From a steeler fan perspective I’m actually much more worried about your offense then your defense at this point. I think Ben and the skill players on offense can take advantage of mismatches as long as they’re making good decisions.

But man is it hard to swallow the fact that ya’ll made running the ball on the Steelers look like running on Bengals. And this week we’re short 2/3 of the D-Line. I’ll be interested to see the rushing totals this time.

Good luck, and I hope you lose, my week just goes better when the Steelers win.

our O-Line (Steelers fan here) has had problems, the Jags have had many of the same, giving up it’s fair share of sacks. Missing Vince Manuwai will do that. I would definitely also say that our pass rush is equal or superior to any team you’ve faced (yes including Tennessee, who I believe is the only team ahead of us in sacks). With your interior line problems, it makes it tough for the backups on the interior to give help to the tackles, who will have their hands full with LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, two of the best pass-rushing OLBs in the league (3 1/2 and 6 sacks apiece so far respectively). I think both defenses are pretty good, but Pittsburgh has the better defense. And while our offense hasn’t been good lately, that was also against the Browns in 50MPH winds, the Eagles (a very good defense), and the Ravens (great defense). Even so at the end of the Ravens game we were starting to get a rhythm and I believe that will carry over to this week. I thought Ben getting on his offense at halftime is what any good leader/QB does.

Concerns for the Steelers are stopping Jones-Drew and Taylor, but this is a bit mitigated by the injuries to the interior of the Jags line. The biggest concern will be (as always) stopping the pass rush (which we seemed to finally pick up in 2nd half against Baltimore), and stopping the dump-offs to your RBs, which killed us last year against you guys. Regardless, you guys have had our number and Del Rio is an excellent coach. I’m very excited for this game, the Steelers have shown a ton of mental toughness the last few weeks and I do expect a Steelers win of course, but also I expect another great physical game with the Jags. I love playing teams like you and the Ravens, it’s real man’s football!

I’m with “socaljagsfan” I think we were closer to losing all four games than we were winning them. The Steelers are beat up but it’s not like the backups are high school players. The backup players in the NFL are darn good (except maybe at corner and QB). They are fully prepared for their role and they have the added incentive of making a name for themselves with the opportunity that has been given them. The Jags Rob Meier is a good example of this. He has made some big plays since coming in for Stroud and his stock has gone way up.
   Like always, the Jaguars hold the keys to their own fate. Here is what I think the Jaguars have to do to win:
1.) Run the ball. The jaguars have to give the ball to Fred Taylor and let him do what he does against Pittsburgh. The Intangibles that the Steelers own are Tradition and Pride. They do not want to lose to the Jaguars AGAIN and they will draw on history for added inspiration. Unfortunately for Pittsburgh, that same history and tradition of the Steelers seems to light a fire under Fred. Jacksonville needs to exploit that by feeding the ball to Fred until he breaks off a few pounding, tackle breaking, linebacker whiffing runs that will demoralize Pittsburgh in a big way. The sooner they are thinking “here we go again” the better.
2.) Get penetration on defense. It would be great if our defensive ends were coming at Big Ben like T-Rexes disrupting the pass and eating Roethlis – bergers but I wouldn’t count on it. What I think we need and are more likely get is penetration into the interior from the D-line. If our tackles can play a few yards into the offense not only will we be able to stop the run we will make an already gun shy QB even more uncomfortable. Nobody wants to see Big John coming at them with a full head of steam. If Henderson and Meier can be disruptive early they will create opportunities for Harvey and Groves coming from the edges and Ben will be in for another long day. We can’t depend on coverage to stop the Steelers offense. We have to come at them right up the middle.
3.) Special teams have to continue their high level of play. A big run back by MJD or even better, by Witherspoon would be a real back breaker.
Ultimately, the team that executes it’s game plan best will come out ahead (duh!). If the Jags can avoid the double whammy of over-confidence coupled with a vengeance seeking Steelers squad they will win this game 21 – 17