Stillers vs. Raidas Pregame Analysis
(Game #2, vs. Oakland)
The Stillers return home
with their tails between their legs, courtesy of the asswhipping administered
to them by the Pats.� The Raiders arrive
in the Steel City brimming with confidence, after soundly beating on the
Seahawks.�� It's always tough for a team
coming off a MNF game to prepare for the next game, although some might argue
that Bill Cowher would probably fritter that day away with some worthless,
time-wasting activity that would do little to enhance his team's chances of
success.�
* When the Raidas
have the ball, they�ll be led by Rich Gannon, who seems to be off to a good
start after a decent shredding of Seattle last week.� Of course, he's got plenty of weapons at his disposal.�� When healthy, Charlie Garner and Tyrone
Whatley give the Raiders a superb 1-2 punch, with Wheatley providing the bash
and Garner more of the dash.� Both are
also capable out of the backfield, with Garner being especially dangerous.� Ageless vets Tim Brown and Jerry Rice lead
the WR corps, while Ritchie and Williams can contribute some from the FB and TE
spot.� The O-line is solid, if not
unspectacular.� It's a veteran gang that
can drive block well enough to open some cracks for the backs, while giving
Gannon adequate time to set up and sling the pill.��
The key matchup will be the Raida passing game
against what has eroded -- since last December -- into a shameful pass
defense.� Most of the problem is scheme,
in which the vanilla-loving Cowher eschewed blitzes and hung his DBs out to
dry.�� Look for Cowshit to extract head
from rectum, and give Gannon a heavy dose of blitzes in order to disrupt and
harass.�� The Stiller DBs have to be
embarrassed over their collectively pitiful play last week, and will see the
Rice/Brown combo as a chance to redeem themselves.� The Raiders running game is solid, and the Stillers will be
without the services of ILB Kendrell Bell.�
Still, the Raiders will have to contend with the likes of Hampton, Kimo,
Smith, and Porter.�� They might choose
to pick on rookie Larry Foote, or Jason Gildon, but I think the passing game is
what will be the key factor.� The
Stillers absolutely must abandon the vanilla horseshit we saw last week (and in
last year's opener vs. Jax), and pressure Gannon and put some chucking on the
Oakland WRs.�
* When the Stillers have
the ball, it's once
again anybody's guess as to what the Stillers will do.� Right now, they are a team without an
identity�.a smashmouth team that has neither the success nor the patience to
play smashmouth, power football.��
Perhaps a game against an old nemesis like the Raidas is what the doctor
ordered.�� The Raiders aren't the second
coming of the '85 Bears, but are solid on defense. �Bill Homonowski was added in the offseason to add veteran grit,
leadership, and savvy.� Big Sam Adams,
if not hobbled, will eat a lot of space inside.� The secondary is pretty solid, with ex-Stiller Rod Woodson
manning a safety spot, along with super coverman Charles Woodson on one corner,
Tory James on another, and Derrick Gibson at SS.�� Obviously, the Stillers must attack James and Rod Woodson in the
passing game.� A big question mark for
the Stillers offense is at RB and RG.�
What will Bettis do?� And how
soon will Kendall Simmons be inserted at RG, where Fat Oliver Ross had just
about the worst game at RG for the Stillers since Brendan PigStai manned that
spot?�
The key matchup will be the Stiller ground game
against the Raida front 7.� The Raidas
looked pretty big and tough last week, holding a weak Seattle team to meager
ground yardage.� Cowher can't be pleased
with the running game from last week, nor with the abandonment of it.� No, the Stillers need not plow the ball 41
times on the ground, but they do need to establish some presence at the LOS and
also need to gain a couple 2-3-4 yards on 1st down in order to keep the Raiders
from being able to sell out to the pass.��
The Tubby Tailback must obviously pick it up considerably, as must AZ
and Fu.� The O-line will have a tough
task, but they must at least keep the penetration out of the backfield and open
up a few crevices on occasion.�
* Special Teams: �Last week, a putrid punt gave the Pats 3 points, while a badly
hooked FG try took 3 points from the Stillers.�� Buchanon and C. Woodson present a good challenge for the Stiller
coverage teams.� Poteat is out for this
game, so El will handle both the KO and punt return chores.� Peterson badly hooked his only FG try last
week, and will face the daunting winds -- and angry� crowds -- of Heinz Field on Sunday nite.�
* The battle of the
Bulge:� Key matchup here is Doughboy Janikowsi versus
Jerome Bettis.� Which man will sport the
larger girth come game time?�� The
winner of this little competition could determine which team will lose.
* Hines Ward vs. Rod
Woodson:� Bad blood from last season -- in which Ward
flattened Woodie and bloodied his mouth -- will undoubtedly spill over into
this game.�� Look for a bone crunching
hit between these two players.�
* Synopsis: It's unfortunate
for the Raidas that they drew the 2nd game of the season versus the Stillers,
as opposed to the opener like New England got.�� Bill Cowher's teams perennially suck egg in the opener.� But after that, Cowher typically has just
enough sense to throw out the vanilla; get his team focused for the rigors of
the regular season; and seize the initiative in a sport that downright demands
it.� Plus, this early in the season,
this game is about as "must win" as you can get for a team with Super
Bowl aspirations.� This will be a tough
tussle in the first half, but spurred on by the rabid Heinz Field crowd, the
Stillers will pound away at the Raidas and emerge victorious, 23-16.�
.�