Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers Preview

By Darrell Laurant | Saturday, October 15, 2005 | ( 0 )

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In trying to prepare his defense to face the Pittsburgh Steelers this week, Jacksonville Jaguars' coach Jack Del Rio was forced to play multiple choice. Would the opposing quarterback emerge from Door No. 1, Door No. 2 or door No. 3?

No. 1, of course, is Big Ben Roethlisberger, the normal Steeler starter and owner of the best QB rating ever for a first-year player in 2004. He has a strong arm, effective receivers in Hines Ward, Antwan Randle-El and rookie TE Heath Miller, and has proved an effective runner despite his apparent lack of grace afoot. But Roethlisberger hyperextended and bruised his left knee against San Diego last week, leaving him questionable for Sunday.

No. 2 would be backup Tommy Maddox, the starter before Roethlisberger, but he injured his calf in practice and is also questionable. If those two can't go, that would leave No. 3 Charlie Batch, a former starter for the Detroit Lions.

Regardless of who starts under center for the Pittsburgh Steelers coach Del Rio knows he'll still have to contend with a bruising ground game (Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis), a brutish offensive line and a blitz happy Pittsburgh defense -- not to mention all those Terrible Towels flapping from the Heinz Field stands.

Fred Taylor rushed for 132 yards last week as the Jacksonville Jaguars gave Cincinnati its first loss of the season 23-20. But the Steelers held Chargers' star LaDainian Tomlinson to 62 yards on eight carries in a 24-22 victory last Monday night, which doesn't bode well for Taylor. Conversely, the Jaguars will depend on defensive tackles Marcus Stroud and John Henderson -- one of the best tandems in the NFL -- to deny the inside to Parker and Bettis, thus forcing the Steeler QB, whoever he is, to pass.

Pittsburgh will use its quick, constantly shifting defense (keyed around DB Troy Polamalu and fierce linebackers Clark Haggins, Joey Porter and James Farrior) to try to confuse and harass Jacksonville QB Byron Leftwich (1,028 yards, seven touchdowns).

The series between the two teams is tied 8-8. Pittsburgh won the last meeting, 17-16, on Jeff Reed's field goal with 18 seconds left -- a closing drive led by Roethlisberger.

Game time is 1 p.m.

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