The Stillers open up against
the DeadSkins at Heinz Field on Sunday with the opportunity to go 10-1 for the
first time since 1975.� The Skins come
into the game being possibly the best 3-7 team in the NFL.
A quick look at the Skins.
DEFENSE:
The Skins are lead by their
Defense; #2 in the NFL behind you know whom.� Their Defense is solid and has some marquee names, even with
Pittsburgh Native Lavar Arrington being out for Sunday�s game.� The Defense is lead by Coordinator Gregg
Williams who has long ties with Dick LeBeau.�
The Skins secondary will give Big Ben R. a test.� They cover well and can hit.� Rookie, Sean Taylor, had a great pre-season
start and before the emergence of Ben R., could have been a candidate for
Rookie of the Year.� His play hasn�t
been devastating but his tackling can be.�
The Skins secondary has a total of 12 INTs with the secondary accounting
for 11 of those.� Smoots, Taylor and
Springs each have three.� Def Tackle
Cornelius Griffin leads the team in sacks with four.� Linebackers Pierce and Washington lead the team with tackles at
54 and 51 respectively.� The Skins are
capable and most likely will play the same in your face and hard-hitting
defense that we will play.� I fully
expect them to harass Ben and we can only hope our o-line is out of their funk
we witnessed in Cinci.� With Burress
out, they know we will focus our game plan on the ground and stack the box
accordingly.� This defense is physical
and good.� It is their one bright spot
on otherwise an abysmal season.� My
colleague Haven was correct in is power rankings stating �Gregg Williams is the
sole reason Gibbs isn�t a complete embarrassment this season.�
OFFENSE:
I started of saying that
Washington may be the best 3-7 team in the NFL.� That comment was based off the play of their defense.� The reason they are 3-7 is because of this
unit�s horrible play.� Going into game
11, Patrick Ramsey will make his second consecutive start over Mark
Brunell.� The Skins are ranked 28th
in the NFL for overall offense.� You
know that is bad when Miami is ahead of you at 1-9.� Like the defense, the offense has some power names like Clinton
Portis and Laveranues Coles.� Ramsey is an
upgrade over Brunell, who has been as good as a team player (media at least) as
Bettis taking a pay cut.� Brunell is a
professional and is acting like one after being relieved of his duties.� He is professional but was sorry at QB all
season with his $45 million contract.�
Portis is 72 yards away from being 1,000-yard rusher this season.� He has great speed and is a top RB.� He is capable of breaking a big run with his
longest of the season being 64 yards.�
He comes in with a decent 3.9 yards per carry average.� The receiving threat is Coles and Rod
Gardner each averaging over 11 yards per reception (Gardner is close to 14
yards per catch).� The Skins offense is
looking for identity in any form they can.�
I�ve watched Ramsey, mainly last season, and he is capable and will most
likely deliver a pick or two to the Stiller D.�
The Skin�s line is hurting suffering a major loss when Jon Jansen
suffered a season ending injury.� They
have very little depth and have no backup on their depth chart at left and
right guard and tight end.� Washington
is the only NFL team that has not scored over 20 points this season in a single
game.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
Punter Tom Tupa is a decent punter with a 44.7 average.� Kicker John Hall went down with a groin
injury with Swede Ola Kimrin taking over.�
Reed and Kimrin share the same FG production over 40 yards at 33%.� Word in DC country is Kimrin should go back
to Sweden and start playing soccer.� The
KO return artists are Morton, Betts, and Thrash, all averaging over 17 yards
per return.� Punt returns aren�t that
productive with Thrash and Morten averaging 10.8 and 6.2 respectively.
WRAP UP:
The Skins can be a dangerous team.� An effort for the Stillers, similar to the likings of NE or
Philly could put this game out of reach quickly.� The Skins D will bring it hard and we�ll see how we react to that
pressure.� Our D should be very dominant
against this weak offense.� The Skins
have been in almost every game they�ve played this season.� With the exception of last week in the 4th
quarter against the Iggles, any team has not really blown out the Skins.� Credit goes to their Defense.� Out of the Skin�s three wins, two have been
on the road.
Sitting at 9-1, games are still important.� Winning them is more important.� I always hate to say this �this game doesn�t
matter� because in the NFL, they do.�
Each Stiller win gets us closer to an AFC North win, a first round bye,
and home field advantage in the playoffs.�
The Skins can play spoiler, I just don�t think that they are that
organized to do so against the Stillers on Sunday.� Whatever faults we can bring out about the Stillers, they are at
least playing like a team.� The Skins
have a lineup full of NFL stars but collectively aren�t a team.� Lets hope on Sunday they don�t decide to
unite.
Stillers:� 27-17.