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| SCOUTING REPORT |
Steelers will blitz the Dolphins rookie QB all gameBoth teams are coming of road losses, with Miami's loss expected at Philadelphia, while the Steelers were shocked in the Meadowlands by the Jets. The Dolphins lack explosiveness, but at least they now have a chance to take a long look at the future of the offense with rookie quarterback John Beck and rookie receiver Ted Ginn Jr.
The Steelers were uncharacteristically sloppy in their loss to the Jets, in terms of pass protection, silly penalties, shoddy tackling and a disappointing red zone offense. However, this is still a good football team with a lot of pride and they will rebound against a Miami team that is still playing hard. But how many blitzes do you think the Steelers will bring versus a rookie quarterback? |
· Full Scouting Report 
|
| Matchup |
| | W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF |
| MIA | 1-15 | 267 | 437 | 1-7 | 0-8 | 0-6 | 1-11 |
| PIT | 10-6 | 393 | 269 | 7-1 | 3-5 | 5-1 | 7-5 |
| · Complete Standings |
| | Pittsburgh Receiving | | | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | | Holmes | 43 | 678 | 15.8 | 1 | | Ward | 53 | 670 | 12.6 | 4 |
|
| TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS |
| TEAM OFFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Total Yards | MIA | 288.0 |
| PIT | 327.0 |
| Yards Passing | MIA | 189.4 |
| PIT | 191.9 |
| Yards Rushing | MIA | 98.1 |
| PIT | 135.5 |
| TEAM DEFENSE | TEAM | PER GAME AVERAGE |
| Yards Allowed | MIA | 342.2 |
| PIT | 266.4 |
| Pass Yds Allowed | MIA | 188.7 |
| PIT | 176.5 |
| Rush Yds Allowed | MIA | 153.5 |
| PIT | 89.9 |
| HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001) |
| Pittsburgh leads 3-0 |
| Sep 7, 2006 | MIA 17, PIT 28 |
| Sep 26, 2004 | MIA 3, @PIT 13 |
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PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Lightning and heavy rain, an uncommon combination in Pittsburgh in late November, delayed the start of Monday night's game between the Steelers and Miami Dolphins.
Players from both teams were warming up about 40 minutes before the scheduled kickoff when they were ordered to return to their locker rooms due to lightning that was visible above the upper-deck bleachers at the covered end of Heinz Field.
It was unclear how long the delay might last.
Rain was predicted in Pittsburgh on Monday, but the heavy showers that fell for several hours and the accompanying lightning were not.
The weather led to several unusual scenes at Heinz Field as the scheduled 8:30 p.m. EST kickoff neared. Crews were still painting the newly laid grass field with the goal line, out of bounds and yard markers. The field was covered until about 90 minutes before the game was to start, yet the yard lines quickly washed away.
Before leaving the field, players splashed their way through pregame warmups, some of them slipping and sliding on a field that had been in place less than 24 hours.
A new grass field was put down at Heinz Field over the weekend, after four high school games and the South Florida-Pittsburgh game were played there in a two-day period. The sod was placed atop the field used for the Steelers' first five home games, a surface called DD GrassMaster in which the grass is secured with synthetic fibers.
That field had deteriorated under the pounding of a heavy schedule this month -- both Pitt and the Steelers play at Heinz Field -- and the area between the hash marks was filled with large brown patches.
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- Ravens' Edwards plans appeal of roughness fine
- Ravens defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night.
ESPN Local
- Message from Dolphins' Chad Pennington: I don't Twitter
- Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting. BY JEFF DARLINGTON jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com In case you were wondering, Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington didn't put down a 40-ounce Porterhouse, two baked potatoes, zucchini and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for dinner last Thursday night.
- Miami Dolphins linebacker Matt Roth learning from veterans
- After a season of learning a complex new position on the fly while hampered with a torn groin, Matt Roth watched Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland beef up an already overflowing linebacking corps.
- Ronnie Brown has something to prove with Miami Dolphins this season
- Ronnie Brown is a quality NFL running back. But he might have to be more than that - maybe a lot more than that - if he wants to be the featured back in the Dolphins' offense beyond the 2009 season.
- Miami Dolphins' Will Allen more than mentor to young cornerbacks
- One of Tony Sparano's pet expressions is that he is more concerned about getting the "right 53 players'' on the team, not necessarily the best.
- Jake Long's road with Miami Dolphins just beginning
- Jake Long never looked overwhelmed in 2008, at least off the field. Not around barking coaches or testing veterans at training camp.
- Ward helping out young receivers
- Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.
- Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle
- Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.
- Steelers players brighten some spirits
- John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.
- Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus
- The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.
- Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills
- Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.
Miami 0, 
Pittsburgh 3