Minka Fitzpatrick did not look good tonight

Terrible, tackling to give up a touchdown. He basically just jogged alongside and watched Josh Allen score a touchdown.
to be fair he did make a couple nice plays.
Not what I expected from him.

 

I still can't wrap my head around that Allen run. I would like to hear his explanation.

 

I didn't expect him to look good. That's a long lay-off to come back and play good ball. He hasn't tackled in-game for over 5 weeks!

They never had the game situation to get Allen into mistake territory!

 

I was concerned about possible rust in poor conditions, also wondered if his hand was 100%.

I agree though, he made a couple of nice plays as well. Just wasn't the all-around game he normally brings.

 

I didn't expect anything from 39 today, and he delivered on that.

Safeties were playing better leading up to today's game, but sadly what was working was changed for this game.

 

Plenty of blame to go around

 

One thing is for sure, you can stick a fork in Pat Pete. He's done!

 

Yeah wouldn’t even feel comfortable with him at safety

the tape don’t lie on Pat P

 

As marginal as he looked, he was the leading tackler today.

When a DB, and especially a safety, is your leading tackler, you've got big problems.

 

Yea, he isn't a good tackler, and doesn't make splash plays.

 

Minkah Fitzpatrick, by his standards, has had a season to forget. To hell with the injury prior to Jacksonville, Minkah had not been playing up to his elite level status before then. That said, how he was used this season compared to season's past is a major aspect as to why he hasn't been nearly as impactful.


I understand using him as a Slot CB for he was billed as a perennial All Pro there coming out of Alabama in 2018. That said, why the hell has Austin insisted to use Minkah heavily there?! Hell, why is Minkah even around the LOS to begin with?! He can play Strong Safety... but that isn't where he shines greatest.



Keep his ass as a Single High Deep Centerfielder. No exceptions. Stop using your All Pro DBs as band-aids to fix problems. For that matter, much of this might have been solved if Peezy Jr. started earlier over Levi Wallace as I suspect having Wallace on the field forced Austin to rely more on Minkah in a Slot CB/SS role.



As @S.T.D has been preaching since 2020, Corners are necessary. Granted, said position is very difficult to find just for an average CB; an All Pro CB being next to impossible. However, finding Corners that can not only contribute in your system shouldn't be that hard; doubly so with the ever increased emphasis on Offense in the NFL having a massive effect on High School kids gradually increasing said positions talent pool YoY (Year over Year). How does any of this have to do with Minkah?!



The more solid CBs a team has to go with an All Pro Free Safety, the more chances that All Pro FS will have to not only play his position but also make plays.



In short?! Put your best players in the best position to make plays. Given how Teryl's contract expires at the conclusion this season, jettison his ass for the teams CB play overall has been piss poor since 2020.

 

Boys it just sucks having to wait 8 months to get back at it. If we extend Tomlin I'm gonna be in shock.

 

Prepare to be shocked then for that is what is likely to happen.


Only way Tomlin goes is if he elects to leave on his own terms.


Firing a Coordinator mid season is one thing. Firing a Head Coach is something else all together.

 

This is his first action in over a month, I'm not worried about Minkah.

 

Did Minkah even have an int this year?

 

Nope!


Shocked me as well. Again, part of it is his own. The other aspect his Teryl Austin's inability to place him in the right spots.

 

And Heyward, and Miles Jack, and maybe even do I dare say Minkah? Let's face it, Minkah has been a shell of his former self for the last 2 years now. If fact, the secondary was playing way better without him. Maybe that's a bit unfair for me to say though because that idiot Austin has taken away his play making ability by always stacking the box with him. To me, Austin is every bit as bad of a DC as Canada was an OC, maybe even worse, but you never hear any outcry to give him the axe too for some strange reason. To me this whole coaching staff is a disaster, they need to clean house from top to bottom

 

i hope you all watched patrick peterson too, horrid.

 

Last two seasons?!


2021, Minkah ended up hurt by, you guessed it, playing a lot more closer to the LOS. For that matter, he currently holds the Steelers record for most Tackles by a Defensive Back in a Season. As for 2022, Minkah was named a First Team All Pro.


Minkah had a down season this year no doubt. However, to state that a three time First Team All Pro is washed after one bad season is quite unfair. For that matter, since 2019, Pittsburgh has surrendered the fewest explosive plays of 40 or more yards through the air. Today against Buffalo was no exception as Allen attempted passes over 40 yards but couldn't connect.



This all said though, you did answer your own concern with Minkah via this statement that you made.

Austin is just as responsible for Minkah's 2023 Campaign as Minkah is to himself.

 

He's likely not 100%, and is probably rusty, but he's been completely misused because the coaching staff sucks.

 

You'll get no argument from me on that

 

He had a couple of ugly plays, but he played fairly well for stepping back in after missing three games. He wasn't great, but he wasn't the reason they lost.

 

What's there to explain? Allen ran right though him like he wasn't even there

 

That's just Tomlin's style. He always zigs when he should zag

 

Minka is a ball hawk our DC took that away from him