PITTSBURGH — Willie Parker has heard it all from the Baltimore Ravens.
Of course, concocting stories of text messages for motivational purposes is a new one to Parker, but the Steelers’ injured halfback knows what his replacement, rookie Rashard Mendenhall, will be facing on the field tonight.
“Man, you know those Ravens,” Parker said. “The Ravens are like our defense. They’re going to be physical, talk a lot, and they’re like that every game. The thing about the Ravens is they do back up that talk, so I’ve got to give them a lot of respect and a lot of credit. A lot of teams talk and they don’t back up what they say, but they’ve got 10, 11 guys over on that defense that will back their talk up.”
The Ravens lead the league in defense, just as they did in 2006. The Steelers led the league in defense last year and are second this year. It’s a guaranteed clash of the defensive titans, and both offenses are relying on a rookie to beat those defenses.
For the Steelers, that rookie is Mendenhall, who’s carried 10 times for a mere 28 yards after an uninspiring preseason in which he fumbled three times.
That leads to questions about how ready the No. 1 pick is.
“He’s ready,” said Parker. “Everybody, when it’s time to step up and get in and play, you do rise up, especially when your parents, your friends want to see what you’ve got. I’m sure they’ve all been calling him all week, and that all works on you. You probably don’t think you’re getting jacked up, but when that game comes you’re going to be jacked up.”
The Ravens, of course, will focus on stripping the football. Ray Lewis promised as much during his call to Pittsburgh reporters last week.
“It’s blood in the water,” Parker said, “but at the same time (Mendenhall) knows what to expect. He didn’t know what to expect in the preseason. They just threw him out there. It was totally different.”
The Ravens counter with a rookie quarterback. Joe Flacco was also drafted in the first round last April. He was the Delaware quarterback who transferred from Pitt upon the arrival of Dave Wannstedt and Matt Cavanaugh. Some might call that a heady decision, and he’s made enough of them in the NFL to beat the hapless Browns and Bengals. But Flacco’s in for much more tonight in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers have won 13 consecutive Monday night games.
“I would imagine he might have a rough time with our defense,” said linebacker James Farrior. “We’ve been known to confuse young quarterbacks.”
Ben Roethlisberger was once a confused young quarterback, but he went through his rookie season without a regular-season loss.
Still …
“It was utter confusion,” Roethlisberger said, “to figure out what the snap was on, to figure out who the mike linebacker was, who I was going to hand off to. I was just trying to figure everything out. I’m sure he’s going through some of that. But watching a little bit of what he’s done so far, I think they’re trying to make it very simple for him to put him in the best position possible.”
The Ravens have run 90 times in two games, and Willis McGahee – who has 129 yards (4.3 avg.) and three touchdowns in two starts against the Steelers – has carried only 15 times. McGahee missed preseason and the opener while recovering from knee surgery, and then left the Browns game after being gouged in the right eye and poked in the left.
The right eye remains lacerated and McGahee talked as if he wouldn’t be able to play tonight, but the Ravens list him as probable. The Ravens’ leading rusher is converted fullback Le’Ron McClain (36 carries for 152 yards) while rookie Ray Rice has rushed 27 times for 85 yards.
The Ravens hope to crack a Steelers’ run-stopping unit that will be without nose tackle Casey Hampton and right end Brett Keisel, but they’ve been replaced by veterans Chris Hoke and Travis Kirschke.
Injuries might also open the door for the Steelers’ offense. The Ravens have been without nose tackle Kelly Gregg, and for the first time this season will be without cornerback Samari Rolle (shoulder) and strong safety Dawan Landry (spinal cord concussion).
Of course, attacking the Ravens’ secondary would necessitate Roethlisberger having more than two seconds to throw. To do that, Mendenhall must find some success running on Lewis and Co.
“You just take what you can get against that defense,” said Parker. “They thrive on stopping the run, no matter what. You can pass on them all day, but they will not let you run on them.”
High School Sports
Steelers vs. Ravens preview
- High School Sports
-
-
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Young takes silver in state triple jump
Chestnut Ridge senior Michael Young capped six years of triple jumping with a silver medal Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Seth Grove Stadium on the campus of Shippensburg University.
Young had a career-best leap of 45-9¼ just behind Jared Horne of Schuylkill Valley whose winning jump was 46-9. -
Forest Hills’ Smay places fifth in Class AA long jump
Brooke Smay is moving on up.
The Forest Hills junior earned a fifth-place position in the Class AA long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 3 ½ inches Friday on the first day of the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
Bishop McCort wins District 6-A baseball crown
Bishop McCort truly won the District 6 Class A baseball championship as a team on Friday at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
There were more than a few huge plays. Of course a number of individuals stepped up to secure a 3-1 victory over LHAC rival Bishop Guilfoyle. -
Somerset denied 6-AAA baseball title
Hollidaysburg pitcher Dom Viduya and his Golden Tigers teammates beat defending champion Somerset 3-1 in Thursday’s District 6 Class AAA championship game at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
-
Pitcher's 'bad day' results in no-hitter
Bridgit Yothers struggled on the mound on Thursday.
But the Chestnut Ridge right-hander was able to persevere through her issues, throwing a no-hitter against Bedford in their District 5 Class AA semifinal and helping the Lions to a 5-0 victory. -
Local athletes look to shine at PIAA track and field meet
Each of the nearly 50 area athletes who will be competing at this weekend’s PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University, will be looking for his or her best performance of the season, but only the top eight finishers in each event for both boys and girls will stand on the podium in front of the crowd at Seth Grove Stadium.
-
Westmont, Somerset represented at PIAA Class AA tennis tourney
The PIAA Class AA tennis tournament showcases the top players in the state, which includes three area athletes, when it begins today at the Hershey Racquet Club.
-
Corridini’s hit propels Shade
Tasha Corridini had been having a tough time at the plate on Wednesday.
The Shade leftfielder had struck out twice in her prior two at-bats against Shanksville-Stonycreek pitcher Kayla Stockenus.
But in the bottom of the seventh of a scoreless game with Kaily Karl on first, Corridini clubbed a triple out to the fence, scoring Karl and giving the Panthers a walk-off 1-0 win over the Vikings in a District 5 Class A softball quarterfinal. - More High School Sports Headlines
-
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
