Steelers @ Saints: Interview with the Enemy
by Dave Cariello on Oct 30, 2010 6:00 AM CDT
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BTSC: As we talked about on your podcast (thanks for having me on), Roethlsiberger has looked very sharp in his first two games of the year since returning from a four-game suspension against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6. Big Ben has 5 TDs to just 1 interception, and has looked exceptionally sharp throwing the ball. He's not excelled in any one area either - he's looked good checking down, throwing the ball over the middle and to the outside on intermediate routes, and he's thrown a nice deep ball on several occasions. If he can resist the temptation to try to extend the play too often by tucking it down and trying to make the first guy miss, he'll be just fine. Doing that led to three fumbles last week against the Dolphins. Thankfully, the Steelers lost only one of the three fumbles.
BTSC: There are no 'weaknesses' per se, at least not when the Steelers' have Troy Polamalu healthy. But there's undeniably yards to be had for teams and quarterbacks that are willing to take the 5-7 yard completion, not force things or turn the ball over, and hope that the playmakers can make a guy miss after the catch. With the emergence of Lawrence Timmons at inside linebacker, there seems to be less room to throw the ball over the middle of the field to the running back (for Steelers fans, think Ray Rice dusting James Farrior last year). But without Reggie Bush fully healthy, I'm not sure Brees will have those kinds of mismatches in the middle of the field. So, basically, if Brees can avoid turnovers, complete a high percentage of passes that don't necessarily gobble up huge chunks of yardage at a time, then convert once inside the red zone, the Saints may be just fine.
BTSC: With the injury to defensive end Aaron Smith, all eyes will be on second-year man Ziggy Hood to step up and have a big game in his absence. Hood, a first-round draft pick following the Steelers' most recent Super Bowl, has neither disappointed nor had much of an opportunity to live up to his high draft status. This week's the time for him to make a name for himself in Steeler Nation. Because it looks like LaMarr Woodley and Flozell Adams will be healthy enough to play, the Steelers should otherwise be at close to full strength come Sunday.
BTSC: Great question, and I just don't know if I have an answer for that being that I don't have kids myself just yet. All I can say is that I thought Brees sounded very tired when listening to a recent interview this week on XX 1090 in San Diego. Brees is a competitive son-of-a-gun, but he's also a good guy and a family man. I imagine he's been doing his fair share of chipping in at night in terms of waking up to settle his newborn son.
BTSC: It may not be this week, but after losing to the Steelers, don't slide into a prolonged losing streak like the Steelers did a year ago when they dropped five in a rown in the middle of the year. Considering how weak the NFC is this year, 9 wins is probably going to be more than enough to secure one of the two Wild Card berths at least. The Saints, for not looking that great to start the year, are just a few plays away from a 5-2 or even 6-1 record. No time to panic, no time to not believe in one another. Things can get out of hand ina hurry. But that time has not at all yet come down in the Big Easy.
BTSC: Not really, sorry! I'd love both teams to win here, but obviously have to cheer for the Steelers to improve to 6-1. I think Pittsburgh is clearly the better team from top to bottom, but the Saints have plenty of 'X' factors in their favor. Obviously playing at home on Sunday Night Football on Halloween is a big one, but for me, I turn to just how insanely special Brees is as a competitor in situations like this. I look for him to play really well this Sunday unless the Steelers' defense turns in one of its best performances in recent memory, which don't get me wrong, they're entirely capable of. I won't pick a winner, but I will predict either overtime or a game decided by a last-minute field goal by either side.
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Good questions...good answers
Thanks, Dave and Michael.
I asked this in another thread, but it bears asking again…
Do the Steelers have any trick plays we should watch out for? Randle El’s back on the team – does he still throw the option pass on the reverse/end around?
It's gonna be a great year.
With our OC anything is possible
He’s tried some trick plays but they haven’t work out at all. He also picks the worst times to do them
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
"It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you." Mike Tomlin
Refreshing
The lead blogger is the enemy is far more balanced that many of the bloggers in Saints nation…
Anyone wants to join me on the empty bandwagon....
I really like Michael
I think his writing style is similar to mine and I think our two communities have a lot in common as well.
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by Dave Cariello on Oct 30, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions
I think so
He seems to point out the good and bad of his team as well as the other team, without attacking the other team. That’s good, cause there is a time and a post for those predictions.
I think Pittsburgh is clearly the better team from top to bottom,
Notice how quiet I’ve been lately? Praise me for my emotional restraint and impulse control.
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex." -- Ike
Praise you have earned, but......
We need you to get vocal on some of the other posts. To many saints fans are feeling shaky, we need some more fight. Good job though.
If you didn't see it, it's definately worht reading.
Michael wrote a very nice article about Drew Brees over at Behind the Steel Curtain. As he knew Brees when they were both kids in Austin, I learned a few things about our QB I had never read before.
Also, the folks over at BSC are a hospitable group. I enjoyed chatting with them.
You should all know that our lead blogger
Has a severe man crush on Drew Brees
I still believe in you Big Ben. Its not how a man falls, it is how he gets back up again. Bring it home
