Chiefs at Steelers Wrap-Up, Steelers at Falcons Preview

The 45-7 beating of the Chiefs was just what I needed to snap myself out of four weeks of deep depression. I think it�s the same for a lot of Steelers fans. It seems smarter to keep things in perspective, though. The Chiefs aren�t a very good team this year, and next week will present more of a test, although I�m not sure by how much.

I have little to say on the Chiefs game. The whole team was clicking, and there�s little to complain about. My biggest concern remains special teams. Holmes fumbled two times on punts, and that can�t be happening when the game is closer then 21 points. Haynes, too, fumbled again. Verron Haynes has a little know problem, and it�s fumbles. It�s already two on the season, and it�s a trend that has been seen in every year of his career (besides 05). I�ll be concerned about Parker when it becomes a chronic problem. His two yesterday matches his 3-fumble game against the Bengals. His fumbles just seem to come in batches.

I�m now convinced that McFadden should not be starting just yet. Townsend is just more reliable. McFadden is over-aggressive, as shown by his back-to-back flags yesterday (really should have been three). A lot of his best plays have been borderline, such as his break-up against Wayne. He�s out of position more then Townsend. He has a ton of potential, but right now he�s just not there yet. Other teams know it, and have been throwing at him more as a result.

I�ll reserve judgment on Arnold Harrison and Chris Kemoeatu. Both played well, but I won�t read too much into a blow-out loss against an inferior opponent. Next week will be much more of a challenge for the whole team, and especially these two.

Yesterday was perfect for the Steelers. Besides the blow-out of the Chiefs, both the Bungals and Ravens lost, and I have a feeling both are in store for a large slide.

Cinci is struggling, and will be tested a lot in the next few weeks. This team has come up short repeatedly against quality teams, and I think this trend will continue. They just aren�t very good. They will begin a brutal five game stretch after a soft start to the season:

Vs. Carolina

Vs. Atlanta

At Baltimore

Vs. San Diego

At New Orleans

There is no way Cinci gets out of this without three losses. And, while the schedule softens a bit in the next three weeks, they finish with a monster stretch against Indy, Denver, and the Pittsburgh. This is a team that, at best, could finish 10-6. That�s being generous.

Baltimore, already struggling on offense, is now without their savior Steve McNair. Kyle Boller was extremely lucky against the Panthers, having two of his passes deflected, and then caught for TD�s. Won�t happen again, if he has to play again. They, much like the Bengals, will hit a rough stretch of games after their bye:

At New Orleans

Vs. Cincinnati

At Tennessee

Vs. Atlanta

Vs Pittsburgh

At Cincinnati

I think they fair a bit better then the Bengals. They�re looking at three or more losses. Maybe four. Carson Palmer has historically, and oddly enough, dominated the Ravens, and I will be taking New Orleans and Pittsburgh over them. I could see them splitting with the Bengals, or perhaps beating the Saints, but not getting out of all these games. They will be a 10-6 team, but the Steelers have a great shot at taking this division.

Is it back to normal or not? The Falcons have a good secondary, and a pass rush that could be dominant, if their DL can stay healthy. It�s currently unknown who will be playing on their DL. Abraham, Karney, and Rod Coleman all left the game against the Giants in the second half. Abraham and Karney are a good combination of DE�s who can both create a pass rush. It�s one of the best DE tandems in the league when healthy. So, a lot of questions could be answered after this game, as long as they play. I don�t like Starks and Smith on Abraham and Karney in the pass game. Roethlisberger hasn�t been the same QB when facing a heavy rush like last year. Mainly, the blitz has given him and the line trouble this year, and he�s been unable to get out of the pocket like normal. The Falcons aren�t a heavy blitzing team, so that favors the Steelers.

When you play a conservative defense, as the Falcons do, you had better create pressure with your front-4, or be prepared to get shredded. I have a feeling they could get some pressure off the edge, but I don�t think they aren�t going to consistently get at Roethlisberger, and I don�t think they blitz heavily. The Jaguars didn�t blitz much normally, though, and that was changed when playing the Steelers. The key for the Falcons is to attack the Steelers.

Pass rush/protection decided everything here. The Falcons have a lot of talent in this secondary, and they make plays on the ball. Roethlisberger has to be smart with his throws and protect the ball above everything else.

Teams ran on these guys last year, and they�ve had success this year. While being second in the league against the run heading into the Giants game, they had the luxury of playing some teams at the right time, and others who just weren�t very good up front. Abraham is a one-dimensional speed rusher. The Steelers need the run to be there in this game. You can�t allow the Falcons to t-off on the Roethlisberger as the Chargers and Jaguars did. Marvel Smith will maul him all game long, and by the second half, there will be little resistance left. Faneca is the best lineman on the team, and the Steelers get to match him up on the Falcons best run stuffer in Grady Jackson. Faneca should win this one overall. Big guys like Jackson have a tendency to wear down, and miss a lot of plays.

The right side, though, has been the missing piece to the puzzle. Chris Kemoeatu has already become a legend on this site among some. This week will show how he stacks up against Simmons. I think Starks can hold his own in the run game (as in, not get thrown around).

The Falcons have undersized OLB�s. Brookings is once again playing out of position. If the Steelers get to the second level, they should dominate. Against a banged up DL, they had better. There is no reason the run shouldn�t be there.

I think it�s painfully clear Vick is not an NFL QB at this point. The guy will throw the ball anywhere but between the numbers. The concept of touch is lost to him. At the same time, he scares me in this game. I worry about how LeBeau will play him, and I worry about what he can do with his legs. Arnold Harrison will be tested to his fullest. He has to control the perimeter in this game, as does Haggans.

If you create pressure, create it from both sides of the field. Do not let this guy get out of the pocket and take off, and make sure you have someone over top to make sure he doesn�t kill them. I�m thinking Polamalu hear. I expect him to hover around the line of scrimmage, and spy Vick. The Falcons aren�t a threat to pass, but they sure know how to run. Keeping Polamalu up helps slow down Vick and Dunn.

Vick will hold on to the ball too long and make stupid decisions, but his line doesn�t help. They are not good at picking up the blitz, and I think LeBeau will get to Vick a lot. I think that the Steelers have enough athleticism on defense that they will contain Vick running. The key is everyone being in position.

I mine as well combine this with the last section, since I don�t even consider the Falcons a threat to pass. The Falcons will keep pounding the ball unless they fall behind big time. The Chargers and Jaguars both had success running later in the game. Fred Taylor found room cutting back, and the Chargers brought in a powerful runner like Turner. If they are in a position to consistently pound the ball, the Steelers may begin to bend. I expect the offense to move the ball well, though, and I think the Falcons are forced to abandon it by the second half.

Prediction: Steelers should dominate this team overall. A one-dimensional offense that can�t throw spells trouble. I think the offense has the ability to attack this team on the ground, and that will open up things in the air, even if Roethlisberger isn�t 100% yet.