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Overview
Expect an absolute war between two of the strongest defenses in the league. The Steelers will have a tough time running against arguably the best linebacker corps in the league, but they will look to wear it down with the one-two punch of Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis.
Nickel DC Deion Sanders needs to elevate his play another notch since coming back, as Steelers' No. 3 WR Antwaan Randle El figures to be one of his toughest challenges this season. The Ravens will counter with a steady diet of RB Jamal Lewis and Pittsburgh knows it. However, now that Lewis has shown that he can't carry the entire offense on his back, it's up to QB Kyle Boller to pick up the slack and keep the Steelers honest.
When the Steelers have the ball
Rushing: Baltimore ILBs Ray Lewis and Ed Hartwell show great power at the point of attack and excel at shutting backs down between the tackles. If Pittsburgh wants to establish an effective interior running game, it will be critical that the offensive line consistently reach them at the second level. LOG Alan Faneca takes good angles to his blocks and he has the burst to get up to Lewis. However, ROG Keydrick Vincent, who is playing for the injured Kendall Simmons, may not be a successful reaching Hartwell.
Vincent lacks ideal footwork and has a tendency to lunge at blocks. The key for both guards will be to get Lewis and Hartwell to the ground by attacking their legs whenever possible. If Faneca and Vincent try to block them too high, they will just use their upper body strength to shed the block and tackle the back for a short gain. OC Jeff Hartings will play a big role as well. Hartings must get into position quickly working against NT Kelly Gregg so his guards don't get caught up trying to help him out at the line of scrimmage.
The biggest weakness in the Ravens' talented front seven may be the lack of depth, especially with Peter Boulware on the PUP List with a knee injury. Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt can take advantage by getting Jerome Bettis even more carries in relief of Duce Staley this week. Bettis may not have great burst through the hole, but he still has the size and lower body strength to help wear the Ravens down given enough carries.
Passing:
Pittsburgh will have to take some chances downfield to keep Baltimore honest and help open up the running game, but QB Tommy Maddox must stay patient. WR Plaxico Burress is the team's best target in the vertical passing game and he will be working against DC Chris McAlister for much of this game.
While McAlister can get caught out of position a times, he has the speed to run with Burress downfield and the body control to compete for any jump balls. Maddox doesn't want to take any pressure off of Ravens QB Kyle Boller by giving him good starting field position or possibly points, so he must not risk the turnover by throwing at McAlister too much.
Baltimore nickel back Deion Sanders played relatively well in his debut last week, but that won't stop the Steelers from testing him early and often. Whisenhunt wants to get No. 3 receiver Antwaan Randle-El, who caught one pass for 11 yards last week, more involved and this is a perfect opportunity. While Sanders still has the footwork and athleticism to mirror Randle-El underneath, he doesn't have the same burst he showed earlier in his career and Randle-El should be able to create separation at times. In addition, the elusive Randle-El is extremely dangerous in the open field and could be productive after the catch working against Sanders, who has always been a poor open tackler.
When the Ravens have the ball
Rushing: With questions along Baltimore's offensive line and in its passing game, Pittsburgh will be honed in on stopping Jamal Lewis and the running game much like the Browns were last week. The Ravens can take advantage of the Steelers' aggressiveness and help Lewis out by running some misdirection. If OLBs Clark Haggans and Joey Porter don't maintain their backside responsibilities, the result could be some long runs. At the very least, the linebacker corps will have to hesitate, creating better blocking angles for the offensive line.
FB Alan Ricard is a physical lead blocker who has the lower body strength to drive Pittsburgh's interior linebackers off the ball once he's in position, but the key is getting into position. NT Casey Hampton does a great job of clogging up the middle, so Baltimore's interior offensive line must create enough of a seam for Ricard to get up to the second level when he is in the game.
LOT Jonathan Ogden, who sprained his left MCL during the final preseason game, missed last week's game and it's unknown whether he'll be available. Without Ogden in the lineup, a Cleveland defensive line that had been manhandled by the Ravens a year earlier dominated them. Although Ogden's replacement, Ethan Brooks, struggled in relief before leaving the game with a knee injury, he is still Baltimore's best option after Ogden. If both are out with injuries, Lewis should spend the majority of the game running behind the right side of the offensive line.
Passing: The absence of Ogden is a big reason why Baltimore struggled to establish its running game last week, but the inability of the passing game to keep Cleveland honest was the bigger problem. QB Kyle Boller threw two interceptions in that game and just one of his completions went for more than 20 yards. He'll have to take better care of the ball while taking more chances in the vertical passing game to give the Ravens a chance this week. While this isn't an easy task for any second-year quarterback, it's one that Boller can accomplish working against a Steelers secondary that has been vulnerable to the big play.
Throwing downfield will also help open up the short-to-intermediate passing game. If Boller continues to throw underneath, Pittsburgh's corners will start to jump routes and its safeties will start creeping up, increasing the likelihood of an errant pass getting picked off. Some big plays in the vertical passing game will force the safeties to play deeper, creating more space for WR Kevin Johnson to work in underneath. However, Boller cannot afford to turn the ball over, so the key will be staying aggressive but not forcing the ball downfield when it isn't there.
Pittsburgh will bring pressure from all over the field and the Ravens' offensive line could have some problems adjusting if Ogden is less than 100 percent or misses this game. As a result, the backs should play a big role in pas protection. Lewis, Ricard, Chester Taylor and Musa Smith must keep their heads up and pick up the blitzing linebacker or safety who poses the biggest threat to Boller.
Scouts' Edge
The commitment to the running games and the outstanding defense played in this game will keep it close heading into the fourth quarter, but expect Pittsburgh to come out on top. Staley and Bettis will be efficient enough to set up the play-action package and keep Baltimore's thin front seven on the field for long periods of time.
While Maddox won't make many big plays, he'll help keep some drives alive by finding WR Hines Ward or Randle-El underneath. That will be the difference, as Boller will continue to struggle without a proven vertical threat at receiver. Lewis, like Bettis and Staley, will be efficient, but he won't put great numbers working against a Steelers run defense that should be far better than the one he faced in Cleveland last week.
Expect an absolute war between two of the strongest defenses in the league. The Steelers will have a tough time running against arguably the best linebacker corps in the league, but they will look to wear it down with the one-two punch of Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis.
Nickel DC Deion Sanders needs to elevate his play another notch since coming back, as Steelers' No. 3 WR Antwaan Randle El figures to be one of his toughest challenges this season. The Ravens will counter with a steady diet of RB Jamal Lewis and Pittsburgh knows it. However, now that Lewis has shown that he can't carry the entire offense on his back, it's up to QB Kyle Boller to pick up the slack and keep the Steelers honest.
When the Steelers have the ball
Rushing: Baltimore ILBs Ray Lewis and Ed Hartwell show great power at the point of attack and excel at shutting backs down between the tackles. If Pittsburgh wants to establish an effective interior running game, it will be critical that the offensive line consistently reach them at the second level. LOG Alan Faneca takes good angles to his blocks and he has the burst to get up to Lewis. However, ROG Keydrick Vincent, who is playing for the injured Kendall Simmons, may not be a successful reaching Hartwell.
Vincent lacks ideal footwork and has a tendency to lunge at blocks. The key for both guards will be to get Lewis and Hartwell to the ground by attacking their legs whenever possible. If Faneca and Vincent try to block them too high, they will just use their upper body strength to shed the block and tackle the back for a short gain. OC Jeff Hartings will play a big role as well. Hartings must get into position quickly working against NT Kelly Gregg so his guards don't get caught up trying to help him out at the line of scrimmage.
The biggest weakness in the Ravens' talented front seven may be the lack of depth, especially with Peter Boulware on the PUP List with a knee injury. Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt can take advantage by getting Jerome Bettis even more carries in relief of Duce Staley this week. Bettis may not have great burst through the hole, but he still has the size and lower body strength to help wear the Ravens down given enough carries.
Passing:
Pittsburgh will have to take some chances downfield to keep Baltimore honest and help open up the running game, but QB Tommy Maddox must stay patient. WR Plaxico Burress is the team's best target in the vertical passing game and he will be working against DC Chris McAlister for much of this game.
While McAlister can get caught out of position a times, he has the speed to run with Burress downfield and the body control to compete for any jump balls. Maddox doesn't want to take any pressure off of Ravens QB Kyle Boller by giving him good starting field position or possibly points, so he must not risk the turnover by throwing at McAlister too much.
Baltimore nickel back Deion Sanders played relatively well in his debut last week, but that won't stop the Steelers from testing him early and often. Whisenhunt wants to get No. 3 receiver Antwaan Randle-El, who caught one pass for 11 yards last week, more involved and this is a perfect opportunity. While Sanders still has the footwork and athleticism to mirror Randle-El underneath, he doesn't have the same burst he showed earlier in his career and Randle-El should be able to create separation at times. In addition, the elusive Randle-El is extremely dangerous in the open field and could be productive after the catch working against Sanders, who has always been a poor open tackler.
When the Ravens have the ball
Rushing: With questions along Baltimore's offensive line and in its passing game, Pittsburgh will be honed in on stopping Jamal Lewis and the running game much like the Browns were last week. The Ravens can take advantage of the Steelers' aggressiveness and help Lewis out by running some misdirection. If OLBs Clark Haggans and Joey Porter don't maintain their backside responsibilities, the result could be some long runs. At the very least, the linebacker corps will have to hesitate, creating better blocking angles for the offensive line.
FB Alan Ricard is a physical lead blocker who has the lower body strength to drive Pittsburgh's interior linebackers off the ball once he's in position, but the key is getting into position. NT Casey Hampton does a great job of clogging up the middle, so Baltimore's interior offensive line must create enough of a seam for Ricard to get up to the second level when he is in the game.
LOT Jonathan Ogden, who sprained his left MCL during the final preseason game, missed last week's game and it's unknown whether he'll be available. Without Ogden in the lineup, a Cleveland defensive line that had been manhandled by the Ravens a year earlier dominated them. Although Ogden's replacement, Ethan Brooks, struggled in relief before leaving the game with a knee injury, he is still Baltimore's best option after Ogden. If both are out with injuries, Lewis should spend the majority of the game running behind the right side of the offensive line.
Passing: The absence of Ogden is a big reason why Baltimore struggled to establish its running game last week, but the inability of the passing game to keep Cleveland honest was the bigger problem. QB Kyle Boller threw two interceptions in that game and just one of his completions went for more than 20 yards. He'll have to take better care of the ball while taking more chances in the vertical passing game to give the Ravens a chance this week. While this isn't an easy task for any second-year quarterback, it's one that Boller can accomplish working against a Steelers secondary that has been vulnerable to the big play.
Throwing downfield will also help open up the short-to-intermediate passing game. If Boller continues to throw underneath, Pittsburgh's corners will start to jump routes and its safeties will start creeping up, increasing the likelihood of an errant pass getting picked off. Some big plays in the vertical passing game will force the safeties to play deeper, creating more space for WR Kevin Johnson to work in underneath. However, Boller cannot afford to turn the ball over, so the key will be staying aggressive but not forcing the ball downfield when it isn't there.
Pittsburgh will bring pressure from all over the field and the Ravens' offensive line could have some problems adjusting if Ogden is less than 100 percent or misses this game. As a result, the backs should play a big role in pas protection. Lewis, Ricard, Chester Taylor and Musa Smith must keep their heads up and pick up the blitzing linebacker or safety who poses the biggest threat to Boller.
Scouts' Edge
The commitment to the running games and the outstanding defense played in this game will keep it close heading into the fourth quarter, but expect Pittsburgh to come out on top. Staley and Bettis will be efficient enough to set up the play-action package and keep Baltimore's thin front seven on the field for long periods of time.
While Maddox won't make many big plays, he'll help keep some drives alive by finding WR Hines Ward or Randle-El underneath. That will be the difference, as Boller will continue to struggle without a proven vertical threat at receiver. Lewis, like Bettis and Staley, will be efficient, but he won't put great numbers working against a Steelers run defense that should be far better than the one he faced in Cleveland last week.