Matching Up with the Steelers
1. Bucs tight end O.J. Howard versus Steelers safety Sean Davis. It's clear that Howard, the 19th-overall pick in the 2017 draft, is coming into his own as a big-play maker. His 75-yard catch-and-run against the Eagles is Exhibit A, but Ryan Fitzpatrick has already found his tight end down the field on multiple occasions through two games. Howard is averaging 30 yards a catch and he's finding room to run because defenses have to worry so much about Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson.
The Eagles have three talented safeties, including Davis, whom they drafted in the second round in 2016. Davis and former Packer Morgan Burnett are listed as the starters but the Steelers also like to get 2018 first-round pick Terrell Edmunds on the field. They do so by utilizing nickel and dime packages where they keep the two starting safeties on the field and add a third in Edmunds. This gives them more flexibility in terms of covering tight ends, in particular. Davis is big, fast, aggressive and a good leaper, which makes him a good match for any tight end, though Kansas City's Travis Kelce did manage to have a big day against the Steelers last Sunday.
2. Steelers LB T.J. Watt versus Buccaneers RT Demar Dotson. The Steelers have an incredible knack for finding pass-rushing linebackers to employ in their classic 3-4 front, and their latest uncovered gem is T.J. Watt, the younger brother of Houston's J.J. Watt. Pittsburgh's Watt brother opened the season with a three-sack game against the Cleveland Browns and Tyrod Taylor.
Watt generally rushes standing up on the left side of the Steelers' front. That puts him in conflict with the right side of the opposing offensive line. If the right side is the strong side in the offensive formation, Watt often does battle with a tight end; however, when the tight end is on the other side he usually becomes the responsibility of the right tackle. Some of the NFL's right tackles don't have quick enough feet to keep Watt at bay all day.
Tampa Bay's offensive line is off to a great start in 2018, allowing just two sacks of Fitzpatrick through the first two games and generally giving the Bucs' viral star time to spin his Fitzmagic. Beyond those two sacks, Fitzpatrick hasn't absorbed too many hits. Taking his usual spot at right tackle, Dotson has been a big part of that strong protection. The Buccaneers haven't allowed a sack to a player coming around either edge yet; Eagles DT Fletcher Cox got one going straight up the middle on Sunday, and the other one was a scramble play where Fitzpatrick was caught from behind by a linebacker.
3. Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster versus Buccaneers CB Carlton Davis. You don't need me to tell you that Antonio Brown is one of the most dangerous weapons in all the NFL. Keeping him contained will certainly be a tall task on Monday night. But the Steelers have cultivated another big-play threat in Smith-Schuster, the second-year player out of USC.
Smith-Schuster is a significantly bigger body than Brown at 6-1 and 215 pounds. He leads the Steelers with his 240 yards, getting 80 more than Brown so far on the exact same number of catches. Smith-Schuster also has the team's longest play from scrimmage, a 67-yard reception.
The Buccaneers drafted Davis in part because they liked his size and physical style of play. They believed he could develop into a cornerback who can match up against the league's bigger receivers and, if necessary, jam them up at the line. Davis has had to develop a bit more quickly than expected, however, because the team is currently without its two starting cornerbacks. Vernon Hargreaves was lost to injured reserve in Week One and Brent Grimes hasn't played yet due to a groin injury.
As noted above, the Buccaneers' pass defense has given up quite a large number of yards. That said, Davis made a couple of standout plays against the Eagles and was credited with one pass break-up. He'll get another strong test on Monday with Smith-Schuster.
https://www.buccaneers.com/news/ss-mailbag-matching-up-with-the-steelers