Steelers/NFL
The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Jacksonville this weekend in a game that looks very similar to last year’s AFC Wild Card game between the two squads. No Willie Parker again, injuries to the offensive line again and the team is missing one of its best defensive lineman again. Will we see a different result this time?
Both teams come into this game with question marks. Pittsburgh has no running game with Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall sidelined. Jacksonville on the other hand has struggled defensively and have been hit hard with injuries to their offensive line.
Quick Hits
The Steelers will let Darnell Stapleton and Trai Essex battle it out in practice to see who will start at right guard. Essex played well at guard in training camp. Following the Jacksonville game the Steelers will explore all of their options. For the most part the Steelers have been against Willie Colon playing guard. The team believes he is too slow but with Max Starks on the sideline, it is a possibility that the Steelers will give Colon a look at guard during the bye week.
The play calling is still a issue for the Steelers. The game plan in the first half was awful and I hope Tomlin doesn’t overlook that because the Steelers won the game. Bruce Arians is not a big fan of quick drops but he better become one because that is the Steelers only hope right now. They need to work more on dump offs with Mewelde Moore in the lineup and the Steelers need to run Santonio Holmes on slants and quick outs. Too many times they are sending him down field to open up the short routes for Ward.
As expected the Steelers have officially signed running back Gary Russell
Photo courtesy of Inside Pittsburgh Sports
