Defensive keys: 3 matchups to watch in Steelers v. Ravens For years, the mere mentioned of “Steelers v. Ravens” conjured images of hard-...
Defensive keys: 3 matchups to watch in Steelers v. Ravens
For years, the mere mentioned of “Steelers v. Ravens” conjured images of hard-hitting, bloody, tenacious defensive football.In 2015, the makeup of the roster is a little different, but the philosophy hasn’t changed; this game will be a slugfest, and several key defensive matchups could turn the tides of the contest.
Steve Smith vs. The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary
After a Week 1 loss to the Patriots, the Steelers could pen a case study on how to allow one player to entirely dominate a game. But that was a 26-year-old, athletically dominant Rob Gronkowski; surely a 36-year-old Steve Smith couldn’t generate similar results.
The crown for the league’s best receiver currently looks like a two-man race between Antonio Brown and Julio Jones. But the third best? It’s not Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green or Dez Bryant; it’s the elder, year-away-from-retirement Smith. He’s third to Brown and Jones is basically every receiving category and has absorbed a monstrous 34 targets this season. He’s been utterly unstoppable when it comes to getting open, and he’s been even harder to defend once get’s gotten the ball in his hands. Smith is playing arguably the best football of his career, and while the Steelers secondary has improved each week, Smith will provide the toughest test since Gronkowski.
Justin Forsett v. Steelers front seven
A rejuvenated Forsett finished second in the AFC in rushing last season with a league-best 5.4 yards per carry mark. This year, he’s averaging just 3.2 yards per carry and looks lost behind an under performing Baltimore offensive line. He’s yet to be involved in Marc Trestman’s new offensive scheme that allowed Matt Forte to catch 100 passes last season, but then again, it’s only Week 4.
Forsett was tough to stop last season and could easily recapture that magic in a single game. Fortunately for the Steelers, their run-stopping efforts have been terrific this season, as they stand No. 9 in the league in both yards allowed per rush and yards allowed per game.
Steelers pass rush vs. Joe Flacco
Flacco is closer to the Colin Kaepernick model in the sense that he tends to hang onto the ball for a long time, as most big-armed quarterbacks tend to do. On paper, Pittsburgh’s defense would seem to be perfect for Flacco; they limit big plays while surrendering gains in zones that minimize scoring attempts. But, rarely has the “on paper” sentiment held true in a Steelers/Ravens matchup, and Flacco tends to show up for big time games. Getting him to the ground is going to be critical for Pittsburgh’s success, because an in-rhythm Joe Flacco could be kryptonite for the Steelers.
