My observations from the Panthers punishment

There is no defending the taunting penalty and how dumb it was. But the truth is the better the player the more leeway they receive.
Jimmy Johnson was asked whether he considered cutting Leon Lett after his bonehead played against the Dolphins on Thanksgiving. His reply was to the effect of “are you kidding me. Have you seen how good he is.”

DJ was chewed out by Tomlin before reaching the sideline. And sat out for 1-2 plays. Then when he made the big 3rd down catch on the Steelers sideline and started to jaw at the corner back, Tomlin literally grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him backwards.
The key to a player like DJ is figure out how to use his passion so that he is on the field, not off the field.

 

That just showed that Johnson did not even care that he hurt his team with a stupid, selfish penalty. He damn near did it again. I get that you can't sit him for more than a play or two, but he damn sure should be fined by the team.

 

Move him to ILB

 

I missed the Allen penalty, what exactly happened? Was he jawing with someone or was he just trying to be a goof?

 

It was crazy he was talking to one of their players and then Allen went to their sideline during the timeout and entered their huddle.

And to do this he had to come off the steelers bench and go all the way over to the opposite sideline for the 4th down punt team.

 

Oops I was thinking Dotson. Wrong side

 

We committed 2 of the most ridiculous penalties ever.
a.) I was glad to see Tomlin get to DJ and get that one under control.
b.) #27, Marcus Allen - Man, that one should have sent him to the locker room.. Unforgiveable.

Harris is a beast... he had some runs that just were pure old school punishing.
Warren does provide a nice 2nd punch.

My focus is changing, from Matt Canada who seems to be finding his way to Teryl Austin who seems to be regressing.

Traffic from Charlotte through Greensboro, Durham and Raliegh, completely sucks. I kissed the ground in Manteo while the wife called my therapist.

 

Agreed, though even with taking a dumb penalty, he was very good yesterday. So was Moore, at least in the run game.

 

I've been trying to find the Steelers' conversion rates on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, preferably with a comparison to the rest of the league. It certainly seems like they are a hell of a lot better at those this season, including yesterday's game. I think the only time they were stopped in short yardage was Trubisky's sneak on first-and-goal, which was a terrible call. He was in, but it didn't matter, as he made it on the next play.

It isn't just one thing. The offensive line has gotten better. They finally figured out a role in which Derek Watt can help them on offense, so the defense has to defend four options (sneak, fullback, tailback, jet sweep). All that said, I think a lot of it is the quarterbacks. Both Trubisky and Pickett are comfortable under center. Both run the sneak well. Those were things Roethlisberger rarely did the last few seasons. Now we are seeing big a difference that makes.

 

If we get that huge NT from Baylor and beef Edmunds up a little I could see this?
He could be a depth player for Jack and Robinson.

 

There was a stat quoted yesterday, about how good the Steelers were on third downs, one of the upper 1/3.
I was glad they started incorporating the QB sneak on 3rd and 1 instead of trying a 20-yard pass.

 

How many years did we have a 6' 5 " 245 pound QB who refused to QB sneak. Yet the goat at 45 has run them his whole career. Stupid, just stupid.

 

Yes thats the kinda tenacity we need, comin from every angle! Like the good ol days

 

You mean left guard Dotson

 

After watching that game, I started to wonder if maybe we need to go CB first in the draft. Our OL was actually decent (now that could be because the Panther D line is weak - I don't know about that). Our corners on the other hand....I would have passed the ball the entire game against us to be honest.

 

My observations to add:

The Steelers have one recipe to win football games. Run successfully, stop the Run successfully... commit no turnovers.
The only other successful way is the other team to commit about 5 Turnovers and lose a long snapper...

If the game is put into their QBs hands they have no shot at least at this point of the season. I don't care if its Kenny, Mitch or Uncle Rico...

Crazy stat of the year. Every time the Steelers score 1st in a game they win... every time the other team scores 1st they have lost.

8 passing TDs in 14 games (Mitch and Kenny) is crazy terrible in todays NFL, even if your not good. Maybe if teams start respecting our run game more this may open up better chances the last 3 games. But, looking ahead Saturday's Raiders game looks like between 5 and 10 degrees... and your away outdoors at Baltimore and back home again against Cleveland.
Ground and pound is probably gonna be the way to go... but when you keep the games out of the QBs hands this season it usually ends in a W. If we throw too much we are usually gonna go down with an L.

You really wish you could go back... 3 games bad losses this year... should of beat Pats, should of beat Jets.... should of beat Ravens. To boot all 3 home losses.
Just go 2-1 instead of 0-3 in those games.. Steelers be 8-6 instead of 6-8 and be in a better spot to control their fate last 3 games.

One area of improvement this seasons 3rd and 1 and 4th and 1 (inches)
For never using Big Ben on a QB sneak.. they do it all the time with Kenny and Mitch

I like what Jalen Warren brings to the table.... hopefully its opening Tomlin's eyes that a fresher Najee and a fresher Jalen is a good way to go. 1-2 punch stop the Bell Cow... Najee isn't Levon Bell and AB isn't out there anymore. 1-2 punch... heck even throw Benny Snell a few carries as well.
I give Tomlin credit to use Warren when it was an 8 point game and your running clock. Warren's buggaboo has been a known to fumble the ball but he seems to have improved in that area.

Pat F. wasn't targeted the whole game. I guess Tomlin told Mitch you look at Pat you will turn to salt. Mitch never went to him.

Good catch by Pickens, still think he needs a few more targets than 2-4 times a game. But, with limited QB ability to this point not gonna expect much improvement.

Good kick by Boswell looks like his groin injury is fine now. That kick worried me he hasn't had a bunch of chances to kick FGs since he came back last 2 games.

Giving up a 3rd and 11 and 3rd and 14 on the same drive is unacceptable. Still can't figure out how James Pierre let his guy get over top him like that on a 3rd and 14.

For whatever reason we own the Carolina Panthers.... Home or Away... the Panthers only shot of beating us is in the last game of the pre-season every year....

 

Freiermuth didn't seem to play a lot. He was on the injury report during the week. Maybe he isn't fully healthy. I noticed Gentry on the field and Freiermuth on the sideline quite a bit. That may also be a decision to keep the better blocker on the field more.

Carolina's front seven had been playing very well. Give the Steelers' line credit. They have been a lot better lately.

They blew at least four close games this year. You left out the loss to the Dolphins. How many interceptions did they drop in that one? I know they won close games, too, but those close losses are certainly a source of frustration.

 

Yes agree the Dolphins game was winnable as well.

I agree with what Coach Cowher used to say.. its a fine line between being a winning team and losing team.

 

That was a weird play with Pierre on that long 3rd down. It almost looked like he didn’t realize he had deep 1/3rd. Like he thought it was zone and he was passing that WR off to someone.

 

You either fall down or have a mix up with coverages, I'm guessing blown coverage.

 

Yup. Pierre just isn't good. He can be useful on special teams, but that's it.

 

He’s earned another look by the Steelers IMHO, maybe even a multi-year deal. I’d bring him back if he’s willing to be reasonable.

 

Pittsburgh dad explained it pretty well

 

And fumbled which cost a game.
Some Qbs don't like to run them. Hell Pat Mahomes got hurt doing it, and they hardly do it anymore.
Most Qbs that are great passers don't like doing it. Of course if You're not a great passer You do it...You got to do something.
Yet for all these great Qb sneaks they are still way Behind a old a$$ Ben on Tds, and way ahead on turnover both the Qbs combined. LoL
Sorry, but I will take the TDs, and less turnovers than the QB sneak.

 

Last I checked, Tom Brady was a pretty good passer. He has never shied away from running a quarterback sneak. Josh Allen runs them. Plenty of great passers run them.

Obviously, Pickett has to get better for it to be worth it. I'm just pointing out a way that the offense got better this year because Roethlisberger is gone. His limitations hurt the short-yardage offense the last few seasons of his career.