Inches... They Are All Around Us

[teegre]

It is crazy how one or two plays can change an entire game.

1. Opening drive by the Jets.
3rd-&-whatever
Fitzpatrick plays the man, not the ball (one of the very few errors he has made this season). If Minkah tracks the ball it’s an easy INT... and probably a pick-six. Adding salt to the wound, he was called for DPI (new set of downs, new life for the Jets).

Instead of a TD for the Jets (or, holding them to a FG)... it could have been 7 points for the Steelers. Since the Jets did almost nothing else on offense for the rest of the game, that 14 point swing was HUGE. It would have altered the entire game.

2. Second-to-last Steelers drive of the half. The Steelers are driving. It’s second down, and Rudolph has a man wide open. The pass rush is on him, he looks at the receiver, and pump fakes...??? Why not throw it??? Instead, he takes the sack, making it third-&-long... which forces a FG. That 4 points (or, lack thereof) hurt.

Here is one other...

3. Steelers driving. Third down. Rudolph misses Samuels... and Jamal Adams TAUNTS Samuels. He is pointing, laughing, and openly mocking him dropping the ball. No flag. 15 yards there puts the Steelers in FG range (with a new set of downs). Instead, we punt.

Obviously, there were more:

-Duck sacking his way out of FG range (as opposed to throwing the ball away).

-Duck throwing into the end-zone to Samuels (instead of DJ).

-Pouncey getting injured, which led to Rudolph getting injured.

-“Delay of game” not being called, and we get sacked & have to punt (instead of adding 5 yards and still having third down to convert).

QUESTION:
What little plays (that were huge) did you see?

[DesertSteel]

I didn’t get to watch the game, but this sounds like a painful exercise!

[86WARD]

To be honest, I love your posts but this one is just an exercise in frustration...lol.

[cubanstogie]

I love the optimism in all your posts, I used to be the same way a Steelers homer but this year Im a realist. They score 10 points on a gift TD that most teams would have prevented and we have to rely on missed calls or what could have been. The D has been amazing and probably could hold KC to 27 points in wild card. Unfortunately we will only score 10-13 points and lose. Don't get me wrong I still want them to get in and force 4 turnovers for a chance but am not hopeful. I say start Lynch and see what happens. Duck was a great story but dude has no arm and is erratic.

[steelreserve]

There are always half a dozen ways to say "if only this one tiny thing had gone our way, and that one other tiny thing didn't happen, then it's a 21-point swing ... and then if that ball wasn't tipped, we win 49-3. Then multiply that by the Chargers game, and Tuitt didn't get hurt, and the Ravens choke in New Hampshire, and WHAM-O! We're 14-2 and clinched the #1 seed! It's a possibility!"

You just can't put much stock in that, because there are always a ton of those things in every game, and they won't all go your way and they're never going to. I'm sure the Browns are just a few near-misses away from 16-0 that way too. But the fact is, a really good team makes 5 or 10 OTHER good plays, and then the little things don't matter, because it wasn't third down, or the penalty didn't put them in field goal range, or you scored a touchdown on the last drive to go up 2 scores.

You may have hit on something, which is that this team has just enough talent in key places to hang in there against anyone - but it is not good enough to win without catching some breaks. Pretty much the state of things in 2019.

[teegre]

There are always half a dozen ways to say "if only this one tiny thing had gone our way, and that one other tiny thing didn't happen, then it's a 21-point swing ... and then if that ball wasn't tipped, we win 49-3. Then multiply that by the Chargers game, and Tuitt didn't get hurt, and the Ravens choke in New Hampshire, and WHAM-O! We're 14-2 and clinched the #1 seed! It's a possibility!"

You just can't put much stock in that, because there are always a ton of those things in every game, and they won't all go your way and they're never going to. I'm sure the Browns are just a few near-misses away from 16-0 that way too. But the fact is, a really good team makes 5 or 10 OTHER good plays, and then the little things don't matter, because it wasn't third down, or the penalty didn't put them in field goal range, or you scored a touchdown on the last drive to go up 2 scores.

You may have hit on something, which is that this team has just enough talent in key places to hang in there against anyone - but it is not good enough to win without catching some breaks. Pretty much the state of things in 2019.

I get what you are saying, and since most games come down to one play here or there, ANY team can play the “woulda, shoulda, coulda” game.

That said, IMO, that non-INT by Fitzpatrick was the turning point of the game. There were other moments that could have turned the game around (and I mentioned), but my main point was that an INT on the opening drive vastly changes the entirety of that game.

Your last paragraph is correct, and as Tomlin has stated: the Steelers can beat anybody... as long as the QB doesn’t kill them. Any mistake, and this team has a tough time digging out of that hole. Multiple mistakes... ugh, good night!!!

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I watched this play again on DVR and in Minkah's defense that ball was thrown right through the sun shadow (think hitter in baseball as the stadium shadow passes home plate) part of the stadium and was very hard to pick up even on TV in slow motion. I'll give him a pass on that, he probably lost the ball in that weird shadow and did the right thing and went for the man.

You are correct.

My intent was not to throw shade towards Fitzpatrick. I was more trying to say how one little play can change the entire scope of the game.

[Iron Steeler]

Matekevic encroachment on 4 and 5.

[pczach]

Matekevic encroachment on 4 and 5.

The irreplaceable special teams ace.....

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Matekevic encroachment on 4 and 5.

That was a false start by the long snapper. Refs missed it.

He immediately snaps his head up to draw Matakevich offside and the O line point to get the penalty. The next punt, the center just keeps his head between his legs and watches as he snaps to punter. Doesn't raise his head in an abrupt manner. Refs did a lousy job of watching the center.

[86WARD]

That was a false start by the long snapper. Refs missed it.

He immediately snaps his head up to draw Matakevich offside and the O line point to get the penalty. The next punt, the center just keeps his head between his legs and watches as he snaps to punter. Doesn't raise his head in an abrupt manner. Refs did a lousy job of watching the center.

Steelers got called on the same penalty last week...no?

[tube517]

Steelers got called on the same penalty last week...no?

I saw that too and was not surprised there was no flag because the refs suck

[pczach]

That was a false start by the long snapper. Refs missed it.

He immediately snaps his head up to draw Matakevich offside and the O line point to get the penalty. The next punt, the center just keeps his head between his legs and watches as he snaps to punter. Doesn't raise his head in an abrupt manner. Refs did a lousy job of watching the center.

I agree.

The Steelers got penalized for the exact same thing, only the snapper's movement wasn't as exaggerated as the Jets center was.

How do you even begin to know what is or isn't a penalty based on the complete lack of consistency by officials?

[86WARD]

I agree.

The Steelers got penalized for the exact same thing, only the snapper's movement wasn't as exaggerated as the Jets center was.

How do you even begin to know what is or isn't a penalty based on the complete lack of consistency by officials?

So much interpretation involved in these rules and that’s the major problem...

[steelcityboyz]

although it won't happen I say start Lynch. We already know what Mason and Duck can't do and that's manage a game. Maybe Lynch will hang 31 points on the Rats..

[NCSteeler]

although it won't happen I say start Lynch. We already know what Mason and Duck can't do and that's manage a game. Maybe Lynch will hang 31 points on the Rats..

I agree. Lynch was a high pick for some reason. Time to find out if he can play

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[cubanstogie]

I agree. Lynch was a high pick for some reason. Time to find out if he can play

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for a guy 6'7" dude can run which may be his only skill I don't remember watching him play at all. I did watch his highlights but Im sure there were many more lowlights. My knee jerk reaction is to start him as well, but how many different plays has he actually practiced? It would be foolish to put him in game if he hasn't had any success in practice. ITs not like receivers getting much separation, he is going to have to anticipate and without practice and timing its a stab in the dark. All that said Id still like to see him, Duck may beat 2nd string Ravens but we have bigger fish to fry.

[NCSteeler]

for a guy 6'7" dude can run which may be his only skill I don't remember watching him play at all. I did watch his highlights but Im sure there were many more lowlights. My knee jerk reaction is to start him as well, but how many different plays has he actually practiced? It would be foolish to put him in game if he hasn't had any success in practice. ITs not like receivers getting much separation, he is going to have to anticipate and without practice and timing its a stab in the dark. All that said Id still like to see him, Duck may beat 2nd string Ravens but we have bigger fish to fry.

I'd practice him with first team all week. What have they got to lose really? Give him a shot and move on to the draft. I mean this team defense could certainly surprise any of the playoff contenders but hold on for a full 60 minutes idk about that

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[steelreserve]

I'd practice him with first team all week. What have they got to lose really? Give him a shot and move on to the draft. I mean this team defense could certainly surprise any of the playoff contenders but hold on for a full 60 minutes idk about that

As far as I'm concerned, they are not going to get Ben's successor this offseason, and still need to figure out who's a backup that is worth a shit. Lynch is like a free swing at that, so why not see if he shows anything worthy of consideration for being in the mix. We've had extended looks at both Rudolph and Duck already. Might as well see what we've got; if Lynch looks like even potential backup material, it could save us from having to use some random mid-round draft pick to take a guy who is probably not gonna be much better than what we've got.

[steel striker]

for a guy 6'7" dude can run which may be his only skill I don't remember watching him play at all. I did watch his highlights but Im sure there were many more lowlights. My knee jerk reaction is to start him as well, but how many different plays has he actually practiced? It would be foolish to put him in game if he hasn't had any success in practice. ITs not like receivers getting much separation, he is going to have to anticipate and without practice and timing its a stab in the dark. All that said Id still like to see him, Duck may beat 2nd string Ravens but we have bigger fish to fry.

Maybe start Duck then if he struggles make the switch to Paxon see what happens all hands on deck. Got to find a way to win this game.

[teegre]

Maybe start Duck then if he struggles make the switch to Paxon see what happens all hands on deck. Got to find a way to win this game.

Thank you!!! That is what all of this is about. I don’t care if it’s Duck or The XBox King or Jaylen Samuels at QB... I want to win this game!!!

[EzraTank]

It is crazy how one or two plays can change an entire game.

1. Opening drive by the Jets.
3rd-&-whatever
Fitzpatrick plays the man, not the ball (one of the very few errors he has made this season). If Minkah tracks the ball it’s an easy INT... and probably a pick-six. Adding salt to the wound, he was called for DPI (new set of downs, new life for the Jets).

Instead of a TD for the Jets (or, holding them to a FG)... it could have been 7 points for the Steelers. Since the Jets did almost nothing else on offense for the rest of the game, that 14 point swing was HUGE. It would have altered the entire game.

I watched this play again on DVR and in Minkah's defense that ball was thrown right through the sun shadow (think hitter in baseball as the stadium shadow passes home plate) part of the stadium and was very hard to pick up even on TV in slow motion. I'll give him a pass on that, he probably lost the ball in that weird shadow and did the right thing and went for the man.

- - - Updated - - -

I agree. Lynch was a high pick for some reason. Time to find out if he can play

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Denver gave Lynch MORE than enough opportunities to prove himself. Word out of Denver was he was lazy and didn't put the extra work in you need to be successful (film study, weight room, etc).