Gospel 16...You can lean on me brother

Mike Tomlin claims he won’t “lobby” for help…It doesn’t matter if he did…No one would listen. No one wants to play the Steelers if they make the playoffs…I don’t completely agree with Lamar Woodley’s claims that teams will roll over…I do agree the Steelers will be a very tough out if they make the dance.

 

-Miami leads the league with 21 rushing touchdowns.

-Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked a career-high-tying 47 times this year. Roethlisberger produced his third game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime this season, making it 20 for his career in the regular season.

-LB Lamar Woodley set a team record by getting at least a partial sack in seven straight games. Greg Lloyd had six in 1994.

-Ike Taylor recorded his first regular season sack of his career against the Ravens last week

-The Steelers pulled off an historic franchise first by having a 4,000-yard passer in Ben Roethlisberger, two 1,000-yard receivers in Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Rashard Mendenhall. Also for the first time, the Steelers have three receivers with 70 receptions: Ward (87), Holmes (78) and TE Heath Miller (71).

 

-The Dolphins have two Woody high(Woodland Hills High School) graduates on their roster…Jason Taylor and Lousaka Polite

The Dolphins are known as a run heavy team…They brought the wildcat to the NFL. The Dolphins offensive line and running backs are decimated by injuries; The Dolphins passing game is led by 2^nd year pros Chad Henne Devon Bess and Brian Hartline….So I expect the Steelers to attempt to show the Dolphins multiple looks in obvious passing situations. The Dolphins have talent on the offensive side of the ball. They have playmakers with the ability to put points on the board.

 

The Dolphins want to control the clock and the line of scrimmage…The Dolphins would love to run the ball 45 times and pass it 15 times…The Steelers front seven must win matchups. I expect the Steelers to blitz the hell out of the wildcat offense…The Steelers made a strategic error against the Browns when they faced the wildcat…They stayed back on their heels instead of attacking and playing downhill…Dick LeBeau is a great coordinator because he learns from his mistakes.

 

The Dolphins passing game is predicated off play action…After the Steelers eliminate the Dolphins run game they will force the Dolphins to become one dimensional…The Dolphins can’t beat the Steelers throwing the ball.

I do not expect Troy Polamula to play this week.

 

Ted Ginn is a burner…He can run like the wind. He never developed as a Wr. Ike Taylor will draw Ginn in coverage. Ginn is the better athlete…Taylor is the better technician…That is not a misprint. I expect Taylor to have a similar game this week as he had last week…Taylor will eliminate Ginn from the passing game. Brian Hartline and Deshea Townsend should be an interesting matchup outside. Both players are very cerebral…Hartline is the younger player the better athlete…Townsend has experience and treachery on his side…I expect Townsend to cheat just enough not to get caught…I expect Townsend to contain Hartline in the passing game. The matchups that concern me the most is slot receivers Greg Carmillo and Devon Bess against Willie Gay…Carmillo and Bess are a lot like Hines Ward without the nastiness in the run game…Carmillo is a bright sure handed receiver who constantly moves the chains for the Dolphins offense… Bess makes incredible plays then drops the easy passes in his chest. I don’t like Gay at all…He seems lost in coverage…He is a poor tackler…He doesn’t compete.

 

The Dolphins tight ends are major contributors in the passing game. Anthony Fasano and Joey Haynos are both huge targets…Both can make plays in the passing game, both are slower than molasses. I expect Timmons and Farrior to hold their own…I would not be surprised if both make game changing plays on the ball. Fasano and Haynos both run big after they catch the ball…If they try to play big against Tyrone Carter or Ryan Clark they will get knocked out…I understand both tight ends are huge…I also understand Lil Evil and Clark are both fearless…I expect nasty collisions…My money is on the psychopaths in black and gold.

 

One of the keys to this game will be James Harrison and Lamar Woodley’s ability to beat down the Dolphins tight ends in the run game... The Steelers outside backers must set the edge in the run game…They must force runs back inside. The Steelers inside backers must form tackle…Farrior and Timmons will have the opportunity to make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage…They must finish plays.

 

Ricky Williams will attempt to play this week…Williams is a tough runner…He runs hard…He has a nasty stiff arm…He attempts to finish every run…He will punish defensive backs…I question how effective he will be with a shoulder injury. Lex Hillard is another big back…The rookie has 41 touches in his career. If Williams can’t go or is ineffective…The Dolphins don’t have much on the bench.

 

Chad Henne is a far better quarterback than I expected. Henne can make any throw when he has time…Henne is not very mobile or reliable when he is forced to move his feet throwing the ball…Henne’s strength is his ability to read the defense and deliver the ball…The Steelers will have to be careful blitzing Henne…The Dolphins have playmakers at wide receiver…Henne has a cannon.

 

Dolphins left tackle Jake Long is a mauler in the run game…He blocks to the echo of the whistle every damn play…He is a brute. Brett Keisel can’t get caved in the run game this week…Keisel has to set the point and at least force a stalemate in the run game. James Harrison and Long will be a war in pass pro…Long doesn’t have the best feet…Harrison could have success beating Long to the corner with the speed rush…James Harrison is due for a huge game injured or not. From here the Dolphins offensive line becomes shady…I will guess at the starters…The Dolphins had 3 different offensive line combos over the past 5 weeks. I expect Justin Smiley and Nate Garner to start at guard…Both are big men with the ability to get to the 2^nd level in the run game…I expect both to be forced to help center Joe Berger who replaces Jake Grove in the starting lineup….Grove was struggling with nose tackles before the ankle injury….Berger is a tall lanky pivot…He will have major issues with Casey Hampton…Hampton is a fireplug who plays 2 feet off the ground. Smiley has had his struggles in pass pro…Keisel is the type of player who can give him fits…Keisel is quick and super athletic…Smiley is playing on a bum ankle. Garner is a massive guard…6-7 330…His slow feet and balance are issues in pass pro…Nick Eason and Ziggy Hood could give him fits…Both are super quick off the ball. Dolphins right tackle Vernon Carey is a nasty hombre…He is massive….He kills defensive linemen with down blocks in the run game…He locks on and destroys. Carey is not very mobile…I expect Woodley to extend that sack streak this week…Carey just doesn’t have the lateral mobility to check Woodley rushing the passer.

 

The Steelers are a passing team.

 

The Dolphins start two rookie corners; Santonio Holmes will draw Sean Smith…Smith is a very lanky corner with questionable quickness…Smith has quality ball skills…His 6-3 frame erases a ton of mistakes…Holmes should break him down with route running in his home city. Hines Ward is playing on one leg…He is the heart beat of this team…He is a warrior…I expect Ward to give Vontae Davis the business in coverage…Davis is a fantastic athlete…He is a poor technician at corner…He bites on routes, takes bad angles…Plays through the man which draws penalties. Dolphins nickel back Nathan Jones has zero chance of covering Mike Wallace or Santonio Holmes…Jones doesn’t have the athletic ability to run with either man.

 

The Dolphins safeties are both under rated in my opinion…Gibril Wilson has struggled in coverage…Wilson will struggle to cover Heath Miller if Ben is accurate…Miller is too damn big for Wilson…I expect the Dolphins to attempt to cover Miller with inside backer Reggie Torbor…Torbor is a gifted player in the passing game. Dolphins free safety Yermiah Bell is a lot like Ryan Clark with better ball skills…Bell runs around killing players…He is a hammer in the passing and run game…He is always around the ball.

 

The Dolphins will miss Channing Crowder in the run game…Reggie Torbor is a quality player in coverage…He struggles against the run. Akin Ayodele also struggles against the run…He is decent in coverage. If the Steelers offensive line can get some movement I would not be surprised if the Steelers hit some big runs against the Dolphins.

 

Rashard Mendenhall is my guy…He must do a better job of protecting the ball. He also must attack the hole with more authority. No Willie Parker means Moore and Mendy must pull the load…Both have to catch the ball better in the passing game. David Johnson is a bull in a china closet in the run game…He is a very good blocker without a position in this new passing offense.

 

Ben is the franchise…He is the best quarterback in the NFL at this time of year.

 

Max Starks and Randy Starks (No relation) should be a war in the run game… M. Starks played a great game last week…He must play with the same edge this week…Randy Starks is a low motor guy…He takes plays off…He will lose his gap in the run game…Phillip Merling a wave player is all motor little technique…The Dolphins have great depth across the defensive line…The Steelers linemen have to maintain a high work level the entire game. Starks and Joey Porter in pass pro…Porter is having a down year…You know his clock is wound tight for this game…I expect Porter to play his heart out in this game…Starks has to shut him down early…Porter’s will can be broken…He will quit…Starks has to take the life out of him. I expect Chris Kemoeatu to return this week…I don’t know how happy I am about that…Ramon Foster played two very solid games replacing Kemo. Kemo and Essex will be forced to help bum center Justin Hartwig in the run game with Paul Soliai in the run game…Soliai is Walter Thomas big…The kid is 350 and not real fat…He is not real mobile…He sits and eats two gaps…Running at those under skilled inside linebackers could be a task with Soliai in the middle of this defense. Kemo will draw Starks and Merling in pass pro…Both are skilled interior pass rushers. Essex will draw Kendall Langford who is growing into a pro bowl caliber player…I hate the interior matchups in pass pro for the Steelers. I expect Kendall Langford to school Willie Colon in the run game…Langford is big strong quick and super athletic…Colon struggles against average players…Langford is a stud. Colon and Jason Taylor should be interesting in pass pro…My heart tells me Colon will hold up…My head tells me Taylor will school his ass…I have to be honest I hate Taylor more then Colon…Now that’s saying something.

 

Stefan Logan has done a good job returning kicks…I wish Tomlin would trust him to return punts…Kid is lightening in a bottle. Reed is money on field goals…His kickoffs suck just like the coverage units. I fear the Dolphins special teams.