Know the Enemy:  Jacksonville Jaguars

As I sat back and read each and every post on SteelerFury.com this week,  I realized that there aren’t too many Steeler fans lacking perspective this week.  Thanks to a year long education from guys like FC and Hardnosed,  its made each of us more aware of Steeler football.  Though I cant name all of you,  to select a few all star posters such as Donnie Brasco,  LockdownRandyFuller,  Gonzo,  SteelerJones,  SteelStillSlays,  Bradshaw2Ben, and SteelersQT have shown me throwing stats at you guys this week means nothing as each and every poster is already aware of where we stand.  I’d also like to thank SteelFury! for allowing me the oppurtunity to pass along my perspective each week.

Im of the notion that everyone starts the postseason 0-0,  statistics and records out the door.  This is January football gentleman,  its more about whose been there rather than whose about to be.  We all know its more about who finishes strong,  rather than who starts strong.  The Steelers wrapped up the division in week 15 allowing them the luxury to cruise through the final week and not having the opportunity for a big win to gain some momentum.   Injuries have been and will continue to be a factor,  but if your as proud of a Pittsburgh Steeler fan as I am,  you realize we don’t make excuses.  The Jags have one of the most experienced coaching staffs in all football and Im sure they realize this as well.

That brings us to opening day 2008.   We all know what happened in the first meeting. 

• 20 play drives
• 224 yards rushing
• Franchise record for opponents rushing yardage at Heinz field. 

The Steelers bring back 12 returning starters from their last playoff victory with 4 more on the roster including Marvel Smith,  Willie Parker,  Aaron Smith,  and Max Starks sitting due to injuries.  The Steelers have not lost in the wildcard round since 1993 and haven’t lost their first playoff game since 1992.  And before that,  it was 1982 for each and only the Patriots and Broncos have won playoff games in Pittsburgh in the last decade which is another reason I like our chances.  Jacksonville hasn’t fared so well.  They are a roster lacking in postseason experience and their last oppurtunity was a 28-3 drubbing at the hands of the New England Patriots.  Theres a lot to be said about playoff experience,  and the Steelers have the clear advantage.  Im not even going to get into how tough it is to beat a playoff team twice on the road in December and January.  Jacksonville came to town and beat the Steelers up physically a few weeks ago.  But after the AFCDG of ’05,  I will refuse to ever count this team out in the clutch as underdogs again.  The Steelers are the original smashmouth team that Jack DelRio has modeled squad after and even though they beat us at our game once,  they wont win in the same manner they did in December.  The Steelers must come in with a new gameplan.

Enough babble for an intro,  lets talk football..

Jacksonville showed their hand and how they want to attack the Steelers.  They’ll continue to have the same arrogance that they can put  up 200 yards on the ground again.  Garrard was able to establish playaction to take his shots downfield.  They boast an unimpressive WR corps at best to go with the 2 headed RB attack that they live and die by.  The Steelers need to come out with attitude on defense.  From the first series,  they need to keep a constant DL rotation to ensure fresh legs in the 2^nd half against the patient Jaguar run game.  First and foremost,  the defense needs to be sure tacklers and maintain gap responsibility to combat all the designed cutback runs from Fred Taylor. On 1^st and 2^nd downs,  I show a ton of cover 2 looks bringing Troy up in the box on the snap dropping into cover 3.  This is susceptible to slants and skinny posts,  but if it comes down to Big Ben vs Garrard,  I like my chances.  The front 7 needs to play first down with attitude forcing their hands on 2^nd down.  In the first meeting,  RT Tony Pashos ate up Eason and Kirchke and it may be worth it to give Chris Hoke some time on 1^st down at LDE and I also leave Clark Haggans in the game on 1^st and 2^nd downs as he is a better run stopper and bring in Lamar Woodley on 3^rd downs and go to a 4 man line including Casey Hampton and and Brett Keisel over the guards to stop those irritating draw plays on 3^rd and 13.  This will also leave meat in the game for quick snaps on 4^th down.  With Troy already up,  he needs to shadow Garrard until the back releases that they love to dump to and take MJD out of the equation on 3^rd downs.  Garrard is a pure game manager that relies on a rushing attack for success.  The Steeler secondary play has gradually decreased as the season wore on but it’s a direct correlation to inconsistent FS play and  lack of a pass rush.  I still have nightmares of everyones all American Anthony Smith doing two 360 degree spins with the ball in the air while with Dennis Northcutt walking into the endzone down the sideline.  Ty Carter needs be more disciplined this time around than the FS play was last time.

On defense,  the Jags are still without Marcus Stroud and and Mike Peterson in the front 7 coupled with 3^rd team LT Trai Essex getting the nod.  I think FC nailed it when he said Essex struggles against speed rushers and the Jags have nothing that resembles that so Im not as worried about that matchup as some. Coupled with a sloppy frozen field,  everyones timing will be off. Jacksonville has 700 lbs of meat between the guards on defense with John Henderson and Grady Jackson.  They are nearly immovable,  but don’t get much penetration.  Instead of running to them,  I make them come to me by running sprint draws on first down and wear their legs out by making them run to the ball on stretch plays and off tackle plays in the first half.  Najeh Davenpot needs to run behind his pads and keep his shoulders square,  he struggles when he tries to get cute and lose leverage.  He needs to finish every run with emphasis and low pad level to trade paint with the Jacksonville LB’s. I believe the Steelers need to stay patient in the run game as to not prolong the game. In the first meeting,  CB Rashean mathis did a nice job shadowing Santonio Holmes,  but they do get exposed by slow front 7 play and there are holes in the zone.  Heath Miller is a mismatch for everyone on the depth chart down the seam and giving him some early looks in the slot could benefit the 2^nd half run game as he would be able to get pads on SS when in the box.  Ben needs to be Ben. Poise and accuracy are the name of his game.  Feel the rush and get out of the pocket when needed.  In 4 years I could probably count on one hand how many times he’s thrown the ball away to avoid a sack,  but he’ll need to use good judgement as to not get in a hole on 2^nd and 3^rd down.  To me,  the biggest intangible coming into this game is Bens postseason experience over Garrard.  He knows how to win in the clutch and doesn’t fold when the chips are down.

Here are I_C’s keys to the game:

1. Stop the run.   Sell out with 9 in the box if you have to. Force Garrard into 30 attempts or more
2.  The offense must finish first half drives to build a lead.  Putting pts on the board and pressure on their run game is a must.  Make Garrard come out of halftime having to throw the football. 
3.  Limit penalties on offense. And that means you Kendall Simmons.  Know the snap count and keep your hands inside. Do not let penalties kill drives
4.  Finally,  its time for Troy to earn his trip to Hawaii.  Without a stellar performance from #43,  Im not sure how successful the Steelers can be.  He needs to wreak havoc at the point of attack and be a force.