The Steelers host the Oakland Raiders at Heinz Field on Sunday, and the Raiders are giving their take on the Steelers defense, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.
Here is what they had to say.
Coach Jack Del Rio
On what he sees from the Steelers defense:
"It's an aggressive, athletic front. They have 22 sacks on the year. They have a bunch of different guys involved in getting to the quarterback. It's a really good defense. They're doing a lot of things they've always done. It seems like names change, but the attacking defense remains the same. They're very good, of course, with 'Big Ben' [Roethlisberger] on offense, Antonio Brown. They've got a host of weapons. DeAngelo [Williams], really it doesn't look like it drops off. The guy is a really good back, so we've got our work cut out for us. It's a heck of a football team, at their place."
On what makes Antonio Brown special;* *"He's explosive. He's explosive to the ball. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can score from anywhere. He's a good route runner. He really attacks the football. He's a really good football player. Not only on offense is he a threat, but he's the punt returner and he does a heck of a job there. Again, he's a guy we've got to know where he is on the football field."
On if Ben Roethlisberger creates dilemmas that are unique with his size:
"He is a guy that's so big and strong that you'll see guys, he'll shrug them off. You think you have him down, he'll wiggle his way out of there, stay alive and everyone on the field is a threat to get the ball, everybody. He'll dump it to a back late as he's on his way down. He'll find a way to throw it 70 yards down the field to one of his receivers. I mean everybody, literally, remains in play for a long time with him. He extends the play. A great competitor and [I've] gone against him a number of times and I have a lot of respect for him."
Quarterback Derek Carr
On the Steelers defense:
* *"They're very multiple, bring different looks, different pressures, different coverages, try and mix it up. Try and confuse you as a quarterback, all those good things. It'll be excited. They're very talented. They have talent everywhere. They have Pro Bowlers. They have a lot of young talent, too. It'll be a good competitive game, be physical. But obviously like every week, we're looking forward to competing against them."
Safety Charles Woodson
On which Steelers playmaker deserves the most attention:
"First, you start with Big Ben, start there with the quarterback. The team has a good quarterback who makes everything go, so you start there with him. Just as a fan of the game, a fan of football, I think one of the most exciting players in the league is Antonio Brown. He's a special player, so I would say Big Ben and Antonio. You could say that about a number of those young guys in there. They are all capable of making plays."
The Steelers prepare for the week 9 matchup against the Oakland Raiders.