On Sunday when the Ravens take on Pittsburgh underneath the lights at Heinz Field in prime time, it’ll be a case of “all hands on deck.”
Historically, playing against the Steelers meant stopping the run was always priority number one. That was the case in the Week 2 match-up in Baltimore – when the Ravens defense limited Pittsburgh to just 99 total rushing yards – but it’s not true this go round.
“They’ve always had a heck of a passing game, really,” John Harbaugh said following practice on Wednesday. “It has always been: You have to stop the run, and you have to stop the pass.
“Ben [Roethlisberger has] been there for years. They’ve always had weapons. He extends plays. The downfield passing, the screens and the stop routes go back to Hines Ward. So, you have to be able to stop both against the Steelers – run and pass.”
While always important to stop the run, it’s the Ravens secondary that’s of primary concern.
Fresh off producing a franchise-record 522 yards and 6 TDs, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has to be salivating when he looks at a Ravens secondary that is banged up and, quite frankly, lacking talent.
With cornerback Jimmy Smith out, the Ravens will need their pass rush to hit home more so now than any other game thus far this season. Experience is key at the cornerback position and the Ravens are lacking in that department with the exception of Lardarius Webb.
“Guys are going to step up,” Harbs replied when asked if the players are getting used to playing in different spots. “We have a unique group back there in terms of we have a lot of guys that … We have a lot of safeties. Anthony Levine has played corner now for six weeks or seven weeks. He has done a good job.
“He can go back there if needed. We have the guys we need. Every team faces some kind of a situation at some position, and we’ve had injuries all year in different positions, and you just have to step up. It’s not something we talk about. We don’t make a big deal about it. It’s not a point of emphasis for us. It’s just we’re the team; it’s the Ravens’ team, and whoever is a part of it goes out there and plays and does their best.”
If only it was that easy, coach.
Though the Ravens have fared well at Heinz Field as of late – winning three of the past four regular season meetings – 10 of the last 13 games between Pittsburgh and the Ravens have been decided by three points or less.
Through eight weeks, the Ravens secondary has been shaky at best. Steve Spagnuolo’s unit has allowed an average of 256 passing yards per contest ranking them 22nd in the league and as we witnessed last Sunday they are giving up the big plays when it matters most.
That certainly doesn’t inspire confidence among Ravens fans; not when these games have a history of being so close. Here’s hoping we’re not looking at the secondary for one or two huge mistakes that potentially cost the team a win for the second week in a row.
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