TITANS vs STEELERS Game Preview....NFL WEEK 5....Can the STEELERS stop TITANS RB CJ28?.....Can STEELERS RB Mendenhall get it going?

The TENNESSEE TITANS pay a visit to HEINZ Field and they are no longer a One Trick PONY. The TITANS made an Off-Season move with hardly any fan fare to acquire QB Matt HASSELBACK from the SEAHAWKS and it has paid HUGE DIVIDENDS.

HASSEL BACK will bring an OFFENSE into HEINZ Field that is more dangerous PASSING than running why........TITANS RB Chris JOHNSON long holdout has carried into the season and he has become very ineffective in the 1st 4 Weeks of the season. And to compound matters the TITANS lose their Pro-Bowl Cailber WR in KENNY BRITT of that STATE UNIVERSITY of NJ in PISCATAWAY.

The STEELERS have their own set of problems as they will go by the old ADDAGE......don't worry about someone else's house until you clean yours up.

Look at this Laundry List of Problems for the STEELERS:

1. Banged up and ineffective Offensive Line

2. Front 7 on defense having trouble STOPPING the RUN

3. No RUN GAME as RB MENDENHALL has been less than average

4. BIG BEN has been SACKED, HURRIED, and Knock downed nearly on every snap

5. The TELLING STAT.....-10 in Turnover RATIO......ranked 31st...that will get you 8-8 or worse

The STEELERS have quality DEPTH but one has to figure.....if DE Ziggy HOOD and Cameron HEYWARD were better than the Veterans they would be playing a lot more....right. At inside Linebacker Stevenson SYLVESTER is knocking on the DOOR but POTSIE FARRIOR and DETRIOT'S Larry FOOTE are ahead of him. THe STEELERS need to find the PROBLEM and quick because CJ28 has seen the tape and probably said, " No BETTER TIME to EAT than NOW".

STEELERS WR Hines WARD was reportedly quoted earlier in the week as saying, " The DEFENSE has held us up sol long I think it;s time for the OFFENSE to carry them now".

I could agree with HINES more but it has to start up front and if we can start to run the ball effectively the PASSING GAME will open up. The TITANS have a Stellar Secondary led by Safety Michael GRIFFIN of Hookem' HORNS Fame and Samford's Feisty Cortland FINNEGAN. So if the STEELERS WRs are to get busy this week they will have their hands full.

The SKINNY: If the STEELERS can limit CJ28 and force the TITANS to pass TITANS QB Matt HASSELBACK will DINK and DUNK down the field but that will get him 3s at best. The STEELERS must keep them in 3rd and long to have a chance of slowing down the PASS First TITANS.

On the other hand the STEELERS have to find a RUN GAME and keep BIG BEN Upright. The TITANS come in as one of the BETTER All-Around Defenses in the LEAGUE and they are flying around as thought Former TITANS Defensive Coordinator turned LIONS Head Man Jim SCHWARTZ is till calling the Defense.

INJURY REPORT:

TITANS - TE Craig STEVENS OUT FB Amard HALL OUT WR Kenny BRITT IR S Chris HOPE OUT

STEELERS - OLB James HARRISON OUT DE Aaron SMITH OUT RB Rashard MENDENHALL Game-Time Decsision

With the STEELERS Banged up at key positions they did re-sign LT Max STARKS for the remainder of the SEASON. The TITANS not as banged up but S HOPE and FB HALL are key guys in their Defensive and Offensive Schemes.

KEY PLAYERS

TITANS

QB Matt HASSELBACK
RB Chris JOHNSON
WR Nate WASHINGTON
S Michael GRIFFIN
CB Cortland FINNEGAN
MLB Barrett RUUD
DE Jason JONES

PLAYER to WATCH: WR and former Arkansas Transfer and Men of TROY Standout Damien WILLIAMS

STEELERS

QB BIG Ben ROETHLISBERGER
WR Mike WALLACE
TE Heath MILLER
RB Rashard MENDENHALL
C Marquise POUNCEY
OLB Lamaar WOODLEY
ILB Lawrence TIMMONS
CB Ike TAYLOR
S Troy POLALMALU

PLAYERS to WATCH: NT Chris HOKE and DEs Ziggy HOOD and Cameron HEYWARD

Follow the BLUEDUDE on twitter @bluedudesports and on facebook at Anthony aj HARRIS...GO STEELERS...this one is a PIVOTAL GAME to tell us what direction we are heading.....it's the all important 2nd Quarter of the SEASON