Game Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Jacksonville Jaguars
by FSBlueApocalypse on Oct 3, 2008 5:41 PM EDT
23 comments
Where: Jacksonville Muncipal Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
When/TV: 8:15 PM NBC "Sunday Night Football"
Forecast: 75 degrees at kickoff, 10-15 mph winds
The Jaguars and the Steelers go back a long way. I remember watching in the stands got their first home win, beating a Steelers team who would eventually go on to play in Super Bowl XXX(I promised myself I wouldn't make a lame porn joke here.) I was there when the Jaguars beat the Steelers 21-9 to start off the magical 1996 season. My parents let me skip school the following Tuesday so I could go to our first Monday Night game, also against the Steelers. Now, just as the Jags made their Monday Night debut against the Steelers, we have our first appearance on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" against the Steelers.
Things to Watch For: Jacksonville Jaguars
1. Defense: For those counting at home, the unit has blown 4 4th quarter leads and allowed teams to march right down the field to score a TD. With the returns of Rashean Mathis and Justin Durant, hopefully we will begin to regain form.
2. David Garrard: The Jaguars haven't had a QB this good since pre-ACL tear Mark Brunell. He put the team on his back the last few weeks and is the reason we're 2-2 and not 0-4.
3. Running Game: With the exception of Indianapolis, we haven't seen anything. Pittsburgh was the first team to really stop the Jags running game, will we finally break the hex against them?
4. Pass Rush: The Steelers ran next to last in the league in sacks per pass play. Will this be Groves' and Harvey's coming out party?
5. Josh Scobee: 2 game winning kicks in back to back weeks, have to give the kicker some love.
Things to Watch For: Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Running Game, or lack their of: Well so much for my thought that Rashard Mendenhall would be the steal of the draft. He's gone for the year and Willie Parker is also out. The Steelers will be relying on a 3rd down back as their starter, aka Roethlisberger will be slinging it alot.
2. Roethlisberger: It still baffles my mind sometimes that if we hadn't drafted Leftwich he could easily be our starter right now. That said he's playing for the other team and has no offensive line to speak of. Because of the running game issues, he might well be going back to pass 50 times Sunday Night.
3. 3-4 defense: The Jags will try to establish the run Sunday Night. 3-4's have a weakness against physical teams as they don't have as much "Beef" up front. Can the Jags force the issue?
4. Heath Miller: With Big Ben going to pass alot, and Owen Daniels being open so much last week, I'm sure Miller will be a favorite target. If he gets the ball alot and moves the chains, the Steelers will have a shot.
5. Santonio Holmes: A demon of a big play threat. The Jags secondary hasn't been the best at covering for that. We have Peyton Manning's happy feet and bum knee to thank for several overthrows against Indy. If we don;t get to Big Ben, I can see Holmes making us pay.
Player on the hot seat:
Derrick Harvey: We've moaning that our rookie DE has yet to show he was worth the contract we paid him. This is a big game for him. A sack or two and some other big plays is what is needed out of him Sunday Night.
Prediction:
Jaguars 24 Steelers 13
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Agree on the Harvey front,
but in point #2, I have to disagree. Scobee has been carrying us, not David. Go back and look at the runs for first downs. You will see Matt Jones and Porter wide open to the left. David only looked right and never saw either man for a quick score. He runs to make the play because he cannot go through his progressions fast enough. He never has. I like David alot, really I do. But I also like Will Smith, that doesn’t make me want him to be our QB. Our running game is our strength, period. The only reason it has not been kickin’ butt is that JDR is letting the infamous ‘8 in the box’ SCARE him into avoiding the running game and passing our chance of winning out the window.
Dude if Barry Sanders’ coaches had let ‘8 in the box’ scare them, he would have never gotten the ball either. But THEY recognized the talent level and said," Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!" Drew and Taylor are our playmakers. They win games. Look at both Pittsburg wins last year and tell me Drew didn’t win those games. You can’t . He was everywhere, blocking, catching, running and please don’t forget the return that answered their TD. I am telling you now, if Fred and Maurice do not get a combined 20 carries, WE WILL LOSE just like we did the first two weeks and almost did to the hapless Texans.
Dude, normally I am with you and love your writing. But if that were Byron out there playing with those #s and missed plays, he would need JSO to keep Jacksonville from lynching him. (kill for an alleged offense without a legal trial)
Truly, Dave, love ya’ man, no offense.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 3, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No credit to David at all?
None? Nothing? Seriously?
Honestly, I think Byron would be 0-4 right now, but Ben Rothlesburger would be 3-1. Tennessee and Buffalo were waiting to be blown out. I think the Jags are a strong team and am wondering why they are floundering.
by Tkopa on Oct 3, 2008 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
easy call...
Fred and Maurice are watching the game like us.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 3, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh, and...
I didn’t say that David sucks, I’m just saying he hasn’t been carrying us. His season last year was awesome. (6 to 1 ratio, WOW! an NFL record) But he kinda’ looks more like Vince Young this season. And we do kinda’ have to stay in the present. I am hoping for the best for him and from him, but if not, Cleo is still in the wings.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 3, 2008 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WHat do you see from Cleo?
I am curious on your opinion of Cleo Lemon.
Personally I thought it was an upgrade over Guinn Grey. I think he is unpolished but filled with raw talent.
by Tkopa on Oct 4, 2008 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I feel like...
Cleo has alot of potential. He is quick on his feet to make things happen under pressure. It’s the not under pressure moments that concern me with him. Remember the Jay Cutler fumble earlier this year against SD. Cleo had 2 of those for Miami last year…. no one on him he just lost the ball for no appearent reason. Other than that I am curious how he would take the reins.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 4, 2008 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sometimes...
it is not play making, but mistake free football. This is how I view David as our QB. Leftwich I am sure would have chucked plenty to the defenders putting the Jags at 0-4. Garrard has come a long way since the ‘big loss’. He keeps his head when crunch time comes, at least the last 2 games. This is improvement. He is not a Favre where he can whip you with his arm. I think everyone knew this. His high QB rating last year was a result of not chuckin the INT.
by Jaghomer on Oct 4, 2008 8:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
just keep this in mind...
when is the last time David connected on a long pass. (downfield 30 plus) I’ll have to wait a while for that answer ‘cause I can’t remember one since the playoff pass to Northcutt. Neither can any defense we play. That’s why they always look like they are waiting to receive a punt on every down. And don’t say it’s our lack of receiveres…. he’s a 60 million dollar QB. NO excuses.
Oh and if you all want to see me at the game, I and my friends will be the only ones NOT booing Byron when he comes in for Ben. We don’t hate him like the rest of Jacksonville.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 4, 2008 9:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
According to FoxSports
Florence and Nelson are both out for Sunday.
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Oct 3, 2008 8:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What about....
Meester and Naole? I heard they both got some limited time in practice this week.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 3, 2008 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Both are out for Sunday's Game
-Collin
by silencecs on Oct 3, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
that bites.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 3, 2008 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Injury report is now up. It looks bad for p-burg
by silencecs on Oct 3, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They are only out 4 players
as are we. Also our injury report is deceiving because the players we lost on IR are not listed. A DE, 3 o linemen, and a corner all of whome would have been big impact players. Also, people need to stop underestimating the Pitt o line. Their only weakness up front is their LT and their lack of playing time together. Their o line isn’t very crafty, but because the Jag’s D isn’t nearly as deceptive as the Eagles’ or the Ravens’,2 of the best in the NFL if not the best; I don’t think Big Ben is going to be on his back as much as most expect.
by Ewdtrey on Oct 4, 2008 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Our O-line isn’t that bad, but it isn’t that good either. Your D will get serious push often, burn around the sides a few times, and get a few sacks for sure. Our LT is old but a solid veteran, you probably mean our RT Colon, who is attempting to grow his arms with Miracle-Gro, it hasn’t worked yet. I’m not sure how your D-line is stacked, but if your players are on the left side you match up well, if your players are on the right side are better that is a tougher road to follow.
Don’t worry, our injury report is deceiving because of our IR as well. Amusingly, it may turn out that the punter on IR is the biggest hurt, as our backup has been unable to dig us out of holes with his leg. You guys have definitely been hurt. I should note that it won’t be easier to run against the 3-4 since we definitely have run defense success with that formation, but it will be easier because our D-line is down to 5 guys: A. Smith (starter), Hoke (backup NT), Kirschke (backup end), Roye (35 yr. old backup end), and Paxson (backup NT/DE that should be signed from PS by sunday). They’ll be rotating all players in throughout the game to keep them fresh, which should give your RBs and your hurting line plenty of opportunity for traction.
by steelguy99 on Oct 4, 2008 6:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree Colon has short arms
but even though he’s playing the RT spot he’s playing like a pseudo guard spot, because you guys have been overloading the right side with extra blockers, so having short arms doesn’t hurt nearly as much. However Smith looks exposed now that he’s been on an island on his own lately; like as if used having a TE next to him. He looks kind of old, like he doesn’t have much of a fire.
by Ewdtrey on Oct 4, 2008 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m not going to argue for Marvel that much, he is kind of old and he has lost a step. Colon gets burned around just as much or more, and Smith has been going up against much better players on his side of the ball. Marvel is not great, but the RT/RG spots are the weak links.
by steelguy99 on Oct 5, 2008 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude awesome call on Paxon!
the guy signed after you posted that. Bravo.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 5, 2008 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would have been a harder call to make if we had any other choices. We are hurting bad. I’m pumped for tonight’s game, can we make a deal? No injuries for either side? I’m sure that’s agreeable to both parties.
by steelguy99 on Oct 5, 2008 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, sorry to change the subject...
but, If anybody knows if there will be something in the future put on by the Jaguars for Richard Collier, could they please post it. I wouldn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to be there for one of the ‘Jag Family’.
To be master of oneself and never waiver in ones resolve.
- Maximus Desimus Meridius
by jagsrock on Oct 3, 2008 9:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see anything listed on jaguars.com. If I or any of the other guys get wind of anything it’ll be on the front page ASAP.
-John
by FSBlueApocalypse on Oct 3, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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