Agree, he was playing well and always around the football. I didn't have time to look but think Castonzo was playing opposite him and has been playing well this season. I thought Haden played well also.
the contributions of Nix and Washington go a bit under the radar. Run game is better with Nix and if Edmunds follows him on the goal line handoff, he walks into the end zone behind Nix and DeCastro. Washington made 3 contested catches that kept chains moving on poorly placed throws.
Let’s not forget how good he’s been in run defense. And quite a few of his big plays were clutch, and really changed momentum of the game.
This is the Bud I really thought he would be this year... of course I thought it last year too.
Yes. I admit it. I am a Bud Dupree apologist!
Minka and, the defense Boz, Watt.
OK, but who have they played against with a winning record, other than the Colts with Brian Hoyer? Bengals, Dolphins, Chargers. That is where he is donging up the numbers.
I think you may have helped to coin a new phrase in the world of Steelers Message Boards. Dong-ologist.
I love the term Dong-ologist. But that sounds more like an expert in dong-ery. Like the person who puts out the dong report is a dong-ologist. I'm more of a dong-wagon fan. Or a dongophile. Something of that nature.
I realize that that everything the Steelers do this year is of a dong nature, given your specific parameters. That's fine with me. I'm just glad Vinatieri kicked it dong left!
I'll take the dong wins however I can get them.
End of the game
3rd-&-1
If the Colts convert, they can run the clock down to 0 ...and then kick the game-winning FG. Conversely, a stop here might give the Colts a chance to kick the go-ahead FG, but there would be plenty of time for the Steelers to answer back. SUMMATION: This is a huge play.
Dupree responds by stuffing the RB for a loss. Dupree has to come all the way across/behind the LOS to make the play... and he did. That stop was HUGE.
Game ball goes to Shankatari. He might be the all-time scorer in the NFL, but he is done.
All Defense!
Not the first time the Colts missed against the Steelers. I think many of you forgot.
All Defense!
Both of those shanks came after blown calls by the refs, they almost screwed us over calling that Polamalu INT an incomplete pass, which would have iced the game if correctly called.
See you Space Cowboy ...
I’m rewatching the condensed version of the game and it’s honestly making me sick. Apart from a few splash plays, they absolutely picked us apart for 3 and a half quarters.
And our offense looked inept most of the time.
Right now we seem to be literally good at NOTHING except kicking field goals and garnering the occasional splash play on defense. Thank Odin for sacks and turnovers.
It’s the Dick LeBeau / Bill Belichick “bend, but don’t break” defense. If you force the opposing offense to take 15 plays to get to the red-zone, along the way, they’re bound to make a mistake. Neither coach cared about yardage; their defenses were based on making a splash play.
Two games without Minkah:
4 deep passes completed
22 yards per reception
passer rating: 141
3 TDs, 0 INTs
Six games with Minkah:
7 deep passes completed
5 yards per reception
passer rating: 10
0 TDs, 4 INTs
I think it is very much like the Dick LeBeau bend but don’t break syndrome, except that defense, in like ‘08 didn’t actually break and allow a third string QB to actually get 3 TD passes on us.
And we could absolutely stop the run back then. Now it looks like we’re getting gashed every which way until someone generates a turn over.
Maybe the colts just had the perfect play calls all game long. It was really reminiscent of playing the Patriots every year.
The Colts really did seem like the better overall football team. If I were a Colts fan I wouldn’t believe that the score was reflecting the game I was watching.
And we’ve been talking scenarios where we go into Baltimore and beat the Ravens? Unless major changes happen, like they sustain injuries while we get better at everything we do, we will not only lose, but we’ll get embarrassed.
I’m sorry for being all “sky is falling” but I just know how sick I’ll feel if I have to watch Lamar Jackson pick our defense apart with his ARM.
The offense has to help the defense. Offense has become better at sustaining possessions, so the defenses isn't constantly on the field. But think back to '08 or even earlier in the 2000's. The offense would convert opportunities to TDs. Put the opponent down multiple scores and the defense would really clamp down. The other team would have to go one dimensional and the Steelers would just tee off.
Rewind through the Colts game. Multiple "failed" red zone opportunities to score touchdowns. Edmunds follows DeCastro and that is a TD instead of FG. 17-16 at the half instead of Steelers down 3. Start the 4th with a TD instead of another FG and it is now 31-18 and the game is essentially over early in the 4th quarter.
IMO, the loss of Tuitt hurts a lot in the run game and pass rush. Heyward is still good, but age is catching up, Hargrave is just good, but not great and Alualu seems like a rotational guy, not a starter. The current lack of talent and depth on the D line definitely hurts when playing against an O line that can run block.
It wasn’t my intention to match up player-for-player the 2008 defense versus the 2019 defense. That 2008 squad was loaded. That said, the philosophy is the same. Belichick has used it for years.
The problem in the Colts game was that we “broke”. Had Mark Barron not given up a gimme TD, it’s an entirely different game. The other two TDs had similar breakdowns by the defense (which they hadn’t done much this season).
We played Lamar. If not for an unfortunate fumble, we were on our way to beating him.
Right now it is simply a bad offense with no sustained running game to take the pressure off Mason
Total yardage, Football Outsiders DVOA ratings, and TD red zone scoring efficiency for the offense are brutal
28th total yards per game (290)/27th passing yards per game/26th rushing yards per game
http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...alse&Submit=Go
28th DVOA total offense
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teamoff/2019
28th red zone TD scoring percentage (38%) (FWIW surprised to see the Chiefs down with the bottom feeders for this stat)
https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/sta...ne-scoring-pct
Not surprised at any of those stats. While I am really glad that the team is winning and playing competitive football week in and week out, I think I can also admit that the 2019 Steelers offense is woefully bad.
Unless the defense gives the offense a short field, they basically don't do too much. That is almost certainly not a sustainable pattern.