Spotlight Game: Pittsburgh at San Diego

After a shaky start, the San Diego Chargers have evened their record at 2-2 by basically throttling the Giants at home and the Patriots on the road, an unattainable feat for any team during the last couple of years. The Chargers’ brutal schedule continues on Monday night, however, where they face an angry Pittsburgh Steelers’ team that has had 15 days to fester over their home loss to New England in week 3. We should see a team with momentum (Chargers) against a hungry team (Steelers) during this Monday Night showdown.

Pittsburgh

Ben Roethlisberger: Roethlisberger has only thrown an average of 20 times over his first three games this season. The Chargers are much more susceptible to the run than the pass, however, so expect him to hit the air more often on Monday night. Big Ben is a definite start this week, regardless of Hines Ward’s participation in the game. The Steelers’ young passer has been very efficient thus far, throwing six TDs without an interception. He should continue that trend on a national stage against a below-average passing defense. Roethlisberger goes for 275 yards, two TDs, and no turnovers on 21 of 34 attempts.

Pittsburgh RBs: Duce Staley, Willie Parker, Verron Haynes, and Jerome Bettis: all four are supposedly healthy enough to play on Monday, but as of now, it looks like Staley is going to be declared inactive. This is most likely being done for a couple of reasons. For one, this will keep Staley’s legs fresh for later in the year (he also may not be completely recovered from his preseason injury). The other reason is that Staley has shown support for Parker and has agreed that the sophomore should be the primary back as long as he continues to produce. Even with Staley out of the picture, however, there is still bad news for Parker owners. With Haynes handling the bulk of the third-down duties and with Bettis taking care of business near the goal line, Parker is left with fewer touches. So, I again feel that it is time to bench Parker this week. Actually, I feel that Bettis is your best bet with his chances at a score, but I wouldn’t recommend playing any Pittsburgh running backs until this situation pans out on Monday night. I will say that Parker rushes 17 times for 60 yards. Bettis will go for 25 and a TD on eight carries, and Haynes will have 20 yards on five tries.

Pittsburgh WRs: Hines Ward heads into this tilt as questionable with his hamstring injury. Ward insists that he will be in the lineup for this game, but I would wait until later in the weekend for a more definitive word on him. Assuming that Ward suits up, he is a good play in this game, even if he is hobbled. I like Ward to have eight catches for 90 yards and a TD against a suspect Charger pass defense if he plays. A possible sneaky play here is Antwaan Randle El, who leads the team in receiving yards with 220 on only seven catches. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him break a few long balls to the tune of three grabs for 80 yards and a TD. Cedrick Wilson will add two grabs for 20 yards. If Ward can’t go, Randle El, Cedrick Wilson, and Quincy Morgan will see looks from Roethlisberger.

Heath Miller/Jerame Tuman: Heath Miller has not lived up to his potential as a mid-first round pick as of yet. Well, it is either that or the fact that Pittsburgh rarely utilizes the tight end in the passing game. Both Miller and Tuman have been used primarily in blocking schemes even though Miller has proved to be adept as a receiver at Virginia. Each player has only two catches on the year; so don’t even think about either of them for now until Bill Cowher decides to employ the tight ends a bit more. I’ll say that Tuman goes without a reception this week while Miller begins to get involved with three catches for 25 yards.

Defense: Going on the road to face a multi-dimensional offense is not a place to play the Pittsburgh defense. I expect two sacks and a turnover from this unit. Pittsburgh owners should browse the waiver wire for a favorable matchup this week. There is not much in the way of IDP superstars on the Pittsburgh defensive unit. However, for consistent tackle numbers, you can look to linebacker James Farrior (31 total tackles) and corner Ike Taylor (29). If feel like taking a risk, Troy Polamalu is the guy to look at, since he can fill up every part of the stat sheet. He should be able to put some pressure on Dreww Brees when the Steelers use their blitzing schemes.

San Diego

Drew Brees: Even though he is facing the vaunted “Blitz-burgh” defense, I actually like Brees’ chances in this game. He is surrounded by a plethora of weapons, and he should be able to use them to his advantage. Start Brees this week. He can dump the ball off to LT if needed, or he can use the middle of the field with Antonio Gates, Keenan McCardell, and Eric Parker. Drew will toss for 235 yards, two TDs, and an interception. He will complete 22 of 35 tosses.

LaDainian Tomlinson: San Diego will pound the ball with LT, period. As long as the game is close, the Chargers will try to wear down the Steelers with him. Not much to say about him, he is always a must start. Tomlinson had 100 catches two years ago, but only has nine grabs through four games this year. Brees may try to involve him more in the passing game, especially if “Blitz-burgh” can penetrate the offensive line on a consistent basis. I’ll say that LT finishes with 27 carries for 95 yards and a TD, and he will add 30 yards on four or five catches. All in all, I think Pittsburgh can contain him, but he will still have a productive outing.

San Diego WRs: Keenan McCardell, in short, has been on fire through four games this year. His doubters have been left shaking their heads as he had put up 268 yards and an astounding five TDs so far. This could be a situation where his owners sell high, since it is very unlikely that this kind of production can consistently continue. I’ll go out on a limb here and say that Pittsburgh shuts him down on Monday night. I think that he will become the focus of the Pittsburgh secondary (perhaps even more so than Antonio Gates), especially since the Chargers lack a proven #2 WR. Of course I can’t recommend that you sit McCardell until he cools down, but I think the Steelers hold him to 65 yards on six grabs. This would open the door for Eric Parker, who I believe will be the beneficiary of McCardell’s double teams. Parker has been a serviceable #2, catching 14 balls for 168 yards (no TDs) through four games. He will have 60 yards and a TD from Brees on Monday.

Antonio Gates: Right now, with the unexplained absence of Tony Gonzalez thus far this season, Gates is the undisputed best tight end in the NFL, although his owners would like Brees to give him more red zone looks. He has 280 yards and a TD in just three games ( he was suspended in week 1). I don’t see why he cannot do more of the same in this one. Gates should register 70 yards and a touchdown against a Pittsburgh pass defense that has not lived up to expectations so far this year.

Defense: The Chargers have yet to convince owners that they are a top-notch fantasy defense this year, and this is not the week that they will break out. San Diego’s defense should only be good for a sack and possibly a turnover. Unlike Pittsburgh, however, San Diego offers some very valuable IDPs. The most valuable is none other than Donnie Edwards, one of the most underrated linebackers in the NFL. The man is a tackle machine. He already has 42 total tackles, an interception, and a sack in the first quarter of the year. He should be good for another 8-10 tackles on Monday. The only other real option that San Diego presents is strong safety Terrence Kiel, who takes care of any plays that get behind Edwards. With 32 tackles this season, Kiel is second on the team only to Edwards. He should wrap up six more ball carriers against Pittsburgh.

Sleeper

Darren Sproles: Sproles, the first year man out of Kansas State, is questionable in this game with an ankle injury that was previously thought to be much more serious. Sproles is only about 5’ 6”, 180 pounds, and was thought by many to be a great college runner that had no shot in the NFL due to his size. However, San Diego has found many places on the field where he can be useful. Sproles is third in the league in kickoff returns, averaging 28.7 yards per return (with three returns of 40 or more yards this year). He has been utilized as a decoy, since defenders must account for him in the backfield due to his speed. In addition, he serves as a change of pace back in spot situations, running four times for 41 yards this year. This is by no means fantasy advice, as Sproles has no fantasy value now (and he probably never will as long as he is backing up LT). His value lies as a special teams player, providing field position and an explosiveness to the unit. If Sproles plays on Sunday, look out for him and the boost that he will give this Charger team.

Matchup to Watch

LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Pittsburgh’s front seven: This to me is the definitive matchup of the game. San Diego will pound Tomlinson, the foundation of their offense, in both the running and passing game. Pittsburgh boasts an above-average run defense (11th in the league, giving up 96.7 YPG). Of course, the Steelers will not completely shut down Tomlinson, but if they can contain him and keep the ball out of his hands by getting out to an early lead, then the Steelers should walk away with the game. On the flip side, if the Chargers can establish Tomlinson early and control the clock, then you have to like San Diego’s chances.

Prediction

This may be one of the tougher games to predict this season. San Diego is coming off two impressive wins, but the reality is that they are still a pedestrian 2-2, and could really use this win as the foundation of their chase for the AFC West crown. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is 2-1, but the Steelers need to take out their frustration on the Chargers after losing to New England two weeks ago. In addition, although it’s early in the season, Pittsburgh doesn’t want to fall any further behind the Bengals in the AFC North. They do share a common opponent, the Patriots, who the Chargers lambasted last week 41-17… in New England. Pittsburgh lost to New England at Heinz Field, so the Chargers should roll, right? Actually, I like the Steelers coming off a bye week where they had 15 days to relive their previous loss. Beware of the defeated. This should be a classic game, and even though I see the Steelers winning, I still believe that the Chargers (who will be sporting their powder blue unis on Monday) will be the class of the AFC West when it is all said and done. I’ll say that Jeff Reed hits the game winner as time expires. Pittsburgh 27, San Diego 24.

 
Dave McGrath hopes to eventually turn his Communication major into a full-time sportwriting career. He can be found posting as dave416 in the Cafe forums.

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