My Hines Ward Blog

It is technically accurate to say the Steelers would benefit from out-ramming the Rams, but not to say they need to "out-Ram" them to win. That's enough of that.

Will the Steelers be able to contain, "Saint" Steven Jackson?

The Steelers need to take advantage of St. Louis' banged up offensive line, if there was ever a remedy for a defense having trouble getting off of blocks and getting to the quarterback, it's playing the Steelers, I mean the Rams, sorry. Lamar Woodley will play in place of the injured Clark Haggans. Let's hope the rookie can add some energy and intensity to the lethargic defense. Tyrone Carter is playing for Anthony Smith who has been benched after getting beat deep several times in the last two games. Carter should help sure up the pass defense, normally Polamalu's backup at strong safety, Carter has played free safety with Minnesota. I expect him to play a solid if unspectacular game, he's not the risk taker Smith is which makes him a good compliment to the aggressive.

I am certain ANthony Smith will be make a sweet tackle on special teams and break into a frenzied, chest-thumping celebration, possibly drawing a penalty.

A win tonight would clinch a playoff spot for Pittsburgh if either Cleveland or Tennessee lose.

There is a tangible sense of urgency for the Steelers going into the game tonight. It's disappointing that Pittsburgh has let things slide so far since beating the Browns-Reprise for the second time this season to take a three game lead on Cleveland.

The 3rd seed in the AFC appeared to be locked up when the Steelers held a 9-3 record and it's as if the team relaxed. St Louis' defense is spotty, their quarterback is injury prone and the Rams have only won 3 games this season. However, the offense of Jackson, Bruce, Holt, and Bulger has big play capability, and the Steelers defense needs to reestablish itself as a unit that can tackle. The Rams offense is the last big test of the regular season, aside from stopping Willis Magahee in Baltimore. If the defense has a chance to right itself, stopping the Rams tonight is a big the first step, the way the D responds to being pounded on last week will be indicative of how the rest of the season goes, and how long the team will last in the hopefully forthcoming post-season. The Rams will run Steven Jackson right over Aaron Smith's replacement. Someone needs to tackle him, or ram him backwards and into the ground. When the Steelers start bringing an extra guy into the box, the Rams will try to throw. It's fortunate for Pittsburgh that the Ram's line is in shambles.

The Rams will blitz. Will the Steelers line block? Where has the screen pass gone? Throw it to Heath Miller and Parker out of the backfield to counter the blitz.

Lost in the carnage of Fred Taylor's snow plow game last week was Ben Roethlisberger's record setting performance, Roethlisberger, who was recently elected to his first Pro Bowl, has set the Steelers single season record for TD passes with 29.

Check out any of the various media outlets for Roethlisberger's response when asked about the record and compare them to Hines Ward's self indulgent rant when he responded to questions about what it meant to him to break Stallworth's TD reception record. Ward talks about humility, Roethlisberger is humble.

How lucky are the Steelers and we as Steelers fans, to have a quarterback like Roethlisberger playing for Pittsburgh. In four years he has become the youngest QB to win a Super Bowl, gone undefeated as a starter in his first regular season, and set the franchise's single season TD record, he has twice tied the team record for consecutive completions with 15. He threw 3 td's last week with a shoulder injury which limited him to one day of practice in the week prior to the game. Remember when Steelers fans were complaining about the team taking Plax instead of Chad Pennington? Seems like eons ago.

I can see this turning into a shoot-out in the dome.

I'll predict the same final as the Steelers Rams matchup in Super Bowl XIV

Steelers 31, Rams 19

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