SCOUTING REPORT
The Steelers return to prime time when they face the Indianapolis Colts on “Monday Night Football” at Lucas Oil Stadium. After watching our Acrisure Fan Advantage video earlier last week, here’s the rest of what you need to know before the Week 12 matchup: ☛ When the Steelers have the ball
The Colts have plenty of playmakers on all three levels of their defense. DeForest Buckner, Yannick Ngakoue and even a less-heralded lineman in Grover Stewart all have been dominant at times up front. As a linebacker, Bobby Okereke has made critical coverage stops on tight ends and could be charged with taking away Pat Freiermuth. Stephon Gilmore, the 2019 defensive player of the year, continues to play at a high level at cornerback, while Kenny Moore is considered one of the best slot corners in the league. Rodney McLeod and Julian Blackmon form the primary safety pairing, but Central Catholic High School product Rodney Thomas sees some snaps.
☛ When the Colts have the ball
It all starts with home run-hitting running back Jonathan Taylor, arguably the NFL’s best combination of power and pure speed at the position. But outside receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce are jumpball specialists, which could spell disaster for the Steelers the way their defensive backs have played at times this season. Mo Alie-Cox is a big-bodied tight end who played basketball at VCU, but even with an experienced offensive line leading the way, quarterback play — Matt Ryan or otherwise — has held back this offense far too often.
☛ Matchup to watch Steelers RB Najee Harris vs. Colts LB Zaire Franklin
One of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL resides in Indianapolis. But with Shaq Leonard — formerly know as Darius Leonard — out for the season after playing in just three games, it’s his position mate who has made his presence felt.
Zaire Franklin was a seventhround pick in 2018 out of Syracuse, but the fifth-year linebacker leads all players with 109 tackles. The 6-foot, 235-pound Franklin isn’t particularly big or fast, but he has eight tackles for loss, four quarterback hits, three pass breakups and one forced fumble in his breakout campaign.
“Obviously, [Leonard] is hurt, but they’ve got two other guys who are pretty good,” Harris said.
And he knew that Franklin — “No. 44,” as Harris referred to him — has brought down the ball-carrier more than anyone else in the NFL so far.
“One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity,” Harris said. “After their guy went down, they’ve just been playing good. Take your hat off to them. He’s also good in blitzing, too, and can take on protection and be physical.”
Where Franklin isn’t as strong is when he’s needed in coverage. In a 17-16 loss to the Eagles last week, he was called for a key pass interference penalty on Philadelphia running back Miles Sanders.
That could be a matchup the Steelers try to exploit with Harris, although he missed a chance to snag a pass downfield last Sunday. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada got him matched up and running a route against Bengals pass rusher
Trey Hendrickson, but Harris allowed Hendrickson to break it up on 3rdand-7.
“They went to Cover-0, had a play to Najee [on] the defensive end, and it didn’t work out,” Canada said Thursday. “That’s four points we’ve got to get. We’ve got to get that.”
Perhaps this week they will. They may need to, given that the Colts are allowing just 3.8 yards per carry. The only team better is San Francisco.
A dominant front four often doesn’t let the running back get to the second level, and when he does, Franklin or Bobby Okereke is there to wrap him up.
“Their defense is really solid. They don’t do a whole lot, but they know who they are, they know what they’re gonna do, and it’s gonna come down to execution,” center Mason Cole said. “You know where they’re going to be, they know where you’re gonna be, so it’s just who can have the better blocks? Who can make a guy miss? It’s an execution game for us.”