After starting off the year as the favorites for the NFC West, things haven’t got quite to plan for the St Louis Rams. The introduction of Josh McDaniels has been labeled as the problem by some, but injuries to key players and problems on the offensive line (health and performance related) haven’t helped matters at all. You’d almost be forgiven for thinking the Rams would be better off if the season ended today, because really what good can come of the a trip to Pennsylvania to visit the Pittsburgh Steelers?
While the Steelers may be without Ben Roethlisberger they still have plenty of defensive firepower that will be looking to wrack up some stats against a line that features none of it’s opening day starters in the position they begun the year in. Indeed with guards playing tackle, you have to think Kellen Clemens could be in for a very tough day as the Steelers try to keep up their hopes of winning the AFC North.
It may seem a ‘gimme’ for Pittsburgh but let’s look at some ways the Rams could compete, while also looking at why the Steelers could do some real damage.
Pressure
If there’s one way to rattle a quarterback it’s to get pressure. Now normally for the Steelers they can handle this because Big Ben is playing, but with him likely out of the lineup that means Charlie Batch is likely to get the gig. When Batch did see action in 2010 he didn’t exactly light it up when facing pressure, completing 44.4% of passes and taking a sack on 18.2% of all plays he was pressured on. Interestingly he faired well against the blitz, earning a +2.3 grade in this regard, so the Rams will be looking to get pressure from their base, four man defensive front. That means that the man who leads the league in QB disruptions with 72, Chris Long, will need to go to work on rookie right tackle Marcus Gilbert. The second round pick has earned a +7.4 grade for his protection, meaning this matchup of strength against strength could be a key in determining just how much pressure comes the way of Batch. The Rams, if they’re to have any hope of winning, will need it to be substantial. Of course, Roethlisberger could end up playing, thus rendering this whole paragraph pretty pointless.
Ike Taylor versus Brandon Lloyd
It’s one of the interesting debates to be had this year; is Ike Taylor one of the top cornerbacks in the league. Given the job he has done on some top receivers, and the struggles he had had at times, I’m of the belief he’s capable, but doesn’t always execute. It makes him a good number one corner who you can trust to track a teams’ top guy, though he won’t always shut them down. Well he gets a real test this week if the Steelers choose to have him go one on one with Brandon Lloyd, one of the best route runners in the entire league. Lloyd hasn’t benefited from the offensive issues in St Louis but you only have to watch how he decimated the Packers defensive backs as a Bronco in Week 4, or his first half performance against Joe Haden in Week 10 to see just how capable he is. If the Rams can force feed him the ball he may just make enough plays to take some of the Steelers focus away from the running game Josh McDaniels should be desperate to get started.
Guarding against Woodley and Harrison
If we’re being perfectly honest, Harvey Dahl has done a pretty good job in pass protection since moving to tackle, picking up a +5.6 grade and giving up just three hits and one pressure. Adam Goldberg did a decent job last week, though he had his problems against San Francisco and Arizona. It could have been a lot worse than it is, so Rams fans may be relatively cheery given how poor things were before the two took over the tackle spots. Only now they have to deal with James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley. Ouch. The prospect of both men coming for Clemens should scare anyone wanting a Steelers defeat as the two have consistently beaten whatever has been put in front of them, picking up a combined 58 QB disruptions on a combined 305 pass rushes. Clemens will need every ounce of his mobility if he’s to avoid taking a beating.
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