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Texan Tailgate
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A fun game to watch!
Running On All Cylinders
Article by David Saurer (The Steelers Maniac)
The Showdown
The Pittsburgh Steelers coming off an impressive season opener 34-7 win at Heinz Field against the Tennessee Titans should continue to roll over to the showdown this Sunday at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Pittsburgh should be confident with Willie Parker's explosiveness off the line carrying the ball 22 times for 161 yards and a touchdown to become the most highly rushed yards in opening day history along with becoming the Offensive Player of the Week in the NFL. Ben Roethlisberger opened his passing brilliance where he left off last year, completing 9 of 11 passes for 218 yards and a couple of touchdowns to improve his astounding record to 14-0 in the regular season. Antwann Randle El made a little excitement himself shutting down all the critics' motion of a non deep threat by going deep with Roethlisberger on a 63-yard pass which is a Heinz Field Record for the day. Heath Miller, the rookie sensation tight end from the University of Virginia, had his first official NFL touchdown pass a 3-yarder. Troy Polamalu, the sensational safety of the Steelers, continues his Taz impression, by grabbing the first interception of the season. All these great things have one thing in common, getting the fans exciting for what should become a fantastic run for the 2005 season. Houston Texans coming off an embarrassing 22-7 loss to the up and coming Buffalo Bills. David Carr had his share of the follies being sacked numerous times and only going 9 for 21 for 70 yards and three interceptions. Dominack Davis was also shut down to one of his worse performance of his career only having 14 carries for 48 yards and yet fumbled for the first time since last September. The Texans had a nightmare with Buffalo creating 5 turnovers, allowing five sacks, and just generated 120 total yards. The Texans are going to need to vastly improve their game performance or else, it will become a very long day for them against the Steelers.
The Steelers on the other had will return every defensive starter from the end of last season, and on offense will be replacing only 3 starters. Pittsburgh comes off of an AFC best ever 15-1 regular season while the Titans are in re-building mode after a 5 2004 campaign. The Titans look to build for the future while the Steelers are looking to make a run at a Super Bowl.
Series Notes:
Series History: began in 2002
Overall: Houston leads 1-0
Last Meeting: December 8, 2002 (Heinz Field) Houston 24, Pittsburgh 6
Coaches Notes:
Pittsburgh Head Coach Bill Cowher
Overall Record/Season: 131-77-1 (.629)/14th Season as the Steelers Head Coach
Houston Head Coach Dom Capers
Overall Record/Season: 47-68 (.409)/8th season
Record at Houston/Season: 16-33 (.327)/ 4th season as the Texans Head Coach
Matchups
QB Steelers Ben Roethlisberger against Texans David Carr- Roethlisberger coming off an impressive perfect passing rating game against the Titans at 158.3 and leaving off where he began last season is going to create some hectic disaster for the Texans defense. Look for Roethlisberger to open up the passing game and get the offense into rhythm. His excellent style of running out of the pocket is going to be the vital weapon of choice when needed. Roethlisberger couldn't ask for a better set of receivers or tight end. The Steelers got a major advantage at this point. The Texans are going to need a higher performance from David Carr if they going to give Pittsburgh a challenge. Andre Johnson and Corey Bradford are the only option on the receiving end for a legit threat. Tight End Mark Bruener, a former Steeler, will be a third option in the passing attack. If Carr gets off to a bad start creating turnovers, look for the Steelers to open this game wide-open.
Advantage: Roethlisberger
RB Steelers Willie Parker against Texans Dominack Davis- Willie Parker coming off one of the best opening day rushing game in Steelers history got the nod from Head Coach Bill Cowher to start the game against the Texans. If something is working right, don't fix it. Parker has a resemblance for many as the retired running back from the Detroit Lions, Barry Sanders. His explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and his ability to break tackles will give him the key extensiveness to bring a whole new dimension to the offensive attack for the Steelers. Look for a similar game from Parker against the Texans. Dominack Davis didn't do much for the Texans against the powerful Bills defensive line. Davis is going to find out things will get much worse if the Steelers D-line holds up extremely well in shutting the running attack down. Facing last year's number one run prevent defense isn't going to help his confidence. I sense Davis will have his worse game of his career against the Steelers.
Advantage: Parker
WR Steelers Hines Ward, Cedrick Wilson, and Antwann Randle El against Texans Andre Johnson, Corey Bradford, and Jabar Gaffney- The Steelers have themselves a great trio of receivers capable of making a quarterback's dream come true, confidence in the ability to open the game wide-open, and knowing these three gentleman can bring the swing of momentum at any given point in the game. Pro-Bowler Hines Ward should have a great game against the weakness of the Texans secondary. He had a mediocre 2 receptions for 25 yards against the Titans, but look for Ward to get his first 100+ yard performance this time. Antwann Randle El and Cedrick Wilson will bring the deep threat to consideration. Randle El proved this last week with the stellar 63-yard reception for a touchdown. Look for a similar game plan that will expose Ben's long ball abilities. The Texans have a Pro-bowler in the making with Andre Johnson becoming the deep threat and short pass specialist. He could make Carr look very good at any given time. Corey Bradford is another proven star at wide receiver and can shift the game any moment in time. Jabar Gaffney's health is a concern at this time with his pending injury. If he does play, he has proven to be a great option on the passing game. The key to the success of the Texans is Carr ability to get the ball off and have time in the pocket; otherwise, it will become a Steelers blowout in this coming game.
Advantage: Ward, Wilson, Randle El
OL- Steelers Right Tackle Max Starks, Right Guard Kendall Simmons, Center Jeff Hartings, Left Guard Alan Faneca, Left Tackle Marvel Smith, and Tight End Heath Miller and Jumaine Tuman-Texans Right Tackle Todd Wade, Right Guard Zack Wiegert, Center Steve McKinney, Left Guard Chester Pitts, Left Tackle Victor Riley and Tight End Mark Bruener-The Steelers are the cream of the crop when it comes to the offensive line. The Steelers success of last year's 15-1 record and the performance against the Titans is this brilliance display of power. The offensive line is one of the league's best, but the fans also believe they can play suspect at any given moment of time. The Steelers shall have no problem facing pressure from the Texans. Given this elite group of players, I believe is solid dominance is going to prevail. The Texans got some work to do if they are going to hold up against the dominating defense of the Steelers. They have to play their best game ever, which no doubt, won't happen folks. This game will be won on the line.
Advantage: Steelers Offensive Line
DL- Steelers Left Defensive End Aaron Smith, Nose Tackle Casey Hampton, Right Defensive End Kimo Von Oelhoffen, Left Outside Linebacker Clark Haggans, Left Inside Linebacker James Farrior, Right Inside Linebacker Larry Foote, Right Outside Linebacker Joey Porter against Texans Left Defensive End Gary Walker, Nose Tackle Seth Payne, Right Defensive End Robarie Smith, Left Outside Linebacker Jason Babin, Left Inside Linebacker Kailee Wong, Right Inside Linebacker Morlon Greenwood, and Right Outside Linebacker Antwan Peek-The Steelers overall have the distinct advantage on this matchup, we have proven Pro-Bowlers all over the defensive unit ranked number one against the run prevent. This is one scary unit ran by one defensive mastermind, creator of Blitzburgh, Dick LeBeau. I sense LeBeau is going to run more blitz coverage than zone coverage. The key will be to force Carr out of the pocket and make mental errors. The Steelers will give the Texans all they can handle. The defensive line of the Texans is young and very fast which could cause some disruption on the line of scrimmage; however, the Steelers should give them a fight along the line and give Ben Roethlisberger the pocket protection needed to boost the offensive game-plan. This could ugly if the Texans are able to create pressure.
Advantage: Steelers Defensive Line
Secondary- Steelers Left Cornerback Ricardo Colcough, Free Safety Chris Hope, Strong Safety Troy Polamalu and Right Cornerback DeShea Townsend. Texans Left Cornerback Phillip Buchanon, Free Safety Marcus Coleman, Strong Safety Glenn Earl, and Right Cornerback Dunta Robinson-the Steelers possess one of the best safety combos in the National Football League with Pro-Bowler Troy Polamalu and Veteran Chris Hope. The duo will cause disruption for Carr and company, especially Polamalu, who will be moved around the entire field from the back to the linebacker corps on blitzes. The secondary of the Steelers, however, can be a real culprit or be a real beauty. This is the concern of the fans and the coaches of the Steelers. We can never know for sure which one will show up at game time. The Texans, however, have a vastly improved secondary that is known to be very quick, precise, and not too mention young. This morning in the conference call to Ben Roethlisberger, he pointed out that the Texans secondary could give Ben all he can handle and knows this is going to be a challenge to be reckoned with. This is a very difficult decision to ponder on who has the advantage, but my guts are telling me, Troy Polamalu will make the difference in this game.
Advantage: Even-pending the plays of Polamalu and Hope will make and break this to the Steelers Advantage
Special Teams-Steelers Kicker Jeff Reed, Punter Chris Gardocki, Kick Returner Ricardo Colcough, Punt Returner Antwann Randle El, Long Snapper Greg Warren, Holder Chris Gardocki. Texans Kicker Kris Brown, Punter Chad Stanley, Kick Returner Reggie Swinton, Punt Returner Reggie Swinton, Long Snapper Bryan Pittman, Holder Chad Stanley. The Steelers have a great combo at the special team corps of Jeff Reed and Chris Gardocki whom proven to be effective when needed, however, Reed has been showing weakness on kickoffs which is causing a concern among the fan and the coaches. The Steelers also have legit threats on the return corps with Colcough and Randle El who proven to be effective, have the take off speed, and can gives you the hopes of good field position. The Texans have themselves a relatively good kicker in former Steelers Kris Brown. Chad Stanley will try providing a deep start for the Steelers on the punting aspects, although, according to the stats, he has been struggling on the net average as well as average on the kicks. Kick and Punt Returner Reggie Swinton has yet to prove himself this season and knowingly without knowing much about his skills has me scratching my head on what to believe this man can prove.
Advantage-Even
The Sum-up and Predictor
The Maniac would say the Steelers need to come out and open the offensive attack on the open drive to offset the chances of the Texans disrupting this game. Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, and the receiver corps will need to have their A game going to make this a good start to a win. If the Texans youth, speed, and predicament cause any pressure on Ben, this could get ugly real fast. I believe the defense of the Steelers will step up the playing abilities and cause massive headaches for Caper, Carr and company. I look to see the Texans continue to have their turnover headaches carry over from last week in Buffalo. The Steelers offense, however, is running on all cylinders and hopefully this will continue to happen from last week in Pittsburgh. Willie Parker needs to show his brilliance speed and quick flashiness at the start to get the rhythm going. This is going to be a fun game to watch, like I said, it could get ugly real quick or could become a happy day for the Steelers. The Maniac concludes this summary by saying this, the Steelers better be ready for action because this is their game to prep up for New England.
GO GET 'EM BOYS!!! Steelers 31 Texans 13
~The Maniac....................
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