Jaguars will pose big test for Willie Parker

Transcription

1 Jaguars will pose big test for Willie Parker Page 1 of 3 Jaguars will pose big test for Willie Parker Saturday, December 15, 2007 By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Matt Freed / Post-Gazette Willie Parker has struggled to find room to run against Jacksonville. Willie Parker is the NFL's leading rusher and has rushed for more than 80 yards in 10 of the Steelers' 13 games this season. And this is the third consecutive season he has rushed for at least 1,000 yards and, given that he has 1,217 yards with three games to go, he could finish with more than 1,500. But Parker has struggled to find room to run against Jacksonville (9-4), which visits the Steelers (9-4) tomorrow, and the Steelers' inability to run the ball against the Jaguars has been a big reason they are on a two-game losing streak in this series. In fact, Parker did not rush for 100 yards in the two games combined and averaged only 2.27 yards per carry. Parker rushed 11 times for 20 yards in a 9-0 loss to the Jaguars last season and, in 2005, the Jaguars beat the Steelers, 23-17, in overtime. In that game, Parker ran 21 times for 55 yards. More alarming than the actual rushing totals is that Parker's longest run between the two games was 12 yards. Furthermore, he did not score a touchdown in either game. As a team, the Steelers only rushed for a total of 99 yards in those two games. Clearly, The Jaguars' defense has had their number. So what's been the Jaguars' secret to stopping Parker and the Steelers' rushing attack? Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said there is no secret -- the Jaguars' defensive front seven is that good.

2 Jaguars will pose big test for Willie Parker Page 2 of 3 "Actually when you watch them on film, they are more simplistic than a lot of defenses," Arians said. "They just line up and kick your [behind] and basically say, 'This is what we do, see if you can stop us.' They have big, strong guys in the middle of the line and they run fast and they don't give you much room to run. "As a team, we have to do a better job of getting them blocked than we have, and then making yards when we finally get an opening." The running lanes the Steelers have not had against the Jaguars may actually be a little bit easier to find tomorrow than in recent years because Pro Bowl defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (6 feet 6, 310 pounds) injured his ankle Sunday against Carolina and is out for the season. Defensive end Rob Meier (6-5, 308 pounds) will start in Stroud's spot, and he will be backed up by Grady Jackson (6-2, 345). "I'm really upset to learn that Marcus Stroud won't be playing," joked Arians. Steelers offensive guard Kendall Simmons said that even though Stroud is a big-time talent and an excellent run-stuffer, the Jaguars have plenty of big bodies to stuff the middle of the line, and he doesn't expect there to be much difference without Stroud. He said the combination of either Meier or Jackson and Pro Bowl defensive tackle John Henderson (6-7, 335) will give the Steelers' offensive line plenty of trouble. "They don't have Marcus, but they have Grady Jackson who is actually bigger and will be harder to move out of there, and he stuffs the run very well, also," Simmons said. "The bottom line is, between those guys and [Henderson], you basically are going to need three guys to try and block two if you want to have a chance. They are just big guys who move well and they are physical." Parker, who leads Minnesota's Adrian Peterson by 17 yards and San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson by 22 in the race for the NFL's rushing title, said he remembers what transpired in the Jaguars' game last year, but he downgrades its importance. The main thing, he said, has been the lack of longer runs mostly because the Jaguars have done a great job of getting to the football and filling the gaps. But he does not buy into any of theories that hold he is incapable of playing the physical style the Jaguars want to play. "I really am not interested in going back through the history books, what matters now is the game ahead of us," Parker said. "The Jaguars are a tough team, they have a strong front seven, they have done a great job against us, but that doesn't mean we can't get it done. "We just have to get all of our guys blocking on the same page, we need to step in there and be aggressive, and I know we can be. But this is a challenge, to play against a great defense, and I like challenges. I don't mind if it is a hard-nosed game; those games are fun." Although Parker is leading the NFL in rushing yards, there is one statistical category where he has taken a significant fall-- touchdowns. Parker has scored only two touchdowns (both rushing) through 13 games -- far off his pace of a year ago when he finished with 16 (13 rushing, 3 receiving). "I haven't really been a big part of our goal-line package, so that's a part of it," Parker said. "I think every player wants to score more touchdowns, but that's up to our coaches, and we've won a lot of games this year with this formula. " Paul Zeise can be reached at pzeise@post-gazette.com or

3 Steelers Notebook: Roethlisberger still questionable for Jags Page 1 of 2 Steelers Notebook: Roethlisberger still questionable for Jags Saturday, December 15, 2007 By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana / Post-Gazette Ben Roethlisberger argues with linesman Jim Mello against the Patriots last Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Roethlisberger injured his shoulder in the game. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced yesterday for the first time this week but is listed as questionable for the Jacksonville game tomorrow on the official injury report. Roethlisberger injured his right shoulder during the Steelers loss to the Patriots Sunday and it was still sore on Wednesday, so he was held out of practice for two days. Roethlisberger shrugged off most questions about his injury yesterday after practice, but said he'll be ready to go tomorrow against the Jaguars. He said it was important for him to return to practice yesterday in order to test the shoulder by throwing the ball. "You'll have to ask coach [Mike] Tomlin on that one," Roethlisberger said when asked if his shoulder was still sore. "I feel great. I wanted to get out there, get some plays in, get some reps and get a feel for it. It was good I got some reps and that's important and I got the nohuddle in, so it was productive. It was very important [to get mental reps while he was sitting out], which is why I was standing behind Charlie [Batch] when he called the plays in the huddle and checking all the reads he made and comparing them to the things I would do. It was valuable, definitely not a week wasted."

4 Steelers Notebook: Roethlisberger still questionable for Jags Page 2 of 2 Roethlisberger was asked several times about the specifics of his injury, including whether he was able to throw deep passes at practice and each time he answered, "I don't know, you'll have to ask coach Tomlin on that." A shot at redemption The Steelers lost at Jacksonville, 9-0, in the second game of last season on Monday Night Football. Pittsburgh produced only 153 yards of offense and Roethlisberger was only 17 of 32 for 141 yards with two interceptions.. "I feel embarrassed about that game last year," Roethlisberger said. "Especially, I found out from [offensive coordinator Bruce Arians] that we only crossed the 50-yard line maybe three times. It was bad and I didn't play well. It was a bad game for me and so I know that I have some redemption on my mind. I want to come out and play well, but not get caught up doing too much. We want to get a win, it is an important game for us." Red zone woes The Steelers are 9-4 but they are only 2-2 in their past four games. One of the reasons is a failure to score touchdowns when they enter the red zone. Through the first nine games, the Steelers scored 21 touchdowns in 35 trips into the red zone, which is a touchdown percentage of 60 percent. The last four games, however, the Steelers have scored just four touchdowns in 11 red zone trips, a 36 percent rate. As a result the Steelers have fallen from fifth in the NFL in red zone offense to 13th. Arians said the Steelers recent struggles are mostly due to poor execution on offense once they get inside the 20. "It is really just a matter of executing better in the red zone," said Arians. "And part of it is execution in the run game, especially once you get inside the 10. We had success early in the season and it is just a matter of doing some of the little things better." Injury report The Steelers-Jaguars final injury report: Steelers: Roethlisberger (shoulder) and linebacker Andre Frazier (groin) are questionable; cornerback Bryant McFadden (ankle) is probable. Jaguars: Defensive end Reggie Hayward (groin) and linebacker Mike Peterson (hand) are out, defensive tackle Jeremy Mincey (hamstring) and safety Reggie Nelson (hamstring) are questionable, and guard Vincent Manuwai (foot), cornerback Rashean Mathis (groin) and defensive end Paul Spicer (shoulder) are probable. Paul Zeise can be reached at pzeise@post-gazette.com or First published on December 15, 2007 at 12:00 am

5 Harris: Steelers' Big Ben returns to practice - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers' Roethlisberger returns to practice By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, December 15, 2007 Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger practiced Friday after missing the first two practices this week and is listed as questionable on the official injury report for Sunday's game against Jacksonville at Heinz Field. "Questionable" officially means Roethlisberger has a chance of playing. Roethlisberger injured his right (throwing) shoulder in the Steelers' loss at New England. He sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, raising the possibility that he might be too injured to play in the team's final home game of the season. The Steelers (9-4) hold a one-game lead over Cleveland for first place in the AFC North and can clinch a playoff berth with a win. Yesterday, Roethlisberger sounded like he expected to play against Jacksonville (9-4). "I feel great," he said. Asked if one particular hit caused his shoulder discomfort, Roethlisberger smiled. "I got hit a couple of times." Roethlisberger said one of the hits on his shoulder, although not necessarily the main hit that caused him to miss two practices, occurred "later in the game." Roethlisberger said it was important for him to practice yesterday. Starters who miss the final practice of the week usually don't play on Sunday. Backup Charlie Batch practiced with the first team Wednesday and Thursday. "That's why I wanted to get out there, get some plays in, get some reps, get the feel for it," Roethlisberger said. "It's tough for a quarterback (because) of how mental the game (is). I know (Steve) McNair did it for like nine weeks -- he didn't practice until Friday. That's tough. I tried to get out there as soon as I can and get the mental reps when I'm not out there. "The last two days I was standing right behind Charlie, I was listening to him

6 Harris: Steelers' Big Ben returns to practice - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 call the play in the huddle, checking all the reads that he made and the things that I would do if I was in there. It definitely was not a week wasted." As for his arm strength, Roethlisberger was asked if he "aired it out" in practice. "You have to ask Coach (Mike) Tomlin," said Roethlisberger, who repeated that instruction a few times in regard to his injury and when and where it occurred. Tomlin didn't speak with reporters yesterday. Batch, 33, is considered one of the top backup quarterbacks in the NFL. He has a 3-0 career record in six seasons with the Steelers and has appeared in a total of 15 games with the team. Batch's last start was in the 2006 opener against Miami at Heinz Field. He was 15 of 25 for 209 yards and three touchdowns with a quarterback rating of in a win. "It's huge, to have a backup like Charlie, a guy that knows the system, knows the offense and obviously is very skillful as well," Roethlisberger said. "It's very comforting." John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2007 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

7 Former 'N Sync singer will sing at Steelers game - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Former 'N Sync singer will sing National Anthem at Steelers game By Regis Behe TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, December 15, 2007 Chris Kirkpatrick thinks he has a way to ensure the Steelers winning seasons: Invite him to sing the National Anthem every year. "I sang it three years ago, and they went 15-1," he says. "I sang it the next year, and they won the Super Bowl. Last year, they didn't invite me." And last year, the Steelers went 8-8. Kirkpatrick, the former 'N Sync singer who was born and raised in Clarion, Clarion County, again will sing the anthem Sunday prior to the Steelers game against Jacksonville. "I grew up watching all the Pittsburgh sports teams," says Kirkpatrick, who has lived in Orlando since "Now, I've gotten to go to the Super Bowl and to sing the anthem (before a Steelers game). It's like my contribution to the team." Kirkpatrick, 36, contributed to another type of phenomenon when he was in 'N Sync. With bandmates Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone, JC Chasez and Lance Bass, he experienced a rarefied success and recognition he could not dream of growing up in Clarion. The financial awards were nice -- the first thing Kirkpatrick did was buy his mother a house -- but the other aspects of fame were not as appealing. "It was really difficult, because I did grow up in such a poor atmosphere, in a blue collar town where all my family worked at a glass plant," he says. "And then, suddenly, I'm thrust in the spotlight and I'm hanging out with celebrities and people who have been well off all of their lives. It was very uncomfortable, because I never felt like I belonged. "But at the same time, if it wasn't for this, I wouldn't have had the house for my mom; I wouldn't be able to make music all the time. It was definitely not my social scene." Kirkpatrick feels more at home in Clarion, where he has a large extended family. Some of his favorite memories are of family gatherings where music was prevalent, especially at Christmas time.

8 Former 'N Sync singer will sing at Steelers game - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 "My grandfather was in bands; my great-grandmother was in Christian bands," he says, noting other family members also have been musicians. "It was always fun for me to watch them when I was growing up, and it was natural for me to fall into it. Seeing my aunts and uncles doing it made me want to do it, seeing how much they enjoyed it." Noting his aunt, Marcy Eustice, and her blues band Strange Brew, Kirkpatrick quickly adds that he's probably "not even in the Top Ten" when it comes to the family's vocal talents. Currently Kirkpatrick is gigging with a new band, Nigel's 11, that he hopes to further develop in He's also in the process of establishing a foundation, which he hopes will provide aid to young musicians. "When I grew up in Pennsylvania, we were really poor," he says. "We went through a lot, with welfare and other things. For me, to be so blessed with what I have now, I want to give back to other kids who might have grown up in (Clarion) or even down here in Florida. I want to be able to say, 'I've been through what you've been through; just keep doing what you're doing.' I want to try to help them out in little ways, with food or electric bills. There are definitely a lot of impoverished and underprivileged kids (with talent)." Regis Behe can be reached at rbehe@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2007 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

9 Steelers' Big Ben wants some redemption - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 1 Notebook: Steelers' Big Ben wants some redemption By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, December 15, 2007 Ben Roethlisberger wants another shot at Jacksonville. His last game against the Jaguars is one he'd like to forget. Roethlisberger, who was still recovering from appendectomy surgery along with significant injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, made his 2006 debut against Jacksonville in the second game of the season. He was 17 of 32 for 141 yards and two interceptions and sacked twice in a 9-0 loss. The Steelers host the Jaguars Sunday at Heinz Field. Roethlisberger said he wants to make up for last year's game. "I feel embarrassed," Roethlisberger said. "I didn't play well. It was a bad game for me. I have some redemption in mind. I want to come out and play well. Just not get caught up doing too much. You want to get a win, it's an important game for us." Roethlisberger and linebacker Andre Frazier (groin) are questionable. Cornerback Bryant McFadden (ankle) is probable. For Jacksonville, defensive end Reggie Hayward (groin) and linebacker Mike Peterson (hand) are out. Defensive tackle Jeremy Mincey (hamstring) and safety Reggie Nelson (hamstring) missed practice yesterday and are questionable. Digits 39 - Sacks for the Steelers in Sacks for the Steelers this season. John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2007 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

10 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 1 Print Page SATURDAY DECEMBER 15, 2007 :: Last modified: Saturday, December 15, :14 AM EST Big Ben practices, but status is still a mystery By Mike Bires, Times Sports Staff PITTSBURGH NFL coaches dread providing details when it comes to their injured players. Case in point: Ben Roethlisberger s sore right shoulder. On Friday, the Steelers quarterback practiced for the first time this week, yet his status for Sunday s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars remains somewhat of a mystery. When asked how he s feeling, Roethlisberger said, I feel great. But based on the official injury report provided by coach Mike Tomlin, Roethlisberger is not feeling great. His achy shoulder is so sore that he s listed as questionable, which means he has a 50 percent chance of playing. On the bright side, Roethlisberger did take every snap with the first-team offense Friday even though he s still experiencing some pain in his shoulder when he throws the football. After practice, when asked about his shoulder and his chances of playing Sunday, Rothlisberger repeatedly said, You ll have to ask Coach Tomlin. However, coach Mike Tomlin chose not to address the media. All Tomlin did was provide an official status of Roethlisberger s availability according to NFL rules. Each Friday, an injured play must be designated as probable, questionable, doubtful or out. If Roethlisberger can t play Sunday, he ll be replaced by backup Charlie Batch. Roethlisberger, who didn t practice Wednesday or Thursday, was injured at some point during Sunday s loss to the New England Patriots. Rothlisberger wouldn t reveal exactly how he got hurt, only to say it happened later in the game. Roethlisberger was sacked three times against the Patriots, but just once in the fourth quarter. That happened with 2:59 left to play when he was taken down by Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas. I just wanted to get out there, get some plays in, gets some reps, get a feel for it, Roethlisberger said after Friday s practice. It was good The last two days, I was standing behind Charlie (at practice), listening to the plays in the huddle, checking all he reads he had to make and the things I would do if I was in there. It was valuable. It definitely wasn t a week wasted. The Steelers (9-4) and Jaguars (9-4) could each clinch a playoff berth Sunday with a win. Mike Bires can be reached online at mbires@timesonline.com.

11 Polamalu will return against Jacksonville Page 1 of 2 Polamalu will return against Jacksonville By JIM WEXELL For The Tribune-Democrat PITTSBURGH Every week, Troy Polamalu talks to his uncle and the primary topic of conversation is Troy s health. Routine? Sure, but with Troy and his uncle Kennedy Pola, it s never just small talk. He checks on me every week to make sure I m healthy and doing well, said Polamalu. He gives advice to me about how to take care of my body, because he knows the other side of dealing with injuries. Troy s uncle is the running backs coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars and few can argue with his knowledge. Pola came to the Jaguars from the Cleveland Browns in 2005, and in 2006 coached Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew to a franchise record for most rushing yards (2,087) by two players. The total was second in the NFL last season. This season, the 31-year-old Taylor is once again running like a youngster. He s on a three-game streak of 100-yard games as he (944, 4.9 avg.) and Jones-Drew (655, 4.5) have combined for 1,599 yards through 13 games. The Jacksonville combo ranks second in the league to Minnesota s combo (1,916) of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. And this means exactly what to Polamalu? Well, his mother s brother knows athletes, and he cares about this one in particular. He knows the other side, Polamalu said. He knows how coaches push, how management pushes, and how they treat injured players. So it s nice to have somebody who sees the other side. That s not to say (players and teams) are not on the same side, Polamalu added, but their focus is on winning and not really for the welfare of the players. Polamalu, of course, is in the midst of an injury-plagued season. He s missed four games with, first, a rib injury and, second, a sprained knee. He s returning to the lineup this week against the Jaguars after missing three consecutive games with the latter injury, and he s looking for his first sack and/or interception. By those numbers, it s been an unproductive season for Polamalu, who had averaged 3.3 interceptions, 2.3 sacks and 93 tackles per season since becoming a starter in This season, his numbers are Not that he s complaining. When asked to grade his performance this season, Polamalu said: I don t know. When I grade myself, I ve got to grade myself on how good our team is. Physically, probably not very well, but as a team defense we re doing OK. It s become commonplace to blame Polamalu s injuries and relative lack of production on his fading physique. Polamalu is listed at 207 pounds, which seems a bit high. He entered the league at 210 and admits he s lost a lot of bulk. Yeah, looking back on film, I definitely have. My first two years I was bigger, he said. How is it affecting him? I think good, he said. I think it helps me out. It gives me a little more agility. But, what about the injuries? The injuries I ve sustained this year are kind of freak injuries: Being at the wrong place at the wrong time, people hitting me low. It has nothing to do with the athletic state that I m in. To be quite honest, if I had the bulk, the injuries might ve been worse because I m more focused on flexibility. If I have that, like rubber, it s easier to bend. But if it s a wooden stick, it d snap. In spite of appearances, Polamalu said he still lifts weights. I just do it in a different type of way, he said. And what does Uncle Kennedy think of his program? He s all for things like that, Polamalu said. He actually trained with my trainer. It s hard to argue with your mother s brother, particularly when he s your trainer s trainee. Or the guy who coaches Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.