PERSONNEL NEWS

Strategy And Personnel

The Sports Xchange

September 29, 2018 at 9:44 am.

FRIDAY INJURY REPORT
BALTIMORE RAVENS

–OUT: CB Anthony Averett (hamstring), DT Willie Henry (abdomen)

–QUESTIONABLE: CB Brandon Carr (knee), TE Hayden Hurst (foot), S Anthony Levine (hamstring), LB C.J. Mosley (knee), DT Michael Pierce (foot), T Ronnie Stanley (foot), LB Terrell Suggs (knee)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS

–DOUBTFUL: S Morgan Burnett (groin), CB Mike Hilton (elbow)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: TE Vance McDonald is healthy, and the Steelers have another weapon for their offense. McDonald missed the opener against Cleveland with a foot injury, but he has seven receptions for 138 yards over the last two games, including 112 yards and a touchdown in the 30-27 victory over the Buccaneers. The Steelers like the big-play ability McDonald provides — he had a 75-yard touchdown in Tampa Bay — so look for offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner to continue to find ways to get the ball in his hands, especially with opposing defensive coordinators focused on double- and triple-teaming All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown.

GAME PLAN: Put the ball in Ben Roethlisberger’s hands and let him try to win the game. That’s the best chance for the Steelers to beat the Ravens. Roethlisberger has thrown an NFL-high 139 passes so far this season, and that’s not expected to change as long as Le’Veon Bell remains on the sidelines in a contract holdout.

Roethlisberger has enjoyed success against the Ravens the last couple of seasons. Last year at Heinz Field, he threw for 506 yards and two touchdowns in a 39-38 win at Heinz Field. Roethlisberger would like to have a more consistent running game. James Conner and the offensive line were able to run out the clock against the Buccaneers at the end of the game. However, Roethlisberger has proven he doesn’t need a running game to win games.

On defense, the Steelers have to find a way to play better pass defense. They have allowed 288 passing yards per game and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will test the struggling secondary. The Ravens have a bunch of new faces in their receiving corps so the Steelers must get an early handle on how to defend John Brown and Michael Crabtree, both of whom have had their moments early in the season.

The Steelers need to do a better job against the run than they have in recent meetings against the Ravens. Last year, in the 39-38 game at Heinz Field, the Ravens rushed for 152 yards and kept the defense off balance all game. The Steelers did a better job against the run against the Buccaneers. They limited them to 63 yards on 16 carries.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH

–Steelers RB James Conner vs. Ravens LB C.J. Mosley. The Steelers have taken advantage of Mosley as a pass defender in recent years when Le’Veon Bell was their running back. Bell isn’t playing this week, but the Steelers use Conner in the same way they used Bell as a pass receiver out of the backfield. Conner has 15 receptions for 189 yards through the first three games, and the Steelers will look to get him involved as both a runner and receiver against the Ravens. Mosley missed last week’s game against the Broncos with a knee injury so look for the Steelers to go at him.

–Steelers CB Joe Haden vs. Ravens WR John Brown. Haden has a tough task against the Ravens’ leading receiver and best big-play threat. Brown has 222 yards and two touchdowns. Haden is the Steelers’ best cornerback, and they’ll need him to help limit the number of big plays by the Ravens. Haden’s play is especially important because the Steelers have not received consistent play from their other corners.

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