Thanks Met. BOL today with your card buddy.
As far as tonight's preseaon game, I am probably going to go against the grain on this one. I see everyone is on PIT today. Even the services are overwhelmingly on PIT (in fact at last check I counted something like 14 or 15 services on PIT and only 2 on PIT).
But PIT has shown me nothing on the offensive side of the ball. They have only managed 1 TD in the last 10 quarters of preseason ball. And last week, despite playing their starting offense for the entire first half, they only managed to put 3 points on the scoreboard in that half. Yes, Roethlisberger was efficient (8 of 12 I think), but he's not gaining much yardage (less than 100 yards if my memory serves me correctly) and their ground game is struggling.
PIT's defense is looking great (they held WA to 10, GB to 13 and NO to 7) but PHI's offense and McNabb looked great last week (27 points vesus CAR).
From everything I've read, both teams expect to play their starters for the entire first half and possible even some limited work in the 3rd quarter, which is to be expected from most teams in a "dress rehearsal" 3rd preseason game. But remember that this actually PIT's 4th preseason game (they play 5 due to the HOF game). And I did see someone mention that there's a chance that PIT could decide at the last minute to work their second stringers extra long as a result. How valid that info is, I am not sure. But I think I will roll the dice and go against the grain on this one and take PHI and the points in this one.
Small trend advantage too: PHI leads 17~15~1 in the all-time preseason matchup with a 16~7 win the last time they faced.
FYI: I may not play the total, but for anyone who DOES like PIT, you may want to consider the Over here. Yes, PIT's defense looks good, but they have not faced a decent offense yet (with the exception of NO in the HOF game...but throw that one out the window). PHI is shuffling a lot of guys around on defense, looking for the right combinations, since so far their defense looks to a weakness for them. Since PHI should be able to put up some points, if you like PIT, it would make logical sense for leaning towards the Over. PIT has to be concerned about their offensive struggles and are probably looking to emphasize getting some points tonight.
Here's a quote from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (confirming that the starters will play...but also confirming that the offense will stay pretty vanilla):
Ben Roethlisberger is no Jack Abramoff. For all the lobbying he has done, he cannot convince Bruce Arians to let him take a free trip.
He wants Arians to let him use all of his tools tonight against the Philadelphia Eagles to get into the end zone. Arians, his new offensive coordinator, declined.
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fficeffice" /><o
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Roethlisberger thinks if the Steelers used more of their offense, the first team easily could have scored more than 10 points through the first three preseason games.
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As they prepare for No. 4 tonight, the Steelers first teams on offense and defense will see their most extensive play of the summer, perhaps as much as three quarters. Arians has remained steadfast, though, that much of his new offense will remain under wraps until the regular season starts Sept. 9 in Cleveland.
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"A lot has been made of the unproductiveness, if you will, of the offense,'' Roethlisberger said. "We're actually being very productive. We're not game-planning certain things.
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"Bruce and I talked the other day. We feel very good where we're at."
Ben Roethlisberger is no Jack Abramoff. For all the lobbying he has done, he cannot convince Bruce Arians to let him take a free trip.
He wants Arians to let him use all of his tools tonight against the Philadelphia Eagles to get into the end zone. Arians, his new offensive coordinator, declined.
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o> Roethlisberger thinks if the Steelers used more of their offense, the first team easily could have scored more than 10 points through the first three preseason games.
<o
></o> As they prepare for No. 4 tonight, the Steelers first teams on offense and defense will see their most extensive play of the summer, perhaps as much as three quarters. Arians has remained steadfast, though, that much of his new offense will remain under wraps until the regular season starts Sept. 9 in Cleveland.
<o
></o> "A lot has been made of the unproductiveness, if you will, of the offense,'' Roethlisberger said. "We're actually being very productive. We're not game-planning certain things.
<o
></o> "Bruce and I talked the other day. We feel very good where we're at."
