Jaguars @ Steelers: Official Game Thread

In week 4, the Steelers defeated the Ravens on the road. Now the Steelers travel back to Heinz Field to host the Jaguars.

For the Steelers to win:
The Steelers need to avoid the trap game against the Jaguars.
The Steelers need to play a complete game (Offense, Defense, Special Teams for 60 min.).
The Steelers defense needs to limit the Jaguars rushing attack. They need to make Blake Bortles have to beat them.
The Steelers need to run the ball effectively.
The Steelers offensive line needs to protect Ben.
Ben Roethlisberger needs to play well.
The Steelers need to score TDs when in the red zone (and when not).
The Steelers need to protect the ball. They need to win the turnover battle.


From Steelers Depot:
Steelers Versus Jaguars Week 5 Projected Inactive List

Johua Dobbs – It’s status quo with Dobbs right now. He was inactive for the Steelers first four regular season games and on Sunday he’ll be on the list of seven players once again. Barring an injury to quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Landry Jones, Dobbs will remain on the inactive list moving forward.

Daniel McCullers – Steelers starting defensive end Stephon Tuitt returned from his biceps injury in Week 4 and that resulted in McCullers returning to the team’s gameday inactive list. McCullers dressed for the two games that Tuitt missed. The Steelers normally only like to dress five defensive lineman in total so barring injury, McCullers will likely remain on the inactive list until needed again.

Marcus Gilbert – After ending the week listed as doubtful on the Steelers Friday injury report, Gilbert is now poised to be inactive for a third consecutive game on Sunday due to a hamstring injury he suffered during the team’s Week 2 game. Gilbert practiced fully on Wednesday but sat out the team’s Thursday and Friday sessions.

Jerald Hawkins – While Hawkins is now fully healthy, he’s seems to be behind fellow offensive lineman Matt Feiler in the pecking order. With it looking like Gilbert won’t be back on Sunday after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury, Hawkins might join him on the inactive list again this week. It’s either going to be him or Feiler.

Eli Rogers – Rogers was a healthy inactive for the Steelers Week 4 game and that resulted in fellow wide receiver Justin Hunter dressing for the first time this season. While Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin indicated on Tuesday that Rogers might be back in the lineup in Week 5 as the team’s backup slot receiver and punt returner, fellow wide receiver Antonio Brown reportedly said on Friday that he’ll be returning punts on Sunday against the Jaguars. One can only assume that Rogers will be a healthy scratch again in Week 5 being as Brown is set to return punts for the team. Does Martavis Bryant play a role in all this with him being questionable as of Saturday? He could, but I’ll guess he plays. If he doesn’t, Hunter and Rogers would both dress.

Brian Allen – The Steelers rookie cornerback dressed for a second time this season in Week 4 and that was a result of safety Mike Mitchell missing that game with a hamstring injury. With it now looking like Mitchell will return from his injury on Sunday against the Jaguars, Allen will more than likely find himself back on the inactive list again.

James Harrison – Harrison was inactive in Week 4 after ending the week on the team’s injury report with the questionable tag because of an illness. While Harrison appears to be over his illness now, he’s still a strong candidate to be scratched again Sunday against the Jaguars. All nine of the Steelers linebackers are currently healthy and with Harrison still seemingly buried on the outside linebacker chart behind Anthony Chickillo, in addition to him not be a special teams contributor, he’ll have a hard time getting a helmet.

 

Tunch Ilkin's 3 keys to the game:

Key # 1: Stop The Run
Key # 2: Pressure The Quarterback (Blake Bortles)
Key # 3: Protect Ben (Roethlisberger)

 

Just out score the Jaguars and take control

 

The Jaguars have the fiercest pass rush of any team the Steelers will have faced to this point. With Gilbert out again this is cause for concern. Hubbard isn't bad, but with Gilbert even the best pass-rushing teams would have trouble getting to Ben. Having said that, I'm hoping that unlike the Bears and Ravens, the Jaguars will be able to get to Ben enough to make him remember who he is and play some sandlot football, since that might be the only way he can look like himself.

That said, they may just run the wheels off Bell some more which would be the smarter thing to do anyway.

 

Haley should dial up a heavy assortment of runs ... if not then Old Bad Ben (which is increasingly the only Ben still around) could lose this game all by himself. I’m not sure Old Bad Ben is still capable of sandlot against this kind of defense. I recall him getting hurt attempting that on a play vs Miami last year and then missing games. What’s frustrating is he can make all the throws that are there on any given play but just won’t or is too mentally incapable of seeing that they are there these days. Nobody has ever accused Ben of being overly cerebral but he in the past was at least capable of throwing the ball around to all of the other open players. I’m beginning to wonder if the concussions have added up and the game is too fast for him now to mentally process.

 

This game has the same stench of the home loss to TB a couple of years ago and home loss to the Raiders in '09. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

A friend of mine that makes his ends meet handicapping told me this game is the first one that he has simply avoided on every card so far in 2017. He likes the Steelers to win and the Jags to cover, but he made it clear that he wouldn't have any money on it, lol.

 

Nice tackle by Watt on 2nd down.

Love that deep ball! Haha

 

Excellent start

 

Good run by Bell!

 

Get well soon Marcus Gilbert

 

Ben puts that ball out in front a little more it’s a catch or incompletion, but Ben was getting hit as he threw

 

The jag fielded the punt! Defense!

 

I don't see the spot changing. This defense needs to get off the field on 3rd down

 

Big sack by Williams! Fournette ain't no blocker

Two straight possessions here...gotta get it going

 

Can anyone hold on to a damn ball?!

 

JV punt!

Is Deion Sanders the corner opposite Ramsey?

 

I hope that stands. I don't think so

 

I’m stuck watching the bengals at a woman in the family’s birthday party

Update: the criminals in the orange uniforms are tied with the magic mikes in the wet (it’s raining) see-through white pants right now.

Why? Cause ‘Murica 2017

 

Nice drive, but AB wasn't the open man on that last play. Where's Bryant in the red zone?