It will be a short week for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they meet the Jacksonville Jaguars in Jacksonville. Given the season ending injuries to Rashard Mendenhall and Kendall Simmons, along with the Willie Parker already out, Steeler fans are watching the status of players for the upcoming game and the rest of the season.
- Steelers linebacker Andre Frazier could possibly play this Sunday against the Jaguars. Frazier, who was hurt on a play during the initial kickoff and was taken out of the game via backboard, had been reported to have been walking around the locker room and is apparently fine, reports say.
- Running back Willie Parker, nose tackle Casey Hampton and defensive end Brett Keisel will be out for the Jacksonville game. It's being reported that Parker may return in Week 7, when the Steelers face the Cincinnati Bengals in Paul Brown Stadium.
- It's reported that Mike Tomlin is looking to bring in three running backs. Steelers already signed Najeh Davenport on Tuesday and is expected to sign Gary Russell from the practice team by the end of the week. The third running back has yet to be named, nor have there been any rumors of who the third back may be.
- Full back Carey Davis, who suffered a sprained ankle during the Raven game is questionable for the game on Sunday. If Davis is unable to play, Sean McHugh is a probable to replace him.
- With Kendall Simmons out for the season, Trai Essex and Darnell Stapleton will be competing for the starting job at right guard. Stapleton replaced Simmons during the Ravens/Steelers game. It should be noted that after Stapleton came in, the oline allowed no sacks on Ben Roethlisberger.
Tomlin admits that he should have more faith in his quarterback. Concerned about time management, Tomlin called a time out because he believed that the play clock was about to expire. Unfortunately, the time out was called just as the Steelers got the snap off to Ben which led to a touchdown pass to Mewelde Moore. The touchdown was nullified by the time out and the Steelers had to settle for a field goal by Jeff Reed. It's not the first time we've seen Tomlin jumping the gun and calling a time out which nullified an advantage for the Steelers. Earlier in the season, Tomlin called a time out during an attempt to draw the defense offsides. The strategy worked, however, the timeout nullified the play. Mark it up to a young coaching mistake that should eventually fix itself with experience.
Ben Roethlisberger credits the boos from the crowd for firing him up and led to word of prayer to the offense in the locker room. Roethlisberger, who was not able to get anything accomplished during the Eagles game and was sacked 8 times, and then spent two quarters registering very little progress and was sacked 3 times, would find himself able to move the ball and not receive a sack against him the entire second half. One has to wonder, if that word of prayer also included OC Bruce Arians, since the play calling in the second half seemed to have switched by allowing Ben to go no huddle.
Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville Game
Posted on: October 1, 2008 3:26 am
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Aboy4Christ |
Posted on: October 2, 2008 12:05 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameYou are right Mom ... The play calling in the last two games was very predictable. The no huddle helped last wed, but that was Ben's idea and not Arians, and we did not try to stretch the field and go deep at all I don't think. Good points! There is a formula to beat us after the last two games even if it was the top two run defenses. Defenses really do not need to chose between a run blitz and pass blitz, but simply run blitz. The jags are giving up 101.2 yds rushing a game at a 4.1 yd/avg clip, and are tied for 14th (or avg.) in that category. They are 24th in pass (which votes well for us). They only have 5 sacks so far so Ben (as you indicated) should have a little more time. This game is a tell, tell game for us. An identity game?! I really like our defense!!!!! Harrison and Woodley are beasts and it's good to have Troy Polamalu back, what a difference he makes. I am glad that the kept Parker out. I'm sure he could have gone, but give him this week and the bye and get him ready for the second long half of the season. Steelers will run with whom ever carries the rock as long as they mix it up (play calling), and can pass IMO. I'm ready for a little trickery ;) Could this be the week??? |
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momluvsfootball |
Posted on: October 2, 2008 11:38 am
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameWell ABoy...I'm not arguing that the oline needs help, did Simmons going out hurt more. We'll see in the Jacksonville game. As far as the running game not being able to run. Well the Steelers were able to run for more then 100 yds on the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Texans with that oline. The difference comes with the defenses. The Steelers were unable to run on the Eagles and the Ravens, the defenses for these teams are the top 2 running defenses in the NFL. So they were going to stop the run regardless of the oline. The difference is is that the play calling didn't offer solutions to backup the defenses to be able to get the running game established. This is where I miss Whis....it kept the defenses guessing. Arians play calling was so predictable in the Eagles game and the first half of the Ravens game, it made it easy to stuff the run. So the running back is important. It's just that I can see Moore with Davenport behind him being productive. |
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Aboy4Christ |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 8:21 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameGood stuff MoM ;) We are only as good as our last kick, thanks Jeff! I am still optimistic that the Steelers can turn this offensive line issue around. That is the biggest problem we face and It just got worse with Kendall Simmons out. Here is the thing though, we can make the line look much better if Big Ben would go to a three step drop WITH the intention to pass. I think he is going back and trying to find space before he is even looking down field. Tom Brady was great at this last year. In the Ravens game and also both Giants games in particular the heat was coming, but he make the three step and decisively made a play. There is no way our o-line can hold the defense if Ben is going to run all over. Then the defense gains confidence as if they need it. There needs to be quick plays to move down the field, and then we can hit the big one. As it is, we would not be able to run with anyone back there because they are getting no lanes to run in. The Jags will do the same things that everyone else is, and send the house, run blitz and pass blitz. To beat the Jags we will have to earn the defenses respect by three step drops, read and pass, allowing the pass to set up the run. If our defense was not as stout as it is, we would we 1-3, maybe 0-4 like the Bengals. Some body please get this to Big Ben ;) Our defense, even with the injuries is top three in the league. Depth to rest players is another story, but they will be fine. Running Back issues are not as big a concern right now as they may seem. No Steeler can run right now. Again, the offensive line! Go Steelers!
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momluvsfootball |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 5:08 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameWell YankeeLuvnGator,
We're hoping that we see the oline that had in the 2nd half. Contrary to popular belief, the Ravens defense did play hard for all four quarters. Lack of sacks and ability to get the plays off, even in no huddle gives us hope. |
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momluvsfootball |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 5:07 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameJSB,
It will be a good game this Sunday. I know about the Jag's offensive line woes with the injuries. Both defenses will be trying to exploit the others oline. At least your running backs are healthy. I have no issues with Davenport and believe he'll do fine as backup. |
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YankeeLuvnGator |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 5:05 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameAfter watching the Steelers play the other night it is clear that they need to vastly improve their offensive line play. If they can't find a way to run the ball better it won't matter how big and tough Ben is he will not be able to survive the beating he will take without that.
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momluvsfootball |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 5:01 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville Gamethesteelman,
It's ugly because of the injuries...some think it's ugly because there weren't a zillion 70 yd touchdown passes made back and fourth...lol. No doubt about the defense though. Harrison is ranked one of the top defensive players in the NFL right now and the Steelers have the 2nd overall defense. Woodley is having an excellent season right now. I'll disagree with Smith being the weakest link. When it was pointed out to me that the right side looked weak, I watched and low and behold, alot of times it was the right side that was exploited. Now was it Simmons and Colon or was it Colon...who know. |
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momluvsfootball |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 4:55 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville Gamepittcontact,
I was actually impressed with the replacements that came in in the 2nd half. The change up of strategy with Ben running no huddle and then the insertion of Stapleton the oline held up, Ben even had that one play where he had all that time to find someone open. We'll see how the oline holds up this game. Arians, I think wants to be in charge of this high powered offense and though Ben has an arm, his strengths are his ability to get out of the pocket and make the plays. He does much better when he has some what control over the game. Enjoy the game, wish I could be there to see it. Jacksonville has had the Steelers number for awhile and hopefully it'll end with this game. |
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momluvsfootball |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 4:49 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville GameJelly,
Well I'm not writing off the running game yet, for the most part it's been Parker. Monday was Mendenhalls first time to play in regular season, or at least had any carries. When Moore came in in the 2nd half, he did pretty well, better at reception, but then the Ravens are a run stingy defense. Davenport and Russell coming in may make the running game less threatening...but there will still be a running game. With Parker coming back after the bye, well, I wouldn't discount the Steelers running game to be out for the year. |
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JSB |
Posted on: October 1, 2008 3:41 pm
Steelers Watch - Jacksonville Game Good information, mum. Welcome to the club of teams
whose 'big uglies' are sitting out, injured. It is hugely limiting to your offense's choices, and to the execution of those choices that are still available. While not on overwhelming Off threat, Davenport does have good hands. Mixing short run/pass plays to him into your passing offense will buy Roethlisberger time. On the bright side, you are Bye next week, followed by three pretty light weeks (I'm including the Giants, yes) before your schedule gets very hairy again. The Jags have been without most of their starting Off line all season. The replacements have gradually improved, but are still not what you would normally expect from a Jacksonville front line. This will leave us vulnerable to Lebeau's D blitz packages, and we have had difficulty all of this season in this area, vs lesser D's. Result ? I think laying 4 to Pitts is probably a mistake. |
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