Week 1 Opponent Preview: Atlanta Falcons
by prophicide on Sep 3, 2010 4:29 PM EDT
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PrintThe first game of the season, and the first game of Ben's suspension. Those four games are probably familiar to most of you: Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore. Baltimore is undoubtedly the toughest of those games, but Atlanta has a strong case for second toughest. With the untried Dixon at QB, none of these games is a sure thing.
There is plenty of good news when you look at Atlanta's defense.
2009 Statistics:
Points allowed: #15; 20.3 pts/game (325)
Passing allowed: #28; 242.1 yds/game (3873)
Rushing allowed: #10; 106.8 yds/game (1709)
They had one of the worst secondaries in the league last year, and dubiously addressed that weakness by adding Dunta Robinson. Their Defensive Coordinator, Brian VanGorder, has plenty of high school and college experience but pretty slim pro experience. It's impressive that he worked his way up the coaching ranks but not especially scary.
They lack defensive stars so this is the team to give potential starter Dixon his first win. I couldn't find any Pro Bowlers, certainly none in the past five years. First round draft pick Sean Weatherspoon is starting at Will OLB.
They run a 4-3 formation, which Bruce Arians has trouble with. Hopefully Pouncey at C will help deal with that line. In the final preseason game against Carolina, a strong 4-3 defense, our O-line showed some promise (and a few miscues).
Offensive 2009 Statistics:
Points scored: #13; 22.7 pts/game (363)
Passing: #14; 223.2 yds/game (3571)
Rushing: #14; 117.3 yds/game (1876)
There is no such lack of stars on offense, starting with future HoF Tight End Tony Gonzalez. He's working with Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White, and RB Michael Turner. Their offensive line is expected to be among the best at pass protection, with the weak link at center. If Timmons is going to meet his goal of double digit sacks, this would be a great time for him to find one or two, as Harrison will be matched up with a great LT in Sam Baker, and their RT Tyson Clabo is strong if nothing else. This will be a tough game on that side of the ball as strength meets strength, but I expect the Steelers to be the more physical team.
After analyzing Atlanta, I feel more comfortable looking for a win on Week One. Our offense should be able to produce as long as we protect the ball, and the defense will have a strong early test against an offense that may be stronger than Baltimore's heralded squad. If the Steel Curtain isn't up to task there may not be much hope for the season regardless of our QB, but I hope and believe that the Steelers D can be steel once again. Go Steelers!
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Didn't John Abraham go to a few probowls?
Other than that, great writeup.
There seems to be alot of pessimism going around because of Dixon’s game against Denver. I am pretty confident that will all change after this game as we once again win another home opener.
I like the write-up
I will say that you’re be making a big mistake to overlook our defense based on a lack of Pro Bowlers.
Curtis Lofton, our middle linebacker, makes big plays every game and routinely piles up double digit tackle totals. He and Rashard Mendenhall ought to get to know each other very well by the end of the game. John Abraham and Kroy Biermann both bring a ton of pass rushing ability to the table, and you’re actually better off with the more mobile Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon than Leftwich in this one. Last, but certainly not least, Jon Babineaux has been ranked by some as one of the best defensive tackles in the league over the last couple of seasons…but he’s suspended for the first game. So never mind.
You guys are going to offer one hell of a Week 1 challenge for the Falcons, and I’m looking forward to it.
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And by the way
I’m from The Falcoholic. I’ll be coming by early next week to put up a FanPost where you all can ask questions about the team, if you like.
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Yes, we like.
One of us does the same for our opponents each week as well.
"I am a total flaming homo"
- by biggcat on Sep 3, 2010 4:45 AM PDT
Excellent
Looking forward to seeing you guys over at the site, then.
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Sweet!
I’ll look forward to your post. :]
Chris Andersen could be in a porno with his 'stache. Too bad he still wouldn't know how to box out.
"I don't want to be like Brett Favre. I don't want to be like Old Yeller, when they take you behind the barn and shoot you." -Hines Ward-
Quitter's Proud United Member #11
I knew there had to be something there. Obviously Pro Bowlers aren’t a strong measure of overall talent, but I didn’t recognize any star names and a few other summaries I found didn’t offer anything either. If your pass rush is any good then the Steelers are probably in for a long one.
I don't know about that
You’re still probably the favorites to win this one with your strong ground game and suffocating defense. I do firmly believe this is an improved Falcons team.
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Actually
Atlanta is favored by three points in the game. I can’t remember the last time Pittsburgh was an underdog for their home opener… it has been awhile.
Historically, Pittsburgh starts with a win on opening weekend. (They have for the past several years…) although it will be different challenge this year, obviously.
It is usually the second quarter of the season where things start unraveling a little.
Like I said, this year will probably be somewhat different… but it seems that it takes offenses longer to hit their stride than defenses… and Dick Lebeau’s defense seems to prey on early year’s miscues. I expect it to be an uncharacteristically low-scoring affair, which leads to Pittsburgh’s advantage for two reasons: one, home team is always favored in tight games and two, if it comes down to a field goal, Heinz field is a tricky, tricky place to kick.
I kinda forgot about the kicking thing
Consider me frightened. Matt Bryant has been shaky this pre-season.
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youl see either Dixon or Batch, Leftwich is out with an MCL sprain
"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly
"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 5, 2010 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Anybody from BTSC going to the game?
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
Yep
It is I says me.
Gold lot parking 3 or some shxt. got the pass off ebay. Have my cornhole set up by 9 am. you in?
by Steelchamps !! on Sep 4, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Word
Maybe I’ll see you around. I’ll be carrying a 5 gal pickle bucket, replete with snarky epithets, full of beers.
"He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score. So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything's between the lines, so he got what he had coming. He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train, and the train wasn't coming off the track."
-James Harrison on Kyle Orton
lol
take the steelers straight up to win without the 2.5 = more money for the win opposed to having the steelers + 2.5
by Steelchamps !! on Sep 4, 2010 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh.
I never do point spreads. If I bet on a game, it’s straight up win or lose.
"I am a total flaming homo"
- by biggcat on Sep 3, 2010 4:45 AM PDT
ex-Pat Dan Klecko recently had this to say about Falcons...
[excerpt…]
Klecko, who was part of two championship teams with the Pats and one in Indianapolis, is trying to hook on with Atlanta after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It’s been a great ride. My first objective is to make this team,” he said. “I know this is a good team, and hopefully I’m blessed to be a part of it at the end of camp. They definitely have talent. You never want to put expectations on anyone. We’ll see how it shakes out.”
Klecko, who gave Belichick a big hug following Thursday night’s game, said the Falcons exude the same kind of vibe of Patriots teams past, and he points directly to general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who used to work for the Pats and knows how to assemble talent.
Dont underestimate the defensive overhaul
They will be a better unit than the one we saw last year. I am very confident in our Defense at stopping the Atlanta O, but as most Steeler fans, I am completely in the dark as to how the offense will perform.
Without me, youre only you
If we can make them one-dimensional early, that will really put pressure on them
The only question is will the Offense respond? they have the ability, but can they show it when it counts
Things can always be worse....
Thoughts
I don’t like this matchup one bit for our offense. I don’t know what will have changed in a year, but quick athletic 4-3 DL’s like Atlanta’s have given us fits for at least 2 years, both in the running game and in pass protection. Think Indy/Arizona games from 2008. I’m most worried about our guards.
If Ben was in, he would probably dominate their secondary like he does most zone defenses, but Dixon struggled against the zone last year. I’m not a proponent of starting Batch over Dixon, but he might be a better fit for this game. I can imagine an apocalyptic scenario in which Dixon goes 7 for 20 for 90 yards and 2 ints, Mendenhall averages 2 ypc, and 4 games suddenly seems like a awfully long time.
If our offense can put up 17 and hold onto the ball, we have a good chance to win this game. That’s a big if, though.
charity standing orders
Link
"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." - samliam
wow BA real nice, im glad hes not the HC, he probably wouldnt have any practice, uhg please get rid of him
"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly
"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 5, 2010 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not sure BA has a tremendous amount of say in what alignment the defense is going to set up in during practices. It sounds to me like it’s a decision Tomlin and LeBeau made to give the offense the opportunity to practice more against it. BA is probably saying the team never did that before and now the offensive line can prepare better.
Believe it or not but not every single thing the Steelers do wrong or poorly is or ever did wrong or poorly is Ariens’ fault.
I would also just like to add, Isaac Redman.
whoever fault it is, its still a bad idea to not prepare the weakest part of your team
"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly
"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 5, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
But the point worldtrip is making
is that they are in fact preparing, that they realized that this was a weakness in their game. Which shows a commendable ability to change what needs changing.
"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Sep 5, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
ya they are now, hopefully this makes our O-line better
"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly
"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 5, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Kugler
was the motivator for practicing against the 4-3.
"Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience." - samliam
Yeah seriously
What a frickin retard. “Hi I’m Bruce Arians. Hmm, let’s ignore the type of defense that the majority of the NFL runs. Hum de dum de dum. Hmm, maybe we should run a play where no one blocks anyone.”
Even if we are more prepared for it, count me as unconvinced that we’ll suddenly fix all our problems. Kemo and Essex were tools in the preseason.
charity standing orders
Yeah, the the whole quarterback issue is just insane.
Not only do they lose their starter, but they lose their starter’s replacement. The more I think about it, the more I’m inclined to go with Batch. He’s what they brought in Leftwich to be: A caretaker. And he certainly knows the offense better and is slightly more mobile.
There is more upside with Dixon, but what’s the point? He’s not going to be a star in Pittsburgh and by the time he figures out how to play quarterback, they might be 0-4.
Wow
I completely agree.
Even if he is 1-3 or 3-1… makes no difference… when Ben comes back, he’s holding a clipboard. That’s why they brought in B-Love to begin with: They don’t want a project. They don’t want someone who is going to go through growing pains, but by the end of the year maybe be ready to be a starter… they don’t need a guy for that.
They need a guy to take the keys to the car… driver real slow, not dent the fenders, and when the owner of the car comes back, hand it over and say: “OK, I took us this far… now floor it!”
The 4-3 problem seems ridiculous...
It just doesn’t seem like the sort of thing that a professional team should find themselves unprepared for. I don’t care whose fault it is, but the team needs to fix it.
I have some faith in Batch. I want to see Dixon worked in for a few plays.
I think this game comes down to defense; with a healthy B-Mac and Polamalu, the Steelers have the edge here, but this is not going to be a pretty game.
Pittsburgh still wins, but ATL will still be playing too, come January.
"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will
Long range forecast: Atlanta 34 Steelers 6
Total bummer. The Falcons put eight men in the box to stuff the run and pressure Batch (or contain Dixon). The Steeler QB throws two first half picks that put team in a hole. With the Steelers forced to pass as the game wears away, the Falcons ignore the rush in lieu of all-out pressure, leading to more turnovers as the game snowballs to disaster. The next three opponents use the Falcon strategy as a blueprint for a Steeler 0-4 or 1-3 start.
might wanna flip flop that haha
"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Jack Lambert
"Going after the QB is like playing king of the mountain. When you get the QB, you're on top of the mountain." Joe Greene."I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert. "I'm a steeler fan, you damn well better believe I'm better than you". Yours truly
"I beat rival fans like Woodley beats QBs......With a club!!!!" yours truly
by H-burgSTEELfanatic on Sep 5, 2010 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Could be
But I don’t think Batch would make that mistake. I think he doesn’t throw the pick. I think we do a lot of three and outs.
Robo-Punter helps equalize our lack of production by getting off boomers that make up for the fact that the Falcons are out gaining us (but not scoring TDs either.)
Heading into the 4th quarter, the score is 9-3, and we’re all thinking: “Damn if only Ben were here, this game would be so winnable…”
But hey, it’s at home… first game of the season, and the crowd is with them on the last drive… maybe they get lucky and score a TD and go ahead. Maybe not. But I don’t see this as a blow-out.
Don’t forget, in Denver, Dixon was trying to make “Splash plays” to show he could take over the position. He needed to do that, because up until then it was Leftwich’s job. When you are pressing, you make mistakes…
There is no such problem in game one. No matter who is in there, they know they are not the starter. They only need to not make a mistake. It will be a different game.
Aren't you guys all forgetting
about Renegade? That’s the secret weapon that pushes us into the W column…
"You learn more in failure than you do in success." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Sep 5, 2010 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I did the best I could taking roster changes into account. There are no games so far this year, the diagnosis is the same: high powered offense, average defense, with a weak point at secondary. Dunta Robinson is not considered to be a good answer to their secondary problems. We can’t say who the Steelers will start at QB, but assuming it’s Dixon he’s going to have to show ability to take advantage of that. Our slapped together O-line can’t be relied on to run block or pass protect in Week 1. Their O-line had a few key injuries last year but has some good players.
This is really, really going to be a tough game.
I agree that its going to be a really tough game. I also agree that you have to take into consideration last year since there have been no real games played since then. I would have put a bigger focus on their training camp heroes and what not so that you could try to see a better look at who they are hoping to produce for them this year.
16-13
Steelers win. Maybe a defensive or ST TD as well in which case 23-13.
How do I break it to the cat that since he has been declawed, the rabbit he sees in our backyard would kick his sorry butt?
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Sep 5, 2010 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
My projected hero for the game...
Lawrence “I’m freakishly fast but got drafted next to LaMarr Woodley” Timmons.
I think this is his year (just like the last two), I think we see why he was picked next to guys like Patrick Willis and Darrelle Revis, and I think he either intercepts or strip sacks Matt Ryan, and runs it back at ridiculous speed for a man that size. I
That, combined with a little luck offensively, and otherwise solid defense gives Pittsburgh a hard-fought win.
Oh, and I like Flozell to leg whip somebody too…I’m thinking late second quarter.
"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will
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