jakez4ut

[OrangeAndBlue]

Any thought about the Jacksonville game? I'm honestly expecting nothing less than a Jaguars victory, unfortunately the sports world will probably attribute it to Pittsburgh injuries as usual.

[jakez4ut]

Originally Posted by OrangeAndBlue

Any thought about the Jacksonville game? I'm honestly expecting nothing less than a Jaguars victory, unfortunately the sports world will probably attribute it to Pittsburgh injuries as usual.

this one is tough for me...Big Ben is supposedly going to be back, and on the surface you think that's a good thing...but i'm not sold, yet. Is he really 100%? i don't know. I'm confident in the Steeler's D....and as impressed as i was with the Steeler's offense against a pretty darn good Dolphin Defense, i do think JAX's d is probably better.

History shows that JAX and PIT play close games....two years ago, Ben drives them down late for game winning drive, last year, in PIT, JAX recovers late Tommy MAddox turnover for win...

could go either way....but i expect a big hitting, defensive type game...but i got to go with the Steelers....they do what they do and they do it well. I'm not convinced yet that Leftwich can be the game changer he might need to be.

Fred Taylor and Matt Jones are the real deal, and stopping those two will be huge.

and so far, after watching the games i've seen thus far, i haven't seen an offensive line other than maybe Atlanta's that was more dominant. though i'll concede that JAX's defensive line might be one of the best in the NFL, running against it will be key...if the Steelers are forced to throw the ball and can't get the ground game going (always the MO for the Steelers) JAX's chances get significantly better to win the game.

In short...defense, defense, defense will rule the day in that game.

[tidwell]

Batch didn't look bad at all against Miami... I dunno why they would wanna rush Roethlisberger back, but if he's ready, he's ready I guess.

[jakez4ut]

Originally Posted by tidwell

Batch didn't look bad at all against Miami... I dunno why they would wanna rush Roethlisberger back, but if he's ready, he's ready I guess.

that's kind of how i feel too...but if Ben is 100%, then yeah, i'll take him over Batch obviously...i just hope htey aren't rushing it thinking the have to get him in right now...

the Steelers have a history of doing this...they did it in 03 or 02 when Bettis was out for the last half of the reg. season, and Amos Zerowe (sp?) was doing pretty good...they brought Bettis back for the playoffs and he sucked out loud...and the Steelers lost...he looked like a RB that hadn't played in a few months...and that was one time they should have gone with the horse that got them there.

don't know that we're there yet with Batch or anything...but it's a long season, and if he ain't ready, he ain't ready. Batch has proven he can carry the load when he has too.

[OrangeAndBlue]

Originally Posted by jakez4ut

this one is tough for me...Big Ben is supposedly going to be back, and on the surface you think that's a good thing...but i'm not sold, yet. Is he really 100%? i don't know. I'm confident in the Steeler's D....and as impressed as i was with the Steeler's offense against a pretty darn good Dolphin Defense, i do think JAX's d is probably better.

History shows that JAX and PIT play close games....two years ago, Ben drives them down late for game winning drive, last year, in PIT, JAX recovers late Tommy MAddox turnover for win...

could go either way....but i expect a big hitting, defensive type game...but i got to go with the Steelers....they do what they do and they do it well. I'm not convinced yet that Leftwich can be the game changer he might need to be.

Fred Taylor and Matt Jones are the real deal, and stopping those two will be huge.

and so far, after watching the games i've seen thus far, i haven't seen an offensive line other than maybe Atlanta's that was more dominant. though i'll concede that JAX's defensive line might be one of the best in the NFL, running against it will be key...if the Steelers are forced to throw the ball and can't get the ground game going (always the MO for the Steelers) JAX's chances get significantly better to win the game.

In short...defense, defense, defense will rule the day in that game.

Yeah...I agree. The only thing I'm a little concerned about is our running game, which is huge in defensive games...but we don't really have one to speak of. Fred just isn't what he used to be, but occasionally he'll have a big game every now and then. We really could use it on Monday.

Our D line is a little banged up, with Stroud still with the ankle injury, Spicer with - hell I forgot, and Hayward is out with a achilles strain, but I still think we'll be able to hold our own there.

Our offense is starting to impress me, but then again that was only after one game - so we'll see how that goes.

All in all, I'm pretty much expecting a Jaguars win...I'm still oh so bitter about the 2004 matchup, but the 2005 game helped a bit. However it goes, it will be a Monday Night Classic.

[emainvol]

ben starts, jags win. simple as that.

[milohimself]

You know... The Steelers do get a lot of run. Last year, they were the lowest seed ever to win a Super Bowl, and I think the worst reg. season record ever to win the big one? And even in the playoffs, they got a lot of breaks. I won't bring up the calls against Seattle, but there was also Carson Palmer's injury and Vanderjagt's miss before that. A lot of stuff fell Pittsburgh's way during the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, they were and are a good team, but still very beatable.

I'm expecting a Jax win tomorrow. Jags by 10.

[jakez4ut]

Originally Posted by milohimself

You know... The Steelers do get a lot of run. Last year, they were the lowest seed ever to win a Super Bowl, and I think the worst reg. season record ever to win the big one? And even in the playoffs, they got a lot of breaks. I won't bring up the calls against Seattle, but there was also Carson Palmer's injury and Vanderjagt's miss before that. A lot of stuff fell Pittsburgh's way during the playoffs. Don't get me wrong, they were and are a good team, but still very beatable.

I'm expecting a Jax win tomorrow. Jags by 10.

by ten? come on....i won't be suprised if JAX wins, not at all. but neither team, unless someone goes nuts with turnovers, will win by double digits.

[tidwell]

The Jaguars are also pretty beat up along that stout defensive line... I dunno who will win, but I'm really looking forward to it.

[jakez4ut]

me too...and the Steelers have to win this game tonight so i won't have a terrible sports weekend...TN lost to Florida, Carolina lost to Minnesota....can't go 0-3....

Go Steelers.

[tidwell]

Pretty rough football weekend for me as well.

High School team got blanked 49-0

Florida. Ugh.

Titans lose 40-7.

[milohimself]

Originally Posted by tidwell

Pretty rough football weekend for me as well.

High School team got blanked 49-0

Florida. Ugh.

Titans lose 40-7.

Favorite team on all three levels... That's about as bad as it gets. How'd your pick 'ems do?

My HS alma matter goes about 90 minutes south to Dallas, Oregon and only wins by 4 when they should have mopped up. 27-23 Glencoe over Dallas.

Tennessee loses to Florida... Ugh.

Dallas takes care of the Foreskins.

Not too bad.

[tidwell]

NFL picks are 11-4 so far with Jacksonville picked tonight.

College picks I went 9-8... I play at Yahoo! and use the spread, and I suck at it. Went 16-5 the first week, then 11-11, now 9-8.

My VN picks were even worse, only had 5 winners.

[VolinArizona]

I like Jacksonville a lot in this one.

[vader]

There sure were a lot of former Vols in this game:

Big John Henderson

Deion Grant

Cedric Wilson