Are We Going to Beat Denver?..

I've been dying for the season to start and now it's finally just around the corner! Last year when the time finally arrived I was mortified to see one of the worst games ever as we were massacred by our hated rivals...

I'm trying to be optimistic, but I don't really know what our chances are against Denver, and I hate starting out with a loss. On the flip side, I'd rather lose to them now and beat them in the playoffs.

Either way I'll be donning the game day attire as I've always done come Sunday

 

we'll moider da bums.

 

None of the Steelers want to repeat the stinker from last year (game 1 or game 17) - so you can bet they will come out focussed and ready to play hard.

Facing Peyton Manning on Sunday will be MUCH better than facing him later in the year.

Denver's offensive line is suspect - and I'm sure the Steelers will be pinning their ears back trying to get to Manning. I'm anticipating success - and a few turnovers in the process.

Anything can happen, but I think game 1 will be a win.

 

While it's true that Payton is a better QB than Tebo, keep in mind that he didn't play at all last year and that he's still getting used to the offense and players in Denver. I'm not saying that it will be a cake walk or that the Steelers can't lose, but I think there are a few factors going in Pitt's favor.

 

I watched Mangini breaking down the film from Peyton's game vs the 49ers and it impressed me enough to wanna try to draft him as my starting QB in fantasy. So don't you believe that he couldn't light it up against the Steelers if they aren't careful. He looked off two seasoned members of the Niners secondary to hit Decker on a fade to the back of the endzone that was a thing of beauty. I have doubts about what the relatively inexperienced DB's will do when faced with that kind of player.

That being said I think Haley has been working on his openning day game plan since he got hired and I think it will be to control the clock and limit the time Manning has to work the ball down field.

 

i hope he has nightmares of silverback after the game. peyton gets antsy when he's under attack. our defense should be very fresh and don't forget the pressure from mclendon up the gut this year. we were hurt last year. it won't happen again it's still to fresh in our minds with or without manning. we got firepower on O, and it's healthy right now. giddyup!!

 

Is James Harrison gonna play or not? Also if you really think about it we are not going to see what we are REALLY gonna look like til week 2 because Ryan Clark won't be out there. I say that the media will be talking about how we don't look right or something but will fail to mention that we are missing a starter.

 

i just hope 18 doesnt have the ball in the last 2 minutes us ahead by 1........

 

I wouldn't want it in a HIGH SCHOOL QB's hands in the last 2 minutes with us ahead by1! How many games have gone against us in that situation over the last 5 years. Our defense is good - but I'd rather see Ben in the victory formation.

 

NO we will not win. and the key isnt tebow or manning .. the key is we do not have ryan clark.. so i dont care who the QB is... to me we are an 8-8 team without clark.. clark allows troy to do the things that make him great.. to me we are 8-8 without ryan and 11-5 with him (3 hes worths 3 games) and i know no one on this board wil agree with that...

HINES

 

I think that the defense getting beat last year was due to the d-line. Everyone was hurt, and McClendon and Hayward were less developed than they are now. The safeties were then being over aggressive. Better d-line play will make Mundy look better.

 

Forget all you worry warts; WE WILL BEAT THEM, THEY SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here we go Steelers, Here we go!

 

Yes we will control the game from start to finish...We ar now running with a purpose and it will open up the PA pass....We will score the ball and make them 1 dimensional,something we failed to do under BA,,we put up Tons of yards but failed to put Teams away...Haley is a put this Team away type of guy....

 

I hope we do, but I don't like this game one bit. I will feel better if we meet
in the playoffs down the road.

 

I think we win but as usual us Steeler fans will need our Tums, Rolaids etc. since it will go down to the wire. The real key is can we make it through a game without any significant injuries??? That has not happened yet this year.

 

I have a hard time thinking any revenge plays into this game. If players need to look back to last year to get motivated something is wrong and even if it does still burn them a bit I just don't see it being a factor for the team to collectively dig down to make plays all game to win. If they do it Sunday they will do it based on what is happening Sunday, not based on thinking back 8 months ago. They should always be hungry to win regardless of anything in the past against any team. Anyway...

I hate to feel like a pessimist, but here are some of the realities I see:
-We have some banged up guys on Defense. Even if they are really feeling good by Sunday the conditioning they have missed could be a factor as conditioning for the entire team is an issue early in the year and in that altitude.
-Conditioning (see above) and the lack of depth needed to deal with it. Most concerned with ILB and Safeties here.
-Before the preseason there was a lot of talk and expectation that the new Haley offense would be so much better and we would do this and that different and utilize players better, etc. We haven't seen it yet. Granted we have only watched preseason games, but I am a see it to believe kind of guy so I will hold judgement until after this first regular season game as to how the play calling really goes.
-Denver has a strong running game, we have a questionable run D (painful to say that...and I hope to be proven otherwise!)
-Denver has a strong pass rush, we have very questionable pass protection.

The Steelers can win this game. I think it will be close either way.

 

There are so many questionable things going on with the Steelers right now.

Will Harrison play?
What is the deal with the LB's?
Can they generate a pass rush?
What will the offense do?
How will the defense play without Ryan Clark?

Is that enough for you?

Right now I have many questions in my mind about this Steelers team. Anybody who saids that this team is alright is lying to themselves. I'm scared to death. This first game will be a serious test, so here is what I say:

First off, the offense will have to control the clock and keep Manning off the field, and they must score TD's and not FG's.

And lastly, the Steelers must generate a pass rush and put Manning on his back.

If the Steelers can accomplish those two things they will win the game!

 

we have james harrison that's not really banged up but getting over a minor knee cleanup. who else is banged up amongst starters?

we have 4 healthy safeties for the game,including troy.

the steelers were smart enough to teach guys since OTA's both outside and inside LB positions. johnson does pretty well at ilb against the pass.

we haven't shown a thing on offense yet, and why would we in preseason? yet our 4 qb's had the highest preseason qb rating of any team. we have the fastest WR in the game back in uniform. we have 4 capable RB's. we have a FB that is a threat if left unaccounted for. we have a guy that can go the distance at anytime from anywhere in rainey. we also have the best wr group as a whole in the league and they are healthy.

the pass protection may not be the best in the league , but we are able to do alot more things this year on offense that if they put all their eggs into that basket, they will be burnt elsewhere.( see above).

i don't get where you are seeing a questionable run defense and how you came to that assumption.

i don't think denver has that good of running game and with peyton, how much will they run? they didn't get manning to hand the ball off by the way.

yes there can be some motivation from our last game played because the press has not let it die and these guys have heard all off season about it. pro athletes or not they are still a proud team and won't forget what happened to a banged up team last year. no it's not the only motivation but any edge helps fuel the fire.

 

...there is no doubt in my mind. They knocked us out of the playoffs last year. It's a matter of pride.

 

I just think the past fuels the fans more than the players.

Keisel had an ankle sprain. Worilds is still questionable. Clark can't play in Denver. Sly likely can't play. Hampton looks ready to play, but conditioning will be a factor for sure. Awesome that McClendon has stepped it up at NT though!
So Clark is definitely out and depending on what happens with Keisel and Harrison we could easily be w/out 3 starters and have some issues beyond them with depth concerns. Not the best place to be in terms of health going into week 1.

I know we have 4 Safeties, but are any of them any good beyond Troy with Clark out? I have actually always like Mundy and believe he can do a pretty good job. Still a question marked position for me.

Denver lead the league in rushing last year. I don't know what they did in preseason and if it warrants us believing that trend will continue.
Our run D got gashed in some games last year and at times in the preseason it felt like the 1st team was giving up 5 to 6 yards a lot. I just don't see them stuffing the run and shutting down lanes at the line of scrimmage. It is not the sure thing it once was. I am not saying I expect them to be terrible, but against a team where they have to defend the passing of Manning that also should have a good run game...they could get exposed. And that depth and conditioning come into play here.

And while the jury us certainly out on Manning, I fully expect that he will show himself as the intelligent veteran that he is. He may not be able to make all the throws he once could, but he is going to play well. And if Denver ran well with a QB no one feared, having Manning only sets them up to run more effectively when they do.

I agree with your statements about our offense. I was just saying I need to see it to believe it. And for me its equal part play calling and the execution of it. Haley could be a genius, but if guys F their assignments or drop balls or get blown off the line or blocks, etc then it won't mean anything. So I need to see Haley call it and I need to see this line up perform it. They are still only potential.
The Buffalo game is the best idea so far of what we might see. I know the game planning and play calling will be different and more tailored for this opponent, but my gut tells me this team is going struggle to establish the running game and get into a rhythm instead of going out there and putting together good sustaining drives right from the start. The exact opposite of what needs to happen to best set things up for the D. My hope is that they stay in it early and do get some rhythm going by the 2nd quarter. Maybe one or two splash plays on either side of the ball to give them a lead or keep it very close at the half. Otherwise it could easily be another 2011 opener result.

 

they lead the league with a running qb too. tebow rushed for 660 yds. 2nd on the team. 35 first downs. 6 TD's and thats 2 more then their starting RB. manning ain't going to be out running the ball like tebow. we won't have to try and defend that aspect of the game and can now worry more about pass rush and bottling up RB's instead. keisel will play and if not we use our two first rd.picks. we are much healthier now then we were against them last year.

 

It will be a taller task for us to beat them than for them to beat us. Peyton will dink and dunk and move the chains all night long without clark in the middle. Would not be one bit surpirsed to see him go deep on Ike withn first 3 palys to throw things out of whack and then hit it up the rest of the time. SO, rather than D, for the STeelers to win it will all be on the O to keep up. If this is a low-scoring affair, Steelers lose. If high scoring, we got a shot behind #7. National spotlight against Peyton is never a good thing. Would feel better if we were playing them at their palce as a reg Sunday afternoon game for sure.

 

IF we meet the broncos in the playoffs.. heres the deal.. if we play in denver.. no ryan clark.. we lose... if we play in the burg with clark.. we win... its that simple (assumming manning no ben is out of those games)

HINES