was rough. Thankfully Troy Polamalu Jersey , the second quarter yielded a perfect record to top the 1-2-1 start. So as I am tasked to break out the red pen and evaluate the season’s second quarter, I no longer do it from the ledge.As I’ve stated all along, I’m not a football coach or a teacher, but I play one in blogs and podcasts. Each week of the 2018 exhibition and regular season, I’ve graded the efforts of the Black-and-gold via “the eye test”. Grading games is an extremely difficult and somewhat thankless task. While the coaches’ grades, of course, are what count the most, the media and fans can’t help but evaluate as well. So you, the reader, get to vote as well. You even get to grade the grader in the comments section.So let’s take a look at BTSC’s perceptions of the 2018 season’s second quarter:OffenseThe Steelers’ offense is ranked fourth in the league with 415.2 ypg and ninth with a 28.4 points per game (ppg) average through eight contests. In 2017, they scored at a rate of 26.4 ppg. After an inconsistent start, Randy Fichtner’s unit has resembled the juggernaut that they’ve promised to be. Ben Roethlisberger was the league’s passing leader through the first quarter (1,414 yards/353.5 yards per game), but his average has dropped 9 ypg. Despite that, he was a much better quarterback in the second quarter. He admittedly was not on the same page with everybody and now seems to be. By spreading the ball around to a myriad of guys (Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Ryan Switzer, Vance McDonald, Jesse James and James Conner) and no longer forcing it to AB, he has thrived. Ben’s offensive line wasn’t reminiscent of the high-caliber unit of past years in the first quarter Carnell Lake Jersey , but now is playing like an elite squad. Injuries have hampered Marcus Gilbert, but Matt Feiler has filled in tremendously at RT. The remaining four of Ramon Foster, Dave DeCastro, Alejandro Villanueva and Maurkice Pouncey have been dominating oncoming defenders, protecting Ben (2 sacks allowed in the second quarter of 2018 and 11 overall) and opening gaping holes for James Conner. Mike Munchak’s guys are close to being the class of the league.Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsLe’Veon Bell has been missed less and less with James Conner’s emergence as an elite back in the league with nine rushing TDs and another on a reception. No. 30’s 706 rushing yards on the ground ranks him second in the league and his 379 yards as a receiver puts him on track for a better output than Bell in 2017. His penchant for picking up the blitz no longer creates concern. Conner has done well, making Bell a likely backup upon his possible return.Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsAntonio Brown is not having the receptions and yardage season that he’s accustomed to. But his nine receiving TDs leads the NFL and is only four behind his career high in 2014. Double-teaming AB has forced balls to go in other directions, mostly to JuJu Smith-Schuster. JuJu (13th in the league) leads the team with 53 catches for 672 yards versus Antonio’s 51 for 594 (T-14th). The disconnect between Ben and AB has lessened with No. 84 seemingly accepting that Ben can’t continue to force the ball into him. The deep threat that Martavis Bryant provided hasn’t yet been replicated yet, as Justin Hunter and James Washington haven’t seized the WR3 role. However, the rookie seems to be getting looks again.Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY SportsThe TE duo of Jesse James (336 yards on 21 catches) and Vance McDonald (346 yards on 26 catches) has been very solid. As a unit, they’ve got a combined 47 grabs on 61 targets and their yards-after-catch have been remarkable — a combined 368. Vanimal is ranked 25th in the league with 234, while Jesse registers in at 83rd with 134.Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesOverall Offense Grade: AThe offense has found their identity. AB is scoring touchdowns and Ben is no longer trying to appease him. Conner is playing at an elite level, behind an elite line. Vance and Jesse James take turns being valuable and JuJu is a joy joy.Offensive Valedictorian: James Conner It’s totally admirable than Ben Roethlisberger wanted to honor his old teammate and good friend, Heath Miller, by asking rookie tight end Zach Gentry to not wear No. 83. However, with all due respect to Roethlisberger, Miller and any fan who agrees with the sentiment, Miller might not even be the greatest No. 83 in franchise history." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBehind the Steel Curtaina Pittsburgh Steelers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsSteelersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsFiled under:Latest NewsCommentaryWith all due respect to Heath Miller and Ben Roethlisberger, who cares if someone else wears No. 83? New,41commentsIt’s totally admirable than Ben Roethlisberger wanted to honor his old teammate and good friend, Heath Miller Jerome Bettis Jersey , by asking rookie tight end Zach Gentry to not wear No. 83. However, with all due respect to Roethlisberger, Miller and any fan who agrees with the sentiment, Miller might not even be the greatest No. 83 in franchise history. EDTShareTweetShareShareWith all due respect to Heath Miller and Ben Roethlisberger, who cares if someone else wears No. 83? Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY SportsNow I see what Joey Porter meant when he said Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger abuses his power and uses it for him.In all seriousness, in news that’s pretty minor except for the fact that I have a problem with it, Zach Gentry, a tight end the Steelers just selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, said recently that he was asked by Roethlisberger to not wear his college number—No. 83—as a Steeler. This request by Roethlisberger was made as a little ‘shout out’ to Heath Miller, a good friend of Roethlisberger’s and arguably the greatest tight end in Steelers history. In fairness to Roethlisberger, I’ve had actual conversations with people—both on social media and in person—who think the Steelers should unofficially retire Miller’s old number because they hold him in such high regard.I get that, but much like Roethlisberger, fans are thinking with a “now” mentality with regards to Miller. Sure, he was a great tight end, as his 592 career receptions clearly illustrate, but I’m not so sure Miller was even the greatest No. 83 in team history. For my money, that would be receiver Louis Lipps, a childhood hero of mine who the Steelers drafted in the first round ofthe 1984 NFL Draft. Like with “Heeeeeeeeathhhhh!” the fans soon began screaming “Louuuuuuuuuu!” whenever Lipps made a great play. That started pretty much in the first game of his rookie season, a season in-which Lipps would be named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Lipps was also voted a two-time All-Pro and appeared in two Pro Bowls during his eight years in Pittsburgh.Lipps was a multi-faceted weapon who could score in a multitude of ways—including on special teams where he was an accomplished punt returner. Lipps stat-line—358 receptions for 6018 yards—pales in comparison to Miller’s statistics (at least in receptions, anyway—Miller’s 592 receptions were slightly less efficient Merril Hoge Jersey , as they led to 6,569 yards), but I think Lipps had a greater impact on the NFL during his prime years than Miller ever did. No knock against Miller. I’m just being a fan. Same with Roethlisberger. Same with you. A number of years ago, I wrote that Rod Woodson should have his No. 26 retired as a wayto honor him as well as those great 1990s squads that came close several times but could never get over the hump and win a title. Completely independent of those awesome Steelers teams, Woodson was an all-time great as a cornerback—we’re talking 75th Anniversary All-time Team and First ballot HOF great—and people were like, “Get out of here with that mess!” Don’t forget, Le’Veon Bell, he of the 2,000 yards from scrimmage, was the No. 26 at the moment, a player fans actually embraced in those days. Sowhich Steelers players should have their numbers retired? At the moment, just two: Mean Joe Greene (No. 75) and Ernie Stautner (No. 70). Obviously, there are plenty of numbers that have been unofficially retired (you know them—no need for a list). Should Miller’s be one of them? If you’re going to do that, you should tell David DeCastro to give up Alan Faneca’s No. 66. While you’re at it, stop handing out No. 82 and No. 88 to any Tom, Dick or Harry that thinks he can catch a football. Numbers, they mean something. But do they mean as much as the memories? Heath Miller gave us plenty of those, but let’s not go overboard with the reverence. He was no Louis Lipps....says the 12-year old in me.