Can you talk about your match-up with *Pittsburgh? *
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It is going to be a great situation with a great atmosphere on Monday night coming down the stretch playing against the Steelers, with everything that they bring to the table and all the experience they have in these types of games. We should have a great atmosphere here and just playing the Steelers, it is going to be that much more special for me. I think our players are really going to enjoy the idea of playing against a team that has been there so many times and knows what it takes to really perform in these kinds of situations.
Tom Moore's offense was too stodgy back here, it was too simple.
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Well, we are still simple.
It seems to be working out for you.
I don't know if I would call it stodgy, but it is simple. We have Pittsburgh roots, Tom and I both. Just do what you do and try to do it very well. We have some guys that have been in the system quite a while now and they are executing and doing it really well. We have a lot of good players and it makes you look good as a coach when they are playing like that.
Would you call Tom stodgy and how has he last so long?
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Tom is a guy that very much believes in his convictions and his ability to stick to his convictions over the years, but he has a great capacity to tailor what he wants to do to the talent of the guys that he has. I think he does a great job of getting the most out of everybody that plays for him. That is why he has been able to coach so well for so long.
Where do you find all these guys?
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We have a lot of good players. These guys practice hard. That is the thing about our offensive system, depending on how teams play us, the week can be special for anyone of a number of guys. Early in the year it was Edgerrin [James] because people were double-covering our wide receivers. Reggie Wayne has had some big days. We have tight ends that can get deep and catch the ball. Dominic Rhodes is a great player. He really hasn't gotten much playing time because Edgerrin has been so healthy and so productive. Every guy that we have on offense pretty much knows that if the defense plays a certain way, he can have a big day.
What have you seen on film of Ben Roethlisberger?
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He's a tremendous player. To me, the thing that he does is give the team confidence. When they get in close games they just feel like he's going to make the plays to turn it around. His ability to avoid the rush, make good throws under pressure and on the move and his decision making have really been critical for him. When they've gotten in tight spots he's made a lot of big plays for them.
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Can you attack Roethlisberger like Baltimoredid or will he avoid that?
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We have to do what we do. The Ravens are a blitzing unit, a high pressure, high risk defense. We're not exactly that way but hopefully we can get the same type o
