Here's my observations about the 1997 Steelers (6-2) now that the season if halfway over:

• Team MVP: I gotta go with Carnell Lake. Here's a guy that again was asked to move to cornerback from his all-pro strong safety position, and he is helping to revive a dismal Steelers pass defense and making huge plays along the way.



• Offensive MVP: Jerome Bettis just barely beats out Kordell Stewart and Yancey Thigpen. Bettis is running all over defenses, and has had 6 100-yard games so far, including a 164 yard game vs. the Colts. Also give lots of credit to Lester and the offensive line.



• Defensive MVP (other than Lake): LB Levon Kirkland. He has led the Steelers to the #1 rushing defense.



• Biggest Surprise: Rookie WR/KR Will Blackwell. Until he got hurt for a while, Blackwell was becoming a serious special teams threat. He returned a kick for a TD in Jacksonville, which was called back on a penalty, but then had a huge kick return TD in Baltimore to help beat the Ravens in week 6.



• Biggest Disappointment: LB Greg Lloyd. You don't even realize he's on the field half the time, unless he's missing a tackle or jumping offsides. Now he's involved in this wierd phone call crap with Keenan McCardell, something that will probably get him fined and/or suspended.



• Best Game: A tie: Week 6 in Baltimore. The Steelers erased a 21-0 deficit, and Kordell had a 74 yard TD run to ice it. Week 9 in Pittsburgh. After trailing the Jags 10-0 in the 3rd, the Steelers battle back and win it with an overtime TD.



• Worst Game: No, not the blowout vs. Dallas in week 1, or the botched field goal game in Jacksonville in week 4. It was week 7 at home against the Colts. The Steelers had six turnovers, many injuries, and tried really hard to lose this Sunday night game against the winless Colts.



• Best Play: Kordell's shovel pass to Bettis to beat the Jags in OT



• Worst Play: the botched field goal to lose to the Jags



• Almost Disastrous: the same play, as Bill Cowher almost tackled the Jags' Chris Hudson, who returned the blocked FG. Cowher later apologized.



• The Unexpected: PK Norm Johnson was cut before camp, then re-signed temporarily right before week 1 because Chris Jacke was injured. He was only supposed to be on the roster for a few weeks, but Jacke was out longer than expected and Norm was able to win his job back.



• The Controversial: Leave it to Steelers fans. We cheered when Deion Sanders almost broke his neck in week 1. Cowboys druglord Michael Irvin and others were outraged.



• The Stupid:
The NFL scheduled our bye week for week 3. Oh yeah, we really needed a rest after two games!


• The Ugly: Third Down. Except for last week, the Steelers defense has a real problem with it.



• The Wierd: Greg Lloyd apparently cheap-shotted WR Keenan McCardell of the Jags because McCardell allegedly made a threatening phone call to Lloyd's house. McCardell denies he made any such call. Lloyd had no comment.



• Something Different: points (the Steelers are averaging 27 points a game if you don't count that terrible first game); an exciting Steelers QB; the offense winning games instead of the defense



• Same Old Crap: Opening day blowout and a slow start; WR injuries; Mike Tomczack has two interceptions even though he's only played one half of a game



• Grades:
• Rush Offense: A+
• Pass Offense: B
• Rush Defense:
A+
• Pass Defense:
D+ , and it's only that high because they played a great game last week
• Coaching: B



• What former Steelers did in the first half: Bam Morris was arrested again. Neil O'Donnell is on the verge of losing his starting job. Dick Lebeau is coaching the NFL's worst rushing defense in Cincinnatti (1-7). Kevin Greene managed to alienate another NFL city (Charlotte) and their fans by holding out and being traded. Jim Miller has now signed with his third team this year (Atlanta) and has yet to throw a pass. Eric Green just plain sucked as usual.