As the Pittsburgh Steelers look to bounce back from a disappointing playoff exit, head coach Mike Tomlin has been busy concocting a masterplan to take down their arch-rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.
According to sources close to the team, Tomlin’s strategy revolves around exploiting the Ravens’ weaknesses on defense, particularly in the secondary.
“The Ravens have a talented defense, but they can be vulnerable to big plays down the field,” said a Steelers insider. “Coach Tomlin wants to use our speed and athleticism at wide receiver to stretch their defense and create opportunities for big gains.”
To accomplish this, the Steelers are expected to rely heavily on their young receiving corps, led by George Pickens and Calvin Austin III. The team may also look to add more depth at the position through the draft or free agency.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers will focus on containing Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has historically given them fits.
“We need to find ways to keep Lamar in the pocket and limit his ability to make plays with his legs,” said the Steelers insider. “If we can do that, we think we can shut down their offense and come out on top.”
With these strategies in place, the Steelers are confident they can upset the Ravens next season and reclaim their spot atop the AFC North.
Will Mike Tomlin’s masterplan pay off? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: the Steelers-Ravens rivalry is about to get a whole lot more interesting.
