Game 2 : Steelers vs. Seahawks : 09.18.11

[Palmetto Steel]

[Palmetto Steel]

Seahawks-Steelers Preview
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The Pittsburgh Steelers made few offseason changes to a roster that was good enough to get to Super Bowl XLV, but in their season opener they looked like a team that was introduced shortly before kickoff.

Hosting the Seattle Seahawks could help them rediscover a bit of continuity.

Seven turnovers doomed the Steelers in their most lopsided loss in 14 years, one they'll be eager to put behind them Sunday at Heinz Field against a Seahawks team that has plenty of its own issues.

Pittsburgh (0-1) didn't tinker much with a team that finished 12-4 and reached its third Super Bowl in six years, and it went into last Sunday's opener at Baltimore with every reason to believe it could make another deep playoff run this season.

That confidence certainly took a hit after a 35-7 loss, the Steelers' worst defeat since their 1997 season opener against Dallas and the first time they finished minus-seven in the turnover department since Week 1 in 1989.

Pittsburgh, however, insists it's already moved on from a loss safety Troy Polamalu described as "a big step toward humility."

"That game is behind us," receiver Hines Ward told the team's official website. "We are just worrying about Seattle. The guys in this locker room know how bad we played. ... Are we excited about how we played? No. We are embarrassed about it."

Coach Mike Tomlin agreed, pointing to punter Daniel Sepulveda's work as the only performance he was pleased with in Baltimore.

"I think the people that know and compete in this league understand that there is a fine line between drinking wine and squashing grapes," Tomlin said. "Obviously, last weekend we were grape squashers."

The Seahawks (0-1) were hardly satisfied with their own Week 1 effort, letting an opportunity slip away in San Francisco. Down 16-0 at halftime, Seattle pulled to within 19-17 with 3:56 left before allowing Ted Ginn Jr. to return both a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns to seal the 49ers' 33-17 win.

Aside from the Seahawks' obvious special teams issues, though, coach Pete Carroll wasn't totally upset.

"I made sure (Monday) in the team meeting to show them that there was a big contrast from first to second half. They need to know that they're capable and feel it and have that confidence," Carroll said.

Neither Carroll nor Tomlin was around when Pittsburgh and Seattle met in Super Bowl XL, won 21-10 by the Steelers in a game that featured some officiating controversy, but the man who made those decisions will be at Heinz Field.

The NFL assigned Bill Leavy -- who admitted last year that he botched two fourth-quarter calls -- as Sunday's head referee, marking just the second Seahawks game he's been given since that Super Bowl.

While Seattle's defense was one bright spot last week -- it held the 49ers to 209 total yards and just one third-down conversion in 12 attempts -- not much went right for a Steelers unit that's finished no lower than fifth in total defense since Tomlin arrived in 2007.

Baltimore ran for 170 yards, 15 more than Pittsburgh allowed in three playoff games combined last season.

Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks' rushing attack certainly don't figure to follow suit, especially with fullback Michael Robinson (ankle) out, but the Steelers are concerned about the escapability of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson if a play breaks down.

"The difficult part about preparing for him is he can run just as well as he can pass," said linebacker James Harrison, who's expected to play despite suffering a knee injury last Sunday. "You have to be able to keep him contained and not lose containment because he can kill you with his legs, too."

Jackson may be looking to run more often if he doesn't have receiver Sidney Rice (shoulder), who is again questionable to make his Seahawks debut after signing a five-year, $41 million contract in July.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, will break in second-round pick Marcus Gilbert at right tackle after starter Willie Colon tore his right triceps against Baltimore and was placed on injured reserve.

Ben Roethlisberger, who threw three interceptions Sunday for the ninth time in his career, should be happy to see an NFC team coming into Heinz Field. Roethlisberger has led the Steelers to a 12-1 record in interconference home games he's started, averaging an impressive 8.48 yards per attempt and posting a 92.9 passer rating.

Seattle, meanwhile, has lost its last eight road games against AFC opponents -- a streak that began with a 21-0 loss in Pittsburgh on Oct. 7, 2007.

[Palmetto Steel]

[Palmetto Steel]

[War Machine]

Well, I'm ****ed well ready to go! Just caught up on England's game from this morning (41-10 win: I'll take it!), so it's time to set my brain for a game that positively encourages forward passing.

The Towel is re-mojonated - let's boogie!

[Skeeter]

Please Steelers, at least be respectable today...

Since the Ravens fiasco, the last week has felt like a month.

[War Machine]

Please Steelers, at least be respectable today...

Since the Ravens fiasco, the last week has felt like a month.

I'm going out of my way to avoid all the pregame bull**** this week. Especially Mr Ed on CBS.

[Palmetto Steel]

Key Matchups: Steelers vs. Seahawks

CARPENTER vs. WOODLEY

Pittsburgh tackle Marcus Gilbert isn't the only rookie starting today at right tackle. Seattle's James Carpenter is the other. Like Gilbert, who played college football at Florida, Carpenter is a former Southeastern Conference standout who played at Alabama (where he started 27 games the past two seasons at left tackle). A first-team All-SEC selection last year, Carpenter should be a star for years to come in the NFL. He was selected by the Seahawks in the first round of the draft with the 25th overall pick.

Last week in Seattle's 33-17 loss in San Francisco, Carpenter started at left guard. But now that Robert Gallery has returned from a knee injury, Carpenter has been switched to right tackle. Today in his first pro game at tackle, Carpenter has a difficult assignment. Lining up across him will be Steelers' left outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, one of many Steelers embarrassed about the way they played last Sunday in Baltimore.

After watching film of the Seahawks' offensive struggles last week in a 33-17 loss to the 49ers, the Steelers feel optimistic about playing well defensively. In San Fran, Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch was held to 33 rushing yards while quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was sacked five times.

"Focused," Woodley said of his mindset going into the Steelers' home opener.

Woodley, who had the Steelers' only sack in Baltimore, has had double-digit sack totals in his three seasons as a starter.

THOMAS vs. ROETHLISBERGER

If anyone can see similarities between Earl Thomas and Troy Polamalu, it's Seattle second-year coach Pete Carroll. After all, Carroll coached Polamalu for his final two seasons at Southern Cal.

"Boy, there are some tremendous similarities," Carroll said. "The package -- they're about the same size, one. But the thing that separates them and kind of makes them alike is they're both so darn fast."

Carroll was so impressed with Thomas, a free safety, that after leaving Southern Cal, he took the former Texas All-American with the 14th overall pick of the 2010 draft. Polamalu, a strong safety was the 16th overall pick in '03.

"When you turn the tape on, both appear to be moving at a different speed than other men on the tape," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "(Thomas') initial quickness, his movement to plays, his instincts, it's unique."

Today, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger must be aware of Thomas at all times. Roethlisberger must avoid the mistakes he made last week in Baltimore when he threw three interceptions, including two poorly-thrown balls picked off by Ravens' free safety Ed Reed.

Last year as a rookie, Thomas tied for ninth in the league with five interceptions. That was two fewer that Polamalu, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year who tied for second with seven INTs. During the offseason, one of the things Thomas did in his bid to be the best safety he can be was study videotape of Polamalu's many highlights over the years.

[Palmetto Steel]

TODAY'S STORYLINE

The Steelers look to rebound after getting blown out last week 35-7, and the best way for them to bounce back is by protecting the football. While it was a total team meltdown in Baltimore, seven turnovers were impossible to overcome.

STAT SPEAK

6-0: That's the Steelers record at Heinz Field in September since Mike Tomlin became coach in 2007.

INJURY REPORT

There's concern about cornerback Bryant McFadden's chances of playing because of a hamstring pull that's nagged him since early in training camp. McFadden wasn't listed on the injury report last week and started in Baltimore. But he didn't play well and was burnt on the Ravens' first touchdown of the day. Today, he's as questionable. If McFadden doesn't play, William Gay will likely start.

In other Steelers injury news, wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (hamstring) will miss his second straight game while left guard Chris Kemoeatu (knee) is questionable. Kemoeatu expects to play.

For the Seahawks, four players including two starters won't play -- wide receiver Sidney Rice (shoulder) and fullback Michael Robinson (ankle). Back-up linebacker Malcolm Smith (hamstring) is as doubtful. Starting left guard Robert Gallery (knee) is questionable.

QUOTEWORTHY

"I mean, you hear that every year. It's not like they say, ‘You know, that defense, their age is just right to succeed.' It's either you're too young or you're too old. So I don't really pay any attention to it."

-- Linebacker James Harrison dismissing theories that the Steelers' defense is too old.

BETTING LINE

The Steelers are favored by 14 points.

WHY THE STEELERS WILL WIN

The Seahawks won the AFC West last year, but they did so as the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record (7-9). They're still a sub-par squad that's had three straight losing seasons (5-11 in 2009, 4-12 in '08) ... One of the Seahawks' problems is that they can't win on the road (just 5-19 over the past three years) ... And because they're three time zones removed from team headquarters in Seattle, today's 1 p.m. kickoff is like a 10 a.m. start for the Seahawks.

So it will be ... Steelers 27, Seahawks 10

[Palmetto Steel]

Head-to-head matchup: Steelers WR Mike Wallace vs. Seahawks S Earl Thomas
Sunday, September 18, 2011
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mike Wallace is arguably the best deep threat in the pass-happy NFL, maybe even more so than DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles.

He led the league with 10 receptions of 40 yards or longer, was second with 17 catches of 25 yards or longer and led the AFC with an average of 21 yards per catch in 2010. Eight of his 10 touchdown catches were 39 yards or longer.

Opposing teams, though, are finally beginning to heed what everyone has been told for years -- speed kills.

In an attempt to prevent the deep pass, cornerbacks are starting to back off Wallace, the Steelers' third-year receiver, as though he has bad breath. Drive-through restaurants can be built in the area between Wallace and the closest cornerback anymore.

"Defensive backs in this league, by nature, they have to be very cocky," said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. "They think they're the fastest, they're the best, and when they see Mike on film, they think, 'Oh, he might have run by that guy, but he's not going to run by me. I'm too fast.' Then he gets in the game and finds out this guy can run by me. He's as fast as advertised. So they're backing off."

Not only that, opposing teams are rotating a safety toward Wallace and playing more two-deep coverage in attempt to take away the big play -- something the Seattle Seahawks will probably try to do today at Heinz Field with safety Earl Thomas, their version of Troy Polamalu.

Thomas had a team-high five interceptions in 2010, tying a club record for most by a rookie.

It has been that way since last year's postseason, and the numbers bear out the preventive defensive approach.

Wallace has 21 catches for 222 yards in the past four games, dating to the end of the 2010 regular season, an average of just 10.57 yards per catch -- nearly 101/2 yards fewer than his AFC-leading average. What's more, his longest catch in those four games is 26 yards.

"Teams are starting to play cover-two to that side, and they're not pressing him as much as they want to," said veteran Hines Ward. "His speed alone is a threat. That's what makes him dangerous. You can't teach speed. You can't teach that."

The Steelers are trying to counter that approach by getting Wallace involved in a different manner -- throwing him quick screens and slants to give him a chance to make plays after the catch.

That's what happened last week in Baltimore when Wallace caught eight passes for 107 yards -- his fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game in the regular season, dating to last season. Wallace's longest catch-and-run was 26 yards.

"If they do that, we can still convert a lot of short passes," Wallace said, referring to the deep coverage teams have been employing. "I don't feel like we're doing anything different. We're still running our plays, but I have different signals on different plays to break off routes and do different things, according to the coverage. I just do that, catch short passes and try to make some yards after the catch."

Said Ward, "He didn't catch any bombs, but he had enough catches where he was still making plays on the field and affecting the game."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11261...#ixzz1YJqekMXH

[jnn123]

Inactives: G Chris Kemoeatu
CB Bryant McFadden
WR Jerricho Cotchery
RB Jonathan Dwyer
LB Chris Carter
T Jamon Meredith

Ramon Foster starting at guard, William Gay starting at corner.

[buccoray61]

William Gay starting at corner.

Shows how little they think of Keenan Lewis.

[Palmetto Steel]

William Gay starting at corner.

Oh Lord.... I better start drinking right now, then.........

[Les]

William Gay starting at corner.

Well,ain't that just ****ing wonderful......

[buccoray61]

Trifectia!!!!