“An ugly win beats a pretty loss, anytime, especially in September; Great teams don’t peak in September, but late in the season for the playoffs.”
The quote above is from Chuck Noll. I don’t know how great the Steelers will be late in the season; I do know a win is a win. The Steelers Ravens on Monday game was a body bag game…A fierce division war between two physical nasty teams that the Steelers won. I will not complain about a win.
I hate Sunday night football. The wait and anticipation suck; to be honest I hate the pageantry and game day production more than anything…The billion commercials, the annoying old trite slut that sings the Sunday Night football theme song…Basically I hate everything about the NBC broadcast of the game.
The Steelers and Jaguars played two great games last year…I understand as a Steelers fan the results were not great…The games were hard hitting and action filled.
Did You Know?
The Steelers own an 11-12 all-time mark in Sunday Night games
The Steelers are 8-11 all-time against the Jaguars in the regular season.
David Garrard is 79 of 117 passing for 783 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions in the first four games of 2008.
Jaguars with the Ball
Jaguar’s offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter built this offense around a power running game. The Jaguars take advantage of quarterback David Garrard’s mobility with a ton of roll outs and play action bootlegs hoping to exploit one on one matchups with the Jaguars mammoth wide receivers. The Jaguars offense is plodding and methodical…They will pound the run with two outstanding tailbacks and a great lead blocker…The Jaguars offense must control the line of scrimmage to have success…This Jaguars team is a lot like the Steelers teams of the late 90’s…If you eliminate the running game the offense will struggle.
Matchups in the Run game
Jaguars left tackle Khalif Barnes is very athletic…He is not the biggest or strongest left tackle in the NFL…He is actually built more like a NBA power forward than a NFL left tackle…Barnes is a decent run blocker at the point of attack…I believe Kierschke Paxon and Roye will more than hold their own against Barnes in the run game…My only concern is Barnes’ ability to make blocks at the second level in the run game. Jaguars left guard Uche Nwaneri is a mauler with limited physical skills and technique…I believe Nwaneri will struggle mightily this week to get to the second level to pick off Steelers linebackers in the run game…Nwaneri is a decent guard in a phone booth when he has to make a block in space he struggles…Nwaneri has slow feet and poor balance, two bad characteristics for an NFL linemen. The Jaguars will really miss center Brad Meester…I rated Meester the best center in the AFC to begin the season…Meester’s replacement Dennis Norman is a quality back up…He is nowhere near the player Meester is. Norman is very tall and plays the game “high”…I believe Norman will need some help with Chris Hoke in the run game…The Jaguars were forced to help Norman last week with Texans defensive tackles Travis Johnson and Amobe Okoye when Norman was covered …The Jaguars interior run game sputtered because the Jaguars were unable to block the Texans linebackers (Taylor and MJD combined for 17 rushes and 58 yards). Jaguars start journeymen Milford Brown at right guard…Brown has been the Jaguars best offensive linemen so far this season. Brown is a huge right guard with unrated mobility and a very large mean streak…Brown is a big man who plays big…Chris Hoke must force double teams this week…James Farrior Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons will be in big trouble if Brown locks on in the running game. Jaguars right tackle Tony Pashos has been a Steelers killer his entire career…He is a fat sloth who seems to have his best games against the Steelers. Tony Pashos has owned Aaron Smith in the past 4 games going back to Pashos day’s in Baltimore…Aaron Smith must win this matchup if the Steelers expect to win the game… it’s that simple.
Tight end Mercedes Lewis has developed into a decent blocker in the run game…On paper Lewis should get dominated by the Steelers outside linebackers…Lewis did an outstanding job last season in the run game against the Steelers…He humiliated James Harrison and Clark Haggans on several run plays…If the Steelers expect to win this game on the road that can’t happen again. Jaguars’ second tight end Greg Estandia is softer than silk and a liability in the run game. The Jaguars starting Wide Receivers Reggie Williams and Matt Jones are excellent run blockers…The Steelers corners better be prepared to beat some blocks this week or they will end up on their ass staring up at the evening sky. Jaguar’s fullback Greg Jones is a hammer…He is a 255 pound man who destroys linebackers at the point of attack…He may be the best blocking fullback in the NFL. Tailback Fred Taylor has been battling a hand injury…He should be good to go Sunday night against the Steelers…Taylor has given the Steelers defense fits over his career. Jaguar’s running back 1A Maurice Jones-Drew has been hampered by an ankle injury a majority of the season…MJD claimed he was 100% after the Jaguars game Sunday…That’s not good news for Steelers fans.
The Jaguars ran the ball between the tackles last year at will against teams. The Jaguars interior offensive line sucks so far in 08…If the Steelers get off the ball I have zero fears of the interior run game. My main concern is on the perimeter of the defense. The Steelers outside linebackers and cornerbacks must get off blocks and form tackle. David Garrard has turned into Kordell Stewart the past few games running the ball…The Steelers must account for Garrard on scrambles…Remember last year.
James Farrior Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons will make plays all over the field if the defensive line does there job…The Steelers inside backers have done a fine job of beating blocks and making plays so far this season…That is a trend that must continue this week.
Matchups in the passing game
Khalif Barnes will need help with James Harrison…Hopefully Harrison becomes Mr. Sunday night to go along with his title of Mr. Monday night. Barnes is long and athletic…Barnes has allowed 2 sacks this season…Both times he was beat back to inside…Harrison needs to get off the ball, something he struggled with last season against the Jaguars. Jaguars left guard Uche Nwaneri is awful in pass protection…I believe this is a major weak link for the Jaguars in pass pro…The Steelers will really miss Brett Kiesel’s athleticism this week. I would not be surprised if the Steelers trio of left defensive ends gives Nwaneri issues rushing the passer. Jaguars center Dennis Norman is decent in pass protection…The Jaguars have not faced a blitzing team this season….So how they react and block the Steelers blitz packages is a mystery until Sunday evening. Milford Brown has been cut by three teams over the past four seasons because of his inability to pass protect…Brown has been solid in pass protection so far this season…Aaron Smith and Brown could be one of those key matchups to look for…The Steelers have to collapse the pocket around Garrard while maintaining their rush lanes. Tony Pashos really struggled with Lamar Woodley last season…Wood must bring his “A” game rushing the pass this week…I believe the Steelers have a big time advantage against the edge of this offense rushing the passer…The Steelers must attack and continue attacking throughout the game…The Steelers goal should be to force the Jaguars to chip Harrison with a back and keep a tight end in to help with Woodley.
The Steelers corners matchup very well with the Jaguars receivers in the passing game. Matt Jones is improved…He is a big kid with great athletic skills who is becoming a quality wide receiver… Reggie Williams is a Wr who is built like a TE that just catches touchdowns. Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden should have no problems contending with either receiver in coverage…Jaguars slot Wr Dennis Northcutt is a speedster who has made some big plays against the Steelers in his career…Deshea Townsend looked rusty in his return…I expect Townsend to show up big in this game…Look for Townsend to blitz off the slot wide receiver a few times this week. Jaguars tight end Mercedes Lewis is a huge target the Jaguars use to attack the middle of the field…Troy Polamula looks great in 08…Lewis may make some plays…He won’t make plays to decide this game…He doesn’t have the talent to make game changing plays. Ryan Clark is getting back his game…He was very rusty the first few games of the season…He is reading plays and formations at a faster rate every week…He is very close to making some big plays for this defense.
Three major things to look for
The ability of the Steelers defensive line to keep the linebackers clean
The Steelers ability to play the screen and draw game…The Jaguars murdered the Steelers in this area last year
The Steelers ability to keep rush lanes and gap integrity.
Steelers with the Ball
Everyone expects the Steelers to morph into a Run Shoot offense with the loss of Parker and Mendenhall this week…I don’t. The Steelers game plan will not change; The Steelers will attempt to run the ball with the hope of setting up the vertical play action passing game. The Steelers will continue to show multiple formations and personnel sets to attempt to exploit matchups.
What I continue to hope for is a moving pocket…Where are the roll outs and bootlegs? Ben is a very mobile quarterback who excels at throwing the ball on the move…The Steelers have to change Ben’s “Launch point”...You can not allow NFL defenses to key in on a location and rush to a certain point of the field. The No Huddle offense is a nice wrinkle, by no means is it the answer to the Steelers woes on offense. Bruce Arians and the entire offensive staff must do a better job with play calling and preparation of the players.
Matchups in the Running game.
Marvel Smith and Reggie Hayward/ Derrick Harvey should be a big advantage for the Steelers in the run game. Marvel Smith has been a major disappointment in my eyes in the run game…That must change if the Steelers expect to beat quality teams. Reggie Hayward is a big power end; he is quick off the ball and fairly stout at the point of attack. He has been struggling with a hamstring injury; his replacement, Derrick Harvey is an athletic speed rusher who offers little to nothing against the run. In an ideal world the Steelers tight ends could down block the Jaguars defensive ends and get some movement…They could not get the job done last year…I doubt they can get the job done this year. Chris Kemoeatu has to learn to keep his head up in the run game…You can’t block what you can’t see…You can’t pick up run blitzes you can’t see. Kemo has the physical tools to be a dominant offensive guard in this league…Kemo and Rob Meier could be an interesting interior battle…If Kemo is technically sound he will maul and own Meier, if Kemo continues to make the same mistakes week in week out the Steelers run game will be bogged down in the backfield. Justin Hartwig takes such a bum wrap from know nothing Steelers fans…Fans watch a few games and decide they are experts…Hartwig will not be covered this week…His task will be sealing off the backside of run plays and chasing down speedy Jaguar linebackers in the run game…Darnell Stapleton welcome to the NFL… now go block John Henderson in the run game. Stapleton practiced with the first team offense on Wednesday and Thursday that leads me to believe he will get the start on Sunday night. I was very impressed with Stapleton’s effort on Monday night…John Henderson is huge…. He could destroy the interior of the Steelers offensive line…I don’t think he will…I believe Stapleton holds his own and makes the Simmons extension look like another retard move by the front office/coaching staff. Willie Colon and Paul Spicer is going to be ugly for the Steelers…Spicer dominated Colon all over the field in both matchups last year…I have way more fear of this matchup than the Stapleton Henderson matchup. Last week I received at least a dozen emails saying I must be happy that Simmons went down…That’s not the case…I feel the football gods allowed the wrong linemen to get hurt…I hate Colon even though he played a decent game against the Ravens…Colon does nothing well except talk a big game. He is short fat slow and dumb…Not traits I like in linemen…Those know nothing Steelers fans who were attacking Hartwig…Defend Colon…Morons. Spicer will wreak havoc on the Steelers this week…Colon can’t block him in the run or passing game.
The Steelers top two Tight Ends squat to piss in the run game…They play patty cake and catch a beating…If the Steelers expect to run the ball to the perimeter of the Jaguars defense they must find a way to get the Jaguars defensive ends and outside linebackers blocked…Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth can’t play like four year old little girls in pig tails. Sean McHugh showed Steelers fans something last week…A tight end willing to block. Matt Spaeth should be concerned…Very concerned. McHugh is also a quality pass catcher…Nothing great…Just as good as Spaeth in my opinion. Late word out of Pittsburgh..Carey Davis is out...I expect McHugh to take his place...I actually like it...McHugh shows zero fear or concern for his body lead blocking. Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes give as much effort run blocking as any wide receivers in the league…I wish the Steelers Tight Ends had the heart of the Steelers wide receivers.
I expect Mwelde Moore to get the start and Gary Russell to be the top backup. Moore is a 210 pound back….He is not the frail scat back some will lead you to believe. Moore is a good enough back to win with…I don’t expect Moore to get 30 carries in the game…If he does that’s a good sign for the Steelers because they built a lead and they are trying to milk the clock. Gary Russell will get his chance to show something…I have been a fan of Russell since his Golden Gophers days where he was the starter in front of Marion Barber. Russell has quality vision and decent cutting ability…He runs hard and behind his pads.
Bottom line is this…The Steelers offensive line and Tight ends must win matchups at the line of scrimmage. The Steelers backs must attack the hole and protect the ball. The Jaguars may have the quickest trio of linebackers in the NFL…All three struggle to beat blocks…If the Steelers manage to get a hat on a hat…The running game will be there.
Steelers passing game
Marvel Smith and Reggie Hayward/Derrick Harvey…I expect to see Harvey on some passing downs. Marvel Smith should dominate either player…Smith doesn’t always look pretty; all and all he is fairly effective as a pass blocker. Will good Kemo or bad Kemo show up this week for the Steelers?…Good Kemo has decent technique and just mauls pass rushers…Bad Kemo forgets his technique and is left standing waving at air…The Steelers need good Kemo this week…The Jaguars interior rushers offer little to nothing rushing the passer hopefully that continues this week. Justin Hartwig must keep his head on a swivel….The Jaguars will break tendencies and blitz this week….The Steelers will continue to see blitzing defenses until they prove they can protect Ben. Stapleton may need some help with John Henderson…Stapleton did a fine job anchoring last week against the Ravens…John Henderson will be a test…If Stapleton plays the way he did last week the Steelers found there right offensive guard of the future. Willie Colon I hope you prove me wrong…I expect Colon to be a turnstile against Paul Spicer and Quinton Groves ...As I said earlier Colon does nothing well except talk.
The Jaguars secondary have been the walking wounded so far this season. Both starting Jaguars corners are injured…Steelers killer Rashean Mathis left last weeks game with a severe shin bruise…He is expected to play this week though he was very limited at practice Thursday…Last year Mathis shut down Santonio Holmes in both games…He actually made Holmes look like a bum…If Mathis plays that can’t happen this week. The other Jaguars corner Drayton Florence has a groin injury…He could not practice on Wednesday or Thursday... I don’t think he is going to play Sunday…That leaves William James as the starter…James sucks…Hines Ward should take him to school. Jaguars starting free safety Reggie Nelson has a knee injury…He could not practice on Wednesday or Thursday…He may give it a go on Sunday…If he plays he won’t be close to 100%. Jaguars’ strong safety Brian Williams is a converted corner who struggled to tackle players as a corner…Moving Williams to safety makes zero sense to me. Williams has good ball skills and above average speed for a safety.
The Steelers Wide Receivers and Tight Ends must run clean routes and makes plays for Ben.
The Steelers Oline must give Ben time to throw the ball.
Bruce Arians has to call his best game of the year.
Special Teams
Knock on Wood the Steelers coverage units have been outstanding. The Steelers return game sucks. I expect Najeh Davenport to return kicks and Santonio Holmes to return punts (I disagree with my partner in crime Hardnose about this).
Score
Jaguars 16
Steelers 26
Don’t worry I’m not going to make you relive that horse poo performance from last week. The Steelers offensive staff, players, and head coach Mike Tomlin better be far better prepared this week for whatever the Ravens defense throws at it. I will say this, when the Colts and Ravens lit up the Steelers offense over the past 3 seasons, The Steelers were missing starters across the offensive line….That was not the case Sunday night…The Steelers starting offensive line was embarrassed like that. Larry Zierlein Kirby Wilson and James Daniel must have their units better prepared assignment and technique wise. Bruce Arians is awful…After 2 years I’m still looking for his strengths as an offensive coordinator. At the end of the day Mike Tomlin is responsible for the preparation of the coaches and players…The coaches and players failed…That’s a reflection on Mike Tomlin in my eyes.
Did you know?
Pittsburgh owns a 15-10 (including postseason) record all-time against the Baltimore Ravens, including a 9-4 mark at home.
Pittsburgh ranks first in the AFC and second in the NFL in rushing defense.
Since 2002, Hines Ward leads the NFL with 36 red zone touchdowns.
After three games, only three Steelers have scored points: Willie Parker: 3 rushing Td’s Hines Ward: 3 Catches for Td’s Jeff Reed: 6 extra points, 4 field goals
Ravens with the Ball
The Ravens want to control the clock and run the ball…The Ravens offense is more basic than the Ravens 2000 offense led by Trent Dilfer or the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers offense led by Ben. John Harbaugh is a mini Bill Cowher…He wants to run the ball and play good defense and special team’s…Harbaugh did a very nice job of assembling a coaching staff. Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron is a terrible head coach. He is a very under rated offensive coordinator. Cameron utilizes a power running game with multiple sets and shifts…He likes to dictate the pace of the game…He will go no huddle to limit the ability of the defense to substitute players on the field…When the Ravens go no huddle its not a fast offense…They will sit at the line of scrimmage before getting into the play. The Ravens offensive line has dominated the two Ohio based teams of the NFL…The Ravens offense will be tested this week.
Matchups
Ravens run game
Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither sure looks the part…The Steelers will really miss Brett Kiesel’s athleticism this week…Travis Kierschke when healthy is a quality back up…When forced into a starting role he struggles against quality NFL tackles. Fortunately I would not call Gaither a quality tackle…He struggles to get movement in the run game because he fails to bend his knees…He plays far to upright…The combination of Kierschke and Roye should hold the point of attack against Gaither. Ravens left guard Ben Grubbs is a quality run blocker in a phone booth…He is not a very good run blocker at the second level…My biggest fear this week is Grubbs on down blocks against Chris Hoke…Grubbs will have little to no problems moving Chris Hoke with a down block in the run game…Grubbs did a very nice job last week on Shawn Rogers of the Browns…No Casey Hampton this week is a huge loss…Hampton’s impact on this defense is often over looked and understated; Chris Hoke must play a great game if the Steelers expect to slow down the Ravens run game…I believe Jason Brown is the Ravens best offensive linemen…He was a very good guard…He is a fantastic center who deserves Pro Bowl consideration. If Hoke can hold the point and force stalemates at the point of attack the Ravens offense will be screwed…If the Ravens interior offensive line controls Hoke…I expect the Steelers to start stunting and blitzing to fill gaps...Ultimate risk/ reward result. Right offensive guard Marshall Yanda is the Ravens weak link…He is a lot like Kendoll Simmons…He does nothing well. Right offensive tackle Adam Terry and a healthy Aaron Smith should be fun to watch…Terry got the best of an injured Aaron Smith in 2006…I expect some payback this week…Aaron Smith looks healthy and nasty to me. One matchup I absolutely love for the Steelers is the Ravens Tight ends and the Steelers outside linebackers in the run game…The Steelers should control these matchups and make some plays in the back field. The Ravens want to run the ball 35-40 times in this game…If the Steelers can control the Ravens run game between the tackles I see no way the Ravens can get the edge on this defense.
The Ravens have a lot of talent at running back. I think Willis McGahee is a cancer who will quit if he really gets popped…McGahee will only get yards the offensive line gets for him…Ray Rice is a bigger concern to me…He runs hard and he can cut in and out of a hole in an instant…He runs hard…And by no means is he a “little back”. He also has the burst to get the edge. Ravens Fullback Le’ron McClain is a beast…He is the prototype fullback for a power running football team; he is also a dangerous short yardage runner. The Ravens Tight Ends and Wide Receivers attempt to get in the way in the running game.
Ravens passing game
If the Ravens running game fails to be productive…I don’t believe Flacco or the Ravens Wide receivers can make plays against this defense. Ravens left tackle Jared Gaither is 6-9 with very long arms and decent foot movement in a limited area…Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison embarrassed Ravens left tackle Jonathan Ogden on Monday Night Football last season…I do not expect Harrison to repeat that performance this week…Though its very possible. Gaither is very slow getting out of his stance and into his set in pass protection. Ben Grubbs and Marshall Yanda are very good pass protectors for players with such limited arm length…Grubbs has quick feet and a high football IQ Yanda is workmen like and steady in pass pro…Grubbs and Yanda’s ability to read the blitz will be paramount if the Ravens expect to pickup the Steelers blitz packages. I’m very interested to see Kierschke/Eason/Roye and Smith against the Ravens guards in pass protection…The Steelers interior rushers must force Flacco to feel uncomfortable inside of the pocket. Adam Terry is a natural left tackle playing Right tackle for the Ravens. I expect Lamar Woodley to have a big game against the Ravens. Terry will struggle with Woodley’s power game…He will be forced to adjust to the power game…Woodley will catch Terry leaning and beat him to the edge…Woodley is without a doubt the Steelers best edge rusher since Kevin Greene.
I fear no weapons in the Ravens passing game. Mark Clayton lacks heart, Derrick Mason is three years past his prime, Demetrius Williams when healthy is a vertical option for the Ravens…He is rarely healthy and he will get alligator arms if a defender is in the vicinity of the ball…Yamon Figures is a dangerous returner; he has showed little to nothing as a receiver. Todd Heap will make plays and he is the only legitimate weapon in the Ravens passing game…He lacks the deep speed to be considered a true weapon…The Ravens second Tight End Daniel Wilcox is a converted college Wr…He is short, slow and runs very ugly routes. The Ravens run a ton of screens and attempt to incorporate the running backs in the passing game…
The Steelers must maintain rush lanes and tackle. The Steelers will force Flacco to beat them…I can’t see a way the Ravens wide receivers beat coverage…The running backs and Heap are the Ravens only chance to make plays in the passing game.
The Steelers front 7 must control the line of scrimmage. They must eliminate the Ravens run game.
The Steelers safeties can not play over aggressive and blow coverage’s in the play action game.
The Steelers must account for the running backs in the passing game…Take away the check downs, force Flacco to make difficult throws.
Steelers with the Ball
Bruce Arians you need to look in the mirror and realize a few things. Your lucky to still have a job, if you call another game like last week you could get Ben killed which may lead to your untimely demise…The people of Pittsburgh waited 21 years for another franchise quarterback…If you get him killed they may draw and quarter your arrogant ass. The Steelers must improve in many aspects…Time management is the most obvious. The Steelers must break the huddle with at least 15 seconds on the play clock…This allows time for Ben to set the formation, pass protection and audible if need be…It also allows Ben to vary the snap count…It’s the only advantage the offensive line has.
Matchups
Steelers run game
Haloti Ngata is a rare specimen as a 34 right defensive end…He is 340 pounds and he can chase plays to the edge…Ngata is the best end against the run in the NFL. Marvel Smith will be lucky to seal Ngata away from the ball carrier; I will be perfectly content if Smith doesn’t get driven four yards in the backfield. Chris Kemoeatu did a very nice job against the Browns and Texans…He was awful against the Eagles…Kemo must look to punish Ravens defenders every single run down…The Ravens will be missing starting nose guard Kelly Gregg this week…I believe Justin Hartwig can handle Justin Bannan (Gregg’s replacement at nose guard) without much help…Bannan is a poor man’s Chris Hoke…He tries real hard, but at the end of the day, he is not a starting caliber NFL player…Kendoll Simmons must get to the second level and block somebody. Simmons is beyond awful…He is hopeless. Willie Colon and Trevor Pryce is the marquee matchup this week in the run game…Pryce is still a quality player…He is not the dominant player from 2006…He has lost a step…He is not the strongest player at the point. I believe Pryce will not only control but he will dominate Willie Colon in the run game. I have no clue how the Steelers don’t give Starks a shot at right tackle…Starks may struggle in pass protection; I have zero doubts he would move the line of scrimmage in the run game.
Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth played like little girls last week…The Steelers Tight Ends must get a hat on Suggs and Johnson in the run game…They don’t have to blow the Ravens outside linebackers off the ball…They must get in the way. The Steelers may struggle to get movement in the running game…They can not abandon the run game. The Ravens are very aggressive on defense…They blitz, they line stunt…They can be gashed in the run game…The Steelers offensive line and Tight ends can not play in the offensive back field.
Rashard Mendenhall gets his first chance to shine. Monday Night Football against the Ravens in Pittsburgh…Wow. Mendenhall must protect the freaking ball…All together now…High and Tight. Mendenhall has to run behind his pads and attack the hole. I like Mendenhall a lot…I have a feeling he takes advantage of his opportunity to play. The Ravens defensive backs and linebackers better be prepared to tackle a big back.
Mwelde Moore is the Steelers wild card if Mendenhall fails to meet expectations. Moore is a NFL proven commodity…He runs hard and smart.
Carey Davis is a piece of poo…He is awful and he must be replaced…He is a joke as a lead blocker.
The Steelers Wide Receivers must make a difference in the running game…I wonder if Ed Reed or Bart Scott will be looking for Hines Ward?
The Steelers must be better prepared this week than last. Football is a simple game…Its all about blocking and tackling…The team that blocks and tackles better will win this game.
Steelers passing game
The Ravens defense shut down the Browns passing game. The Ravens recorded 5 sacks and had 3 interceptions…This Ravens defense is better then the 2007 version. Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister traditionally play either lights out or like poo against the Steelers. Ward and Holmes must beat coverage and make plays for Ben. Corey Ivey is very under rated…Ivy does a great job in coverage against Tight Ends in nickel looks. Ed Reed when healthy is the best Free Safety in the NFL and it’s not even close…Ed Reed is playing through some injuries…He is a ball hawk who can make a game breaking play in a blink of the eye. Fabian Washington has the speed and athleticism to cover Nate Washington all over the field. The Ravens corners matchup very well with the Steeler Wide Receivers.
The Steelers best chance to pass the ball is out of base formations. The Steelers must pickup the blitz (we will get to that) and they must dictate matchups. The Steelers must force Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson and Jim Leonhard to cover people. The Steelers must exploit matchups when the Ravens blitz.
Carey Davis, Rashard Mendenhall, Matt Spaeth, Sean McHugh, Mwelde Moore must be involved in the passing game...These players must be used as weapons…They can not be wasted like Pawns by just blocking in blitz pickup.
How the Hell are the Steelers going to block the Ravens upfront….Glad you asked.
-Step number 1... Should sound kind of familiar
The Steelers must break the huddle with at least 15 seconds on the play clock…This allows time for Ben to set the formation, pass protection and audible if need be. Also allows Ben to vary the snap count…It’s the only advantage the offensive line has.
-Step number 2…Every player on the field must know what the hell to do on a particular play. Linemen and backs must know who to block…Backs Tight Ends and Receivers must know what routes to run.
-Step 3…Protect your damn quarterback
Marvel Smith and Terrell Suggs continue their on going feud…Suggs’ motor makes him special…If Smith gets out of his stance and into his pass set he will have no problems with Suggs…I have confidence in Marvel to protect Ben’s blindside. Kemo and Ngata will be a fierce nasty street brawl…Kemo can not overextend and must keep his feet moving…His punch from a pass set will slow down the biggest and baddest of defensive tackles. Justin Hartwig must keep his head on a swivel…Hartwig is a major upgrade over Mahan…He is no where near the player Hartings was…Hartwig looked lost at times in blitz pickup…He must get his head around the blitz pickups. Kendoll Simmons sucks. I hope he can get in the way and slow down Trevor Pryce…Simmons gets in trouble because he lacks the arm length, strength, and technique to anchor against quality interior pass rushers…Simmons must hold up in pass protection…His play has been progressively worse as the season has gone on…If Simmons repeats his Sunday evening performance; Ben may struggle to walk again. Willie Colon and Jarret Johnson should be interesting…I have zero respect for Willie Colon…I mean he is freaking awful…More useless then tits on a bull…Jarret Johnson is decent…In my opinion…Willie McGinest is a better pass rusher then Johnson…Colon did a decent job against McGinest…So I have some hope Colon will take care of business this week.
Ben must protect the ball…More important then protecting the ball…Ben must get rid of the ball and not take the pounding he did last week… He can take a dozen grounding penalties I don’t care…Don’t take needless hits.
Coaching will be key…The Steelers must have there s@!t together this week.
Special Teams.
I call the kicking game even. Yamon Figures is a very dangerous returner…The Steelers must keep there lanes when covering kicks…The Steelers return game sucks. The Ravens have a distinct advantage in the return game.
Score
Ravens 9
Steelers 23
The Steelers are 2-0...I have zero respect for the Texans or Browns; I viewed both teams as “losing teams”(less then 8 wins) entering the season. The Steelers travel to the city of “Brotherly Love” as 3 point underdogs in a very hostile environment...I believe the Steelers must come out on fire in all three aspects of the game (Offense, Defense, Special teams) to eliminate the rowdy Philadelphia crowd. I have gone back and forth all week about this game…On paper the Eagles match up very well with the Steelers…Attacking defense….Mobile QB with a strong arm…Superstar multi- purpose half back…Three great corners…Mammoth Oline…Defensive line rotation of 8 quality players…The Steelers better bring there “A” game this week or they could be sent back to Western PA with there first defeat and plenty of questions about the future.
Did you know?
Pittsburgh’s last win in Philadelphia… Oct. 24, 1965.
The Steelers have won 13 of their past 15 games against teams in the NFC.
The Steelers rank first in the AFC and second in the NFL with a (+4) turnover ratio.
Steelers with the Ball
The Eagles have the league's top run defense and rank 11th in total defense. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson emphasizes pressure to create turnovers…This is without a doubt the best defense the Steelers have faced in 08. The Eagles have two quick fireplug defensive tackles in Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley…The Eagles slant and run defensive line games as much as any team in the NFL. The Eagles defensive ends are smallish up field players…Left Defensive end Trent Cole is an elite pass rusher who will make plays in the run game at a high rate for such an undersized player…Darren Howard has dropped about twenty pounds and looks like the dominant player he once was in New Orleans. Right End Juqua Parker plays with great leverage in the run game…He is very under rated playing the run…He makes his living getting up field attacking the passer… The Eagles linebackers are young, big, and quick…All three players can be tricked…I view them as better athletes than football players. Middle Linebacker Stewart Bradley runs like a deer straight line…He struggles to read blocking assignments…He is awful when he has to open his hips and run with a back or TE. Will Linebacker Omar Gaither is a decent player…He can cover ground in coverage…He will flow to the ball and make some plays from the backside of formations in the run game…He struggles to disengage from blockers…He will take false steps in both the passing and run game. Sam linebacker Chris Gocong is an enigma…He can come up field and make plays against the run…He will beat most Te’s in the running game…He is a great pass rusher. He is awful in coverage…He reads and reacts as slow as any linebacker in the NFL. The Eagles safeties suck… Free Safety Brian Dawkins is done. Strong safeties Sean Considine and Quinton Mikell are glaring weak links of this defense.
Bruce Arians needs to call a great game…He must dictate matchups and attack the Eagles defense. The Steelers must run the ball when it matters…I expect Arians to come out throwing the ball…I believe Ben’s shoulder is fine. The Eagles will challenge the Steelers Wr’s at the line of scrimmage…The Steelers must complete some balls over the top of the coverage…The Steelers offense must get the respect of the Eagles defense early in the game. The run game will come…It may take time for the run game to develop…Arians can not stop attacking with the pass. The Steelers offensive line has to handle blitz pickup and passing off of rushers better…Ben is taking far too many shots…The Eagles have speed all over the field…The big boys upfront can’t have any brain farts this week. The Skill position players must make plays for their quarterback.
Matchups
Run game
Marvel Smith and Trent Cole/Darren Howard in the run game should be a huge advantage for the Steelers…The only way the Steelers can take advantage of this match up is if they get the Eagles outside linebackers blocked with the Tight Ends…Matt Spaeth, Heath Miller, and Sean McHugh must win matchups at the line of scrimmage if the Steelers expect to run the ball to the perimeter of the Eagles defense. Chris Kemoeatu and Brodrick Bunkley could be interesting… This writer really likes Kemo a lot in this matchup…Bunkley is quick but he relies on his power to beat blocks…Kemo is nasty and he wins most matchups in a phone booth in the run game. Justin Hartwig will be forced to keep his head on a swivel this week…The Eagles slant and blitz as much as any defense in the NFL...I hate the Mike Patterson Kendoll Simmons matchup from a Steelers perspective…Patterson owned Leonard Davis of the Cowboys last week…Davis couldn’t get a hand on him…The Steelers must find a way to get Patterson blocked or running the ball between the tackles could be an adventure. Willie Colon and Juqua Parker is one of those key matchups to watch…Colon has improved in the run game…Parker just beats blocks…Parker is under sized …He doesn’t stay blocked…He hustles and fights to the echo of the whistle. I expect the Eagles corners up in bump coverage against the Steelers Receivers…The Steelers Receivers must take the fight to the Eagles corners in the run game…I could see Parker or Mendenhall hitting a few big runs(60 Yards +) if the Steelers catch the Eagles in a blitz or a stunt and the Steelers manage to block the second level.
The keys to the Steelers running the ball will be simple. Eliminate penetration by the Eagles defensive tackles, The Steelers Tight Ends must win a majority of the matchups against outside linebackers, and Arians must attack with the passing game to back the Eagles off the line of scrimmage.
One formation I promise everyone they will see from the Steelers this week; Single Back, Two Tight Ends, Two Wrs…Heath Miller split out. That will force the Eagles to play a linebacker or Safety across from Miller. The Steelers will try to run out of this formation a ton… If Matt Spaeth can down block one of the Eagles undersized defensive ends…That allows the Steelers to double the Eagles play side defensive tackle…The back breaks one tackle and he is off to the races.
Passing game
I believe the Eagles have an advantage in every matchup across the line. Marvel Smith struggled last year with Elvis Dumervil…I view Trent Cole and Dumervil as very similar players…Ultra quick players who explode off the ball. Smith must get out of his stance and he must keep his feet moving or Cole will leave him grabbing air. Over the past two weeks I have picked up on a bad habit from Kemo in pass protection…He will lunge at the defender over extending which leads to balance issues…Kemo must get out of his stance and he must land his punch…When Kemo locks on; the battle is over. As I previously stated Hartwig must keep his head on a swivel…The Eagles will come from all over the field…Hartwig will be forced to help Simmons and Kemo but he still must be alert to the Eagles blitz packages…Kendoll Simmons is in big trouble with Patterson…Patterson is super quick and strong…He has great technique and he can guess the snap count as good as any defensive tackle in the league. Juqua Parker is a speed rusher with under rated strength who I expect to give Colon fits off the edge.
The Steelers offensive line must have there s@!t together…They must read the blitz and pass off rushers to the correct man…Ben can help out by varying his count…That retard Arians can help by having the play into Ben with more then 15 seconds on the play clock so he has time too vary the snap count.
Ben must protect the ball…He must throw the ball on time…I would not be surprised to see Ben sting the Eagles by pulling down the ball and running for a few first downs. Ben is the franchise…The Steelers will need to pass the ball early in the game…I would love to take a shot down field first play of the game
Parker and Mendenhall need to run behind there pads…One cut and attack the hole….They must protect the ball…I believe the Steelers run game is close to hitting a big play...Mendenhall is going to do something special this week…Call it a hunch
Miller Spaeth McHugh Davis….Keys to the running game….Often overlooked…They need to come up big in this game…They must block their asses off. They must take advantage of opportunities in the passing game...Miller should abuse both safeties.
Holmes Ward Washington…Beat the jam... Run clean routes…Catch the ball…Take it to the house. Beat the s@!t out of the Eagles corners in the running game.
If the Steelers control the line of scrimmage; I see no defense that can stop the weapons on this offense.
Eagles with the ball
The Eagles version of the West Coast offense is predicated on creating mismatches in the passing game…(The Eagles move Brian Westbrook all over the field and he makes plays)…The Eagles have the biggest offensive line in football…They do not pound the run…They actually have passed the ball 65% of the time over the past few seasons. The Eagles have Brian Westbrook…He is the ultimate mismatch…He is a great tailback who runs routes and catches the ball like a wide receiver…Westbrook also does a very nice job in blitz pick up…Westbrook is the ultimate 3 down back. Desean Jackson a rookie wide receiver from Cal has made his mark on this league in two games…After you look past the hot dog fumble on Monday Night Football you see a vertical threat with back to back 100 yard receiving games. Eagles quarterback Donavon McNabb is a great talent who manages to screw things up at critical times…McNabb is still very mobile…He has a cannon for an arm…At times he will struggle with accuracy…He is a major threat throwing and running the ball….McNabb is also 245 pounds and he will break a lot of tackles…There is a common theme to these three players…They are the major weapons of the Eagles offense…And they must be punished….The Steelers defense must smoke these players every chance they get. The Eagles have a few complimentary weapons in Tight Ends LJ Smith and Brent Celek and Wide Receivers Reggie Brown Jason Avant and Greg Lewis…None of these players concern me...The Steelers can not allow Brian Westbrook and Desean Jackson any plays in the vertical passing game…The Steelers must pressure and punish Donavon McNabb.
Matchups
Eagles Run Game
Eagles left tackle Tra Thomas is a quality player when healthy…Mike Tomlin has not named his starter at right defensive end…I’m going to guess Nick Eason…Thomas is a far better pass protector then run blocker at this point of his career…Eason struggled last year when he was forced into the starting lineup…The Steelers were better prepared for an injury to the defensive line this year with the late off season addition of Orpheus Roye…I expect the Steelers to rotate Eason and Roye at Right defensive end and Aaron Smith and Travis Kierschke at Left defensive end. Eagles Right Tackle Jon Runyan was a beast…Age and injuries have robbed Runyan of his ability to maul in the run game…Don’t get me wrong Runyan is still a very good run blocker…At one time he just dominated the line of scrimmage…Aaron Smith and Runyan should be a war in the run game….The key match up to look for is Casey Hampton and Jamal Jackson…If Jackson can block Hampton without help the Steelers defense may be in trouble…Jackson could not handle Cowboys Nose tackle Jay Ratliff and it’s part of the reason the Eagles lost the game to the Cowboys…Hampton must continue his league tour of destruction. Eagles Right Guard Shawn Andrews left the Cowboys game with back issues…He has not practiced this week…I expect Andrews will be out this Sunday…He will be replaced by Max Jean Gilles (The same player who late hit and injured Ryan Mundy in the pre season) Gilles is a massive man who does a nice job in a phone booth, but really struggles when he has to play in space. Eagles Left Guard Todd Herremans is a poor man’s Eric Steinbach…He is a very good pass blocker…He can get to the second level and pick off linebackers…He is the most agile player on the Eagles line.
*Update*....Mike Tomlin has named Travis Kierschke the starter to replace injured right defensive end Brett Kiesel
The Steelers defensive line must win the matchups at the line of scrimmage or they must force double teams to allow the linebackers to run to the ball…Westbrook will dance around looking for a hole…The Steelers must maintain gap integrity at all times. The Eagles offensive line is very dirty…I saw at least 10 penalties that were not called on Monday Night. The Steelers front seven must beat blocks and play fast.
Westbrook is spelled by Lorenzo Booker a speedy shifty runner and Correll Buckhalter a tough insider runner…Booker is a threat to break a big run…Buckhalter is a grinder.
The Steelers inside linebackers must tackle…The Steelers outside linebackers must set the edge and make plays.
Eagles Passing Game
Donavan McNabb runs hot and cold…He can make throws all over the field if he is given time. The Steelers must pressure McNabb and force him into mistakes…The Eagles tackles struggled with the Cowboys Outside Linebackers last week…Tra Thomas is in big trouble this week with James Harrison…Harrison’s strength is very under rated…Harrison has added a nice spin move and inside rip to his pass rushing repertoire…Todd Herremans should have no problems with Roye Eason or Kierschke…I would not be surprised if the Steelers had some success with Hoke or Aaron Smith against Eagles center Jamal Jackson…Max Jean Gilles is a fat uncoordinated sloth who must be exposed in pass pro…Lamar Woodley embarrassed Jon Runyan a few times during the pre season…Woodley should pressure McNabb all game long…I believe the Eagles are going to be forced to keep Te’s in to help the tackles in pass pro.
Reggie Brown is expected back this week…Brown is nothing special…He runs decent routes…He has decent hands…The Steelers corners should have no problems covering him…. Desean Jackson scares me…He has elite speed and he runs very good routes…The rest of the Eagles Wide Receivers are average players…Baskett, Lewis, and Avant…Brian Westbrook is a huge part of the Eagles passing game…He catches screens, flares, He runs wheel routes and “go routes” out of the offensive backfield…He lines up in the slot and runs any route a wide receiver runs…The Steelers must account for Jackson and Westbrook every down…At times I would man up Troy on Brian Westbrook…At times I would man up a corner on Westbrook if he is lined up in the slot.
The Steelers corners must make plays on the ball. The Steelers safeties must send a message…Catching the ball is hazardous to your health
The Steelers defense must attack the ball… They must play Fast and Smart
Special Teams
Cover the kicks…Catch the ball…Don’t turn it over.
Score
Steelers 34
Eagles 28
The Browns suck.
There are a few sure things in this world…The Steelers beating the Browns is one of life’s sure things. I found myself peeking at next week’s schedule to see who the Steelers play. Hopefully Mike Tomlin and the Steelers coaching staff don’t allow this team to make the same mistake I did. The Browns have some talent on the offensive side of the ball. The Browns defense looked horrible against the Cowboys. I’m of the opinion that the Browns are trying to fit square pegs in circular holes across the defensive line. If Ben’s shoulder is right the Steelers are injury free; I expect Cribbs to play this week for the Browns…This is a huge game for the Browns…The Browns season could be wrecked if they drop there tenth straight game against the Steelers and fall two games behind in the division.
Did you know?
-The Steelers are looking for their eighth straight win in Cleveland
-Willie Parker needs 48 rushing yards to move past John Henry Johnson into third place on the team’s all-time rushing list.
-The Steelers defense allowed three scores in three possessions (2 Td’s and 1 FG) in the red zone this year.
Steelers with the Ball
The Cowboys mixed the run and pass; The Cowboys controlled the ball and the clock last week against the Browns, I expect the Steelers to have a similar game plan this week. The Browns showed different philosophies on defense last week…I believe it’s more panic to cover up liabilities in the defensive backfield than belief in particular players to make plays. I believe the Browns front office wasted money in Free Agency this off season. Shawn Rogers is not a 3-4 nose guard and Corey Williams is not a 3-4 defensive end, both players want to get up field and attack the ball carrier in the back field…That doesn’t fit the Browns scheme on defense…The Browns Linebackers don’t tackle well, they have limited range, and they fail to make plays. The Browns defensive back field is awful, Sean Jones was the best of the bunch prior to his knee injury…The Browns defense is a mess…Brodney Pool missed last weeks game with a concussion…He is expected back this week…His replacement Mike Adams takes over for the injured Sean Jones…This defense is being held together with duct tape and bong resin at this point.
I expect the Steelers to utilize a ton of formations against the Browns early in the game. I will give Arians credit for setting up plays in the Texans game…He showed certain personnel groupings early in the game; he gauged the Texans response to personnel and attacked later in the game…Arians was a step ahead of the Texans staff when it came to play calling. I expect the Browns to blitz the Steelers early and often…The Steelers will move the pocket…Run some play action passing and roll outs to counter the Browns pressure. The only way the Steelers offense can be stopped this week is if they stop themselves; blown blocking assignments, turnovers, dropped balls, or dumb penalties.
Matchups
The Run game
Justin Hartwig looked like a quality player last week…This week Hartwig faces his first true test with Shaun Rogers. The Browns played Rogers square over the center and cocked over the centers outside eye against Dallas…The Steelers will have to double Rogers every interior run play…Andre Gurode of the Cowboys is the best center in the NFL he needed help with Rogers. Hartwig must be technically sound…Rogers is hell on wheels the first few series of a half…As the game goes on Rogers will tire…His conditioning will eventually break and he will start playing patty cake at the line of scrimmage. The Steelers must punish Rogers with the double team…My biggest fear is Rogers blowing up Hartwig and Simmons on the double team. Kemo needs to start the game nasty and finish the game nasty…He had a few mental lapses against the Texans…He also made some nice blocks. I would love the Steelers guards to get to the second level to punish the Browns horrible inside linebackers…I believe blocking and punishing Shaun Rogers is the first step in that process…The Steelers run game may struggle early…As the game goes on, the guards will be able to slide off the double team of Rogers and pick up the inside backer…That leaves Parker or Mendenhall in space against defensive backs…That’s winning football in the run game. Kendall Simmons I want to believe you can get the job done…History tells me otherwise...Not to be repetitive the Steelers must pound and double the s@!t out of Rogers in the run game. Marvel Smith and Robaire Smith renew their yearly war…Marvel has handily won a majority of the matchups and I can see no reason why that will stop this year. Willie Colon and Corey Williams will be the key matchup of the week…Colon must win a majority of the matchups if the Steelers expect to the run ball to the right side of the formation. Colon played pretty darn well last week against Anthony Weaver…Hopefully Colon repeats that performance this week. Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth have big time tests this week…If the Steelers Tight Ends can draw stalemates or win matchups against the Browns outside linebackers this game will be over in the first half…The Browns defensive backs have to play off the ball…They have defensive backs whose last starting jobs were for the Pennsylvania school of The Blind and Deaf…The Steelers will run the stretch, the outside zones, and counters until the Browns show they can stop them.
Passing game
Does the phrase shooting fish in a barrel conjure up any thoughts? The Browns are in big trouble if the Steelers establish the run game. The Browns better hope they can get pressure on Ben with 4 rushers…They are going to need at least 6 in coverage. Eric Wright is a decent corner…Hines Ward abused him last year…Ward is just as physical and nasty as last year…I don’t see much changing in the match up. Brandon McDonald sucks…He is short and he can’t open his hips and run with a quality quick Wide Receiver like Santonio Holmes…McDonald has fine speed straight line…Football is not always played straight line…McDonald also struggles to start and stop…The Cowboys ran the Slant and Go and post corner at will against McDonald last week…I expect much of the same this week. The Browns nickel corner Terry Cousin would not make the Steelers roster…Cousin in coverage is a big play waiting to happen. Brodney Pool was out last week with a concussion…He has to play this week with Sean Jones out…Pool is not a very good player…He is an improvement over the other option former Virginia Tech Quarterback Nick Sorenson…Pool doesn’t read patterns or attack the ball in the air…He is a step slow reacting on every play. Former Delaware Blue Hen cornerback Mike Adams is expected to start at Strong Safety…Houston we have a problem…Expect a heavy dose of Heath Miller boys and girls.
The Browns pass rush does have me a little concerned. Shaun Rogers and Kemo should be a Sumo war…They could end up throwing punches before the end of the game. Corey Williams and Kendoll Simmons is the matchup that concerns me the most…Corey Williams sucks against the run…He is a very high quality pass rusher…One of the top interior pass rushing defensive linemen in the NFL last year…Simmons needs to be bring his “A” game. Kameron Wimbley is a one trick pony rushing the passer…he explodes off the ball and beats the tackle to the edge…Marvel Smith must get off the ball and keep his foot work…If Marvel locks on Wimbley its over. Willie Colon and the ancient Willie McGinest could be interesting. McGinest is a smart savvy pass rusher who could give Colon fits…Colon needs to be patient he can not lunge/over extend and he MUST move his feet.
Ben must continue to make quick reads…He looked patient and poised in the pocket…He made his reads and delivered the ball…#7 is the MVP of this league
Parker and Mendenhall need to attack the hole…Both must protect the ball and be patient…The runs that are not there in the 1st quarter will be there in the 2nd quarter. Both players ran the ball very well last week…Parker looked as good as ever.
Carey Davis and Mwelde Moore…The Unsung heroes of the offense. Both players made significant contributions that won’t show up on the stat sheet…Blocking is a tireless job.
Ward Holmes& Washington…Run clean routes catch the ball and realize you won’t be this wide open very often in the NFL.
Miller and Spaeth…I expect Miller to have a great day catching the ball…Miller needs to be a dominant player in the run game for the Steelers to win games in January. Spaeth may not touch the ball this week…His impact must be made in the run game. Miller and Spaeth did a fine job blocking last week…That is a trend that must continue.
The Browns with the Ball
Browns offensive coordinator Bob Chudzinski is a Norv Turner protégé. The Browns offense includes a ton of formations and shifting. The Browns utilize a Power run game and set up vertical play action passing off the run game. The Browns best chance to win this game is to keep the Steelers offense off the field…The Browns must establish the run early and control the line of scrimmage. The Browns offensive line is way over rated in my eyes…Derek Anderson was only sacked once against the Cowboys…He never was able to get comfortable in the pocket...The Browns run game was non existent…Jamal Lewis popped a 20 yard run late in the 3rd quarter to make the stat sheet look more respectable. The Browns have some weapons on offense…Braylon Edwards is a dangerous target who makes a lot of plays on poorly thrown balls. Kellen Winslow Jr. is a fine pass catching tight end who will give a ton of effort in the run game…Jamal Lewis runs as hard as any back in the NFL…He has under rated vision and breakaway speed. Derek Anderson has a gun…He can pick a defense apart if he has all day in the pocket. The Browns will be missing some very important complimentary parts on offense this week if Donte Stallworth and Steve Heiden can’t dress. I have never been impressed with the Browns offense…I have zero fear of the Browns offense.
Matchups
Run game
Joe Thomas is a good young left tackle…He is not the franchise left tackle the mainstream media makes him out to be. Thomas will have his hands full with Brett Kiesel in the run game…Kiesel is every bit as big and explosive as Thomas…Kiesel is the better athlete…I actually like Kiesel in this matchup…Kiesel struggles in the run game with big nasty powerful offensive linemen…He tends to make plays and more than hold his own against finesse left tackles…I consider Thomas a finesse left tackle. Eric Steinbach is the best guard in space in the NFL…He gets to the second level and picks off linebackers at an alarming rate…I expect Steinbach to struggle to get to the second level this week…Casey Hampton will force double teams…If Hampton dominates the point of attack like he did last week…The Browns guards will not be able to release to the second level to block the Steelers inside linebackers. The Browns center Hank Fraley has managed to stick around the NFL far longer then I expected…Hank Fraley could not block Casey Hampton with a baseball bat in the run game…The Hampton 08 tour continues…Mike Tomlin may be crazy like a fox…Casey Hampton destroyed the interior of the Texans offensive line last week…I expect the same this week. Rex Hadnot is still struggling to return from a knee injury…Nasty old vet Ryan Tucker will get the start at Right Guard…Tucker is great at nothing…He just battles hard every play…Tucker is a dirty SOB…The Steelers front seven need to be careful around the pile. Right tackle Kevin Schaffer and Aaron Smith should be a war…Schaffer is the best run blocking linemen on the Browns roster…Aaron Smith may play the run better then any defensive end in the NFL. I expect the Steelers defensive line to play a majority of the game in the Browns back field…Penetration and gap integrity eliminates any offensive blocking scheme. The Browns Tight Ends and the Steelers outside linebackers should be interesting. Steve Heiden may play this week…Heiden may be the best run blocking tight end in the NFL…He destroyed Clark Haggans and James Harrison several times last year…Kellen Winslow Jr is a below average run blocker…When he is lined up across from a Steelers outside linebacker he must be punished and embarrassed…The Steelers outside linebackers and Ends must set the edge and force the Browns running game back inside to the pursuit. I will be amazed if the Browns can run the ball on the Steelers.
Passing Game
The Browns do a nice job of protecting Anderson…The offensive line is good… The Browns play design and protection schemes are very good. Joe Thomas was rarely left out on an island last year…The Browns lined up Steve Heiden beside Thomas…Or the Browns chipped with a back…In the Cowboys game Thomas was left out on an island with DeMarcus Ware and did a fine job…Ware is a fantastic player…James Harrison had success against Thomas last year because he was the stronger player…Ware is quick and explosive…He is a different type of rusher then Harrison…Harrison may not close the deal this week…I believe he will force the Browns to help Thomas. I don’t expect much from Brett Kiesel this week rushing the passer…Steinbach is a fine technician who is rarely beat…Ryan Tucker and Aaron Smith could be interesting…Smith may smell blood in the grass facing an injured Tucker who was thrust into the lineup out of need. Kevin Schaffer is an above average right tackle in pass pro…Lamar Woodley is an excellent pass rusher…I would not be surprised if Woodley gives Schaffer fits rushing the passer…Woodley sets up his rush moves like a ten year vet.
The Steelers will need to find a way to cover the Browns two main targets Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. I don’t expect the Steelers to do anything special to cover either player. Winslow is a legit number one wide receiver…The Steelers will help Taylor/Townsend/McFadden with help over the top…I have a feeling Winslow Jr. sees a ton of Lawrence Timmons and Troy in coverage. Donte Stallworth was supposed to add another vertical weapon to this offense…He is once again injured and expected to miss the game. Josh Cribbs and Syndric Steptoe round out the Browns Wide Receiving core…Cribbs is expected to return from a high ankle sprain…He is known as a dangerous return man…He has never impressed me in his transition to wide receiver. A key element to stop in the Browns passing game is the backs out of the back field…Lawrence Vickers makes a ton of plays for the Browns…Jamal Lewis with a head steam on a swing pass is a scary sight for defenders.
If the Steelers play smart football (Tackle…No dumb penalties…maintain gap integrity…No blown coverage’s) I have no fear of the Browns offense.
Special Teams
Cover the kicks…Attack the returner. Return game protect the ball…Kicking game…No shanks.
I still don’t trust the Steelers special teams.
Score
Steelers 31
Stains 17
The Pre season is thankfully over, how the NFL continues to screw the fans by making them pay full price for that charade displayed on the field is beyond me. The Steelers enter the season basically injury free, they return 20 of 22 starters from a playoff team… The “expectations” are starting to build in the steel city.
Did You Know?
-Pittsburgh has the longest current winning streak on opening day in the NFL at 5 games
-Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to become the first Steelers quarterback with three consecutive 3,000-yard seasons.
-In 3 season openers Willie Parker has rushed for 385 yards on 78 carries.
Steelers with the Ball
I expect the Steelers to show a variety of personnel packages and formations attempting to dictate one on one matchups in the passing game early. The Steelers have as much talent at the skill positions as any team in the NFL. The Texans are missing their best cover corner Dunta Robinson but it wouldn’t matter if Robinson was healthy, the Texans lack the speed size and skill to cover the Steelers receivers. The talent of the Texans defense is in the front seven which includes three defensive linemen who were first round picks and one of the most talented middle linebackers in the NFL in DeMeco Ryans.
Front Seven Matchups
Run game
Marvel Smith and Mario Williams in the run game. I expect the Texans to move around Williams on obvious passing downs with the hope of exploiting matchups; I expect Williams to play Right defensive end against the Steelers base formations. Williams is a very good player, he plays the run as good as any 43 defensive end in football. I expect a ton of stalemates between Smith and Williams…A majority of the time stalemates mean the offensive linemen did his job and won the matchup. I don’t expect Marvel Smith to blow Williams three yards off the ball; at the same time I don’t expect Williams to stack and walk Marvel Smith three yards into the back field.
Willie Colon and Anthony Weaver in the run game…Willie Colon is awful. I will continue to say Willie Colon is awful until his play proves otherwise. I expect Weaver to control Colon in the run game…Weaver will stack Colon then shed the block and force plays back inside or make the play himself…Unlike Marvel Smith, Willie Colon fails to stay pasted to the defender…His short arms and slow feet make him a liability run blocking and sealing the edge on outside runs…His poor technique and limited strength make him a liability in the interior run game.
Justin Hartwig Chris Kemoeatu and Kendoll Simmons against Travis Johnson and Amobi Okoye in the run game…I expect the Texans to cover Hartwig a ton in this game with Travis Johnson. This will be a quality test for Hartwig…Johnson is very underrated against the run…Johnson is not a huge 340 pound defensive tackle…He is a compact explosive player who will beat most interior offensive linemen with a lightening quick first step…Hartwig must come off the ball and win the leverage matchup with Johnson if the Steelers expect to run the ball between the tackles. Okoye is nothing special against the run…I believe Kemo will eat him up…Okoye could give Simmons problems in the run game. Okoye is strong enough to hold the point against Simmons…He is not strong enough to hold the point against Kemo…Okoye doesn’t have enough sand in his pants to play in a phone booth against Kemo.
The key to the Steelers running the ball this week will be limiting penetration by the front four and finding ways to get blockers on DeMeco Ryans and Morlon Greenwood, if the Steelers manage to establish the running game early; this game could be over at halftime
Passing game
The Texans will slide in ND Kalu to replace Anthony Weaver on passing downs. Kalu is a quality pass rusher…He could give either tackle problems coming off the edge with speed. I expect the Texans to line up Okoye over Simmons on most passing downs. Okoye is a very good interior pass rusher and Simmons tends to struggle with decent pass rushing defensive linemen. Mario Williams will be lined up all across the defensive front looking to exploit matchups…I expect Williams to find a home across from Willie Colon…Williams is Colon’s worst nightmare…He can beat Colon to the edge with speed…Back to the inside with quickness and technique …and up his chest with the bull rush.
I expect the Steelers to help the offensive line with a Tight End, and a running back chipping the pass rushers…The more help the offensive line needs…Means fewer receivers out in pass routes.
Skill positions.
Ben must throw the ball in rhythm…He must trust his reads…If the play is not there don’t take unnecessary shots throw the ball away and move on to the next play. Ben has more balls than brains… The offensive line and pass protection schemes must hold up… I hope Ben saves the Houdini plays for Mid January of 09…Ben must stay healthy…That’s the key to this team’s success…By the way Ben is the best damn quarterback in the NFL
Parker and Mendenhall…Protect the ball…Take what’s there…Attack the hole and finish every run…I believe the Steelers are as talented at running back as any team in the NFL.
Miller and Spaeth…Both players MUST win there matchups in the run game…That one block is the difference between a 4 yard run and 65 yard touchdown trot. I expect both players to be factors in the passing game.
Ward Holmes Washington and Sweed…Run good clean routes… Make plays for your quarterback…The Texans couldn’t cover the Steelers Wide Receivers with 13 men.
2 Unsung Hero’s to look for this week.
Carey Davis- I would not be surprised if he gets some short yardage carries. He must be a hammer in the blocking game.
Mewelde Moore- He will be the Swiss Army Knife of the Steelers running backs Returning kicks, catching passes, running the ball, blitz pickup…I believe Moore could end up being the unsung hero of this team.
Texans with the Ball
The Texans offense is a carbon copy of the Denver Broncos offense…The Texans even have a Shanahan calling the plays….28 year old Kyle Shanahan (son of Mike) is the offensive coordinator of the Texans…He will match wits with 70 year old Dick Lebeau. The Texans zone block the run gaming…The passing game is predicated off the running game…The Texans passing game comes off play action, half rolls and misdirection.
Front Seven Matchups
Run Game
The Texans zone block everything…Rookie Duane Brown will have his hands full with Brett Kiesel…Kiesel’s length will drive Brown nuts…Brown will not be able to control Kiesel…He will not be able to move Kiesel in the run game…He will not be able to wall Kiesel away from the play…Kiesel will play this game with his hands inside of Duane Browns shoulder pads. Eric Winston has developed into a fine right tackle in this system. Winston has enough strength and speed to handle most Left defensive ends in the NFL. Aaron Smith when healthy and rested is not most defensive ends in the NFL…Smith is a force against the run…He is non-stop hustle in a big man’s body. Winston is in big trouble this week. Poor Chris Myers…Myers reminds me of Sean Mahan…He tries real hard…He can play and be fairly effective in space…He is a liability when covered. I expect Casey Hampton to send a message to the fans, sportswriters, front office, and the head coach this week…I expect Hampton to wreck the Texans blocking scheme and cause chaos in the defensive back field. Fullback Vonta Leach is a hammer in the run game…The Steelers linebackers better be prepared or they could end up embarrassed looking up at the Pittsburgh skyline. Owen Daniels offers nothing in the run game…He is softer then silk…Mark Bruener on the other hand is still a quality run blocker. I believe the Texans guards will struggle to get to the second level to block James Farrior Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons.
My biggest concern is edge matchups…Bruener on the Steelers outside linebackers…Leach sealing the edge...Leach leading Green through a crease. The Texans may get lucky and pop a run…If the Steelers front 7 show up the Texans will be lucky to rush for 80 yards.
Passing game
Duane Brown and James Harrison should be interesting. Brown was solid in the passing game at VA Tech and this pre season…James Harrison can be hell on wheels…Harrison has been nicked this week…I have a feeling he shows up Sunday afternoon in a bad mood. Chester Pitts is a former left tackle and a very good pass blocking left guard…He has allowed 7 sacks in his past 32 starts…Brett Kiesel is a disappointment as an interior pass rusher…I believe Pitts will hold his own and limit Kiesel rushing the passer. Right guard Mike Brisiel is a battler…I expect Brisiel to have major problems anchoring against Aaron Smith. Right tackle Eric Winston and Lamar Woodley will be the key matchup…Winston is a very good pass blocking right tackle…Lamar Woodley has some jaw dropping pass rushing moves…Woodley could have a huge breakout season. If the Steelers control the matchups upfront the Steelers blitz will be unblockable…Players must beat blocks and make plays.
Skill positions.
Matt Schaub is a Pittsburgh boy coming home to face a nasty, quick, attacking Steelers defense. Schaub has a rocket arm and great accuracy when he is allowed to stand like a statue in the pocket and deliver the ball…When Schaub has to move inside of the pocket he tends to sail balls over receiver’s heads. Schaub is a decent NFL starter…He is nothing special.
I know it’s hard to believe but yes Ahman Green is still in the NFL. Green has lost a step or two; and knee injuries have robbed him of his once vaunted explosiveness…Green still has great vision…He will make one cut and attack the hole.
Chris Taylor and Steve Slaton have some Steelers fans concerned…I don’t see the reason for concern…Both backs are physically limited. Taylor is slow…Slaton attempts to avoid contact by running east and west.
Owen Daniels is a poor mans Kellen Winslow Jr…Daniels is fantastic in the passing game…He is a matchup nightmare for most teams…To quick for a linebacker…To big for a safety. The Steelers must punish Daniels every time he touches the ball.
Andre Johnson…I’m a fan of Andre Johnson; I think Andre Johnson is a top 3 Wr in the NFL…He reminds me of Terrell Owens without the diva attitude. Johnson can take any route to the house for 6.
Kevin Walter is a sure handed possession receiver who just makes plays to keep drives alive…Walter is a big receiver who looks to punish defensive backs run blocking.
Andre Davis and Jacoby Jones are explosive speedsters who can make plays vertically in the passing game…Both players have struggled with dropped balls.
The Steelers must play this game in the Texans backfield…The Texans have plenty of weapons outside to beat teams vertically in the passing game…The Steelers must choke off the run game and rattle Schaub early.
Special Teams.
This is a definite advantage to the Texans. All together now…Cover the Kick…Keep your lanes…Tackle the man carrying the ball.
Kicking game
I call a push.
Score
Steelers 27
Texans 13
This will be my first and only Gospel of the Pre Season. Speaking of the Pre Season…I think it’s a crock of crap…That’s just my opinion…Let’s talk some Steelers Football.
Steelers with the Ball
The front seven is where games are won and lost; Every Steelers linemen will be tested against the Vikings.
Marvel Smith wants an extension…He will face a test this week with Jared Allen. In my opinion Jared Allen is the most dominant front seven player in the NFL…Its not even close; what makes Allen so special is his ability to maintain leverage in the run game…There are plenty of quality pass rushers in the NFL…Allen plays the run as good as any defensive end in the league…3-4 ends included. Allen is the most feared pass rusher in the NFL for good reason…He is a complete pass rusher; He can beat a tackle to the edge with speed and quickness…He can beat a tackle back to the inside with strength technique and a great understanding of leverage.
The Steelers will find out if Kemo can replace Alan Faneca this week. Kevin Williams is a stud…He is as strong as a bull, quick as a cat with rare play making ability for an interior player. This is a great test for Kemo…If Kemo comes out and wins most of the matchups or even stalemates a majority of the time it will do wonders for his confidence (And the confidence of Steelers nation)…If Kemo comes out and lays an egg…It could wreck his confidence…This is Kemo’s first test…He will not face a better interior defensive linemen this year.
Justin Hartwig this is the game of your season…If Hartwig shows he can seal the Williams boys on the backside of interior runs and not get walked into Ben's lap in Pass Pro he will win the job…If Hartwig gets rag dolled… Mahan will keep the job.
Kendoll Simmons you could have a long night. Pat Williams is fat…He is also very quick, strong, and explosive…The type of player who takes Simmons to the woodshed traditionally. I have big concerns about the Right side of the offensive line. Simmons' best chance… Pat Williams has food poisoning…This matchup is ugly…Real ugly.
Willie Colon and Ray Edwards…Edwards is the weak link of the Vikings defensive line…He did lead the team in sacks in 07 playing RDE…This season he switched to LDE to accommodate the signing of Jared Allen. I believe Colon will be ok this week in the run game…Edwards is going to use his length and quick first step to eat up Colon rushing the passer.
Other things of note
The Vikings play a version of the Cover 2 Defense…Last year Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier mixed in a ton of blitz…With the addition of Jared Allen this season I don’t expect a ton of blitzing from the Vikings.
Tyrell Johnson is a super talented rookie safety for the Vikings…I expect the Steelers to attack the middle seam of the cover 2 with Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth…Johnson and the Steelers Tight Ends could have some nasty full speed collisions across the middle of the field.
Two of the toughest players in the NFL will square off when Hines Ward and Antoine Winfield line up across from each other…Both are grizzled vets who play the game at full speed every down…Ward and Winfield should be a war in the run game.
Cedric Griffin is in big trouble with Holmes if Roethlisberger has time…Griffin is a battler… That’s all he is…I view Griffin as the most over rated player on this defense.
The Vikings linebackers are thumpers with some athletic ability. The Vikings linebackers success is dependent on the play of the front four…That is true for most teams…I believe it’s more necessary for the Vikings. The one thing the Vikings do well as a team is tackle and run to the ball… EJ Henderson and Chad Greenway are liabilities in coverage…Ben Leber struggles to beat blocks in the run game. All three play the game smart…They won’t beat themselves with mental mistakes…The Steelers must find a way to get them blocked if they plan on having any chance to run the ball.
Skill position players for the Steelers.
The success or lack there of, lies squarely on the shoulders of the offensive line and Bruce Arians.
My general thoughts are simple…Stay healthy and don’t turn over the ball.
The Steelers on defense.
The Vikings utilize a run based version of the West Coast offense…They Zone block everything and sneak in the play action pass/ bootleg looks after they pound the ball down your throat with the run game. I don’t expect Jackson to play at all this week…Which means Gus Frerotte will get the start…I believe Frerotte brings more to the table at this point and is a bigger challenge for the Steelers defense to contend with.
Front Seven Matchups.
The Vikings not only have the best defensive line in football, they have the best offensive line.
Brett Kiesel and Bryant McKinnie…This should be a tale of two games. McKinnie will control Kiesel in the run game. McKinnie is a huge man with a large mean streak…He punishes finesse defensive ends in the run game. As good as McKinnie is in the run game…He struggles in Pass Pro…Kiesel should have an advantage if he can pin his ears back and rush the passer.
Matt Birk and Casey Hampton…Birk is at the end of the line…He is a great technician who wins most battles in a phone booth with smarts instead of brawn…He plays a lot like Jeff Hartings…He just win his matchups. If Birk has problems it’s when he is covered by a squat powerful nose guard…That’s a fair description of Casey Hampton. Hampton must eat up blockers and force the double team… He must be aware and maintain gap integrity …He can not allow himself to be washed down the line of scrimmage giving up the cut back lane.
Aaron Smith and Ryan Cook…Ryan Cook where have I heard that name? Cook is a big strong nasty mauler who wants to battle every down in a phone booth…Smith will have a long night if he tries to go rock sock um with Cook in the run game. I believe Smith will have success in this matchup because he will use his quickness and sound technique to keep the short armed Cook out of his pads…Smith will enter this game with a similar game plan as when he faces Willie Anderson of the Bengal’s or Jon Runyan of the Eagles…Be first off the ball…Maintain balance and leverage and force everything back inside.
The Key to Stopping the Vikings run game is penetration and gap integrity…Basic fundamental assignment based football.
Things to look for
Effectiveness of the Vikings guards on down blocks against Casey Hampton. Steve Hutchinson for all his hype struggled in previous matchups with Casey Hampton…Hampton bullied the bully.
Can the Steelers line and outside backers expose the Vikings tackles in pass protection?
Can the Steelers win matchups and play the game on the Vikings side of the Line of scrimmage?
The Steelers best chance to stop super star greatest running back who ever lived Adrian Peterson (That’s sarcasm) is by limiting his time and space…If Peterson has time to pick a hole and cut back…He will gash the Steelers…If the Steelers control the line of scrimmage and force Peterson to make quick reads…He will have little success running the ball against this defense.
The Vikings skill position players other then Peterson on offense suck. You control the running game the Vikings have no answers on offense.
Closing statement
The goal is no injuries…The outcome is meaningless.
The Steelers playoffs hopes look bleak, No Willie Parker, No Marvel Smith or Max Starks, No Aaron Smith. Troy Polamula, Ike Taylor and Ben are hobbled with injuries. The Jaguars outplayed and out coached the Steelers in every possible way on December 16. Other than an Anthony Smith interception the Jaguars played a perfect game and won by seven points. That’s the freaking key…The Steelers played awful on both sides of the ball and lost by seven points.
What will be different in this game? I don’t expect Hines Ward and Heath Miller to combine for five dropped passes. I don’t expect the Jaguars to run three draw plays for twelve yards plus on 3rd down and 10 yards to go. I don’t expect the Steelers to miss 21 tackles. What I hope is different in this game…There is more than one way to pressure a quarterback, the Steelers blitz packages are just not getting there, you can sit there and be a naive fool believing LeBeau hasn’t showed his entire blitz package…People he has…The Steelers don’t have the horses upfront to pressure the QB with the blitz. The Jaguars Wide Receivers struggle to beat the jam at the line of scrimmage on a good field…Heinz Field is a mess…I believe the Steelers best chance of success is blitzing five and playing the corners up in bump coverage on obvious pass downs. Offensively the Steelers have to come out attacking; this means 1st down passing, this means trick plays, this means winning the freaking battles at the line of scrimmage. The Jaguars are expecting to out will and out muscle the Steelers in their back yard…I said it before and I will say it again…The Steelers don’t lose street fights in their backyard.
Jaguars with the Ball…The Jaguars want to run the ball forty times, control the clock, and keep the Steelers offense off the field. The Jaguars have two great backs in Fred Taylor and Moe Jones-Drew, both backs run hard with a great forward lean…Fred Taylor has great feet with rare cutting ability for a big back, Jones-Drew is a homerun threat every time he