After opening the season with a hard fought 13-10 overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans the Pittsburgh Steelers have given up back to back early leads to the Bears and Bengals and at 1-2 are at an impasse and possibly facing a must win game verse the San Diego Chargers this week.
The offense has had fast starts turn into duds while the defense has given up last minute game winning drives in back to back games. Up next are the high powered Chargers and the red hot Phillip Rivers who finally has a few decent receivers to toss the rock too. The problem for the Bolts is they have about as much balance as the Steelers do with their run game being missing in action the last few games.
Games are won and lost on the outcome of situational football as Mike Tomlin likes to call it. How teams handle the situations and match ups the face on every drive in every game is usually the difference between a win and a loss and this week’s match ups to watch are as follows:
1. Steelers run game verse Chargers rush defense.
With Fast Willy Parker slowed by a turf toe and a possible scratch from the roster by the start of the game, Rashard Mendenhall could see his first extended action since being drafted by the Steelers. Also in the mix, if Parker can’t go, will be Mewelde Moore who could get a handful of touches as well.
This group is a talented group but has not shown much thus far on the season. They have improved each game though and with Mendenhall back from his excel to the bench just a week ago, he might finally get to show what the future has to hold. The Dolphins racked up 149 yards on the ground just last week verse the Chargers and the Steelers should try to copy that effort and take some pressure of Big Ben and the defense.
2. Steelers DB’s verse Bolts high powered air attack.
This matchup is one of the most important of the game. How the Steelers handle Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates and the emerging Vincent Jackson could be the difference between a win and a loss. The good news is Rivers traditionally has less than stellar games verse Pittsburgh’s pressure based defense.
To win this match up the Steelers will need to kick James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley in the ass and get them to create some pressure and pull down a couple of sacks. Rivers usually falls flat when pressured and the best way to slow him down is to knock him down, then do it again and again until he taps out.
The possible return of Troy Polamalu to the mix could go a long way in determine how this match up turns out.
3. Darren Sproles verse Stefan Logan
We already know just how dangerous Darren Sproles is on special teams but how the Steelers handle the return game and how their own Stefan Logan performs could go a long way in determining the outcome.
It has been a while since the Steelers could boast about a return specialist, but after proving himself in pre-season and earning a roster spot by doing so, it is time for Logan to return on that investment. His returns have been better then what was offered last season but he has yet to break a big one that counts.
If the Steelers can win this match up then they will also win the field position battle. Shorter distances and quality field position can help an offense get out of a late game funk. While pinning the opposing team deep in their own territory can go a long way in helping a defense stop a late game charge.
4. LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison verse the Chargers offensive line.
Two of the best linebackers in the league just a year ago, neither Woodley nor Harrison have found their groove thus far on the current season. What better way to get the motors running then verses a team that lives and dies by the pass? The return of a healthy Lawrence Timmons should help take pressure and some of the double teams away from Harrison as well.
If the Steelers can do what they do best and stop the Chargers run game, then San Diego will be forced to become one dimensional and help the Steelers pass rush specialist finally get after the QB. Three games into the season and only one sack from this due is not going to cut it. This is the game these two stars need to shine bright and return to last season’s form.
5. Mike Wallace verses the nickel corner.
When the season started it was all but decided that Limas Sweed would be the slot receiver in the Steelers offense but after another big drop, that should have resulted in a touchdown, Sweed may be on is way back to the bench. Top that with the rookie wide out Mike Wallace having his NFL coming out party in the same game and the speedster could be the next big thing in Pittsburgh.
Wallace has the speed the Steelers have lacked for years and has caught every ball thrown his way. In the loss to the Bengals he had 7 catches and went over a 100 yards receiving. He has shown he can be trusted when it matters most and has become somewhat of a security blanket for Ben Roethlisberger when it counts. It was his big catch that saved the day verse the Titans after the veteran Hines Ward almost fumbled it away.
No it is not time to hand Wallace the keys to the city, we are not Buffalo, but it may be time to give him more reps and let him grow into the role and see what happens. His speed and clutch catches are match up nightmares for most nickel backs in the league and the ability to exploit the mismatches could add a whole new dimension to the Steelers offense.
How the Steelers respond to the late game melt downs and how they fair in the match ups they will be faced with verse the Chargers will be the difference in this week’s game. I fully expect them to bounce back and if they play 60 minutes of football I expect them to win as well. Everything comes down to this, the entire season could be on the line and how they respond, will tell allot about how the rest of the season will go.
About the Author Jim McMillen
The Editor & Chief, the brains so to say, behind Pittsburgh Blitz. Jim is a rabid sports fan who just loves his Stillers, Pens and Buccos. Feel free to contact us at steelerguy26[@]yahoo.com if you have any questions or comments or would like to join our staff and write for Pittsburgh Blitz.
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Nice breakdown. Like what you have to say and throwing in a mix of match-ups.
By the way, it’s spelled “versus” not “verses.” A verse is a line in a poem or a song or even a line in the Bible.