heyward will be looking to impress in the preseason games. He’s had a bit of a rough go in camp so far. Reports from the media and those tweeting from camp report that Heyward is a bit slow right now and is getting blocked out sometimes in drills.

Heyward will get some good reps in this first game. He will need to improve quickly as the preseason progresses. Aaron Smith has been riddled with injuries of late. The expectations are set a bit high for Cameron – #1 pick and a father who has quite the legacy in the NFL. If anyone has followed Heyward in the NFL series ‘Everything to Prove,’ you know that Cameron is up to the challenge.

4. Byron Leftwich/Dennis Dixon

Attachment 3018Strange to be talking about Leftwich and Dixon so early. And they aren’t one person either (I know I’m cheating here). But this QB battle for the #3 spot will be interesting to watch. Dixon walked away from the team for less than 24 hours before he realized he wasn’t going to get the contract he wanted, so he decided to come back to the Steelers who agreed to a one year deal. Leftwich has only appeared in four games over the past two seasons. Dixon even less. In my opinion Batch is the #2 passer. He proved his ultimate worth while Big Ben was suspended last season. However, Batch is getting old… like Bret Favre old who could get shelved quickly should that offensive line miss a block or two.

These two will get the most playing time this preseason. Not really sure who will come out on top, but one guy will get cut by the end. Each have their pros: Dixon is has a quick release and quick on his feet, Leftwich has a canon of an arm. They each have their cons too: Dixon is still young and his decision making isn’t quite there yet, Letwich has a very slow release of the ball. This won’t be an exciting race, but will be integral in helping the Steelers get back to another Super Bowl.

5. RB Baron Batch... Err... CB Keenan Lewis

Attachment 3019I really wanted to write about Batch in this post somewhere. There’s no secret that I have (had) a good feeling that this 7th rounder out of Texas Tech would make the team. With his season ending ACL tear, Batch is no longer the feel good story of the summer we were all rooting for. Instead I’ll throw Keenan Lewis under the microscope. Lewis is hoping to get out of the doghouse this season and separate himself from a very disappointing 2010. Thought to be a contender for B Mac’s #2 spot, Lewis threw it all away when he received two personal fouls in the first half and punched through a glass sign to vent his frustrations before halftime. It didn’t sit well with Tomlin, and Lewis was stuck on ST’s most of the season.

With the addition of two more corners selected in the draft (and assuming that Gay keeps his nickel spot… doubtful) that has four corners battling for essentially two more spots on the roster – Lewis, Crezdon Butler, Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown. These four will get lots of playing time over the course of the season, and will more than likely be part of the final round of cuts the team needs to make for their 53 player roster. I don’t have much faith in this guy, and he will need to do some spectacular things early to grab attention away from Allen and Brown. B Mac is still on the PUP and Allen has been listed as inactive for this game as of Thursday morning. Time to saddle up Lewis and show your stuff.

So there you have it. Five players to keep an eye on tonight. There are many others, and this list will change as the preseason marches on into September and those final cuts. So enjoy your Friday night football and GO STEELERS!!!

http://nicepickcowher.com/2011/08/12...season-opener/

[Palmetto Steel]

For folks outside the viewing area, I suggest this:

Upload the "stream torrent" driver (free) to your computer...

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/S ... 29131.html

... Then use either MyP2P or FirstRowSports...

http://www.myp2p.eu/competition.php?com ... anfootball

http://www.firstrowsports.eu/sport/amer ... tball.html

... It works a heck of a lot better than video links such as Justintv, etc...

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If you are bound and determined to only use vid links, you can try this one at kickoff...

http://www.justin.tv/wweeeeeeeee110#/w/1609416128

[Palmetto Steel]

BTW... The game will be re-broadcast at 4pm Saturday afternoon eastern time on NFLN (Directv channel 212).

[Beezy]

Go Steelers!

[exNCite]

Thanks for the links exNKySteeler

[Palmetto Steel]

Thanks for the links exNKySteeler

... Yup... I'm closing on my new home next Friday down in SC, and will be moving by mid-September...

[War Machine]

... Yup... I'm closing on my new home next Friday down in SC, and will be moving by mid-September...

Congrats! Hope your move goes well. Here's to your new start!

[Palmetto Steel]

Congrats! Hope your move goes well. Here's to your new start!

... First round is on me once I get it completed...

Man, I am SO looking forward to getting this 2011 season started tonight, but I really dislike watching on the computer. It makes it too hard to post in the GDT... Then I'll watch the game again tomorrow on NFLN...

[exNCite]

Are these being broadcast on DirecTV? Might have to run down to the bar and watch it, but man it was a looooong week and I'm beat.

[Palmetto Steel]

Are these being broadcast on DirecTV? Might have to run down to the bar and watch it, but man it was a looooong week and I'm beat.

No such luck.... They don't broadcast pre-season games....

[Palmetto Steel]

Here's another 2 links as an option....

http://mumbojumbo-120811.blogspot.co...channel-2.html
http://extreemegoal.weebly.com/ch2.html

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http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/7...-redskins.html