Steelers Week 2 Preview – Opponent: Cleveland Browns (8:15 NBC Primetime)

September 10, 2008 by Jamie Van Dusen
Filed under NFL Football, Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to build upon their 38-17 thrashing of the Houston Texans and hopefully continue their dominance of the Cleveland Browns this Sunday night (8:15 NBC). Many experts were picking the Browns to challenge the Steelers for the division title this season, but those preliminary forecasts took a few steps back as the Browns were thrashed by the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. The Steelers defeated the Browns in both meetings last season with scores of 3-7 in week 1 and 31-28 in week 10.

Some troubling news out of the Steelers brass that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had suffered a shoulder injury, as well as a knee, in last Sunday’s game. Roethlisberger was hit twice very hard by Mario Williams (below) of the Texans. As a precautionary move, Coach Tomlin will keep Ben out of practice for most of the week, but fully expects Big Ben to play this coming Sunday. The injury to Roethlisberger was not national news, with the season ending injury to Tom Brady, but there’s no doubt about it, the Steelers need Roethlisberger healthy in order to make it through this tough regular season.

On another note, the Steelers special teams will once again be called upon to play a perfect game. Having held Texans return star Andre Davis to minimal gains last Sunday, they will once again be tested, as the Browns expect to have their own return superstar Joshua Cribbs back in the fold this week. Cribbs is nursing a high ankle sprain, so it’s not sure he’ll be functioning at 100%. In 2006, Cribbs returned a kick-off at Cleveland Browns Stadium 92 yards for a touchdown, and then last season – Tomlin’s first as the team’s coach – he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown at Heinz Field.

“He has great vision; he has very nice quickness; he can stick his foot in the ground and change direction. More than anything, he is fearless,” said Tomlin about Cribbs. “He is fearless as a kick returner; he is fearless as a punt returner. This guy is used to having the ball in his hands, and he is a competitor. He is used to the outcome of games being decided with how he performs. We are talking about a quarterback who dominated the MAC conference for the four years he played in that league, running and throwing. He loves having that on his shoulders, and it shows in how he plays.”

Injury updates

Besides Roethlisberger, the Steelers have two minor injuries from the game Sunday. Offensive left tackle Marvel Smith “has what can be characterized as a groin strain,”‘ Tomlin said. “He will probably be limited here in the first part of the week.”

Cornerback Deshea Townsend has a bruised heel. No. 3 tight end Sean McHugh, signed last week, will practice today after missing the game with an ankle injury.

Practice squad switch

The Steelers released rookie wide receiver Micah Rucker and signed 6-foot-3 wide receiver Martin Nance, one of Roethlisberger’s college teammates.

Weeks prediction: This week affair shapes up to be a real dog fight. The Steelers will want to improve and continue to prove they are one of the teams to beat, whereas the Browns will undoubtedly be out to bounce back from a sub par game. Both teams have big play guys that will for sure get their touches. I believe the Steelers defence will once again step up and play an even better game than last week. Expect Santonio Holmes to receive more touches. This game will not be the blow out like last week, but taking into account all other factors, I believe the Steelers will squeak this one out 24-17.

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