The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting ready to play their first AFC North recreation of the 2024 NFL season. And naturally, it’s towards their bitter rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. And Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is enjoying at an unimaginable degree proper now. He’s finishing 69.1 % of his passes for two,669 yards and 24 touchdowns versus solely two interceptions. He leads the league in passing touchdowns.
And the Ravens are main the league in speeding with 1,826 yards, too. It’s going to be fairly the check for the Steelers’ protection. However Mike Renner believes that the inside of the Steelers’ line of defense might change the sport on Sunday.
“I just like the Steelers,” Renner mentioned on Pushing The Pile’s Week 11 preview on Thursday. “I believe that is the primary d-line that may actually convey again what we noticed occur to Lamar Week 1. When you recall when the Chiefs actually simply, they lived within the backfield. They had been getting stress just about immediately, repeatedly. And it’s as a result of they will do it on the inside. Guys like Keeanu Benton, guys like Cam Heyward, they will win rapidly. And that, to me, is what you need to do to disrupt this passing assault. As a result of for those who give Lamar time, if he can dance round there within the pocket, you’re toast.”
In that Week 1 matchup towards the Chiefs, Jackson accomplished 63.1 % of his passes, nicely under his season common of 69.1 %. He solely threw for one landing whereas the Chiefs sacked him as soon as. However extra importantly, the Chiefs’ protection pressured him 15 instances within the recreation, Jackson by no means capable of get right into a rhythm. And consequently, the Ravens had been unable to maintain up with the Chiefs and misplaced, 27-20.
The very subsequent week in a loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Jackson was sacked thrice. Then within the Ravens’ third lack of the season, this time to the Cleveland Browns, Jackson was pressured 21 instances and sacked thrice.
It actually looks as if flustering Jackson and getting him on the bottom is a key a part of beating the Ravens this season. And Renner thinks that the Steelers’ line of defense duo of Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton can be key.
Benton has been credited with one sack by Professional Soccer Focus this season whereas additionally producing six quarterback hits and 4 hurries. He was probably the greatest gamers on the sector when the Steelers beat the New York Jets earlier this season. He could have solely had one stress, however he discovered different methods to disrupt the quarterback by flattening two of QB Aaron Rodgers’ passes.
In the meantime, Heyward is again to his game-wrecking methods with 5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, and 17 hurries per PFF.
All of us take into consideration LB T.J. Watt in terms of getting after the quarterback and for good purpose. However getting fast inside disruption is all the time useful towards any quarterback within the league. And if Heyward and Benton may help disrupt Lamar Jackson rapidly, that can actually assist the Steelers gradual the Ravens’ potent offense.
