Category: AFC North

Three Keys For a Steelers Victory: Week 1 @ Bills

By James Layton

Week one is finally here. The Steelers a tough game this week against the Bills to open up the season. The past two times they played we have come out on the losing side.

Here are my three keys for a Steelers Victory.

  1. Get on the score board early and often. To compete with this offense of the Bills we need to come out swinging on offense. This Bills team is capable of putting up 20 plus points a game, with the ability of Josh Allen and the team they built around him.

2. Contain Stefon Diggs as much as possible. We need to keep him locked up in the secondary to limit the splash plays he can make. Joe Haden and Cam Sutton are going to have their work cut out this week with this passing attack.

3. Don’t be stupid!

Keith Butler needs to not have a Linebacker in coverage on any Wide Receiver. There is no reason to have Devin Bush or Joe Schobert in coverage against Cole Beasley or Emmanuel Sanders.

Matt Canaday needs to have a great game plan going into this game. We can’t go out with three straight rushing plays or a tight end or fullback screen to open up a drive. We need to have a balanced offense. Pat Freiermuth needs to be in on every red zone play.

My NFL Division Predictions

By Barb Layton

In the AFC East I agree with most people that the Bills are the team to beat in that division. It is also possible they could go to the Super Bowl this year. So this is how I feel the teams will fall in the East.

  • Bills
  • Dolphins
  • Patriots
  • Jets

In the AFC North I still have the Steelers as the number one spot. It is because I believe they have the best defense in the NFL. Even though Ben is getting up in years the team have surrounded him with offensive weapons. The OLine seems to be the concern of most people yet we have not seen them play all together as a unit.

  • Steelers
  • Browns
  • Ravens
  • Bengals

In the AFC South I believe the Titans will win this division. The Colts also have a chance to win this division. As of now I am going with the Titans.

  • Titans
  • Colts
  • Jaguars
  • Texans

The last division of the west it has to be the Chiefs. They are set for many years to come.

  • Chiefs
  • Chargers
  • Broncos
  • Raiders

In the NFC East I see the Washington Football Team winning this division. They have a great defense. Cowboys have a better offense but not a good defense. So this is team 1 and 2.

  • Washington
  • Cowboys
  • Eagles
  • Giants

In the NFC North with Aaron Rodgers it has to be the Packers. I think Vikings will be second.

  • Packers
  • Vikings
  • Bears
  • Lions

In the NFC South you all know you have to pick the super bowl champions. I had a hard time in picking the rest of this division.

  • Buccaneers
  • Saints
  • Panthers
  • Falcons

The NFC West this is probably the best division in football. So I just when with my gut feelings on this one.

  • Seahawks
  • Rams
  • 49ers
  • Cardinals

Ravens Official Final Cuts

By James Layton

Ravens have made their final cuts. Many of the players will be back with the team in some capacity. Perhaps Trace McSorley, QB, Binjimin Victor, WR and Pernell McPhee, OLB.

  • Adrian Ealy, OT
  • Ben Mason, FB
  • Trace McSorley, QB
  • Jaylon Moore, WR
  • Tony Poljan, TE
  • Foster Sarell, OT
  • Jovan Swann, DT
  • Jake Verity, K
  • Binjimen Victor, W
  • Nate McCrary, RB
  • Nigel Warrior, S
  • Justin Ellis, DT
  • Pernell McPhee, OLB
  • Chris Smith, DE
  • Anthony Levine, S
  • Eric Tomlinson, TE
  • Otaro Alaka, LB (injured)
  • Deon Cain, WR (injured)
  • Aaron Crawford, DT (injured)

Steelers Official Final Cuts

By James Layton

The Steelers final cuts have been modified. Three of the players were re-signed OL BJ Finney, Rashad Coward and CB Arthur Maulet. Several have been added to the practice squad.

  • Jordan Berry, P
  • Kameron Canaday, LS
  • Rico Bussey, WR
  • Cody White, WR
  • Trey Edmunds, RB
  • Jaylon Samuels, RB
  • Rashaad Coward, OL
  • BJ Finney, OL
  • Chaz Green, OL
  • Kevin Radar, TE
  • Cassius Marsh, OLB
  • Quincy Roche, OLB
  • Jamar Watson, OLB
  • Mark Gilbert, CB
  • Arthur Maulet, CB
  • Donovan Stiner, S

Projected Steelers Roster Cuts or Trades

By James Layton

The Pittsburgh Steelers have till 4 p.m. Tuesday to cut their roster down to 80 players. So let’s explore some names you could see on that list as cuts or trades.

To start let’s begin with the ones that could be waived/released.

Offense

  • Tony Brooks-James, RB
  • Pete Guerriero, RB
  • Cody White, WR
  • Tyler Simmons, WR
  • Malcolm Pridgeon, G

Defense

  • T.J. Carter, NT
  • Jamar Watson, OLB
  • Calvin Bundage, OLB
  • Ulysees Gilbert III, ILB
  • Lamont Wade, S

Now that we took a look at a few players that could be cut. Let’s take a look at a few that would be good trade bate for Kevin Colbert.

Offense

QB Mason Rudolph for a mid-late round draft pick.

RB Jaylin Samuels for a late round or conditional round draft pick.

Defense

LB Cassius Marsh for a late round draft pick .

Special Teams

P Jordan Berry for a conditional round draft pick.

Steelers Possible Roster Cuts After Preseason Week 2

By Barb Layton

This was a hard decision for me on some of the players. I think they might consider trading Jaylen Samuels and placing Benny Snell on IR. I was just looking at possible cuts.

Here is my list of cuts

  • Aviante Collins, OT
  • Pete Guerriero, RB
  • Malcolm Pridgeon, G
  • James Watson, LB
  • Tyler Simmons, WR

Steelers Winners and Losers Week 2 Verses the Lions

By James Layton

There were some really big winners in the Steelers verse Lions game. It was so good to see Ben play like the Ben of old. He has 2 new talented weapons in the Running Back and Tight End positions.

Several players were impressive on the the defensive side of the ball also. Let’s get started.

Game MVP: Pat Freiermuth

Winners

Offense

  • Ben Roethlisberger
  • Kalen Ballage
  • Anthony McFarland
  • Matthew Sexton, PR

Defense

  • Marcus Allen
  • Joe Haden
  • Miles Killebrew
  • Arthur Maulet

Losers

  • Jordan Berry, P
  • Ray-Ray McCloud, PR
  • Anthony Johnson, WR
  • Benny Snell, RB
  • Kevin Rader, TE
  • Carlos Davis, DL

Steelers Players To Watch Preseason Week 1: @ Eagles

By James Layton

It’s great having Steelers Football back in front of a full stadium. Last weeks win over the Cowboys was a good game to knock the rust off for everyone.

There was a few players that were a surprise like wide receiver Matthew Sexton in the return game, and free safety Donovan Stiner coming up with a clutch interception to get the team fired up.

So lets take a look at a few players to watch in this game besides the Quaterbacks.

Offense

  • 22 Najee Harris, RB
  • 82 Tyler Simmons, WR
  • 14 Ray Ray McCloud, WR
  • 87 Kevin Rader, TE
  • 65 Dan Moore, OT

Defense

  • 73 Carlos Davis, NT
  • 92 Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE
  • 48 Quincy Roche, OLB
  • 21 Tre Norwood, S
  • 26 Donovan Stiner, FS

Special Teams

  • 6 Pressley Harvin, P
  • 4 Jordan Berry, P
  • 80 Matthew Sexton, PR/WR

Bonus Player: 51 Buddy Johnson, ILB

Steelers Players To Watch In The Hall of Fame Game

By James Layton

It’s to believe that Steelers football is back. This is the first look at Matt Canaday’s offense, and to see 1st Round Pick rookie RB Najee Harris.

This is a big game for a lot of the young players on this team, since there are only three preseason games. It will give these players a chance to show what the can do not only for this team, but also for the other 31 teams in the league.

So let’s get in to the players to watch in this game.

Offense

  • 3 Dwayne Haskins, QB
  • 26 Anthony McFarland, RB
  • 29 Kalen Ballage, RB
  • 84 Rico Bussey, WR
  • 88 Pat Freiermuth, TE

Defense

  • 92 Isaiahh Loudermilk, DE
  • 8 Melvin Ingram, OLB
  • 48 Quincy Roche, OLB
  • 42 James Pierre, CB
  • 29 Shakur Brown, CB

Bonus Player

6 Pressley Harvin III, P

I would love to hear who you guys are watching the game. Let me know in the comments.