No Playoffs for Steelers? Boys/Jags go Superbowling
No Playoffs for Steelers?
Publication Source The Valley Independent
Publication Date 2008-06-14
By Brian Herman, The Valley Independent, Monessen, Pa.
Jun. 14--If Joe Russo is right, the Pittsburgh Steelers won't repeat as AFC North champs under second year coach Mike Tomlin in 2008.
Russo is the 32-year-old Belle Vernon native who's in his rookie year as a pro football magazine publisher.
In March he put out his first Surefire Scouting 2008 draft issue.
Hitting the news stands this week was his Surefire Scouting 2008 pro annual previewing the upcoming NFL season.
Russo picks the Cleveland Browns to win the North followed by the Steelers, Baltimore and Cincinnati.
He feels the Browns helped themselves the most during the off-sesson with the acquisitions of defensive linemen Corey Williams from Green Bay and Shaun Rogers from Detroit, and signing free agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who caught 47 passes for 697 yards with New England last season.
Russo feels the suspect offensive line could be the Steelers' Achilles heel.
"If new starters Chris Kemoeatu and Justin Hartwig can't open holes for the running game or keep Ben Roethlisberger off his back, it will be a very long season for the team," writes Russo.
The publication doesn't see the Steelers making the playoffs either.
New England (East), Jacksonville (South) and San Diego (West) are the AFC division title picks with Dallas (East), Green Bay (North), New Orleans (South) and San Francisco (West) getting the NFC nod.
The wildcard picks are Indianapolis and the New York Jets in the AFC and the New York Giants and Minnesota in the NFC.
Jacksonville gets the nod over Dallas in Super Bowl XLIII after the Jaguars drop the Colts and the Cowboys down the Saints in the conference title games.
Besides analyzing each team, the publication has a number of interesting sidebar features including the top 10 on the verge of greatest and on the decline, fantasy ratings and a 2009 draft preview.
The Steelers' Santonio Holmes is fifth on the verge list behind Detroit wide receiver Calvin Jonson, Atlanta running back Michael Turner, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Washington quarterback Jason Campbel.
On the other side, the Steelers' James Farrior is seventh on the decline list behind Arizona running back Edgerrin James, Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson, Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis, Dallas offensive tackle Flozell Adams, Indianapolis wide receiver Marvin Harrison and Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis.
In his quarterback fantasy ratings, he has the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger fifth behind Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.
Looking ahead to next year's draft, Arizona State's Rudy Carpenter is tagged as the No. 1 quarterback and Clemson's James Davis the top running back.
Publication Source The Valley Independent
Publication Date 2008-06-14
By Brian Herman, The Valley Independent, Monessen, Pa.
Jun. 14--If Joe Russo is right, the Pittsburgh Steelers won't repeat as AFC North champs under second year coach Mike Tomlin in 2008.
Russo is the 32-year-old Belle Vernon native who's in his rookie year as a pro football magazine publisher.
In March he put out his first Surefire Scouting 2008 draft issue.
Hitting the news stands this week was his Surefire Scouting 2008 pro annual previewing the upcoming NFL season.
Russo picks the Cleveland Browns to win the North followed by the Steelers, Baltimore and Cincinnati.
He feels the Browns helped themselves the most during the off-sesson with the acquisitions of defensive linemen Corey Williams from Green Bay and Shaun Rogers from Detroit, and signing free agent wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who caught 47 passes for 697 yards with New England last season.
Russo feels the suspect offensive line could be the Steelers' Achilles heel.
"If new starters Chris Kemoeatu and Justin Hartwig can't open holes for the running game or keep Ben Roethlisberger off his back, it will be a very long season for the team," writes Russo.
The publication doesn't see the Steelers making the playoffs either.
New England (East), Jacksonville (South) and San Diego (West) are the AFC division title picks with Dallas (East), Green Bay (North), New Orleans (South) and San Francisco (West) getting the NFC nod.
The wildcard picks are Indianapolis and the New York Jets in the AFC and the New York Giants and Minnesota in the NFC.
Jacksonville gets the nod over Dallas in Super Bowl XLIII after the Jaguars drop the Colts and the Cowboys down the Saints in the conference title games.
Besides analyzing each team, the publication has a number of interesting sidebar features including the top 10 on the verge of greatest and on the decline, fantasy ratings and a 2009 draft preview.
The Steelers' Santonio Holmes is fifth on the verge list behind Detroit wide receiver Calvin Jonson, Atlanta running back Michael Turner, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Washington quarterback Jason Campbel.
On the other side, the Steelers' James Farrior is seventh on the decline list behind Arizona running back Edgerrin James, Cincinnati running back Rudi Johnson, Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis, Dallas offensive tackle Flozell Adams, Indianapolis wide receiver Marvin Harrison and Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis.
In his quarterback fantasy ratings, he has the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger fifth behind Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees.
Looking ahead to next year's draft, Arizona State's Rudy Carpenter is tagged as the No. 1 quarterback and Clemson's James Davis the top running back.
posted by The Gryphon at 3:39 PM
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