Before you can win a game, you have to not lose it.

Well ladies and gentlemen the Steelers were sent home with no Rocky Mountain high on Sunday evening…Peyton Manning dissected the defense…The offense resembled a smorgasbord of poo. Steelers’ nation is rocked, against the ropes, and looking for answers; unfortunately, I don’t have many answers for you….Though I lack answers I believe I can lay blame. I will start at the top with Mike Tomlin surprising to some of you I don’t lay much blame at Tomlin’s door step, yet…I question the Steelers game plan on both sides of the ball…I believe he has to allow his coordinators to do their jobs for now. Dick LeBeau is taking a beating and I believe it’s somewhat unjust…Players were put in position to make plays and failed to do so. Todd Haley wow…I cannot say I am surprised. The Steelers have a hard headed owner who has a mental image of what the Steelers should be…Rocky Franco Iron Mike Bennie Cunningham Brown Kolb…Art remembers the 70’s he was doing coke, he did not look like Eddie Munster, he did not need medicine to make his PP hard…Those were his glory days…The Steelers were on top. Well that was 40 years ago…The times and the rules have changed. The Steelers offense should be and must be Ben-Centric…Ben is the proverbial straw that stirs the drink. He is the strength of the offense. The 2^nd most dangerous element of the Steelers offense is the young money crew. The Steelers have elite talent in the passing game; it must be the focal point of the offense. Position coaches I do not like James Daniel or John Mitchell…I believe the Tight ends and defensive linemen have been major disappointments over the past few seasons. That leaves the players…Heath Miller looked great in the passing game I think he is off the juice. He is playing at 240 pounds this season…He was awful run blocking…Leonard Pope should’ve been cut yesterday for his performance in the Broncos game. Lawrence Timmons is the worst starting inside linebacker in my lifetime for the Steelers I could go on and on…The Steelers played like shit against the Broncos…They could have easily won that game…So the sky is not falling…The Steelers season is not over.

I hate the Jets…Not as much as the Ravens…More than any other team in the league. I hate everything about this team…I hate Sanchez, I hate Nick Mangold and his obese sister, I hate Bart Scott, I even hate Darelle Revis despite his Pittsburgh connections…Santonio Holmes is tough for me to hate…That Super bowl trophy he got us is gathering dust hate him. The Jets had a perfect storm last week against the Bills…I expect a passionate Steelers performance in front of the best fans in the NFL….Hopefully no one takes the field in a quest to end Todd Haley…The perpetrator may not encounter much resistant from the team in black and gold.

Jets on offense

Mark Sanchez is a decent quarterback he is not Peyton Manning. Sanchez is good enough to beat the Steelers if he has time and a big window to complete balls into. The Jets offense is fairly simple to figure out…The Jets have 3 major weapons in the passing game…Santonio Holmes Stephen Hill and the injured Dustin Keller. The Jets want to establish a power running game Shawn Green.  After they establish the run they will attack vertically in the passing game. The Jets may be without Jeremy Kurley a water bug who can make plays with the ball in his hands including special teams. If the Jets offense is more physical than the Steelers defense hope for a shootout…I question if the Steelers offense can keep pace.

Run game Matchups

Keisel on Ferguson- Keisel is stealing a pay check at this point. He needs to shave his beard and find his balls. Keisel was terrible against the Broncos. Aaron Smith with one arm and one leg never put that type of performance on tape…Same thing with Kimo. I was embarrassed to be a Steelers fan watching Keisel play against the Broncos. Hopefully the coaches also noticed I am sure they did. Keisel at his best has one gear- overdrive.  He won a job in this league by playing every down like it was his last…He must have a better mental approach to the Jets game. Ferguson is average at best in the run game. Keisel must force stalemates and hold his gap in the run game…I would not be surprised to see Keisel benched at some point this season in favor of Cam Heyward. Keisel looked old, dumb, and slow against the Broncos…He may be done.

Slauson Mangold Moore on Hampton Timmons and Foote.- Casey Hampton and Larry Foote played solid games against the Broncos…Lawrence Timmons sucks and there is no hope for him…He is a turd. Hampton will force the double teams in the run game…Mangold cannot handle Hampton without help; Hampton destroyed blocking schemes in the previous meetings. Moore and Slauson are average athletes and slightly below average starters…Larry Foote was a stud against the Broncos…He played with passion and fire the Steelers will need a similar performance this week. Lawrence Timmons is just useless if he has any defenders left I challenge you to count the missed tackles by Timmons in the Bronco game…I will give you a hint it’s a double digit number.

Howard and Hood- Key matchup in the game IMO…Howard did a great job against the Bills. Howard is a massive right tackle who is also very dirty…He struck the Bills defenders with the most devastating punch I’ve seen in a long time…Howard buckled Mario Williams several times with the punch to the face mask…It’s not a legal tactic and Williams bitched after the game…Hopefully the NFL takes notice. Ziggy Hood has a good chance in this matchup if he plays low, and utilizes his quickness and explosive ability to make plays…Hood has little to no chance of winning a phone booth street fight with Howard.

Keller and Cumberland on Woodley and Worilds- The Jets rarely run behind Keller…Keller offers little run blocking he is also dealing with a hamstring injury. Cumberland is a massive fat body run blocker the Jets love to run behind. I will keep this simple. Woodley and Worilds must abuse Keller in the run game…If Keller is the weak side blocker plant him on his ass every play and chase the ball. Cumberland is going to win some matchups at the point of attack against both Worilds and Woodley…Cumberland is listed at 260 he weighs closer to 290…He has one job destroy the point of attack...Worilds and Woodley must hold the point and contain the edge.

The Steelers front seven must play with fire in their bellies. They must play fast and hard…The Jets are slow and lethargic across the offensive front they are also massive and will win matchups if they can dictate the terms of engagement.

The Jets running backs can make plays if the holes are there…Shawn Green is a fumbler…He runs very hard until he takes a shot…After he takes a shot he will tip toe through holes. Joe McKnight is more flash than substance…He can make plays in space…He can score from anywhere on the field…He needs space to be successful if things are clogged up he will bounce the ball to the edge. Bilal Powell is another big bruiser…He reminds me of Jonathan Dwyer…Under rated runner…Skills in the passing game. The terminator John Connor is a classic wrecking ball fullback my hope is he meets Timmons in the hole and both players are injured…It’s a win win for the Steelers. I would prefer Brandon Johnson at inside backer over Timmons…And yes I did just cheer for a Steelers injury in my pre game article…Timmons is that bad.

Holmes and Hill are both quality run blockers….Taylor and Lewis better be prepared to battle. I would not be surprised if things got ugly outside….When I say ugly I mean fists flying. I expect both Ryan Clark and TP start this game…TP is fighting a calf injury....I will be shocked if the mad man does not play. Clark must drop the hammer early and often…Set the tone for the defense.

If the Jets run the ball on this defense they deserve to win.

Passing Game

Worilds on Ferguson- Jason Worilds is a slippery rusher…He can dip his shoulder and duck under offensive linemen similar to the Von Miller sack against Adams on Sunday. Ferguson is going to shut down and eliminate Worilds rushing the passer. I understand James Harrison says he is going to play…I don’t buy it…I believe he is shut down until after the bye week. Worilds needs to use his speed and quickness…Two quality rushes can change the game.

Keisel on Slauson- This is a matchup the Steelers need. On paper this a matchup I should love for the Steelers…After watching the lethargic performance from Keisel against Beadles last week I have little faith Keisel will offer much rushing the passer…I would not be surprised if Heyward has some success against Slauson. Heyward has just enough quickness and strength to beat Slauson a number of ways rushing the passer…The Steelers need interior pressure this is a matchup the Steelers really need…Hopefully I am right about Heyward and wrong about Keisel.

Hood on Moore- This is a matchup I expect the Steelers dominate. Moore is very average and small. Hood should be able to abuse him with power and speed…Hopefully Hood ignores everything Mitchell told him about rushing the passer…Hood just needs to finish. I actually like Steve McClendon in this matchup as well…I think McClendon’s strength and drive will allow him to bulrush Moore into Sanchez’s lap.

Woodley on Howard- I love this matchup as much as green and head. Howard is a beast when attacked with power…Woodley is going to eat this big son of a bitch for dinner. Woodley plays 6 inches off the ground…Howard at 6-8 is going to struggle to land that big punch…Woodley is going to school him. The Bills have no quality rushers off the edge…The Jets don’t either. Howard is going to be tested for the 1^st time this year…Woodley will have at least 1 sack in this game…If the Steelers limit the Jets run game and force them to pass Woodley will have at least 3 sacks. As Steelers fans we’ve seen our massive tackles exposed by speed and quickness off the edge…I expect the Jets fans become familiar with that feeling around 7 O’clock Sunday night.

I believe the Steelers pass rush will be dominant at all levels if they eliminate the run game.

Larry Foote is not asked to cover often…He is a decent pass rusher…The Steelers need a little bit more. Lawrence Timmons sucks in coverage…He cannot beat a back rushing the passer and he is a poor tackler in space…Basically he is useless. The Jets utilize the backs in the passing game as check downs…Greene is useless in the passing game…He is a poor blocker and he struggles to catch the ball. Joe McKnight and Bilal Powell both struggle as blockers…Both are quality route runners and threats in the passing game. Dustin Keller looked awful against the Bills…The hamstring injury robbed him of his quickness and speed…I still view Keller as a major threat.

Ike Taylor will draw Steven Hill…Hill is very raw and nowhere near the player Megatron or Thomas were coming out of Ga. Tech. Hill is a big body who can run…He has no issues with a little bumping, grinding, and pushing down field. Taylor will be up to the task…He actually played pretty well against Thomas last week. K Lewis will draw Santonio Holmes…The matchup scares the shit out of me as well. Holmes is fantastic with the ball in his hands…He is a natural playmaker. K Lewis will play off and try to keep plays in front of him…I see two saving graces in this matchup…Lewis is a very good tackler….Sanchez is going to be forced to throw the ball quickly to that side of field or Woodley is going to end his night. Jeremy Kurley has back issues if he plays he is a major threat Cortez Allen or Curtis Brown must force him to beat tight coverage….Kurley needs space to operate and get open. Chaz Schilens doesn’t concern me in the least. I hope TP plays and is close to 100%...Everyone knows what he brings to the table. Ryan Clark is the lynchpin of this defense…He brings the swagger…The attitude.

I almost forgot if and when Tim Tebow steps on the field…Drill him…Fuck him up. Mark Sanchez has the duck and cover gene…Neil O’Donnell also had the same gene…When times get tough…The pressure is on…Sanchez wants the ball out of his hand.

Steelers On Offense

Hopefully this week the Steelers have a better game plan on offense. I touched on the Steelers and Haley on offense in my opening. The Steelers need to put points on the board…The Steelers need to utilize the best players on the team….IMO that’s Ben and the Young Money Crew. The Steelers have to show the threat of the run; when teams have less than eight men in the box…Otherwise chuck the ball all over the field.

Run Game Matchups

Starks and Wilkerson- I thought Mo Wilkerson was a bum coming out of Temple…I still believe Wilkerson is a bum. For the 1^st time in years I believe Max Starks played with a mean streak last week. I don’t know what happened but Starks finished blocks with bad intentions in the 2^nd half. The Steelers need Starks to get some movement at the point of attack on Wilkerson. Wilkerson is not big, strong, or explosive…If Starks can turn Wilkerson away from the ball carrier and move him a foot that’s a win for the Steelers. If Wilkerson can stand Starks up and get a stalemate in the hole that’s a win for Wilkerson. I expect the Jets run multiple line stunts and games at the Steelers offensive line…Sound footwork and working in unison could lead to some monstrous holes…If the offensive line is fat and lazy with their footwork the Jets could blow up a ton of plays in the backfield.

Colon Pouncey Foster on Po’Uha Scott and Harris- Pouncey can handle the fat Poly without much help in the run game…Foster or Colon should be able to step down punch Po’Uha and hunt Scott or Harris at the 2^nd level. The Steelers attempt to get too cute and trick people…I don’t believe it’s necessary. Willie Colon had some issues in the run game…Most of the issues were due to Colon being a dumb son of a bitch. Colon stayed on double team’s way to long which allowed the Denver linebackers to step in and fill holes…Physically Colon looked pretty decent in the run game. Mental errors can be quickly solved…I think Colon will be fine at left guard he may take some time to adjust because he is borderline retarded. I would love to attack Foster about the migraines and I would have prior to the onset of my wife getting debilitating migraines which left her unable to talk or process information…The big man will get a pass from me. Foster is massive and he plays with bad intentions…The Steelers will need Foster to be a nasty force in this game…The Steelers need a linemen to wreck defenders…Foster seems to have the disposition to be that guy….I will take the 15 yards if Foster sends the message correctly.

Gilbert on Devito- Marcus Gilbert is a pussy. I have zero respect for the man. If you look at what 7 has played through…If you think about what 92 43 34 go through to be available for games you see Gilbert barely tweak his knee and he is done for the game. Lawrence Timmons sucks…He plays for his guys every week…He battles…He may suck…The effort is always there. I had major issues with Gilbert last year…People who say Max Starks is soft I laugh at…Marcus Gilbert is soft and unreliable. Gilbert should beat this fat kid up and down the field…I doubt he does. Devito is Chris Hoke II…He just works and battles like he is playing his last down of football…Devito does not have the strength to anchor against bigger stronger linemen…Devito is engulfed by down blocks. If Gilbert doesn’t sprain his twat he could have a quality game against the workmen Devito…If Gilbert gives his typical pussy effort he will be embarrassed.

Heath Miller Leonard Pope and David Paulson may be the worst group of run blocking tight ends in the NFL. Miller has shrunk I have my suspicions why…Miller looked very dangerous in the passing game so I actually will cut him some slack in the run game. The Steelers should bring in Mike Adams to play the 2^nd tight end…He is every bit as mobile as Pope…Pope was the Steelers worst player on the field against the Broncos…He should have been cut in the locker room. David Paulson tries real hard he is so physically limited he just can’t block anyone. The Jets outside linebackers are far from great against the run. Bryan Thomas flies up field to attack the passer…He will run himself out of plays. Calvin Pace just sucks against the run…He is built like Stevenson Sylvester just taller…Pace plays upright and gives away his numbers in the run game. The Steelers have little to no chance of running the ball outside because they do not have a tight end who can hook the edge…The best hope for the Steelers tight ends is the Jets over aggressiveness…The Steelers hope the Jets blitz themselves out of plays.

I do not expect Revis to play. Antonio Cromartie wants no parts of the run game. The Steelers wide receivers are under rated run blockers…I wish the tight ends displayed ½ of the effort. Laron Landry is a dirty player…The Steelers need to crank him in the run game to cool his ass off.

I expect Mendy plays and stars this week. Isaac Redman is a poor man’s Bam Morris. Jonathan Dwyer has potential as a change of pace back. I wish I could combine the best parts of Mendy’s game with the best part of Dwyer’s game…You would have the perfect back. The running backs must protect the ball and attack the hole.

The Jets move defensive linemen and linebackers around looking for the best matchups.

Passing Game

Starks and Thomas- The Jets will roll six different rushers I expect Starks sees Thomas and Wilkerson the most. Max Starks is not pretty in pass pro he just manages to get the job done. Wilkerson brings an explosive quickness element he moves pretty well for a 310 pound man…Coples is very long and athletic he is a far better rusher from the inside. Thomas is a speed rusher who will attempt to guess the snap count and run the arch. If Starks gets off the ball he wins most matchups. I expect the Jets blitz smaller players off the edge to test Starks mobility…Ben must read the blitz and hit the hot receiver. Starks will not kick slide and pick off a corner or safety coming off the edge.

Colon and Coples- This matchup scares me. Colon is not a great technician…Coples is very long and quick…He is the type of player who can give Colon fits…Colon must get off the ball and into his pass set…He cannot reach or lunge at Coples he must simply absorb the rush and re- anchor.

The Steelers must learn to pass off rushers…The key is simple…Do not give up your inside gap and always pass off rushers inside out. The reason most teams do not stunt a ton in today’s NFL is simple defenses can be gashed on the ground or in the air. The entire week the Steelers should have worked on line stunts. I question if Pouncey and Colon are intelligent enough to recognize what defenses are trying to do. The Steelers must fix this problem…I expect a heavy dose of line stunts with blitz packages behind it from the Jets…If the Steelers pick it up big plays will be had.

Foster and Wilkerson- When the Jets go to the nickel and dime they slide Wilkerson inside over the right guard…They feel Wilkerson is far more athletic than most right guards and he can create pressure with speed and quickness. Foster does not look the part…He is actually pretty damn good in pass pro when he knows who to block. Foster does a wonderful job of absorbing a rush and counter punching…If Foster is not beat off the ball cleanly he doesn’t get beat in pass pro. The key for Foster is getting his jumbo ass out of his stance and into his pass set.

Gilbert and Pace- Marcus Gilbert took my wrath in the run game. Gilbert from a talent and tools perspective is a stud…He can dominate any type of blocking scheme. He is strong enough for a man on man power blocking system… Gilbert is mobile and agile enough for a zone blocking system. Gilbert showed signs of improvement in pass pro…I think he is close to being real good in pass pro. He needs to get the mental part of the game. Calvin Pace is a bulldog…He just keeps coming and coming and coming…He is not fast quick or explosive…He is very smart and he knows how to set up his rush. Gilbert must own this matchup for the Steelers.

Sexy Rexy won’t be able to help himself…He is coming after 7 with double barrel fire. Ben has to read the blitz and go hot at times…If the Steelers pick it up…Ben must make them pay down the field. I swear to little baby Buddha if Haley tries to run the ball into 9 man fronts I may whack him out myself…If HN doesn’t beat me to it.

David Harris may be able to cover Heath Miller…I don’t know if the Jets have another defender who can handle him…Calvin Pace maybe? Miller looked great running routes against the Broncos. Pope is useless in the passing game. I would prefer David Paulson to see more time over Pope…Paulson is an actual threat in the passing game. Will Johnson needs to be used more in the passing game. Johnson is a poor blocker…He can run away from linebackers in coverage. The Jets will struggle to cover Mendy, Dwyer and especially Chris Rainey in the passing game. Haley’s best matchups this week and every week will be in the passing game. The Jets linebackers are below average in coverage…I believe the Steelers will catch the Jets in some man coverage’s and the backs will make some big plays in the passing game.

Wallace will draw Cromartie…I expect the Steelers rock Cromartie to sleep with deep comebacks the short to intermediate routes…I expect Wallace will get some vertical shots in this game…They may not come early. If Rexy has the hair on his nut sac to play Cromartie up in bump coverage all bets will be off…I expect the Steelers try him early and often vertically. Since Revis looks to be out Kyle Wilson will draw AB…AB is going to take him to school running routes. Wilson has stiff hips…Brown should eat him up. Wilson also struggles to track the deep ball…I would not be surprised if the Steelers try Wilson vertically early in the game. Ellis Lankster who I had no clue was still in the NFL will draw Manny Sanders…Sanders is good enough to start for most teams…I love the matchup. The Jets brought in Laron Landry from the Redskins…Landry no longer runs sub 4.3…He can still make plays on the ball.  Yermiah Bell and Eric Smith split time at the other safety spot…Both have limited ranges…They will make plays in front of them.

Ben must read the blitz and deliver the ball to the correct receiver…Easier said than done. Ben cannot throw stupid interceptions and the receivers cannot leave Ben out to dry.

The Steelers will win this game if they attack the defense. Attacking a defense has nothing to do with running the ball or kicking ass…Attacking a defense is scoring touchdowns and leaving them thinking…What the fuck just happened.

Mendy is far more of a threat than any back on the roster. YMC+ Rainey + a slimmer rejuvenated Heath Miller=Throw the fucking ball until the defense backs out of the box.

Special Teams

Both teams have dangerous return games. I think the Steelers have a slight advantage in the kicking game because Butler is a stud.

Score

Steelers 23

Jets 21

I would not be surprised if the Steelers hang a nasty ass whipping on the Jets. I also would not be surprised if the Jets beat the Steelers ass…I have no clue or read on this Steelers team yet.