A Legend in the Making: The Coaching Career of Biff Jones

[Bettis36]

The Football world was shocked when right after the 2007 NFL Season ended, Coach Mike Tomlin left his new job coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Tomlin cited family reasons. "I wish I could continue, but I cannot in good conscience and in fairness to the Rooney family and Steeler Nation continue to coach this team. They deserve someone who can give 150% at all times, and I just can't right now."

The Steelers didn't go without a coach for long. A scant 7 days later, the Rooney's introduced Biff Jones as the new Head Coach of the Steelers.

"I'm going to keep the staff assembled last year by Coach Tomlin", said Jones, "Look for big things from us this year."

Steeler Nation waits with uneasy anticipation, hoping the Rooney's know what they're doing.

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Free Agent Signings

Ken Hamlin - FS - 4 yrs, 17mil, 2.5mil signing bonus

Draft

Rd 1. Pick 23 - RE Calais Campbell
Rd 2. Pick 41 - HB Ray Rice
RD 2. Pick 53 - SS Craig Steltz
RD 3. Pick 88 - DT Red Bryant
RD 4. Pick 120 - WR Arman Shields
RD 5. Pick 151 - RG Andrew Crumney
RD 6. Pick 182 - MLB Jeremy Leman

Undrafted Rookies
RE Tony Bake
C Dale Lankford
LG Drew Radovich
ROLB David Vobora
TE Mike Peterson

[Mike3207]

Vobora's a very good linebacker-I had him go to the Pro Bowl one year.

[kdmajoslin]

I agree Vobora is a cheap effective LB that can play inside or out

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The 2008 NFL Season looks to be a good one. This preseason, the Steelers split between wins and losses. "We're still getting used to each other," said Coach Jones, "But I think we have a solid team here. I expect great things from these men.
Making a surprise showing this preseason was QB Tim Hasselbeck, who won a spot as the Third QB. "I'm just as surprised as you all are," he said, "But I'm glad for the opportunity.

As always, the Steelers Defense looks superb, but the normally potent offense seemed lackluster at times. "We've definitely got room for improvement," said starting QB Big Ben, "But we'll get there, believe me."

Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Preseason 2008 Results:

1) VS. Eagles: Loss, 3-22
2) at Bills : Loss, 10-14
3) at Vikings: Win, 13-3
4) Vs. Panthers: Win 17-7

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2008 PIttsburgh Steelers
#	OFFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
7	Ben Roethlisberger	QB
16	Charlie Batch	QB
4	Tim Hasselbeck	QB
34	John Stone	HB
27	Ray Rice	HB
39	Willie Parker	HB
35	Dan Kreider	FB
84	Jeremiah Mckenzie	WR
80	Duane Whitman	WR
14	Arman Shields	WR
10	Santonio Holmes	WR
86	Hines Ward	WR
87	Mike Peterson	TE
89	Matt Spaeth	TE
83	Heath Miller	TE
77	Marvel Smith	LT
79	Trai Essex	LT
64	Reggie Cave	LG
60	Drew Radovich	LG
54	Jake Garfield	C
66	Dale Lankford	C
63	Andre Crumney	RG
73	Kendall Simmons	RG
70	Ryan Russell	RT
74	Willie Colon	RT
#	DEFENSE	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
97	Tony Bake	LE
91	Aaron Smith	LE
69	Calasi Campbell	RE
95	Ryan Bean	RE
99	Brett Keisel	RE
78	Red Bryant	DT
76	Chris Hoke	DT
98	Casey Hampton	DT
55	Bryant Morris	LOLB
56	Lamarr Woodley	LOLB
94	Lawrence Timmons	MLB
50	Larry Foote	MLB
59	Pat Boxer	MLB
51	James Farrior	MLB
57	Pat Boxer	MLB
53	Jeremy Leman	MLB
67	David Vobora	ROLB
92	James Harrion	ROLB
30	Rashanti Harris	CB
28	Craug Steltz	CB
37	William Gay	CB
20	Bryant McFadden	CB
24	Ike Taylor	CB
25	Ryan Clark	FS
38	Ken Hamlin	FS
43	Troy Polamalu	SS
23	Tyrone Carter	SS
#	SPECIAL TEAMS	POS	AGE	HT	WT	COLLEGE
3	Jeff Reed	K
9	Daniel Sepulveda	P

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LACKLUSTER STEELERS OFFENSE WAKES UP IN 2ND HALF TO BEAT HOUSTON 20-17 IN OT

The Steelers offense was dismal in the first half. Big Ben could hardly complete a pass and everyone seemed confused. In the second half, largely spurred by a renewed effort by Fast Willie Parker, the Steelers caught up with just 17 seconds left in the 4th Quarter. A botched fake punt on the Steelers 47 gave the Steelers the ball back, and Jeff Reed booted a 48 yard FG to win it in overtime, 20-17

"Obviously, I'm happy to get a W," said coach Jones, "But the offense has to start executing more consistently. We won't get far playing like we did in the first half

Performance of the game goes to fast Willie Parker, who racked up 130 yards on 26 attempts.

There was a bit of a scary moment when Aaron Smith left the field and headed to the locker room with no comment from the Steelers staff. Turns out to be a strained wrist, and he should be ready to go at cleveland. "We'll just have to see how he develops"

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sep 7, 2008	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	OT	SCORE
Houston Texans (0-0)	10	0	7	0	0	17
Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)	0	0	7	10	3	20

Team Stats Comparison
	HOU	PIT
Total Offense	268	277
Rushing Yards	87	142
Passing Yards	181	135
First Downs	13	12
Punt Return Yards	27	13
Kick Return Yards	121	102
Total Yards	416	392
Turnovers	0	2
3rd Down Converstion	9-18	5-12
4th Down Conversion	0-1	0-0
2-Point Conversion	0	0
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals	2/0	1/1
Penalties	0-0	1-5
Posession Time

Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER SCORING		HOU	PIT
9:01	(HOU) M. Schaub pass to A. Davis, 19 yards for a TD	7	0
2:13	(HOU) 38 Yard FG, K. Brown	10	0
THIRD QUARTER SCORING		HOU	PIT
7:08	(PIT) B. Roethlisberger 4 yard pass to H. Miller for a TD	10	7
0:01	(HOU) M. Schaub 11 yard pass to K. Walter for a TD	17	7
FOURTH QUARTER SCORING		HOU	PIT
7:01	(PIT) 49 yard rush by W. Parker for a TD	17	14
0:17	(PIT) 20 yard FG, J. Reed	17	17
OVERTIME SCORING		HOU	PIT
5:53	(PIT) 48 yard FG, J. Reed	17	20

Houston Texans PASSING C/A YDS TD INT M. Schaub 14/26 185 2 0 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD S. Alexander 37 90 2.4 0 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD A. Davis 6 87 14.5 1 K. Walter 4 58 14.5 1 S. Alexander 2 26 13 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD D. Ryans 11 0 0 0 A. Okoye 6 1 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG K. Brown 1/2 2/2 5 38

Pittsburgh Steelers PASSING C/A YDS TD INT B. Roethlisberger 11/24 142 1 2 RUSHING ATT YDS AVG TD W. Parker 26 139 5 1 RECEIVING REC YDS AVG TD H. Miller 3 24 8 1 W. Parker 3 51 17 0 S. Holmes 2 25 12.5 0 A. Shields 2 38 19 0 DEFENSE TACK SACK INT TD J. Harrison 10 0 0 0 J. Farrior 10 0 0 0 KICKING FG XP PTS LONG J. Reed 2/2 2/2 8 48

Next week, the Steelers face another challenge as they take their show to Cleveland.