The Pittsburgh Steelers will restore their competition with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, and Baltimore offending planner Todd Monken is getting ready for a difficulty. While his offense has actually been among the very best in football this season, Monken applauded Pittsburgh’s defense at all levels and particularly yelled out the Steelers’ security duo of Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott.
“They’re actually great throughout the board. Great in advance, actually active linebackers. Undoubtedly, we understand among them quite well, so they’re active. Minkah’s a really smart, instinctual gamer, [DeShon] Elliott, they navigate the line, fantastic blitzer, hard. Corners are actually excellent cover guys. A genuine obstacle; you can see that on movie. It’s a staple of who they’ve been,” Monken stated Thursday through the Ravens’ site.
While the Steelers and the Ravens are 2 groups generally developed on defense, this year it’s been Baltimore’s offense that’s actually removed while its defense has actually had a hard time a bit. Baltimore’s pass defense has actually gotten torched, however the Ravens are still 7-3 thanks to the play of Lamar Jackson, who as soon as again appears like an MVP prospect, while Derrick Henry leads the NFL in hurrying and has actually reinforced their backfield.
Pittsburgh has actually traditionally had success versus Jackson, and while Fitzpatrick hasn’t gotten a lot of splash plays this season, he’s taken away the middle of the field in a protection function as quarterbacks have actually prevented tossing in his instructions. Elliott’s addition is a huge reason. He’s been a truly sound tackler and somebody who Bill Cowher compared to Troy Polamalu for his capability to blitz around the line of skirmish.
Pittsburgh’s defense is anchored by T.J. Watt, whom Monken stated the group will require to bring aid versus, in addition to Cameron Heyward, who’s playing a few of the very best football of his profession. Pittsburgh’s defense is among if not the very best that the Ravens have actually faced this season, however it’s a competition where both groups understand each other well, so it’s going to be a real chess match to see who can triumph. As Monken mentioned, it’ll likewise be the very first video game where pound Patrick Queen bets his previous group, and he may have some additional inspiration considered that Baltimore didn’t use him an agreement to this offseason.
It’ll be a match of 2 elite systems and 2 of the very best groups in football, and it’s going to be a difficulty for both sides to stop each other. The video game will most likely boil down to whether the Steelers’ defense can step up versus a Baltimore offense that’s been shooting on all cylinders.