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Deep Steel Blueprint: Rich, Gooey Center Needs To Be Filled With Nougat

Before I delve into a Deep Steel Blueprint, I have to express a ton of joy about Sunday’s game. As The 506 shows us, the Houston Texans are hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers in, what is essentially, a nationally broadcast game. On behalf of those outside the southeast part of Texas, with the exception of a few areas, I can say it will be a Durgasend to not have to search for a way to watch or be behind in watching a broadcast. Everyone should be able to watch at the same time, which will make for a fun gamethread.

My joy at being freed from being forced by NFL television rules to watch only Minnesota-Kansas City aside, I am also optimistic about Sunday’s game. I am respectful of the history of Pittsburgh's professional football franchise, but the present is not as intimidating as I thought it would be when the schedule came out.

So far, Pittsburgh’s been dominated in Baltimore, shut out an eastern-traveling and awful Seattle team (no offense, UT), and struggled in Lucas Oil Stadium against the Indianapolis ManninglessColts. The offensive line is held together by duct tape and journeymen, and the defense is starting to gray. 

Even with all of these encouraging signs, you have to wonder what the Texans will need to do to beat the Steelers. Wonder no more and hit the jump.

Star-divide

I could go the easy and obvious answer: run the ball. The Steelers sit 19th in run defense DVOA on Football Outsiders, are allowing 4.6 yards per carry, and nearly gave up 100 to the vaunted Colts' rushing attack. A healthy Arian Foster and Ben Tate duo could have a good day as the offensive line attacks a Steeler front seven where five of the starters are 33 or older and don’t appear to have that signature Steelers explosiveness that makes Dick LeBeau’s scheme so deadly.

However, that’s too easy and widespread. I don’t want to put together some rehash of what everyone else is saying and waste your time and mine. Instead, I’ll say the key to a Sunday victory lies in the hands of Shaun Cody, Earl Mitchell, DeMeco Ryans, and Brian Cushing.

The Steelers' offensive line isn’t very good. Heck, it’s not even very average, thanks to all the injuries. It’s a thin group, which has contributed to Rashad Mendenhall rushing for 3.0 yards per carry.

"TDC," says the educated BRB reader, "Who cares? Their line sucks and Mike Wallace is destroying defenses left and right! Let’s talk about coverage schemes and maybe even allowing Johnathan Joseph to press at will. Their running game won’t matter!" Except it will if they stick with their plan.

Regardless of your opinion on Maurkice Pouncey, the Gator alumnus is Pittsburgh’s best lineman and the 70% of running plays between the guards is a good reflection of that. Of course, FO rates them top-5 in running to the right, but they’re running up the middle 70% of the time...where the Texans are dead last in adjusted line yards. This is also why teams have run up the middle against them a staggering 84% of the time.

If trends hold out, and they will because football coaches are stubborn and the tackle situation isn’t great for Pittsburgh, the Steelers will send Mendenhall up the middle at the woeful Houston interior in hopes of gashing Houston and controlling the ball.

There’s a time where scheme and tactics will work, but this isn’t one of those times. Houston’s defensive chances depend on improved performance from a rich, gooey center.

Ryans and Cushing have shown more life over the past two weeks, and they’ll both need to keep returning to form. Ryans needs to continue to find that explosive burst to fill the gap and finish a play, while Cushing has to avoid overthinking a play and get back to reacting and playing aggressively. Shaun Cody and Earl Mitchell also need to do something other than be blocked out of the play, or else Mendenhall will walk Pittsburgh to a win.

That’s what I see as Sunday’s critical match-up, but what about you, BRB faithful? Sound off in the comments below.

Steelers vs Texans coverage | Behind the Steel Curtain

Comment 72 comments  |  2 recs  | 

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HOLY GOODNESS!!!!

I finally get to watch a Texans game at home and I don’t have to be at a sports bar at 10 AM.

by Jahon on Sep 29, 2011 12:48 PM CDT reply actions  

Shaun Cody is a goddamn chump

Unfortunately Earl Mitchell hasn’t proven to be that much better.

by b0ng on Sep 29, 2011 12:50 PM CDT reply actions  

Still

Shaun Cody is like a savings account that pays you 1 interest. Earl Mitchell pays you 1.8 interest. Both interest rates are awful, and there are certainly accounts out there that pay much higher rates, but you’re stuck picking from one of these accounts. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m still taking the incrementally better one.

The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter

by MDC on Sep 29, 2011 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions  

/looks at Dillo

STICK!!!

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Sep 29, 2011 2:41 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

or is that a tampon...

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Sep 29, 2011 6:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

Would 6'11" and 390 pounds work?

Check this dude out for NT:

oh and I have to say: “BEST title for a post in a while!” rec’d

by MeMongo on Sep 29, 2011 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

If they can reach his pads

Also he can just fall on guys & that would be an improvement

Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
"Fuck em all. Go Texans."

by The Night Owl on Sep 29, 2011 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions  

Jackson is still short enough to be pushed around, so that won't work

Murphy’s 20th Military Law:
If it’s stupid, but it works, it ain’t stupid
"Fuck em all. Go Texans."

by The Night Owl on Sep 29, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

Hmm

No early game for southern Oklahoma, Or Philly.

by Jonathan Fosburgh on Sep 29, 2011 12:52 PM CDT reply actions  

Cowboys games are usually not shown in Houston

and visa-versa

"Taco Joe - the beacon of optimism" TexansDC
"Great, you've doomed us all!" - UprootedTexan
God blessed Texas, but he has forsaken the Texans

by Taco Joe on Sep 29, 2011 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions  

Lucky Houstonians!

Houstonites? Houstonan? Whatever. Just wish we didn’t have to put up with those damn Cowgirls! In SA here

by RaY210 on Sep 29, 2011 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions  

truedat

did I type that outloud? oops.

by Chrxtopher on Sep 29, 2011 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

Mmmmmmmmm. Nougat

Capt. Nately: You're a shameful opportunist! What you don't understand is that it's better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.

Old man in whorehouse: You have it backwards. It's better to live on your feet than to die on your knees. I know.

-Catch 22-

by Jordann on Sep 29, 2011 12:59 PM CDT reply actions  

i think ...

We lose this game. The biggest reason is adjustments are never made. I can see pittsburgh exploiting the middle and the defense never adjusting. I would be surprised if they slid anybody into the hole in the middle or switched over to a 4-3. The weakness to pittsburgh is to run it down their throats, yet I can see kubiak going pass, pass, pass, punt. Coaching will play a bigger part in this game than the actual talent will. Just my .02 cents

- Feeling the five stages of grief since 2002.

"It's either gonna make you a man or a coward. One of the two. I'm a be a man. I ain't never seen a coward, heard a coward, coward not in ma vocabulary." - Lawrence Vickers

by NoSafetiesNeeded on Sep 29, 2011 1:05 PM CDT via mobile reply actions  

SHUNNED

Stop Thinking

Apparently, bleach has an act like an asshole effect.
Being Insane I would know, I am a Texans Fan.
"Wade aid has lean in it, just saying"
Wade Aid pass it around, 3rd helping on the way.

by WreckNTexan on Sep 29, 2011 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

you know

Kubiak has nothing to do with the D.

I didn't do anything wrong!.... and, I won't do it again.

by Rip Jersey on Sep 29, 2011 1:33 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

OT

Justin Tryon got cut by the Colts, is he better than Kareem? of course he’s better than Kareem, everyone is better than Kareem. What I mean to say is would the Texans consider picking him up or maybe some other corner?

by Toolshed1 on Sep 29, 2011 1:38 PM CDT reply actions  

no damn turnovers.

as many as we’ve generated in the past few games, we’ve also given away some pretty dumb ones. if we can cut back on those, get decent pressure with our front 7, no reason we can’t beat the steelers going away.. and no reason that arian don’t bust their asses for a buck fiddy rushing, over 200 yards total offense with 2 tugs.

"my momma was the Mike Vick of ass whuppin. side arm delivery, no wasted motion.. and very mobile." - @doobieman21

youtube/chrisdogan

by chrisd21 on Sep 29, 2011 2:07 PM CDT reply actions  

I know I'm preaching to the choir but

More TD’s and less FG’s please. It’s funny because I listened to Kubiak on the Mothership talking about the Red Zone and how they need to improve. He mentioned one on one match up’s in the Red Zone and I’m thinking to myself why dont they throw more jump balls to AJ on man to man coverage down there?

Jules=Now I want you to go in that bag and find my wallet
Ringo=which one is it
Jules=the one that says bad mother fucker!

by jtr bmf 281 on Sep 29, 2011 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions  

That was easily the most frustrating part of Sunday’s loss. 4 field goals? Come on.

The bird is struggling out of the egg. The egg is the world. Whoever wants to be born, must first destroy a world.

by Stupendous Man on Sep 29, 2011 8:46 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions  

when is AJ getting man to man coverage in the red zone?

I don’t see that happening.

I wish we could hire coaches without "having grown up in Houston" being a job requirement.

by DaGoaT on Sep 30, 2011 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions  

I'm just repeating what I heard in the press confrence.

Jules=Now I want you to go in that bag and find my wallet
Ringo=which one is it
Jules=the one that says bad mother fucker!

by jtr bmf 281 on Sep 30, 2011 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions  

Stupid fkn bills

Always have to ruin something for me. Of course I have to be in that tiny green portion of the map.

I've heard the rumors, but I'm quite sure it's possible to knock the Hustle

by Mookazoid on Sep 29, 2011 2:37 PM CDT via mobile reply actions  

Why, why, why?

Can’t the Texans go get a Big A**ed Noseguard? You mean to tell me that there isn’t a single FA out there that wouldn’t be better than Cody? I’m losing faith in Mitchell also now.

by BruiserTexans on Sep 29, 2011 2:37 PM CDT reply actions  

Maybe not one we can afford.

Not saying Cody or Mitchell is fine, but Phillips’ 3-4 D does not require a big-assed NT.

by jkcheng122 on Sep 29, 2011 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

NO 3-4 NT

Puzzles me, Phillips did have a big bodied NT in Ted Washington back in the day. The 3-4 is like a set of dominoes and without a real NT no matter how good the other 6 players are they will get knocked down.

I liked Brooks Reed but really did we need to use a 2nd rd pick on a backup OLB and ignore NT?

Carpe Diem

by TEXAN_CHIEF on Sep 29, 2011 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions  

I still think Reed is Mario insurance

in case he walks after this season.

I wish we could hire coaches without "having grown up in Houston" being a job requirement.

by DaGoaT on Sep 30, 2011 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions  

Same here

Plus I think we go after another OLB next year as well. You can never have too many in a 3-4

I'm a man!! I'm forty!!

by Hydroshock on Sep 30, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions  

Okoye

I really think the same, he sucked but how the hell does Cody stay around? And when was the last time Wades 3-4 played a SB? Oh thats right 55-10 bad memories for him and Kubes. Codty is no Jay Ratliff and this will be the undoing of the 2011 Texans. Heck Shaun Smith signed by the dreaded Titans played DE/NT well for the Chiefs last year.

Carpe Diem

by TEXAN_CHIEF on Sep 29, 2011 5:08 PM CDT reply actions  

Thank the lord

I don’t have to worry whether or not my internet can hold up for the whole game!!!. I think if Mario/Barwin can show up like Freeny/Mathis, it becomes a closer game than last week, if not an out right win. Hopefully Raplestburger (thank you for whoever used that first) does his whole, holding on to the ball too long thing.

by Deep-Steel-Beard on Sep 29, 2011 5:17 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

AHHHHH Crap!

I will be in Detroit this weekend visiting my daughter, although the game will be televised, I will not be afforded the opportunity to see it. (until I get home tuesday and watch the dvr)

did I type that outloud? oops.

by Chrxtopher on Sep 29, 2011 7:42 PM CDT reply actions  

Maybe we can move the Pepsi machine

Next to Gary Kubiaks office to the NT position, just sayin

Carpe Diem

by TEXAN_CHIEF on Sep 29, 2011 7:59 PM CDT reply actions  

Seriously

Bret “the hitman” Hartman has more tackles than Cody? that’s just sad.

did I type that outloud? oops.

by Chrxtopher on Sep 29, 2011 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

And yet somehow not surprising.

Despite my better judgment, a manager at Battle Red Blog.

Supreme Galactic Editor of Battle Red Onion.

I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now where are those pants at?!

Football is war by other means. - Carl von Clausewitz...sorta.

by UprootedTexan on Sep 30, 2011 12:23 AM CDT up reply actions  

Seriously, I just want to punch him when I see that picture of him.

Despite my better judgment, a manager at Battle Red Blog.

Supreme Galactic Editor of Battle Red Onion.

I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now where are those pants at?!

Football is war by other means. - Carl von Clausewitz...sorta.

by UprootedTexan on Sep 30, 2011 12:24 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Ok. I'm getting the trend here...

so who’s the best NT in next years draft and would he be ready to play out of the box?

A guy that likes the texans but live all the way over in Sweden

by Fredrik Nyman on Sep 30, 2011 1:42 AM CDT reply actions  

Whoever he is

I hope we can get him with the 32nd pick

Follow me on twitter: @Super_Stud2100

by Antho10000 on Sep 30, 2011 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions   1 recs

Alameda Ta'Amu from Washington

6’3 337

http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2011/6/22/2235664/alameda-taamu-2012-nfl-draft-prospect-notes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN727EY-2bI

Massive and strong, gets great penetration, but has a problem with pad level. If he can lower his pad level coming off the ball, he will be a dominant force.

The strong do what they have to do; the weak accept what they have to accept

by Riott on Sep 30, 2011 7:12 AM CDT up reply actions  

He's a space eating beast for sure!

“…I’m going to eat yer… I’m bigger than you are, I’m higher in the food chain… Get in my belly!”

by MeMongo on Sep 30, 2011 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions  

This ^

"Lord, beer me strength."

by TexansDC on Sep 30, 2011 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions  

I am so glad this is gonna be a marquis game.

I normallly have to try to watch Houston on a crappy pirate net site.

by SuperSerial on Sep 30, 2011 3:03 AM CDT reply actions  

Kareem Jackson didn't practice again today
Head Coach Gary Kubiak
(on CB Kareem Jackson) "He did not practice today. He was sore today. I think there’s still a chance he could play, so it’ll probably be a game-time decision, probably get him up moving around tomorrow morning and work him out before the game."

I can’t remember the last time I found myself hoping a Texans player didn’t get healthy by game time. Unfortunately this news doesn’t mean we’ll be seeing Harris in action any time soon….

(on who would start if CB Kareem Jackson can’t play) "Jason (Allen) would start, but Brice (McCain) would play also. We’ll continue to rotate people there."

I'm a man!! I'm forty!!

by Hydroshock on Sep 30, 2011 4:48 PM CDT reply actions  

Could we not find

One of those really fat people from A&E “Intervention” and set him (or her) in the middle? 700-1000 lbs may need a forklift to ut him in place but it will take so long to run around the tub of lard the other team will get tired out.

Carpe Diem

by TEXAN_CHIEF on Sep 30, 2011 5:45 PM CDT reply actions  

Sure, of course I want to watch Tennessee/Cleveland here in Seattle.

Why fucking wouldn’t I want to watch that turd of a game?

Despite my better judgment, a manager at Battle Red Blog.

Supreme Galactic Editor of Battle Red Onion.

I am a visionary, I am a genius, and now I am angry! Now where are those pants at?!

Football is war by other means. - Carl von Clausewitz...sorta.

by UprootedTexan on Oct 2, 2011 3:13 AM CDT reply actions  

Yeah, the game sucks, but

hopefully you’ll get to see Colt & Co. hand the BESFs a second loss.

The Two-Day Hangover @ Battle Red Blog (2011) & SBN Houston (2010) | Twitter

by MDC on Oct 2, 2011 7:51 AM CDT up reply actions  

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