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Practice Report 9/25: Defending the League's Best
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-925-Defending-the-Leagues-Best/b84ce2ef-01cb-4264-8975-8062df4635ea#
With Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers have arguably the best quarterback-wide receiver-running back trio in the league. And all three will be on display Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome when Pittsburgh comes to town.
“They do a good job with not only the performance and the production of those guys, but I think as a coaching staff, those guys utilize those guys the right way,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Friday, crediting Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “I think Todd has done a really, really, good job as he’s adapted into that personnel pattern. The way those guys are playing, it’s going to be fun for us to get a chance to stop them.”
“They have a couple of the best receivers in football,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “At least this far this season, [they] will be our biggest offensive challenge from the defensive standpoint.”
Roethlisberger led the league with 4,952 yards passing last year, adding 32 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He’s off to another roaring start in 2015, having racked up 720 yards and four touchdowns while completing 72.3 percent of his passes.
“Ben can throw you open,” Williams said. “You can be one-on-one perfect, but then he’ll put the ball on the back shoulder, back hip, front shoulder and he’ll throw you open. And those are the kind of guys that you win championships with, and they have, and he’s won them.”
Though Bell was suspended for the first two games of the season, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said this week the running back is in for a full workload on Sunday. There is plenty involved with that, as Bell is just as effective catching passes as he is running the football. Last year -- his second in the league -- Bell tallied 1,361 yards rushing and 854 yards receiving on 83 receptions. That’s 2,215 yards from scrimmage -- second to only DeMarco Murray’s 2,261.
“One of the most complete backs that I’ve seen on tape,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “When this guy motions out of the backfield to a no-back set, he can run the whole route tree.
“A lot of times, you see a guy motion out and they’re going to run a stop, a comeback, or they’re going to run a vertical. They’re trying to open up space for the receivers underneath. Not Le’Veon,” Laurinaitis continued. “He’ll run option routes, he’ll run whip routes -- he’ll run everything.”
To round out the trio, the Steelers have wide receiver Antonio Brown, who led the league in both receptions (129) and yards receiving (1,698) last year. He’s picked up right where he left off, amassing a league-leading 328 yards receiving through the team’s first two games.
“He’s just a quick, crafty guy,” safety Rodney McLeod said. “He kind of catches everything that comes his way. So we’ve got to do a great job at the top of the routes, playing through his hands, and not allowing him to get on top of us.”
Preventing Pittsburgh’s receivers from getting over the top has been a point of emphasis from Williams all week.
“The one thing we can’t do is let the ball get over our heads,” safety T.J. McDonald said.
The defensive coordinator was not happy with last week’s performance against Washington, and said he let the team know it. But Williams has also been pleased with the way the unit responded this week.
“They’re greatly accountable,” Williams said. “From the staff and everything, they’re a great group to be around.”
And though it’s a prolific offense coming this week, the players say they’re up to meeting it head on.
“We love the challenge,” McDonald said. “They’re coming into our house. We want to protect our home field and do what we're supposed to do. As a secondary, you want to make sure no balls go over your head -- that’s the biggest thing. And as pass rushers, get after the passer.”
“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Williams said. “It’s going to be a fun game for us, it really is.”
GURLEY WATCH
Come Sunday, the wait could be over, or it could continue for running back Todd Gurley. Fisher said following Friday’s practice the running back is questionable for Sunday.
“We have him listed as full participation all three days,” Fisher said. “We have him listed as questionable, which means, implies that there’s a 50/50 chance he’ll play. It’ll be a game-time decision. So really, really pleased with the progress this week.”
If he does play, Fisher expects the back to be productive.
“Then that becomes a big lift of the team,” Fisher said. “I think it helps us in a lot of areas.”
Elsewhere on the injury report, running back Chase Reynolds (knee) and defensive end Eugene Sims (knee) have been declared out for Sunday. Additionally, punter Johnny Hekker did not practice Friday with an illness, and is listed as probable.
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-practicereport/Practice-Report-925-Defending-the-Leagues-Best/b84ce2ef-01cb-4264-8975-8062df4635ea#
With Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell, the Steelers have arguably the best quarterback-wide receiver-running back trio in the league. And all three will be on display Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome when Pittsburgh comes to town.
“They do a good job with not only the performance and the production of those guys, but I think as a coaching staff, those guys utilize those guys the right way,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said Friday, crediting Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley. “I think Todd has done a really, really, good job as he’s adapted into that personnel pattern. The way those guys are playing, it’s going to be fun for us to get a chance to stop them.”
“They have a couple of the best receivers in football,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “At least this far this season, [they] will be our biggest offensive challenge from the defensive standpoint.”
Roethlisberger led the league with 4,952 yards passing last year, adding 32 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. He’s off to another roaring start in 2015, having racked up 720 yards and four touchdowns while completing 72.3 percent of his passes.
“Ben can throw you open,” Williams said. “You can be one-on-one perfect, but then he’ll put the ball on the back shoulder, back hip, front shoulder and he’ll throw you open. And those are the kind of guys that you win championships with, and they have, and he’s won them.”
Though Bell was suspended for the first two games of the season, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said this week the running back is in for a full workload on Sunday. There is plenty involved with that, as Bell is just as effective catching passes as he is running the football. Last year -- his second in the league -- Bell tallied 1,361 yards rushing and 854 yards receiving on 83 receptions. That’s 2,215 yards from scrimmage -- second to only DeMarco Murray’s 2,261.
“One of the most complete backs that I’ve seen on tape,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “When this guy motions out of the backfield to a no-back set, he can run the whole route tree.
“A lot of times, you see a guy motion out and they’re going to run a stop, a comeback, or they’re going to run a vertical. They’re trying to open up space for the receivers underneath. Not Le’Veon,” Laurinaitis continued. “He’ll run option routes, he’ll run whip routes -- he’ll run everything.”
To round out the trio, the Steelers have wide receiver Antonio Brown, who led the league in both receptions (129) and yards receiving (1,698) last year. He’s picked up right where he left off, amassing a league-leading 328 yards receiving through the team’s first two games.
“He’s just a quick, crafty guy,” safety Rodney McLeod said. “He kind of catches everything that comes his way. So we’ve got to do a great job at the top of the routes, playing through his hands, and not allowing him to get on top of us.”
Preventing Pittsburgh’s receivers from getting over the top has been a point of emphasis from Williams all week.
“The one thing we can’t do is let the ball get over our heads,” safety T.J. McDonald said.
The defensive coordinator was not happy with last week’s performance against Washington, and said he let the team know it. But Williams has also been pleased with the way the unit responded this week.
“They’re greatly accountable,” Williams said. “From the staff and everything, they’re a great group to be around.”
And though it’s a prolific offense coming this week, the players say they’re up to meeting it head on.
“We love the challenge,” McDonald said. “They’re coming into our house. We want to protect our home field and do what we're supposed to do. As a secondary, you want to make sure no balls go over your head -- that’s the biggest thing. And as pass rushers, get after the passer.”
“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” Williams said. “It’s going to be a fun game for us, it really is.”
GURLEY WATCH
Come Sunday, the wait could be over, or it could continue for running back Todd Gurley. Fisher said following Friday’s practice the running back is questionable for Sunday.
“We have him listed as full participation all three days,” Fisher said. “We have him listed as questionable, which means, implies that there’s a 50/50 chance he’ll play. It’ll be a game-time decision. So really, really pleased with the progress this week.”
If he does play, Fisher expects the back to be productive.
“Then that becomes a big lift of the team,” Fisher said. “I think it helps us in a lot of areas.”
Elsewhere on the injury report, running back Chase Reynolds (knee) and defensive end Eugene Sims (knee) have been declared out for Sunday. Additionally, punter Johnny Hekker did not practice Friday with an illness, and is listed as probable.
