My thoughts on reg season wk 7

Going off the highlight tape (waiting on the all-22) 1) no called penalties on CIN LT even though I counted 3 times where he jumped early, 2) the DL was outmanned on most of the big plays by CIN, counted 7 or 8 blocking only 4 or 5, 3) on the very first big run by Brown Benton whiffed on the tackle at the LOS, 4) secondary looked bad on both man and zone coverages, Slay gets dinged in almost very game, 4) Porter is a poor tackler, 5) Jones is an idiot jumping on Rodgers after the TD (after first grabbing AR's shoulder pads.)

 

Tomlin has never made an adjustment in all the years that he has been at Pitt. much less making an adjustment at halftime. He has the same offensive scheme since the first year and will continue to do the same until he is gone.

 

9- TJ looked hurt or something. He looked so slow, like he was running half-speed, not getting off the ball and rushing like always. Worst game I've seen from him.
The most appalling thing was the lack of adjustment regarding Jamar Chase. 23 targets!!! Including 2 WIIIIIDE open plays on the last drive. Just awful coaching.

 

I know. "We do what we do" is a quote of his abt making adjustments

 

Fair point. Wake me when that guy shows up this season. I think we are seeing that coaching was an issue with Pickens. Tomlin used to have the magic touch with knuckleheads like Antonio Brown. That no longer seems to be the case. If he had done his job with Pickens, the Steelers would have been able to keep him and they would have a dominant pair of receivers. Instead, they have one guy who is wildly inconsistent on combat catches despite have a huge advantage over most opponents in size and athleticism.

 

Harris had quite a few games like that in his career, too. The difference is his touches weren't usually capped at 20 on his big days.

The defensive problems go well beyond coaching. Ramsey played like crap last night. Porter was better, but not by much. Highsmith, Herbig, Watt, and Heyward were invisible. Queen looked lost at times and missed tackles. Those guys need to play better.

 

The other guys should be able to get through if Watt draws any extra attention. Where were they?

Our defense was lame and apparently, we made no adjustments.

We were not so lucky either. Metcalf juggles a ball and it is somehow picked (would like to see that replay again). Bungle receiver juggles a ball and we whiff going for the pick (I think that was Slay) and instead the receiver gathers the ball and also runs for more yardage.

Then there was Rodgers one bad play, throwing the ball deep and up for grabs (and way inaccurate) with two defenders and it`s picked.

No pressure on Flacco. Still, he played way better than he normally does IMO and that was unlucky for us.

All that and we almost won anyway.

All is forgiven if we beat the Packers.

 

The second interception wasn't unlucky. Metcalf screwed up. He failed to cleanly secure the ball, giving Turner the opportunity to make a great play.

 

The one and only reason the Steelers lost the game was because there was no pressure on the QB. Pressure the QB and the receivers and run game become less productive. You could have the best DB's in the game, the longer you let a guy like Chase run routes he will get open 100% of the time.

Pressure the QB, they win the game...end of story.

Watt is part of the problem. Too much reliance on him. His in ability or unwillingness to move around is part of the issue. (There were some comments early in the season during an interview with some of the Steelers insiders that the reason Watt does not move around is more because he doesn't want to, not so much the coaches not moving him).

 

Had a chance to start closing the window on Flacco’s career, but the Steelers let him survive.

 

Metcalf>Pickens without the headaches and crash outs on the sidelines

 

That was just a great play by the defender, and Metcalf was being defended by two players on that play.

 

Porter was seen in the blue trainer's tent. Hopefully he lost use of his hands.

 

The lack of pressure was pretty surprising to me after the DL / edge rushers have looked fantastic for the previous 3 games (17 sacks in those 3 games).

Our defensive scheme really struggles against QBs that quickly make decisions and get the ball out. And while Flacco is old (like Rodgers). He's good at presnap reads (especially against the Steelers, who he's played almost 25 times I think).

 

The Steelers made plenty of adjustments they just didn't work.

 

I think I touched on the running back issue. I asked why.

 

Also a fact.

 

It's time to activate Cory Trice it looks like Slay is washed up, or start giving Echols more snaps.

 

I don't follow your question. The lack of plays on defense is exactly what I spelled out WAS the issue. I don't remember ever mentioning the refs. That is interesting.

 

Do not call me a Tomlin apologist.

 

Maybe they will fix the D issues. Who knows. I am old so I remember the '79 team getting blown out in Cinci to a 4-10 team, The 2008 Titans and Eagles games .... sometimes it is just a nightmare matchup. We shall see.

 

The only positive I'm getting from the game is that the AFCN is typically awful on the road in TNF games. But man, it's really hard to ignore the communication issues with the ILBs and DBs. The run defense was awful even when Black and Harmon got reps. I have to give the Bengals credit for the lack of sacks/pressures by our DL, on average they got the ball out in 2.2 seconds. As I said in another thread, this defensive scheme is overreliant on getting to the QB or creating turnovers; it's a splash or get dashed defense. I just hope that the communication scab is merely a scab or this has a real chance of avalanching like it did last season.