Broncos at Steelers Wrap-Up, Saints at
Steelers Preview
By CK Stiller
The team is pretty much done, although not
yet mathematically. Essentially, the team needs to win out in the next 8 games,
and have Baltimore to lose 2 (not counting their losses to the Steelers in such
a scenario) to get into the playoffs. The Wildcard is almost an impossibility
at this point. Too many losses within the AFC to other Wildcard candidates to
hope to squeak in that way. I don�t think too many people needed to hear that.
It�s pretty obvious. I still hold out the slightest bit of hope, even if there
really isn�t a good reason to.
To sum up my thoughts on last week:
- Roethlisberger played good football. I
don�t care what anyone has to say. He threw three picks, so a lot of fans are
jumping on him after (as well as those in the media). Simms said something
smart after Roethlisberger�s second pick. Even though it was meaningless, and
really helped, and wasn�t a poor decision, the story would be spun the next
day. It was. Roethlisberger�s third pick came on a hail mary pass at the very
end. His first was costly to the team, and it gave up three points. However, I
am not sure how much blame to put on Roethlisberger. I was blaming him
entirely, but his explanation after the game (that he was throwing it away, but
couldn�t get it far enough), combined with what was shown on the field (him
telling Wilson he should have cut in), I am now thinking that this was Wilson�s
fault. Roethlisberger had his team in Denver territory on all but two drives in
the entire game, and only four were not in scoring range. That is a great day
for a QB. Even better, they finally used that no-huddle, and Roethlisberger
looked as good as any QB in the league while operating it.
- To quote Roy Williams, it�s stupid how
close this team was to scoring 40 points. With Ward�s fumble (7 points),
Wilson�s fumble (3-7 points), Reed�s missed FG, and Roethlisberger�s redzone
pick, this team left 16-20 points on the field against one of the leagues top
defenses.
- LeBeau is sleeping on the job. He
understandably came into that game prepared to, first and foremost, stop the
Denver run and make Plummer beat them. He blitzed and stacked the box, and
often left his corners on islands with Rod Smith and Javon Walker. However, he
did not adjust even after the Broncos continued to hit big plays. They were
throwing up jump balls when they saw one-on-one coverage deep. LeBeau just kept
blitzing and taking people out of coverage, even as Shanahan max protected his
QB and was taking shots down field. He has been out coached in games against
Atlanta, San Diego, and now Denver.
- Wilson should have been returning punts
sooner. Holmes had fumbled enough times to know what you get with him. I hope
Willie Reid is back next week. I am so tired of being scared every time special
teams steps on the field. I just always feel like a turnover is coming. That
said, the fumbles and picks will not last. This team will turn it around this
season, and re-establish themselves as a top team next season.
Steelers Pass Game
The Saints have 23 sacks this season
already. They have gotten 17.5 of those sacks from their DL. I worry about Max
Starks on Charles Grant. Starks has been more of a liability in pass protection
than anything. I trust Marvel Smith (who has been the best OL on the team, by
far) on Will Smith. Both DT�s can get after the QB, similar to what the Raiders
did. Kendrell Simmons has gotten Roethlisberger killed at times this season,
and Faneca has been weak in pass protection. Both need to step up this week.
That said, the Saints have a weak secondary.
They don�t play aggressive defense, and that�s because they really can�t. Their
secondary is terrible. They are giving up a generous 88.2 QB rating so far this
year, and have allowed 14 TD passes compared to just 4 INT�s. Their goal is to
play safe coverage and not let up too many big plays. It�s important that
Roethlisberger doesn�t try to force things down field, and works them
underneath. He has to pick his shots down field carefully.
I think Roethlisberger and the pass game may
find themselves in another high scoring affair. I see a big day from the
passing game.
Steelers Run Game
The Saints can stop the Steelers run if they
commit to stopping the Steelers run. I think they have good match-ups up front.
If the pass game clicks, the run game will open up. If the Saints decide to try
and make Roethlisberger beat them, and blitz and bring 8 in the box, then he
will. I expect Parker to have a nice day running the ball, as long as that pass
game does its job early. Offensively, this has the makings of a very good day
for the Steelers. Both aspects should be able to compliment the other, and
score with ease.
Let�s just hope the WR�s/RB�s can hold on to
the ball, and Roethlisberger remembers to throw to the guys in the black
jerseys. The Steelers matched-up well with a lot of people this year, but have
lost because of their own stupid mistakes. �I think Roethlisberger is playing at a high level, if he continues
what he did last week. That will make this offense go smoothly against a
defense that, man-for-man, can not play with the Steelers.
Steelers Pass Defense
I said I see a high scoring affair here, and
this is why. Townsend came out this week and questioned Dick LeBeau�s play
calling. He�s right, even if he shouldn�t be saying it. LeBeau is going to have
to play conservative defense here. Keep the safeties back in coverage, and pick
your spots when blitzing.
The Saints have a passing game that can work
you underneath with short passes. If you blitz, they love to throw out to their
backs in the flat. Reggie Bush has caught an incredible 46 passes, and even
Deuce McAllister has 17 of his own. They aren�t hitting big plays (avg. about 6
yards each), but they keep defenses honest. This has kept their mediocre
offensive line from being exposed. They�ve allowed a league low 8 sacks this
season.
The Saints have to love their match-ups
outside. Either Marques Colston or Joe Horn should be able to eat Townsend
alive. Colston could potentially give any Steelers defender fits. He reminds me
of a Terrell Owens. This is a tough, BIG (6�4, 231 lbs.), and fast WR. He loves
those fade routes that have been eating up the Steelers in the redzone, and he
already has 7 TD catches as a result. He will catch passes over the heads of
Steelers defenders, and has to be doubled at all times. �And besides the big play, he is great at
running those short slants (which should work great with the 10 yard cushions
LeBeau will be giving). �I have to
expect some of those quick passes to the flat, as well. Why not force the
Steelers DB�s to show they can tackle? Other teams have made big plays off it
this season. The only problem doubling him is that he has Joe Horn playing on
the other side of the field.
Sean Payton has put together one of the
toughest offenses in the league to defend. You can�t say enough about what this
guy has done here. Brees is getting most of the credit, but he went from a good
situation in San Diego to possible a better situation in New Orleans (who would
have thought that before the season?). He is a good QB, but he�s not anything
special. �The Steelers were able to
confuse him last year when he was a Charger. With the way this offense
operates, I think it will be hard to copy any such gameplan. Everyone is a
weapon in the passing game, and they still have a pretty good running game to
back that up. Accounting for everyone is difficult. I don�t think anyone has
really stopped this offense so far, and that includes the Ravens. If they don�t
kill themselves with stupid mistakes (like Reggie Bush�s in that Baltimore
game), they will move the ball and score points.
What worries me about this game beyond all
that? Payton knows Ryan Clark. �He was
the offensive coordinator of the Cowboys. I expect them to throw at Clark in
this game.
Steelers Run Defense
The good news for the Steelers pass defense
is that they have a front 7 that can stop the run on its own. McAllister is the
big runner on this team. He runs right down hill at you, and is having one of
his best seasons to date. Reggie Bush hasn�t produced much as a runner, but he
adds an extra dimension in the passing game that has allowed this offense to be
so successful. LeBeau needs to let the front 7 contain the run game on its own.
I have faith in it above all other parts of the Steelers run game. �Neither runner here scares me. The Saints may
have more success then normal running, but they won�t gash the Steelers.
Special Teams
If there�s a chance for Reggie Bush to make
big plays, it�s here on special teams. The Steelers are an absolute joke, and
ranked 31st in the league (somehow, the Cardinals have been worse).
I just pray that Cedric Wilson can hang on to the ball, or�god forbid, the
Steelers play their third round draft pick Willie Reid. Alls I ask is no big
plays given up by the special teams, but that seems too much. An already weak
unit last year, they have lost too many key components through injury and
roster management.
Prediction: Giving a score is a joke.
There�s no way to pick the outcome of a Steelers game, because you just don�t
know how many times they will shoot themselves in the foot this season. If the
team plays mistake free football, which they are capable of doing, then I like
their chances.
Final Score: Saints 27, Steelers 31