I hate to sound like a broken freakin' record, but I really think we're gonna win this one.
Tampa plays the Cover 2 on defense. The one type of defense that we've always seemed to dominate is the Cover 2. And, we've always seemed to do well against Tampa, even when they didn't suck. Even when everyone on defense was young. They're old now. And slow. And they're still really, really small.
We should be able to run on them. Ben should be able to complete lots and lots of passes to Heath Miller over the linebackers, but in front of the safeties. I've said it before and I'll say it again: To beat the Cover 2, you simply need to protect the quarterback. The reason it worked so well in Tampa for all those years and the reason it's working in Indy right now has more to do with personnel than it does Tony Dungy.
You need a penetrating front four that's fast, three linebackers that can run like hell, two decent safeties, and two smart cornerbacks. The Bucs have a fast middle linebacker. Everyone else is just small. Derrick Brooks isn't fast anymore. He can still make big plays every once in a while, but he's like Zach Thomas at this point. Mostly reputation, not so much skill, still small, not fast anymore. Still smart enough to burn you, though. So we had better make sure we punish him.
Speaking of punishment, we need to beat the hell out of Bruce Gradkowski. If Arizona and Houston didn't have the distinction locked down for the next century, Tampa would have the worst offensive line in the NFL. They're either too young, or WAAAAAAY too old up front. Cadillac Williams can't do it all himself.
He's been doing better the last few weeks, but he's still running behind a suspect line and being supported by an anemic passing attack. We should be able to shut the Caddy down. One of the things we can still do is stop the run. For the most part.
What we REALLY need to do is do to Gradkowski what the Ravens did to Ben. Pressure from the outside (if Haggans and Porter are still alive). When the offensive line becomes obsessed with where the outside pressure is coming from, run delayed blitzes with Farrior, Foote, and Tyrone Carter (who's surprising good at rushing the passer). I seriously think we can get 9 sacks. It bums me out, because I have Joey Galloway on my one Fantasy team, but I'll make that sacrifice for the Steelers.
I'm actually not worried about playing this game without Hines and Troy. Troy was having a pretty lousy season before he got hurt and the Steelers receivers are pretty much interchangable at this point. I really just hope that we cut Cedrick Wilson in the off-season. That guy sucks balls.
And, if you look at our free agent acquistions the past three years, it's no wonder the wheels are falling off. Who'd we get? Cedrick Wilson, Duce Staley, and Ryan Clark. I know I was pumped up about the Clark signing, but he doesn't seem to be worth the league minimum, nonetheless $8 million over 4 years. He can't cover anyone, takes terrible angles to the ball, and is a piss poor tackler. So... great signing!
Duce hasn't played any meaningful football since Week 7. Of 2004. And Wilson caught his first regular season TD as a Steeler against the Saints. Crap.
At least we'll win on Sunday. Provided we don't commit 12 turnovers that are returned for touchdowns and Santonio Holmes can keep his hands on the ball.
We won the Super Bowl last season. I really should just suck it up and deal.
Prediction: Steelers 27, Bucs 14.
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