Week 9 vs Ravens

[ATL96Steeler]

Alright...the second DIV rematch.

Vegas ranges from BAL +1.5 to even.

Coming off clearly the best OFC performance in a long long time...the OL was truly the catalyst in the game as much as they were the goat in the 1st BAL game. BAL has clearly been the most consistent team in the DIV thus far.

Whose hurting? Official report not due out until Thurs, but Face is always on top of it.

ST specialist Ventrone is likely out with a hammy...aside from that Gilbert, Shark look to be a go...McLendon is looking better, and I wouldn't rush him back because the Ravens have only seen McCullers on film...hate to see not active in lieu of McLendon. Ike is running drills with a brace on but apparently not ready (could be a big need if Allen stays benched later).

Ravens will be w/o Owen Daniels who was playing great in place of Pitta...Jimmy Smith is out...Canty probably out...again we'll know more tomorrow late afternoon.

Steelers were spanked by a fired up Ravens team in the 1st matchup...the OL and DL played poorly as did the entire team. IMO their edge pass rushers are passed their primes but still effective players...the interior DL guys imo are still top shelf...Steelers OL have to repeat their performance or something close to it Sunday night...if they do that I like this OFC vs the Raven back 4. Bell will be the best RB on the field, may not go over 100 just running, but combined with some receiving yards I see him being a big factor in this game.

On DEF...the proof is in the pudding...they have to get after Flacco...if they do he will make a mistake or two.

As with every game, win the trenches, win the game, but even more so vs the Ravens.

Tomlin knows a loss here undoes a lot of what they've accomplished the last two weeks. They should not need any rah rah speech this week. I'm picking the Steelers in this very key week. They have improved the most from week 2 imo and the addition of Bryant makes this a tougher team to defend.

27 -20 Steelers

What say you?

 

[MISKO]

i say 27-24 steelers just because the games between these 2 teams can generally go either way

 

[element1286]

Worried about the O-line against the Baltimore front 7. This is a game where the pass absolutely needs to set up the run, hopefully Haley/Tomlin will put that into their game plan although I'm not optimistic.

Defense still a work in progress, but the Smiths at WR are really bad matchups for the Steelers secondary.

That being said, still going Steelers 28-26.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

OL vs BAL front 7...I agree...Dumervil seemed to have a step on Gilbert the whole night in the 1st game and imo he's not that great these days and neither is Suggs...if the G, C, G spots hold up, I think the Steelers will be fine.

Pass to run...I agree...I wouldn't mind seeing some no-huddle early and get Bell the ball via the pass on a LB, and work backwards to the run, but I can see Ben putting it up 30+ times in this one if it's working. This is not an impose your will type OL, and especially not to the Ravens DL.

Now on DEF, I think they need to get after Flacco...Smith Sr can still get deep but the younger Smith is who Mitchell needs to stay over top of. Either way, you know the Ravens will test the Steelers deep.

 

[element1286]

OL vs BAL front 7...I agree...Dumervil seemed to have a step on Gilbert the whole night in the 1st game and imo he's not that great these days and neither is Suggs...if the G, C, G spots hold up, I think the Steelers will be fine.

Pass to run...I agree...I wouldn't mind seeing some no-huddle early and get Bell the ball via the pass on a LB, and work backwards to the run, but I can see Ben putting it up 30+ times in this one if it's working. This is not an impose your will type OL, and especially not to the Ravens DL.

Now on DEF, I think they need to get after Flacco...Smith Sr can still get deep but the younger Smith is who Mitchell needs to stay over top of. Either way, you know the Ravens will test the Steelers deep.

I'm really hoping the Steelers hold up, but it just seems they can't against the Ravens front 7 even when they should be able to in theory. Either way Sunday will tell, if they hold up, we have the makings of a verifiable strength going forward.

Agree about the no huddle, think they should open up with some hits to the middle of the field if possible; Dump offs to Heath, a few quick slants, I like it when they put Bell in motion and have him run a quick slant.

Yeah, they really need to get after Flacco, I don't think they can man up on either Smith, so getting pressure is essential. Agreed about Mitchell over the top of Torrey, whatever struggles he has had, he has drawn a ton of PI penalties.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I'm really hoping the Steelers hold up, but it just seems they can't against the Ravens front 7 even when they should be able to in theory. Either way Sunday will tell, if they hold up, we have the makings of a verifiable strength going forward.

Agree about the no huddle, think they should open up with some hits to the middle of the field if possible; Dump offs to Heath, a few quick slants, I like it when they put Bell in motion and have him run a quick slant.

Yeah, they really need to get after Flacco, I don't think they can man up on either Smith, so getting pressure is essential. Agreed about Mitchell over the top of Torrey, whatever struggles he has had, he has drawn a ton of PI penalties.

Typical Steeler/Ravens game for a long time...but in the end, Steelers came out on top.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Recap

DEF...game ball goes to Harrison, but the entire DEF played well again...Flacco got hit at least a half dz times and I think the earlier hit was a factor on the pick by Worilds...he was just looking to get rid of that baby...not sure what has happened the last few weeks but I sure hope Lebeau takes this concept on the road.

OFC...ugly at times, but beautiful at times...43 points is 43 points...Bryant is a certain keeper...I do like the fact that Haley went to the air often in this one...OL had some issues, but they regrouped in the 2nd half and ended up playing well.

Right now, this team looks like a playoff caliber team...can't let down this week in NY...gotta keep it going. Shazier, Troy P, Shark...hopefully they can rest them up for the next 2 and the bye week and come back healthy for the Saints game.

Feels good to get this split, but even more so the way the DEF is playing right now....Go Steelers!

 

[element1286]

Recap

DEF...game ball goes to Harrison, but the entire DEF played well again...Flacco got hit at least a half dz times and I think the earlier hit was a factor on the pick by Worilds...he was just looking to get rid of that baby...not sure what has happened the last few weeks but I sure hope Lebeau takes this concept on the road.

OFC...ugly at times, but beautiful at times...43 points is 43 points...Bryant is a certain keeper...I do like the fact that Haley went to the air often in this one...OL had some issues, but they regrouped in the 2nd half and ended up playing well.

Right now, this team looks like a playoff caliber team...can't let down this week in NY...gotta keep it going. Shazier, Troy P, Shark...hopefully they can rest them up for the next 2 and the bye week and come back healthy for the Saints game.

Feels good to get this split, but even more so the way the DEF is playing right now....Go Steelers!

Yeah, this is the type of game the Steelers need to play to win. Days are over when they can win scoring 20 consistently. Be aggressive, if you give up a few big plays, while making a few of your own on defense, they'll be fine. Really that is what constitutes good defense in the NFL these days.

Old guys looked good I have to say. And eventhough they have broken out offensively, I don't see much difference playcalling, just better execution from the entire offense.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yeah, this is the type of game the Steelers need to play to win. Days are over when they can win scoring 20 consistently. Be aggressive, if you give up a few big plays, while making a few of your own on defense, they'll be fine. Really that is what constitutes good defense in the NFL these days.

Old guys looked good I have to say. And eventhough they have broken out offensively, I don't see much difference playcalling, just better execution from the entire offense.

Yep...take away a 150 yd kick return, and the botched snap fumble and the score probably looks a whole more indicative of the way the DEF played....they need to stay aggressive for certain.

OFC play calling...a few different such as the TD to Spaeth, but the sequence has been much better imo...really kept BAL on their heels at times.

 

[MISKO]

this offense is beginning to come together.. ben is able to rely on the rookies more and more and that will take some coverage away from brown .. we have improved with each game and december football is around the corner and we should be in the thick of things by then

 

[MISKO]

im not too worried about the next 3 games.. the not yets , titans and we will beat brees at heinz field .. the saints dont travel well and dont win without their home crowd

 

[SJ20]

A great night all around. From the ceremony to the game. Both teams get after it but at least the Steelers keep it clean unlike T Fizzle and the Baltimore Scavengers.

 

[element1286]

A great night all around. From the ceremony to the game. Both teams get after it but at least the Steelers keep it clean unlike T Fizzle and the Baltimore Scavengers.

Yeah, that play was pretty ridiculous, he should have been tossed immediately.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

im not too worried about the next 3 games.. the not yets , titans and we will beat brees at heinz field .. the saints dont travel well and dont win without their home crowd

Man...I used to have that kind of confidence, but we've been jilted too many times (OAK & TN LY, Bucs this year)...I want to see it on the road again (CAR was too long ago).

Looking much, much better though.

 

[MISKO]

we are a better team than the steeler team that lost to the buc's now .. we have improved every week since ..

 

[MISKO]

i dont see what everyone see's in brees.. i just dont .. ben is every bit as good as him if not better

 

[ATL96Steeler]

we are a better team than the steeler team that lost to the buc's now .. we have improved every week since ..

yep...I picked the Steelers by 7 over the Ravens largely because I think they had improved the most from week 2 to now...that said, we just came off a 3 game home stand...should they beat the Jets and Titans? YES! I think so.

Brees...I would absolutely take Ben over him any day of the week and that's always been my thought on him...people mention him among the "elite" because he's put up great numbers. On the road, outdoors, he's not the same player. I've always liked Payton as a play caller though.

 

[MISKO]

no one is talking about the botched fg attempt that turned into a 2 point conversion ... that was one of my favorite plays of the game ...a fuck up that turned positive

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-audio/videos/Ravens-vs-Steelers-Steelers-2-point-conversion/ab9444f3-680a-4f50-ad5c-31b0a05790ca

 

[element1286]

no one is talking about the botched fg attempt that turned into a 2 point conversion ... that was one of my favorite plays of the game ...a fuck up that turned positive

Ravens vs. Steelers: Steelers 2-point conversion

Yep, great stuff.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

It was lost in Ben's shadow, but you know it's your night when something like that happens.