2007 Steelers - Week #15 Jacksonville Jaguars

Last Week’s Result

• New England 34, Pittsburgh 13
• Record: 9-4
• Standings: Sole possession of 1st in AFC North

Last Weeks Game Recap

I feel that this was a barometer game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The competition that they have played to date have not been near as good as the New England Patriots (obviously). One or two slip ups in September through November can be forgiven and quickly forgotten if a team can take care of business in December. This is the time when you want to peak and there is no better gauge for where you are at then taking on an outstanding, undefeated team at their house in December. In the Steelers losses, I had mentioned that there were some things that worried me. In the New York Jets Defeat thread in particular, I listed four items that were keeping this team from being a championship team. Unfortunately these four items raised up once again and proved that the Pittsburgh Steelers are not an elite team in this league.

The Steelers now have a dreadful 2-4 record on the road and continue to prove that they can not win on the road. The special teams had a turnover as well as some coverage problems again. The offensive line has shown improvement, but continues to have pass protection inconsistencies. And finally, despite gaudy statistics, the defense seems unable to get off the field when it really matters. I may be the blindest of fan-boys, but despite all that, I still think this team is a good team with the potential to be a great team.

The New England Patriots are a team hitting on all cylinders at the moment, especially on offense. They were the team of the decade before their off-season acquisitions, and now they seem to be the most dominant offense ever assembled. But to be honest, as a Steelers fan, I don’t really care about the patriots and whether they go undefeated or not. This is about the Pittsburgh Steelers and what they need to do if they have any aspirations of not only making the playoffs but being more than a speed bump for some of the currently better teams.

In evaluating this game, I started looking at all the little things that turned this game into the rout that it was. In doing this, I realize that I am playing the what-if game. To be clear, this was a thorough victory by the Patriots and I am not making any excuses for the beat down. This game started out very promising for the Steelers. After holding the Patriots to an initial 3 and out, the Steelers put together a balanced drive that stalled in the red zone and they ended up settling for a field goal. First small problem, and this one happened twice. The offense must find some sure fire plays in the red zone. Settling for 3-points on a long drive is always a bit disappointing, but against the Patriots it is a net loss.

On the next Patriots drive, the Steelers defense was within a hair of holding them to a three and out. On a 3rd and 2 play, Tom Brady threw an 18-yard pass to Randy Moss. Ike Taylor had perfect coverage on this pass, but stood flat footed on the play, while Randy Moss elevated and made the catch. Ike Taylor has a chance to be one of the elite corners in this league. Two things are holding him back. The first is an inability to make even the easiest of catches. I am actually okay with that. Interceptions are nice, but an incomplete pass on third down the majority of the time is nicer. The one major flaw in his game that is devastating is that he can be beat on a jump ball consistently. He is either incapable of playing this or has not practiced it enough. This drive continued and ended up being a touchdown for the Patriots.

The next possession for the Steelers starts with a 9-yard sack. Here is another little thing that the Steelers didn’t do well that the Patriots did do well. The Patriots got 3 sacks against Pittsburgh while the Steelers did not get a single sack. I have often heard that it is about getting pressure against the quarterback as much as getting sacks. I can’t agree with this. Getting your opponent in third and long is the goal. When they have a 2nd and 19, this goal is much easier to achieve. Predictably enough, the Steelers went 3 and out and punted the ball back to the Patriots, giving them the ball on their own 40-yard line. Here is the most infuriating defensive play of the day. On first down, the Patriots run a play action pass. Admittedly, the play action is absolutely perfect. It fooled me watching at home, but worse yet it fooled the Steelers secondary as well. I am not sure if it was by scheme or by the safeties being overly aggressive, but why in the world were the Steelers so concerned about the Patriots run game? Not only that, this is Randy Moss we are talking about. This is the number one deep threat in the league, that should be covered at all times. Plus, Randy has a tendency to play a little less enthusiastically when he is not in the play. How could the secondary not have known this? This was an absolute lack of discipline and possibly terrible preparation for the Steelers.

With all of this, the Steelers finished the half only down by four and knowing that they were going to get the ball to start the second half. The Steelers had overcome the only turn over of the half, holding the Patriots scoreless on the drive after turning over the ball deep in their own territory on a special teams gaffe. The defense had played very well except for getting burned on the play-action pass (totally inexcusable). The offense had moved the ball well despite some short comings and settling for field goals twice. However, the first four possessions of the second half (two for the Steelers and two for the Patriots), separated the outstanding team from the good team. All three units of the Steelers aided in this disastrous turn of events.

The Steelers got the ball to start the second half. After a 20-yard Willie Parker run, the Steelers give up another sack on first down for 8 yards. This is a little thing again, but it puts the offense in a position where they can’t run the ball and 2 plays later they punt the ball to New England. That is the offense not executing. Four plays later, the Patriots successfully execute the wide receiver flea flicker which the over aggressive secondary again overplayed resulting in an easy touchdown, even though the ball was drastically under thrown. This is the defense not performing.

Allen Rossum returns the ensuing kick off 39-yards to the Steeler 39 and it finally appears that the Steelers have finally gotten something positive going. However, there is a penalty flag for an illegal block and the ball is placed back at the 6. That completes the trifecta of screw-ups by each of the Steelers units. After two stuffed runs and an incomplete pass, followed by a short punt, the most potent offense ever gets the ball at the 50-yard line. A couple of plays later the Patriots score their second unanswered touchdown of the quarter and the game is officially a blow out.

So, are the Patriots just that much more talented than anyone in the league? Yes, if you consider playing as a team, playing disciplined and playing for 60 minutes as talent. The Patriots have some outstanding players, but so does almost every team in the league, including the Steelers. Even in past years, when the Patriots had less talent, they applied this approach and won three championships. Now they have upgraded their talent, without compromising the team concept and the rest of the league is left in their wake. I believe that the Steelers can compete though. It is time to stop talking about it and playing as a team for a full sixty minutes. Otherwise it doesn’t matter if the Steelers make the playoffs or not.

Game MVP

Willie Parker - With firm footing, Willie was making great cuts and was hitting the gaps that opened quickly and effectively. I thought that the entire offensive team did an outstanding job on run blocking. Willie Parker was able to secure the ball and did not have any problems with fumbling. I thought that the offensive line as well as the receivers really did well in pass blocking. Unfortunately, due to the deficiencies of other components, it became difficult to turn this game into a ball control offense.

Game Grades

• Offense: C- - While the offensive line was better than I had expected, the three sacks were three too many. Or perhaps it appears worse, since the Steelers were unable to sack Brady. I thought Ben played well and Willie Parker could have taken this game over if things would have worked out different. Being held scoreless in the second half was very disappointing, but most of this had to do with strange play-calling and really not getting very many solid opportunities.
• Defense: D - This would be an F, except for the fact that the defense had appearances of being the unit that they appeared to be on paper. However, Tom Brady had 400 yards and 4 touchdowns against this “number 1″ defense. The Patriots run out the clock by using the pass shorting game which the Steelers were absolutely unable to stop. Plus being burned for two deep plays as they were is just plain undisciplined defense. Something I am not used to seeing. The Steelers generally don’t get blown out. Thanks to the “number 1″ defense, this was a rout.
• Special Teams: D - The ball was handled well on a wet night. Rossum is solid if not spectacular as both a punt returner and kick returner. He has continually secured the ball even under the worst of conditions. Sepulveda had a terrible 27-yard punt, but besides that was solid under less than ideal weather.
• Coaching Staff: D- -
• Overall: D

Season (Composite) Grades

• Offense: - C+
• Defense: - C+
• Special Teams: - C
• Coaching Staff: - C+
• Overall: - C+

Next Up: Jacksonville Jaguars

Things don’t get much easier for the Steelers this week, as the Jacksonville Jaguars come to town. Jacksonville has to be the most overlooked team in this league. They are never talked about with the other elite teams and they fly under the radar because they play in the same conference as the Indianapolis Colts. They come in with the same record as the Pittsburgh Steelers, with their last loss being a 3-point decision at the Colts. They are playing their best football right now and I think they are going to be one of the scariest teams in the play-offs. Any team that overlooks them will definitely pay the price.

This is a team that isn’t even appreciated in their home town as they continually struggle to sell out their own stadium even though they field an outstanding product. Their defense has always been outstanding, particularly their defensive line. Fred Taylor has had the quietest career imaginable for the level of his accomplishments. I will admit that I did not think much of David Garrard as a quarterback at the beginning of the season. I thought that Jacksonville had made a terrible mistake in letting Leftwich go without getting another quarterback. He is currently the second rated quarterback in the league. He doesn’t have a ton of touchdowns, but he only has one interception for the season. And the stats don’t even tell the full story. He is very impressive to watch with a quick and accurate arm.

The Jaguars have always played the Steelers tough and this weekend should be no different. Both teams have plenty to play for and barring some major melt downs, both of these teams are headed to the playoffs. This figures to be a hard-hitting game and to be honest should be an outstanding game. The Steelers need to be prepared to hit for 60 minutes and play a well executed game. In the end, I think the home field advantage for the Steelers wins out. In addition, I hope that the Steelers show a little pride and come to play.

Final Score Prediction

Pittsburgh 24

Jacksonville17