Cleveland is a team that wants to set up a vertical passing game by getting Jamal Lewis established between the tackles.  Their  OL and scheme is set up much better for a zone style RB but they try and impose their will anyhow by getting the broken down Jamal Lewis outside the tackle box  on sweeps and designed swing passes with lead blockers.  A new wrinkle they’ve really worked on this offseason. 

In the trenches:

I think its pretty safe to say we’re going to see the DE’s crash on nearly play.  Penetration should be the first read from the 5 techniques in efforts to blow up run lanes.  Cleveland isn’t much of a threat to run outside the tackle box on this defense.  A majority of one gap calls from the DE’s will not only blow up those running lanes Cleveland will try to create,  but when they do finish on playaction or 1^st down passing calls it will push the pocket and flush the immobile Derek Anderson from his comfort zone.  Once he’s on the move,  he’s rendered ineffective.  In the middle,  its Casey being Casey.  He’ll tie up the interior until the run is no longer effective and then turn into a one gap role to pave the way for the interior blitz behind him.  

Coverage:

Cleveland has 2 main targets,  and we all know their names.  Braylon and Kellen.  Everything in the passing game starts with these two players.  Steelers usually do a pretty good job taking away an opponents #1.  Expect a 7 yard plus cushion with a man/zone look on Edwards.  CB will be in a stiff backpedal ready to jump the slant and skinny post up the seam,  a route that’s become like bread and butter in C-Town.  The CB will see strict man-over help over the top with a drifting side x side bracket from the mack who will drift to the hash to take that sightline away from the QB.  A recipe that’s worked on  Edwards in the past.  With Winslow,  I expect some man coverage from the LB/nickel/Troy when he pushes the zipper route up the seam.  In that instance we can probably expect man under from those players with a safety in robber role ready to come up and make the stick or make a play on the ball.  If Winslow works his pattern inside or out,  I’d have to expect the mad scientist will work a horizontal bracket out of a zone look with either the ILB/Troy and the CB in cover 2 look to the strong side.  The disguised coverage should go along way in taking Syndric Steptoe out of the gameplan as he’s hasn’t progressed enough to read these coverages.  One thing that could hurt this Steelers defense is a 2 TE set dragging Steve Heiden underneath as he will probably go unnoticed.  

Pressure Packages:

I fully expect the Steelers to attempt a ton of interior pressure in this game.  Cleveland does a good job of putting their tackles on a short corner in pass pro and giving Anderson time.  A lions share of one gap penetration from the 5 techniques to start it out by pushing the pocket and suffocating running lanes.  The Steelers should start with the outside blitz from Woodley/Harrison set up by sugar blitz looks from the ILB’s that will drop into coverage.  Once Cleveland adjusts to the protection,  I expect to see a lot of fire zone looks with ILB’s bringing the heat on mack blitzes and cross blitzes through the A gaps with the OLB’s dropping into coverage.