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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
        
(Message started by: steelkings on Oct 31^st, 2003, 12:00pm)

Title: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by steelkings on Oct 31^st, 2003, 12:00pm

The Pittsburgh Steelers Travel to Seattle to play a team they haven’t beaten on the road in twenty years. In fact, the Steelers have managed a 1 and 6 record against the hawks in the last 7 games. The Seahawks last loss came 1 week ago in Cincinnati. Despite that loss Seattle is leading the NFC west with a 5 and 2 record. They are 4 and 0 at home, with a 1 and 2 road record. The Seahawks have the 9th ranked defense and the 12th ranked offence in the NFL. The Hawks feature Matt Hasselback, Shawn Alexander, Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson on the offensive side of the ball, while their defense is lead by Marcus Trufant and Anthony Simmoms.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a 2 and 5 record. 1 and 3 at home, with a 1 and 2 road record. The Steelers sport the NFL’s 3rd ranked defense. The offense is ranked 22nd. The Steelers feature Tommy Maddox, Jerome Bettis, Hines Ward And Plexico Burress on offence along with Joey Porter and Jason Gildon on defense.

Quarterback
Tommy Maddox in his 7th year out of UCLA and has a 73.1 passer rating. He has completed almost 60% of his passes. He has averaged 235 yards per game, and has thrown 7 TD’s. Tom has been getting pressured into a pile of turnovers lately. He’s been sacked a league leading 23 times which has lead to 11 interceptions. The Steelers have struggled on third down. This directly reflects the fact that the Steelers are getting killed on time of possession. They are 37 of 67 with an average of a needed 7+ yards to convert the down. The ineffective running game, combined with the sack total puts the Steelers in bad situations on third down. Without the ability to stay on the field for long drives, Maddox has struggled to find a rhythm. Bill Cower has Put Oliver Ross back at the Right Guard position. Ross is a better Pass protector and should benefit Maddox in obvious passing downs.
I like Maddox to have a solid fantasy game, as this game should be a shoot out. Bettis is finding his rhythm in his second start and should take pressure off Maddox.

Tommy Maddox 21 of 35 for 288 Yards 2TD’s 1 Int

Running backs
Bettis the power back is starting over Amos Zereoue the scat back. Bettis is averaging 3 yards per carry while Amos is averaging 3.3 yards per carry. Zereoue likes to take the ball outside and struggles with the Steeler o-line unable to hold the running lanes. Zereoue will break a longer run than Bettis, however he losses yardage and puts the team in bad situations trying to get outside. Cower has given the third down role to Zereoue because he will catch the ball better than Bettis. Jerome will mostly take the ball straight up between the tackles. He’s very slow outside and prefers to beat it in there. The Seattle Defensive line is small but quick. Starting run stuffer Chad Brown is doubtful giving the bus an opportunity to roll. Bettis will need to have a big game in order for the Steelers to be successful. He will get it early and often. If he can stay healthy through out this game, look for him to produce him first 100 yarder of the season. Most of this will come in the second half.

Jerome Bettis 26 Carries 105 yrds rsh 3 rec 15yrds 0 TD’s
Amos Zereoue 5 Carries 22 yrds rsh 1 rec 10yrds 1 TD

Plax Burress and Hines ward despite the high expectations have had below average numbers. Maddox has been unable to avoid sacks long enough for them to get down field. Burress complained bitterly about not getting the ball enough. Burress complained openly to the Pittsburgh media that he’s open on every play but not getting the ball. Hines wouldn’t talk at all. Other than to say he’s not talking. Cower says that the coaches have lost confidence in the low percentage plays. He would like them to take more chances. I agree. That along with a big game from the Bus should allow big numbers from the receivers. The biggest to Burress. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Burress 9 recp 126 yrds 2TD’s
Ward 6 Recp 88 yrds 0 TD’s
Remersma 4 recp 38 yrds 0 TD’s
Randall El 2 recp 11yrds 0TD’s

Kicker
Jeff Reid has kicked well. He’s 11 of 13 with his longest of 51 yards. He is 13 of 13 on extra points. He’ll have a decent game fantasy wise.

Reid 2 FG 3 XP

Defense

The Steelers play the old 3/4 defense. Lately the have dropped the linebackers into coverage and blitzed very little. The secondary of the Steelers has been getting torched. During one play last week Bulger had 7 seconds to find a receiver. That resulted in Tory Holt catching a 38-yard pass, wide open. Cower Moved Kendrell Bell out of the dime package for Carl Haggans. Haggans is bigger and will provide more pressure from the front 4. Cower also committed to more blitz packages to force more pressure on the quarterback. This alone will help the secondary. The problem will then become Shawn Alexander. Because Kendrell Bell won’t play on third down, he will remain fresher and able to keep Alexander from having a big game. With Koren Robinson Hurting The Steelers will blitz the inside linebackers to prevent the draw while getting pressure. The road under dogs should be good in this one.

Defense 85 yrds rsh 245 passing 3 int

Final
Steelers 27
Seahawks 20

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by Philly on Oct 31^st, 2003, 2:43pm

Nice analysis steelkings... good to see another one up here. I was very surprised to see that the Steelers are ranked #3 overall in defense as you point out in your first paragraph. It seems that they are very underrated, but I guess that will be the case when their record is as poor as it is.

(A little tip... if you're typing something up in MS Word and just copying and pasting it here, you're going to lose some of the formatting and special characters. That's why you see boxes instead of apostrophes. Try putting it into Notepad as a .txt file then copying and pasting - it should work better for you.)

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by dropkick on Oct 31^st, 2003, 8:11pm

How do you see the Pitt RB situation playing itself out into next season? I think the Bus will be done. And maybe Zereoue isn't an every down back. Any talk of Haynes or even dante Brown geting a more prominent role?

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by steelkings on Oct 31^st, 2003, 9:42pm

Quote:

(A little tip... if you're typing something up in MS Word and just copying and pasting it here, you're going to lose some of the formatting and special characters. That's why you see boxes instead of apostrophes. Try putting it into Notepad as a .txt file then copying and pasting - it should work better for you.)

Thats a little like explaining human rights to Saddam! I dont get it. Thanks though. :) When I preveiw the post it come to me fine . It seems to be fine as i view it now. Is it because it was generated on my cpu? Is everyone else getting a lame view?

Quote:

I dont know about adressing the backs in the off season.. The Steelers need to address the o-line or no-one is going to succeed there. Bettis will likely retire. Zereoue has always been little more than a third down back. Brown and haynes have done little to impress. usually a rookie has come forward by now. The last time the Steelers got into this same spot, they traded for Bettis. The Steelers drafted an o-lineman last year. I look for two more in the upcoming draft. Maybe even a free agent. Lineman win football games.

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by steelkings on Oct 31^st, 2003, 9:47pm

Quote:

I was very surprised to see that the Steelers are ranked #3 overall in defense as you point out in your first paragraph. It seems that they are very underrated, but I guess that will be the case when their record is as poor as it is.

Thats a yardage thing. The offense turns the ball over in there own end alot. Scoring def is really poor. Did I leave that out? ;D

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by StegRock on Oct 31^st, 2003, 10:51pm

on 10/31/03 at 21:42:23, steelkings wrote:

Yes, I too am getting some whacky formatting. Apostrophes (') are being displayed as squares [smiley=square.gif] . Ultimately, what dropkick suggests is correct and there are not too many other ways of explaining it. But, whatever, sk, it's not that big of a deal and perhaps you will figure it out over time.

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by steelkings on Nov 1^st, 2003, 8:13am

Quote:

Yes, I too am getting some whacky formatting. Apostrophes (') are being displayed as squares . Ultimately, what dropkick suggests is correct and there are not too many other ways of explaining it. But, whatever, sk, it's not that big of a deal and perhaps you will figure it out over time.

Thanks
My people are sorting out the technical difficulties.

Update:
Jay Riemersma has been deactivated for this weekend.

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by steelkings on Nov 3^rd, 2003, 9:08am

Quote:

Tommy Maddox 21 of 35 for 288 Yards 2TD’s 1 Int

Tommy played well. Penalties really hurt. Maddox moved out of or with the now mobile pocket and was only sacked twice. He didnt throw a pick while still taking chances with the ball.

Tommys actuals: 21 of 35 for 226 yrds 1 TD 0 Ints

Quote:

Jerome Bettis 26 Carries 105 yrds rsh 3 rec 15yrds 0 TD’s
Amos Zereoue 5 Carries 22 yrds rsh 1 rec 10yrds 1 TD

Bettis ran well. Penalties created long yardage situations and reduced his carries. he was getting stronger as the day progressed.

Bettis actuals:17car for 50yrds o recp
Zereoue actuals: 7 car for 32yrds..3 recp for 18 yrds

Quote:

Burress 9 recp 126 yrds 2TD’s
Ward 6 Recp 88 yrds 0 TD’s
Remersma 4 recp 38 yrds 0 TD’s
Randall El 2 recp 11yrds 0TD’s

The Seahawks did a great job of bumping and holding the Steeler recievers. Most of it was the illegal kind. The players really bitched about it in the post game. The truth is though, its only Illegal if the refs call it.
Burris actuals:5 recp for 75 yrds 0 TD's
Ward actuals :8 recp for 66yrds 3 car for14 yrds 1 TD
Randell el actuals: 3 recp for 45yrds
Tuman actuals:2 rect for 22yrds

Quote:

Reid 2 FG 3 XP

Reid doesnt miss his opportunities.
Reid actuals:3 FG 1xp

Quote:

Defense 85 yrds rsh 245 passing 3 int

The defensive pressure was much improved. Hasselback was sacked 5 times. Missed tackles at key times were the undoing of the defense.
Defensive actuals:98 yrds rsh 191 yrds pass 0 ints

Quote:

Final
Steelers 27
Seahawks 20

Actual final score
Seahawks 23
Pittsburgh 16

This one could have been worse, or it could have been better. Missed tackles by Pittsburgh in the first half lead to 2 missed touchdown opportunities by the Seahawks. The Steelers overall had better field position through out the game. Once again third down proved to be a problem. Mostly because of long yardage downs due to penalty's. The Steelers were penalized 11 times for 76 yards. Mostly false starts or proceedure penalties. The Seahawks were penalized 5 times for 35 yrds.

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by Philly on Nov 3^rd, 2003, 9:59am

I'm not sure what was more impressive... your analysis and wrap-up, or your use of the QUOTE feature in that last post!

:o ;D

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by steelkings on Nov 3^rd, 2003, 1:48pm

My next hurdle to tackle is how you guy's post a direct link to articles or web sites. Thats neat as hell.

Title: Re: Steelers(gulp) analysis week 9
Post by captainpurple on Nov 3^rd, 2003, 3:33pm

Well done Steelkings.

That 21-35 prediction was eerie! :o