Stopping the run: Linebacker T.J. Watt is the latest Steelers defender to talk about how challenging it’s going to be for the defense going against the Chargers ground game.
Under the leadership of new offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who came to the Chargers from the Ravens, the Chargers have been sticking to the run early in the season behind the NFL’s leading rusher, J.K. Dobbins.
Watt said he sees some similarities with the Chargers and Ravens offense, but differences as well.
“Some things seem consistent with what we’ve seen in the past. Some things seem newer,” said Watt. “Obviously, running the ball is first and foremost for them. A different type of quarterback. Not to say that’s better or worse for the offense, but it’s a different style of quarterback.
“But we know they’re going to try to pound the rock.”
The Chargers ground game is ranked No. 2 in the NFL, and Watt said they are different than the ground games they have faced the last two weeks in Atlanta and Denver.
“Bigger personnel groups, the willingness to stick to the run, kind of the wear down, wear on you factor,” said Watt. “They’re not going to spread it out and try to run as much as some other teams. So, it’s going to be a challenge for us. It’s going to take a lot of bodies, a lot of little men hidden, a lot of big men getting off blocks and making plays.”
The key this week for the defense is just doing more of what they have been the last two weeks in trying to stop the run.
“Everybody doing their job tackling, get as many hats to the ball as we can,” said Watt. “You saw some of the defensive backs coming up making some big plays. Any time you have that many guys that are willing to tackle and make plays, usually it ends with a good result.”
Waiting for it: From the minute Donte Jackson was acquired by the Steelers in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, the cornerback has been looking forward to one thing.
Hearing the Styx anthem ‘Renegade’ being played at Acrisure Stadium.
And he isn’t joking about it either.
“I had an Uber driver my first week out here for OTAs and he recognized who I was,” said Jackson. “He didn’t say anything in the first couple of minutes of the drive, but then he said, ‘You’re, Donte Jackson, right.’ I told him I was. He right away said he was happy the team had me now.
“We were talking, and he told me, ‘You’re going to love it when ‘Renegade’ plays in the fourth quarter. You’re going to love it all. The Terrible Towels waving. All of it.’
“He kept giving me the whole spiel about it. It was the spring, and I’m like, ‘Bro, you got me ready to go now,’
“It is awesome. I can’t wait.”
While Jackson has a mini-intro to what life with ‘Renegade’ and the home crowd is like in the preseason, he knows nothing will compare to this Sunday when the Steelers host the Los Angeles Chargers in the home opener, his first time playing in front of the home crowd in a regular season game.
“I’ve been looking forward to it since the first day I became a part of this organization,” said Jackson. “Everything you hear about the Steelers organization, the fans, the stadium. Seeing all the fans on the road the first two road games, you kind of get that feeling.
“I’m excited. My family’s excited. My wife and kids are excited. We’re just happy. Happy for one, just to be here and just to have this opportunity, and two, to be able to just go out there and fly around in front these fans.
“It’s amazing. I can’t wait.”
Home sweet home: After two weeks on the road, linebacker Elandon Roberts is pumped to be back on familiar ground this week when the Steelers take on the Los Angeles Chargers at Acrisure Stadium in the home opener.
“Nothing beats coming home,” said a smiling Roberts. “I can’t wait to see Steelers Nation.”
When I asked Roberts what is special about it, his answer was simple.
“Everything,”
And he means it, because he has seen it from both sidelines. He signed with the Steelers before the 2023 season, but spent four years with the New England Patriots and three with the Miami Dolphins to start his career.
“It was even crazy being on the other side of the ball,” said Roberts. “I am just excited.
“Shoutout to Steelers Nation. I can’t wait to see you.”
Like many of his teammates, Roberts can wait to hear ‘Renegade’ blaring when the defense takes the field.
“It definitely sets the tone,” said Roberts. “It’s crazy. It brings that type of feel to you. That’s why you enjoy playing the game, for those crazy moments.
“It locks everyone in a little different.”
Dealing with adversity: As far back as he could remember, offensive tackle Broderick Jones couldn’t recall being pulled from a game mid-series, as he was last Sunday in Denver.
But after committing three penalties on seven snaps during one possession in the second quarter, Jones was summoned from the huddle to the bench.
“I played bad, that’s all it is at the end of the day,” Jones said. “You (mess) up, you get pulled, that’s all it is. Just gotta be better, continue to grow as a player, as a man, and just take the good with the bad.”
Jones started the final 10 games at right tackle as a rookie No. 1 pick in 2023, and the 2024 opener at Atlanta. But he was replaced in the starting lineup in this year’s regular-season opener at Atlanta by this year’s No. 1 pick, Troy Fautanu.
The plan was to rotate Jones in periodically but his first appearance on the Steelers’ third offensive possession turned out to be his last. Head coach Mike Tomlin has said Jones will be given “an opportunity to rebound.”
Jones isn’t sure exactly how that’ll play out, and how Fautanu landing on the injury report on Friday will impact it, but he’s willing to trust the process.
“‘Coach T,’ I feel like he’s a great coach,” Jones said. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s been doing it for so long. When he says something you do it, no ifs, ands or buts about it.
“That’s somebody I trust. Whatever he says I take it in 100 percent and just go from there.”
In the wake of the Denver game “the sense of urgency is there a little bit more, I feel, for me,” Jones added. “For me, just for me trying to continue to get the one percent (better) every day. I’m trying not to take any more steps backwards.
“I just come in each and every day with that mindset ready to work.”
— Blog entry by Mike Prisuta