Minnesota over Pittsburgh by 6 (at Canton, OH)
Pittsburgh is expected to be moving away from former 11-season defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau?s zone-blitzing scheme. The defensive roots of head coach Mike Tomlin ? who signed a contract extension through 2018 last week ? are Cover-2. Expecting better pure pass rushing from the front four, after they were 3-4 blitz-reliant for a decade, would seem to be a dicey proposition right off the bat. First exhibition games, however, tend to be more run-oriented as head coaches want to establish physicality, fundamentals and rhythm. Both sides know how to feature a run game when they want to. For the Vikings, there is a greater need to work on the passing attack, given that QB Teddy Bridgewater needs to take a step forward in his second NFL season, which he enters as Minnesota?s starter. Vikings? head coach Mike Zimmer will no doubt allow offensive coordinator Norv Turner to call a few Bridgewater-to-Mike Wallace passes early, as the ex-Steeler, new Viking Wallace will be in ?athlete vs. former-team revenge mode.? Wallace is expected to be Minnesota?s top receiving option for 2015, so they may as well work it early and often. The Minnesota offensive line needs to work on pass protection after giving up 51 sacks and 84 QB hits in 2014. So, the Vikings may be more inclined to go for bigger plays after Bridgewater exits and is relieved by either 13-season veteran Shaun Hill, or rookie Taylor Heinecke (an under-the-radar productive college QB from Old Dominion). Pittsburgh?s quarterback rotation behind Ben Roethlisberger?s cameo has Landry Jones in it. He has been throwing red-zone interceptions in practice. Any QB rotation with Jones in it is a plus for the other side. The Steelers are 1-7 SU (straight-up) the last two pre-seasons; the Vikings were 4-0 SU in August last year, Zimmer?s first as head coach. MINNESOTA, 23-17.
Pittsburgh is expected to be moving away from former 11-season defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau?s zone-blitzing scheme. The defensive roots of head coach Mike Tomlin ? who signed a contract extension through 2018 last week ? are Cover-2. Expecting better pure pass rushing from the front four, after they were 3-4 blitz-reliant for a decade, would seem to be a dicey proposition right off the bat. First exhibition games, however, tend to be more run-oriented as head coaches want to establish physicality, fundamentals and rhythm. Both sides know how to feature a run game when they want to. For the Vikings, there is a greater need to work on the passing attack, given that QB Teddy Bridgewater needs to take a step forward in his second NFL season, which he enters as Minnesota?s starter. Vikings? head coach Mike Zimmer will no doubt allow offensive coordinator Norv Turner to call a few Bridgewater-to-Mike Wallace passes early, as the ex-Steeler, new Viking Wallace will be in ?athlete vs. former-team revenge mode.? Wallace is expected to be Minnesota?s top receiving option for 2015, so they may as well work it early and often. The Minnesota offensive line needs to work on pass protection after giving up 51 sacks and 84 QB hits in 2014. So, the Vikings may be more inclined to go for bigger plays after Bridgewater exits and is relieved by either 13-season veteran Shaun Hill, or rookie Taylor Heinecke (an under-the-radar productive college QB from Old Dominion). Pittsburgh?s quarterback rotation behind Ben Roethlisberger?s cameo has Landry Jones in it. He has been throwing red-zone interceptions in practice. Any QB rotation with Jones in it is a plus for the other side. The Steelers are 1-7 SU (straight-up) the last two pre-seasons; the Vikings were 4-0 SU in August last year, Zimmer?s first as head coach. MINNESOTA, 23-17.
