Week 3

[Petesburgh66]

Spaeth will be out this week with a quad injury

http://www.nfl.com/injuries

[steelpride12]

Originally Posted by Petesburgh66

Spaeth will be out this week with a quad injury

http://www.nfl.com/injuries

Ya i heard kinda sucks but i think Tuman can carry the backup job just fine.

[83-Steelers-43]

I'm confident that we can shut down Gore and get to Smith, but the player who concerns me in this game is Vernon Davis. We tend to struggle when it comes to teams utilizing the TE. Opposing tight ends have six receptions for 102 yards against us in the regular season.

Winslow averaged 20.8 yards on four catches.

During the preseason game against the Skins Cooley caught five passses for 60 yards, including a 29-yard gain.

Would be nice to see us put an end to that little trend. It's not much fun watching opposing TE's shred your secondary.

[Smashmouth225]

Pittsburgh- 27
49er's-10
It will probably be close for the 1st quarter then the flood gates will open on the 49er's. Good team we are playing tho, but just not ready yet for a team like the Steelers on the road. Wouldn't be suprised if they snuck into the play-offs in the NFC.

[xXTheSteelKingsXx]

I'm gonna say Steelers win 31 to 9.

[Livinginthe past]

The 49ers are a team built to order for what the Steelers do on both sides of the ball.

Teams just can't run on Pittsburgh - thats not going to change when your QB isn't enough of a genuine threat to push the Steelers D away from the LOS.

I think the 49ers were slightly flattered by their 7-9 record last year - with an improvement in personell I expect them to hit that number of wins again.

7-9 teams from the NFC really don't have what it takes to make this a close one.

Willie parker will have a big day and Ben will more than likely cash in with a nice TD/INT ratio.

Steelers 37 49ers 6

[xXTheSteelKingsXx]

I haven't heard much on James Harrison this week, I assume this means he is going to go Sunday. Last I heard, he just had a stiff neck. Does anyone have any information on him?

[stillers4me]

Originally Posted by xXTheSteelKingsXx

I haven't heard much on James Harrison this week, I assume this means he is going to go Sunday. Last I heard, he just had a stiff neck. Does anyone have any information on him?

From everything I've read, he's fine and has put in at least one full practice.

Quoted from this week's Steelers Digest:

"Harrison sqabbled with the paramedics, telling them he was fine, and then he reappeared on the sidelines in the second half in full uniform hoping to play."

"He might have slashed their tires so they couldn't get him to the hospital or something, but I'm glad he's OK, " said Clark Haggans. "Whatever's mangled in the ambulance, I'm sure they can fix it and repair it."

"Tomlin confirmed that Harrison ran headfirst into Casey Hamptons's rear end on his final play, but couldn't confirm that was how he was injured."

I'm loving Harrison more and more each week...........I thnk we have the makings of a Lambert-like legend on our hands!!

[xXTheSteelKingsXx]

Thanks stillers4me.

Also I like the quote you posted from Haggans, "Whatever's mangled in the ambulance, I'm sure they can fix it and repair it." Harrison really has the Pittsburgh Steelers LB mentality down.

[lamberts-lost-tooth]

Game 3 Matchup: Steelers vs. 49ers
Gerry Dulac breaks down the meeting of 2-0 teams
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



What the Steelers will do: The offense has averaged nearly 36 minutes in time of possession. That has allowed defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to blitz more often with a rested defense, producing 10 sacks and 22 pressures/hurries. The Steelers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 27 consecutive games, and their focus will be to shut down RB Frank Gore then crank the blitz pressure on QB Alex Smith. RB Willie Parker has rushed for more than 100 yards in five of the past six dating to last season. He will have to run inside the tackles because the 49ers have good speed on defense, particularly at linebacker.

What the 49ers will do: Smith has done a good job protecting the ball and not taking chances, not throwing an interception in 48 attempts. But he also has not thrown a touchdown. His average per attempt is 5.25 yards, lowest among NFL starting QBs. The offense revolves around Gore, who rushed for a franchise-record 1,695 yards last season but also caught 61 passes. Defensively, they use a 3-4 front in which NT Aubrayo Franklin (6-1, 334) tries to create space for rookie ILB Patrick Willis to make tackles (team-high 25 after two games).

Keep an eye on ...


49ers TE Vernon Davis: Smith has not made many big plays in the passing game, and he might have to do that against the Steelers to open room for his running game. That's why the Steelers will be keeping their eye on Davis, a No. 1 pick in 2006 who has just four catches for 27 yards in two games. Davis is big (6-3, 253), fast and athletic and caught 20 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns in eight starts last season. He was clocked at 4.38 in the scouting combine and is so versatile he lined at flanker, H-back and fullback at Maryland.

Data


Game: San Francisco 49ers (2-0) at Steelers (2-0).

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Heinz Field.

TV: WPGH.

Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

Intangibles


Rookie head coaches are 3-7 after two weeks, and Mike Tomlin has two of the victories. The 49ers have won the past two meetings in Pittsburgh (1993, 1996). But they have won just seven road games in the past five years, though one came last week in St. Louis. Plus, the season-ending injury to OLB Manny Lawson (knee) will hurt the defense.

Keys to victory


To win, the 49ers must ...

1. Gore the defense. The Steelers haven't allowed a 100-yard runner since 2005 and are yielding an average of 74 yards rushing.

2. Have Nate be Great. The 49ers spent a lot of money in the offseason to improve their defense, most of it on Clements.

3. Be golden on third down. The 49ers have converted just 6 of 25 third-down chances, the lowest percentage (24.0) in the league.

To win, the Steelers must ...

1. Put Alex in jeopardy. Smith has to throw quickly against a defense that has 10 sacks and 22 hurries after two games.

2. Be talking 'bout Willis. The rookie linebacker is the most active player in the 49ers defense and Roethlisberger has to know what he's doing.

3. Apply some Colon. RT Willie Colon needs to handle DE Bryant Young, a 14-year veteran who has three of the 49ers' five sacks