A noteworthy look at the Steelers' win

By Mark Madden 

Special to The Beaver County Times | Posted: Sunday, October 28, 2012 11:45 pm

Refreshing Steelers notes: Wards off everything from Frankenstorm to hockey lockouts to bad offside calls in stoppage time. Enjoy!

-- The Steelers’ 1934 throwback uniforms make it easy to understand why it was called The Great Depression.

-- Todd Haley’s offense is taking shape. But will it work against a great defense, one where the linebackers can run and the cornerbacks can hit?

-- What’s a dink, and what’s a dunk?

-- Despite two consecutive 100-yard games, Jonathan Dwyer is no guarantee to push himself up the depth chart at running back. Haley and Mike Tomlin seem sold on Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman 1-2, Baron Batch as the third-down back and Chris Rainey as the wild card.

-- The Rams are reportedly shopping running back Steven Jackson, who can be a free agent at season’s end. He’d be a great fit, especially given his receiving ability. But it’s not the sort of move the Steelers consider.

-- Antonio Brown backpedaling into the end zone on a punt-return touchdown made me glad it was called back. Grow up. What would Lynn Swann do? Not that.

-- Heath Miller has a team-high six touchdowns. Yesterday’s TD grab was the 37th of his career, tying him with Elbie Nickel for the franchise’s all-time mark for tight ends. Yet, after scoring, Miller suppresses the urge to go Gangnam Style. It’s called humility. Or maybe he needs to hire a choreographer.

-- Yo, Steelers: Stryper called. They want their stage gear back.

-- Ryan Clark has played brilliantly, even in Troy Polamalu’s absence. But he’s a dirty player. His high hit on Robert Griffin III was utterly unnecessary. Clark's concussion? Instant karma's gonna get you.

-- Ryan Mundy could be the Steelers’ ninth-string safety, but there will always be enough injuries to get him on the field. God must be his agent.

-- RG3 wasn’t great. He completed just 47 percent of his passes and rushed for only 8 yards. The Steelers seized a quick two-score lead, limiting his options and allowing Dick LeBeau’s defense to concentrate on containment.

-- Washington’s receivers combined for 10 drops. They made Mike Wallace look like he dips himself in Krazy Glue.

-- Ben Roethlisberger was 24 for 33 en route to three touchdowns, no picks and a QB rating of 121. His numbers are excellent. But it still feels like Haley is turning Ben into a souped-up Mike Tomczak.

-- Leonard Pope? Who’s that? Why was he playing on fourth down?

-- The Steelers’ defense held Washington to less than half their average in points, and is ascending to the top of the NFL’s team stats. But that’s skewed by the D being on the field less than any other defensive unit. The Steelers had no interceptions, no fumble recoveries and one sack against Washington. They occupy the league’s bottom half in all those categories. Splash plays win games. Statistics mean what you want them to.

-- It was crucial to finally get two straight victories. You don’t see 8-8 coming. It sneaks up on you. Win one, lose one, repeat as unnecessary. Hitting the road to play the Super Bowl champs will tell a tale. But the Giants aren’t a great team. They just got hot and lucky at the right time.

-- Losing at Tennessee and Oakland will cost the Steelers. The Steelers should be at least 5-2, probably 6-1. It’s a fine line, as a great man once said.

-- Alameda Ta’amu was suspended from yesterday’s game due to his drunk-driving rampage. That's a shame. His throwback uni could double as his jail garb.