3 down, 2 to go and pre-season is still in the evaluation stage. The Steelers beat the Washington Redskins 12-10 Saturday. This was not a pretty win and it left still nagging questions as to who fits in where, who will make the first team and who will be let go.
 
So far, the Steelers released Pittsburgh native WR Rasheed Marshall was picked up by the St Louis Rams. It does not look good for another Pittsburgh product, Kevan Barlow. He is lacking in pass blocking skills and with the stable of running backs the Tomlin and the Steelers are evaluating, Barlow is certainly one to turn in his playbook.
 
One of my key concerns is the offensive line. Tomlin feels he has 8 good linemen who can fill the first team but only 5 can make it. He is not ready to make that decision yet even with two games left in the pre-season.
 
I feel with the selection of the 5 first team linemen, they will have the opportunity to work together and develop cohesion prior to the regular season. However, Tomlin does not feel that way. If he feels that he has 8 good linesmen to choose from. Only one has not played on a consistent basis (C Kevin Mahan), which means that since the others have at least a couple of years of experience playing with each other before it should not matter who is in the starting five. But Tomlin was created a lot of movement in the o-line, moving tackles to guards, right to left, insert fullback, etc., so there is bound to be confusion in assignments. That was evident on Saturday. Trai Essex was the weak link on the left side and played as if he was a rookie and he is not. He missed tackles and overlooked blocks and left gapping holes for defenders to rush the quarterback, create incompletes or score a sack. I am picking on him but there were other infractions from others such as Chris Kemoeatu, and Kendall Simmons.
 
Kevin Mahan fumbled the snap. Keep in mind, he was a Guard for the Tampa Bay Bucs and is being inserted as the center along side Chukky Okobi. (Cowher did the same with Jeff Hartings when he came from Detroit as a guard and inserted as a center in place of retired C Dermontti Dawson). It is evident for the money the Steelers paid to get Mahan here; he will become the starting center eventually, just not now. There could be a change later in the season if not sooner if Okobis current rib injury becomes a nagging problem.
 
The first team defense allowed 7 points in the first half so that a good thing. But also in the first half, they allowed the Redskins to complete 7 out of 10 third down situations (and I am not talking about 3rd and short.) Jason Campbell fumbled the second snap, so in a 3-12 situation, he completed to TE Chris Cooley for a first down. Later to Colley on a 3rd and 5, then to Cooley on a 30 yard gain in a 2nd and 6 situation. QB Todd Collins came in for Campbell (after being run into by Steeler DE Brett Keisel), completed a 3rd and five to Colley and later completed a pass on a 4th-5 to Cooley. And it goes on.
 
The Steelers have in to past (under Cowher) not only had trouble getting off the field on third down situations but also covering TEs. You would think since Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians is inserting 2 and 3 TE sets into the offense, this should not be an issue. We will have to see. Especially when the Steelers will be meeting twice with Kellen Winslow of the Browns, Todd Heap of the Ravens and Ben Watson and Kyle Brady of the New England Patriots.
 
Well, what you all have been waiting for-my take on special teams. I don t know what I despair most over the o-line or special teams.
 
The good punter Daniel Sepulveda. I remember at the drafts, when Sepulveda s name was called, I ask, who in the heck is he? Then I researched him in my draft books and found myself pleasantly surprised and delighted at the pick. It was a good thing. Well after his last 3 performances, there is no doubt of this kid s talent. Sepulveda believes that his kicks should be non returnable. So he kicks them in corners of the field or hangs them so high the return man has to call fair catch. He keeps the opposition behind the 20. Or there is a gunner who is racing down the field to tackle the return guy. Verron Haynes, Carey Davis, Chidi Iwuoma have been stellar.
 
Sepulveda does all this work to keep the opposition in poor field position creating a situation for our defense to keep that offense backs up against the wall and create better field position for our offense or to make that offense earn their points. When Dan punts all is right with the world, special teams cooperates supporting with blocking and hitting.
 
So Why is it, when the Steelers receive on kick or punt, there is no blocking- no hitting. I find the players standing around watching to see if Willie Reid or Cedric Wilson or Najeh Davenport is going to catch the ball and run with it or call for fair catch. For that instant, the opposition has time to get down field-clog lanes close up holes up the middle, which leads the returner to either run into the pile or try to find something outside, even if it means taking a loss of one yard or two (or five) to avoid defenders to get open. Slam-no gain. I am not blaming Willie Reid any more, nor Cedric or Ike or any one else who is place to receive. If there is no blocking the Steelers cannot make head way in special teams. There needs to be a course study on Blocking and Tackle 101in the punt/kicking game, Ligashesky.
 
Here again, it still pre-season we will have to wait and see. Perseverance is the key
 
Next stop Heinz Field Sunday, 8 P.M. Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles.