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Didnt plan on paying to watch, But flipped through guide and found game on NFL network.
Big Winner is the DLine Depth, McClendon, Ta'amu, Keisel Hood and Woods. Should rotate nicely keeping pressure all game long. Really like this group
Concern is Heyward, just hope hes not a bust.
D-Line was impressive tonight. I thought the 1st team O-Line did well with run-blocking, pass protection on the other hand was iffy. I also liked the way LaRod Stephens-Howling performed, looks like he'd be a much bigger contributor than Batch or Dwyer. Dwyer looked lost, which obviously didn't help his case at all.
Receiving corps also did a pretty good job. Sanders had a couple 1st down grabs, and JD Woods & Markus Wheaton also showed some good ability.
I'd also say Jarvis Jones was impressive in his preseason debut. I thought he took some bad angles trying to pressure the QB and stuff the run, but the athleticism & hustle was there to make up for the mistakes and chase the ball-carriers down. Looks like he has a motor that doesn't stop and even required some double teams. Good showing for the kid.
Was disappointed that Bell didn't get to suit up, looking forward to his debut. I'd rather him sit out & be cautious, even though it'd be nice for him to get the reps. But I'm sure he'll get plenty in the next few games. I figure he's the real deal and they have big plans for LB.
We can't run left.
Wait, I thought this was an awesome O-line? I have yet to see a decent O-line for many years now.
My NFL Network was actually showing the Bucs/Ravens until about half way through the Steelers second quarter then they made the switch over to the game...
Impressed:The run-blocking on the O-line was impressive, LaRod Stephens Howling most likely surpassed the other backup RBs and earned playing time tonight. The backup defenders were impressive. Jarvis Jones showed some hustle and with some more learning seems like a force to be reckoned with.
Concerned: The special teams picked up right where they left off, Landry Jones needs a LOT of work, the back-up O-line was horrendous, pass-blocking was a bit of a concern, Dwyer allowed Stephens-Howling to replace, and what in the hell was up with running that RB bubble screen, can we please discard that play for eternity?
Bubble screen only works with the slot receiver on this team as long as you don't throw it to anybody named Stone Hands Sweed.
Stephens Howling and Gradkowski are positives from tonight. Not that he is an all-star but Gradkowski gives us something we haven't had in so long and that is comfort at the back-up QB position.
Stephens-Howling looks good I hope it continues and he can provide a lot for us.
Negative is for sure the special teams. But it is very early and I think we will get everything fixed up.
Gradkowski is confident and ready to take the wheel if (when) called upon. Welcome home, Bruce. Sanders made a statement that he does not have a case of "wallacetude". Wheaton and Jarvis are as advertised. I can't wait to see the polished versions.
Landry, as was previously said, need alot of work. But I expected that. I actually felt really bad for the guy with the way his first snap turned out. The Giants trumped that by 4 points, however. :lol: We still have Charlie on speed dial, right?
Disappointed we didn't get to see Bell last night, but better safe than sorry. Was very pleased and surprised to see S-H take advantage of the opportunity. That's exactly the attitude it takes to make this team.
I didn't see or pay enough attention to Shamarko. But what I loved seeing was good depth in the D and the attitude. Coach Lebeau and the boys flashing some teeth! What's not to love about a pissed off Steelers defense.
Oh. And William Gay still looks like William Gay, even without the dreads.
Just dont be another 'Gilbert' wiping guys out. He dove into the pile like a ball was loose when he took out Sylvester.Quote:
Originally Posted by stillers4me
It's only one preseason game, but it looks like we drafted very, very well this year.
I'd have to go back and look at the play again but I'm pretty sure that he got pushed in to that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steeltreal
- - - Updated - - -
My biggest concern is the secondary. Gay is still terrible and none of the young CBs (excluding Cortez) have shown much NFL ability. The injuries have certainly not helped things either.
the backup Linebackers where strong , that has to be an interesting battle going on in camp ... love the potential depth in that department
WR depth may not be as big of an issue as expected with Plax going down some young guys showed they have skills .....
Grandkowski looked good for being his first live action in a new system ....
I see big things this year from the FB pos ( Will Johnson ) esp in the early part of the year while Heath is out ....
the team is missing Cortez Allen , an issue that will take care of itself soon enough ....
D-Line is a pos of strength in terms of depth it seems ....
the new Line scheme seems to suit Decastro more so than I expected , he was seen blocking 5-6 yards down field more than once in the limited snaps he saw
Gay is not very good, but at the same time in a game in regular season, Gay would not have been one on one against an elite WR like cruz
He would've been with the depth we have. One guy gets hurt, Gay is in there as the #2 CB. That remains just as scary as it was before.Quote:
Originally Posted by polamalubeast
Concerns: Has to be special teams, it was painful to watch a lot of physical and mental mistakes.
Screen game was not very good on offense.
Things I liked: Using sanders and brown where they are best in the short to intermediate passing game.
Bruce gradkowsi looked real comfortable out there
Wheaton looked like he could explode at any moment definitely will be an upgrade to cotchery.
Troy was bouncing around looked like his old self.
Maybe but not one on one......LeBeau will not be an idiot to put Gay one on one against an elite WR in a regular season gameQuote:
Originally Posted by steelreserve
Oh yeah....I forgot about Special Teams. Ovay. :doh:
You guys hate William Gay but without him, , we'd only have one veteran cornerback. His presence is huge and assuming Cortez comes back for Week One, gives us three deep. If if it was Curtis Brown or Victorian at nickel, teams would go 3 WR and kill us. Plus, Gay can play outside or in the slot. Harder than it sounds and being a nickel corner is no fun. Tough to cover because the receiver can go inside or out and you usually don't see press from that spot so you can't reroute.
Good ... so then we'd go back to the "soft vanilla" defensive scheme - Troy hangs back 20 yards from the line on every play because he has to help some mentally deficient DB or other, and we always line up showing that we're going to rush exactly 3 linemen and one LB, and then we rush exactly those same 3 linemen and one LB, which fools no one and they all get blocked easily - then we get picked apart with nickel-and-dime shit all season by teams like the Bengals, and all the fans are like "OMG WHERE DID THE PASS RUSH GO" because somehow they haven't figured this out from watching the same exact situation unfold for the past decade every time someone in the secondary has a hangnail, and as a bonus that defense can't stop the run either, so by the end of every game we're giving up 8 and 12 yard runs for no reason to shitty backs, and people say the line and LBs are old and washed up.Quote:
Originally Posted by polamalubeast
Is that the brilliant defensive scheme you're hoping for? Because trust me, I've seen it already.
Quote:
Originally Posted by steelreserve
that shit you just described equates to a top ranked def ( top 5 ) in the NFL in nearly every season Lebeau has been in Pittsburgh ... most NFL cities would be ecstatic over such a ranking
Winners: Stephens-Howling, D-Line and WR corp.
Losers: Dwyer, Gay, and Foster
:applaudit:Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwinsgames
Guy Whimper is the reason why other countries hate us....not just because of our freedom, but we use our freedom to play Guy Whimper at left tackle.
Do you think he's actually gonna make the team? I mean, we're thin on the o-line but c'mon......Quote:
Originally Posted by Chidi29
Unfortunately, not many other options. And Joe Long didn't even play. He was dressed but didn't see a snap. It's a really bad situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by blackngldblood
I don't agree with Foster on that list. Yeah he gave up a bad sack, but he's a proven veteran and his position isn't in dispute. Barring injury he will be the starting left guard for the Steelers this year, and in no way is that a bad thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by LLT
thisQuote:
Originally Posted by Dwinsgames
Quote:
Originally Posted by steelreserve
Why do you panic?
Steelers have almost always had a top 5 defense under Lebeau, even with Gay in the lineup......Many team would like to have the same defense that Pittsburgh