Steelers vs. 49ers: NFL Week 3 Picks & Game Predictions

Until Pittsburgh lost Large Ben for the season these teams opened at PK.

Together with his backup Mason Rudolph as the newcomer and with San Francisco’s public perception , the Steelers are favored by as much as 7.5 points. I think this line movement is exaggerated, especially considering how the start to the year of lackluster Roethlisberger was.
For having Rudolph at dusk from a gift and potential standpoint, the Steelers are not at all radically hurt. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy won the 2017 award for best mature or fourth-year quarterback in college soccer. By moving services as the quarterback in the draft, considered, Pittsburgh believed in him sufficiently to exchange up in the third round for him.
After over a year of viewing Roethlisberger play, Rudolph saw his first season action last week against Seattle. He arrived and went 12-for-19 for 112 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception which was the fault of Donte Moncrief.
Rudolph revealed zip on his athleticism onto a first-down streak than observers expected in addition to his strengths of passing precision that was deep and pocket existence.
Evidently, the Steelers understand how to utilize Rudolph. They are calling for deep and longer play-action balls, allowing Rudolph to connect with the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster. JuJu is one of excels at producing separation from his defender, evidenced in his ranking 13th in average goal separation and the team’s most explosive receivers based on burst evaluation.
I anticipate James Washington for more playing time than Moncrief. Pittsburgh drafted Washington in the second round, 16 picks before Rudolph, who was his teammate for several years. At 2017, Washington clicked in preseason with Rudolph and also was honored as college football’s greatest receiver.
Receivers need more hours when conducting deeper routes. Rudolph gets got the patience in the pocket, but he needs time that is adequate.
Thus far, the pass rush of San Francisco contributes to its pass defense and boasts among the sack rates that are greater. Dee Ford has played a substantial individual function. But, he’s addressing knee tendinitis that leaves notably his fitness up in the atmosphere and his playing status.
More to the point, Pittsburgh’s offensive line represents a difficult evaluation for the 49ers‘ pass rush. The Steelers have the pass protection according to adjusted sack rate allowed and are comfy with the defensive strategy of San Francisco. They restricted Seahawk defensive ending Jadeveon Clowney’s impact, keeping him. Clowney, such as San Fran’s defensive ends, loves to line up in wide-9 technique.
Pass protection is vital for Sunday’s NFL Pick since the 49ers‘ secondary comprises essentially the same employees as last year, that ranked 27th in pass protection on DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), and promises to get exposed.
Depth in its pass defense was a famous question mark coming into the year and San Francisco did not actually do anything to address it. Warning signs in preseason revealed what type of difficulty the offense would encounter if protection became an problem.
And then it occurred: Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley, PFF’s 12th-highest-graded pass-blocker because 2006, suffered a broken leg.
In terms of adjusted sack rate, the 49ers encounter the eighth-best pass hurry without him. Pittsburgh’s leading seven contains Pro Bowler T.J. Watt, All-Pro Cameron Heyward, and Stephon Tuitt, PFF’s 21st-highest-graded defensive lineman this past year.
Whereas Rudolph is going to have enough time to go deep, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo won’t find it so easy to harness Pittsburgh’s expected primary weakness. The Steelers‘ pass policy for a whole must be given a boost with the addition of prior Dolphin first-rounder security Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Free Choice: Steelers +7.5 (-145) using 5Dimes

Lederhosen

Steelers vs. 49ers: NFL Week 3 Picks & Game Predictions