Steelers Now
PTITSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has looked like a matchup nightmare all offseason when it comes to the tight end position, with Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington looking like a three-headed monster at the position.
The results in Week 1 were a bit muted. Pat Freiermuth had three key catches, but only three. Jonnu Smith was second on the team with six targets, but finished with just 15 receiving yards. Darnell Washington was mostly used as a blocker.
The Seahawks have a bunch of exotic blitzes that their head coach Mike Macdonald — former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator — loves to dial up. But the ability to put multiple tight ends on the field and still be in a receiving mode is a big benefit to the Steelers in that area. Most teams don’t plan blitzes out of personnel for heavy looks — as those are usually running formations.
With Aaron Rodgers harried last week as it is, expect an extra dose of the Steelers tight ends in Week 2.
Gameday: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1 p.m.
The Steelers struggled to protect Aaron Rodgers against the Jets last week, and that test won’t get any easier this week, with a hard-to-handle Seattle defensive scheme and two more than capable edge rushers in Boye Mafe and Demarcus Lawrence.
Certainly, the Steelers can and should expect left tackle Broderick Jones to play better, but they can also keep Rodgers
The Seahawks don’t have Devon Witherspoon, their top cornerback. Riq Woolen, their second-best player at the position, has been under fire for struggling in Week 1, to the point that his job is being questioned.
Now, he’ll likely be tasked with defending Steelers star receiver DK Metcalf in his return game against his former team. There’s almost no way the Seahawks will leave Woolen alone on an island here, so expect plenty of help from safety Coby Bryant.
Woolen has then length to match up with Metcalf, but the wiry cornerback might have a hard time bringing him down. Expect the Steelers to send lots of slants and screens Metcalf’s way.
The Steelers’ run defense was embarrassed in Week 1, but if you look at the three-headed monster of the New York Jets rushing attack, the one player that the Steelers held in check was power back Braelon Allen. Allen rushed six times for just a total of nine yards last Sunday.
Kenneth Walker III is the analogue to Allen in the Seahawks’ offense. Zach Charbonnet has more speed and is a better receiver — more like Breece Hall, who torched the Steelers for 100 yards. Charbonnet out-gained Walker last week for the Seahawks, and that’s the one part of the Seahawks’ game they should feel good about shutting down.
Steelers 24, Seahawks 20
🏈 Steelers -3.5
🏈 Over 40.5...
