Heroes/Goats @ Cleveland

[steelcityboyz]

I'm going to defend Tomlin on that.

The team was ready and I would not be surprised if the browns have 7-8 wins this year.

The only complaint I have with Tomlin was being too conservative, but this game is about Ben

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Tie....

Thanks i don't know what i was thinking lol

[Craic]

Heroes:
Connor for all but one play
Watt
HM:Hilton, Davis, Bostic, AB (HM because it took him quite awhile to get going and had about a 60 percent reception rate today iirc).

Goats:
First half Ben
Fumbling Connor
Sutton
Boz
Second Half O Line.

[Steelerchad]

Would have given the hero to Conner, but his fumble was absolutely the turning point in the game. Without that fumble on 1st down, under 8 minutes to go, up 14 points, it's game over.
Watt is probably the hero.
Ben is easily the goat.

[GoSlash27]

Hero: TJ Watt. He played lights out.
Goat: Big Ben. I blame this one on him 100%. Still, I'm sure he'll suck less next week. I think we'll be okay.

Best,
-Slashy

[Shoes]

Artie Burns has a real problem between the ears and with his playing.

[Steeldude]

Artie Burns has a real problem between the ears and with his playing.

It's been that way since he was drafted and before. The guy is subpar.

[tube517]

I'm as pissed as anyone right now. But Juju had 5 catches for 119 yds. He showed up.

Ben probably should have thrown to him more while AB was hugging Todd Haley.

TJ Watt, 4 sacks

JJ Watt, 0 sacks

This makes this ridiculous tie even more frustrating.

EDIT: I love James Conner. Gotta hold on to the ball but played very well besides the fumble.

[HollywoodSteel]

It seems like Ben needs to play A LOT in the last preseason game. He always sucks coming back from an injury, a bye, or any week he hasn’t played.

I have no idea why.

But I almost don’t want a playoff bye this year. Good thing we won’t get one.

[Butch]

Hero is T.J., and Ju Ju
Goat is Ben

[FrancoLambert]

Defense played much better than I expected. Bostic seemed to be around the ball a lot.
This loss was on Ben.

[Steeldude]

The defense is still confused and undisciplined like Harrison stated. 13 men on the field?

Heroes: Watt, run blocking, Switzer, Conner(but that fumble was bad)

Goats: BR, Burns, pass blocking, pass defense, Tomlin, Fritz, Butler

[Cyphon25]

Heroes


TJ Watt - Awesome performance from Watt and boy do we need him to work out since Dupree continues to look like a first round miss for us. Dupree isn't terrible but he isn't worth the first round money he is signed up for right now. Not only do we get the splash from Watt with sacks but he is a beast against the run as well. He will be in the conversation for our best defensive player at the end of this season.

James Conner - Great work from Conner barring the fumble which was pretty costly. He is young and growing pains will happen but the good far outweight the bad. Good vision, good catching out of the backfield, makes people miss, and is a punishing runner. I absolutely loved watching him go find his linemen after the first TD and I dunno if it was just my imagination but it seemed like after every run they were rallying to him to help him off of the field and stuff. Just shoving every success in the face of Bell.

I won't break down everyone but there were some other noteworthy performances on the defensive side. Heyward and Tuitt did there thing being constantly disruptive (it is going to be a treat watching them all season) and Sean Davis looked comfortable in his FS spot. Bostic and Williams looked good at ILB. Not great but with all of the concern it was a bit of a relief watching them together. Mike Hilton was his usual self as well.

Goats

Ben Roethlisberger - What do you say? Rusty, inaccurate, forcing throws and the turnovers were ugly. Not all on him but he has to be better. That game should have been like 35-7 and instead we got a tie.

I don't think Bud Dupree fully deserves it but he has to be better. He wasn't terrible but TJ Watt already looks like 10 times the player and Bud was facing a rookie LT. Villanueva deserves a bit of a mention as well for what he let Garrett do. The refs/football in general also deserves a mention. Some of these calls really do make me wonder how much longer I will enjoy the game at a high level. TJ Watt should have never been called for roughing the passer and that call on Josh Gordon was ridiculous based on what I saw.

[polamalubeast]

It could be worse and more worrying for the steelers.

I mean, the saints gave 48 points against Ryan Fitzpatrick at home .... their defense could be one of the worst once again after be good only in first half of the season last year.

The steelers ..... the only reason why it was a TIE game was Ben ...

[Iron Steeler]

Ben goat

Hero TJ Watt
for changing this from a loss to a tie

[FrancoLambert]

This loss is on the players. Poor performance and execution did it, not coaching decisions.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Heroes JUJU, Switzer and the D
Goats Watt for not returning his block kick for TD

[polamalubeast]

If you want to see a team not be ready to start the game, look at the packers right now against the bears ...or The saints defense.

[Moose]

Hero's.....the fan's that watched this game and didn't destroy the TV
Goat's.....the Steeler's/coaches that couldn't hold onto a 2 TD lead to Clevel

[HollywoodSteel]

If I were Colbert I’d offer Bell to come back NOW and all is forgiven, or the day Bell DOES decide to sign his tag, he’ll be traded to the Jets for pretty much nothing.

He’ll be put on a bad team with one of the worst Oline’s in football for at least 6 games, and probably get injured there or at least overworked for no shot at sniffing the playoffs. Then, if he survives those games unhurt, the Jets and Colts can decide who wants him for the remainder of his sad career... that will all be downhill from his glory days as a Steeler. But he probably will not get anywhere near the deal he thinks he’ll get.

That, or Bell can be part a power backfield, and have a chance at a ring this year.

[DesertSteel]

Good game for Watt, Bud, Juju and Conner.
Bad game for Ben and Boz.

[Fire Goodell]

The team played good. Ben lost this game single handedly. He didn't look ready at all to play and his accuracy was as good as a sawed-off shotgun from 200 yards away.

I'm getting concerned that he started off the season last year exactly the same. I mean he's never been one for fast starts, but he's been downright terrible to start this season and last.

Top performers I'd say were Conner, Watt, and Juju.

Switzer looks like he was a good pickup. That kid's got a pair of steel balls and good return skills

[tube517]

Another Goat: Jordan Berry

This guy has gone to Mitch Berger/Paul Ernster camp.
Some shanks out there yesterday.

[Steeldude]

It can be hard to measure players on a bad weather day.

My issue is how is this team still confused on defense? 13 men on the field?

[teegre]

It can be hard to measure players on a bad weather day.

My issue is how is this team still confused on defense? 13 men on the field?

They got caught in the midst of swapping players. Credit to Tyron Taylor for the quick snap.

[polamalubeast]

It can be hard to measure players on a bad weather day.

My issue is how is this team still confused on defense? 13 men on the field?

It was bad, but it was the only time the steelers were confused in defense ....

They did not give a free big play / touchdown because of a lack of communication like that often happen last year ...

[AtlantaDan]

It was bad, but it was the only time the steelers were confused in defense ....

In the first half one of the LBs (Bostic?) was attempting to redirect someone lined up along the sideline into position and had his back turned to the line of scrimmage at the snap while that other defender was still out of position.

Fortunately Taylor blew the pass.

[DesertSteel]

I liked several things yesterday. Funny how 6 turnovers can get in the way though.

[Craic]

I liked several things yesterday. Funny how 6 turnovers can get in the way though.

That just about says it all. Several Steelers pick-ups looked great yesterday. I no longer have a concern about ILB when we have to move to the 3-4 because I think Bostic can take care of that without a problem. The switch at safeties and OLB really paid off yesterday as well. Our new returner made some nice contributions.

Honestly, about 3/4s of the way through the game, i was thinking about how the narrative was going to go on this board. Something along the lines of bad first half, but they put that behind them and came out the second half ready to play except for the first defensive series, which they fixed immediately after. And then, the blow up.

[DesertSteel]

That just about says it all. Several Steelers pick-ups looked great yesterday. I no longer have a concern about ILB when we have to move to the 3-4 because I think Bostic can take care of that without a problem. The switch at safeties and OLB really paid off yesterday as well. Our new returner made some nice contributions.

Honestly, about 3/4s of the way through the game, i was thinking about how the narrative was going to go on this board. Something along the lines of bad first half, but they put that behind them and came out the second half ready to play except for the first defensive series, which they fixed immediately after. And then, the blow up.

I had to watch on GamePlan since I'm out of the area and it's not available on rewind until the last day game. Fortunately everyone knows not to give me the score or they die. When the game was 21-7 I was feeling good, but I looked at the time left on the video and there was an hour and 20 minutes, but there was only 7 minutes left in the game. I knew right then it was going to get ugly and go to OT. I was pretty disgusted even before I saw it unfold.

[polamalubeast]

And why is Hunter playing over Washington?