Who is the #3 WR?

It's been more competitive than the steelers first two preseason games, at least.

 

Since Eli Rogers is the Albert Einstein of the slot position, and he's going to play a gabillion snaps this year, and is a good blocker... and is a QB/OC without predefined routes ... let's talk about his tape in the philly game where he played almost every snap in the 1st half with the ones.

On the 1st drive:
- ran a couple good tertiary option routes that he wasn't targeted on (this becomes a theme).
- failed to execute his block on a bubble screen
- failed to separate on his wheel route
- converted a huge 3rd and 10, while exposing the ball like a rookie
- executes reach block on CB (2nd and 1 in red zone)
- runs a poor, rounded off route on 2nd and goal, leading to incompletion

Great job tracking the punt/fair catch

On the 2nd drive
- AB Screen, Eli gets dominated trying to block
- gets his 2nd catch on a traditional motion slot route. nicely executed.
- gets a chance to run the seam, doesn't separate
- gets taken off the field on 3rd and 4, AB to the slot (not 11), to run a similar rub/wheel route Eli failed to execute on the previous drive... result, TD.

Almost critically stupid decision on punt

On the 3rd drive
- Continues to get the flat/out 3rd option type routes
- 1st down after deep ball to Wheaton, Eli fails his blocking assignment, leads to holding call as williams is forced to reverse direction
- Followed by another ineffective reach block (immaterial, away from the play)
- 3rd and long, lazy play by Rogers, showing no effort to get to a block for Bell on dump off. New Orleans swarms and caused fumble.

On the 4th drive
- back to 12 for first time since the 1st snap. No Eli.
- and right back to 11. Eli continues to run the flat/out routes without being the primary/secondary target.

On the 5th drive
- back to 12 on 1st down
- and right back to 11, but bunched. Run play. Away from Eli's side. Not much to do but pat an engaged defender on the shoulder.
- 3rd and 1 bunch, Eli is the primary target but comes off the line awkward and loses balance, and slips on the route... Jones goes to 2nd option for big gain (grimble)
- back to traditional slot, you can tell Eli likely got an earful due to his lackadaisical play on the Bell fumble. On this Bell catch he flies to the ball after the completion.
- Eli reaches his block and sustains it.
- It's the two minute warning and ~75% of Eli's routes in the half have been the flat/out from the slot. They are giving him the minimum amount of playbook at this point. He's had 5 plays were called to go to him, 2 of which he screwed up. 2 he made great plays on (the 3rd and long, and the motion play... oddly the only motion play called for him the entire day, and the wheel that he was easily blanketed on. The idea that Eli is using his IQ and creating his route pre-snap is preposterous.
- 1st and goal, Eli off the field, going 12 with TE split
- 2nd and goal, 11 bunch, TD Coates

 

Do you have time to breakdown Wheaton's 1st. action in the slot with a real QB ?

 

Your perception is off a bit it seems..Eli Rogers has had a great preseason working in the slot...Not good, not o.k. not above the line, not room to grow..A GREAT preseason that's from Coach T ..Case closed...

 

Good breakdown of the tape.

Coach T also said Antwon Blake had a great preseason... guess what? Comments to the media mean **** all.

 

Kinda surprised he didn't ding you for saying you'd break down the Philly tape and started talking about Brown, Bell aND Wheaton who didn't play until the New Orleans game which you knew because you started talking about it right away in your breakdown.

 

Blake was Coach speak trying to build the confidence of a guy we had to play due to the lack of talent ...Eli is in a group of talented guys and is not being forced to play rather he has earned the right to play ..Not just Coach T talking him up,his OC is, his QB is AB is also impressed with him as well..

 

how many years ago was that

right

 

So now you think Wheaton and Coates are talented slot WRs?

You are reading in to coach speak because it's what you want to hear, it fits your desperate need to be validated. The reality to anyone paying attention to the actual football being player, and not using media anecdotes to support their opinion is as follows:

Facts of the 1st Quarter vs New Orleans that contradict PWP's ****ty assessments:

1. Eli is not a good blocker (at this time)
2. Eli is not running much of the route tree (at this time)
3. Eli is not being asked to "be a QB/OC", He's not being given option routes, or being asked to diagnose pre-snap coverages. He's being given a handful of designed plays, and otherwise running very basic tertiary routes (meaning he's the 3rd or 4th option on the play, essentially running pre-snap checkdowns in the form of flat routes). There are some very easy indicators for all of this.

Yes, Eli has had a very good pre-season... for an undrafted player seeing his first action in the NFL.
Yes, Eli is on track to be a significant contributor in a slot role

It's pretty impressive when someone finds a way to be right in general, while being wrong about all the details

PWP is right in general about Eli, in terms of "starting" in the slot... but almost every single detail he attempts to put together in support of that overall position, is basically wrong.

 

Enough to where his OC shouldn't be saying he has came a long way , but he still has work to do in the slot..He also added the way Eli has caught on and the way he is playing in the slot will allow Wheaton to get back outside more to his natural position...

 

Doh. Yea, i broke down the New Orleans 1st quarter...

 

exactly, wheaton sucks in the slot.
We've had a need for someone to play the slot ever since AB became a field superstar.

So, coach speak... to pump Eli up. It's his spot. Because it has to be. Because that's where the need is. JUST like pumping up Antwon Blake, because it was his spot, it had to be.

 

I never said Wheaton or Coates where not talented ..I said they are best suited to play outside..The OC of the Steelers also feels that way....Of course we didn't run many option routes in the preseason from the slot..He did in College and he will in the real season..He was also a good blocker in College and he played well for his first real action with the starters, he will only get better...

 

Nope because Wheaton doesn't suck , he actually had a good year playing a lot in the slot..Eli is just better than him...Coates also can play the slot and probably not to bad either..Eli is just better ..DHB who the OC labeled the Joker can also play the slot , but Eli is just better ..So it's not like we don't have options he is just better at the slot than those options are ..What I have been saying all along..

 

No wheaton didn't have a good year in the slot last year, honestly wtf are you talking about?

Wheaton played outside the first 5 weeks of the season, and was his usual meh self.... then Bryant returned, and from week 6-10 Wheaton played the slot, and it was terrible (seriously 7 catches, 45 yards, over 5 games)... he was so bad that after the week 11 bye we went back to far more reps for AB from the slot than normal, and wheaton back to the outside.

you talk out of your ass.

 

No it's different. When you Watch his college highlights you can see he can read a defense. We haven't had a true slot WR in a long time. AB kinda slipped the slot role and went straight outside.

 

I'm more than happy for you to present a play, highlight, or game and specifically point out what you think is "reading a defense", and I will respond in kind.

Until then, it's just arse talking

 

.......








Considering that Le'Veon Bell is suspended... did many of you not think Pittsburgh may run 11 personnel sets.... or as I like to call it..


4 wide receiver sets. See guys? Both Eli and Coates or Eli and Wheaton can be on the field.



Besides.... what you all really need to argue is what is the best method of attack without Le'Veon... not who starts within within a position of a deep and talented corps..