My thoughts on reg season wk 9

Trend to watch: Quarterback Aaron Rodgersspread the ball around Sunday, completing passes to nine different players after targeting nine pass catchers against the Packers in Week 8. Much has been made about the Steelers potentially seeking a strong No. 2 wide receiver before Tuesday's trade deadline, but the offense got it done on Sunday, with big contributions from the tight ends (10 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD) and running backs (7 catches, 33 yards). Only two wide receivers had catches: Calvin Austin III(5 for 56 yards) and DK Metcalf (2 for 6 yards).

 

The issue wasn't just mental preparation, something most teams struggle with on short weeks. it takes a physical toll, too.

 

The Bengals were on a short week too.

 

true, six turnovers versus one or two? But i think 5 of those 6 turnovers were forced.

 

The first 20 minutes of the game, I felt no worry or pressure. The Colts were crushing us statistically just as I figured they would. I had already figured that the Colts would stomp all over us, so I was mentally prepared.....lol. Then something changed in the second quarter and they started playing. Loved it.

As usual, a few missed holding calls and some pretty weak penalties vs the Steelers. I take JPJ PI penalties as something that is going to happen. He plays hard and it is difficult to stay with some of those top receivers. It would be nice if there were less penalties, but the alternative might be a lot more yards on some of those plays.

I saw a lot more hands in the air on the defensive line today. It made a difference.

The holes in the defense are still there. On one play, there was 2 receivers out there and 5 Steelers in zone. Somehow 1 of those 2 receivers was open with nobody anywhere close to him. Are the defenders just watching the QB and paying no attention to the open receivers?

There is still a lot of 'not on the same play' between Rodgers and the WR/TE/RB.

We lost the battle on: 1st downs, 3rd downs, 4th downs, rushing yards, passing yards, total yards, punts, penalties and time of possession. We won the battle on: Fumbles, interceptions and sacks. I guess a +6 turnover differential can make a lot of difference.......lol

Tackling was better, but there were still a few weak and missed tackles today. There was a lot fewer tackles that pushed the ball carrier forward 3 to 5 yards and that was really nice to see.

The run game was not there today. Holes were not being opened. Only 38 yards of rushing today. 23 total rushes, including 2 from Rodgers.

Roman Wilson tried for too much on his fumbled play. Gainwell just needed to hit the line to gain instead of running across the field. Washington needed to be ready for that pass that hit him in the numbers. Players have to up their situational awareness of what is needed and what is going on. Death by a thousand cuts.

Today's game should give the analysts fits. Trying to fit the Steelers back in on the power charts after beating the Colts like this should be fun to figure out....lol

 

They were in zone a lot today, especially the first half. Mixed it up in the second half.

 

This is now the steelers way. They'll get our hopes up for a playoff run with some unexpected wins early and mid season followed by a late season collapse. Then either miss the postseason or limp into the WC game to get whooped up by some pud whacker team like the browns or jags. We all know the script.

 

Watt jumped off the milk carton and his strip sack started the party and they never looked back!

As I said in another thread Mount Washington is reminiscent of Eric Green. What a weapon!

Cam Heyward was a monster out there.

As much Bazooka Bubble gum that Danny Smith shoves into his mouth I wish the company that owns it wasn't private. I would buy some shares of stock.

They washed off the stench of the last two games and showed up big. Can it continue? We shall see...

 

7 turnovers to 1. Plus 6 differential. We recovered 4 fumbles and 3 interceptions. The Colts recovered 1 fumble.

 

This is exactly what they needed to do. When it’s 10 vs. 9 because they double team Watt, someone needs to take advantage of it

 

I guess you haven't paid attention to what happens on Thursday nights, when home teams always have a significant advantage.

 

Ramsey gotta be FS the rest of the way and gotta tip cap to Dugger for playing a practice and walk through and playing every defensive snap but 1.

In the lasted episode of splash or get dashed, they created a ton of splash and put the O in positions to score. I hope to see them stop an offense without needing splash. It was a refreshing game to see them go out and create it, but it's just not a sustainable tactic on defense.

But there was still situations in this game that can pull your hair out... on the Heyward play that he batted down the ball, there was only 10 players on the field. And we didn't have many answers for 4th & short defense.

I don't have many complaints about the O other than dropped passes and Wilson's bonehead play. This Offense isn't the most flashy offense, but when executed well, it can score points.

I hope today is a step in the right direction for the defense as it was a gutsy performance by an undermanned defense.

 

Great win and proud of the defensive effort. I still feel like the offense is too conservative and predictable way too many series. The team just does not seem to get guys easily open in space. It seems like such a chore for the offense to move the ball downfield.

 

Good stuff, but I would put more emphasis on Highsmith. He has been invisible or just plain bad all season. Today, for the first time all season, he earned his money. It wasn't just the two sacks, one forcing a fumble. He knocked down a pass on a third down in coverage. He created pressure on other plays. He took advantages of the opportunties created by playing opposite Watt.

Ramsey's move to safety was huge. I don't even remember seeing Thornhill out there. If they can manage to keep him there, it makes the defense much better.

 

Traveling from Pittsburgh to Cinci? Thats a 4 hour drive or a 1 hour charter flight. Thats our excuse why we couldnt figure out how to beat a 40 year old immobile Flacco, who was never good at handling pressure? I think theres more to it than that.

the Bengals had to return from GB after getting beatup up there, and they had to prepare for the Steelers on a short week. That is a tough schedule, but maybe Austin and Tomlin made it easy on them…

 

I thought Calvin Austin played well today. He caught some key passes to keep drives alive. Wilson and Highsmith were great on defense today.

 

They literally admitted that Flacco was running plays he didn’t know against the Steelers and just playground balling it a lot.

it’s hard to prepare for that. The way they just let the WR run free though…

 

Run game was disappointing, but they were decent with Seaumalu in and the Jumbo packages. Once he went down there were some issues happening even not running to his side.

 

We scored some TDS instead of FGs but the offense was not very good today. 225 total yards is pretty pathetic. Counting on 5 plus turnovers will not be consistent.

 

Thursday home teams have won 57.9% of the time, very similar to the 57.1% that home teams have won in all other games.

 

In other news
I made a big pot of bean soup
Go Steelers?

 

*farts*

 

Going to eat 2 bowls and pull covers up over wifes head tonight
She will learn not to backtalk me