Jimmy Hoffa in the Meadowlands, weighing down that union man.

The Steelers finally managed to put together back to back weeks of quality football; I expected Steelers nation to be thrilled with the performance…Surprisingly Steelers nation once again bitched and complained to the point of making excuses for the win. I don’t know what the boys have to do to make some people happy…Last week at this time RG III was considered the second coming of Jesus Christ, actually check that…That’s Tim Tebow. Last week at this time RG III was considered part Joe Montana part Mike Vick…The Steelers defense not only contained RG III they shut him down. The Redskins had the top rushing attack in the NFL….The Steelers shut it down…People are still bitching and complaining.  I just don’t get it. Talking about shutting things down Todd Haley shut down the Steelers offense in the 4^th quarter against the Skins…It was a smart decision…The Steelers biggest opponent was the clock in the 4^th quarter.

Onto this week…The Giants on the road will be a major test for the Steelers…The Steelers under Mike Tomlin have struggled to win big road games the past few years. This is a notch below a must win for the Steelers in my opinion…I have changed my mind on what type of game this is going to be since the podcast…I expected shitty weather and nasty winds late Sunday afternoon in New Jersey the weather is supposed to be dry with 10 MPH winds…I see a possible shootout.

Steelers Run Game

Starks and JPP- Holy smokes do the Steelers need a big week from Starks. JPP is a freak; his play reminds me of Jevon Kearse in his prime…He is a large long athletic specimen. Starks needs to play with a fire in his belly. JPP is a bit over-rated when it comes to the run game…He is perfectly happy to lock out the offensive tackle and hand fight… I have a feeling this week Starks is going to be forced to move his feet and get some movement at the point of attack if the Steelers want to run to the edges against the Giants defense.

Colon and Big Perm Bernard- I expect a fat guy war between these two players. Colon has gained some confidence at left guard…With said confidence Colon can now play with a mean streak…Colon is limited by his short arms and big belly he is best in a phone booth playing rock um sock um robots. The player who wins this matchup could determine the winner of the game…Bernard can make plays when healthy; he is expected to play this week despite a quadriceps issue…If the Giants are forced to move Marvin Austin into the starting lineup the Giants could be in big trouble.

Pouncey- Be violent and stay with the double teams until the guard is getting movement at the point of attack.

Foster and Joseph- Many of you know I had a hard on for Joseph in college…The kid has developed into a very good pro player. I have a very bad feeling about this matchup. Joseph is every bit as strong as Foster…Joseph is far more athletic and technically sound. I don’t expect the Steelers to have much success running at Joseph. Foster has to play with a mean streak and attempt to pound Joseph into submission every single run play. The Giants lack depth and talent at defensive tackle...The Steelers must grind down the interior of the Giants defensive front…Every play must be a war.

Adams and Tuck- Welcome to the NFL Mr. Adams…Meet Justin Tuck. The media will have you believe Justin Tuck is the second coming of Bruce Smith…Justin Tuck does everything perfect…He plays with a great motor, perfect hand placement, and the proper pad level. If Mike Adams comes off the ball and plays his game he will beat down Tuck…Tuck cannot hold up at the point of attack against monstrous offensive tackles…Mike Adams must play like a monster in this game. The key to the Giants run defense is the alignment of the defensive tackles…They shade the tackles away from the center…They want to force the offensive tackle to down block with the guards at the point of attack matching up tight ends on the defensive ends. Colon and Foster will be keys this week…They need to handle Bernard and Joseph without much help. I expect the Steelers will use Pouncey’s athleticism and Redman’s running style to attack the Giants defense in the A gaps to force the defensive tackles alignment back inside. I believe the Steelers offensive line has the ability to win matchups and control this front 4 in the run game.

Miller, Paulson and Pope will have a variety of blocking assignments in this game. The Steelers tight ends will be asked by design to down block on the Giants defensive ends…JPP is slow to read and react to down blocks…Justin Tuck is not. I believe the Steelers tight ends have a decent chance of success blocking against JPP; Justin Tuck on the other hand is a big task which I doubt will work. Strong side outside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka is a former defensive end who plays the run like a beast…The Steelers tight ends will struggle to block him at the point of attack…Kiwanuka will make bad reads and take false steps in the run game…He will run himself out of plays and into blocks. Weak side linebacker Mike Boley lacks the foot speed that once made him special…I believe the Steelers can have success running the ball at him if the Steelers offensive line can limit penetration.

Jonathan Dwyer, Isaac Redman and Rashard Mendenhall are all injured…I expect Redman and Dwyer play this week…I expect Mendy sits until the Chiefs next week. The NFL is a war of attrition; the Steelers will need all three backs at various points this season. This week will be Redman’s chance to shine and I expect he does…The Steelers best chance of running the ball is straight line down the Giants throats. The strength of the Giants run defense is on the edges…Redman and his bowling ball straight ahead style could be the perfect weapon against this defense. Dwyer is a bull in a china closet if said bull had sweet feet and a nasty stiff arm. Dwyer will get his carries and he will have some success…He must attack the hole before the jump cut. I don’t expect much in the run game from Batch…Rainey with that nasty speed is always a threat to score when he touches the ball…The Giants defense is not exactly fast if Rainey gets an inch he could take 80 yards. Will Johnson my man…If every Steelers player had your heart this team may be undefeated…Johnson will be asked to run through Giants middle linebacker Mark Herzlich…Johnson will give everything he got…Johnson will never be a quality ISO blocker he has begun doing just enough to get his guy blocked and that’s a win in my book.

The Giants secondary is very active in the run game…Manny Sanders and Cotchery are both very under rated blockers…Mike Wallace’s 4.25 40 makes him a weapon in the run game…AB is the hardest working player on the field…His feet and mouth never stop going…AB is a very willing blocker.

Running the ball in the NFL is an attitude…The Steelers must have a nasty attitude if they expect to have success.

Ben Ballin

Starks and JPP- I would be lying if I said I was not concerned…Maybe Starks does deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point…JPP is a freak rushing the passer. The keys for Starks are always the same…He must be quick out of his stance…He must land his punch and move his feet. The Giants will run line stunts…They will move around defensive linemen looking for favorable matchups. JPP can attack an offensive lineman with speed to the edge and quickness back to the inside…Starks must be technically sound if he expects to shut down the Giants pass rush.

Colon and Foster Vs Tuck, Bernard and Joseph-The Giants move around players so much this is the best way for me to break it down. Bernard and Joseph are both one trick power bull rushers…They come straight ahead with power and attempt to walk the guards into the quarterback’s lap. Bernard will throw the occasional swim or rip move to keep the guard back on his heels. Colon and Foster can handle both players if they are fundamentally sound. Justin Tuck scares the shit out of me rushing from the interior. Tuck is fundamentally perfect which allows him to play inside and rush successfully from the trenches. Tuck has an assortment of rush moves and counter moves…He sets up his rush…His play reminds me of Howie Long…He is violent with a purpose and fluid at the same time rushing the passer. Foster and Colon have to turn into counter punchers against Tuck…If they over commit he will make them look foolish.

Pouncey- Orchestrate the madness and punish someone. Head on a swivel find someone to hit.

Adams and Kiwanuka- Mike Adams has adjusted to the right side in pass protection. His foot movement went from decent against the Broncos to exceptional against the Skins. Adams has the physical tools and mental mind sight to be the best Steelers offensive tackle of the Super Bowl era. Adams must stay in shape…His ability to bend and move makes him special. Kiwanuka is a typical edge rusher…He does nothing great…He just keeps coming down after down. Adams and Tuck will be the matchup a good deal of the game and it’s a matchup that intrigues me…Adams moves and plays like a left tackle…He strikes like a right tackle…Ryan Kerrigan was stunned by Adams movement skills, technical improvement, and mostly by his power. I have so much respect for Tuck…If Adams shuts Tuck down, boys, the Steelers found a special player.

If the Steelers can protect Ben I like the matchups in the passing game. Boley and Herzlich will draw Heath Miller in coverage…Boley is a quality cover linebacker he is not the player he once was…He can play in space. Herzlich was exceptional against the pass at Boston College…I am having a hard time projecting success from the ACC to the NFL; what I do know is Heath Miller is a play making machine in Haley’s offense. The Steelers will look to draw Mathias Kiwanuka into coverage against Miller or Paulson in space….That is a major mismatch for the Steelers both Steelers tight ends are exceptional route runners. I believe the Steelers can also exploit the Giants linebackers with the running backs in the passing game...The Giants do not have a player on their defense that can run with Wallace, Sanders or AB in space…How are they going to cover Rainey out of the backfield? The Steelers need to stay out of obvious passing situations…They need to force the Giants to defend as much grass as possible.

Mike Wallace will draw Prince Amukamara…Mike Wallace will also draw safety help over the top because there is no way Prince can run with Wallace. Wallace wants the deep ball I expect he gets a few shots this week. The Giants will leave Prince out there with a single high safety…If Wallace is even he’s leavin’. I expect Wallace will continue to make plays in the ball control passing game….I love this matchup for the Steelers. AB will draw Corey Webster…Webster is a physical tough corner with decent ball skills…I expect AB eats him up with quickness and route running. Jayron Hosley and Mike Coe will split time at nickel back neither player has a chance of covering Manny Sanders…Sanders is a less clutch AB at this point. Sanders is super quick and runs great routes…He cannot allow plays to go through his hands. Giants SS Stevie Brown must have a cloverleaf, a rabbit’s foot, and some of that special FC bong resin for luck…The ball always finds him. Brown is a very average player who has been very lucky this season I expect the Steelers attack him with size (Miller Paulson) and Speed (Every receiver not named Cotchery) I also expect the Steelers to attempt to exploit Brown with Rainey in man coverage. Giants’ free safety Antrel Rolle is a less intelligent Ryan Clark at this point of his career…Clark makes plays because he is a football savant…Rolle takes false steps and is slow reacting to plays…He cannot cover the Steelers receivers in space

Ben protect the ball and your body….Do your thing.

If the Steelers can protect Ben this offense will hang some points

Giants Run Game

Keisel and Beatty- I am not and I have never been a fan of Will Beatty.  Beatty added size since his college days…He is nowhere near as athletic. I believe Keisel can make some plays against Beatty in the run game. Beatty is not very powerful at the point of attack…To be honest Beatty is similar to Starks in his temperament in the run game…Beatty wants to shield defenders away from the ball carrier…I believe Keisel is athletic enough to disengage and makes some plays in the run game.

Hampton Timmons and Foote Vs Boothe Baas and Snee- Casey must be allowed to come up field…He is a tone setter early in games. Snee cannot block Hampton without help at the point of attack. I expect the Giants attempt to run stretches and zone plays to get Hampton moving and cut back against his momentum…Timmons Foote and the defensive ends cannot allow that to happen…They must read the plays and tackle in space. The Giants guards are both excellent getting to the second level in the run game…Hampton and McClendon must force some double teams at the point of attack or they must make plays in the run game. Timmons and Foote have both struggled in the run game ; With Lamar Woodley missing this week the Steelers will need both to have excellent games against the run…They cannot miss tackles or over run plays.

Hood and Diehl-The Giants welcome back David Diehl to the starting lineup this week…I am surprised the Giants made the move to replace Sean Locklear. The Steelers are coming around to the fact that Hood really can’t play two gap. Hood can make plays when he is allowed to attack the line of scrimmage and beat blocks. Diehl before the injury was a just a guy at right tackle…He does nothing special…He is very solid and consistent. The Steelers need this matchup because Jason Worilds sucks against the run…If both Hood and Worilds struggle the Steelers will be gashed by the Giants run game.

James Harrison is the best outside linebacker in the NFL against the run. I understand most fans want gaudy sack numbers and I expect more from Harrison rushing the passer…Harrison’s play against the run has been excellent. Martellus Bennett and Adrien Robinson will attempt to block Harrison in the run game…Both players will get locked out and disposed of at the point of attack. As much as I love Harrison in the run game I fear Jason Worilds in the run game…I know Bennett will give Worilds fits in the run game…The Steelers caught a major break with Bear Pascoe’s ankle injury…Robinson is a decent blocker. The Steelers need a big game from the linebackers…This would be a great game for Jason Worilds to make me look like a fool…Worilds has talent…He needs to put it together and show it.

The Giants running backs are talented….Ahmad Bradshaw is dinged but very dangerous. Bradshaw is very elusive and does a great job of breaking tackles…I understand he is injured which will limit his ability to make plays…He has big time playmaking ability. Andre Brown is the Giants Isaac Redman he is a tough no nonsense runner who attacks the line of scrimmage with very bad intentions. Brown needs space to get started…He is not explosive. The Giants home run weapon David Wilson has struggled adjusting to the pro game…His talent is undeniable. All three Giants running backs have something in common. F-U-M-B-L-E. The Giants have a hammer in fullback Henry Hynoski…Foote or Timmons in the hole against Hynoski could be ugly for the Steelers.

The Giants wide receivers are very physical in the run game…They run block as good as any receiver group in the NFL. Ike and Lewis better be prepared to get hit in the mouth.

Ryan Clark’s return makes me smile. I am scared anytime Mundy or Will Allen step on the field.

The Steelers must eliminate the Giants run game…65% of the Giants passing game is built off play action.

Best Quarterback in the NFL my fat hairy ass

Deebo and Beatty-The Giants have done a great job protecting Eli. Will Beatty is a very solid pass protecting left tackle. For some reason I think Harrison is going to explode in this game rushing the passer…I admit I dislike Beatty and I could be overlooking his ability…Harrison is close to breaking out rushing the passer…He is getting healthy at the right time in my opinion. On paper and on film my musings seem foolish…Come 8 O’clock Sunday night we will see how foolish I am.

Keisel and Boothe-Once again on paper Boothe should shut down and dominate Keisel rushing the passer and I expect he does…I would not be surprised if the beard gets its whiskers up and deflects a ball or two…Eli has a bad habit of going ¾ on his release on mid-range passes…Deflections lead to turnovers in the NFL…The Steelers are bound to get some bounces this season. Keisel does have the ability to beat Boothe with quickness off the snap of the ball…Keisel was trying to time the snap count against the Skins last week…Keisel is due and he is a big game player.

Hood and Snee-Snee is one bad dude run blocking…He has one hole in his game and that’s pass protection. Snee is short and limited athletically…If Hood goes balls out rushing the passer…Spin move, swim move, rip, bull rush…If Hood uses his explosive ability he could give Snee fits rushing the passer. I hope and pray LeBeau allows Hood to hunt Manning. I expect the Steelers stick with a controlled rush because the Giants are fantastic with the draw and screen game…Hood at the very least needs to get his hands up in passing lanes to interrupt the Giants rhythm in the passing game.

Worilds and Diehl- Worilds can actually rush the passer from the left side of the defensive front. Diehl is a former left tackle who struggles with speed on the edge…I am freaking amazed the Giants benched Locklear. This is one of those spots where the game could be decided. Worilds has talent…He can fly up field and close the deal rushing the quarterback. Worilds is freaking awful against the run…He must do some damage rushing the passer.

The Steelers wave players must make a difference…Heyward McClendon and Woods must make some plays. The Steelers front seven will win or lose this game.

I believe the Steelers linebackers can take away the Giants secondary weapons in the passing game. Bennett and Robinson will struggle to beat Timmons Foote Harrison or Worilds in coverage. Jason Worilds is very under rated in coverage people under rate how fluid he is in space. I believe the Giants running backs will have to help in pass protection…I do fear the Giants screen game.  The Steelers must account for Hynoski in the passing game he does a great job as an outlet receiver. The Steelers must tackle in space and limit the yards after catch.

The Giants line up receivers all over the field. Nicks and Ike should be a favorable matchup for the Steelers. Ike can run with Nicks and stay in his back pocket. The Giants receiver who scares me the most is Victor Cruz…Cruz does most of his vertical damage out of the slot…Cortez Allen will be tested. Cruz does a great job locating and attacking the deep ball…If he does make a play on the ball Will Allen and Ryan Clark must make him pay the toll…I am willing to take 15 to separate the man from the ball…Only so many shots a receiver can take. Kennan Lewis and Cruz also concerns me…Lewis likes to play up in man trail technique…Cruz does a great job making plays on the deep ball. Lewis or Ike should have no problems shutting down Rames Barden or Reuben Randle…Neither player has the speed to run away from the Steelers corners. Dominick Hixon is a wild card…He could give either Steelers corners issues…Hixon manages to beat coverage and make plays. The Steelers will need Taylor, Lewis, Allen and Brown to play smart solid football in coverage. The Giants receivers are very talented they will make plays on the ball they must get drilled when they do. Ryan Clark and Will Allen will be in the cross hairs of Manning he loves to attack the middle of the field…The Steelers need great games from both players if they expect to limit this offense.

Eli Manning is a stud….He will make awful decisions under pressure. The Steelers must drill him legally or illegally. I believe the Steelers should shrink passing windows…I would play the corners up…I would make Manning hold onto the ball or make throws into tight windows…If you give Manning time and soft coverage’s he will light up this defense like a bong.

Special Teams

Discontinued still because the Steelers suck

Score

Steelers 31

Giants 27