CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Texans: Looking ahead to Steelers
John McClain Sep. 20, 2020
A look at the Texans' Week 3 matchup against the Steelers:
1. The Steelers have taken advantage of a weak opening schedule to start the season with a 2-0 record. They won at the Giants and followed up that victory with a conquest at home over Denver. The Giants and Broncos are a combined 0-4. The Broncos put a scare in the Steelers, running out of downs at the Pittsburgh 15 with 1:51 remaining when backup quarterback Jeff Driskel was sacked.
2. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes in the victory over the Giants. He followed that performance with two more against the Broncos. He missed almost all of 2019 with a season-ending elbow injury. If he gets time to throw against the Texans, he could pick apart their secondary.
3. The Steelers had seven sacks against the Broncos, including a team-best 2 ½ by outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Their pass rush may be the best in the NFL. Denver lost quarterback Drew Lock with an injury to his right shoulder in the first quarter. They got after backup Jeff Driskell, but he still threw two touchdown passes to keep it close. Keeping Watt off Deshaun Watson should be a top priority.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
So.......................
It's not like the Steelers have played against elite teams in week 1 or 2..............or have run away with either games.
Due to injuries, the Steelers OL has been in continued flux. This could be a potential weakness that Weaver will need to take advantage of.
Roethlisberger lost last season to a major right elbow (throwing arm) injury/surgery. The injury gave him several years of pain.........and from overuse and a sudden acute force, resulted in an injury that he was not expected to come back from. Three tendons that were torn away from the bone were re-attached using bone anchors. He apparently has come back strong........for now at least. Although last week, he connected on a long pass with his WR, for the most part, he has been throwing screens and short crossing routes. He threw 32 times in week 1 and 41 times in week2. The question still remains how long will his arm "maintain," especially if he tries to increase the number of longer passes?
In the Ravens game, the defense's problem was not the DBs, it was the DL and the LB play. Watt had some isolated success pressuring and getting to the QB. But neither he (only 2 tackles the entire game) nor the rest of DL/LBs looked interested in playing the run. Roesthlisberger is no gazelle, like Mahomes or Jackson...........but when stationary in the pocket, he is like a mountain unbelievably difficult to bring down.................and when he mobilizes, he is like a locomotive you hardly want to get in front of. The Texans D can't have another game looking like their in an oiled pig wrestling contest.
There is no doubt that the Steelers will continue the established trend of blitzing Watson. The Oline will have to do a better job of picking up at least 1-on-1 on 5 defenders. And Watson will have to do a much better job of reading the Mike LB........if the Mike backs off, Watson likely has some decent time to go through all his progressions and maybe look deep or even take off and run.........but if the Mike comes in or an outside rusher comes, Watson has to become more aware of the pressure promptly, and recognize the fact that the ball has to come out immediately.........anywhere..........except into a defender's hands.
Unlike the first 2 games, with some smarter, faster and more secure play on the part of the entire team, this is a very winnable game.
John McClain Sep. 20, 2020
A look at the Texans' Week 3 matchup against the Steelers:
1. The Steelers have taken advantage of a weak opening schedule to start the season with a 2-0 record. They won at the Giants and followed up that victory with a conquest at home over Denver. The Giants and Broncos are a combined 0-4. The Broncos put a scare in the Steelers, running out of downs at the Pittsburgh 15 with 1:51 remaining when backup quarterback Jeff Driskel was sacked.
2. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes in the victory over the Giants. He followed that performance with two more against the Broncos. He missed almost all of 2019 with a season-ending elbow injury. If he gets time to throw against the Texans, he could pick apart their secondary.
3. The Steelers had seven sacks against the Broncos, including a team-best 2 ½ by outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Their pass rush may be the best in the NFL. Denver lost quarterback Drew Lock with an injury to his right shoulder in the first quarter. They got after backup Jeff Driskell, but he still threw two touchdown passes to keep it close. Keeping Watt off Deshaun Watson should be a top priority.
****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
So.......................
It's not like the Steelers have played against elite teams in week 1 or 2..............or have run away with either games.
Due to injuries, the Steelers OL has been in continued flux. This could be a potential weakness that Weaver will need to take advantage of.
Roethlisberger lost last season to a major right elbow (throwing arm) injury/surgery. The injury gave him several years of pain.........and from overuse and a sudden acute force, resulted in an injury that he was not expected to come back from. Three tendons that were torn away from the bone were re-attached using bone anchors. He apparently has come back strong........for now at least. Although last week, he connected on a long pass with his WR, for the most part, he has been throwing screens and short crossing routes. He threw 32 times in week 1 and 41 times in week2. The question still remains how long will his arm "maintain," especially if he tries to increase the number of longer passes?
In the Ravens game, the defense's problem was not the DBs, it was the DL and the LB play. Watt had some isolated success pressuring and getting to the QB. But neither he (only 2 tackles the entire game) nor the rest of DL/LBs looked interested in playing the run. Roesthlisberger is no gazelle, like Mahomes or Jackson...........but when stationary in the pocket, he is like a mountain unbelievably difficult to bring down.................and when he mobilizes, he is like a locomotive you hardly want to get in front of. The Texans D can't have another game looking like their in an oiled pig wrestling contest.
There is no doubt that the Steelers will continue the established trend of blitzing Watson. The Oline will have to do a better job of picking up at least 1-on-1 on 5 defenders. And Watson will have to do a much better job of reading the Mike LB........if the Mike backs off, Watson likely has some decent time to go through all his progressions and maybe look deep or even take off and run.........but if the Mike comes in or an outside rusher comes, Watson has to become more aware of the pressure promptly, and recognize the fact that the ball has to come out immediately.........anywhere..........except into a defender's hands.
Unlike the first 2 games, with some smarter, faster and more secure play on the part of the entire team, this is a very winnable game.
Last edited: