bronc_fan23
01-18-2006, 09:39 AM
The Steelers have been the biggest story of the playoffs so far. After a convincing victory at Cincinnati in the wild-card round, the Steelers surprised many by upending the top-seeded Colts in Indianapolis last weekend.
Pittsburgh is clearly peaking at the right time, but it has one more major hurdle to clear on the road to Super Bowl XL. The Broncos, 13-3 in the regular season, just ended the Patriots' reign and are always a tough out at home, especially in the playoffs.
As always, the outcome likely will turn on a few key matchups. Here is a look at five to keep an eye on in this game:
Complete advance scouting report
Pittsburgh SS Troy Polamalu vs. Denver QB Jake Plummer
This will be the No. 1 key individual matchup in either game this weekend. Polamalu was a man on a mission last week. He appeared to be in the Indianapolis huddle on numerous occasions. He is excellent at reading the quarterback's eyes, and shows outstanding instincts in coverage. Plummer was just average in last week's win over the Patriots and will need to play better if the Broncos are going to advance to the Super Bowl. One of Plummer's biggest issues over the course of his career is that he can get "radar lock" on his intended target. Plummer will have to do an outstanding job of looking Polamalu off before deciding where he wants the ball to go. Polamalu can be overaggressive, so if Plummer looks in one direction, Polamalu is liable to take the bait and flow hard to where he believes the ball is going to go. Polamalu is one on few safeties in the NFL who is capable of taking a game over. Plummer must know where he is lined up on every play.
Denver MLB Al Wilson vs. Pittsburgh RBs Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis
Even though the Steelers came out passing last week, they put the game away by running the ball. Pittsburgh ran 42 times, and if it is playing with the lead, you can expect similar numbers on Sunday. The Steelers will start the game with Parker, who gives them a lot more big-play ability, and move to Bettis, especially if they have the lead. Because of Denver's blitz, Parker's speed may be much more of a factor. Bettis is a runner who needs to get going quickly at the line, and it is hard to do that against a team that likes to blitz. With multiple defenders coming on the blitz, Bettis might have to move or adjust at the line of scrimmage, which hinders his ability to make plays due to his diminishing foot quickness. For that reason, Pittsburgh might ask Parker to carry the bigger load. Denver's defense is led by the athletic Wilson, a sideline-to-sideline player who can make plays all over the field. If Pittsburgh tries to run wide with Parker, Wilson is the type of player who can shed blockers and get outside to make the tackle. Although Denver has an excellent front seven all the way around, Wilson is the heart and soul. He will be the man most responsible for trying to slow the machine we know as the Pittsburgh run game.
Denver LOT Matt Lepsis vs. Pittsburgh ROLB Joey Porter
This will be an excellent matchup to watch in the trenches. The mild-mannered Lepsis is a veteran, so don't expect him to get rattled, even though the trash-talking Porter will try to stir things up in pregame as much as possible. Lepsis did an excellent job on the Patriots' Rosevelt Colvin last week, while Porter had a pretty good day versus Colts LOT Tarik Glenn. The key for Lepsis this week will be patience. Porter is very good at working double moves and Lepsis must stay patient and not overextend. He also must make sure to sort out the blitzes coming to his side. A smart, veteran player, Lepsis should be able to make the proper adjustments.
Pittsburgh DC Ike Taylor vs. Denver WR Rod Smith
Taylor does not get a lot of credit, but he is an aggressive young corner who will take on all comers. He has had success in handling the likes of Chad Johnson during the regular season and Marvin Harrison last week in the divisional round. He will get a crack at another pretty good veteran receiver this week in Denver's Smith. Taylor has found himself in more one-on-one situations in recent weeks because the Steelers like to blitz Polamalu. Despite his age, Smith is still a very good vertical threat. He still shows a very good burst after the catch. He's most dangerous when Denver is running the ball effectively. This opens up Denver's play-action game. Smith excels at running stop-and-go routes and can get to the post effectively. Taylor will have to respect the speed of Smith, which could get him free on some intermediate out routes this week.
Pittsburgh ILB James Farrior vs. Denver RBs Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell
Although Farrior has not had a Pro Bowl season, he's played like a Pro Bowler in two playoff games. He will once again be put to the test versus the vaunted Denver rushing attack. Farrior has very good instincts, which allow him to make more plays out near the numbers than his speed might indicate. He is aggressive, but LB. Both Anderson and Bell are very good at taking the handoff and cutting back against the grain at the line of scrimmage. Farrior will have to make sure he does not overpursue to the outside and lose inside containment. Denver's linemen do an excellent job of running their feet to sell the sweep and sealing off the front side so the back can come in right behind them. Pittsburgh will need one more excellent playoff effort from Farrior if it is going to advance to the Super Bowl.
Pittsburgh is clearly peaking at the right time, but it has one more major hurdle to clear on the road to Super Bowl XL. The Broncos, 13-3 in the regular season, just ended the Patriots' reign and are always a tough out at home, especially in the playoffs.
As always, the outcome likely will turn on a few key matchups. Here is a look at five to keep an eye on in this game:
Complete advance scouting report
Pittsburgh SS Troy Polamalu vs. Denver QB Jake Plummer
This will be the No. 1 key individual matchup in either game this weekend. Polamalu was a man on a mission last week. He appeared to be in the Indianapolis huddle on numerous occasions. He is excellent at reading the quarterback's eyes, and shows outstanding instincts in coverage. Plummer was just average in last week's win over the Patriots and will need to play better if the Broncos are going to advance to the Super Bowl. One of Plummer's biggest issues over the course of his career is that he can get "radar lock" on his intended target. Plummer will have to do an outstanding job of looking Polamalu off before deciding where he wants the ball to go. Polamalu can be overaggressive, so if Plummer looks in one direction, Polamalu is liable to take the bait and flow hard to where he believes the ball is going to go. Polamalu is one on few safeties in the NFL who is capable of taking a game over. Plummer must know where he is lined up on every play.
Denver MLB Al Wilson vs. Pittsburgh RBs Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis
Even though the Steelers came out passing last week, they put the game away by running the ball. Pittsburgh ran 42 times, and if it is playing with the lead, you can expect similar numbers on Sunday. The Steelers will start the game with Parker, who gives them a lot more big-play ability, and move to Bettis, especially if they have the lead. Because of Denver's blitz, Parker's speed may be much more of a factor. Bettis is a runner who needs to get going quickly at the line, and it is hard to do that against a team that likes to blitz. With multiple defenders coming on the blitz, Bettis might have to move or adjust at the line of scrimmage, which hinders his ability to make plays due to his diminishing foot quickness. For that reason, Pittsburgh might ask Parker to carry the bigger load. Denver's defense is led by the athletic Wilson, a sideline-to-sideline player who can make plays all over the field. If Pittsburgh tries to run wide with Parker, Wilson is the type of player who can shed blockers and get outside to make the tackle. Although Denver has an excellent front seven all the way around, Wilson is the heart and soul. He will be the man most responsible for trying to slow the machine we know as the Pittsburgh run game.
Denver LOT Matt Lepsis vs. Pittsburgh ROLB Joey Porter
This will be an excellent matchup to watch in the trenches. The mild-mannered Lepsis is a veteran, so don't expect him to get rattled, even though the trash-talking Porter will try to stir things up in pregame as much as possible. Lepsis did an excellent job on the Patriots' Rosevelt Colvin last week, while Porter had a pretty good day versus Colts LOT Tarik Glenn. The key for Lepsis this week will be patience. Porter is very good at working double moves and Lepsis must stay patient and not overextend. He also must make sure to sort out the blitzes coming to his side. A smart, veteran player, Lepsis should be able to make the proper adjustments.
Pittsburgh DC Ike Taylor vs. Denver WR Rod Smith
Taylor does not get a lot of credit, but he is an aggressive young corner who will take on all comers. He has had success in handling the likes of Chad Johnson during the regular season and Marvin Harrison last week in the divisional round. He will get a crack at another pretty good veteran receiver this week in Denver's Smith. Taylor has found himself in more one-on-one situations in recent weeks because the Steelers like to blitz Polamalu. Despite his age, Smith is still a very good vertical threat. He still shows a very good burst after the catch. He's most dangerous when Denver is running the ball effectively. This opens up Denver's play-action game. Smith excels at running stop-and-go routes and can get to the post effectively. Taylor will have to respect the speed of Smith, which could get him free on some intermediate out routes this week.
Pittsburgh ILB James Farrior vs. Denver RBs Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell
Although Farrior has not had a Pro Bowl season, he's played like a Pro Bowler in two playoff games. He will once again be put to the test versus the vaunted Denver rushing attack. Farrior has very good instincts, which allow him to make more plays out near the numbers than his speed might indicate. He is aggressive, but LB. Both Anderson and Bell are very good at taking the handoff and cutting back against the grain at the line of scrimmage. Farrior will have to make sure he does not overpursue to the outside and lose inside containment. Denver's linemen do an excellent job of running their feet to sell the sweep and sealing off the front side so the back can come in right behind them. Pittsburgh will need one more excellent playoff effort from Farrior if it is going to advance to the Super Bowl.