Steelers News: Steelers prepare for the first of many starts from Lamar Jackson

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 5 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Baltimore Ravens, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is preparing for the first of many starts with Lamar Jackson at the helm of the Ravens’ offense.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Steelers faced Lamar Jackson in 2018, but this is the first time they will play Jackson as the starter of the Ravens’ offense in 2019. The start of a new era.

Steelers get 1st look at Ravens QB Lamar Jackson as starter

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

There’s a saying in Baltimore: “You’re not a Raven until you beat the Steelers.”

If that’s so, for all Lamar Jackson has done in accounting for 24 touchdowns over his first 12 NFL starts, he apparently won’t truly become a Baltimore Raven until this coming Sunday night at the earliest.

“Well, actually, last year we did (win at Heinz Field),” Jackson said this week with a laugh, referring to a 26-14 win Sept. 30, 2018. “(Joe) Flacco was the (starting) quarterback, but I was part of the team, so definitely … I say I beat the Steelers already.”

Not yet as a starter, though Jackson had nine carries and one completion in two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a change-of-pace QB. In the 11 months since the Ravens last played the Steelers (Jackson was promoted to starter the week after a Steelers’ win in Baltimore on Nov. 4), Jackson has become something of a league-wide phenomenon.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Antonio Brown’s cousin will look to run wild on the Steelers at Heinz Field, where No. 84 used to run rampant on defenses.

Steelers aim to contain Antonio Brown’s cousin Marquise of Ravens

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Sunday won’t be the first time Hollywood comes to Pittsburgh. But it will be the first time Hollywood is wearing enemy colors.

A cousin of mercurial former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, rookie Marquise Brown quickly has become a focal point of the Baltimore Ravens offense. And the Ravens play at Heinz Field in a crucial early-season AFC North game Sunday.

The first wide receiver taken in the draft, Brown has three catches of 40 yards or more — only two players in the NFL have more — among his 18 receptions for 304 yards for the Ravens through four weeks.

“(Brown) is going to be running deep, so we’ve got to make sure we keep the ball in front of us,” Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “They’ve got to pass off 15 (Brown’s number), so we’ve got to make sure to keep it in front of us.”

Although this is his first time playing the Steelers, Brown is no stranger to management or players. He met with Steelers brass during the draft process.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Former Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell had a few comments about his old buddy Vontaze Burfict.

Le’Veon Bell on Vontaze Burfict: “We don’t want dirty players in the league”

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

Raiders quarterback Derek Carr can call Raiders linebacker Vontaze Burfict “misunderstood” all he wants, but Carr doesn’t understand what it means to be on the wrong end of a Burfict cheap shot.

Jets running back Le’Veon Bell does.

In the latest episode of the 17 Weeks from Uninterrupted, SiriusXM, and Pandora, Bell discusses the 12-game suspension that the NFL imposed earlier this week on Burfict.

“There’s certain fine lines you really can’t cross and I feel like he kind of finds it every game,” Bell said regarding Burfict. “It’s like unbelievable. The league did what it did. I’m glad they’re finally trying to bite down on things like that because we don’t want dirty players in the league. Obviously, you don’t want guys to not be able to provide for their family. It’s not like I don’t want him on the field, but I just want him to play clean. If he’s not playing clean then other guys can’t really provide for their families because they’re hurt.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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