12/21/24
August 20, 2003
"The Bus" stops here.: Bettis relegated to the bench, even after an active (supposedly) offseason. Is Cowher playing mind games to fire up the troops? Camp hasn't been pretty up in Steel town. But bench the Bus? Anyone have a read on this? Are the Steelers truly becoming a "pass-first" team?
Bettis is all class. I got to know him (a little) in college when one of my hallmates was competing with him for a starting gig. He's a hard worker, and not one to take the demotion lightly. So, maybe Cowher knows what he is doing, but he doesn't have to play games to get Bettis to push himself.
posted by avogadro at 07:55 PM on August 20, 2003
Bettis has lost a step or two he's not hitting the holes like he used to. I'm a diehard steeler fan and I hate to see Bettis fade, but he is, so it's time to give Amos a shot at starting. The other news was Brreuner getting replaced by Remisera
posted by jbou at 10:39 PM on August 20, 2003
Jbou, Sure, elevating Amos to the starting spot may be justified but saying you can "very easily change running backs" doesn't help anyone's confidence. I happen to disagree with you on Bettis, three years ago everyone was saying he had lost a step, two years ago he was averaged 5 yards a carry until he got hurt in week 11 (he was on my fanstasy team and was GUUUUUDDD), last year he was fighting injuries all season. Yes, he's at the age when RB's hit the wall but I'm reluctant to make judgements on a player who was injured. They should get a special category.
posted by Mike McD at 08:19 AM on August 21, 2003
Bettis is an interesting fellow. I think I saw something on him one time that he went to college on a bowling scholarship?? but then decided to play football?
posted by corpse at 09:50 AM on August 21, 2003
"very easily change running backs" doesn't help anyone's confidence. What he meant is that unlike a quarterback, running backs are OFTEN rotated in and out of the lineup. That is why there are backs who only come in on 3rd down. He was saying tese things so that fans, as well as Bettis, realise that he won't be gathering dust on the bench. Bettis is a class act, and was very honest in his feelings last night when interviewed. He said that it did hurt, but that he has been on the positive side of of [Cower's] gut feelings in the past, and that he supports the coach and what is best for the team. He then promptly ran for 18 yards on 3 carries, looking very nimble, and making at least one very nice cut. The press really has jumped on Cower and the Steelers the last couple of days (hell, even the AP wire was ripping them this morning), and I must admit I am VERY glad to see it for a change. I am a life-long, die-hard "Stillers" fan, and I think all too often the press spends too much damn time talking about what an easy path they will have to the Super Bowl, thus making anything but a failure. This team will do well this year. They have a lot of weapons, including the best pass-catching group in the league (Ward, Burress, Randel-El, Mays, etc). IMHO, Cower made the choice he did to slow the rumor mills and allow his team to focus on the season and not on the who-will-or-won't play shit. Lastly, Charlie Batch must be nuts to think he has a remote chance of replacing Tommy Maddox at QB. He looked absolutely AWFUL last night. In fact, as much as I liked the guy, he looked like Kordell in that he kept waiting too long to release the ball when there were obvious targets open. St. Pierre should be #2. Damn, am I ready for the regular season :)
posted by scully at 11:07 AM on August 22, 2003
This is not like a quarterback situation where you can't keep going back and forth," Cowher said. "That creates disruption in your offense. You can very easily change running backs. My favorite part of the piece. Could Cowher be any more clueless. Right Bill, there are so many excellent backfields where teams are rotating backs. I mean Thunder and Lightning worked so well for the Giants. Hambrick and Emmit ... the Broncos 2 years ago with Gary and Terrell. Yep, that's really got to build up Bettis confidence as well. Sure, you may be the 10th leading rusher in league history, but you can "easily change running backs". Maybe I just like Bettis, he's always seemed like a class guy. As a Cowboy's fan I wouldn't mind seeing Dallas add Bettis. I've got a feeling he's got at least one rejuventation left.