Nine

I have read countless complaints about the coaching…Trust me I have no issues attacking the coaching staff of my hometown teams. Earlier this season we had numerous threads about the most important players on the team…The unanimous first and second choices were Ben and Troy. I admit James Harrison was a close third; I personally have a tough time throwing the coaching staff under the bus when the two best players on both sides of the ball were injured. I understand the time for excuses is over…The Steelers have backed themselves into a corner…They have to win out.

 

An interesting thing happens when someone is backed into a corner…They either fight or fold. I know some of you believe I am a blind homer who throws out needless clichés…My response to my critics is the same as Bobby Knight…Bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my ass.

 

This is what I know. The Steelers will win out…I don’t mean the regular season…I’m calling my shot once again…I’m saying the Steelers will win the whole freaking thing. Screw the Saints…Screw the Colts. When the snow begins to fall and the Christmas lights go up the boys in Black and Gold go to work.

 

Sometimes you just got to believe…The Steelers will win 9 games in a row starting with the Oakland Raiders. You think I am wrong…Wait and see…If you are with me…Grab a beer or a bong and enjoy the ride.

 

-Wide receiver Santonio Holmes caught only his second TD pass of the season Sunday night against the Ravens and his first since the opening game. WR Mike Wallace did not have a reception for the first time this season

-In the Last meeting The Raiders had two interception returns for touchdowns to beat the Steelers, 20-13; Oakland has a 12-11 edge all time in the series, including the playoffs.

-The Steelers own the best home record in the NFL 220-84-1 since 1970. Pittsburgh is 35-10 (.778) at home over the past five-plus seasons, including a 4-1 record in 2009.

-The Steelers rank # 1 in rushing defense, The Raiders rank 31st out of 32 teams. The Steelers have 35 sacks, which rank first in the AFC and second in the NFL, Oakland is ranked 16th in the NFL with 24 sacks.

 

Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski is an improvement over JaMarucs Russell…That’s not saying much. The Raiders hope to pound the run and protect the football against the Steelers. If the Raiders are forced into throwing downs Gradkowski may lose his life in his hometown Sunday afternoon. The Raiders have an athletic offensive line who do a decent job in the run game…They struggle to protect the passer. The Raiders have explosive skill position players…The Steelers can not afford to make mental errors against this team…Blown gaps in the run game or blown coverage’s in the passing game could quickly lead to points for the Raiders offense. Once again the Steelers face another team who will have their Super Bowl…The Steelers defense must come out and set the tone…They must unleash the violence.

 

 

The Raiders move around the wide receivers…I do not expect the Steelers to matchup a cornerback with a particular wide receiver. Darrius Heyward-Bey was the Raiders first round pick in 2009…Bey is a talented long receiver with incredible speed…His route running is non existent…He couldn’t catch a cold….Bey could give Willie Gay fits in coverage; Gay is soft and kind of slow…Ike Taylor should have no problems shutting down Bey in the passing game. Chaz Schilens is built like a tight end and plays like one…He won’t threaten the Steelers defensive backs with much speed…He will use his big body to shield defenders away from the ball to make plays in the passing game…Once again I expect Taylor to have no problems with Schilens…Willie Gay could have some issues in coverage. As some of you can tell I have had enough of the Willie Gay experiment at cornerback; Gay does nothing well…He can’t run cover or catch…He is useless. The Raiders 3^rd and 4^th wide receivers Louis Murphy and Johnny Lee Higgins both are blazers…Both lack the fundamentals to be quality NFL wide receivers…I expect the Raiders to attempt to spread out the Steelers defense at times to exploit speed matchups against the under manned Steelers defensive back field… The Raiders have plenty of talented receivers…They don’t have a trigger man to deliver the ball. I have only one concern in this game…Gradkowski has the game of his life. The Steelers lack speed in the back half of the defense without Troy…Carter and Clark can’t run with NFL tight ends…The Raiders can put 4 players on the field who run sub 4.40’s…Its a legitimate concern boys. I love the effort and intensity both Carter and Clark bring…I believe both players can handle Raiders tight end Zach Miller in coverage…Miller is the Raiders most proven weapon in the passing game…He has the same struggles as Heath Miller…He has zero athleticism…He won’t out run many defenders in the NFL. The Raiders have a major weapon in running back Darren McFadden…I expect the Raiders to dictate matchups and force James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons into coverage against McFadden…McFadden is far too quick and athletic for either player to cover in space. I expect far less exotic blitz packages from the Steelers this week…The Raiders lack continuity or rhythm in the passing game…The Steelers exotic blitz packages leave defenders exposed in coverage…It’s a risk that doesn’t have to be taken…The Steelers can get the job done rushing the passer with 4 or 5 defenders.

 

The Raiders have a fierce group of running backs. Darren McFadden is the all purpose threat with the ability to score from anywhere on the field…Michael Bush is the big back…The hammer who grinds out tough yards…Justin Pooh Bear Fargas is a slasher with the ability to find a crease and attack the hole. The Raiders tight ends struggle to run block…I will be amazed if the Raiders can attack the edges of the Steelers defense. The Steelers sent a loud clear message to Lawrence Timmons last week when he was benched in the 2^nd quarter on obvious run downs…Timmons played the 2^nd half like his hair was on fire…I believe the Steelers have to send the same message to some other defenders(Willie Gay James Farrior Deshea Townsend). Success is measured by results not effort.

 

Raiders left tackle Mario Henderson is a decent left tackle…I think he will struggle big time against the Steelers in both the run and pass game. Brett Kiesel’s length and suddenness make him unique…You will find quicker and stronger defensive ends…You will not find many players who combine the two attributes better then Kiesel. Kiesel has learned to finish every play. James Harrison is going to destroy Henderson…Harrison’s motor never stops…Harrison can beat Henderson any way he wants rushing the passer…Harrison is not only quicker…I believe he is much stronger then Henderson at the point of attack….The biggest factor…Harrison is 5 foot 8 and plays the game 6 inches off the ground…You can’t block what you can’t touch. Raiders guards Robert Gallery and Cooper Carlisle will be forced to help center Samson Satele with Casey Hampton in the run game…The Raiders utilize a zone blocking run game…Hampton will walk the Raiders double team 2 yards in the back field…Hampton is the best nose tackle in the league. Gallery will have his hands full with Brett Kiesel rushing the passer…Kiesel may not record many sacks…He will get in passing lanes…Gradkowski has a low release point when he throws the ball…I would not be surprised if Kiesel tips a ball that ends up intercepted by Farrior or Timmons. Carlisle will face Ziggy Hood and Travis Kierschke in the passing game…Ziggy Hood played like a heaping pile of dog poo last week against the Ravens…I would bench him…I don’t believe the Steelers will. Hood can’t stand around playing patty cake…He needs to beat blocks and attack the line of scrimmage. I don’t expect much from the Steelers left interior pass rusher against the Raiders this week unless Nick Eason plays…Eason is non stop effort and hustle. Raiders right tackle Cornell Brown is a journeymen with very little ability. Kierschke should have no problems planting Brown 2 yards in the backfield on most run downs…I expect the Steelers to dominate the line of scrimmage the entire game. Brown better get a lot of help in pass pro this week…Lamar Woodley is playing like a man possessed.

 

I expect utter domination from the Steelers front seven this week.

 

Ben is the franchise…He is the straw that stirs the drink…He is the man. I rarely take things from a loss…The Steelers showed me something against the Ravens…They can run the ball when the defense knows the run is coming. The Steelers offensive line has gelled…They have become a strength instead of a weakness for this team. Rashard Mendenhall is a feature back…Love him or hate him he churns out yards for this offense…On another note I can give a rats behind about the spin move…As long as Mendenhall isn’t fumbling I don’t care if he duck walks 6 yards for the first down.

Coming into the season I would have listed the Steelers wide receivers as the strength of this team…I no longer feel that way…The Steelers receivers should be in the cross hairs of all Steeler fans…Hines Ward needs to shut his freaking mouth and play the game…Santonio Holmes should flex less and produce more…Mike Wallace has to find his balls…Wallace is fast and super talented…He is the definition of squat to pee. Limas Sweed is just a mess. If the Steelers wide receivers play to their potential this is the best team in the NFL…If they continue to be prima donnas looking to accumulate stats this team will continue to struggle. Talking about squatting to pee…Heath Miller you’re a word that rhymes with punt…What a waste of a player…Zero toughness or desire. To quote Steve Miller you took the money and run. Matt Spaeth is not much better. The Steelers need Miller Ward Holmes Wallace Johnson Spaeth Parker Sweed to make plays. I will close my bitching with one simple comment…This team will win the Super Bowl this season because of 1 player…Ben…Ben will take this team on his back and close the deal…Even the Steelers can’t blow 17 point 4^th quarter leads.

 

The Raiders have some talented corners…Nnamdi Asomugha is the best corner in the NFL even in a down season(Darelle Revis thinks I’m a fat prick for not giving the home town kid some love)… Asomugha will virtually eliminate Santonio Holmes from the passing game…Holmes will make some plays…I don’t believe Holmes will make game changing plays. That’s a credit to Asomugha’s skill set…Not an attack on Holmes ability or effort. Hines Ward has a tough matchup with Raiders corner Chris Johnson…Johnson is a big athletic corner who won’t back down from any receiver…I expect Johnson to spend most of the game in Ward’s back pocket limiting his production. I believe the Steelers can exploit the Raiders nickel and dime backs in the passing game…Stanford Routt can’t open his hips and cover…Routt can run with Wallace straight line…The Steelers should try Wallace on a few double moves, crossing routes, or even a post corner. This would be a perfect week to work Limas Sweed into the passing game…Tomlin was all over Miller on the sidelines against the Ravens…I would replace Miller with Sweed in most passing formations…The bunch formations become deadly with 3 quality vertical receivers in the pattern. The Raiders safeties can run…They don’t cover or tackle very well...Miller will have opportunities to make plays…He needs to bury his head into a safeties chest and run him over...Show some pride. The Steelers quarterbacks refuse to hit the running backs on check downs…Mendy Parker Moore and Johnson can make plays if given the opportunity. The Raiders still play prehistoric coverage packages…They will go cover 1 or cover 0 and challenge teams to beat them over the top…Ward and Miller can’t beat coverage….Sweed and Wallace can beat coverage. I hope Arians is finally seeing the same things I’m seeing…Matchups and players win games.

 

I believe the Raiders can and will limit the wide receivers in the passing game…I believe the Steelers complimentary players could have a field day in the passing game…Miller Spaeth Johnson Davis Mendenhall Moore and Parker all have favorable matchups…Its Arians job to exploit these matchups…Its Ben’s job to find which one is open…It’s the receivers job to finish plays. The Raiders safeties and linebackers can not check the Steelers complimentary players.

 

 

Max Starks and Richard Seymour should be a fun matchup in the run game. I expect Seymour to humiliate Starks early in the run game…That will wake up Starks for the rest of the game…I do not expect Starks to steam roll Seymour in the run game…I do expect Starks to win hand position and the leverage battle which enables him to wall Seymour away from the ball carrier. Seymour won’t sniff Ben rushing the passer…Seymour doesn’t have the quickness to beat Starks to the edge…Starks doesn’t get beat up his chest by power rushers. Starks crumbled Ngata a few times against the Ravens…If the Raiders attempt to sneak Seymour inside…Starks will crumble him as well. Kemo should return this week…Kemo is very underappreciated…His ability to move that huge body pulling is the key to the Steelers run game. Kemo draws Tommy Kelly…Kelly is a big guy with decent movement skills…Kelly is often compared to Albert Haynesworth; I could not disagree more with comparison...Kemo won’t maul Kelly in the run game…Kelly has enough length to keep Kemo out of his kitchen…Kelly does not have the lower body strength to hold the point…I expect Kemo like Starks to control the matchup…Not dominate the matchup. Kelly is nothing special rushing the passer…Kemo should shut him down. Justin Hartwig will spend his afternoon chasing Kirk Morrison in the run game…Hartwig is under rated at the 2^nd level…The Raiders like to cover the center with a quick pass rusher…I expect Tommy Kelly and Gerard Warren will alternate snaps against Hartwig at times…One of Hartwig’s strengths is his quick pass set after snapping the ball…I expect Hartwig to have some issues with the pass rush…Most centers will. Trai Essex should own Gerard Warren…Essex struggles with size and power…He excels against finesse and quickness…Warren is a quick penetrating one gap tackle…Essex is a quality technician…He should shut him down. I expect Greg Ellis to miss this week’s game against the Steelers…Ellis had arthroscopic knee surgery a few weeks ago and his knee continues to swell. Jay Richardson will replace Ellis…Richardson is the type of player who traditionally gives Colon fits…Colon will win the matchups in a phone booth in the run game…I have some minor concerns in pass pro.

 

The Raiders front seven is a mess…Thomas Howard was benched in favor of Trevor Scott. Kirk Morrison needs shoulder surgery…The Raiders don’t have a safety on the roster who can tackle. The Raiders have a ton of bodies they wave in across the defensive line…None of them can play the run…None of them actually have any interest in playing the run. I expect the Steelers to pound the shit out of the Raiders.

 

The Steelers suck. The Raiders have a huge advantage.

 

Steelers-35

Raiders-9