As with my Week 1 analysis of the Atlanta/Pittsburgh match-up, my musings:
- As I mention ad infinitum, Haloti Ngata is the best interior lineman in the Game today. Wherever he's lined-up or reduced into pre-snap, Greg Mattison always has at least a contingency built into the defense to look for hot audibles away from Haloti. It may not always go smoothly, but if Jameel McClain can reduce his reaction time and take the correct angle, then the Peyton Hillis's of the world would not be such a hot commodity in the Fantasy world right now.
- Kelly Gregg is a consummate pivot man and I'm really excited to see Maurkice Pouncey match-up with an elite 0-tech. That being said, Pouncey has been a revelation to Steeler fans, whom were used to having Jeff Hartings being on the bottom rung of Steeler-Center-Legend, that have had to deal with Sean Mahan and Justin Hartwig for a hot second now. This is going to be a fvcking battle that every football fan should see.
- Cory Redding: I don't know how his concussion treatment is going so, I think there's going to be an accentuated platoon force of Trevor Pryce, Lamar Divens and Terrence Cody; the latter, finally may get some meaningful action.
- As I mentioned previously, David Johnson has seemed to take his place as the sorely needed lead blocker in this offense. He is dominant at the point of attack and has brought upon a concerted, amalgamation of what Eric Green, Mark Bruener and Dan Kreider afforded in the running game and pass protection in years past.
- LCB, Chris Carr, whom I played against in high school when I was a sophomore, is a highly underrated cover man that is quite similar to Courtland Finnegan. He is a quality, intelligent and hardnosed player with great make-up speed. He should be a good match for Hines Ward.
- Fabian Washington and Josh Wilson are steady and don't really have to worry a whole lot about Mike Wallace's route tree or catch radius, but, his speed can't be ignored. They'll be handcuffed in what they're afforded when dealing with his pure speed.
- Tom Zibikowski is a basically a combination of John Lynch, and Jim Leonard. He is a top-12 safety in my book and gets this secondary in good position.
- Dawan Landry is adept at pattern recognition, making up for his lack of top-end speed.
- I'm still amazed at how good Ray Lewis is. Not much that's new that can be said for him.
- Jarrett Johnson and Terrell Suggs are elite run defenders. I do not expect any team to have much success in setting the edge against these two, even in unbalanced sets. They are underrated, still, athletically and have excellent hand fighting skills.
- I fear that Trai Essex could get the start over Doug Legursky in this game at RG. Essex is, well, just not that good. I just don't see how he gets his spot back, if isn't just in deference to him being a veteran. Legursky has really surprised me thus far, and could be what this line needs athletically to garner some success in establishing a run game.
- Flozell Adams has been another unexpected surprise. He's taken to RT better than I thought that he could at this point of his career. He has really set the tone.
- Max Starks is steady, and still gets a good kick step even though his frame length makes it look like a sedated elephant is try to back up from a snake in its path.
- Pouncey looks like a 10-year vet, and it's just ridiculous how well he's been playing.
- Charlie Batch got away with a lot of poor throws last week, and needs to calm down a bit and take 2-3 yard scrambles when he can get them.
- Bruce Arians has usually had a good chart drawn up for Raven Week, and I think he knows that he has to stick it out with Mendenhall, whom seems to have eschewed his habitual, unnecessary spin moves and stopping his feet upon contact. He's really come along well, and is confident now.
- The unveiling of Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown in this offense will probably be held back unitl Ben's return, but Brown's presence as a returner is something that every team has to account for now.
- Aaron Smith is nearly unblockable. He's just so damned good lining head-up, that no one single player can really handle him by themself. I don't know how he does it as his age, but he's perhaps the 2nd-most valuable player on the team.
- I'm a bit concerned with Chris Hoke's probable absence. He's an integral part of this defense backing up Hampton, and gets a lot of work each game, and in goaline packages. Hopefully Nick Eason can continue his overachieving play.
- Jared Gaither's absence will likely be very prominent here more so than in any other game.
- Joe Flacco has just not done well reading his route keys against Pittsburgh, and I don't think he'll have a better time with Ray Rice going at under 100% at best. Willis McGahee is a top-tier player in blitz pick-up though.
- Derrick Mason working his options against Bryant McFadden would worry me if I was Dick LeBeau.
- Ike Taylor should be put up in a relatively close, inside-out trail technique on Boldin and should play well if he doesn't have to worry about reading Heap/Houshmandzadeh coming back underneath on smash routes, as that's how Cam Cameron has tried to keep the blitzing under control and keep Polamalu reading in a certain spots 7-yds. off of the ball.
- Lawrence Timmons, as I wrote about in the Atlanta game, has really mastered what the 'MAC' is supposed to do in this defense. He's too explosive when backside pursuit is to be accounted for, and is reacting so quickly. He is eerily similar right now to Julian Peterson circa 2000, and is a 2nd pivot piece for Mr. LeBeau, as he can play in the slot, cover a deep third, rush from the second level or with his hand in the ground, and disengage from blocks with his frame length.
- Deebo and Woodley are the best set of pass rushers/run defenders in the league within a 30-front, and, likely, the League. Well, it's certainly debateable, but I think they're set apart since Woodley is such a varied pass rusher as well.
- William Gay has returned to his own level of greatness, going back to the slot.
- The infusion of Stevenson Sylvester, Will Allen, Keenan Allen, Arnaz Battle, Crezdon Butler, Thaddeus Gibson and Jason Worilds into the Pittsburgh coverage units has been invaluable. The special teams are no longer dreadful to watch.
So, after going through this game, with recent history in mind, I'd have to lean towards taking in the value with anything at (-3) or below with Pittsburgh at home.
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Originally Posted by Joe_Shabadoo
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