The Miami Dolphins are in a tough spot at 1-4 and hosting a hot Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) team that many consider one of the NFL’s best. Pittsburgh will be a heavy favorite in this game, which is the second of four straight at home for Miami at Hard Rock Stadium.
Here are six Steelers players to watch, courtesy of ESPN Steelers reporter Jeremy Fowler:
OFFENSE
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger: With 15 touchdown passes and a 4-1 record, 'Big Ben' is playing at an MVP level. Roethlisberger is coming off back-to-back games of at least four touchdowns, and he’ll be hungry to perform on the road after a brutal 3-point outing in Philadelphia in Week 3. Roethlisberger is avoiding the interceptions that sometimes plagued him in 2015.
Wide receiver Sammie Coates: He’s clearly the team’s best fantasy option not named Antonio Brown or Le'Veon Bell. Coates has five straight games with at least one catch of 40-plus yards. Brown will get his yards, but with a safety shading him on almost every play and slot receiver Eli Rogers still out, Big Ben is using Coates deep downfield to try to loosen defensive coverages. Coates is high risk because of his occasional drops, but very high reward because of the big-play ability.
Center Maurkice Pouncey: Pouncey isn’t used to facing off against his twin brother, Dolphins center Mike Pouncey, at any level of football. The two were teammates in high school and college, and Pouncey was hurt during the Dolphins-Steelers matchup in 2013. Pouncey is the emotional leader of the offense, and his line has helped keep Roethlisberger clean. In the past two seasons, Roethlisberger is averaging less than two sacks per game. With Miami’s defense allowing the most rushing yards and rushing attempts, the Steelers' offensive line will be eager to run the ball.
DEFENSE
DE Stephon Tuitt: With defensive end Cam Heyward likely out for this matchup, the onus is on Tuitt to create havoc up front. Tuitt has 14 tackles and two forced fumbles, and is looking for his first sack of the season. The Steelers like to use Tuitt and Heyward up front in their nickel defense, so how they utilize Tuitt in this package while Heyward is out will be something to watch.
S Mike Mitchell: The Steelers have allowed 16 points or less in four victories, and Mitchell, a lead communicator in the defensive backfield, is a big part of that. If Miami QB Ryan Tannehill can’t stretch the defense with the deep ball, the Steelers will be all in on stopping the screen game and the intermediate stuff. Mitchell typically helps lead the charge in that area.
LB Vince Williams: He’s exploded the past two weeks with 25 tackles and two sacks while replacing the injured Ryan Shazier. Despite serving as a backup for his first three seasons, the Steelers re-upped his contract by two years this preseason because they saw a starter’s potential. He’s proving them right.
