Phantom's Keys for Stillers-Pats
Here are (3) or so keys for Monday's game:
1. Cowher gets 'em ready for Monday Night. Cowher has constantly
failed to get 'em ready for openers. Push, I guess.
2. Last year, the Steelers had few glaring weaknesses on defense.
In fact, they had just (1) that being an utter inability to cover
TE/H-backs. God knows, neither safety did the job; in '01, said coverage
duties normally fell to (1) of the primary rushers (Gildon, Bell, Porter),
usually Joey. Even when this was not a coverage mismatch, offenses gained
an advantage by reducing the Stillers pass rush.
In '02, Farrior may get the nod, at least in the base. That's a good
thing; Farrior is no rush guy but he is, or should be, athletic enough to
cover. We'll see: the Pats brought in (2) FA TE and drafted Graham in the
1st. This troika effectively replaces their '01 duo of Rutledge and
Wiggins. Since Brady can't throw out of his own shadow, I figure the Pats
to use multi-TE, single back sets often. We'll see how the B&G
responds.
3. The Steelers won't be able to run the ball. Seymour vs. Ross,
advantage NE. However, the Steelers can, and should, take advantage of O.
Smith whether with Spike on the flag or Randle-El underneath when
Jones/Milloy/Green have to help Otis over the top. I hope to see Mularkey
flood Smith's side often.
That's some trio the Pats have at safety. Milloy, T. Jones and Victor
Green are all better than any safety the Stillers have. We saw
Milloy/Jones value last Jan. whether here or in NO; the Pats so-called heavy
nickel (with Green, (3) safeties) will be worth study. Bad match against
multi-WR packs but death on the run.
As for the Stillers at the safety spot; well (as predicted) Chris Hope just
stinks. One of my 3rd round safeties, Coy Wire has beaten out x-Ram Billy
Jenkins to start at SS in Buffalo. On the downside, my other guy (Dante
Wesley) is out with a hernia. So it goes...