theWellHungarian: Happy New Year, Jerry! How bad-ass was Gilbert Brown's dunk the other night? I really think his dribble-drive-dunk was the 'coup de grace.' I don't mean to toot our own horns, but did we predict the impact Gilbert Brown would have on the young Panthers or what? From an earlier chat.

Jerry Micco: Well my friend, you just saved me the trouble of patting myself on the back with that link. I like Gilbert Brown and I think fans can see the difference he makes on this team. He's that slashing type of player that can do a lot of good things for you and he seems even more physical this year.

Bubs: Not a bad showing by the Big Ten in their bowl games this year ... love to see the pundits eat their words on the demise of the conference. What did you think, and how will it shape up next season? Ohio State, Penn State and ...

Jerry Micco: I think the Big Ten should pat itself on the back for a very good Bowl season. The top 4 teams won their games and a fifth, Northwestern, nearly did. And ESPN reported that the Big Ten was the first conference since the late 90s (when the Big Ten did it) to win four games against top 15 opponents. An early look at the 2010 Big 11 shapes up as Ohio St., Iowa and Wisconsin or Penn State. I think the Nits should be in decent shape, but Ohio St. and Iowa will be very tough and PSU has to go to both places in 2010.

theWellHungarian: I'm kind of disappointed Bruce Arians is being made the scapegoat for this seasons failures. A 4,000 yard passer, two 1,000 yard receivers, and a 1,000 yard RB, he's got to be doing something right, right?

Jerry Micco: I agree with you on this point. And all of you can vote on today's chat poll question concerning the embattled Steelers OC at the bottom of the chat. I don't think the offense is the problem, however, I think some of the playcalling in critical points was questionable. I'd like to see Tomlin get more involved and get Arians' commitment that there need to be some changes made.

Homey: How does the AP determine which papers and which writers get to vote for various polls and awards?

Jerry Micco: It varies by bureau. Alan Robinson is the AP bureau chief in Pittsburgh and for football he will rotate the vote between us and the Trib. We probably get it a bit more but he tries to level things out. Same with basketball. Generally, you grab the beat writer, or, if you have a national college football writer like we use Ray Fittipaldo, he'll get a vote.

Homey: Which brutal Steelers loss will we remember as the most ridiculous thing that kept us out of the playoffs? I'm leaning towards the Raiders loss since that was at home.

Jerry Micco: Well, that's not a bad choice, but for me, it's the Browns. How do you lose to a 1-11 team that only scores 13 points against you?

theWellHungarian: I'd like to see the Panthers go with this lineup PG - Ashton Gibbs; SG - Jermaine Dixon; SF - Gil Brown; PF - D. Taylor; C - G. McGhee - Brad Wanamaker turns the ball over too much for my liking & would be better off the bench. I know they say Dante Taylor isn't ready to play the 4, but I kind of like having 2 big trees defending the lane together. What say you?

Jerry Micco: I'm not sure they like McGhee that much to keep starting him. When I saw Taylor in person at the Duquesne, the kid looked lost on the court. You could see he had the body and size to play the 4, but had no court sense. But you can see now that he's figuring it out and he's only going to get better. The lineup you state is a good one, though Wannamaker can score a bit, too, so maybe he is your 6th man.

Bubs: Does Iowa return Stanzi? I already forget from last night. What's the buzz on Kevin Newsome? And what do you think about Jared Odrick going from blue & white to black & gold?

Jerry Micco: I think Stanzi is back, but can't swear to it. Newsome got his feet wet a couple times this year, but he has a lot of offseason work to do. I think he's going to be a pretty good QB, but next year could be a growing year for him. Odrick would be an excellent 3-4 end, which is a bit different from what he played at PSU, but he has the size (6-5 and 304) to play there. And I'm sure the Steelers are keeping an eye on him.

WorkerB: Jerry, having Ron Cook write columns 3 consecutive days is a mistake. He completely mailed it in with yesterday's piece. One paragraph summaries of the 7 Steeler losses?

Jerry Micco: Not every reader likes every column our guys write, but I can assure you Ron never "mails it in." To each his own, I say.

Chunkles: Jerry, people argue that Mike Tomlin won a Super Bowl and should get the respect that goes with the title. I say he won it with Bill Cowher's team. Remember, all the EXPERTS on the pre-game shows, including ex-coaches will tell you, coaches don't win games, players do. Here is where I'm going with this. Jim Tracey, former skipper for the Pirates was run out of town after two years. He goes to Colorado and, not only gets them into the play-offs, but is named Manager of the Year. He didn't just learn how to coach, he had talent. With the Pirates, he had little. He also had owners who are not committed to winning. The Steelers want to win and are wise to know where to spend their money and how. Its the players not the coach. Send Tomlin and his stupid catch phrases back to Tampa. Send Russ Grimm and apology letter and an invitation to Latrobe, this summer!

Jerry Micco: Why not hire Jim Zorn or Eric Mangini since the coach doesn't matter and it's all about the players? It's funny that Cowher only won one SB in 15 years and he had those players, many of them at least, for several years without a SB. Yes, he got one, but three years later it is a different team. I'm surprised at the people who come here and say Tomlin is a bad coach. He's not had a losing season in three years and he's won a Super Bowl. What else can he do? And if Russ Grimm was great head coaching material, you'd hear him mentioned for all the openings the past 3 years. You never hear the name come up.

shouldBworking: Jerry, I was curious how the sports section of the web site is organized? I see headlines first, then the Steelers, the Pirates and the Penguins coverage in that order. What determines how you order the teams? My curiosity is because the Buccos are listed before the Pens though they are out of season.

Jerry Micco: If you're talking about the bars for team categories, it may just be arbitrary. The stories as they are posted are done by our Web crew at night. So if it's the story lineup you have a problem with, then I can look at that. But those bars don't change no matter the season.

shouldBworking: Jerry, second question before I have to head out. I get frustrated when I hear fans refer to "we, us" etc. when they talk about their rooting interest. What are your thoughts? For example, many of my buddies are disappointed that "We" didn't make the NFL play-offs. To me, the Steelers didn't make the play-offs and "we" had nothing to do with it. Just curious as it bugs me.

Jerry Micco: As a journalist, the only "we" I have are the folks who work with me. No, the Steelers aren't me, nor are the Pirates, Pens, Pitt, PSU, etc. But some fans like to think of themselves as part of the team, and that's fine if they want to think that. It's all pretty harmless in the end.

Homey: I want to hear your response to my thoughts about the Pitt-to-the-Big-Ten rumors. I'm a Pitt alum, and I'd like for us to stay in the Big East in all sports if possible. I think it's easier to win in football, and we have historic rivalries with those teams. However, I think I might still go to the Big Ten if asked. The reason is that if we don't, what if they take WVU or Cincy? Then where does that leave the Big East in football? Maybe we should jump before someone else does?

Jerry Micco: The latter thought has to be on any Big East team's mind as the Big Ten casts about for a 12th (or 13th or 14th) team. If that school is Syracuse or Rutgers, the Big East is going to have to add a school for football that may dilute basketball for a bit. Either way, I think if the Big Ten asks, Pitt should listen. I didn't say go, I said listen. It'll help their football program, though maybe not its won-loss record. That said, Pitt would have been competitive in the Big Ten this year. And Pitt adds an excellent basketball program to the Big Ten, so there's incentive on the other end, too.

theWellHungarian: Any chance the Steelers would take a look at Frank Cignetti to fill the vacant Offensive Coordinator position. He runs a pro-style offense that is based on ball-control, a system Mike Tomlin may prefer. Now that I think about it a lot of great offensive minds are looking for employment this offseason, Charlie Weiss, Mark Mangino, and Mike Leach. With a gunslinging QB and 3 above average WRs, wouldn't it make sense for the Steelers to go for a more unconventional style offense (ie: Rams in early 2000s)

Jerry Micco: I didn't know the OC job was open. And I'd think since Tomlin hired Arians and supposedly approves the offensive game plans, that he's got no problem with the pass-first offense. Frankly, I'm not sure what Tomlin's offensive philosophy is. But in my mind, offense is not the team's problem. It's best players, save for Polamalu and Harrison, are on offense. At the skill positions.

Homey: In response to shouldBworking... I use "we" with regard to my favorite teams. I feel like if it weren't for "us" who buy the watch the games, buy the tickets, buy the merchandise, etc, then "they" wouldn't be able to play these sports. And "they" would have to get real jobs. So while "we" on the sidelines don't play, we're still driving the train financially. Furthermore, when it comes to colleges, I certainly feel like alums can consider themselves "we", even if "we" don't suit up.

Jerry Micco: Well put. I agree more on the colleges end because after all, if you're a Pitt alum, those are the Pitt teams, thus, "your" teams. However, in the pros, they make much more money off TV revenue. Now by extension, we consume the ads on those programs and keep the networks in advertising money (feel free to do that for newspapers, by the way!) So if you want to use "we" hey, feel free.

theWellHungarian: Why do we feel a playoff is always necessary in sports? The English Premier League, the German Bundesliga, Spain's La Liga, the Dutch Eredivisie, and Italy's Serie A-- None use a playoff system. Each team plays each team home and away (each league has different number of times) and who ever has the most points at the end of the season is declared the Champion. This captures a team's entire body of work, rather than based on one game (ie playoff format) I'm just isck and tired of everybody crying for a playoff system in NCAA Football when other sports leagues around the World (who are more successful than the NFL) do not use a playoff format.

Jerry Micco: The playoffs do two things: One, they reward a team who goes through the best, even if it's for a third time or more, to win a championship. And two, it generates a huge amount of money. I'm for a playoff in college football for the simple reason that if you lose a tough game in week 3, your season is pretty much over, unless there are 5 teams with one loss. And if that happens, then you have 5 teams who say they are the best. But in reality, only 2 teams will play for that right. That's not fair.

PhillyMarty: If the STEELERS insist on throwing for 4000+ yards every year to win games, then don't they need to protect the $100MM QB? Arians did not do that? Tomlin did not do that. Something has to change or Ben will never play out his contract! And their never ending problems converting third and short, a must for any legit contender, Arians does not seem able to fix that!

Jerry Micco: I think that's what Tomlin was getting at when he said there would be some adjustments and changes. I think you are right Marty when you say if you're going to run this offense, you need to keep your best player, and that's Ben, upright. So you need to keep improving the line and you need the OC, who is Ben's guru, to get it through Ben's head that hanging on to a ball for 5 or 6 seconds is going to get him killed. There's still work to be done on offense, but the fact that they are pass-first does not bother me.

WorkerB: Only the English Premier League could even be *considered* to be "more successful than the NFL." Also, Hungarians analogy falls apart when applied to college football. There are 120 teams. No way they can play each other once let alone twice. How would points be assigned? How would a champion be determined? By voters? Much better to have it determined on the field.

Jerry Micco: Again, in college sports, because of the size of the NCAA, a playoff is needed. Basketball has no problem doing this and the lower divisions of football have no issue, either. But to me there is no reason not to do one at the top division of college football.

janie: Jerry, maybe the previous chatter meant the QB coach position? Any speculation on that one yet? (P.S. I have already badgered poor Ed ... I want some miracle to happen and have the Steelers hire Charlie Batch ... can't stand the thought of him NOT being a Steeler!)

Jerry Micco: No chatter yet on a QB coach since it just happened yesterday. I think Charlie Batch has been good for the team and the city. I don't know that he wants to hang up the spikes, but I'd think the Steelers are going with Dixon as the No. 2 QB next year. Batch doesn't have enough coaching experience, though, to jump into that job at the NFL level.

PhillyMarty: Have not seen the Pens play in about a month. But are they merely suffering from the same bug that afflicted the Steelers (post champ malaise) or are there significant problems? I will finally get to see them Thursday.

Jerry Micco: I think they had a little slide, but got right in a big way last night. It looked to me like they were sluggish and started to get beaten to pucks and out hustled. Could be the busy schedule, could be guys just in the ozone a bit, but I think they'll be fine. I guess even good teams go through this and the Pens went through their slide. Actually, that's twice they've gone through a 5-game skid.

Bubs: WellHungarian's point is noted, but 120 Division 1-A football teams are not going to play each other home and away and a champion will not be based on their body of work. The only thing that's like that here is NASCAR ... besides, AFTER those soccer teams win their country's championship, they advance to play in the European Cup -- a PLAYOFF -- to determine the continent's champion.

Jerry Micco: That's a good point, Bubs. So there is a playoff involved for a much larger title in European Soccer. I didn't think of that, but I do recall the championships because we ran a bit on them.

janie: Jerry, I'm in Va. and I believe you have covered the Redskins in a previous job? What do you think about Shanahan ... can he right the ship ... or just another celebrity hire by Snyder?

Jerry Micco: True, I worked many places in Virginia and covered the Skins for a year at a small paper, but was sports editor at a paper where we covered them daily. It is a tremendous franchise that has been run into the ground. I think Shanahan is a good coach and personnel guy. One of the best in the business. But, he's also a guy who wants to win all the arguments with his bosses. We'll see how Daniel Snyder handles that. If he lets Shanahan do his thing, the Redskins likely will be very good very soon.

PhillyMarty: It is not pass first that bothers me. But shotgun on third and 3 or less, and empty backfield even more so, just seem to set you up to fail as you tip your hand (pass is obvious) and if the D blitzes and bumps your "hot" receivers (not like they don't know who they are), then you are doomed. If I see that and never played even youth league football why can't BA and MT? And I don't see where BA matches up with MT's stated philosophy when he got here? LeBeau was accomplished, it was understandable that MT adapted his own 4-3 tendencies to the 3-4. But what makes BA so brilliant?

Jerry Micco: Well, that offense won a Super Bowl a year ago, so Arians has earned some latitude from Tomlin is my guess. That said, you make some good points, and I think those types of points need to be made by Tomlin to Arians. Also, I think Arians, and maybe Tomlin, didn't think the offensive line was a grind it out bunch, which may have influenced third-down thinking. Again, I think there are some things about this offense that have to be changed and adjusted.

PhillyMarty: Is it me or just this season or have we moved into a new era of mediocrity or NFL-like parody in college football. I will give you that 'Bama, UF and Tex are top teams but below them? I give Boise and TCU an incomplete, just can't evaluate them as they did not play anyone. Maybe OSU is #8-10 in other years, but in general, these teams are so mediocre! Ugh!

Jerry Micco: I think college football had three elite teams and a group of good teams, and then a pretty fast drop off. You could see that from the revolving door of the Top 25 all season. It could be that certain programs, and USC will be there probably next year, just recruit so well and get the best players it's almost like they need a draft to flatten that out. Of course they can't do that, but as long as a certain core of 5 or so teams win and contend for the title, kids will want to go there and no where else.

Jerry Micco: Folks I need to run back to my other job. Thanks for taking the time to be here and for the questions. At least according to our little poll, most people like Bruce Arians. If you want to vote further, post-gazette.com has an Arians poll on the home page. See you next Wednesday at noon for more sports talk. And Happy New Year, everyone!

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