My thoughts on regular season wk 3

1. Justin Fields shook off that ugly int and had a really nice game

2. Defense held the Chargers to negative yds in the 2nd half

3. Speaking of defense.... while I hate seeing Highsmith go down, things seriously kicked up when Herbig came in

4. Good job sticking with the run.... in the end, the Chargers defense was just too beat up to keep up that 1st half pace

5. Can't say enough good things about Zach Frazier

6. Calvin Austin stepped up big

7. Aside from that td, Joey Porter Jr held Quentin Johnston to only one other reception.... also quite impressed with his run support

8. Patrick Queen was much more active this week

9. Broderick Jones acquitted himself fairly well

10. Nice to see us attacking the middle on offense

 

If we could put an actual run game together, this team could be legitimately dangerous. Fields did great, but he would probably do even better if he wouldn't have to throw for 90% of the game just to get any yards. Still an impressive win overall and a nice full team effort.

 

The run game did come together in the 2nd half. Patterson and Najee came up big

 

Fields was throwing with more confidence today than we’ve seen before.

 

It took a while, but they ran it well late to put the game away. If they would stop running those pitch plays to Harris, they would be a lot better off. Every single one of them got blown up. Get him going downhill. He had 70 yards even with at least 12 yards in losses on the pitch plays.

 

We had a few Mason McCormick sightings too. I think he was in for certain run packages.

 

He was firing the ball into tight windows all day. He had to do that. For most of the game, the receivers weren't getting much separation. He made a couple of mistakes, the big one being the ball he forced to Patterson that was intercepted, but he was good today.

 

Tbh it only did when the game was basically over. When it was still everything to play for, it was basically dead

 

Did.we get out of this game with no injuries?

 

It looked like he got some time at guard in place of Anderson and lined up as a sixth offensive lineman in the second half.

 

I agree with all of this, but No. 5 is the one that jumps out at me. Frazier is a stud.

 

Growth from everywhere you want to see it, starting with QB and OL.

So long as Highsmith and Warren aren't hurt, we should be in good shape.

 

Yeah OL wore them out in the 4th quarter… those were the biggest holes we’ve seen a Steeler OL open up in over half a decade. I want to see that continue.

We’ve actually played against some really good defenses, even though we haven’t played against the best teams. We need to keep it rolling and hopefully a big offensive day comes. Close again today. A TD on the final possession (instead of kneeling it out) and that missed fg that Muth dropped a pass that would’ve made it a Boz automatic, could’ve seen a 30 point game. However if the defense holds teams to 10 or less every week, we’re just going to keep winning

 

Do we really want Highsmith let him back-up Watt and Herbig. Total destruction with those 2 in there

 

The Bears GM is such a great GM for the steelers!!!!

Porter Jr and now Fields for Claypool and likely a fourth round pick

 

11. Kathy Bates is not the Matlock you’re expecting

 

1. Didn’t see the guy and it was a tip drill INT. Not super ugly, sucks for sure bc he missed a defender, but that thing doesn’t get picked all the time. It was really his only throw that was even close to a dicey throw/decision. He played awesome.

2. yeah, pretty nutty. I know Herbert got knocked out of the game in the 3rd, which helps, but when this defense pins its ears back and rushes the QB…. It’s scary. scariest in the NFL.

3. Herbig is a really nice player and an excellent pass rusher. With Larry O, Benton, and Heyward putting in work, we’re as dangerous as anyone in the league rushing the QB.

4. OL wore them out late. TOP was just too much to handle. MASSIVE holes to run through on the last drive.

5. The guy’s a stud. Glad we got that right.

6. Excellent game for him. Long TD is obvious, but he had a great 3rd down catch and a sideline catch that were impressive too. Need to see more of this out of him.

7. Won’t see Porter blow too many coverages. It happens. He’s transformed completely as a tackler in run support. Looked like Ike T. (Swaggin’ University) out there today

8. Queen played a nice game. He’s too good to not show up eventually.

9. Yeah, he needs to keep playing through any struggles. He’s going to get better with reps. It wasn’t a perfect game or anything, but he seemed to play pretty well.

10. It comes over time. Nice to see Fields progress and Smith get comfortable calling plays for him to succeed. Looks like we’re getting close to breaking out in a big way.

 

Lot of talk about the schedule which I understand. Our next QB to abuse is Anthony Richardson. Kind of sucked today. We have not faced the better QB's yet but regardless we have a top 5 defense and I can see it jelling even more as season wears on. I believe our O can keep getting better. Fields has got to be getting more confident and comfortable in black and gold. IMO when that back half of schedule comes around Steelers will be ready.

 

This!

Another solid analysis blackandgoldpatrol.

3-0!

 

Highsmith had a groin injury, which paved the way for Herbig's big 2nd half

 

If more than 5 people tune in to watch this I'll be shocked.

 

Romo said that Frazier has a chance to be a Pro Bowl center in his rookie year.

 

Najee had 3 yards at halftime and ended up with 70.