Steel City USA, Home of the Blitz

[travisduncan]

-Steelcity USA, putting fear into opposing offensive lines for at least the last five decades.

In 2010, the Steelers led the entire National Football League in sacks (48) and trailed only the Chargers in total yards allowed by a defense (276.8).

The Steelers want to knock you on the ground, kick you in the teeth and rub your face in the dirt.

It doesn't take a football expert to realize that this Sunday in Pittsburgh, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers will bring the pressure on the 'Hawks young offensive line. The Steelers, led by linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley will gamble with a giant bullseye on the back of Tarvaris Jackson. The Steelers are betting Jackson won't have enough time to make them pay for the blitz. Everyone knows the Blitz is coming Sunday. It's just a matter of stopping it.

But there is still hope, the Seahawks, like the Ravens, can limit the Blitzburgh attack by running the ball. The Steelers gave up 35 points to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 and only sacked Joe Flacco once.

Ravens RB Ray Rice totaled 107 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown, snapping the Steelers’ streak of 17 consecutive regular-season games without allowing a 100-yard rusher. That in turn limited the Steelers ability to get to Flacco.

Tomlin admitted the root cause of the lack of the pass rush against the Ravens was the ability of Rice to find space and run the ball.

"Every time [The Ravens] turned and handed the ball to a running back, they did so at five yards per carry," said Tomlin. "

"There’s not going to be many clean rush opportunities when your opponent is doing that to you over the course of 30 carries throughout the football game."

The ability to protect Jackson and limit the vicious Steelers pass rush will go hand and hand with the ability for Marshawn Lynch to run the ball.

Last week against the 49ers Lynch only took 13 carries and totaled just 33 yards. We all know Lynch can do more than that, and his ability to find the holes and gain yardage will be pivotal.

Regardless of what happened last week, Pete Carroll knows what's coming.

"[That was] just one of those games where the ball went crazy for the Ravens," said Carroll when speaking to the media this week.

"I think these guys are very dangerous and they are going to bring the heat they can muster and that’s a lot. "

Sunday's game is just as important as the other 16 regular season game, but Seattle like Pittsburgh is searching for it's first W of 2011.

It won't be easy. The Steelers have a remarkably good record as you would expect at Heinz Field

The Steelers are 25-8 at home in the regular season during the Mike Tomlin era (2007-present). The Steelers own the best home record in the NFL with a 227-88-1 record (.718) since 1970. Pittsburgh is 42-14 (.750) at home over the past seven seasons, including a 5-
3 record in 2010.

Be sure to check back later for a more Seahawks-Steelers coverage.

 

[robdog]

This is going to be a tough game. The Steelers are going to be pissed about their last loss to the Ravens. Maybe we can pull the upset!