Chidi29
10-13-2011, 07:35 PM
Nice win to silent the critics in the media and from the fans. Always rise to the challenge when the chips are against us.
First Half
- Kickoff Times: 4.04 (-9, TB), 4.13 (-7), 4.15 (2), 4.01 (-10 TB), 4.00 (GL), 4.15 (-9, TB)
- Starting o-line: Starks, Legursky, Pouncey, Foster, Gilbert
- Looked like Mundy and Battle were at R1/L1. Saw Saunders at R2. Don't see many TEs on kick coverage but it shows how athletic he is.
- Tomlin very confused/upset by the false start/personal foul penalty early in the game. Refs didn't have any communication. Ref on the Steelers sideline blew the whistle, none of the other refs heard it.
- Chris Johnson with some nice runs early in the game. Wasn't sure what kind of day it'd be, but we responded well.
- Personally, Troy's tackle on the 3rd and goal screen to Johnson set the tone for the defense. If he doesn't make that tackle, he probably scores and we start off in a 7-0 hole giving the Titans a ton of momentum and confidence.
- Sanders originally replaced Redman as the upback on kick returns.. Probably so we could get the kick coverage to bite on the fake reverse. Dwyer came in later in the game.
- Great example of Ben being forced to read quick and read defenses because of the foot injury. Wants to hit a slant on a 3 step drop, sees the safety ready to jump it so Ben seamlessly moves to his second option David Johnson for a short gain.
http://i55.tinypic.com/11h6u11.png
- Think there's still some concern over Starks' pass protection and lateral movement. Had Legursky pull on an OLB blitz and Starks slide down. Uses a sharp angle to intercept the defender, something we normally due vs CB blitzes.
http://i53.tinypic.com/11ce9g8.png
- Little disappointed we had to use a timeout after momentum changing fake punt. But makes sense since the offense wasn't prepared to go back on the field.
- Ran a WR sweep we saw practiced in Week 3 of the preseason the play after the fake punt.
- Ben's playfake on the first Ward TD fooled me watching it live AND on the replay. Beautiful! Great series of playcalls that led to the TD.
- Did see McFadden on kick coverage. But he wasn't one of the top 3 CBs.
- Ike and Keenan Lewis jammers in the 2nd quarter.
- Picture of the blocking Dwyer got on his 76 yard run. All about the lineman, Dwyer didn't have to do anything but run through the hole. Gilbert seals down, Legursky pulls to kickout the LB, and Johnson has a nice block at the second level on the LB. You can see Heath with a good block too.
http://i52.tinypic.com/15mbqyo.png
- 325 Shaun Smith lands on Gilbert and puts all his weight on the rookie's left shoulder. That's what led to him sitting out the rest of the game and possibly this week. Replaced by Jonathan Scott.
- Pony FB dive to Redman near the goalline.
- Essex was in the backfield on Johnson's TD. In the past, I've seen Bronko kick back to FB and Essex replace him on the line.
- On the Steelers' sack late in the 2nd quarter where Hasselbeck basically gave himself up, we see Woodley put RG Jake Scott on his butt.
- Saw Legursky and Starks pick up a stunt like they've been playing with each other for 10 years. Happened late in the 2nd quarter. Love the communication.
- On the 2 minute drill that ended in Finnegan's interception, we see Ben get the ball out either hot or by the end of his drop on nearly every single play. Titans started to dial up blitzes and Ben knew he had to get the ball out. He should act like every dropback is in the 2 minute drill. Have that sense of urgency.
Second Half
- Brown waved off Dwyer on the opening kickoff, optiong to return it instead of taking a knee.
- Saw a lot more of Cotchery this week than last.
- Great show of discipline by Ben on a 3rd and 8. Sees the safety coming in free off the blitz and so he tries to get the ball out into the flats. The pass ended up being tipped by the safety but it shows that "live to fight another day, let the player make a play" mentality you sometimes need to have. Just like last year against the Ravens when he read hot to Redman.
- Lewis, Brown gunners in the 2nd half.
- Again, lined up Brown/Sanders across from each other on a PR. Probably an adjustment since teams are going to get worried about kicking to Brown. Have to love what Tomlin said about him in his press conference when asked about teams kicking away from him. "No, I don't think so....he hasn't even taken one to the house yet". Always motivating the guys.
- One of the many reasons you have to love Ward and even though he's slowed down, he shows what being a veteran brings to the table. Knows the nuances of route running. Case in point, he dips his upper body to the outside and shielfs contact away from the safety on a crossing route so his timing doesn't get thrown off. Makes the catch for a first down.
http://i52.tinypic.com/auh4ci.png
- Legursky moves to C, Essex to LG after Pouncey's injury.
- By the way, we dressed 8 OL for the first time in a long time. The starting five with J. Scott, Essex, and Meredith as backups.
- Draw by Dwyer with 5:30 left in the game. Love the blocking. Starks with a great punch on the DE; knocks him off his feet upfield. Can't do it any better than that. Essex, coming off cold off the bench mind you, gets to the second level and turns Will Witherspoon to the outside. Really impressive by a guy who usually struggles in space (or anywhere for that matter...). Only thing that probably prevented a TD was the backside DT got around Foster and tackled Dwyer from behind.
- Ben doing his thing again. Nods to Ward on his second TD. Motions him to a narrower split because of the FS blitz. If Ward stays outside, the safety is probably going to knock down any wider slant.
Picture of Ward leaping over Griffin. Look at the air Ward gets and the air Griffin grabs.
http://i56.tinypic.com/sls75l.png
- Heyward used at the nose in some subpackage situations.
- Keisel, like he did last year, getting his hands on a pass at the line and results in a Woodley interception.
- Late in the game when we went dime, Foote was the LB taken out. Had a group of Farrior, Timmons, and Carter.
- Looks like Clark is trying to jump Williams on the overthrow of wide open Nate Washington in the end zone. Sees all the WRs with an inside release and probably doesn't think Nate would run down the seam.
- Ziggy's pass rushing looked really good. Showed quick hands, good swim.
- Ran a lot of OLB/DE stunts late in the game when we were just bringing four.
- Heyward gets by Micheal Roos on Hasselbeck's intentional grounding.
- Damian Williams TD. Combination of Lewis caught looking in the backfield and Mundy biting on Hasselbeck's pump fake to the right off the snap. Can't get over in time.
- Starks' run blocking looked strong but I don't think his pass blocking was as good as it may have first appeared. He was getting a lot of help from Legursky all game long. But still, credit to Max for stepping up when we really needed him.
- Speaking of the line, I wish they could play that way every week. The rushing totals might not look like a lot when you take away Dwyer's run but they played great. They actually looked like a unit instead of five guys trying their best to not completely screw things up. Seemed like good communication (when picking up stunts, alerts at the line, etc) guys getting to the second level, turning their defender, all that good stuff. Don't underestimate the importance of communicating well. Honestly, that was the biggest problem with the line and the offense in general this season.
They've gotten a lot of flack this season and rightfully so but today, I tip my cap.
Sacks
- 2nd and 4, 13:25 left in the 2nd. 12 personnel. 4 man rush. Foster gets beat to the outside, the DT Casey gets around him. Looks like Foster came off the line stepping to his inside and wasn't able to push Casey upfield once he realized his man was going to the outside. Issue it seemed like was the fact Foster wasn't bringing his feet with him when he tried to push Casey. He lunged and wasn't able to generate much power.
Sack Counter (Game)
Ramon Foster: 1
Sack Counter (Season)
Ben Roethlisberger: 4
Jonathan Scott: 1.5
Wide receivers: 1.5
Ramon Foster: 1.5
Bruce Arians: 1
Good defensive scheme: 1
Marcus Gilbert: 1
Chris Kemoeatu: 1
Willie Colon: .5
Trai Essex: .5
Maurkice Pouncey: .5
Formations
FB: 21
Empty: 10
Pony: 1
Injuries
Redman left with leg cramps.
Pouncey had a bruised knee.
Gilbert with the aformentioned left shoulder. He's questionable this week. If I had to guess, he won't play.
First Half
- Kickoff Times: 4.04 (-9, TB), 4.13 (-7), 4.15 (2), 4.01 (-10 TB), 4.00 (GL), 4.15 (-9, TB)
- Starting o-line: Starks, Legursky, Pouncey, Foster, Gilbert
- Looked like Mundy and Battle were at R1/L1. Saw Saunders at R2. Don't see many TEs on kick coverage but it shows how athletic he is.
- Tomlin very confused/upset by the false start/personal foul penalty early in the game. Refs didn't have any communication. Ref on the Steelers sideline blew the whistle, none of the other refs heard it.
- Chris Johnson with some nice runs early in the game. Wasn't sure what kind of day it'd be, but we responded well.
- Personally, Troy's tackle on the 3rd and goal screen to Johnson set the tone for the defense. If he doesn't make that tackle, he probably scores and we start off in a 7-0 hole giving the Titans a ton of momentum and confidence.
- Sanders originally replaced Redman as the upback on kick returns.. Probably so we could get the kick coverage to bite on the fake reverse. Dwyer came in later in the game.
- Great example of Ben being forced to read quick and read defenses because of the foot injury. Wants to hit a slant on a 3 step drop, sees the safety ready to jump it so Ben seamlessly moves to his second option David Johnson for a short gain.
http://i55.tinypic.com/11h6u11.png
- Think there's still some concern over Starks' pass protection and lateral movement. Had Legursky pull on an OLB blitz and Starks slide down. Uses a sharp angle to intercept the defender, something we normally due vs CB blitzes.
http://i53.tinypic.com/11ce9g8.png
- Little disappointed we had to use a timeout after momentum changing fake punt. But makes sense since the offense wasn't prepared to go back on the field.
- Ran a WR sweep we saw practiced in Week 3 of the preseason the play after the fake punt.
- Ben's playfake on the first Ward TD fooled me watching it live AND on the replay. Beautiful! Great series of playcalls that led to the TD.
- Did see McFadden on kick coverage. But he wasn't one of the top 3 CBs.
- Ike and Keenan Lewis jammers in the 2nd quarter.
- Picture of the blocking Dwyer got on his 76 yard run. All about the lineman, Dwyer didn't have to do anything but run through the hole. Gilbert seals down, Legursky pulls to kickout the LB, and Johnson has a nice block at the second level on the LB. You can see Heath with a good block too.
http://i52.tinypic.com/15mbqyo.png
- 325 Shaun Smith lands on Gilbert and puts all his weight on the rookie's left shoulder. That's what led to him sitting out the rest of the game and possibly this week. Replaced by Jonathan Scott.
- Pony FB dive to Redman near the goalline.
- Essex was in the backfield on Johnson's TD. In the past, I've seen Bronko kick back to FB and Essex replace him on the line.
- On the Steelers' sack late in the 2nd quarter where Hasselbeck basically gave himself up, we see Woodley put RG Jake Scott on his butt.
- Saw Legursky and Starks pick up a stunt like they've been playing with each other for 10 years. Happened late in the 2nd quarter. Love the communication.
- On the 2 minute drill that ended in Finnegan's interception, we see Ben get the ball out either hot or by the end of his drop on nearly every single play. Titans started to dial up blitzes and Ben knew he had to get the ball out. He should act like every dropback is in the 2 minute drill. Have that sense of urgency.
Second Half
- Brown waved off Dwyer on the opening kickoff, optiong to return it instead of taking a knee.
- Saw a lot more of Cotchery this week than last.
- Great show of discipline by Ben on a 3rd and 8. Sees the safety coming in free off the blitz and so he tries to get the ball out into the flats. The pass ended up being tipped by the safety but it shows that "live to fight another day, let the player make a play" mentality you sometimes need to have. Just like last year against the Ravens when he read hot to Redman.
- Lewis, Brown gunners in the 2nd half.
- Again, lined up Brown/Sanders across from each other on a PR. Probably an adjustment since teams are going to get worried about kicking to Brown. Have to love what Tomlin said about him in his press conference when asked about teams kicking away from him. "No, I don't think so....he hasn't even taken one to the house yet". Always motivating the guys.
- One of the many reasons you have to love Ward and even though he's slowed down, he shows what being a veteran brings to the table. Knows the nuances of route running. Case in point, he dips his upper body to the outside and shielfs contact away from the safety on a crossing route so his timing doesn't get thrown off. Makes the catch for a first down.
http://i52.tinypic.com/auh4ci.png
- Legursky moves to C, Essex to LG after Pouncey's injury.
- By the way, we dressed 8 OL for the first time in a long time. The starting five with J. Scott, Essex, and Meredith as backups.
- Draw by Dwyer with 5:30 left in the game. Love the blocking. Starks with a great punch on the DE; knocks him off his feet upfield. Can't do it any better than that. Essex, coming off cold off the bench mind you, gets to the second level and turns Will Witherspoon to the outside. Really impressive by a guy who usually struggles in space (or anywhere for that matter...). Only thing that probably prevented a TD was the backside DT got around Foster and tackled Dwyer from behind.
- Ben doing his thing again. Nods to Ward on his second TD. Motions him to a narrower split because of the FS blitz. If Ward stays outside, the safety is probably going to knock down any wider slant.
Picture of Ward leaping over Griffin. Look at the air Ward gets and the air Griffin grabs.
http://i56.tinypic.com/sls75l.png
- Heyward used at the nose in some subpackage situations.
- Keisel, like he did last year, getting his hands on a pass at the line and results in a Woodley interception.
- Late in the game when we went dime, Foote was the LB taken out. Had a group of Farrior, Timmons, and Carter.
- Looks like Clark is trying to jump Williams on the overthrow of wide open Nate Washington in the end zone. Sees all the WRs with an inside release and probably doesn't think Nate would run down the seam.
- Ziggy's pass rushing looked really good. Showed quick hands, good swim.
- Ran a lot of OLB/DE stunts late in the game when we were just bringing four.
- Heyward gets by Micheal Roos on Hasselbeck's intentional grounding.
- Damian Williams TD. Combination of Lewis caught looking in the backfield and Mundy biting on Hasselbeck's pump fake to the right off the snap. Can't get over in time.
- Starks' run blocking looked strong but I don't think his pass blocking was as good as it may have first appeared. He was getting a lot of help from Legursky all game long. But still, credit to Max for stepping up when we really needed him.
- Speaking of the line, I wish they could play that way every week. The rushing totals might not look like a lot when you take away Dwyer's run but they played great. They actually looked like a unit instead of five guys trying their best to not completely screw things up. Seemed like good communication (when picking up stunts, alerts at the line, etc) guys getting to the second level, turning their defender, all that good stuff. Don't underestimate the importance of communicating well. Honestly, that was the biggest problem with the line and the offense in general this season.
They've gotten a lot of flack this season and rightfully so but today, I tip my cap.
Sacks
- 2nd and 4, 13:25 left in the 2nd. 12 personnel. 4 man rush. Foster gets beat to the outside, the DT Casey gets around him. Looks like Foster came off the line stepping to his inside and wasn't able to push Casey upfield once he realized his man was going to the outside. Issue it seemed like was the fact Foster wasn't bringing his feet with him when he tried to push Casey. He lunged and wasn't able to generate much power.
Sack Counter (Game)
Ramon Foster: 1
Sack Counter (Season)
Ben Roethlisberger: 4
Jonathan Scott: 1.5
Wide receivers: 1.5
Ramon Foster: 1.5
Bruce Arians: 1
Good defensive scheme: 1
Marcus Gilbert: 1
Chris Kemoeatu: 1
Willie Colon: .5
Trai Essex: .5
Maurkice Pouncey: .5
Formations
FB: 21
Empty: 10
Pony: 1
Injuries
Redman left with leg cramps.
Pouncey had a bruised knee.
Gilbert with the aformentioned left shoulder. He's questionable this week. If I had to guess, he won't play.