Bob Smizik's sports chat transcript: 10.10.11

Monday, 10 October 2011 17:01

Written by Dan Gigler

Smoltz: Bob - give us one lesson learned and one "don't jump to conclusions" statement from yesterday's win

Bob Smizik: There are many lessons to be learned from that game. Most fans and journalists jump to conclusions -- some small, some large. For example, I would not jump to the conclusion that Max Starks is the answer at LT. Nor would I jump to the conclusion, as some are, that Hoke can do a better job at NT than Hampton. Most of all, I would not jump to the conclusion that the Steelers will have clear sailing the remainder of the way.

genelamont: With the Yankees and Philles out, who are you picked to go to the World Series? To win it?

Bob Smizik: The Philles were my pick at the start. They've got to be positively sick about being eliminated by a wild-card team with the starting rotation they have. My heart is with the Tigers but with two starting outfielders out of the lineup, it's tough to see them beating Texas while already down a game. I see Texas and Milwaukee in the WS.

steiny: When Hampton is healthy, who starts: Hampton or Hoke? Same with DE: Smith, when healthy, or Hood?

Bob Smizik: I see Hampton winning back his job when he's healthy. There's a reason Hoke has been on the bench for about seven years and never got a whiff of big-time free agent money. However, Hampton has not been the Hampton of old thus far this season. He will have to play better to keep his job once he returns. As for DE, Hood deserves the job and should have had it all season.

Smoltz: Any discussion of Pitt being able to move to the ACC earlier than the 27 month window allows?

Bob Smizik: The only way that happens is if the Big East add members and wants to get on with its own new life. It's courting Air Force and Navy to name two and also interested in, according to reports, Boise State. If multiple teams are added, I see Pitt moving to the ACC in 2013, possibly 2012. If not, they'll be made to stick to the letter of their contract.

James_Taiwan: Maybe the Steelers offensive line can duplicate the success of the Pirates relief pitchers in the first half. The Steelers can add three more guys off the street to play with Pouncy and Max Starks. Maybe they can catch lightning in a bottle and the Steelers will be playing in the Super Bowl in Indy!

Bob Smizik: I want to see how Starks stands up against better outside rushers. At his best, he was adequate. At the same time, the Steelers have had remarkable success with make-shift offensive lines the past couple of seasons. At the moment, I see no SB in their future.

hector: Why is the media so quick to jump on Todd Graham? He is playing with another regime's players, many of whom are sub-par. The 2011 losses would have occurred with Wannstadt or Graham. Pitt is just an average program and has been for awhile.

Bob Smizik: I'm not sure the media is jumping on Graham. I think he's getting a pretty sweet ride. But if it is, it is because he touted his players and led to higher expectations. Pitt was within a game of winning the Big East and going to a BCS game in 2009 and 2010.

punks?: Your take on the "punks" many in Pittsburgh refer to as the Brewers? Those guys are great players and having fun with what they do for a living. I hope they win 8 in a row.

Bob Smizik: I, too, am pulling for the Brewers. Although Nyjer Morgan is a bit tough to take, what their other players do is no different than most modern-day players. I imagine if the Pirates were in such a situation they'd be behaving in a similar manner and their fans would be loving it. I think it's great that a small-market like Milwaukee can draw 3 million fans and add key and expensive players to their roster.

BobsTheExpert: Your pick today to win the AFC?

Bob Smizik: Easy: NEW ENGLAND

Little Worker: Should someone break Ben's foot prior to the beginning of each season? Is there a tougher player in the NFL than Big Ben?

Bob Smizik: Ben is a tough guy. I imagine there are tougher ones, though.

Greg Garrity: Bob what would the hiring of Urban Meyer do for the Penn State program?

Bob Smizik: Don't get me started. For one, it would give them a great coach who would reinvigorate the program. For another, it would defuse the Paterno loyalists. How could they be angry about Joe being forced out by Urban Meyer? Oh, that it were so.

jimb056: Hi Bob, is Pitt that bad? I have tickets for the Utah game. Should I be envied or pittied ? Who is gonna win?

Bob Smizik: Tough to figure Pitt. I can't believe it is as bad as it showed Saturday. I would not be a bit surprised if it beat Utah, which is not having a great year. Enjoy the game.

James_Taiwan: Will Matt McGloin ever win the starting QB job?

Bob Smizik: That is quite the travesty. I was in and out on the broadcast of Penn State-Iowa and couldn't tell if it were Spielman or Meyer who was strongly suggesting McGloin should take almost every snap. Maybe both. Had to imagine coaches would foster an atmosphere that could cause division within the team, but that's exactly what they are doing. Just another reason why Joe should go.

Bob Smizik: I don't profess to have the ability to rate offensive linemen. Even the coaches want to see game tape before they comment. What we don't know is the quality of the player opposite him. He might have been facing one of the weakest outsider rushers in the NFL. Let's wait a couple of weeks before we pronounce Starks the answer.

jimb056: That's better than i've seen Max Starks play. can he keep it up?

Bob Smizik: Bob Smizik: I don't profess to have the ability to rate offensive linemen. Even the coaches want to see game tape before they comment. What we don't know is the quality of the player opposite him. He might have been facing one of the weakest outsider rushers in the NFL. Let's wait a couple of weeks before we pronounce Starks the answer.

Guest: Will the Steelers make the playoffs?

Bob Smizik: I'd be surprised if they did not. Relatively easy schedule.

James_Taiwan: Any chance of Heyward being given the chance to play NT? Is he capable of shifting over to NT?

Bob Smizik: I seriously doubt he could handle that position. Certainly not in a mid-season switch.

Matt Suhy: As huge as College Football has become how long can the Penn State Admins keep their head in the sand with the JoePa saga?

Bob Smizik: I don't think their head is in the sand. I think their hands are tied. They'd love to push him out and might. But JoePa has tremendous clout, as he should. They risk angering influential alumni by shabbily treating the most important person in Penn State history. It's a fine line that they are having trouble walking.

Dave: Why did the Steelers wait until yesterday to adjust their offense to three step drops, etc to make it more difficult for Ben to get hit and a shorter time for the line to block?

Bob Smizik: They had been using three-step drops earlier, although not as frequently.

Bob Smizik: Not to dodge the question, but I haven't seen enough of Redman. There's no question he is a better power back than Mendenhall. But I don't know if he has the talent to be a feature back. I imagine Mendenhall, when healthy, gets his job back. If that happens, I'd like to see Redman get more carries than he was. Redman didn't exactly set the world on fire yesterday. He was outplayed by Dwyer.

Bouchette > Smizik: Your opinion: Is Redman really a better fit for the Steelers run game right now or has the line just performed better when he has been in?

Bob Smizik: Not to dodge the question, but I haven't seen enough of Redman. There's no question he is a better power back than Mendenhall. But I don't know if he has the talent to be a feature back. I imagine Mendenhall, when healthy, gets his job back. If that happens, I'd like to see Redman get more carries than he was. Redman didn't exactly set the world on fire yesterday. He was outplayed by Dwyer.

Bob Smizik: As you might have noticed, I've been failing to post some questions before answering them. That's why some answers are repeated. My apologies. The questions are so good, I can't wait to answer them.

Foge Fazio: Isn't what Todd Graham is trying to do equivalent to Rich Rod at Michigan? Does he have that much time?

Bob Smizik: He has the time. It will take a while and longer than he apparently thought. I don't think what he is doing is as radical as what RichRod did at tradition-steeped Michigan.

Earthquake: How much weight do you think Mike Tomlin has gained since becoming Steelers head coach? I'd venture to say 40-50 lbs.

Bob Smizik: He definitely has porked up. But not as much as you are suggesting. Maybe 20 pounds.

Tony LaRussa: Should I instruct my pitchers to throw at Nyjer Morgan due to the way he consistently disrespect the game of baseball with his antics?

Bob Smizik: No, but you shouldn't be upset if they do.

Jimmy legs: Will Mendenhall get a second contract with the Steelers?

Bob Smizik: Depends on what he does the rest of this season.

James_Taiwan: Can the Neal Huntington keep Nutting's money in his pocket and not throw away another $5-7 million on a 30 something year old on the down side of his career? If anything trade for a first baseman and give some young guy a chance to win the job.

Bob Smizik: I don't concern myself with how much money they spend. They have to make an attempt. Look what the Cardinals got with Berkman. With the free-agent market what it is, I agree, and have written, that a trade is the way to get a first baseman.

Ralph The Plumber: Any memories of Al Davis you experienced you'd like to share?

Bob Smizik: He once hung up the phone on me. Other than that, a great innovator and football mind who overstayed his time.

Wuh-oh: With the injuries still a concern, if Tomlin came into the PG offices and said he needed a versatile player to suit up for him next Sunday v. Jax, who would you recommend: Bouchette, Dulac, you, or Ron Cook? I'd put Dulac at WR, Ed at RB, you at corner, and Cook as 3rd QB.

Bob Smizik: I think Cook would work well on the offensive line.

chuck: Bob, Hypothetical question. Pitt vs. PSU next week at Pitt. Your opening line?

Bob Smizik: Penn State by 2

James_Taiwan: How about Foote or Sylvester taking over for Farrior? Any chance of infusing the defense with someone younger for the final 11 games?

Bob Smizik: Foote is currently starting.

quizmaster: best show on TV is_________________. Fill in the blank. Ed Bouchette's sense of humor is ____________. Dulac's height is ___________.

Bob Smizik: Breaking Bad; Droll; 6-2 1/2

James_Taiwan: Everyone knows that Joe should go, how can Penn State actually make it happen?

Bob Smizik: I think they're working hard at it. Attracting a big name would make it easier to gain public support for his ouster.

Bob Smizik: Thanks to all. I will be back next Monday at noon.

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
klynch42, October 10, 2011 - 12:57 PM

Bob...you can't be serious in saying that Dwyer outplayed Redman yesterday. The numbers were in Dwyer's favor, but 76 of those yards came on one perfectly blocked play that even you could have gone for 50. Redman runs harder, pushes piles, and has enough speed (granted, not breakaway spped like Mendenhall) to chew up yards when he does get to the 2nd level. I saw way too much of the Mendenhall-type stutter steps at the line of scrimmage from Dwyer yesterday. I don't think it's a question that he's the best type of back for the Steelers offense the way it is currently constructed.



If you remove the 76 yard run -- which, of course, you can't -- Redman averaged 3.3 yards per carry and Dwyer 3.1. I'd say the 76 yard run negates that slight difference.
I am not one of those who feels there is dishonor is spinning to the outside or dancing for a split second. I've seen too many great runs begin in such a manner. -- Bob Smizik

+1

...
klynch42, October 11, 2011 - 04:15 PM

We see the rare occasional great run begin in such a manner. And spinning to the outside or dancing for a split second is often a good idea to allow a hole to develop...when you are running behind at least an average offensive line. With this O-line, when Mendy (Dwyer) stutter steps for a split second the result is the no gain or negative yardage run that we've seen all too often this year due to the O-line collapsing. Mendy is definitely the more talented runner, I'm just saying that Redman's style is much better suited to running behind this O-line.

+0