Steelers hope to rebound against Seahawks
MEMORABLE SERIES MOMENT
Steelers 24, Seahawks 0
Sept. 18, 2011 at Heinz Field
Coming off a 35-7 loss at Baltimore in the opener, the Steelers returned home and held the Seahawks scoreless for the second time in two games at Heinz Field. The defense held Marshawn Lynch to 11 yards rushing and the Seahawks to 164 yards of total offense. The visitors never got past the Pittsburgh 26. Tarvaris Jackson was the Seattle QB, and the following spring they drafted Russell Wilson. The Steelers, led by Mike Wallace’s eight catches for 126 yards and a touchdown, rebounded from the opening-day embarrassment as Ben Roethlisberger posted a 115.7 passer rating.
TALE OF THE TAPE
“The thing that jumps out at me is their offensive line is huge, but they are very slow afoot. Duane Brown (LT) isn’t what he used to be 12 years into the league. He’s still got good feet but he’s not what he was. D.J. Fluker, the right guard, is huge. He’s over 350. Germain Ifedi (RT) is huge, too. Justin Britt (C) is the athlete but he’s kind of soft. He can be bulled. The offensive line can run-block but they’re not good at pass-blocking. They’re huge. They’re maulers. That’s why they want to run the ball so much. When they get out on the screens, they’re slow there, too.” — Steelers Radio analyst Tunch Ilkin.
TOP QUESTION
Can the Steelers stop a veteran QB from exploiting their youthful defensive middle?
Free safety Sean Davis returned to key a cacophony of communication at practice on Thursday. He was a voice they missed against Tom Brady in Foxboro, so it won’t be as easy for Russell Wilson in Pittsburgh as Terrell Edmunds settles into his familiar strong safety position and inside linebackers Devin Bush and Mark Barron play their second games with the Steelers.
THREE QUESTIONS: With QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER
Q: Per the Seahawks, do you have anything new to tell from your first Super Bowl?
BR: “I think people know all the unique things. Like the time Cowher grabbed me. Everyone saw that. It was supposed to be a run play but I kept it on my own and he gave me that ‘Great job. Don’t ever do it again’ type thing. And the sneak, that was clearly a touchdown. It was clear. Seattle’s such a different team anymore. I really don’t even think of that game when they come up on the schedule.”
Q: You used to use play-action so effectively, but I think you guys were last in play-action attempts last season. Why don’t you use as much play-action these days?
BR: “I think the game has changed a little bit. I think the reason we were so good then is we ran the ball so much. We ran the ball a lot, especially the second halves of games. I know Cowher’s record when leading is ridiculous. You get at that point in games and we would throw it so little in the second half, and it was usually a play-action (pass) because everyone knows we come out and run the ball. Some of it had to do with the way the game was unfolding. The Patriots have changed their offense a little bit. They lost some guys and went with a fullback. I think it’s totally about what your offense is.”
Q: Deion Sanders predicted you’re going to retire before this season ends. He said you looked disinterested the first game. You’ve been hearing this kind of stuff all offseason and bitten your lip. Is there an explosion percolating under the hood?
BR: “Nah. I really don’t care. But I would love it if Vegas had odds on that, though. I’d bet the farm that I wasn’t going to retire by the end of the season. I hope he puts his money on it, too. He would lose it all. But, no, really, I only care about what’s in here. I don’t pay attention to the outside stuff. There’s sooooo much going on that I just can’t afford to. I’m here with these guys; I’m home with my family. It’s just not my thing, so it doesn’t bother me.”
GAME BREAKDOWN
What to look for from the Steelers today at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field:
ON OFFENSE
The Steelers receiving corps caught only 57 percent of their targeted passes for 276 from a quarterback who was sacked only one time last week. The Seahawks, meanwhile, sacked Bengals QB Andy Dalton five times (lost two fumbles) but Dalton’s receivers caught 73 percent of his pases for 418 and two touchdowns. The Bengals’ passing game isn’t THAT much better than the Steelers’, if at all, so the Steelers hope it had more to do with the Seahawks secondary. Look for Donte Moncrief to bounce back (even with his dislocated middle finger) and for rookie Diontae Johnson to play a bigger role in the game plan as the Steelers seek better play opposite JuJu Smith-Schuster.
ON DEFENSE
They didn’t do much well against the Patriots but the Steelers did stop the run. They allowed the Patriots 99 yards at 3.4 per carry. Considering the weak pass-blocking of the Seattle front, figure the Seahawks to try to run the ball with 220-pound tailbacks Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. They only avearged 2.9 yards per carry at home against the Bengals last week, so if the Steelers do their jobs up front, QB Wilson should be under heavy duress as he tries to pass to beastly rookie D.K. Metcalf and slippery Tyler Lockett on pass downs.
PREDICTION
You’re never as bad or good as you looked in your previous game, but at Wednesday’s practice the Steelers looked worse. They struggled in full pads in the stifling heat and groused at each other. But after Thursday’s practice, the players left the field to a standing ovation from their strength and conditioning coach who praised their tempo. I’m looking for those Thursday Steelers to show up and rebound this afternoon. … Steelers, 24-6.
BY THE NUMBERS
0: Points scored by the Seahawks at Heinz Field. The Steelers shut them out in both visits (2007, 2011). The Seahawks, in fact, haven’t scored a point in Pittsburgh in nearly 20 years. They beat the Steelers 29-10 at Three Rivers Stadium on Sept. 26, 1999.
1: Field goals made by Chris Boswell this season. The 19-yarder kicked against the Patriots infuriated Steelers fans (cut the third-quarter lead to 20-3) but it did get the kicker off and running, and Boswell’s problems last year were probably more mental than physical.
2: Career tackles by DE Jadeveon Clowney against the Steelers (one game). The sixth-year vet has 30 career sacks after being chosen first in the 2014 draft by Houston.
11: Combined QB pressures last week by T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree against the Patriots, according to Pro Football Focus. The statistic was mentioned as fodder for the website’s belief that Seattle will have a difficult time protecting its QB today.
25: All-purpose yards last week by Diontae Johnson in his NFL debut. As a receiver/return specialist at Toledo the last two years, Johnson averaged 130 all-purpose yards per game. “He’ll be getting time this week. He’ll play more this week,” said Smith-Schuster. “He’s another rookie who’s going to be great.” With his quick feet and polished release, Johnson should match up well against Seattle’s press corners.
DOWNLOADS
* The Seahawks haven’t fared well in Pittsburgh, but it’s not due to those being 1 p.m. starts. The Seahawks under Pete Carroll are 14-15 in 1 p.m. EST starts. They’re 22-24-1 in all other road games under Carroll.
* In 2011, the Steelers bounced back from an embarrassing 35-7 loss at Baltimore in the opener to blank the Seahawks. Carroll coached in that game, but didn’t mention it when asked if he expects a more emotional Steelers team following its embarrassing loss last week. “New England couldn’t have looked better. They looked great in the opener. They did everything they hoped to do,” he said. “I think we’re going to get everything that we could ever not hope for from these guys. Mike does a great job of coaching. They’ve got great leadership on their team. They’re going to come frickin’ roaring out of the shoots.”
* Tomlin said he would look at tight ends and defensive players to fill in for Rosie Nix at fullback, but none of the interviewed defenders had been asked: Tyler Matakevich, Javon Hargrave or Cameron Heyward. The only one with real interest came from Stephon Tuitt, who overheard the conversation with Heyward and Hargrave, which spiraled out of control when Heyward was informed that his father, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, was built like Hargrave. “when Wobble was younger he didn’t have a chest, just two legs running,” Heyward said to Hargrave, who teased Heyward about never having played running back. “Wob, you’re built like Dino from Flintstones!” shouted Heyward. He later calmed down to say his father wouldn’t let him play running back as a teen because he was too tall. Tuitt persisted: “I’ll do it,” he said. “I’ll run a wheel route.”
* “Ahhh,” tight end Xavier Grimble said with a grimace as he pondered Tuitt running a wheel route out of the backfield. “Might need a Moped to get around there.” Grimble and fellow tight end Vance McDonald are expected to fill in for Nix on the few opportunities for fullbacks. McDonald played there at times in training camp and was even handed the ball on occasion. “A little bit of Vance,” Grimble said. “But I played the spot, so I think they’re comfortable that if I have to go there I can do it.”
* Nix (knee) has been ruled out while CB Joe Haden (shoulder) and C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) are listed as questionable. Both players said they’re going to play, but if not Haden would be replaced by Artie Burns and Pouncey would be replaced by B.J. Finney. The Seahawks could be without three defensive starters. NT Poona Ford and FS Tedric Thompson are doubtful. Defensive end Ziggy Ansah is questionable.
PARTING SHOT
“There will be no division in this group. This is how we’re wired. This is what we put out there. We’re foaming at the mouth for our next opportunity.” — Mike Tomlin.