Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers: What it’ll take to get the win

Offense

The Bucs have a plethora of talent on the offensive side of the ball with weapons coming at you like a kid at a summer camp dodgeball competition. TE’s, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard will probably be the best set of TE’s the Steelers will face all year. Both can block, catch AND run which presents a major challenge for our linebackers and safeties.

Then you have a set of WR’s that are among the best in the league in Mike Evans and Desean Jackson. They can run the complete “route tree” and know how to get open within their offensive sets. Evans is a 6’5″ mismatch while Jackson still can take the top off of defenses.

The Bucs two main running backs, Peyton Barber and Shaun Wilson can run or catch passes out of the backfield. By my count, that’s six different players that have to be accounted for which also doesn’t take into account the Bucs third receiver options.

Add in quarterback, Ryan “FitzMagic” with Offensive Coordinator Todd Monkens college type “spread offense”; you got trouble on your hands.

If the Steelers defense thought K.C. last week was explosive, well, I don’t think anyone on defense is getting good nights rest this week. You ever hear of, “Sleepless in da Burgh”, well you’ve heard of it now!

Pittsburgh’s offense has got to get in synch, Big Ben and ALL of his receivers along with OC Fichtner, need to take a cue out of these past two QB’s book of spreading the love around. Ben has got to play the field, he can’t get stuck on one or two BFF’s when others need his attention. They may be averaging around thirty points per game, but it hasn’t come in the more traditional way an explosive offense should look like.

Add that in with a slow start to the game, now your playing catch up and the game plan is out the window. However, to be averaging that many points but you haven’t seen anywhere near their best, is most encouraging.

The running game will be the focus, as it should be, to settle the team down in a hostile environment and then look to punish their secondary while avoiding the Bucs vaunted pass rush. Underneath WR’s patterns with the occasional slant will bring in the secondary which will open the Bucs up for over the top play actions.

Ben has got to dial in and not overthrow receivers, but the receivers need to get separation in their routes. The loss of our starting right side of the offensive line due to injuries may prove to be a major issue with pass protection. I see a lot of screens this game and quick passes to keep Big Ben as clean as possible. Fichtner should be able to put a lot of holes in that ship.