The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Week 1 2025

[Mojouw]

Good

• Rodgers looked far better than in any game he played for the Jets. He also looked willing to run the offense and not just play random stuff he wants to do as an offense.
• I can not believe I am typing this....but I might see why this team was so excited about getting Jonnu Smith in the building.
• Watt and Highsmith remain holy terrors off the edge.
• Ramsey can still play.
• DK Metcalf is an absolute monster

Bad

• Seamaulo did not look good. Week 1 or age?
• Heyward did not look good. Week 1 or age?
• Benton did not look good. Is he overmatched?

Ugly

• Sweet googly moogly, Brod Jones looked horrible. He's gonna get Rodgers put in a hospital.
• I actually like Loudermilk....as a small percentage back-up. He just gets moved all around too easily.
• Ya Black looked like he still has a bit to learn playing against the big boys.
• Slay did not slay. He looked his age and showed why the Iggles spent two straight draft cycles finding CBs to replace him. Hope I am wrong, but if the Steelers try and stick him in man coverage opposite Porter all year, teams are going to cook him.
• Both the highly touted ILBs played like doo-doo. Wilson was invisible. Queen almost so. I am starting to be concerned that Wilson and Queen are too similar to be on the field together. Both struggle to get off blocks and prefer to run around traffic to the ball. I sometimes think they would be better served to have at least one guy that can just detonate blockers. HOWEVER....that really only comes up against like 4 teams in the league. The rest of the time, the run and hit style is better served. Too bad the Jets and Ravens are two of those four teams.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Yup, agreed.

Rodgers looks like he is still out running Father Time and has the mobility to do well in play action.
Bro Jones being on the Left side isnt much different than the right.
D line getting pushed around. Benton didnt look great, Loudermilk sucks and Cam looks like he needs to get into playing shape.

O line needs to make the running game work. D line needs to stop the run. Still pleased with the win.

[NCSteeler]

Good to win BUT they lost in the trenches in both sides and that's not good.

ILBs got lost in traffic constantly


Ravens will likely not need to throw a pass to beat this week's version of the Steelers

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[ALLD]

Steelers better think about reinforcing the O line and D line if they want to make or win a playoff game.

[oneforthetoe]

The Good: We won. Rodgers looked good (can he keep it up under duress) Some of the additions on defense made plays at the end of the game. Serial Killer
Kicker might be one of Tomlin's best lines ever.

The Bad and the Ugly: I don't get the run defense. I am not sure how much of it is getting overpowered and how much is poor discipline, particularly against rpo's. Maybe it is time to consider if Benton is really a NT? Not as worried about the run game as some. Wasn't good but I have seen it worse. I do like the combo of backs we have. The offensive line was offensive. Just hope more playing time and hopefully not a lot of injuries will allow them to improve week by week.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I think Benton is fine at NT. The days of Casey Hampton or BJ Raji 330lb NT's have moved on. He just needs to play with better pad level and technique, which is not getting high and on skates in double team situations. Film session going to be real for the D line this week.

When they had to start SourMilk at DE I knew things would be tough. He was the weak link last season, so Harmon and Black need to be healthy and impactful IMO.

- - - Updated - - -

I think Benton is fine at NT. The days of Casey Hampton or BJ Raji 330lb NT's have moved on. He just needs to play with better pad level and technique, which is not getting high and on skates in double team situations. Film session going to be real for the D line this week.

When they had to start SourMilk at DE I knew things would be tough. He was the weak link last season, so Harmon and Black need to be healthy and impactful IMO.

[Rotorhead]

We will know about the OL and DL by week 3. If they improve next week and the week after, it is early season issues. If they don’t improve, well that will make a long season. Glad Rodgers played well, I thought he was getting better last season as it went on, people thinking athletes can get back in a year from an achiles injury are kidding themselves. It always seems to take about 2 years before they are 100%.

I didn’t like our running game, but again, first few games the last few seasons seem to be toss ups so it is good to get these early wins when anything goes.

[ETL]

I’m disappointed that Roman Wilson didn’t show anything but happy that Calvin Austin is eating

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

I’m disappointed that Roman Wilson didn’t show anything but happy that Calvin Austin is eating

Yea and there was a reason why he didn't play much last year and wasn't cause of injury and have no faith in him after this game. I agree with the OP views on all and think they will get better.

[hawaiiansteeler]

I think Benton is fine at NT.

You're more optimistic than I am.

The last two games I have watched him play versus the Ravens and Jets he was not good at all, and that's putting it kindly.

[Shoes]

I’m disappointed that Roman Wilson didn’t show anything but happy that Calvin Austin is eating

Tomlin explained Wilson’s lack of snaps here:

https://steelersdepot.com/2025/09/mi...aps-in-week-1/

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

You're more optimistic than I am.

The last two games I have watched him play versus the Ravens and Jets he was not good at all, and that's putting it kindly.

Benton squats 600lbs, bench presses 400lbs, weighs something like 310lbs. He has more than enough size and strength to play the nose. He just needs to stay lower vs the run and maintain his gap.

NT gonna get doubled and the technique is to widen into that and occupy 2 blockers. I think he is trying to make plays instead of owning his gaps and letting the plays come to him.

The notion that some fans have of him being a better fit for DE, because he isnt built like Casey Hampton is just a lot of reacting and not wanting to understand IMO.

[Mojouw]

I am clueless as to the reason for it or the correction for it, but Benton as a pro has the same struggle he did in college. Benton just ends up on the ground far too often. He can look like a game wrecker on some plays but then he just gets knocked off his feet on a ton of other plays.

If Benton can just increase the snaps he stays on his dang feet, he likely plays better.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I am clueless as to the reason for it or the correction for it, but Benton as a pro has the same struggle he did in college. Benton just ends up on the ground far too often. He can look like a game wrecker on some plays but then he just gets knocked off his feet on a ton of other plays.

If Benton can just increase the snaps he stays on his dang feet, he likely plays better.

I saw him gettting on skates too much last Sunday, but honestly havent made the time to look at all of his reps. Honestly, if a DT is getting pushed on skates downfield, he is better to pile up the blockers by being on the ground with the blocker down too.

I just think so many fans still think the Steelers NT is a 2-gap player, when they are playing 1 gap technique now...so they think that because he isnt build like Hampton that Benton should be playing DE.

The goal for Benton, Heyward, Black, ButterMilk, etc. should be to occupy 1 or 2 blockers, own their gap and hold the position at the LOS so the RB has to bounce their run laterally where they could be tackled. I think Benton is trying to get around his block and getting pushed around. I trust this to get cleaned up.

[oneforthetoe]

I saw him gettting on skates too much last Sunday, but honestly havent made the time to look at all of his reps. Honestly, if a DT is getting pushed on skates downfield, he is better to pile up the blockers by being on the ground with the blocker down too.

I just think so many fans still think the Steelers NT is a 2-gap player, when they are playing 1 gap technique now...so they think that because he isnt build like Hampton that Benton should be playing DE.

The goal for Benton, Heyward, Black, ButterMilk, etc. should be to occupy 1 or 2 blockers, own their gap and hold the position at the LOS so the RB has to bounce their run laterally where they could be tackled. I think Benton is trying to get around his block and getting pushed around. I trust this to get cleaned up.

The problem is that the d'line seems to fallen off the flat earth. I chalked up the end of last year to the ridiculous schedule, but the defense and the d'line in particular have not played a decent game in their last 5 0r 6 outings going back to last year. So maybe the issue is not that Benton can't physically handle the position but if he doesn't play with the correct technique then we might have to make a change at some point. I don't know that we have anybody on the roster who would be better but it has just been bad going way back to last year.

- - - Updated - - -

I saw him gettting on skates too much last Sunday, but honestly havent made the time to look at all of his reps. Honestly, if a DT is getting pushed on skates downfield, he is better to pile up the blockers by being on the ground with the blocker down too.

I just think so many fans still think the Steelers NT is a 2-gap player, when they are playing 1 gap technique now...so they think that because he isnt build like Hampton that Benton should be playing DE.

The goal for Benton, Heyward, Black, ButterMilk, etc. should be to occupy 1 or 2 blockers, own their gap and hold the position at the LOS so the RB has to bounce their run laterally where they could be tackled. I think Benton is trying to get around his block and getting pushed around. I trust this to get cleaned up.

The problem is that the d'line seems to fallen off the flat earth. I chalked up the end of last year to the ridiculous schedule, but the defense and the d'line in particular have not played a decent game in their last 5 0r 6 outings going back to last year. So maybe the issue is not that Benton can't physically handle the position but if he doesn't play with the correct technique then we might have to make a change at some point. I don't know that we have anybody on the roster who would be better but it has just been bad going way back to last year.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Man this site is slow.

Oneforthetoe...the problem with D line last year was talent IMO and of course health. Larry O when healthy, Benton was inconsistent, Cam is old and while playing at a high level I dont think he has the number of snaps in him per game like he did 5 years ago.

So the depth was Lowrey, Loudermilk, Adams. Sourmilk was a blocking sled and he didnt do much on this past Sunday to change that opinion. Lowrey and Adams hopefully upgraded with Black and Harmon. This past Sunday Cam looked like he was old, Benton getting too high and getting pushed downfield, Black getting his feet wet in the NFL and the Milk was past its due date as well.

I think as Harmon gets back and both he and Black get used to playing in the NFL and hopefully Cam plays his way back to form, with Benton doing his job that gives 4 D linemen. Depth is still a concern for me as I said earler this year. I honestly am hopeful that either Ekuale or Logan Lee can step up and give some quality snaps in rotation.

- - - Updated - - -

Man this site is slow.

Oneforthetoe...the problem with D line last year was talent IMO and of course health. Larry O when healthy, Benton was inconsistent, Cam is old and while playing at a high level I dont think he has the number of snaps in him per game like he did 5 years ago.

So the depth was Lowrey, Loudermilk, Adams. Sourmilk was a blocking sled and he didnt do much on this past Sunday to change that opinion. Lowrey and Adams hopefully upgraded with Black and Harmon. This past Sunday Cam looked like he was old, Benton getting too high and getting pushed downfield, Black getting his feet wet in the NFL and the Milk was past its due date as well.

I think as Harmon gets back and both he and Black get used to playing in the NFL and hopefully Cam plays his way back to form, with Benton doing his job that gives 4 D linemen. Depth is still a concern for me as I said earler this year. I honestly am hopeful that either Ekuale or Logan Lee can step up and give some quality snaps in rotation.

[Mojouw]

I saw him gettting on skates too much last Sunday, but honestly havent made the time to look at all of his reps. Honestly, if a DT is getting pushed on skates downfield, he is better to pile up the blockers by being on the ground with the blocker down too.

I just think so many fans still think the Steelers NT is a 2-gap player, when they are playing 1 gap technique now...so they think that because he isnt build like Hampton that Benton should be playing DE.

The goal for Benton, Heyward, Black, ButterMilk, etc. should be to occupy 1 or 2 blockers, own their gap and hold the position at the LOS so the RB has to bounce their run laterally where they could be tackled. I think Benton is trying to get around his block and getting pushed around. I trust this to get cleaned up.

I don't have a replay to back me up....but I remember this at Wisco too...Benton ends up on the ground and his blocker ends up on their feet looking for other work.

I think, but do not know, that he has something wrong with his technique and gets too high, OL gets underneath him, moves him back, and then he falls over trying to wrestle his way out of it.

Maybe he just needs to consistently play lower? I dunno. Hope it is something he can fix. He has the potential to be really good player. But, I am concerned by the fact that the issues he has as a pro date back to his college days and do not seem to be getting better.

[Steeldude]

HC - F It's going to be another mediocre to poor season with this fool still at the helm.

DC - F Why was Austin hired?

OC - C Rodgers made him look decent.