Gospel Week 16: One More Time

The Steelers defense is a mess…LeBeau started the game like it was 1992…The Packers receivers abused the Steelers defensive backs in coverage and LeBeau was forced to play conservative defensive football. I do not have answers for you Steelers nation…Ike looked solid for the most part last week…Willie Gay is awful…Joe Burnett is not much better…Troy Polamula covers up Ryan Clark’s limited athletically ability. Keenan Lewis must really suck if he can’t see the field…I don’t buy into the special teams comments…The coverage units already suck…If Lewis could play corner he would be in the lineup. Troy looks like a no go again this week…The Steelers have to find a way to account for Ray Rice in the passing game…The best way to account for Rice in my opinion is to drill him every time he touches the ball.

 

I believe the Steelers created some good luck last week…I expect the Steelers to finally get some bounces this week. The Steelers have to play a smart fundamental game…This game will be won with ball security, blocking and tackling…I don’t expect a shoot out…The Ravens offense has been lighting up inferior defenses the past month…I don’t believe Flacco has the mobility to make plays outside of the pocket against this defense. Don’t forget the nation…Two days after Christmas I expect the Steel city to be rocking.

 

-The teams with the NFL's two best records -- Indianapolis and New Orleans feature the No. 1 and No. 3 passing attacks. None of the teams with the top four rushing attacks -- New York Jets, Tennessee, Carolina and Miami -- have a winning record.

-The Steelers allowed 22 points in the fourth quarter against the Packers that was the third time this season they have allowed 21 or more in that period. The Steelers have won two of those three games.

-Hines Ward surpassed 1,000 yards receiving to join Santonio Holmes as the second pair in Steelers history to reach that plateau, behind Ward-Plaxico Burress (2001-02). It also marked the sixth time in the past nine seasons Ward has hit the century mark. Ben Roethlisberger had his fifth 300-yard passing game of the season against the Packers, a Steelers record eclipsing the four by predecessors Tommy Maddox and Neil O'Donnell.

-The Ravens are 2-8 at Heinz Field, which opened in 2001. The Ravens have swept the Steelers just once all time

-The Steelers and Packers posted the NFL’s first 37-36 final in league history last Sunday.

 

The Ravens game plan will be built around Ray Rice and it should be; Rice is a great back. I believe the Ravens will attempt to pound the ball at the Steelers…The Ravens’ identity offensively is physical football with a sprinkle of play action passing. Cam Cameron has done a nice job scheming against LeBeau and the Steelers defense the past four games…LeBeau always has a new wrinkle…I expect to see a ton of traditional zone blitz looks from the Steelers this week…The Steelers haven’t utilized the defensive backs blitzing the past two seasons…I expect that to change this week.

 

It’s week 16 in the NFL…All teams have injuries…No team misses one player more than the Steelers miss Troy Polamula. I expect Troy to be out this week with a knee injury; The Ravens will be missing some key components on the offensive line this week. I may be overlooking something but after watching the past 3 Ravens games I can say one thing with certainty the Ravens offense is way over rated. I believe the Steelers will shut down the Ravens run game early forcing Uni Brow I mean Flacco to make plays in the passing game, Flacco is a quality quarterback when the run game is working…Flacco has not showed the ability to make plays against a quality defense without the run game. I expect the Steelers to light up Flacco…I expect LeBeau to show Flacco looks he never dreamed of defensively…The reason LeBeau will be able to open the up the defensive play book…Deshea Townsend will get the start at corner…Townsend is ancient; he understands the game and he understands coverages…One player can change the game. I believe LeBeau lost all faith in Willie Gay and Joe Burnett…I believe LeBeau was forced to sit back and call vanilla defenses because he was afraid the left cornerback would blow the coverage…Townsend allows LeBeau to take more risks with his play calling…The result…An aggressive, nasty, extremely violent Steeler defensive game plan.

 

Derrick Mason and Deshea Townsend should be an interesting matchup…Both players have stuck around the NFL because they the have ability to read what’s going on around them ; both players have the ability to anticipate patterns and coverages…I expect Mason to make some plays in the passing game…I don’t expect Mason to make any game changing plays. Mark Clayton is a bum…I know Clayton has lit up some terrible defensive backs the past few weeks...Ike Taylor has struggled this season…I think part of Taylor’s problem is a lack of trust in the safety play…Taylor doesn’t want to get beat deep…He doesn’t trust the safety play so Taylor is back on his heels in coverage…Cornerback is the one position in the NFL a player can’t afford to be indecisive at….Taylor must trust the defensive call and the players around him…Ike is still the swaggering defensive back we all know and love…He must find his mojo. Ravens 3^rd wide receiver Kelly Washington has developed into a decent a player…I think Washington may get his ass drilled this week…Washington was dancing and taunting in the previous matchup…If your going to dance you better be prepared to pay the band leader…Ryan Clark is the band leader of this defense…Clark was looking to kill Packers receivers last week…The Packers receivers were quick enough and small enough to get down to the turf before the big hit got there…Flacco doesn’t have the touch of Aaron Rodgers…Flacco also has the bad habit of leaving receivers out to dry…I expect Ryan Clark to add a head to his wall this week. Tyrone Carter has to trust his reads…Carter was burned because he didn’t trust his reads…He took false steps and the Packers receivers made him pay. Clark and Carter should both sit back looking to kill Ravens players with the ball.

 

Todd Heap played a whale of a game against the Steelers in the previous matchup…Heap has been making plays in the passing game the past few weeks…The Steelers backers and safeties must take away Heap’s time and space…Heap has less athletic ability then Heath Miller…Heap finds a way to get open and to move the chains. Ravens 2^nd tight end LJ Smith has been a non factor for the Ravens this season…That’s a trend that must continue this week if the Steelers expect to win this game. The Ravens love to use their running backs in the passing game…The Steelers must account for Ray Rice every time he is on the field…Rice is the only play maker on the Ravens offense. This game will come down to matchups. The Steelers linebackers must dominate this game. Timmons and Farrior must beat blocks and find the ball carrier…They must find Rice in the passing game and form tackle…Every time Rice touches the ball he must be punished. Harrison and Woodley must set the edge in the run game…The Ravens will attempt to go unbalanced line with an extra offensive linemen…Harrison and Woodley can NOT be hooked….They must keep their outside shoulder free and flow to the ball. I have no fear of LeRon McClain or Willis McGahee neither player has big play ability…I have no fear of Heap or Smith…None of the Ravens wide receivers scare me…Ray Rice is the Ravens offense…He is the only player with the ability to keep the chains moving…If the Steelers eliminate Rice from this game they eliminate the Ravens offense.

 

Michael Oher has really impressed me so far this season…Oher is far from a finished product…Oher has quick feet and great agility for a 320 pound man. I expect Oher and Keisel to battle in the run game…Keisel has to make plays…At the very least he must grab a hold of the ball carrier until the Calvary can clean up the play…Keisel can not over pursue to the ball…He must maintain gap integrity in the run game. Oher and James Harrison is the matchup I’m looking forward to the most in this game…Harrison has been called lazy and uninspired the past few weeks…I just don’t see it. Harrison battles every play. I expect Harrison to light up the Ravens…I expect Harrison to go ape shit rushing the passer. Ravens guards Ben Grubbs and Marshall Yanda will be forced to help Matt Birk with Casey Hampton…Hampton dominated the line of scrimmage in the previous matchup…Hampton took the double team and deposited it 3 yards in the back field…Unfortunately for the Steelers Timmons and Farrior missed numerous tackles…That can’t happen this week. Grubbs will draw Keisel in pass pro…Keisel has to make some plays rushing the passer…He is paid to rush the passer in the nickel and dime sets…Not to take up space playing patty cake. Yanda will draw Ziggy Hood for the most part in pass pro…Hood has been a first class bust in my eyes…His effort rushing the passer is non existent…A season can made by having one big game…Hood has the chance to make his season this week…Yanda sucks…He is worse than any Steelers linemen…Hood has to finish the deal…He must make some freaking plays. Ravens right tackle O’Neil Cousins will get the start at right tackle…Cousins is pretty shitty…Actually Cousins is very shitty…I expect the East German Bomber Pilot Travis Kierschke to dominate this matchup in the run game…Kierschke doesn’t look pretty but he still is very effective when healthy. The Ravens better be prepared to give Cousins a ton of help in pass pro…Lamar Woodley is on fire rushing the passer. Woodley is the first linebacker I’ve seen consistently beat offensive tackles with pure power rushing the passer…Woodley has 2 moves rushing the passer…Bull rush up your chest…Rip move back to the inside…Woodley is a stud.

 

The Steelers can shut down this offense by playing smart fundamental football…Beat the block, find the ball carrier punish the ball carrier repeat.

 

 

Welcome to the 21^st century Pittsburgh Steelers offense. The Steelers are a passing team…The rules favor the passing game…The Steelers have a franchise quarterback and 4 excellent receivers…I know some of you don’t like change…To quote Mike Tomlin…It is what it is. The Steelers will not be the run shoot offense…The Steelers will incorporate the run game into the game plan…Rashard Mendenhall is a fantastic young back…He will get his touches…The Steelers offense being 3 yards and a cloud of dust team doesn’t make sense…Mendenhall’s skill set allows the Steelers to utilize him multiple ways. The Steelers offensive line must continue to improve…I don’t believe the Ravens defense is as good as the Packers this season…The Ravens defense had major holes prior to the rash of injuries. The Steelers must control the line of scrimmage…If the Steelers can control the point of attack The Ravens can’t stop this offense. Once again fundamentals will be key…Blocking, catching, ball security, and finishing every play. I may never like Bruce Arians…To be completely honest I can’t name the last Steelers offensive coordinator I did like…Arians brought me out of my seat a few times with play calls against the Packers…The difference this week…I was screaming great call or wonderful design Arians!! Let’s not forget…Dom Capers is a quality defensive coordinator…Arians hung a 5 spot on him in the passing game….I understand Ben made the throws…Arians showed spice in the passing game…Arians called a gem.

 

 

 

Dominique Foxworth draws Santonio Holmes in coverage…Foxworth is streaky in coverage…Some games he plays lights out…Other games he is burnt non stop. I expect the Steelers to attack Foxworth with skinny post’s…Deep in’s…Foxworth is great straight line…He struggles to open his hips and adjust back to the ball…Foxworth is a poor tackler…I expect the Steelers to attack the perceived strength of the Ravens defensive backs…Foxworth is a decent # 2 corner…Holmes is going to take him to the woodshed. Hines Ward has balls the size of Atlas stones…Ward is hurt….He is playing…Can Frank Walker or Cris Carr cover him? My answer…Hell no…Ward will once again rely on his macho….Ward doesn’t get respect from corners early in the game…Mid way through the first quarter after Ward punched the corner in the throat 7-8 times the corner backs off…The corner doesn’t recognize that Ward just took his heart but that’s what happened…Ward is the heart beat of this offense…Ben is the man…The Franchise…Hines Ward is without a doubt the heartbeat…How can you quit when you look at Ward limping around smoking players? Mike Wallace…You are clutch and clutch is everything in life…Next year when you really know what your doing you will be unstoppable…Wallace has Chris Johnson speed…Wallace is full speed by the 2^nd stride…The Ravens can’t cover Wallace…The Ravens don’t have a defensive back who can run with Wallace…Wallace can out run the deep safety…He can literally take the top off of coverages…The Ravens will be forced to play a 2 deep shell if the pass rush can’t get there…I believe the Steelers will limit the Ravens pass rush…2 Deep coverages mean Miller and the backs should have favorable matchups in the passing game…Ben has to be content hitting Miller and Mendy and allowing them to make plays….Miller is limited after the catch…Mendenhall can take a 3 yard pass and turn into a 65 yard touchdown. The Receivers must make plays on the ball…Drops kill drives.

 

The Steelers did a great job blocking the 2^nd and 3^rd level against the Packers…That’s a trend that must continue. Holmes and Ward always give high efforts…Wallace Spaeth Mendenhall Miller and Johnson hustled to block a player…That’s winning football. Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth gave outstanding efforts in the run game…They missed some blocks…They made some blocks…Miller and Spaeth must build off that effort in this game….Miller and Spaeth will be keys to the Steelers run game…The Steelers will have limited success running right at Ngata and Gregg…If Miller and Spaeth can manage to block Suggs and Jarrett Johnson in the run game the Steelers run game will show promise…Miller and Spaeth did a nice job in the first meeting…I have similar expectations in this game. DJ Johnson is a more athletic Dan Krieder…Johnson is an absolute hammer at the point of attack…I pray Ray Ray tries to step and fill on Johnson.

 

Max Starks was bad last week…Starks tends to bounce back from bad games with strong games the following week….The Steelers will really need him this week. The Ravens line up Haloti Ngata in 3 different positions against base formations…I’m going to address Ngata as a 34 end…Max Starks destroyed Ngata with down blocks in the first meeting…The Ravens love to line up Ngata on the outside eye of the guard…That gave Starks an angle on the down block and Starks finished the block every time. I don’t expect the Ravens defense to change much…I expect Ngata to line up on Foster’s outside eye…I expect Suggs to cheat down…If Miller or Spaeth can seal Suggs inside…I see some run lanes forming…That scenario is how teams run on the Ravens…That’s the blue print…Designed by Bruce Arians last year…Such a terrible offensive coordinator. The Steelers guards will be forced to help Hartwig with Kelly Gregg inside…Hartwig does a nice job against Gregg…Tall massive nose tackles give Hartwig fits…I believe the Steelers will quickly double Gregg inside with the guard scraping to the second level to pick off the inside backer…For some reason I believe the Steelers will be able to run the ball at this defense…500 yards passing the week before against a similar 34 defense may have something to do with that. I expect Ramon Foster to start at left guard…If Foster locks on the battle is over…Foster stunned Raji and Jenkins multiple times rushing the passer…Stopped the rush before it started…Foster had similar success against an injured Haloti Ngata in the 1^st meeting…I’m starting to believe the injury to Ngata had zero bearing on the beating he took from Foster…Foster has some warts to his game…Playing in a phone booth is not one of those warts. Trai Essex sucks…I’m sorry to be blunt…He is terrible…I wish Kemo was healthy…I would start Kemo at LG and Foster at RG…Essex gets walked four yards into the back field at least 15 times a game…Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards will split interior rush snaps….Both players concern me. Willie Colon played a great game against the Ravens…His play has been mediocre at best since…Colon actually has a favorable matchup in the run game this week with Dwan Edwards…Edwards has zero finesse to his game…Edwards has a similar build to Colon…Colon doesn’t have to worry about being over powered or run around…Colon can lock on and play his game. Jarret Johnson just makes plays…He is a Steelers killer…The bad news…Paul Kruger Johnson’s backup seems to have a ton of play making ability as well…Colon and Starks have to stay fundamentally sound in pass pro…Move your feet…Land your punch…Lock on or retract…Repeat…The block stops when your feet stop.

 

Logan shows promise…Holmes is always dangerous as a punt returner…Skippy is money at home…The coverage units sucks. The Ravens return game is up in the air because of injuries….The Steelers need to win the special teams battle with Special Olympics type of players.