Preseason Week 2: Steelers (1-1) @ Redskins (1-0)

Posted by Matt Loede on August 16th, 2007 filed in News

From Redskins.com

Washington hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, Aug. 18, at FedExField in the preseason home opener for the Redskins. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

It’s the first time the Redskins and Steelers will have played in the preseason since 2005.

The Redskins-Steelers game will be broadcast locally on WUSA-TV 9 and Comcast SportsNet. Mike Patrick handles play-by-play with color commentary from Joe Theismann.

On radio, the game will be broadcast on Triple X ESPN Radio (94.3, 92.7 FM and 730 AM) and WBIG 100.3. Larry Michael handles the play-by-play with color commentary from Redskins legends and NFL Hall of Famers quarterback Sonny Jurgensen and linebacker Sam Huff. Bram Weinstein serves as sideline reporter.

The Redskins are coming off a 14-6 victory over the Tennessee Titans in the preseason opener for both clubs. The win was the first in a preseason contest for the Redskins since they defeated Pittsburgh on Aug. 26, 2005.

The Steelers have played two preseason games already this year. In the annual Hall of Fame game on Aug. 5, Pittsburgh defeated the New Orleans Saints 20-7. Last Saturday, the Steelers lost their preseason home opener to Green Bay by a 13-9 score.

– SERIES HISTORY

The Redskins and Steelers have met a total of 75 times in the regular season, with Washington holding a 42-30-3 edge in the series.

The last time the two clubs met was in November 2004, when the Steelers defeated the Redskins 16-7 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers used three field goals by Jeff Reed, nifty running by Antwaan Randle El on punt returns and a 100-yard effort by Jerome Bettis to secure the win.

In preseason, the two clubs have met 17 times, with the Redskins holding a 12-4-1 lead.

The Redskins and Steelers last faced off in the preseason in Aug. 26, 2005, with Washington pulling out a 17-10 victory at FedExField.

– TALE OF THE TAPE: REDSKINS-STEELERS

REDSKINS 2006 STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Offense	Rank	Yards/Game
Total Offense	13	327.7
Rushing Offense	4	138.5
Passing Offense	21	189.2
Defense	Rank	Yards/Game
Total Defense	31	355.5
Rushing Defense	29	137.3
Passing Defense	23	218.2

STEELERS 2006 STATISTICAL RANKINGS

Offense	Rank	Yards/Game
Total Offense	7	357.8
Rushing Offense	10	124.5
Passing Offense	9	233.3
Defense	Rank	Yards/Game
Total Defense	9	300.3
Rushing Defense	3	88.3
Passing Defense	20	212.1

– REDSKINS-STEELERS: NEWS & NOTES

• Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin began his coaching career in 1995 at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. He entered the NFL as a defensive backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001.Last year, Tomlin was named defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. He coached current Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot.As a player, Tomlin was a three-year starter at William & Mary froom 1990-94 and he finished his career with 100 receptions for 2,046 yards and a school-record 20 TD catches.

  Tomlin was born in Hampton, Va. He attended Denbigh High School in Newport News, Va.

• Derrick Frost was a standout on special teams in the Redskins’ preseason opener. Frost punted eight times for a 47.3-yard average, pinning the Titans inside their 20-yard line four times.
• With the departure of offensive lineman Will Whitticker, who was released last week, the heaviest Redskin is now defensive tackle Joe Salave’a. He comes in at 337 pounds.The lightest Redskin? Wide receiver Carl Berman, who is 171 pounds.
• Redskins rookie linebacker H.B. Blades spent the last four years playing for the University of Pittsburgh.
• The Redskins are 104-123-02 all-time in preseason play. Last year, Washington was 0-4 in the preseason.

– FAMILIAR FACES ON THE STEELERS

• Safety Ryan Clark played for the Redskins from 2004-05 and established himself as a starting-caliber safety in Gregg Williams’ defense.
• Steelers assistant defensive backs coach Ray Horton began his NFL coaching career as an assistant defensive backs coach with the Redskins (1994-96).