Before we get too immersed in the NFL Playoffs and Monday's BCS title game, a final look back (and a tentative look forward) on the local scene.
STEELERS
If you are really interested, you can see what I had prognosticated for the 2013 Steelers back in September here:
http://www.grandstander.blogspot.com/2013/09/its-steelers-time.html
If I say so myself, I think I was pretty perspicacious in my predictions. However, if you don't want to read the whole post from five months ago, here is the relevant passage:
As for 2013, I see the team being anywhere from 7-9 to 9-7 and not making the Playoffs this year. I see Baltimore winning the AFC North with the Bengals - I can't believe I'm saying this - finishing ahead of the Steelers, who will still be better than the Browns.
Well, the Steelers finished 8-8, so I was on target there. Yeah, yeah, I know, I was way wrong about the Ravens, who failed to make the playoffs.
This is the second year in a row that the Steelers went 8-8. In 2012, they started 7-2 and then crashed and burned , going 1-6 in the final seven games. This year, as we all know, they started 0-4, then rallied to go 8-4 in the final twelve games. What to make of that? Nothing, because 8-8 is the very definition of mediocre, and, essentially, that is what the Steelers have been for the last two years. I think it would be a mistake for anyone to think that that nice 8-4 finish means that things are okay with the Steelers going into next year.
On the positive side, the Steelers seem to be a good offensive team. Ben Roethlisberger remains a franchise quarterback, and Le'Veon Bell came on strong after he got healthy and looks to be a Grade-A running back. Despite everyone's constant bitching about OC Todd Haley, the Steelers problems do NOT appear to be on that side of the ball.
The Steelers defense continues to age and continued a trend from '12 of not being able to hold fourth quarter leads. Can that ship be turned around for the 2014 season? That is the big question in my mind as the off-season gets underway for Rooney U.
PITT
You can make all the fun you want about a win over a MAC team in a minor league bowl game, but the Panthers victory over Bowling Green in the Pizza Pizza Bowl, was impressive and, I think, important to the team as they closed out a season that sent somewhat mixed messages. (In addition to that, it was an entertaining and fun game to watch!) The fact of the matter is that Pitt did NOT win those minor league bowl games the prior two seasons, so that alone makes the Pizza Pizza win a good one.
As the guys in the ticket group I am in watched Pitt throughout the season, we kept wondering just what kind of team they were. Well, they finished 7-6, won a game or two we didn't expect (Notre Dame) and lost some they should have won (Navy, North Carolina). As my expert on all things Pitt (Dan Bonk) said prior to the season, "if they win seven games, that would be a good season for them." So, there you are.
I keep thinking that 19 freshman received significant playing time for Pitt this year, and I'll be optimistic and say that that augers well for the future.
I will say that Pitt fans had better enjoy and appreciate Tyler Boyd in 2014, as I am sure that he will be gone to the NFL as soon as rules allow him to opt for the NFL draft. He is a remarkable football player.
PENN STATE
I have decided not to comment in this forum on what has gone on there this past week. Still too touchy and emotional an issue, and I'm just going to let it lay there.
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