Redskins and Steelers are near mirror images

October 29, 1:26 PMWashington Redskins ExaminerMark Newgent

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This is how to beat the Steelers (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

It looks as if the Redskins will face a near mirror image of themselves against the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night. Like the Redskins, the Steelers have a tough physical defense (top in the league) and an offense that does not score a lot of points.

Tale of the Tape:

Offense
25th Total Offense YPG (291.7)
24th Passing YPG (184.4)
18th Rushing YPG (107.3)

Defense
1st Total Defense YPG (236)
1st Passing YPG (164.4)
3rd Rushing YPG (71.6)

The Redskins defense 6th in total defense, 11th against the pass, and 5th against the run; a bit behind the Pittsburgh in the stats to be sure, but not by much. The only stark difference between the two units are the sacks, Pittsburgh is second in the league with 25, while the Redskins are tied for 27th with a paltry 10 sacks. This is function of the Dick LeBeau’s blitz-happy schemes; something Redskins are not unfamiliar with, going against Jim Johnson twice a season.

On offense, the Redskins far outclass the Steelers with respect to moving the ball. The Redskins are ranked 7th in total offense, 2nd in rushing, and 18th in passing. Despite these statistical discrepancies the two offenses are nearly tied in scoring.

Looking at two common opponents, the Giants Eagles, who beat Pittsburgh, sheds some light on how Greg Blache might scheme for the Steelers. According to my Examiner colleagues Zac Wassink and Gordie Jones, who cover the Giants and Eagles respectively, one common thread stand out: Blitz Ben Roethlisberger, and take advantage of their weakened offensive line.

From Zac’s recap of the Giants 21-14 victory:

They knocked Pittsburgh around, dominated their weak offensive line and sacked Ben Roethlisberger a total of five times. Roethlisberger was also intercepted four times.

 From Gordie's  recap of the Eagles 15-6 victory:

The defense stepped happily into the breach, besieging Roethlisberger and ultimately sending him to the sideline with a hand injury…The Birds rushed more than four at least half the time, and maybe as much as 85 percent of the time, according to outside linebacker Omar Gaither.
But come, they did. Sometimes it was ‘backers. Sometimes it was safeties. Sometimes it was cornerbacks. And the pressure came from all angles, too.
“We felt there were some things that we could take advantage of,” Johnson said.
More than anything, they seemed to take dead aim on the center of the Steelers’ line. Center Justin Hartwig, who came over as a free agent from Carolina in the offseason, is new to the team, and guard Chris Kemoeatu is new to the lineup. So again and again Johnson had Gaither and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley line up over them. Sometimes they came. Sometimes they didn’t. Either way, they wreaked havoc.

Somehow, someway the Redskins defense is going to have to generate pressure, something this sixth ranked defense has not been able to do consistently. Fortunately, Roethlisberger may help their cause a bit, as he tends to hold on to the ball longer than he should. Pounding Big Ben and forcing a turnover or two will be crucial.

On offense Jim Zorn has his work cut out for him. Given that the Giants ground out 84 yards against the Steelers, which aint bad, Zorn should stick with the running game (depending on Clinton Portis’ ankle). This game might be a good time to make his offense look a little more West Coasty: Short passes, screens and such, which could counteract Pittsburgh’s blitzing. Maybe a little no-huddle to keep the Steeler defense off-balance, and maintain a rhythm for Jason Campbell.