Countdown to Paydirt: Oakland Raiders vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Trevor Scott, now starting at LB, will look to tally a sack vs. Pittsburgh
For the 18th time in regular season play, the Oakland Raiders (3-8) will face the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5). In their storied history, the Silver & Black hold a 9-8 advantage, but during the post-season, each team has notched three victories in six meetings. Oakland is trying to avoid a seventh straight 11 or more loss season while the Steelers are trying to hang on to their playoff lives as the campaign winds down.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
On Offense:
Bruce Gradkowski is at the helm for the Raiders again and will face a team he’s had a miserable time against. He has a 50% completion percentage no touchdowns, five interceptions and a rating of 20.3 against the Steelers in two career starts. Last December, he took aim at Pittsburgh as a member of the Browns and had a dreadful day. “Going up against a great defense and not really knowing your own offense, it was quite an experience against a team that was on fire and headed to the Super Bowl,” Gradkowski stated this week.
It’s also a homecoming for him, as Gradkowski starred at Seton-La Salle Catholic High School from 1997-to-2000 in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL). “My family, my cousins, they’re die-hard Steeler fans. Last year when I was with the Browns it was hard for then,” Gradkowski said. “They wore neutral colors but I think being with the Raiders this past year and getting to know these guys and being with this team, I know I’ll have the family behind me on this one.”
What to Expect:
The Steelers statistically have the best run defense in the league (74.9 yards per game). So it will be a tough task for Oakland to establish Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden on the ground. Michael Bush appears to be in the doghouse, which leads you to believe that the Raiders will put the game on the hands of Gradkowski. Oakland needs to stay close, so the passer must keep the mistakes to a minimum and protection must be at a premium. Pittsburgh’s defense has been faulty in the 4th quarter of games and the secondary without Troy Polamalu could be exposed. Problem is, will Oakland ever get a complete game from their targets?
On Defense:
Richard Seymour & Thomas Howard celebrating after a stop
Trevor Scott has found his way into the starting line-up as the weak side linebacker. Thomas Howard will move to the strong side of the formation for the first time in his career after Scott played well on Thanksgiving Day. “It will give us a chance to have what we want in terms of coverage and what we want vs. the run,” said Tom Cable.
Defensive end Greg Ellis was very limited all week in practice and is listed as doubtful for the contest Sunday. “[Ellis] made some improvement but has slowed down. So we’ll see,” Cable commented today.
What to Expect:
After getting torched by Tony Romo last week, Oakland’s secondary has to have a bounce back effort against the 8th ranked pass attack in the league. Chris Johnson has been victimized way too often on big plays down the field and Nnamdi Asomugha had a tough time with Miles Austin, especially on shallower routes. More man-to-man coverage should be in play this week for the Raiders, as it appeared that many of their problems were due to blown assignments when they dropped back in zone.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
On Offense:
All signs to Ben Roethlisberger starting at quarterback on Sunday. “Ben hasn’t experienced any resurface of any discomfort from his concussion since Friday,” head coach Mike Tomlin said earlier in the week. “All indications are…ultimately play in the game on Sunday.”
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has been critiqued, especially since the Steelers have ditched their traditional run first mentality and have gone to a pass heavy attack, Many blame that for the defense giving up leads late in games and the inconsistency in 2009. Against Cincinnati and Kansas City, they combined for 82-passes and only 49 run plays. As for possibly running some Wildcat plays for last week’s starting passer Dennis Dixon, Arians stated, “He’s an extremely good talent as far as speed, and when a play breaks down and he can improvise, that’s when he’ll be dangerous,” and he continued; “But if you start designing runs for a quarterback, especially one of his stature, he’s going to get broken in half.”
What to Expect:
If there was ever a contest the Steelers would get their rush game going, it will have to be on Sunday with worries about Big Ben taking hits and facing a soft defense that allows 161.1 ground yards per game. And with Thomas Howard lining up on the strong side, tight end Heath Miller and the rest of the line could have a fun day pushing around that side of the Raider formation.
On Defense:
Dick LeBeau’s unit has taken some heat also, especially after their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. “We didn’t get off the field on critical downs,” linebacker LaMarr Woodley was quoted. “We can’t give up the big home-run hits, the passes down the field, long runs. We have to eliminate those problems.
“We knew what kind of player [Dixon] was. He put enough points on the board to give us a chance to win. We just allowed their offense to move the ball down the field on us.”
The Ravens stacked up 393 total yards of offense last week. But facing a Raider team with lesser talent could be just what the doctor ordered.
What to Expect:
It’s time for LeBeau to bring ‘Blitzburgh’ back in this contest. Gradkowski can be pressured into mistakes and the Raider wide receivers have not been able to consistently help their quarterback with big plays down the field. James Harrison (10-sacks) and Lawrence Timmons (6-sacks) can add to their stats if they constantly bring the heat.
GAME NOTES
- Rashard Mendenhall has rushed for 739 yards since being catapulted into the starting unit in week-four.
- Mike Tomlin stated, “We will not go gently. We are going to unleash hell here in December. Because we have to.” Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha stated after hearing Tomlin’s comments: “They’re used to winning, so when you lose three games or something like that, it’s the biggest deal in the world. They said everybody’s got hell to pay the next (few) weeks. They’re making a big deal about this.”
- When will the Raiders start using more of McFadden in wildcat formations? It’s obvious they don’t feel he’s an every down ball carrier, and they want to incorporate him into the passing attack, but he was a star in Arkansas with his multi-dimensional skill set out of that formation and in the NFL, many times have found a way to get consistent yardage out of that set.
- Running back Justin Fargas (stinger), linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba (knee) and linebacker David Nixon (illness) are listed as probable.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Gradkowski vs. Pittsburgh’s pressure
If the Oakland quarterback can make the right decisions, use his feet to neutralize the pressure and get the ball to his targets quickly, it will help moving the chains and sustaining drives. Gradkowski has to avoid another dreadful outing versus Pittsburgh, or this will be a blowout.
Pittsburgh’s ground game vs. Oakland’s Front-Seven
Howard is not adept at his new position, Pittsburgh needs to establish their ground game and keep Roethlisberger healthy. If Oakland can’t keep the Steelers’ running backs in check this could get ugly.
PREDICTION
Steelers 26 – Raiders 6
TV & RADIO
The game will be televised on CBS with Greg Gumbel providing play-by-play and former NFL player and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf handling color analysis. The game will air in the Bay Area on KPIX Channel 5 and in Sacramento on KOVR Channel 13. The game will air on Raiders Radio originating on KSFO 560 AM, the Silver and Black’s Flagship for the multi-state Radio Network. Greg Papa and former Raiders player, assistant and head coach Tom Flores will man the booth for the 12th straight year. The radio pregame show and postgame show will feature Raider Legends George Atkinson and David Humm along with KSFO’s Rich Walcoff. (Broadcast information cited from the official Oakland Raiders web site)
GAME INFO
Sunday, December 6, 2009, 1:00 p.m. ET | Heinz Field, Pitt. PA
Road Team: Oakland Raiders (3-8) Home: 2-4 Road: 1-4
Home Team: Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Home: 4-1 Road: 2-4
LINE: Raiders are 14.5-point underdogs
Contact Author: Victor Cotto – SB Report Columnist
