EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants are some guessing games to some extent before their first season game at MetLife Stadium on Monday night.
While the Steelers have a very good defense, the Giants aren’t sure what to expect with veteran Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s return after missing last season’s maximum with a serious elbow injury.
Can Big Ben keep going deep or launch the trend with a zipper? We will see this season dwarfed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are even darker in New York. They will face off against Giants head coach Joe Judge, 38, who has put up a new attack and a new defense in hopes of ending frustrating years of soccer for a once proud organization.
None of the teams have played in recent years. Steelers (8-8) have missed the playoffs for the past two years. The Giants (4-12) have done so once (2016) in the last 8 seasons, winning 12 games in the last Three.
“At the beginning of the season, it’s about what you do and the quality you do it with,” Tomlin said. “It’s not necessarily the way you play or the trend they use or the plans they develop. Part of winning at the start of the season is simply being a hard team to beat and not fight.
The opinion on talking to the Giants about the same things. Don’t fight. No penalties. Without rotation Do your job.
“I think the strength of our team right now is that we have a team, and that’s something to be proud of,” Judge said. “There are many skillfully skilled groups that extend in other directions. I like it when I see our boys and I see each and every one moving in the same direction. There will be a lot of things we want to improve this year, but right now I’m proud of the way our boys come. to paint each and every day. “
Some things to see in time:
GIANT O-LINE VS. SEVEN STEEL FRONTS
This is where the game will probably be decided. The Giants, who saw Nate Solder retire, have 3 new players on the O line: the first-round pick Andrew Thomas, the Nick Gates middle and Cam Fleming’s right. If the line can take over Pittsburgh’s first seven, Quarterback Daniel Jones and Middle Saquon Barkley have a chance to do some damage.
Steelers led the NFL with 54 catches, 18 loose ball recoveries and 38 recoveries last season, completing fifth place defensively.
BIG GOALS
The Steelers spent the off-season to improve their offensive skills in the hope of giving Roethlisberger more features in the red zone. This included the signing of 6-foot-4-inch closed-wing Eric Ebron and receiver Chase Claypool’s 6-4 draft in the round at the moment. .
The rest will pass to Big Ben.
“There’s going to be rust,” the 38-year-old said. “There is no doubt about that, but I hope we can eliminate it as soon as possible. I think that’s what makes it fun. If it wasn’t. “I’m nervous and I didn’t have that anxiety, I don’t think you should be there. There’s no love for the game if you don’t have it. “
SAQUON AND DANIEL
Barkley wants to add numbers as his rookie season in 2018, when he ran for 1,307 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, 11 on the ground. The No. 2 overall team slowed through a sprained ankle last season, gaining 1,003 yards and scoring six touchdowns, 4 on the ground.
Despite the franchise’s record of 24 rookie touchdowns last season, Jones has to reduce his sales volume. He’s got 23 ball losses, 11 loose balls lost.
THE GOOD
The Steelers overs got over their offensive line after left guard Ramon Foster’s retirement. Matt Feiler switched from right shot to left guard, Zach Banner beat Chuks Okorafor to take Feiler’s previous position.
Banner, who covered himself as last season’s third eligible shot, lost more than 30 pounds in an effort to compete with outdoor All-Pro supporter T. J. Watt (14 1/2 bags) in practice.
DEFENDING THE GIANTS
New York has made one of the NFL’s worst defenses under the leadership of new coordinator Pat Graham.
Internal supporter Blake Martinez, cornerman James Bradberry and flexible defensive back Logan Ryan were hired as loose agents. External supporter Markus Golden (10 catches) and defensive lineman Leonard Williams have been re-attracted, while foreign supporter Lorenzo Carter seems ready for the match. the next stage of his third season.
The main question mark is the corner in front of Bradberry. DeAndre Baker, a 2019 first-round recruit who started last year, ruled Tuesday after a low-season arrest for armed robbery. Sam Beal retired for fitness reasons. That leaves Corey Ballentine, Issac Yiadom, Julian Love and Brandon Williams for compatibility.
___
AP editor Will Graves of Pittsburgh contributed to the report.
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews. com/NFL and https://twitter. com/AP_NFL