Head to Head: Steelers LT Jonathan Scott vs. Colts DE Dwight Freeney
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Steelers LT Jonathan Scott vs. Colts DE Dwight Freeney
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Listen to left tackle Jonathan Scott and see if he sounds like a man keenly aware of what he is up against tonight in Lucas Oil Stadium --trying to stop Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney.
"It can pose a problem," Scott said. "If you focus on just his spin move, you got to worry about his bull-rush. If you just worry about his bull-rush, you got to worry about his pressure. If you worry about his pressure, you got to worry about him collapsing the outside."
Now listen to Trai Essex, who faced the same task as Scott six years ago, back when the Colts played in the much-louder RCA Dome and he had to replace injured starter Marvel Smith after one series. Essex was a rookie, and the Steelers didn't have a silent count for their offensive linemen.
"He's a little faster on turf, especially that short turf they had back then," Essex said. "It's impossible to hear the cadence, especially going against fast defensive ends like he is, who key off the snap like he does at their place. Nah, that's impossible. He's a beast to deal with."
It was after that regular-season game in 2005 that the Steelers developed a silent count to deal with such crowd noise. Scott, a starter at left tackle since Week 12 last season, will rely on that and more when he faces Freeney, a six-time Pro Bowler who has more sacks (95), more forced fumbles (42) than any active player since '02.
The Colts built their small, fast defense around Freeney and left end Robert Mathis, their other sack machine. Mathis has 75 sacks, 32 forced fumbles since '02.
It will be the first time Scott has faced Freeney since an '07 preseason game in the RCA Dome when he was with the Detroit Lions.
"They're good pass-rushers," Scott said. "The positive thing is you have ends of that caliber on our team that you can practice against. It releases the anxiety for one of two things -- getting ready for the game and knowing what to expect."
The Steelers used outside linebacker Jason Worilds to simulate Freeney and rookie outside linebacker Chris Carter as Mathis in practice. But, no matter how hard they try, it's not close to replicating what Scott will face against the Colts.
But here is some good news: Without Peyton Manning, the Colts have fallen behind in both defeats, including 34-0 in the season opener in Houston, and that negates what Freeney and Mathis do best. They are most dangerous when opponents have to throw to catch up.
"It's one of the things you got to handle as part of being in the NFL," Scott said.
That might be easier said than done.
First Published September 25, 2011 12:00 am
