ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Eagles vs. Steelers Friday, November 5, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Eagles and Steelers. Now they're back with a
second look.
The Steelers miss NT Casey Hampton. Without the massive Hampton taking up
space in his two-gap technique in the middle of their 3-4 defense, the
Steelers' linebackers are forced to deal with a lot more blockers on the
second level.
The good news, however, is that Pittsburgh caught a break without Corey
Dillon in the lineup for the Patriots last week and they'll catch another
huge break without Brian Westbrook in the lineup for the Eagles on Sunday.
With Westbrook still nursing his cracked ribs, the Eagles are forced to
turn to veteran RB Dorsey Levens, who is a tough downhill runner but lacks
the burst, change-of-direction skills and overall versatility of
Westbrook.
Making matters worse for the Eagles and their running game is that ROG
Jermane Mayberry will not play because of calf injury and ROT Jon Runyan
isn't close to 100-percent because of a groin injury. The Eagles lose a
lot in terms of athleticism and experience with Steve Sciullo filling in
for Mayberry.
The individual matchup of WR Terrell Owens vs. LDC Willie Williams is one
of the biggest mismatches in the NFL this weekend. Not only does Williams
lack the size to match up physically, but he also has lost a step with age
and can no longer turn and run with the speed of Owens. As a result, the
Steelers will have to be overly protective of Williams.
They will consistently need to play "bracket" coverage with a safety
helping Williams on the inside beyond ten yards They also will have to
drop a linebacker into short coverage in order to help take away the quick
slant, because there's no way Williams can press Owens at the line of
scrimmage. That not only will limit the Steelers in terms of what they can
do with their safeties in run support, but it also will limit the amount
that they can blitz their outside linebackers, which is critical to their
pass rush pressure.
The one thing that could help the Steelers overcome the Owens-Williams
mismatch is the injury to Eagles' WR Todd Pinkston, who is not likely to
play because of a bone bruise in his knee. If Pinkston was 100 percent, he
would give the Eagles a good chance to exploit RDC Deshea Townsend on
vertical routes.
Without him WR Freddie Mitchell must step up as the starter opposite
Owens. The Eagles also will use more two-tight end sets with Chad Lewis
and L.J. Smith because they lack depth behind Owens and Mitchell at
receiver to spread the Steelers' secondary out.
Pittsburgh RB Duce Staley should have a productive game against his former
team on Sunday. Staley has remained fresh this season because the Steelers
are doing a good job of giving him help on most short-yardage and
goal-line situations from Jerome Bettis and some passing downs from FB
Verron Haynes.
Staley has the quickness, burst and vision to find and hit some creases
that will be opened up by the Eagles in their one-gap defensive scheme. He
also is versatile and reliable enough as a receiver to help the Steelers
catch the Eagles when they get over-aggressive with the blitz. Look for
Staley to get 20-plus carries on Sunday, as the Steelers will look to
protect QB Ben Roethlisberger against such an aggressive defensive scheme
while also looking to exploit the massive size and strength advantage that
they have in the trenches against the Eagles' undersized front-seven.
The Eagles attacking scheme should give Roethlisberger much more trouble
than he has had against any of the other six defenses he has faced as a
rookie starter. The Steelers have the depth at receiver with Plaxico
Burress, Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El to spread the Eagles out, but
the Eagles will simply counter by playing a lot of "man-free" coverage,
which still will leave their front seven in tact to continue with its
aggressive approach.
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson likes to focus on gaps in terms of his
blitz package and he'll have a great opportunity to attack the right side
of the Steelers' offensive line, where OT Oliver Ross and OG Keydrick
Vincent lack athleticism and already will have problems in their
individual matchups against DE Jevon Kearse and DT Corey Simon. Finally,
if the Eagles find a way to jump out to a lead and force the Steelers to
play catch-up in this game, it could lead to Roethlisberger's first
meltdown as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Special Teams
Pittsburgh PK Jeff Reed and PT Chris Gardocki have been more reliable
recently but still are somewhat of an inconsistent pair. That has to be a
concern for the Steelers' coaching staff entering Sunday's game against
two of the most productive kickers in the NFL, as Eagles' PT Dirk Johnson
ranks fourth in the NFL with an average of 44.2 yards per attempt and PK
David Akers has a league-best 72 points. Akers has connected on 18-of-21
field goal attempts this season.
There isn't much of a difference between these two teams in the kickoff
return game, as J.R. Reed is averaging 25.5 yards per attempt compared to
Antwaan Randle El's 25.2 for the Steelers. The Steelers do have an edge in
the punt return department, however, as Randle El is more experienced and
potentially much more explosive than Eagles' PR Reno Mahe.
Prediction: Eagles 23, Steelers 20
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Eagles and Steelers. Now they're back with a
second look.
The Steelers miss NT Casey Hampton. Without the massive Hampton taking up
space in his two-gap technique in the middle of their 3-4 defense, the
Steelers' linebackers are forced to deal with a lot more blockers on the
second level.
The good news, however, is that Pittsburgh caught a break without Corey
Dillon in the lineup for the Patriots last week and they'll catch another
huge break without Brian Westbrook in the lineup for the Eagles on Sunday.
With Westbrook still nursing his cracked ribs, the Eagles are forced to
turn to veteran RB Dorsey Levens, who is a tough downhill runner but lacks
the burst, change-of-direction skills and overall versatility of
Westbrook.
Making matters worse for the Eagles and their running game is that ROG
Jermane Mayberry will not play because of calf injury and ROT Jon Runyan
isn't close to 100-percent because of a groin injury. The Eagles lose a
lot in terms of athleticism and experience with Steve Sciullo filling in
for Mayberry.
The individual matchup of WR Terrell Owens vs. LDC Willie Williams is one
of the biggest mismatches in the NFL this weekend. Not only does Williams
lack the size to match up physically, but he also has lost a step with age
and can no longer turn and run with the speed of Owens. As a result, the
Steelers will have to be overly protective of Williams.
They will consistently need to play "bracket" coverage with a safety
helping Williams on the inside beyond ten yards They also will have to
drop a linebacker into short coverage in order to help take away the quick
slant, because there's no way Williams can press Owens at the line of
scrimmage. That not only will limit the Steelers in terms of what they can
do with their safeties in run support, but it also will limit the amount
that they can blitz their outside linebackers, which is critical to their
pass rush pressure.
The one thing that could help the Steelers overcome the Owens-Williams
mismatch is the injury to Eagles' WR Todd Pinkston, who is not likely to
play because of a bone bruise in his knee. If Pinkston was 100 percent, he
would give the Eagles a good chance to exploit RDC Deshea Townsend on
vertical routes.
Without him WR Freddie Mitchell must step up as the starter opposite
Owens. The Eagles also will use more two-tight end sets with Chad Lewis
and L.J. Smith because they lack depth behind Owens and Mitchell at
receiver to spread the Steelers' secondary out.
Pittsburgh RB Duce Staley should have a productive game against his former
team on Sunday. Staley has remained fresh this season because the Steelers
are doing a good job of giving him help on most short-yardage and
goal-line situations from Jerome Bettis and some passing downs from FB
Verron Haynes.
Staley has the quickness, burst and vision to find and hit some creases
that will be opened up by the Eagles in their one-gap defensive scheme. He
also is versatile and reliable enough as a receiver to help the Steelers
catch the Eagles when they get over-aggressive with the blitz. Look for
Staley to get 20-plus carries on Sunday, as the Steelers will look to
protect QB Ben Roethlisberger against such an aggressive defensive scheme
while also looking to exploit the massive size and strength advantage that
they have in the trenches against the Eagles' undersized front-seven.
The Eagles attacking scheme should give Roethlisberger much more trouble
than he has had against any of the other six defenses he has faced as a
rookie starter. The Steelers have the depth at receiver with Plaxico
Burress, Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El to spread the Eagles out, but
the Eagles will simply counter by playing a lot of "man-free" coverage,
which still will leave their front seven in tact to continue with its
aggressive approach.
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson likes to focus on gaps in terms of his
blitz package and he'll have a great opportunity to attack the right side
of the Steelers' offensive line, where OT Oliver Ross and OG Keydrick
Vincent lack athleticism and already will have problems in their
individual matchups against DE Jevon Kearse and DT Corey Simon. Finally,
if the Eagles find a way to jump out to a lead and force the Steelers to
play catch-up in this game, it could lead to Roethlisberger's first
meltdown as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
Special Teams
Pittsburgh PK Jeff Reed and PT Chris Gardocki have been more reliable
recently but still are somewhat of an inconsistent pair. That has to be a
concern for the Steelers' coaching staff entering Sunday's game against
two of the most productive kickers in the NFL, as Eagles' PT Dirk Johnson
ranks fourth in the NFL with an average of 44.2 yards per attempt and PK
David Akers has a league-best 72 points. Akers has connected on 18-of-21
field goal attempts this season.
There isn't much of a difference between these two teams in the kickoff
return game, as J.R. Reed is averaging 25.5 yards per attempt compared to
Antwaan Randle El's 25.2 for the Steelers. The Steelers do have an edge in
the punt return department, however, as Randle El is more experienced and
potentially much more explosive than Eagles' PR Reno Mahe.
Prediction: Eagles 23, Steelers 20
