Game Balls and Goats

[Craic]

Game Balls: Defense.

Goat. McCloud.

Everyone else gets an HM for being able to play after all the delays, but that offense had better step it up starting Monday.

[Rotorhead]

Not sure what all the dropsies were all about, but we got the win against the Ravens, so gameball to the team and no goats this week. We pretty much locked up the division tonight, now to lock up the 1 seed!

[DesertSteel]

Goats: the entire Steelers team. The entire game was painful to watch. I didn’t expect a blowout but that was pathetic.

[RunNGun]

Gameballs: Defense and Snell
Goats: WRs

I thought Snell fought hard all game. 3.8 ypc against a tough Baltimore defense is solid. The last possession he showed a lot of heart with some very physical runs.

I'm nervous about the defense with the possibility of losing Dupree.

[EzraTank]

Game Balls: Defense.

Goat. McCloud.

Everyone else gets an HM for being able to play after all the delays, but that offense had better step it up starting Monday.

Goats: Receivers dropping everything. McMuff. Edmunds making horrible decision leading to 75 yard TD to a 3rd string QB. Edmunds has to play the tackle not the ball. Giving up 20 yards vs 75 was moronic.

Gameball: COVID19.

[steelcityboyz]

Game ball - Ben and TJ

Goats- The receivers everyone of them except Washington. also Boz how do you miss an extra point?

[Born2Steel]

This TEAM is 11-0. Today was a struggle but they got the job done. Game Balls all around.

[Shoes]

Game ball - Ben and TJ

Goats- The receivers everyone of them except Washington. also Boz how do you miss an extra point?

We have a long snapper who delivers the ball wide. Not sure if that was the case on the extra point but it was on at least one of the FG boz made.

[lipps83]

11-0 is very hard to do.

Horrible game, but I will take it.

[Craic]

Goats: Receivers dropping everything. McMuff. Edmunds making horrible decision leading to 75 yard TD to a 3rd string QB. Edmunds has to play the tackle not the ball. Giving up 20 yards vs 75 was moronic.

Gameball: COVID19.

I thought about that, but gave them a pass due to how out of sync the entire lead up to the game was. To me, it felt like a military group kept on alert too long. Sooner or later, that edge dulls because no human can keep that ultra-sharp mentality forever.

[Born2Steel]

We have a long snapper who delivers the ball wide. No sure if that was the case on the extra point but it was on the FG boz made.

On both of Boz's FGs today the snap almost went behind the holder. He did a great job getting the ball down for Boz. The missed XP was shown from behind the goalposts so I don't know about that one.


It does feel good right now being a spoiled rotten Steelers fan sitting at 11-0. I can complain about almost losing or not winning big enough. Damn! but this team made some clutch plays today.

[steelcityboyz]

We have a long snapper who delivers the ball wide. Not sure if that was the case on the extra point but it was on at least one of the FG boz made.IDK, maybe we should be shopping for a long snapper.

[EzraTank]

Let's just hope Dupree pulled something and misses either no games or one game.

[Butch]

Team did not play well but we still got the win. Ill take it. Hayden pick 6. D played mostly good. O was rusty

[Big Ben's Gray]

Waiting for an injury update on Dupree so I can breath again.

[SteelMayhem72]

Just by looking at how pissed Dupree was I'm thinking he knows he tore his ACL. I sure hope to hell I'm wrong. That's 2 linebackers, just curious did Bush tear his at Heinz Field, I can't remember but if he did then the grass sucks because both were non contact.

Sent from my SM-A515U using Tapatalk

[Butch]

2 plays cost us 14 points. 2 others cost us11. Is what it is

[Born2Steel]

Just a glimpse at what these guys DID accomplish today...

DJ and JuJu 8 catches each for a combined 83 yards and 1 TD
Ebron 7 catches for for 54 yards
Claypool 6 catches 52 yards
Wash 2 catches including that 4th quarter 1st down beauty
Snell went for 93 total yards and the clinching 1st down run
BigBen 36 of 51(70%) with 1 TD and 1 INT

and defensively...
Joe Haden with the pick6
TJ had 2 sacks
Cam had a sack
Ravens had 90 yards passing
Ravens went 3-13 on 3rd down
Ravens were held to 10 1st downs for the whole game

The final score makes this game look ALOT closer than it actually was.

I left off Boz with 2 FGs and contributing 7points
and Berry with 4 punts dropping 2 inside the 20

[teegre]

2 plays cost us 14 points. 2 others cost us11. Is what it is

:nod: At some point in the the second quarter, I calculated that we had left 15 points on the field. I stopped counting after that.

[86WARD]

Game Balls - Watt, Haden, JuJu

Goats - Special Teams, Ben, Johnson, O-Line, Benny Snell’s lack of speed.

[teegre]

My thinking is that the Steelers had stopped planning/preparing for the Ravens a few days ago, and were looking ahead to the game against the WFTs. I can’t really blame the Steelers for that. You would hope that the Steelers could readily beat a depleted Ravens team with whatever gameplan they had put in place a week ago... and these few extra days of watching game tape of the WTF will help them in Week 13.

[Squeegee Thompson]

Game Balls: I have no friggin’ clue.

Sucks Goat Balls: DirecTV for filling my DVR with 4 hrs of “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we cannot bring you this program due to contractual obligations.”

Probably the first Steeler game I’ve missed in 20 years. You suck, DirecTV.

[teegre]

Game ball: receivers making huge catches and fighting for extra yardage

Goat: receivers dropping passes on third & fourth downs

SUMMATION:
If the receivers catch half of those dropped passes, the Steelers win handily. (If they catch them all, the Steelers win in a blowout.)

[HollywoodSteel]

IDK, maybe we should be shopping for a long snapper.

What’s funny is he’s leading in AFC probowl votes.

I’m sure it’s because no one knows how to compare long snappers and the Steelers are undefeated

[Istina]

Game ball: Ben (he is single-handedly carrying this offense), TJ - He's a beast, honorable mention to Joe Haden for the pick 6
Goats: Tuitt (for his asinine comment about padding stats and it should be an easy one), the entire team (coaches excluded) for acting as if the Ravens were a high school team, Johnson (for a receiver he doesn't catch very well)
FUs: Did I mention the team for their arrogant attitude that allowed the Ravens in this game until the final 3 minutes, Rudolph should have been playing in the 3rd quarter for crying out loud

Istina

[st33lersguy]

Game Balls: TJ Watt continues to show what a beast he is. He is the franchise defender. Joe Haden with a nice pick. James Washington probably saved the game with that contested catch. Benny Snell then single-handedly finished the game off with tough running after the Washington. Joe Haden then pick sixes his way to a catch

Goats: Randy Fichtner possibly the worst offensive mind in football had some terrible f-ing playcalling. The 4 down sequence at the goal line was a disaster. The receivers dropped too many passes. Ray Ray McCloud with the muff. A goat to everyone directly responsible for that catastrophe of a long TD. Seriously how does that happen? A rookie QB with no experience, up 12 2.5 minutes deep in territory, the game is over. Nope somehow an offense with no legit pass offense gets a long TD and a game that was over turns into a nail biter just like that. That would be unacceptable by Jets standards.

A special goat for Roger Gotohell. His handling may be the height of his awfulness as commissioner which is saying everything considering he has been mismanaging almost everything he touches since he came in. He bends over backwards for the Ratbirds but the Broncos are forced to play with a practice squad WR. And earlier with the 9ers facing an infestation playing the Packers on Thursday night, the league said screw it, press on as is. Seriously F this commissioner and F the Ratbirds with their bush league bullcrap that backfired anyway.

Overall, this was an extremely poorly played game. Missed opportunities, too many mistakes, and finding a way to turn what has no business being close into a nailbiter.
But it's a regular season sweep over the Ratbirds, one that takes them out of the division race and this team is now 11-0.

[Butch]

Gameball to edmunds and vince for laying on the pile and not getting up until the last possible second just before 1/2 time. Pissed off Harwich and that was priceless

- - - Updated - - -

Goats Collins worthless for being a completely biased Ravens homer. Him and Tirico were pro Ravens the whole game.

[teegre]

I just turned on NFL Newtwork. (The game is being re-broadcast.) These two plays encapsulate the entire game:

7:28 left. Steelers driving. At the Ravens’ 43. 3rd-&-2. Ebron drops a gimme pass. :doh:

5:25 left. Minkah drops a cakewalk pick-six.

[Fire Goodell]

I just turned on NFL Newtwork. (The game is being re-broadcast.) These two plays encapsulate the entire game:

7:28 left. Steelers driving. At the Ravens’ 43. 3rd-&-2. Ebron drops a gimme pass. :doh:

5:25 left. Minkah drops a cakewalk pick-six.

They literally were 2 dropped balls away from turning this into a blowout. Super frustrating to watch

I don't think I've ever been pissed after sweeping the Ravens, this has to be the first time. Not upset at the result, but they did everything they could to beat themselves and allow the Ravens to stay in the game. This shouldn't have been close.

[teegre]

They literally were 2 dropped balls away from turning this into a blowout. Super frustrating to watch

I don't think I've ever been pissed after sweeping the Ravens, this has to be the first time. Not upset at the result, but they did everything they could to beat themselves and allow the Ravens to stay in the game. This shouldn't have been close.

:nod:

James Jones stated that the “better team” lost. Get that sh!t out of here!!! As you said, the Steelers were a couple of plays away from making this a laugher. SMFH

[cubanstogie]

:nod:

James Jones stated that the “better team” lost. Get that sh!t out of here!!! As you said, the Steelers were a couple of plays away from making this a laugher. SMFH
Sure James, when is better team 10 point underdogs. 90 yards passing and 70 came on missed easy tackle.

[teegre]

JuJu is a grown ass man!!! He could easily get my game ball every week... but, he specifically gets it tonight for making Willie Snead look like an idiot.

Snead has been calling JuJu “nothing but a Tik Toker”. A Steelers fan posts a pic of JuJu stuff-arming a Raven into the ground. Snead responds by calling JuJu soft. ESPN reposts the Steelers fan’s tweet. :applaudit:

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I just turned on NFL Newtwork. (The game is being re-broadcast.) These two plays encapsulate the entire game:

7:28 left. Steelers driving. At the Ravens’ 43. 3rd-&-2. Ebron drops a gimme pass. :doh:

5:25 left. Minkah drops a cakewalk pick-six.

Yes, this is true. What did you think of the first time the Steelers were inside the 10 and 3rd down pass to Ebron?? Then what about the 4th down where Derek Watt was wide open in the middle of the end zone, but Ben wasnt looking at him?

Ben was off, he admitted it in his post game comments and owned it. Dionte Johnson dropped at least 3 passes, but Ben underthrew Claypool in the 1st quarter, threw behind Ebron on 3rd down instead of leading him for the TD and then followed up with not seeing Watt open on 4th down.

Sure we can point to dropped passes from Ebron, Johnson, etc. Ray Ray botching the punt return, but the future HOF QB missed a few throws that would end up as another 14 points likely as well. Moving on to the team from DC...

[Steeler-in-west]

Gamball: juju tj and Haden

goat; edmunds, Ben didn’t play his best game either (agree with the above) maybe not a goat but it seemed he was intent on getting rid of the ball fast, maybe too fast, a lot of underneath stuff, as if he didn’t want to risk getting hit by any raven, that int was very un Ben like too

[teegre]

Yes, this is true. What did you think of the first time the Steelers were inside the 10 and 3rd down pass to Ebron?? Then what about the 4th down where Derek Watt was wide open in the middle of the end zone, but Ben wasnt looking at him?

Ben was off, he admitted it in his post game comments and owned it. Dionte Johnson dropped at least 3 passes, but Ben underthrew Claypool in the 1st quarter, threw behind Ebron on 3rd down instead of leading him for the TD and then followed up with not seeing Watt open on 4th down.

Sure we can point to dropped passes from Ebron, Johnson, etc. Ray Ray botching the punt return, but the future HOF QB missed a few throws that would end up as another 14 points likely as well. Moving on to the team from DC...

I’m not sure why you’re trolling me... :noidea:

[fansince'76]

JuJu is a grown ass man!!! He could easily get my game ball every week... but, he specifically gets it tonight for making Willie Snead look like an idiot.

Snead has been calling JuJu “nothing but a Tik Toker”. A Steelers fan posts a pic of JuJu stuff-arming a Raven into the ground. Snead responds by calling JuJu soft. ESPN reposts the Steelers fan’s tweet. :applaudit:

That stiff-arm by JuJu would have made Walter Payton proud.

I also cracked up at Hines Ward's comment that Tirico mentioned regarding comparisons between he and JuJu - "I am a pitbull, but JuJu is more like a bulldog you can cuddle with." (paraphrased) :lol:

[86WARD]

Ben missed two wide open receivers on the first two goal to go apportunities. Missed a wide open Derek Watt and then on the next series, missed a wide open DIontae on a crossing route who looked like he may have been able to get to the end zone...IF he were to catch it. That’s another 12 points there.

[Shoes]

Ben missed two wide open receivers on the first two goal to go apportunities. Missed a wide open Derek Watt and then on the next series, missed a wide open DIontae on a crossing route who looked like he may have been able to get to the end zone...IF he were to catch it. That’s another 12 points there.

last night, he would have dropped it anyway. :chuckle:

[Six Rings]

We have a long snapper who delivers the ball wide. Not sure if that was the case on the extra point but it was on at least one of the FG boz made.

Our LS sucks, I did mentioned he should be replaced.

Lot's of goats here.

Offense: Johnson dropped too many.

Defense: Edmunds missed two tackles, one went for TFD the other lots of yardage.

Coaching why play with 2 DL players when you know the only thing the Ravens could do well was Run the ball. RG3, ran it up the middle 3 times for lots of yardage.

[teegre]

That stiff-arm by JuJu would have made Walter Payton proud.

I also cracked up at Hines Ward's comment that Tirico mentioned regarding comparisons between he and JuJu - "I am a pitbull, but JuJu is more like a bulldog you can cuddle with." (paraphrased) :lol:

:lol:

Yea, and how when they first met/when JuJu first arrived, people were saying how the two of them were alike... and they were both like, “Whaaaaat?” But then, when it was clarified that they played similarly (not similar personalities) they were both like, “Whew.”

[SteelMember]

Imma give the gameball to Juju. Stats weren't "fantasy" level, but he had some tough catches when it counted.

Biggest goat gotta be that muffed punt by Ray-Ray. What a disaster. That play right there gave the Ravens hope, because their offense hadn't done shit prior.
Punt ~ Fumble ~ Pick ~ Punt

Overall, a very sloppy game. Cold shouldn't matter.
and sure, Ben misses on a couple passes, but the number of drops on good throws was more than double, imo.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I’m not sure why you’re trolling me... :noidea:

I'm not trolling you. Since you watched some replay and you were one of the few to mention drops/missed passes in the thread I was wondering if you noticed the missed passes at all or just primarily the dropped balls?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Ben missed two wide open receivers on the first two goal to go apportunities. Missed a wide open Derek Watt and then on the next series, missed a wide open DIontae on a crossing route who looked like he may have been able to get to the end zone...IF he were to catch it. That’s another 12 points there.

Yes, and I still think he hasnt been the deep passer he was, since coming back from the injury. The long pass to Claypool was underthrown and I know there are some QB's in the league who throw a good deep pass, who would have likely hit Claypool in stride for a TD.

Good thing is Ben owns it and will get better. The receivers have to own it and work on being better receivers. I knew that focus drops would be a part of Dionte Johnson's game and even Ebron, as he often lets the ball get to his body, but with that being said, Ebron hasnt dropped as many passes as I thought he would this season.

Just have to take the win, flush the inconsistent performance down the drain and move onto the Washington Football Team.

[Fire Goodell]

Who would have thought that the 2nd Steelers-Ravens game would be a 'trap' game for our guys lol. 2020 is just all kinds of weird

I mean Tuitt is on record for publicly saying this would be an 'easy' game. That kind of pissed me off, you never say shit like that, especially when playing the Ravens

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Who would have thought that the 2nd Steelers-Ravens game would be a 'trap' game for our guys lol. 2020 is just all kinds of weird

I mean Tuitt is on record for publicly saying this would be an 'easy' game. That kind of pissed me off, you never say shit like that, especially when playing the Ravens

Honestly, the thing about the game I most enjoyed was the number of hits on a running QB. That is how you play a running QB, you get as much contact on him as possible and wear him down physically.

Even with Jackson, he is going to take hits and those will add up. The Ravens arent doing a job of developing him as a passer and give him another season of running and getting hit, without developing further as a passer and Jackson's career will mirror Bob Griffin III. Ravens will be in decline the next few seasons if they dont find a QB that can complete passes.

[Mojouw]

Yes, and I still think he hasnt been the deep passer he was, since coming back from the injury. The long pass to Claypool was underthrown and I know there are some QB's in the league who throw a good deep pass, who would have likely hit Claypool in stride for a TD.

Good thing is Ben owns it and will get better. The receivers have to own it and work on being better receivers. I knew that focus drops would be a part of Dionte Johnson's game and even Ebron, as he often lets the ball get to his body, but with that being said, Ebron hasnt dropped as many passes as I thought he would this season.

Just have to take the win, flush the inconsistent performance down the drain and move onto the Washington Football Team.

I don't think Ben is going to get any better. He has been missing like he did yesterday all year. Either this is what he is now due to diminished physical capabilities post injury or he won't be able to get much better until a full off-season throwing program after this season. Maybe then he can rebuild strength and timing or whatever it is. But his placement has been bad all season and everything he throws is tailing off and often a tick late.

[cubanstogie]

I don't think Ben is going to get any better. He has been missing like he did yesterday all year. Either this is what he is now due to diminished physical capabilities post injury or he won't be able to get much better until a full off-season throwing program after this season. Maybe then he can rebuild strength and timing or whatever it is. But his placement has been bad all season and everything he throws is tailing off and often a tick late.
Out of curiosity, how many throws did Ben miss in your opinion? I was fast forwarding with the 30 second button in between most plays so didn’t get total feel of game. The pic in endzone obviously horrible and probably his worst mistake this year. Other than that I saw a lot of drops. A few easy catches but a few drops where ball placement could have been better. Im going to rewatch but my initial grade on Ben yesterday was C plus, grade on year B plus .

[Mojouw]

Out of curiosity, how many throws did Ben miss in your opinion? I was fast forwarding with the 30 second button in between most plays so didn’t get total feel of game. The pic in endzone obviously horrible and probably his worst mistake this year. Other than that I saw a lot of drops. A few easy catches but a few drops where ball placement could have been better. Im going to rewatch but my initial grade on Ben yesterday was C plus, grade on year B plus .

I don't have a way to rewatch the game...so I don't have a number. But he missed at least one to Claypool early. He was just behind him rather than in front of him. The dropped Ebron 3rd down conversion needed to be on the other shoulder/hip instead of behind a moving target. I think there was one to Johnson that he needed to put in front rather than behind a moving receiver.

But he has been doing it all season. To my untrained eye, it looks like a QB who is either throwing the ball late and the target then moves or he isn't dialing up the fastball enough and zipping the throw to where it needs to be. Also, if you watch (again to my totally untrained eye) it looks like even on many completions he should be hitting one shoulder/hip but he puts it to the other. I realize that is a nit-picky thing. But this is NFL QBs we are talking about. It is my understanding that hitting an outside versus an inside shoulder is a thing that they can do and plan on doing.

Ben has just been off a little smidge all season. That's why I said I don't think it changes in-season. Whatever it is, I believe it needs addressed after real games are done.

[86WARD]

JuJu won the Week 12 GMFB Angry Run of the week.

[cubanstogie]

I don't have a way to rewatch the game...so I don't have a number. But he missed at least one to Claypool early. He was just behind him rather than in front of him. The dropped Ebron 3rd down conversion needed to be on the other shoulder/hip instead of behind a moving target. I think there was one to Johnson that he needed to put in front rather than behind a moving receiver.

But he has been doing it all season. To my untrained eye, it looks like a QB who is either throwing the ball late and the target then moves or he isn't dialing up the fastball enough and zipping the throw to where it needs to be. Also, if you watch (again to my totally untrained eye) it looks like even on many completions he should be hitting one shoulder/hip but he puts it to the other. I realize that is a nit-picky thing. But this is NFL QBs we are talking about. It is my understanding that hitting an outside versus an inside shoulder is a thing that they can do and plan on doing.

Ben has just been off a little smidge all season. That's why I said I don't think it changes in-season. Whatever it is, I believe it needs addressed after real games are done.
Rewatching game I actually think he played better than my initial impression. Not much separation last night. Ravens got pressure with 3 or 4 man rush. 3 rd an 2 to Ebron was poor throw,a good throw and they convert. He missed a few but those drops were a killer, especially DJ’s. Except for Ju Ju stiff arm not a lot of great plays made. Cant forget pass and grab by Washington on last drive. Last night I didn’t realize pic was a fourth down play. Makes more sense to me now why he threw it. I have a hard time being unbiased with Ben is why I asked. Props to Ben for not getting sacked by Ravens as well

[Mojouw]

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2020/12/3/22149401/film-room-the-steelers-defense-was-the-determining-factor-in-their-week-12-win-joe-haden-t-j-watt

Looking at the GIF of the long TD to Brown by McSorely...it seems that Haden might have helped make it happen. I thought that might have been the case during the TV broadcast...but I couldn't really tell. Nice to know that I might not be totally out to lunch. But others can take a look.

I mean Edmunds totally missed the tackle, but he was pressed into a less than ideal situation by Haden's gamble on the underneath route.

[teegre]

I'm not trolling you. Since you watched some replay and you were one of the few to mention drops/missed passes in the thread I was wondering if you noticed the missed passes at all or just primarily the dropped balls?

1. When the replay came on, the replay was well past the first goal-to-go series.

2. From what I recall, Ben hit JuJu in the knees on what would have been a walk-in TD. Later, he missed Watt.

2-a. I noticed that around that same time, Hausssensaucer allowed the Ravens DT (or an ILB) to come right at Ben. For the next few plays, Ben seemed to “feel” pressure up the middle (and was looking outside ASAP). Hence, he didn’t even look for Watt.

2-b. I noticed that on that series, the Steelers not only didn’t run (at the third-string DTs), they didn’t even have a RB in the backfield on a few of those formations.

2-c. I wonder if the play of the backup C had anything to do with the lack of run plays.

3. For weeks now, it seems that the Steelers run outside (as opposed to north-south). As I mentioned, there were two backup D-linemen playing; plus, their secondary (the Ravens’ strength) started the game intact. Ergo, I’m not sure why we weren’t running it more (not just on that particular goal-to-go series). And, again, when we did run, it wasn’t north-south (at the DTs) but east-west (where their speedy LBs could make the tackles).