As the season winds down to this week's finale, the Bengals come to town. And with them, our final meat-eater matchup of the regular season. This should be a dandy.
During the Joe Burrow era, when the Steelers rush for 103 yards or more, they are 3-0. But, when the Steelers rush for less than that, the Bengals are 4-2. So, what does that have to do with the meat-eater matchup?
Everything, because it's in the trenches that the game will be won or lost. And running the ball eats the clock and shortens the game. Plus, when you're eating up the clock, that means you're dominating the time of possession. And when the Steelers have the ball, that means Burrow does not.
While the Bengals will roll several defensive linemen into the lineup throughout the game, there's always one to key in on. And the meat-eater this week to key in on is Bengals DT BJ Hill.
Standing 6-foot-3, and weighing a lighter-than-normal 311-pounds, Hill, a seven-year veteran, is a forehead-first run stopper with better-than-average lateral ability. He's explosive, ran a sub-five second 40-yard dash entering the league and has very good upper body strength.
Hill has 52-tackles and a pedestrian 3 sacks. But numbers aren't always the measuring stick that tells the story of a meat-eater.
Hill will line up as a 3-tech over both guards and occasionally play a little nose tackle as well.
As a pass rusher, Hill has good initial pop, and interestingly enough, will make use of the one-arm power "stab," that you see Cam Heyward use to drive guards back into the lap of the quarterbacks.
Hill has the quicks to be the penetrator on twist-stunts, but primarily is a bull rusher. He will attempt to work the outer edge of a man as a changeup and throw an uppercut in there as well, though he doesn't power through and get hip-to-hip with a pass blocker. That is something that would enable him to get some lift, thus negating some of the power of his uppercut.
Because he doesn't carry a lot of weight like some of the dinosaurs we've listed here in previous writings, he doesn't hold the point on double-teams as strongly as others. Though he starts fresh each series with a low pad level, he seems to raise up some as the game unfolds, making him vulnerable to double-teams and strong run-blocking guards. And powerful double-teams and powerful run-blocking guards are just what the Steelers need to get some traction in their run game.
Yes, powerful and strong run-blocking guards, like the ones the Steelers employ in Isaac Seumalo and Mason McCormick. Add a Morgantown Mauler on the inside duo blocks, and somebody is going for a ride.
