STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

NFL Team Report - Pittsburgh Steelers</h2><br>PLAYER NOTES<p></p> --T Marcus Gilbert, who has missed the past four games with a knee injury, did not practice Wednesday.<p></p> --T Matt Feiler, who has started in place of Marcus Gilbert for the past four games, has a pectoral injury. He did not practice Wednesday.<p></p> --DE Stephon Tuitt, who missed the Jaguars game with an elbow injury, did not practice Wednesday.<p></p> --OLB Anthony Chickillo, who injured his ankle against the Jaguars, practiced fully on Wednesday.<p></p> --OLB Ola Adeniyi was designated for return activated from injured reserve and practiced Wednesday for the first time since training camp. Adeniyi, who was one of the top standouts during training camp, injured his hamstring in the final preseason game and was placed on IR. The Steelers have 21 days to evaluate Adeniyi before deciding whether they'd like to add him to the 53-man roster or keep him back on IR for the remainder of the season.<p></p> PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: OLB T.J. Watt has 16 sacks in his first 25 NFL games. That's the most sacks to begin a Steelers career. LaMarr Woodley had 15.5 sacks in his first two seasons in 2007 and 2008. Watt has 10 sacks this season, becoming the first Steelers outside linebacker to record double-digit sacks in a season since 2010, when Woodley and James Harrison both had double-digit sacks.<p></p> GAME PLAN: The Steelers beat the Jaguars without a running game, but they needed 14 fourth-quarter points and a touchdown with five seconds left to pull off the comeback. They need to get back to the running game against the Broncos, who have one of the NFL's worst rush defenses. The Broncos allow 128 rushing yards per game. This will be important because the Broncos have some talented defensive backs, most notably veteran Chris Harris. The Steelers were just 3 for 11 on third downs against the Jaguars. They must get in more manageable third-down situations against the Broncos and they can accomplish that by establishing the run early.<p></p> The Broncos offense is built around a strong running game. They are eighth in the league in rushing, averaging 124.8 yards per game on the ground. The Steelers have the league's ninth-best run defense, but the Broncos will be looking to test the Steelers after the Jaguars gashed them for 179 yards rushing Sunday. If the Steelers can effectively stop the run, it will force new Broncos quarterback Case Keenum to play well. Keenum is struggling to perform at the standard he set with the Vikings last season when he threw for more than 3,500 yards with 22 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. Keenum has thrown for 2,605 yards through 10 games with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.<p></p>MATCHUPS TO WATCH<p></p> --Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Broncos CB Chris Harris. Brown has scored in eight consecutive games and he'll try to get more this week against Harris, who remains one of the NFL's best corners. The previous time Brown played the Broncos he caught 16 passes for 189 yards and scored two touchdowns during a 2015 regular-season game at Heinz Field. When the Steelers and Broncos met in the playoffs a few weeks later, Brown was injured and could not play. Brown is starting to get hot. He has three 100-yard receiving games in his past six outings, including a season-high 117 yards against the Jaguars.<p></p> --Steelers ILBs Vince Williams and Jon Bostic vs. Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay. The Steelers run defense had a bad day at the office against the Jaguars and the linebackers have another tough assignment this week in defending Lindsay, who is eighth in the NFL with 670 rushing yards and averages a whopping 5.5 yards per rush. Lindsay, a rookie from Colorado, is coming off a two-touchdown performance in a win against the Chargers. Williams and Bostic have been key figures in an improved run defense, but they'll be looking for a better performance after allowing the Jaguars to run for 179. </div> <div class="flex gap-2"> <div class="font-bold text-gray-600">The Sports Xchange</div> </div> <div id="comments" class="pt-6"></div> </div> </div> <div class="py-6 space-y-6"> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Recent Stories</h2> <a href="/feature/testing-buffalo-bill-page" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Testing Buffalo Bill Page</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Joe Horrigan knows the Buffalo Bills </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/06e3032cec6e442ab60a7fd8ae1b3701" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Steelers positional analysis: Kenny Pickett stands alone in QB room</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> 2/17/2024If the Steelers were concerned about the uncertain future at quarterback when Ben Roethlisberger retired, the outlook at the position might not be any more ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/07f24b7086b24e9e83c29e8bf9cd913b" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">49ers coach Kyle Shanahan doesn’t deserve criticism since Super Bowl</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> Globe StaffUpdated February 17, 2024, 9:38 a.m.Kyle Shanahan has been on the defensive all week following the 49ers’ 25-22 overtime loss to the Chiefs in the Super ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/feature/2ae9263e12c74de88c5fb4aa552a1f3e" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">New Raiders GM expected to be aggressive in search for top QB</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> February 17, 2024 - 4:19 PMIf Tom Telesco’s past offers clues about his future, expect the Raiders’ new general manager to be aggressive in bringing in a top-level ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/features?skip=22" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>Read More Stories</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> <div class="space-y-4"> <h2 class="md:col-span-2 lg:col-span-3 font-bold text-xl text-gray-800">Latest Player Notes</h2> <a href="/note/65f70668f166e2567ab51b31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How a Wisconsin legend got his German protégé into Badgers pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Marlon Werthmann put his life on hold for the opportunity in front of him Friday at the McClain Center.Werthmann ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b24" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Why former Wisconsin football running back Braelon Allen didn't run the 40 at pro day</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Mar 15, 2024 Braelon Allen’s sweat covered his shirt and dripped off his beard as he approached a group of reporters Friday.The ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70667f166e2567ab51b11" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">How can UW recruit its best class ever? It starts with these five prospects</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> By Andy Yamashita Seattle Times staff reporter Jedd Fisch has lofty recruiting goals at Washington. He didn’t waste any ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70664f166e2567ab51ad3" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Texas football kicks off spring practice Tuesday. We answer 24 questions for the 2024 team</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Things certainly look fresh for the 2024 college football season, especially on the Texas campus.There’s a new conference ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a86" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">College Football Playoff: Conferences solve their differences (for now) and agree on general framework for 2026 and beyond</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> The FBS conferences and Notre Dame agreed on Friday to continue the College Football Playoff beyond the 2025 season, signing ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f70661f166e2567ab51a7d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Ball security, leadership key as Aztecs look to identify starting quarterback</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> San Diego State seemingly auditions a new starting quarterback on an annual basis.In the past 12 years, the Aztecs have opened ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065ff166e2567ab51a5a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Results and more: A look at what happened at Penn State football’s Pro Day inside Holuba Hall</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Most of those at Penn State’s Pro Day Friday were relatively quiet throughout the afternoon’s workouts, but there was one ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a4a" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Defense dominates first two weeks of Oregon State spring practice as Beavers ready for 2-week breather</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> CORVALLIS – Oregon State hit the break of spring practices Saturday, not exactly the midpoint but a good place to assess ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065ef166e2567ab51a31" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Dillon Gabriel to have similar input, autonomy as Bo Nix had in Oregon’s offense</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> Published Mar. 16, 2024, 6:26 p.m.By James CrepeaEUGENE — Dillon Gabriel will have much of the same autonomy as Bo Nix did ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/note/65f7065df166e2567ab51a1d" class="group flex flex-col bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg overflow-hidden shadow"> <div class="flex flex-col gap-2 p-6"> <h3 class="font-bold text-lg text-gray-800 group-hover:text-gray-700">Two transfers, one underclassman who impressed in Missouri football's spring game</h3> <div class="text-gray-600 group-hover:text-gray-500 line-clamp-6"> <span class="font-light"> </span> With that, spring camp’s a wrap.Missouri football held its Black & Gold spring game Saturday in front of a healthy crowd ... </div> </div> </a> <a href="/notes?skip=20" class="group flex items-center justify-center gap-2 bg-gray-100 hover:bg-white transition rounded-lg shadow px-3.5 py-2.5 text-gray-800 hover:text-gray-700 font-medium"> <span>See More Player Notes</span> <span class="transition-transform group-hover:translate-x-1 motion-reduce:transform-none"><i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-right"></i></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <!-- =========={ FOOTER }========== --> <footer class="bg-gray-900" aria-labelledby="footer-heading"> <h2 id="footer-heading" class="sr-only">Footer</h2> <div class="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-6 pb-8 pt-16 sm:pt-24 lg:px-8 lg:pt-32"> <div class="xl:grid xl:grid-cols-3 xl:gap-8"> <div class="space-y-8"> <a href="/" class="flex items-center justify-between md:justify-start gap-3"> <img src="/static/images/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame_logo.svg.png?v=c6d7cf3613f0e96a1fab7aab706baba8318bf3d016f59cbaef2b968d81cb8a3078e61f99dee19ca3a6a4bf476d34981c18a5b19f15ac2da0ae29d677be70ebad" alt="NFL Hall of Fame" class="w-2/12" /> <img src="/static/images/hall-logo.svg?v=7142371ad3e955e1749283170eb357dfed785130bc4b7018879d586e9bac3d40a3b7041b25e105981fd507b5f139a52b87438262733cadfa76f763ec18812523" alt="Hall of Football" class="w-6/12" /> <img src="/static/images/tsx_logo.png?v=eb566de558e45b6331e9b1ddba019c212d34ad6dddeab86829489d36e4974961a8dd4926d489b9ac8eaeeacdafce8a6f4974b5a97dd7df4694d4642b94c437ea" alt="The Sports Xchange" class="w-2/12" /> </a> <p class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300">Hall of Football is owned and operated by The Sports Xchange (TSX), which has provided news, analysis, and research for fans and professionals since 1987.</p> <div class="flex space-x-6"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-xchange/" target="_blank" class="text-gray-500 hover:text-gray-400 text-2xl"> <span class="sr-only">LinkedIn</span> <i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin"></i> </a> </div> </div> <div class="mt-16 grid grid-cols-2 gap-8 xl:col-span-2 xl:mt-0"> <div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8"> <div> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-football fa-fw"></i>Preps</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/preps" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a> </li> <li> <a href="/prep/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mt-10 md:mt-0"> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-graduation-cap fa-fw"></i>NFL Draft Scout</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a> </li> <li> <a href="/cfb/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a> </li> <li> <a href="/player/ratings?ranking_id=" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Ratings</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="md:grid md:grid-cols-2 md:gap-8"> <div> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-shield fa-fw"></i>Pro Football</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/nfl_features" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Latest News & Notes</a> </li> <li> <a href="/nfl/teams" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Teams</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="mt-10 md:mt-0"> <h3 class="text-sm font-semibold leading-6 text-white flex items-center gap-2"><i class="fa-solid fa-trophy fa-fw"></i>Hall of Fame</h3> <ul role="list" class="mt-6 space-y-4"> <li> <a href="/hofs" class="text-sm leading-6 text-gray-300 hover:text-white">Recent Hall of Fame Stories</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mt-16 border-t border-white/10 pt-8 sm:mt-20 lg:mt-24"> <p class="text-xs leading-5 text-gray-400">©<script>document.write(new Date().getFullYear())</script> The Sports Xchange. All rights reserved.</p> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/static/js/jquery-3.6.4.min.js?v=6913f9128895022b08339049963616cb09bbc61bd759a45c3bf7cb6662854f0c3ef16d975758468c34cd607176c011d9c62f5fcb8196cba93d0b4b265760747e"></script> <script src="/static/js/plotly.min.js?v=a8cca95f0be13f9712eebf9dfc13afb3aa92d319a96a0ee5540833aad7ace213d48ea1a1650310a035a02064ca97e09738bc4aad659ad66e840d408c6290fcee"></script> <script src="/static/js/flowbite.min.js?v=09453b0f96202c849a154e82a425e65c6e9d6430fb468601a1c1f0ba4c9ded2624172d29ee03f7cd71922ceb49d5b10b2672ba698060e2dee19e5d1df0393660"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/static/js/comments.js?v=75fa06f9940025e48e822761e5ffd57823c34ebd04636803f6d08b70a146d0360b304adbdbb2cc1e1686620862c3d94512a714acb1ea55855cb9db5c5d8c4115"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> // get any comments for this feature $(document).ready(function() { load_comments( 'note', 'strategy-and-personnel', '' ) }) </script> </body> </html>