Black and Gold
Cheesehead
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2011
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 8
Ziggy Hood has filled in pretty well for Smith; no real letdown there.
I'd be inclined to rate the D-lines equally. Both teams do very well against the rush (Pitt #1, GB #2). Green Bay's line is better about getting after QBs for sure, but Pittsburgh's pressure usually comes from other areas (sack totals are nearly identical in the regular season.)
DBs: Green Bay - A healthy Polamalu is an x-factor (7 ints and excellent closing speed), but Charles Woodson isn't a slouch and Tramon Williams has been playing out of his mind. You're right to bring Gay into the discussion because he's probably going to be on the field a lot.
LBs: Steelers - I said elsewhere that Matthews might be a big difference maker against Roethlisberger scrambling.
Overall... Man, these D's are so close. It's going to come down to big plays and mistakes. What a great matchup!
Injuries.. Sure, you can have that crown. I hope Green Bay's injuries have a bigger effect than Pittsburgh's. :happy0005:
I think you have to breakdown D.
DL: Packers (Jenkins, Pickett and Raji > Smith, Kiesel and Hapton)
LB: Steelers (Matthews > Harrison, but Woodley = Harrison, we don't have 2 guys like that. ILBs also little advantage Steelers)
DBs: Packers (Polamalu is great, but so is reigning DPOY Woodson. So wash. Then, Collins > Clark, Williams > Taylor, Shields > McFadden, Peprah > Gay. Yes, I know, I compared a S with a CB).
And about injuries, you can't be serious. The Packers have record setting, all time games missed by starters injuries.
You have, what? OL? Smith missed time?
Cullen Jenkins missed a lot of time. Matthews missed time. Rodgers missed time. And those guys are playing.
I'd be inclined to rate the D-lines equally. Both teams do very well against the rush (Pitt #1, GB #2). Green Bay's line is better about getting after QBs for sure, but Pittsburgh's pressure usually comes from other areas (sack totals are nearly identical in the regular season.)
DBs: Green Bay - A healthy Polamalu is an x-factor (7 ints and excellent closing speed), but Charles Woodson isn't a slouch and Tramon Williams has been playing out of his mind. You're right to bring Gay into the discussion because he's probably going to be on the field a lot.
LBs: Steelers - I said elsewhere that Matthews might be a big difference maker against Roethlisberger scrambling.
Overall... Man, these D's are so close. It's going to come down to big plays and mistakes. What a great matchup!
Injuries.. Sure, you can have that crown. I hope Green Bay's injuries have a bigger effect than Pittsburgh's. :happy0005: