I Think Steelers Fans And Analysts Are In For A Rude Awakening

[Kwothdaraven]

after browsing the steelers forums and watching the predicition video by nfl network on the main page of this website, i dont think they have been paying attention to the ravens this offseason.

all i keep hearing is how our secondary isnt good enough, or our defense is too old. they seem to think that lardarius webb and chris carr are still our starting corners. I will love to see the look on their faces when we trot out two 6''2 200+lb corners. one of which is the leagues next shutdown corner imo.

also, outside of ray lewis and ed reed (who are both still playing at allpro levels), who is old? cory redding? jarret johnson? both of who will be splitting time with youngsters sergio kindle and pernell mcphee.


Dont even get me started on how improved our oline is and how lee evans vastly improves our pass game.

[PeRK82]

Agreed, im getting more and more confident about our Team, we keep adding more and more talent and depth, Ill be honest with you i wasnt confident, until we got B. Mckinnie and then i got really excited when we got the center from Dallas (the name escapes me), i never thought in a million yrs we would get him, their loss our Super Gain.

[mhead66]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1315427480' post='780263']
[b]after browsing the steelers forums[/b] and watching the predicition video by nfl network on the main page of this website, i dont think they have been paying attention to the ravens this offseason.

all i keep hearing is how our secondary isnt good enough, or our defense is too old. they seem to think that lardarius webb and chris carr are still our starting corners. I will love to see the look on their faces when we trot out two 6''2 200+lb corners. one of which is the leagues next shutdown corner imo.

also, outside of ray lewis and ed reed (who are both still playing at allpro levels), who is old? cory redding? jarret johnson? both of who will be splitting time with youngsters sergio kindle and pernell mcphee.


Dont even get me started on how improved our oline is and how lee evans vastly improves our pass game.
[/quote]
Steeler forums are full of Steeler fans predicting a sure win this Sunday.

But did you see the "Ravens vs Steelers score" thread, here? Same thing - most of our fans predict we win. No surprise there, it will be a close game between two evenly-matched teams.

If we want to shut them up, we have to beat Roethlisberger.

On the corners - I'm not concerned about Jimmy & Cary Williams - I'm concerned about Carr covering their slot receiver, Antonio Brown. That's our worst matchup.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1315428868' post='780302']
Steeler forums are full of Steeler fans predicting a sure win this Sunday.

But did you see the "Ravens vs Steelers score" thread, here? Same thing - most of our fans predict we win. No surprise there, it will be a close game between two evenly-matched teams.

If we want to shut them up, we have to beat Roethlisberger.

On the corners - I'm not concerned about Jimmy & Cary Williams - I'm concerned about Carr covering their slot receiver, Antonio Brown. That's our worst matchup.
[/quote]

Carr will probably be on Ward, who I'm guessing is in the slot. I assumed Brown would be on the outside. Who do you have there?

[PuRock]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1315427480' post='780263']
after browsing the steelers forums and watching the predicition video by nfl network on the main page of this website, i dont think they have been paying attention to the ravens this offseason.

all i keep hearing is how our secondary isnt good enough, or our defense is too old. they seem to think that lardarius webb and chris carr are still our starting corners. I will love to see the look on their faces when we trot out two 6''2 200+lb corners. one of which is the leagues next shutdown corner imo.

also, outside of ray lewis and ed reed (who are both still playing at allpro levels), who is old? cory redding? jarret johnson? both of who will be splitting time with youngsters sergio kindle and pernell mcphee.


Dont even get me started on how improved our oline is and how lee evans vastly improves our pass game.
[/quote]

It's going to be another Ravens-Steelers match. We aren't going to be catching anybody off guard. It'll be another close game like always.

And you make it sound like trotting out two 6'+ corners with limited starting experience against their smaller fast receivers is going to strike fear in them. Not quite yet, they haven't done much yet.

[Alexir]

We got better where they just stayed the same. They didn't get younger on defense. They got some good receivers and some good backs but that offensive line isn't anything special.

[Pitts200]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1315430434' post='780342']
We got better where they just stayed the same. They didn't get younger on defense. They got some good receivers and some good backs but that offensive line isn't anything special.
[/quote]

A team doesn't have to get instantaneously younger right away. The Steelers are developing their players while the old vets play. Our D-Line which is where the heft of the age is has been in transition for 2 years now. The past 2 first round picks for the Steelers have been defensive lineman.

The only position on defense we dont have covered is a solid replacement for Farrior. If any of the vets for the Steelers on the D-line lose a step, we have Ziggy and Heyward ready to step in.

So remember, instant youth isnt always good.

[hawkprey]

[quote name='Pitts200' timestamp='1315431161' post='780354']
A team doesn't have to get instantaneously younger right away. The Steelers are developing their players while the old vets play. Our D-Line which is where the heft of the age is has been in transition for 2 years now. The past 2 first round picks for the Steelers have been defensive lineman.

The only position on defense we dont have covered is a solid replacement for Farrior. If any of the vets for the Steelers on the D-line lose a step, we have Ziggy and Heyward ready to step in.

So remember, instant youth isnt always good.
[/quote]

How do you know your backups are any good if they never see the field? Only Hood ever gets playing time.

[Pitts200]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1315431373' post='780357']

How do you know your backups are any good if they never see the field? Only Hood ever gets playing time.
[/quote]

Thats my point, they're getting playing time when games are out of hand or unimportant situations. No offense but how do you know J.Smith is any good and you have no choice but to play him? (I think he's going to be great but I'm saying, I'd rather have him get some game experience first when it wasnt important). I'd rather find out if my young player is no good when it wasn't an important situation.

Also, when you think about it, a team that's very young means the team more than likely has been unsuccessful the past few years and is forced to play its rookies and 2nd/3rd year players because they have no choice.

[bpytnjr58]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1315428868' post='780302']
Steeler forums are full of Steeler fans predicting a sure win this Sunday.

But did you see the "Ravens vs Steelers score" thread, here? Same thing - most of our fans predict we win. No surprise there, it will be a close game between two evenly-matched teams.

If we want to shut them up, we have to beat Roethlisberger.

On the corners - I'm not concerned about Jimmy & Cary Williams - I'm concerned about Carr covering their slot receiver, Antonio Brown. That's our worst matchup.
[/quote]
That is what they do...they are in their own world.

[JohnJohnson]

Come on. The Steelers deserve to be the favorite in this game, there's no question about it. They're probably the best in the NFL overall. Think about it; they had a -3 turnover ratio in the Super Bowl, and STILL could have driven for the winning TD at the end. They're extremely resilient and mentally tough. Plus, we have a lot of changes, whereas they have few changes. Our team will improve as the season goes on, but right now the Steelers are better. We'll need to play a great game to beat them.

[mhead66]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1315429926' post='780320']

Carr will probably be on Ward, who I'm guessing is in the slot. I assumed Brown would be on the outside. Who do you have there?
[/quote]
During the preseason, they had Wallace & Ward outside, and either Brown or Sanders in the slot.

Carr on Ward, with Jimmy & Cary on Wallace & Brown would be better - until they trot out Sanders... but 4 wides mean protection for Ben problems...

[hawkprey]

[quote name='Pitts200' timestamp='1315431642' post='780364']

Thats my point, they're getting playing time when games are out of hand or unimportant situations. No offense but how do you know J.Smith is any good and you have no choice but to play him? (I think he's going to be great but I'm saying, I'd rather have him get some game experience first when it wasnt important). I'd rather find out if my young player is no good when it wasn't an important situation.

Also, when you think about it, a team that's very young means the team more than likely has been unsuccessful the past few years and is forced to play its rookies and 2nd/3rd year players because they have no choice.
[/quote]

So which one of your backups have looked good?

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1315432744' post='780393']

So which one of your backups have looked good?
[/quote]

We have young players in critical roles, they don't. It's obvious that this is a big advantage for them in a week 1 game.

[Pitts200]

[quote name='hawkprey' timestamp='1315432744' post='780393']

So which one of your backups have looked good?
[/quote]

Steelers never have to worry about their front 7, they develop those guys like its going out of style. Its our dbs once again that look weak.

I think this week is going to be a blowout (14pt + victory) one way or another. The Ravens are so different with what 8 new starters, I either think the Steelers will not be prepared for the new age Ravens or vice versa where all these new Ravens aren't ready for the intensity of this game.

[PWNEDbyDEANO]

I [i]hope[/i] Steelers fans, "expert" analysts and the majority of the fans around the league who believe the Steelers will win are in for a rude awakening. You can't blame people for expecting the Steelers to win however as, like JohnJohnson rightly said, they have had our number recently.

[T-ray]

Where's the confidence in our team, boys??? Come on men! We will rise, we will destroy, and we will CONQUER the Squealers.... not only the second time we play them, not once again in the playoffs, but THIS.... WEEK!!!!!!

[PurpleReign92]

Our offense at this point seems very new. Since there are new faces instead of Heap and Mason.
I really don't know how to predict this game so I'm not really saying much!

[CHRISSY G69]

I hope so!

Black and Purple, Black and Purple!!!

[Xxx52xxX]

Ray Lewis is not old hes a young spring chicken and i will not be told otherwise.

[AsianRice]

No ONE on the Ravens side at least I know my family really care anything about the Steelers fans or experts said about us.

All we care is how to get our team better.....

[ROH522155]

Sunday needs to get here. I'm too nervous. They've had their time. It's out turn right? It's gotta be...

[H8R]

I mean, really... its pretty simple. If the Steelers win, there was no way we could have beaten them ... The analysts would be right, if we lost. I like to think we're gonna win!

[Kwothdaraven]

espn as a little more sense in this regard

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks[/url]

5 out of 7 picked the ravens. ( i didnt count merril hodge since hes a former steeler and homer)

[Guest Moderator 6]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1315448045' post='780676']
espn as a little more sense in this regard

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks[/url]

5 out of 7 picked the ravens. ( i didnt count merril hodge since hes a former steeler and homer)
[/quote]
I always take ESPN with a grain of salt.

[FerrariFan87]

I don't like when analysts pick us... the time for talking is over. Just play the game already.

[Natty Boh]

I hope so. Would be nice to be able to stick our chest out after Week 1 with a big win.

[Ravensstrike4424]

i hate the talking airheads i dont bother watching pre game or post game, i turn it on in time for ray lewis dance,other wise turn it on abour 5 mins before game starts.

[ellicottraven]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1315430434' post='780342']
We got better where they just stayed the same. They didn't get younger on defense. They got some good receivers and some good backs but that offensive line isn't anything special.
[/quote]

When you think about it, given the short TC and no OTAs' situation across the league, conventional wisdom has it that teams that don't change much will have an advantage... however, the Ravens are going to debunk that theory!