Five storylines to follow as the Redskins face the Steelers

Five storylines to follow as the Redskins face the Steelers

Posted by Mike Jones on October 27, 2012 at 9:00 am

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2012/10/27/five-storylines-to-follow-as-the-redskins-face-the-steelers/[/url]

The Redskins on Sunday take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field while hoping to improve to 4-4 on the season.
The Steelers, favored by five, enter this game with a 3-3 record (2-0 at home). They have won nine of their last 10 games at Heinz Field. The Redskins are 2-2 on the road this season, and 4-3 against the spread. The Steelers, meanwhile, are 2-4 against the spread.
Washington owns the better offense, averaging 28.7 points per game to Pittsburgh’s 23.3. But the Redskins’ defense has given up 28.6 points a game, and the Steelers give up an average of 22.0 points a game.
Here are five storylines for the Redskins’ Week 8 meeting with the Steelers.

1. Fletcher’s availability/replacement – The heart and soul of the Redskins defense has played a league-best 231 consecutive games, but that streak is in doubt because of a hamstring injury and balance issues that Fletcher disclosed to Mike Shanahan on Monday. After going through six hours of testing with a neurologist on Thursday, Fletcher gingerly went through Friday’s practice. His status officially is listed as “questionable.” Whether Fletcher plays or not, the Redskins face a tall task in limiting Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller, who is the team’s top red-zone threat. The Redskins have struggled to defend pass-catching tight ends all year long. Lorenzo Alexander would start if Fletcher can’t play, and will likely see time at that spot if Fletcher isn’t effective. But whoever draws the assignment, they have their work cut out for them as they try to limit the 6-foot-5, 256-pound Miller, who is averaging 9.4 yards per catch and has five touchdown catches this season.

2. Pass rushing efforts – The Redskins haven’t had much success in getting to quarterbacks, but they must find ways to harass Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers quarterback will aim to march his team downfield by spreading the ball around with quick hitters. Despite his size, Roethlisberger is slippery, and has the ability to shake off would-be tacklers and extend plays. Multiple defenders must get to the quarterback and try to take him out of his rhythm.

3. Secondary struggles – The shortcomings of Washington’s defensive backs continued once again last week. Consistency is a big problem. They will do well for portions of the game, but then give up one or two big plays a game – seven of 40 yards or more so far this season – that end up crippling their team’s efforts. The Steelers boast great speed at receiver with Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace. It could be a long day for Washington’s defensive backs.

4. Fill-in playmakers – The Redskins already were trying to compensate without Pierre Garcon, and now they will be without Fred Davis as well. Logan Paulsen will start at tight end, and Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan will likely get the nod again at Receiver. So far, Hankerson has shown some flashes, but hasn’t played with consistency. Morgan hasn’t been much of a factor. He had his best play of the season – a 35-yard touchdown – nullified by a penalty. He must step up to help Robert Griffin III and the offense execute against a Steelers offense that ranks first in the league against the pass, limiting teams to just 6.1 yards per catch. Chris Cooley also will be back in the mix, but it remains to be seen how involved he will be after only going through three practices this week.

5. Griffin’s heroics – Each week, the rookie quarterback pulls off a seemingly impossible play, and each week he has put his team in position to win. The victories haven’t always come, but the Redskins have had their chances. On Sunday, he will face one of the stingiest defensive fronts he has faced all year. The Steelers rank sixth against the run, but the Redskins are likely to throw all kind of different looks at their opponents in an attempt to keep Pittsburgh’s defenders off balance. Can Griffin deliver a victory and get his team back to .500 as they reach the halfway point of the season?

Steelers offensive player to watch: QB Ben RoethlisbergerPosted by Mike Jones on October 25, 2012 at 11:12 am
[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2012/10/25/steelers-offensive-player-to-watch-qb-ben-roethlisberger/[/url]
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ranks among the league’s passing leaders. (Keith Srakocic/The Associated Press)



How he beats you: The Pittsburgh Steelers this season have shifted their offensive philosophy, going from a run-heavy to a very pass-oriented attack. Roethlisberger, now in his ninth season, is on pace to throw for 4,706 yards — a career high — and 29 touchdowns. At 6-foot-5, 241 pounds, Roethlisberger is hard to bring down, and has the mobility to elude pass-rushers and extend plays. He has done well as his team has taken on a new approach to attacking defenses. But unlike in years past, when the Steelers would go deep with Big Ben, this year, he is being asked to methodically move his team downfield, with the bulk of his passes being completed for less than 10 yards a pop.
”This definitely isn’t your grandfather’s Steelers,” Redskins cornerback Josh Wilson says. “I was over there [with] Baltimore, and they were a pounding team, but they’re a passing team now. They run a lot of three-step and it’s definitely a different ball club than when I played them.”
How to stop him: Because of his size and his agility, Roethlisberger is difficult to bring down, but the Redskins will try to hit him with multiple defenders to disrupt his rhythm. The Redskins haven’t had the most luck in getting to quarterbacks since Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker went down with injury, but look for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to use a good deal of creativity up front. The Redskins’ defensive backs also must be on point on their assignments, but that could be a challenge given the overall speed that the Steelers boast in their receiving unit.
“They’ve got speed, they’ve got a quarterback who extends the play,” cornerback DeAngelo Hall says. “They’ve got a durn good offense. Ben’s probably bigger than anybody we have on defense, except for the linemen. We’re definitely going to have to rally around him, get as many guys to him as possible. He’s going to try to extend the plays, and we’ll have to stay around him, get a hand in his face and get as many guys around him.”

[QUOTE]5. Griffin’s heroics – Each week, the rookie quarterback pulls off a seemingly impossible play, and each week he has put his team in position to win. The victories haven’t always come, but the Redskins have had their chances. On Sunday, he will face one of the stingiest defensive fronts he has faced all year. The Steelers rank sixth against the run, but the Redskins are likely to throw all kind of different looks at their opponents in an attempt to keep Pittsburgh’s defenders off balance. Can Griffin deliver a victory and get his team back to .500 as they reach the halfway point of the season? [/QUOTE]

To me this is the one and only main concern. They have lost both Davis and Garcon so their only two offensive weapons (other than RGIII) are 100 year old Santana Moss and a rookie RB. Morris seems to be a straight ahead bull of a runner, and the Steelers can usually handle those types. They have difficulty with those who can cut back against over pursuit. The Steelers need to contain the big plays by RGIII. Show pressure with Timmons back to spy. If they can do this then I can't see this game being anything other than a decisive win. If Fletcher does not play, I also expect a very big day from Heath.

[QUOTE][COLOR=#CCCCCC]The heart and soul of the Redskins defense has played a league-best 231 consecutive games, but that streak is in doubt because of a hamstring injury and balance issues that Fletcher disclosed to Mike Shanahan on Monday. After going through six hours of testing with a neurologist on Thursday, Fletcher gingerly went through Friday’s practice.[/COLOR][/QUOTE]

What does a hamstring injury have to do with a neurologist? :confused: