Quote Originally Posted by teegre View Post
The offense is actually really close to being “decent” (which is all that we need).

On one play Trubisky connects with DJ for a first down. A few plays later, Trubisky threads a needle to DJ… who drops it. A few plays later, Trubisky likes the sideline better than an open receiver.

So close…

On one play Pickens makes an amazing catch. A few plays later, Trubisky wants to get the grass involved. Towards the end of the game, Pickens doesn’t use two hands to reel in a TD.

So close…

On one play, Najee catches a dump off, and runs for a first down. A few plays later, he catches a dump off, and is tackled behind the LOS. Later on Warren takes a screen 30+ yards… only to be brought back due to an illegal man downfield.

So close…

SUMMATION:
Good play
One guy’s mistake.
Another guy’s mistake.

If we can eliminate even one mistake per drive, we win that game last night… and many more throughout the season.
A young offense with every key guy still learning how to play at the NFL level. It is encouraging that it is a different guy and not the same mistake(s). Means that some things are getting corrected and others are cropping up, Frustrating but par for the course when almost the entire offense is on a rookie deal.

On defense, the Steelers have played an entire extra game of plays already based on the league average of 60 defensive snaps per game. This has taken a toll on the two shallowest parts of the team - DB and OLB. Browns victimized the Watt back-up brigade in the run game and the DBs looked heavy-legged in both man and zone.

Clean a few things up. Bring the defense off the field for like 8-12 plays a game by extending drives on offense. Execute some of the missing final pieces that Teegre identified and BOOM - competitive and likely winning football.