Looking forward to the Cowboys at Heinz Field:
Steelers with the ball
The Dallas 3-4 is an interesting thing. The DL is not very big, especially at the NT position. Ratliff is 6-4, 305. This is a stark contrast to guys like Hampton, Wilfork, Jenkins, Shaun Rogers, Jamal Williams...you get it...BIG NTs in the AFC. All of these guys are 330+. The interior OL should feel like it is getting a break this week.
The Steelers offense will need to take advantage of a couple of things: a smaller middle of the defense, average ILBs and a weak secondary.
The running game should be effective up the middle and between the G/T gap. I think Hartwig and Kemo can get plenty of push straight off of the ball to be effective. Also, pulling the opposite G into the G/T gap should create numbers, assuming the pulling side T can get a good backside seal. Colon and Starks are good run blockers, so this plays to the Steelers pretty well.
Although the Cowboys get Pacman back for this game, I think the Dallas secondary is challenged. Newman has shown that he can have a bad game. Henry is nothing special. Pacman does help when the Steelers go the 3WR set, as Washington will not be able to abuse the nickel corner. The Dallas safeties are nothing special, even when "Roy Weeams" was not injured. The Dallas ILBs are average in coverage. The combination of Ward, Holmes, Miller, Washington, Spaeth and Moore should present plenty of opportunities in the passing game, assuming Ben has protection.
Ware has the lion's share of sacks for the Cowboys, so Parker, Moore and Davis will need to help Starks with the chip. The rest of the sacks are sprinkled pretty evenly among the other Dallas D players. The OL has to keep Ratliff from applying pressure up the middle, and has to pick up the blitz.
If the OL can run block like they did against the Pats, and can provide 3-4 seconds for Ben to throw, then the Steelers O should put up 24-28 points.
Dallas with the ball
Romo is a good QB. However, he has also shown the ability for the real bone-headed play. With the Dallas running game completely shut down, Dallas will have to pass to move the ball. They have the weapons in T.O., Roy Williams, Crayton and Witten.
Dallas will try to run in the 1st half, with little results. Even if Barber is healthy, he would not be effective. This D is geared to stopping power backs. No dice for Dallas.
When passing, I think the Steelers D has the advantage. Tomlin's influence has created better coverage in Lebeau's defense. With the addition of Timmons in the nickel, the middle of the defense has a LOT more speed to negate guys like Witten. Harrison will wreak his typical havoc against Adams. Woodley vs. Columbo goes to Woodley. With Polamalu going off and Clark playing solid, there is very little room to pass the ball, and very little time to read the defense. The one concern to watch is Romo's scrambling ablity, but that can't be a offensive game plan. Romo and T.O. will be frustrated by the 2nd quarter, and will make mistakes.
Look for Dallas to put up 10-14 points.
Pre-season progostication was Steelers 20-13. Sounds close, but I think the Steelers will put up more than 20.
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