That's right! Solomon Willcotts, former starting Ben-Gal and Stealer safety and current Sirius NFL Radio analyst, is being kidded by everybody else for predicting that the "worst team in the league" will upset the awesome, unstoppable, dominating Stealers!
Well, to the source: Solly does tend to be rebellious and contrary at times, but he does always pick with his own convictions, and tends to discount HYPE.
All the reasons why the Stealers will dominate the Browns have been repeated ad-infinitum, but let me tell you something: All those people, including the true experts who are ex-players and front office people, looked first at a Stealer victory and then at the reasons why. They had their excrement-colored glasses on. Even so, some of the justifications they cherry-picked were faulty.
First, the legit bad news: Stenbach and Shaffer have missed too much time, and there could well be miscommunication on the O line. Pitt is very strong against the run, and Joey Porter's replacement may well be a better player. Polumalu is too quick for any lineman to pick up. The spread offense plus Parker will make it hell to stop the run--a Little Dutch Boy story.
Now for the corrections: The left side of the Cleveland line, regardless of Steinbach's sabbadical, matches up favorably against their opposite numbers. Both excell at blocking upfield and in space, as well as in handling speedy passrushers. Both have been practicing against Kimerion Wimbley, and HYPE aside, nobody the Stealers have is like him.
What's this "injured journeyman" crap about Fraley? Fraley has emerged into a top-flight total package center! It's TRUE, Oblivia!!!
McKinney's injury is IRRELEVANT. It DOES NOT MATTER. He will play and play well.
Shaffer is better for blocking in space and taking on 3-4 OLB's than Tucker or anybody else, as well. His and Steinbach's return alter and expand the potential blocking schemes, as their preseason replacements couldn't execute the slant-blocks, traps, upfield stuff, and pulls that they can, and the Stealers don't have film on this stuff!
Roethsenberger will indeed test Eric Wright, probably with Santonio Holmes. SO? Wright matches up admirably with Holmes, and man coverage is man coverage. Wright can PRESS Holmes, and catch up to him if he sneaks by him. Are you assuming that little Santonio has any advantage whatsoever over Wright? Are you nuts?
Hines Ward is hell on wheels, but THIS time, it's Leigh Bodden.
Wimbley will have a tough time with Marvel Smith and Fanika, yeah. But listen to me: Smith is vulnerable to Wimbley's kind of speed. He is a good, but NOT an elite, left tackle.
The center and right side of Pitt's offensive line is not what it was last season. The right tackle is more of a goon type and will have a hard time handling Antwan Peek. It was pointed out that Pitt will chip him with a tight end. Well, Pitt's tight end is a major recieving weapon, and if he has to hesitate before going upfield, I'll TAKE that--especially if he's chipping and outside linebacker and leaving a DE one-on-one with a gap.
This defense is much faster that the one that Parker trampled last season, with Wright, a returned Bodden, Pool instead of Wilson, Peek, and increased time for Fraser and the other young DE, plus Smith (vs. Gramps).
Pool can cover this tight end, too. And after Holmes and Ward, who are the other recievers? Certainly, Parker will sometimes set up in the slot and be a pain in the ass all around---well you can't answer every question.
The spread offense has two sides to it. If you blitze through the right gap, you can blow up the run. No lead blocker. No body guard for Big Ben other than Parker. No second tight end to help with Peek or Wimbley. Here, of Ben has to check down and dump off quickly, it'll have to be short, because THIS Browns team has the corners to man-up and still not get burned (much), and opportunistic safeties.
It won't just be Wimbley and Peek blitzing. Everybody will come, all day long. You'd think, from reading about this game, that Pitt is the only team in this game that can do that. This defense will go toe-to-toe and trade punches, and if you go individual-by-individual, those match-ups favor the Browns more often than not!
Don't get me wrong: I'm talking about pass-protection, mostly. Nobody will beat Fannika but everybody else can be had. When Pitt runs? Well...ok that's tough. I really wish Grantham would just let the younger, quicker DE's slant and penetrate and try to blow stuff up. If they two-gap, they won't do that much.
I hope Washington has sandbagged but doubt it.
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