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Behind The Line

Behind the Line: Analyzing Pittsburgh’s Best Players  

The Steelers are the best team in the NFL right now and it doesn't take long to realize why. Let's look at this matchup from their view as they enter the game with a perfect 7-0 record.

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DallasCowboys.com

Dallas Cowboys Staff Writers

Who is the Guy? Ben Roethlisberger The Steelers are built around their defense but the offense continues to light up the scoreboard with No.7 at the helm. Big Ben is torching opponents with a quick-rhythm passing game that puts the ball in the hands of a quintet of playmakers (JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Eric Ebron) on the perimeter. The dink-and-dunk passing game isn't flashy but it has enabled Roethlisberger posted a career-high 15:4 TD-INT ratio while coming off an injury.
1 / 8

Who is the Guy? Ben Roethlisberger

The Steelers are built around their defense but the offense continues to light up the scoreboard with No.7 at the helm. Big Ben is torching opponents with a quick-rhythm passing game that puts the ball in the hands of a quintet of playmakers (JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chase Claypool, James Washington, Diontae Johnson and Eric Ebron) on the perimeter. The dink-and-dunk passing game isn't flashy but it has enabled Roethlisberger posted a career-high 15:4 TD-INT ratio while coming off an injury.

Don't Sleep On… T.J. Watt The Steelers' pass rush terrorizes opponents with relentless pressure led by Watt. The fourth-year pro leads the NFL with 21 QB hits while tallying 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Watt has the capacity to win with power or finesse utilizing an array of moves that take advantage of inpatient offensive tackles unable to anticipate or react to his initial movements. Considering the struggles of the Cowboys' replacement tackles, the Steelers' top rusher could have a monster day attacking off the edge.
2 / 8

Don't Sleep On… T.J. Watt

The Steelers' pass rush terrorizes opponents with relentless pressure led by Watt. The fourth-year pro leads the NFL with 21 QB hits while tallying 6.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Watt has the capacity to win with power or finesse utilizing an array of moves that take advantage of inpatient offensive tackles unable to anticipate or react to his initial movements. Considering the struggles of the Cowboys' replacement tackles, the Steelers' top rusher could have a monster day attacking off the edge.

Know His Name… Bud Dupree Dupree's name isn't on the marquee but opponents better pay attention to the game wrecker opposite Watt. The sixth-year pro has quietly amassed 17.5 sacks over the past 23 games with six sacks in 2020. Dupree has registered the fifth-most QB pressures in the NFL (29) while displaying a combination of speed, explosiveness, and power off the edge that makes him difficult to neutralize in one-on-one battles.
3 / 8

Know His Name… Bud Dupree

Dupree's name isn't on the marquee but opponents better pay attention to the game wrecker opposite Watt. The sixth-year pro has quietly amassed 17.5 sacks over the past 23 games with six sacks in 2020. Dupree has registered the fifth-most QB pressures in the NFL (29) while displaying a combination of speed, explosiveness, and power off the edge that makes him difficult to neutralize in one-on-one battles.

Under Pressure… Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt The onus is on the interior of the Steelers' defensive line to contain Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys' running game. Heyward and Tuitt are rare finds as interior defenders with A-plus run stopping skills and pass rush ability. The dynamic duo is capable of wrecking running games with penetration and stonewalling skills at the point of attack. Against a Cowboys' offense that might lean on the running game with a third-string quarterback making a start, Heyward and Tuitt must contain No.21 to force the young quarterbacks to throw against a blitz-happy defense that overwhelms opponents with pressure.
4 / 8

Under Pressure… Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt

The onus is on the interior of the Steelers' defensive line to contain Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys' running game. Heyward and Tuitt are rare finds as interior defenders with A-plus run stopping skills and pass rush ability. The dynamic duo is capable of wrecking running games with penetration and stonewalling skills at the point of attack. Against a Cowboys' offense that might lean on the running game with a third-string quarterback making a start, Heyward and Tuitt must contain No.21 to force the young quarterbacks to throw against a blitz-happy defense that overwhelms opponents with pressure.

Numbers Game… The Steelers have pressured opposing quarterback 190 times this season (most in the NFL) and have blitzed on 42.5-percent of drop-backs (2nd-highest) with an 11.6-percent overall sack rate, according to Next Gen Stats. The Steelers' 51.8 pressure rate on blitzes leads the NFL with T.J. Watt (38), Bud Dupree (29), and Stephon Tuitt (27) ranking month the top 10 pass rushers in QB pressure rate this season. Considering the Cowboys have allowed 127 QB pressures this season (most in NFL), the Steelers' heavy-pressure tactics could overwhelm a patchwork offensive line.
5 / 8

Numbers Game…

The Steelers have pressured opposing quarterback 190 times this season (most in the NFL) and have blitzed on 42.5-percent of drop-backs (2nd-highest) with an 11.6-percent overall sack rate, according to Next Gen Stats. The Steelers' 51.8 pressure rate on blitzes leads the NFL with T.J. Watt (38), Bud Dupree (29), and Stephon Tuitt (27) ranking month the top 10 pass rushers in QB pressure rate this season. Considering the Cowboys have allowed 127 QB pressures this season (most in NFL), the Steelers' heavy-pressure tactics could overwhelm a patchwork offensive line.

Matchup To Watch: Trevon Diggs vs. Chase Claypool This rookie battle could turn into a heavyweight on the perimeter. Claypool is a gargantuan pass catcher with the size, speed, and athleticism to dominate the game out wide. As the Steelers' leading receiver and top playmaker, he has must be accounted for at all times. Moreover, the Cowboys could attempt to neutralize his playmaking skills by playing "big on big" on the outside with Diggs shadowing Claypool all over the field. With the ball certain to head in No.11's direction, the Cowboys' CB1 could have his hands full on Sunday.
6 / 8

Matchup To Watch: Trevon Diggs vs. Chase Claypool

This rookie battle could turn into a heavyweight on the perimeter. Claypool is a gargantuan pass catcher with the size, speed, and athleticism to dominate the game out wide. As the Steelers' leading receiver and top playmaker, he has must be accounted for at all times. Moreover, the Cowboys could attempt to neutralize his playmaking skills by playing "big on big" on the outside with Diggs shadowing Claypool all over the field. With the ball certain to head in No.11's direction, the Cowboys' CB1 could have his hands full on Sunday.

Offensive Strategy The Steelers' explosive offense is a smoke and mirrors outfit with the team relying on a quick-rhythm passing game and punishing ground attack to ring up 30-plus points a game. Big Ben controls the flow of the game as an efficient passer, particularly against blitz-happy teams sending five- and six-man pressures. The two-time Super Bowl winner has a stable of thoroughbreds at his disposal with Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, and Eric Ebron taking turns as featured pass catchers on the perimeter. The Steelers complement their dynamic passing game with a straight-forward rushing attack that features James Conner and Benny Snell pounding away at the defense on a variety of inside runs. With an offensive line that's capable of moving defenders off the ball or stonewalling pass rushers at the line of scrimmage, the Steelers' multifaceted offense can win by knockout (passing game) or decision (ground and pound) in a 10-round fight.
7 / 8

Offensive Strategy

The Steelers' explosive offense is a smoke and mirrors outfit with the team relying on a quick-rhythm passing game and punishing ground attack to ring up 30-plus points a game. Big Ben controls the flow of the game as an efficient passer, particularly against blitz-happy teams sending five- and six-man pressures. The two-time Super Bowl winner has a stable of thoroughbreds at his disposal with Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Diontae Johnson, and Eric Ebron taking turns as featured pass catchers on the perimeter. The Steelers complement their dynamic passing game with a straight-forward rushing attack that features James Conner and Benny Snell pounding away at the defense on a variety of inside runs. With an offensive line that's capable of moving defenders off the ball or stonewalling pass rushers at the line of scrimmage, the Steelers' multifaceted offense can win by knockout (passing game) or decision (ground and pound) in a 10-round fight.

Defensive Strategy Mike Tomlin has rebuilt the Blitz-burgh defense around a young, dynamic core of play-making defenders with nasty demeanors. The Steelers' defense plays with an edge that overwhelms opponents unable to deal with the aggressiveness and overall physicality of the unit. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler cranks up the pressure by relentless attacking the offense with a barrage of pressures that forces quarterbacks and offensive lines to crumble under the assault. With a collection of swift, athletic defenders flying in from every angle, the Cowboys must be able to deal with the schematic and athletic challenges from the Steelers to have any chance of walking away with a win.
8 / 8

Defensive Strategy

Mike Tomlin has rebuilt the Blitz-burgh defense around a young, dynamic core of play-making defenders with nasty demeanors. The Steelers' defense plays with an edge that overwhelms opponents unable to deal with the aggressiveness and overall physicality of the unit. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler cranks up the pressure by relentless attacking the offense with a barrage of pressures that forces quarterbacks and offensive lines to crumble under the assault. With a collection of swift, athletic defenders flying in from every angle, the Cowboys must be able to deal with the schematic and athletic challenges from the Steelers to have any chance of walking away with a win.

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