Isn't the Punch Line... "If he could catch a football he would be a WR"?

That was my main complaint about the fake punt. Hey, you got at least 10 guys on the sideline who you pay every week to catch a football, why not try it with one of those players??? It is funny, you have to wonder when the last time James Piere caught a pass on offense... Grade School or maybe JR High?

Why a DB, and not a backup WR, RB, or TE on special teams for the fake punt?

The old joke is “If he had good hands, he’d be on offense.”

 

I liked the play. It seems Tomlin is all in this season. Sure, I f'ed everything in the house but still liked the play just should of used a better hands guy.

 

I'll do this once, since it seems to be the talking point, and I have experience as a special teams coach.
You never call a fake punt. You call the option for a fake punt.
The coaching staff obviously noticed a trend of the Commanders not covering gunners on punts. So they put the play in. From reports, they've were working on it all last week.
Killebrew didn't call the play all by himself. I'm sure when he noticed the uncovered gunner, he looked at Danny Smith. Smith gave him a nod, a thumbs up, something to give him the go ahead. Killebrew probably looked out at Skowronek, nodded, then did the same to Pierre.
If Pierre had been covered, there would have been no nods, and we would have punted like normal. At which point you need a real gunner out there to cover the punt. Calvin Austin or Van Jefferson aren't going to give you much help there. Lining up a WR out there would have been a dead give-away, anyhow.
It was a good play call, the time was right, everything was going according to plan, and Pierre choked.

 

This!

 

To disguise it. If they had a receiver lined up, the Skins probably would sniffed the play out. The fake punt would've worked had "Stone Hands" Pierre actually caught it. I still think it was too risky of a call given their field position, could've easily cost them the game.

 

I was going to say the same thing re. lining up a receiver.

I don't mind the field position tbh. If it was a safer position, there's less impact from running the fake.

 

I think they disguised it well, Washington never expected it that deep in their own field. All Pierre had to do was catch it.

 

That’s all on Pierre
Great call, Pierre choked. He’s not a good DB either. I hope Jackson returns

 

i hope Trice returns - SOON.

Yes - Pierre is bench warmer material, but his #1 focus is to CATCH that - NOT run! just catch and fall down, whatever - JUST catch it!!

 

great call just not the right guy for it

 

So you want the Steelers to tip their hand. Thats just sheer brilliance Brice

 

I am mainly looking at Ben Skowronek, but Connor Heyward, Cordarrelle Patterson, MyCole Pruitt, Scotty Miller, and maybe even Calvin Austin. You get the theme here??? Offensive Players that get paid real money to catch the football.

 

Again you’re asking them to tip their hand. You don’t think opponents notice when someone that never plays gunner is suddenly playing gunner? Now you’ll claim they should sacrifice coverage by using other people at gunner so it won’t tip their hand. Just stop. Do that thing you claim to do so often for a change

 

It's the same punt team it always is. The fake is run only when the safety does something other than cover the gunner(Pierre). It is a call on every single punt unless otherwise directed.

I bet teams don't leave our gunner all alone again this season.

 

I am pretty sure Ben Skowronek is a staple on the punt team. Not sure why you are claiming having WR Ben Skowronek out there is the Steelers tipping their hand???

 

Being that he just came off ir he isn’t exactly a staple. There is also more than one gunner. Again. Do that thing you claim to do for a change

 

Again. I'm asking them not to do it.
, but It's been put forth by many. It's all about risk, and reward.
Risk: You don't get it, and You automatically give up 3 points, or more.
Reward: You get a first down. LoL.....while if You are trailing late in a game I get trying it, but not in a game You are winning. It was dumb.

 

90% of people in the stands would have caught that ball.

 

Ben was lined up on the other side with a guy on him in press coverage

 

Yep. secure the 1st down and then anything extra is gravy.

 

If you watch the play over, the guy covering Pierre motions inside, and leaves him uncovered, because Washington was going for a punt block.

Both sides were selling out to make a play. if we get the 1st down then Dan Quinn is a fool, and if we dont get the 1st down then Tomlin is a fool.

 

They have been sitting on CJ Henderson since they signed him at the end of September. They promoted him off the practice squad to the 53 man roster in October to protect him from other teams. He has been inactive since being promoted; you have to wonder when CJ is going to get a helmet on game day.

I am assuming CJ Henderson's knock when he came out of College as the #9 overall pick was that he was a poor tackler, which translates to he is not worth a sh!t on special teams is the reason why he has been inactive these last weeks. Until he is ready to contribute as a CB the Steelers have no reason to activate him.

C.J. Henderson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round with the ninth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

 

Best analysis I've seen on the play...

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/11/film-room-what-made-the-steelers-call-a-fake-punt/

 

I believe he was on the other side and they didn't leave him uncovered. I imagine that Pierre was uncovered because he isn't a receiver. It's a stupid design by Washington, but I highly doubt they would have left any receiver uncovered.

I think having that as an option so deep in their own end was a mistake. Stealing a possession is great, but based on the field position and how the game had been going to that point, they should have told Killebrew not to run it even if he got the right look. Too much can go wrong when you are asking a strong safety to throw to a cornerback, and of course, that's exactly what happened.

 

I've watched it a few times, and it still doesn't change the risk vs reward.