8 Things To Watch Against The Steelers
September 24th, 2018
Knowledge and success
In no particular order …
*Injuries to starters might force Pittsburgh might start B.J. Finney at right guard and Matt Feiler next to him at tackle. Good chance you never heard of either guy. Per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Feiler’s last start at the position came in the 2013 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship game. The fifth-year player has six games of NFL experience. Finney is the backup right guard and reports out of Pittsburgh say he was subpar last week against the Chiefs. The Bucs should be able to win the battles here.
*Start fast again. The Bucs have been on a two-game roll, busting their 2017 pattern of limping into games. Continue the magic tonight and Joe will consider the issue fixed.
*Brent Grimes implied last week that he’s 100 percent healthy and Bucs trainers guided him there after a strained groin. But Joe wants to see 100-percent Grimes before buying into that. Remember, his wife Miko said last year that Grimes didn’t play one game at better than 80 percent.
*Hello, Justin Evans! What an opportunity for the Bucs’ emerging, ballhawking safety, whose tackling has been improving. Evans had his breakout game for the Bucs against Tom Brady last year on Thursday Night Football, and Joe suspects Evans will shine in the spotlight tonight.
*An ignored angle to this game is center Ryan Jensen knowing the Steelers defense well from his days in Baltimore. That should be a plus for the Bucs. In December, Jensen was in the center of a Ravens offense that hung 38 on Pittsburgh, including 152 yards rushing. (The Steelers won that game with a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback.)
*On that note, suppose Ryan Fitzpatrick goes from playing like an MVP to just playing well, you know, like only completing 20-of-32 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns? That probably means the Bucs will need a running game to win. Despite all the talk of the woeful, Steelers secondary, Joe suspects this is the night balance will the Bucs’ winning formula.
*Kicker Chandler Catanzaro keeps escaping the spotlight because the Bucs are winning. But Joe is concerned. Catanzaro missed in perfect kicking conditions in Weeks 1 and 2. Tonight, might be a wet field. Please, Catanzaro, please calm the nerves of Bucs fans.
*Lavonte David: He’s healthy and in his prime, and getting paid like a superstar. Joe would really love to see David have a Pro Bowl kind of night. It’s hard to believe he hasn’t had a sack or a pick since 2016.
September 24th, 2018 at 10:27 am
Joe, don’t sleep on the “Pennsylvania State Athlrtic Conference”.
I went a D2 school that played them regularly.
Matt Feiler went to Bloomsburg U in Pa. former saints pro bowl G and SB champ, Jarhi Evans went there. I saw him play, he was a monster.
I also got to see Brent Grimes and John Kuhn clobber my school, ShepherdU, when they were with Shippensburg.
Also, the immortal Howard Jones went to Shepherd.
Say what you will about the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, but they are hardly a bunch of non-prospects.
Go bucs!
September 24th, 2018 at 10:27 am
I would expect a slower start tonight. The Steelers should take away the deep pass off the start and we should see a bunch of running room and underneath routes open. If we are successful with those the deep ball will open up later.
I would love to see a 75 yard TD pass to start, but it would be stupid of the Steelers to allow that.
September 24th, 2018 at 10:33 am
I agree with Clint. Expect to see plenty of two high safety looks from the Steeler’s D. They are going to try to take away the deep ball and make the Bucs work the short to intermediate game.
Fortunately, we are just as lethal doing that as we are with throwing bombs.
September 24th, 2018 at 10:40 am
Joe– I don’t mind the Tampa Two feature, but please don’t have it auto-start on every F-ing article! That’s your browser setting. It’s not happening on the majority of browsers, which is why you’re seeing few complaints. –Joe
September 24th, 2018 at 10:42 am
I agree….short and intermediate passes should bring the safeties in…..I look for a lot of action with Hump, Brate & Howard tonight.
September 24th, 2018 at 11:39 am
42 27 bucs, tampa dominates thru out game, barber over a hundred yrds rushing, steelers tack on the last ten in garbage time, bucs make 3 int’s 2 sacks 14 hits on ben, no sacks on fitz although he is hit numerous times, bucs go 3-0 top NFCS
September 24th, 2018 at 11:42 am
Yes, we will see a 2 high safety look tonight, and that is why it is so important to get a running game going, to force the Squealers to bring their safety’s closer to the box, so we can torch them deep!
Go Bucs!
September 24th, 2018 at 12:01 pm
My thing to watch for is who covers Antonio Brown, who is Grimes covering?
Should have kept Patrick Murray. At least he isn’t a choke artist
September 24th, 2018 at 12:17 pm
I think they’re gonna start fast but I also hope PB and the running game can be the one’s to start it off. GIVE SHAUN WILSON THE ROCK!
September 24th, 2018 at 12:19 pm
Establish a solid looking running game tonight and we can dominate all over the Pittsburgh defense.
September 24th, 2018 at 1:10 pm
yeah I think brate and oj have big games today along with barber…..
#TUNNELVISION!!!!…GO BUCS!!!!
September 24th, 2018 at 7:40 pm
The Steelers are in disarray ! Don’t sell the Bucs short. Bucs 35 – Steelers 10. Oh yah !