Al Michaels is a pro. He’s probably the best play-by-play in the business.
Ronnie Brown looks like the real deal. His pass-catching skills have improved. That was a pretty nice snag on that first series, even if it didn’t go for a first down.
I loved that Sprint NFL Mobile commercial with Peyton Manning in disguise. The moustache is falling of as he says, “You can watch exclusive game highlights of all your favorite players. Like Peyton Manning. That guy’s pretty good – if you like 6’5”, 230 pound quarterbacks, laser, rocket arm.” Gotta love that hair.
Verron Haynes is the Steelers’ third down back. This will limit Parker’s pass catching opportunities.
Miami’s ball – 3rd and 4 near midfield. Culpepper has Marty Booker wide open at the first down marker and he completely misses him. This is what worries me about Daunte – he’s got a good career completion percentage, but he’s not all that accurate of a passer. An immobile Daunte Culpepper is a very scary proposition.
Pittsburgh’s ball 4th and 1 from Miami’s 39. I love the decision to go for it and I love the play call. If you’ve got a 4th and short inside your opponent’s 40-yard line and you’re not in field goal range, you have to go for it. I’m so tired of seeing punts in this situation that end up rolling into the endzone for a touchback. The play call was great – a little misdirection and the pitch to Parker, letting him use his 4.3 speed to outrun the Miami defense to the first down marker. It’s a much different approach than the one they used last year, but just as effective.
Nate Washington made a great catch on that TD – he went up, made the snag and took the hit from the safety. Not a bad throw from Charlie Batch, either. It looks like Washington is going to do the kind of things that Antwaan Randle El did last season.
10 minutes left in the first half and Chris Chambers still doesn’t have his first catch of the season. Let’s throw him a three-yard out just to get him on the board. (Can you tell I’ve got him in a league or two?)
Wes Welker looks like a good returner – don’t be surprised if he scores a couple of TDs this season for Miami’s special teams.
Culpepper threw a beautiful touch pass to Welker and then, on another play, the receiver took a pass and made something out of nothing. He might be this year’s Brandon Stokley, but he’s going to have a tough time getting on the field with Chambers and Booker ahead of him.
Speaking of Chambers, he and Culpepper really looked out of synch in the first half.
It’s good to see Sterling Sharpe working on the big stage again. He’s smart, eloquent and he knows the game.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Ben Roethlisberger looks like Will Ferrell after a weekend bender in Vegas.
If Willie Parker gets 12-13 carries per half behind that talented Steeler offensive line, he’s going to have a very productive season. He’s showing some cutback ability that he didn’t have last year.
Hines Ward’s hammy (say that five times fast) looks fine. He’s having no trouble getting open. But he’s starting to do that Antonio Freeman backpedal when he catches the ball in the middle of the field. I’d like to see him turn up field, but he seems content to wait for the contact.
Finally, 7:23 left in the third, and Chambers gets his first catch.
Ronnie Brown runs like Rudi Johnson. He never seems to go down on the first hit.
After the touchdown drive that gave the Dolphins a 17-14 lead, it sure looked like they were going to take control of the game, but back-to-back Miami penalties on the next possession helped the Steelers out of a big hole. Next thing you know, the Steelers give the ball back on the Miami goal line. Ouch.
Batch’s third touchdown pass was another beauty to Heath Miller, who showed some surprising speed to get to the pylon. Unfortunately, Saban didn’t do a very good job of challenging the call.
What’s Chris Collinsworth doing these days? I like it when he said he was just “running around.” He takes a lot of abuse, but I actually like Collinsworth.
Daunte Culpepper throws his second interception is as many pass attempts. A friend of mine always says, “Daunte Culpepper wants to give you the ball.” Is there anything worse for a quarterback than to throw an interception for a touchdown and then get blocked to the turf just as the defender crosses the goal line?
Chambers looks a lot better in the second half. Of course, five catches for 59 yards will make a lot of guys look better. I’ll take it after that goose egg in the first half.
Well, Daunte turned the ball over and Pittsburgh won their home opener. No big shockers there.
