View topic - SEAHAWKS GAME

[steelwest Profile]

Well, as an optimist, we can only look at last week as a total throw-out with some gaffes that maybe we can learn from. The Steelers showed up for boxing match ala Apollo Creed while the Ravens showed up as Clubber Lang determined to destroy whatever was in their way. The Ravens had an entire off-season of anger motivating them and they took advantage of all of it. Either we are going to have real problems this year or we need to write it off as a misadventure and look toward the intervening weeks until the next Ravens game as the learning process. The Steelers will either build from last week or become a roadside mess.
Good fortune shines on us this week as the 'Hawks come to town. This is one of the worst teams in the league as far as precision pass offense and thus should be tailor made for whatever defense we can muster. The Tom Brady pick-apart should be absent with Tavaris throwing. Instead, the Seahawks should try to rely on ball-control running which if the Steelers can stop anything, they can stop that. We will see.
On the other side of the ball, the offense needs to settle down and establish balance. We have more than enough skill positions to get a huge offensive performance -- but if you cannot block anyone, it does not matter what skill positions you have. It is unclear whether the new O-Line minus Colon and featuring a rookie, a cast-off, an injured center, a center playing guard, and another guard that just had his knee drained can block anyone. Reading that sentence almost gets one hoping for a reappearance of Essex or Ramon Foster. Almost, that is.
The key to the game will be the O-Line. Simple as that. If they block, and the skill players do not inexplicably drop the ball or throw it to the other team, then this should be a high scoring offense and likely a romp by double digits. However, that is just how it looks on paper.
On the field, it could be Ben running for his life, getting banged up, Mendehall finding few holes, and pass catchers missing the hot routes, etc. We could use a quick Antonio Brown slant and run early in the game to get us going. In fact, we could use more touches by him in general. Anyway, while I want to be a believer, I think this game will be closer than we hope and we may need to sweat it out in the end. Steelers 23 'Hawks 17. Yuck.

[Steel Holiday Profile]

The Stillers want to prove that they can be every bit as good as last year, or better. The defense has to be licking its chops at facing an unproven signal caller with the home crowd at its back... Harrison and Wood will get after the passer... Troy and Ike will both get picks... Timmons will be a tackling monster. I expect an intense and focused Pittsburgh team that's ready to put last week in the past.