Steelers should be wary of Jaguars

By Guy Junker | Monday, Sept. 18, 2006

It's strange that the Steelers officially opened the NFL regular season, and now, almost the entire league has played twice since then.

Early scheduling quirk aside, tonight's jaunt to Jacksonville could go a long way toward telling us about the defending Super Bowl champions.

Last year, the Steelers opened against creampuffs Tennessee and Houston. It was a nice 2-0 start, but it still left us wondering what we were looking at.

They played these same Jaguars at Heinz Field in Week 5 and lost in overtime. But, for some reason, the Jaguars seem to garner little respect. They were 12-4 last year -- a better record than the Steelers -- and they are 6-3 against the Steelers in games played in Jacksonville.

It's where quarterback Jim Miller started the season, was taken out and never played again the rest of the season. It's where Bill Cowher nearly tried to hit Chris Hudson when he returned a blocked, potential game-winning Steelers field goal for a game-clinching touchdown for the Jags. It's where Plaxico Burress spiked a live ball.

Whatever happens tonight, expect it to be weird. And expect it to be a tough game.

Unlike last year, the Steelers schedule is rugged. They won't play a team that had a losing record last season until they visit the Raiders two days before Halloween.

• West Virginia running back Steve Slaton deserves mention as a Heisman hopeful.

He may only be a sophomore, but that shouldn't matter.

When the Mountaineers schedule toughens up later in the year, perhaps his numbers will go down, and he will fall out of contention. But he's as outstanding a college football player as their is in the country.

• It's understandable if you are skeptical or even apathetic about the Pirates. I myself was very critical of them in this very space just a week ago.

But that was about the past. They may be as close to turning things around as they have been in 14 years.

• Those critical of Michele Wie's appearance at the 84 Lumber Classic need to consider the crowds that followed her around for two days before she missed the cut.

Even if her exemption cost some no-name a chance to play in the tournament, who cares• Wie did more to sell tickets and drum up interest than anyone.

Additional Information: