Expectations for the Vikings game.

1) Having the defibrillator charged and ready to be used.
2) Have my whole family up to speed with CPR training.
3) My wife to buy me the biggest bottle of rolaids she can find.

After the Browns game I am not sure what to expect from the Steelers against the Vikings.

I really expect them to come out and play like they are capable of.

 

I expect a better showing from the offense. It's a home game and I know you've seen the disparity of Ben's play at home vs the road.
Haden will be better as well.
Watt will impress me even more
Bell gets on track

You can see my optimism.

 

Ageee with Dirk except Haden. He was burned multiple times and saved by overthrows, he may have lost a step or 2.

I expect a Steelers win with the offense scoring at least 30 something points.
10 to 17 point victory

 

I feel like it's going to be a nail biter, like most Steeler games. I have accepted the fact that I will die young due to this. Minnesota's defense is no joke. I foresee a lot of Boswell. I do think the Steelers can contain Dalvin Cook and bracket Diggs. Adam Thielen is the guy I'm worried about, I have flashbacks to Chris Hogan AFCCG.

At the end of the day, I'll take our guys at home.

23-17 Steelers

 

Unfortunately, the Saints have no Run game, so it was hard to judge the Vikings' run Defense. The Vikings secondary gave up 6 passing plays of 14 yds or more to Coby Fleener/Mark Ingraham & Co. (- a bunch of No-Names) and the Saints do not have the weaponry the Steelers have either. That is looking pretty good for Pittsburgh. We also know that New Orleans is not known for their defense, at least in the Brees era. Due to this glaring fact, Minnesota's 29 points were more or less expected. Just a note, last year's Minnesota team went 5-3 on the road, including a dramatic win in GB to clinch the NFCN 20-13. Although GB lost, Rodgers threw for nearly 300 yds against the Vikes. The Steelers D is looking good early on, except for the penalties. The offense? I expect to see some more sluggishness (hopefully not), but definitely better than Week 1. Also, I'm still waiting for my "guaranteed 30 points" Haley claim to kick in. Gonna go with 23-13 - another solid win for the good guys.

 

Found this article on Yahoo... Judging by the content, I think it was written, or at least conceived, by Gidion.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nfl-power-rankings-patriots-cant-no-1-anymore-right-090515190.html

 

It says Frank was the author.Sure sounds good to me. I personally would put the Chiefs at #1.

 

Look for changes in the Steelers approach this week. Conventional wisdom suggests using the running game to setup the passing game. I think this team is built differently. They need to spread it out and then mix in the runs. The time to impose their will in the running game is the 4th quarter.

 

If they stop committing penalties and stay healthy, I expect an easy win at home. This is arguably the most talented roster in the league, they just need to stay healthy, play smarter (penalties), don't turn the ball over (Ben), and execute the game plan each week. The rest will take care of itself. The D should also improve through the year once all their starters are..........again........on the field together. They looked pretty good at times this past weekend, despite being shorthanded (Dupree/Tuitt). Tuitt btw looks like he could be a DOMINANT DE in our system for years to come. He showed flashes his first two years, just needs to be more consistent and MAN........what a base DL we could have for years to come!!!

Yes AB played lights out and caught every ball (literally) thrown his way. Part of why that occurred is simple and we should hopefully see some version of this every week. Teams have to decide whom to dedicate themselves to defensively and play a bit of a guessing game when we have all our horses. If they want to stack the box to focus on Bell and the run game, you're going to have man coverage on either Brown or Bryant (both mismatches). If they drop safeties to help against those two over the top or on the perimeter, they open themselves up to having Bell take handoffs and get to the second level most downs. If they try to account for both of the aforementioned, they risk opening up the middle of the field up for throws underneath to Rogers or XYZ tight end in space.

Just...........stay..........healthy.

Does anyone really think Alex Smith "took that next step" after more than a decade in the league vs the defending champs in Foxboro? There may have been SOME motivation after they traded so much to draft McCombs, but it's really this simple......he played smart, didn't force throws, and focused primarily on hitting the open man on crossing routes, quick outs, and slants. Once in a rhythm he took some calculated risks in the 2nd half, completing both long throws for scores. High percentage passes that get the ball out of his hands fast, keep you out of 2nd/3rd and long, moves the sticks, and keeps Brady & Co. off the field and your defense rested. And this after losing his best wide receiver (Maclin) in the offseason. The Pats D is NOT that good......especially up front. They lack playmakers and difference makers. There are no Seymours, Wilforks, or McGinnests in their front-7. You simply need to execute, play keep away, and FINISH drives.

 

I will say this. If the Steelers don't play 100% better than they did against Cleveland, they will get rolled. Minnesota is stronger than most think. If we don't stop the run and put big pressure on Bradford, Diggs and Theilen will destroy the secondary.

 

I agree wazoo, Cook is just as good in the passing game as he is in the run. It's going to come down to who's defense controls the LOS, and who's offense can execute their gameplan more efficiently.

 

This team is way too good to not also be smart on offense. For God's sake, if the defense is gearing up to stop Bell, they will be open to Brown/Bryant. If they're playing deep all the time, Bell should run amok carrying and catching the ball. If they're focusing on one receiver, go to another one.

I don't think Ben played badly against the Browns. The offense, however, was not in sync. I understand why they played together for all of two drives in the preseason, but that flat opening made me wonder if some risk of injury is necessary for them to come out sharp immediately. Kizer on the Browns looked sharp in part because he played in every single preseason game! It's a testament to how much warm-up might be required for teams to get to top speed, even veterans. No one should have any concerns about AB, but most of our other veterans don't share his work ethic.

Honestly, yes, the game in Cleveland should not have been close. Gregg Williams doesn't run complicated defenses for the opponent to figure out, and we have the tools to fully exploit it. His defenses only look good when paired with an elite offense like the one he had in New Orleans. That's what really has me upset about the result. I know as the team plays together more, problems will fix themselves, but I also know it should have never happened in the first place because they all should have been working hard together to come out operating like a well-oiled machine right away.

 

This will be a big test for the Steelers. The Vikings offense is balanced and they have a great defense.

Sam Bradford has a full offensive supporting cast around him for the first time in his career. With Diggs, Thielen, Cook, and Rudolph behind a solid line Bradford is going to be a tough challenge for the Steelers defense.

The Vikings defense was great last season and they look like they'll be at least as good this season. The Steelers offense played a defense last week that I think is much better than anybody realized. The Steelers have got all the pieces in place to be successful against any defense. Bryant has been out of football for a year. Bell missed camp and didn't look effective until the fourth quarter. Brown was Brown but the other two offensive weapons are going to have to step up this week. I'm expecting Bell to be much better. Bryant might take awhile to return to his prior form.

The Steelers are going to have to play better on both sides of the ball to avoid a home opening loss to the Vikings. If they do lose I'm not going to be surprised or to upset because it's only week 2. The Steelers defensive coverage scheme will probably get exposed with Rudolph and Thielen attacking the middle of the field.

I expect a close game that could go either way.

 

Steelers will use 4-receiver set more often, Ben Roethlisberger says

In addition to starting receivers Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant, and slot receiver Eli Rogers, the formation put rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster in play.
It's something fans should get accustomed to seeing.
“We've got a lot of guys we're able to get on the field,” Roethlisberger said Wednesday morning. “We want to be able to get JuJu on the field, and that's what that does. It's an opportunity to get him on the field and create even more of a mismatch problem.
“I think you'll see more of it because it was very good to us.”

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers...ceiver-set-more-often-ben-roethlisberger-says

To beach's Look for changes in the Steelers approach this week. Conventional wisdom suggests using the running game to setup the passing game. I think this team is built differently. They need to spread it out and then mix in the runs. The time to impose their will in the running game is the 4th quarter.

I think this is our best chances against most anyone. Bell will acclimate himself to the NFL soon and will be a factor out of the backfield as he has been in his career so far. Yes, I believe we'll run the ball but not before it's set up by the passing game which will exceed all our expectations when they're all on the same page... a game away ? (see various articles on Bryant, although no big game took all the double off AB) It's already working ... We'll see, but passing will set up the run and if our running game is working then that means passing is already working and we can expect that 30+ against most all defenses.

We do not have an easy schedule this year, and that usually has equated tom our team playing all the better for it, if history is any judge in that regard.

 

apparently I'm font challenged ... sorry ...

 

COMIC SANS?!?!?! Graphic designers around the world are weeping at this very moment.

 

You have fontitis?

 

You have fontitis?

I hope this isn't as serious as it sounds ...

That's what I get for C&P...

 

The one play was straight cover 2....not his fault and the other was a hitch n go and he played it perfectly...they threw a back shoulder fade and he didnt get his head around on the ball....who knows if he got a ball call from the safety

 

Haden wasn't perfect but his tight coverage was part of the reason Kizer was holding the football. I think his future is bright in Pittsburgh if he can stay healthy.

That being said tight coverage didn't stop Bradford and Diggs on Monday night. It was like watching Ben and AB out there. Covered or not he was giving Diggs a chance and Diggs was coming down with the football. That kid is going to be really freakin good.