10/29/19-PODCAST – STEEL NATION RADIO – Dolphins Wrap Up and Colts Preview

October 29, 2019 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

The Steelers defense looks great again and continued to get the job done against the Dolphins.  As they move to 3-4, it’s time to prepare for a home battle against the Indianapolis Colts.  Will they get it done this week and what do they need to do to win?

10/15/19-PODCAST – STEEL NATION RADIO – Chargers Wrap Up and Bye Week

October 15, 2019 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

It was a good “road” win for the black and gold on Sunday Night against the Chargers.  They can now go into the bye week with their minds right and their bodies healing, still in the thick of the AFC North race.  Let’s see what happens from here. I preview my thoughts on the remaining schedule in this weeks podcast.

10/1/19-PODCAST – STEEL NATION RADIO Bengal Wrap Up and Raven Preview

October 1, 2019 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

The Steelers gained their first victory of the 2019 season with a beat down of the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.  Can they keep up the momentum against the rival Ravens this Sunday. Find out my thoughts right here:

 

9/10/19-STEEL NATION RADIO – New England Recap and Seattle Preview

September 10, 2019 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

The Steelers laid an egg in New England. There’s no other way to describe the 33-3 loss to the Patriots on Sunday night.  How will they bounce back against Seattle this week in their home opener and what will they need to do to win the game.  Find out right here in my latest Steel Nation Radio podcast:

12/19/18-Steel Nation Radio Patriots Wrap Up and Saints Preview

December 19, 2018 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

I wrap up the miracle win against the Patriots and preview the Saints game as well as talk about the Steelers six pro bowl players and the obvious snub of two of their guys. Listen to it all right here on this weeks’ episode of Steel Nation Radio!

12/11/18-STEEL NATION RADIO – Raiders Wrap Up and Patriots Preview

December 11, 2018 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

I recap the debacle in Oakland and preview the stretch ahead, including the game vs. New England this weekend. I also go OFF on Chris Boswell and Keith Butler, among other things.  It’s worth the listen.

12/4/18-STEEL NATION RADIO Chargers Wrap Up and Raiders Preview

December 4, 2018 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

I recap the devastating loss to the Chargers, preview the Raiders game and destroy the refs in this latest edition of Steel Nation Radio.  

11/27/18-STEEL NATION RADIO Broncos Wrap Up and Chargers Preview

November 27, 2018 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

I recap the loss at Denver and discuss the upcoming game against the Chargers.  It’s going to be a tight stretch with games remaining against the Chargers, Patriots and Saints still to be played.

11/13/18-PODCAST – Steel Nation Radio Panther Wrap Up and Jags Preview

November 13, 2018 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

I recap the great win over the Panthers, preview the match up with Jacksonville this week and torch Le’Veon Bell.  It’s worth the listen, right here:

11/13/18-The Defense Makes This Team A Contender

November 13, 2018 by  
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By: Mike Pelaia

As the Steelers ride a five game win streak and sit atop the AFC North, with a healthy lead, it’s easy to talk about their prolific offense. It’s easy to discuss the amazing numbers Ben Roethlisberger is putting up and the tremendous breakout season of James Conner

You’d be crazy if you didn’t mention JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown or Vance McDonald. And how could you forget the offensive line?  They may be the best in the business.

Yet, the one side that gets bashed quite a bit, including by me, may be the unit that actually solidifies this Pittsburgh Steelers team as a legitimate contender, the defense. 

Over this current five game win streak, the defense has elevated its’ play.  And while I’m still not convinced the secondary is very good, I’m convinced the front seven can mask that.  This defense has finally begun to get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. They find themselves tied atop the NFL lead with 31 sacks.  TJ Watt leads the way with an impressive eight.  Cam Heyward has come on lately and is now up to 4.5 sacks and the guy I’m probably most impressed with this season is Bud Dupree who’s garnered 4.5 sacks to go along with 26 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery and a touchdown scored.  Dupree is an important piece of this linebacking corps that this team desperately needed. It’s now up to him to continue to play this well.

 If Stephon Tuitt could step up a little more and add to his three sacks and Jon Bostic and Vince Williams continue to lead the way up the middle, they are numbers one and two on the team in tackles, then this front seven will continue to thrive.

When the front seven thrives, the secondary, who is the weakest link on the team, gets bailed out. The pass defense ranks 5th in the league overall, and trust me, it’s not due to the guys in the secondary.

 I think Joe Haden is very solid but the rest of the group is average at best. Nobody on the team has more than one interception at this point in the season. 

In fact, gaining turnovers is the next step in this teams’ development.  They have eleven total, which is good for 19th in the league. If they want to get off the field faster and really help their secondary out, they need to force fumbles, pick the ball off more consistently and get in the positive, in terms of takeaways vs. turnovers. 

Despite the lack of turnovers, I trust this unit right now. They have begun to click, hit their stride and perform. 

They’ll need to continue that this coming Sunday in Jacksonville. The black and gold do have the number five ranked rush defense in the league and with Leonard Fournette back from injury, the Steelers will be tested. Fournette destroyed this Steelers last season, but that won’t happen again.  The defense is different this go round.

So are the Jaguars. They were a flash in the pan last year. A mirage.  Led by the biggest mirage of them all, Blake Bortles. Bortles is a turnover machine, and it’s prime time for the Steelers to get a few this week, which they will. They’ll pick Borltes off twice and get him to fumble another time. 

In fact, the Steelers will make Bortles look so bad that the Landry Jones era may begin for Jacksonville.

I look for the Steelers to roll in Jacksonville on Sunday night, 33-13, led by what is both a powerful offense and a now stellar defense.

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