JerseySTEEL
01-16-2009, 05:18 PM
They are more alike than different, maybe more similar than either team would care to admit.
The two best defenses featuring the two best sets of linebackers in the NFL will resume arguably the league's saltiest rivalry in Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field.
Only 23.9 yards separated the Steelers' top-ranked defense (237.2 yards per game) from the No. 2-ranked Ravens (261.1). The Steelers allowed 22.8 fewer yards than the Ravens in pass defense to finish No. 1 in that category. The Steelers (80.2) and Ravens (81.4) ranked second and third in run defense.
"I respect their defense," said Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. "We (are) similar. If you watch them play, and you watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play, I feel that's how teams across the league should play defense.''
Both defenses are strong up front and in the secondary with matching Pro Bowl safeties, Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed. But they're led by a host of Pro Bowl linebackers - NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and James Farrior for the Steelers, and Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott, a second Pro Bowl alternate, for Baltimore.
"We have the No. 1 and No. 2 defenses, and that comes with a certain mentality," said Lewis, who led Baltimore with 160 tackles. "The rivalry kind of heats up from there. They have a lot of the same type of personalities we have. You have ultimate competitors on both teams.''
Veteran inside linebackers Farrior and Lewis are the leaders on defense. Both excel in their ability to make plays and direct their teammates on the field.
"We've got mirror teams,'' said Farrior, who led the Steelers with 146 tackles. "Both teams have the same formula. That's control the ball, manage the clock and play great defense. That's what both teams are going to try to do this weekend. Whoever does that the best is going to win the game.''
When asked to describe the best feature of his defense, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin praised his unit's ability to perform at a high level over the entire season.
"I'd probably say the level of consistency,'' Tomlin said. "It's not necessarily your ceiling that defines you as a player, as a unit, as a football team. It's your floor. What I mean by that is we're very consistent week in and week out with how we play, very little ups and downs. We've had a few great games, but for the most part, we're solid every week. To me, that's as important as what you're capable of doing.''
Baltimore's specialty on defense is scoring touchdowns. The Ravens scored six defensive touchdowns in the regular season. Dating to 1996, the Ravens have scored 40 defensive touchdowns.
"We really work on that in practice,'' Lewis said. "We work on pitching the ball, we work on setting the wall for each other. We don't take that lightly. We like getting into the end zone.''
The two best defenses featuring the two best sets of linebackers in the NFL will resume arguably the league's saltiest rivalry in Sunday's AFC Championship Game at Heinz Field.
Only 23.9 yards separated the Steelers' top-ranked defense (237.2 yards per game) from the No. 2-ranked Ravens (261.1). The Steelers allowed 22.8 fewer yards than the Ravens in pass defense to finish No. 1 in that category. The Steelers (80.2) and Ravens (81.4) ranked second and third in run defense.
"I respect their defense," said Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. "We (are) similar. If you watch them play, and you watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play, I feel that's how teams across the league should play defense.''
Both defenses are strong up front and in the secondary with matching Pro Bowl safeties, Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed. But they're led by a host of Pro Bowl linebackers - NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison and James Farrior for the Steelers, and Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Bart Scott, a second Pro Bowl alternate, for Baltimore.
"We have the No. 1 and No. 2 defenses, and that comes with a certain mentality," said Lewis, who led Baltimore with 160 tackles. "The rivalry kind of heats up from there. They have a lot of the same type of personalities we have. You have ultimate competitors on both teams.''
Veteran inside linebackers Farrior and Lewis are the leaders on defense. Both excel in their ability to make plays and direct their teammates on the field.
"We've got mirror teams,'' said Farrior, who led the Steelers with 146 tackles. "Both teams have the same formula. That's control the ball, manage the clock and play great defense. That's what both teams are going to try to do this weekend. Whoever does that the best is going to win the game.''
When asked to describe the best feature of his defense, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin praised his unit's ability to perform at a high level over the entire season.
"I'd probably say the level of consistency,'' Tomlin said. "It's not necessarily your ceiling that defines you as a player, as a unit, as a football team. It's your floor. What I mean by that is we're very consistent week in and week out with how we play, very little ups and downs. We've had a few great games, but for the most part, we're solid every week. To me, that's as important as what you're capable of doing.''
Baltimore's specialty on defense is scoring touchdowns. The Ravens scored six defensive touchdowns in the regular season. Dating to 1996, the Ravens have scored 40 defensive touchdowns.
"We really work on that in practice,'' Lewis said. "We work on pitching the ball, we work on setting the wall for each other. We don't take that lightly. We like getting into the end zone.''