Chidi29
09-21-2011, 12:21 PM
Could've been a more convincing win but anything to help ease the pain of the Baltimore game.
First Half
- Kickoff times: 4.15 (2), 4.35 (OZ), 4.24 (OZ), 4.07 (-8, TB), 3.4 (-5)
- Starting o-line: Scott, Foster, Pouncey, Legursky, Gilbert
- Sanders long catch and run on the first drive. Excellent matchup against the 6'4 Brandon Browner. Big corners like that aren't going to be as fluid in their hips or as quick-twitch. And Sanders did an excellent job of beating Browner's inside leverage on the slant.
- Same formation as we saw last week. This time, we faked the WR sweep, faked the inside trap (RG pulled instead of RT) and threw deep to Wallace. Pass interference put us on the one.
- Broke out the Bronko package on the goalline. Essex came in to play RG.
- 4th and goal stuff on Mendenhall. Legursky and Johnson are too focused on the LBers and miss Earl Thomas come darting in. You have to pick up the first guys to fill that gap. Plus, I don't understand the motion of Johnson from weakside to strongside. Thomas motions with him but Johnson fails to pick him up off the snap. No one has him. Why motion defenders into the play? Who is supposed to pick him up?
- Someone upstairs needed to alert Tomlin not to challenge the spot. Used two timeouts for this play and were left with one five minutes into the game. Luckilly didn't come back to bite us.
- I am really loving Mike Wallace. I was excited to have him in the past, but now I'm head over heels. He's becoming a complete receiver able to run the full route tree (my prediction/hope coming into the year). He's now able to use his speed to his advantage even when not going deep. Perfect example from early in the game. Wallace on a curl a few yards past the sticks. Lined up wide outside the numbers with a hard outside release. Marcus Trufant thinks it could be a streak and not wanting to take any chances of getting burned, turns his hips and starts getting upfield. Wallace simply gears down, runs his curl, and it's an easy pitch and catch. Picture that helps show this.
http://i55.tinypic.com/2eckqpu.jpg
Obviously a bit tough to see, but this is the beginning of Wallace coming out of his break. Trufant is turned, expecting the deep ball. Wallace gets a ton of separation and like I said, it's an easy first down.
- Great throw by Manny Sanders. On the money to Ward.
- On the following play, he tries to cut the WR downfield. He wasn't able to put him on the ground and the DB helped make the tackle. You can see him upset at himself which I really like to see. Not many WRs are going to get upset over run blocking; a lot of them treat it like a chore. Not this group, not when you have Hines Ward on this team.
- You can see the difference between goalline stops and TDs. All about the push by the line off the ball. On Mendenhall's TD, it's a great push (the spin to help shed contact and fall forward helped too). Doesn't matter who is in at running back, you need to have a line that will create enough of a gap for the RB to get through.
- Looks like Battle and Mundy were the wedgebusters.
- Gay read the QB/WR really well. Got out of his backpedal and closed quickly. Even forced Jackson to throw the ball away in one instance late in the 1st. Of course, it helps knowing Seattle doesn't have any vertical threats and run the WCO.
- Antonio Brown took advantage of Seattle's poor coverage unit with a long punt return.
- Part of why Ben's throws were sailing was a result of the pocket collapsing. Wasn't able to step into his throws and led to them being high.
- Great pull by Foster on Redman's TD.
- Keisel with another pass deflection as he did multiple times last season. Though it was negated by a Titans' penalty.
- I think "Ace" is an audible for a hitch route. Heard Ben say it and that was the play run.
- Legursky was a bit gimpy after being partially rolled on mid-way through the second quarter. Gilbert also tweaked his knee later in the game.
- Wes Saunders getting a little extra playing time. In addition to goalline like last week, we used some 3 TE sets outside of the goalline where he was in. Didn't look that good as a blocker thoguh. Whiffs and on the ground too much.
- Gilbert beat on inside spin on Ben's injury.
- Gay was the outside CB in our base and then kicked inside with Lewis out when we went to sub-packages.
Second Half
- Like Ben said in a post-game interview, I've never seen a QB hit on a screen to the WR. Happened early in the 3rd, and this one was a cheap shot. DT, without being tripped or pushed, hit Ben low.
- Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen were the starting gunners.
- Wrinkle in formation audibles. Went from I-Form to 5 wide in one instance. Looked like it was supposed to be a screen to Mendenhall, but Ben hit Wallace on a slant (probably depends on coverage/matchupss). The motion of Mendy from the offensive's left to right moved the LB and opened up the slant.
- 3rd and 2 toe tap catch by Ward: Ben calls off Arians, runs his own play. Did a great job of going through his progressions, keeping the play alive.
- Troy on near/dropped INT: Reads Jackson the whole way. Sees narrow splits from the WRs, both inside the hashes I think. Good chance of combo routes underneath and little threat of the deep ball especially with Seattle's vertically challenged offense. Against the TE, Troy knows there's even less of a chance of something deep. The route combo turns out to be an out/curl and Troy jumps the curl.
- Curtis Brown losing his cool on one play. After the whistle activites is a good way to find yourself inactive come gameday.
- Put backups in later in the game. Heyward (though Keisel was injured somewhere around this point), Hood, Foote, McClendon (now #90).
- Bad idea for Sanders to field a punt inside the five with his momentum carrying him backwards.
- Curtis Brown replaced Lewis as a gunner later in the game and made his presence known with a tackle.
- McClendon with his first career sack. Big hit on Jackson running a stunt the next play.
- Seattle wasn't in our territory until mid way through the 4th quarter.
- Ran an end around to Brown late in the game.
- Gilbert looked ok out there. Not much different than what I saw from him coming out of Florida. Did get a lot of help from the TE/RB chipping or staying in altogether, but he moves well laterally and can push the end upfield. Still want to see him as a nasty run blocker. He's decent, but I want to see that fire especially from a guy as big as he is.
- Foster played well. Better first step and leg drive than I've seen in the past. Finishes his blocks, too.
- Aaron Smith looked better but against inferior competition (rookies Moffitt, Carpenter).
- Defense did a really good job of shutting down the run. Not that Seattle was a big threat there, but ZBS always make me nervous. Shut down gaps and forced the backs to run East/West. Always a good combo.
Sacks
- 2nd and goal: 11:32 left in the 1st. 23 personnel. I'm actually going to blame Arians here. I know, I know, some of you think I couldn't do that but I am objective as I can be with every player. Just a bad playcall. Gilbert is asked to down block for a moment and then try to pull and pick up a blitzing CB. Doesn't stand a chance and Ben gets rocked. That's putting Gilbert in a position to lose.
Didn't like running the play to the left. Ben is at his best to his right, and I don't want to run it to the nearisde. Go farside where things are a bit more open. You're already squished being near the goalline.
- 1st and 20: :46 left in 3rd. Shotgun, 11. Pocket collapses on Ben. Scott and Redman start off double-teaming end but Redman peels off to block LB on blitz/cover assignment on him. Scott is driven back into the pocket.
Sack Counter (Game)
Bruce Arians: 1
Jonathan Scott: 1
Sack Counter (Season)
Ben Roethlisberger: 2
Jonathan Scott: 1.5
Bruce Arians: 1
Good defensive scheme: 1
Willie Colon: .5
------------
Forgot to post the formation recordings like I did last year, comparing the number of FB to 5 wide sets. I'll start with last weeks followed by this weeks.
FB: 3
Pony: 0
Empty: 14
FB: 11
Pony: 0
Empty: 5
-----------
Injuries
Brett Keisel has a Grade 1 PCL sprain.
First Half
- Kickoff times: 4.15 (2), 4.35 (OZ), 4.24 (OZ), 4.07 (-8, TB), 3.4 (-5)
- Starting o-line: Scott, Foster, Pouncey, Legursky, Gilbert
- Sanders long catch and run on the first drive. Excellent matchup against the 6'4 Brandon Browner. Big corners like that aren't going to be as fluid in their hips or as quick-twitch. And Sanders did an excellent job of beating Browner's inside leverage on the slant.
- Same formation as we saw last week. This time, we faked the WR sweep, faked the inside trap (RG pulled instead of RT) and threw deep to Wallace. Pass interference put us on the one.
- Broke out the Bronko package on the goalline. Essex came in to play RG.
- 4th and goal stuff on Mendenhall. Legursky and Johnson are too focused on the LBers and miss Earl Thomas come darting in. You have to pick up the first guys to fill that gap. Plus, I don't understand the motion of Johnson from weakside to strongside. Thomas motions with him but Johnson fails to pick him up off the snap. No one has him. Why motion defenders into the play? Who is supposed to pick him up?
- Someone upstairs needed to alert Tomlin not to challenge the spot. Used two timeouts for this play and were left with one five minutes into the game. Luckilly didn't come back to bite us.
- I am really loving Mike Wallace. I was excited to have him in the past, but now I'm head over heels. He's becoming a complete receiver able to run the full route tree (my prediction/hope coming into the year). He's now able to use his speed to his advantage even when not going deep. Perfect example from early in the game. Wallace on a curl a few yards past the sticks. Lined up wide outside the numbers with a hard outside release. Marcus Trufant thinks it could be a streak and not wanting to take any chances of getting burned, turns his hips and starts getting upfield. Wallace simply gears down, runs his curl, and it's an easy pitch and catch. Picture that helps show this.
http://i55.tinypic.com/2eckqpu.jpg
Obviously a bit tough to see, but this is the beginning of Wallace coming out of his break. Trufant is turned, expecting the deep ball. Wallace gets a ton of separation and like I said, it's an easy first down.
- Great throw by Manny Sanders. On the money to Ward.
- On the following play, he tries to cut the WR downfield. He wasn't able to put him on the ground and the DB helped make the tackle. You can see him upset at himself which I really like to see. Not many WRs are going to get upset over run blocking; a lot of them treat it like a chore. Not this group, not when you have Hines Ward on this team.
- You can see the difference between goalline stops and TDs. All about the push by the line off the ball. On Mendenhall's TD, it's a great push (the spin to help shed contact and fall forward helped too). Doesn't matter who is in at running back, you need to have a line that will create enough of a gap for the RB to get through.
- Looks like Battle and Mundy were the wedgebusters.
- Gay read the QB/WR really well. Got out of his backpedal and closed quickly. Even forced Jackson to throw the ball away in one instance late in the 1st. Of course, it helps knowing Seattle doesn't have any vertical threats and run the WCO.
- Antonio Brown took advantage of Seattle's poor coverage unit with a long punt return.
- Part of why Ben's throws were sailing was a result of the pocket collapsing. Wasn't able to step into his throws and led to them being high.
- Great pull by Foster on Redman's TD.
- Keisel with another pass deflection as he did multiple times last season. Though it was negated by a Titans' penalty.
- I think "Ace" is an audible for a hitch route. Heard Ben say it and that was the play run.
- Legursky was a bit gimpy after being partially rolled on mid-way through the second quarter. Gilbert also tweaked his knee later in the game.
- Wes Saunders getting a little extra playing time. In addition to goalline like last week, we used some 3 TE sets outside of the goalline where he was in. Didn't look that good as a blocker thoguh. Whiffs and on the ground too much.
- Gilbert beat on inside spin on Ben's injury.
- Gay was the outside CB in our base and then kicked inside with Lewis out when we went to sub-packages.
Second Half
- Like Ben said in a post-game interview, I've never seen a QB hit on a screen to the WR. Happened early in the 3rd, and this one was a cheap shot. DT, without being tripped or pushed, hit Ben low.
- Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen were the starting gunners.
- Wrinkle in formation audibles. Went from I-Form to 5 wide in one instance. Looked like it was supposed to be a screen to Mendenhall, but Ben hit Wallace on a slant (probably depends on coverage/matchupss). The motion of Mendy from the offensive's left to right moved the LB and opened up the slant.
- 3rd and 2 toe tap catch by Ward: Ben calls off Arians, runs his own play. Did a great job of going through his progressions, keeping the play alive.
- Troy on near/dropped INT: Reads Jackson the whole way. Sees narrow splits from the WRs, both inside the hashes I think. Good chance of combo routes underneath and little threat of the deep ball especially with Seattle's vertically challenged offense. Against the TE, Troy knows there's even less of a chance of something deep. The route combo turns out to be an out/curl and Troy jumps the curl.
- Curtis Brown losing his cool on one play. After the whistle activites is a good way to find yourself inactive come gameday.
- Put backups in later in the game. Heyward (though Keisel was injured somewhere around this point), Hood, Foote, McClendon (now #90).
- Bad idea for Sanders to field a punt inside the five with his momentum carrying him backwards.
- Curtis Brown replaced Lewis as a gunner later in the game and made his presence known with a tackle.
- McClendon with his first career sack. Big hit on Jackson running a stunt the next play.
- Seattle wasn't in our territory until mid way through the 4th quarter.
- Ran an end around to Brown late in the game.
- Gilbert looked ok out there. Not much different than what I saw from him coming out of Florida. Did get a lot of help from the TE/RB chipping or staying in altogether, but he moves well laterally and can push the end upfield. Still want to see him as a nasty run blocker. He's decent, but I want to see that fire especially from a guy as big as he is.
- Foster played well. Better first step and leg drive than I've seen in the past. Finishes his blocks, too.
- Aaron Smith looked better but against inferior competition (rookies Moffitt, Carpenter).
- Defense did a really good job of shutting down the run. Not that Seattle was a big threat there, but ZBS always make me nervous. Shut down gaps and forced the backs to run East/West. Always a good combo.
Sacks
- 2nd and goal: 11:32 left in the 1st. 23 personnel. I'm actually going to blame Arians here. I know, I know, some of you think I couldn't do that but I am objective as I can be with every player. Just a bad playcall. Gilbert is asked to down block for a moment and then try to pull and pick up a blitzing CB. Doesn't stand a chance and Ben gets rocked. That's putting Gilbert in a position to lose.
Didn't like running the play to the left. Ben is at his best to his right, and I don't want to run it to the nearisde. Go farside where things are a bit more open. You're already squished being near the goalline.
- 1st and 20: :46 left in 3rd. Shotgun, 11. Pocket collapses on Ben. Scott and Redman start off double-teaming end but Redman peels off to block LB on blitz/cover assignment on him. Scott is driven back into the pocket.
Sack Counter (Game)
Bruce Arians: 1
Jonathan Scott: 1
Sack Counter (Season)
Ben Roethlisberger: 2
Jonathan Scott: 1.5
Bruce Arians: 1
Good defensive scheme: 1
Willie Colon: .5
------------
Forgot to post the formation recordings like I did last year, comparing the number of FB to 5 wide sets. I'll start with last weeks followed by this weeks.
FB: 3
Pony: 0
Empty: 14
FB: 11
Pony: 0
Empty: 5
-----------
Injuries
Brett Keisel has a Grade 1 PCL sprain.