631 replies to this topic

[PrimeTime]

The notion of poor weather impacting the passing game and helping out the defense is a bit overstated. Sure, it can be tough to grip/catch a wet ball but I've heard defensive players and coaches talk about how poor weather can help the opposition. The WRs know their routes, when they're stopping, cutting, making their break; DBs obviously don't. Therefore it's much easier for WRs to stay on their feet on wet turf than DBs. Especially on that crappy surface at Heinz Field.

Weather aside, the formula for this game is pretty simple...1) generate pressure on Roethlisberger...2) tackle Antonio Brown in space...3) avoid turnovers on offense...3a) protect well to avoid the dreaded "strip-sack-fumble"...4) remember that Pittsburgh's secondary is pretty beat up too, so attack them.

I think we can win, however I don't expect us to. I don't like the matchup of the new age, high flying Steelers against our depleted secondary. However, if we can keep them at around 24 pts, we have a puncher's chance.

[bnickle]

I think Pitt is potentially the worst matchup out there for us in the AFC outside of maybe NE. They just know how to attack us. Now, the same can be said for us and them but we have that one huge issue with our secondary and Im not sure we can cover that up. 

[SportsGuy]

Well, Bill Simmons thinks we have no chance. So that means it's at least a 50/50 shot. Thanks Bill.

What a moron.

[SportsGuy]

Offensive players know what direction they are going...that's why it's not neccassrily an advantage.

Where the bad weather can help is if you are a speed player and the shitty turf slows you down...but that works on both sides.

It could also hurt our pass rush too.

[Chris B]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 10m10 minutes ago

The Steelers are hosting Ben Tate today as ESPN reported, with Le'Veon Bell likely out this week. He is the only RB they're bringing in

[esporter]

I like our chances more against them without Bell. I know he only ran for 20 yards earlier this year when they blew us out, but he's a huge threat as a receiver, particularly in the screen game.

 

I don't really think we're going to win, but it should be a good game. We never run the ball against them, but if Flacco can stay clean, we'll score. The secondary is playing a lot better (though still not great). Recall that the game @PIT was the reason like half our secondary got cut.

 

Assuming Bell doesn't play, I see another instant classic: 23-20 PIT. If he plays, make it 30-20.

[Chris B]

Jason La Canfora ‏@JasonLaCanfora 11m11 minutes ago

Steelers announce the signing of RB Ben Tate

[SportsGuy]

Jaws was just talking about how Ben is the #1 rated QB vs the blitz.

Pees has been beaten by teams getting the ball out quick and getting beat by the blitz.

I wouldn't have a problem with the occasional blitz but just allow the front 4 to get pressure and drop back 7 or 8 guys. This especially if Bell is out.

[BSLChrisStoner]

CSN Baltimore: Steve Smith quickly embraced rivalry with Steelers

http://www.csnbaltim...ivarly-steelers

[SportsGuy]

http://m.espn.go.com...toryId=12107347

[RShack]

CSN Baltimore: Steve Smith quickly embraced rivalry with Steelers

http://www.csnbaltim...ivarly-steelers

 

Well, of course he did... the teams' attitude towards the Steelers is the same attitude he has towards everybody he plays... he probably thinks it should be like that against every team, not just the Steelers...

[SportsGuy]

FO playoff odds has Pitt barely ahead of Balt...they have the Ravens ahead of Indy and Cinci.

Ravens also end up top 10 in all DVOA categories...5th overall.

Pitt finished 8th...defense was 30th and offense was second.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baltimore Sun: Hurst and Urschel to start

http://www.baltimore...0101-story.html

[JordanKough]

http://grantland.com...d-card-preview/

 

It's a good read and some good juicy stats in there I thought I'd pull out to share.

 

As good as Dumervil and Suggs were this season, Pernell McPhee also deserves some appreciation. While McPhee finished with only 7.5 sacks, he recorded a whopping 23 quarterback hits, tied for the seventh-most in football. He did that while playing in just 47.7 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps, splitting time with Dumervil, who had 26 hits while playing 55.8 percent of the snaps. As a unit, the Ravens had three players with 20 quarterback knockdowns or more; the rest of the league had just 12, and no other team had three 20-hit defenders on the payroll.

 

Baltimore needs to hope it gets a pass rush on Roethlisberger, because it has no hope of holding up in coverage if it fails. The Ravens have allowed the league’s second-best QBR (1.0) when they get pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but when they fail to bother the opposing passer, quarterbacks have put up an 86.2 QBR, the eighth-worst figure. 

 

There’s probably a big running play in this game for the Ravens. Baltimore’s resurgent rushing attack has really thrived on big plays, as 14.1 percent of Baltimore’s carries have gone for 10 yards or more, the third-highest rate in the league. The Steelers have the 17th-ranked rush defense by DVOA, but their problem has been giving up big plays. Only the Giants gave up 10-plus yards on runs more frequently than the Steelers, who did so on 15.2 percent of their opponent’s rushing attempts.

[BSLChrisStoner]

http://grantland.com...d-card-preview/

 

It's a good read and some good juicy stats in there I thought I'd pull out to share.

 

 

Barnwell linked to Nadeem's article... pretty cool.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Tickets to this game are as low as $75 on stubhub. Crazy.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Barnwell linked to Nadeem's article... pretty cool.

That's awesome!

[Pedro Cerrano]

Bell officially ruled out.

[SportsGuy]

Monroe being out is as big a deal as Bell IMO.

Still, it's huge that the Ravens don't have to deal with Bell.

[Pedro Cerrano]

Monroe being out is as big a deal as Bell IMO.
Still, it's huge that the Ravens don't have to deal with Bell.

I wonder if this will enable Pees to play with more DBs and fewer guys in the box. Lord knows we will need them out there.