Some Indubitable Truths

Wow, that was a frustrating game. Thankfully, I am more prepared to handle and recover from them mentally after the debacles the past two seasons. That said, here are some observations that I have made over the span of this game and last game.

-First a positive. We are still in the playoff race until we are eliminated from it. We turned it around last season and almost made it there, so if we turn it around earlier, we can get there again too.

-Now some less than positives. The fundamental issue with our defense is our defensive line. I made an analogy last week that I want to make again. I know it is pretty terrible, but it does make you think. If this were the video game Madden, Cam Hayward would be rated around 82, Keisel would be rated around 74, McClendon 72, Cam Thomas would be 70, Tuitt 70 (as a rookie this isn't too low), McCullers in the 60s. This isn't good enough for the game, and isn't good enough for real life. Our defensive line is simply bad and lacks good players. You need REALLY GOOD defensive linemen for this defensive scheme to work, and we simply don't have them.

-The above point is the most important thing to consider as a takeaway from this game. Re-read it if you thought it was too wall-of-text-ish.

-While the secondary is lass than great, they are slightly above average. We only needed average players in the past because our front was so good. Now we need them to be doing more. Unfortunately, that is not really happening. If we had our 2008-2009 front 7 and our same secondary, they would look much much better.

-The penalties are ridiculous from two standpoints. First that we are making tackles that are drawing flags, and second that the refs aren't calling them consistently for both teams. The most viscous hit of the night was the one on AB where he got knocked out, and there was no flag.

-I have seen enough of the D-Line to demand to see The Mountain next week. If he sucks, he would be not hurting the team any more than those playing in front of him.

Offense

-They seemed to come out with a game plan and moved well the first drive....then the fumble.

-Oh yea, Justin Brown has been pretty terrible in live games this year. Don't make his moderate performances in camp cloud your judgement on him. He is not good.

-On the other hand, Wheaton is very good. I have trust in him to make the catch, and I think Ben does as well.'

-Bell is dynamic, but why weren't they using him more in the passing game early, as a dump off target like they did in the first half against the Browns? Also, why do they only seem to call delayed draw runs with him? And only up the middle? He is an off-tackle and around end runner, not an up the middle guy.

-Ben was not as sharp tonight as he was against the Browns, but the offensive line won't give him more than 3-4 seconds to throw. He took one notable sack because he held it for a while, but it was only about 5.5 seconds held and he was in the pocket, so throwing it away would have been grounding.

-I am starting to feel disappointed with the work Munchak has done with the offensive line. I thought that he would be able to turn them into a strength of the team. Now, he did not choose these players, and perhaps they are just that bad. But our offensive line right now is no different than last season, and they were not good last season.

-I think Pouncey and Gilbert are vastly overpayed for what they offer. If we are going to invest that type of capital into the offensive line, then they should at least be a strength of the team. Pouncey has not played that bad so far this season, but I am not convinced he is worth his cap number when Velasco played at a high level last year at a low cap number. Gilbert is just plain overpaid.

-Decastro is solid, but they probably can't afford to pay him when his rookie deal is up because of what they invested in Pouncey and Gilbert.

-Having Foster give Pouncey the snap count tonight was awful. A clear advantage for the Ravens.

That is pretty much it. There is a laundry list of negative observations there, but there is time for the team to improve. I think.

 

I agree, coaches so much... Players so much more. Ugly game but still enough time to turn it around. Our D is weak hopefully they gel and the youngsters get their head out of their butts, but it's weak and the scheme is weak. I don't see much improving on that side of the ball

 

Playoffs?! Playoffs!?

 

This pretty much sums it up.

 

It can definitely be turned around. I have mentioned it before but the Steelers lost their first two games in 1989 51-0 and 41-10 to the Browns and Bengals and still made the playoffs. Time will tell.

 

I am pulling for the "gel" idea. There seemed to be a good bit of head swiveling as the ball carrier ran past someone, and that might be because they were in the wrong place. That can be corrected. For a few of our defensive starters and subs, this was their second NFL game. Much to learn, and some time yet to learn it. Fingers crossed.

You can't have a great comeback if you are not behind.

 

Ugh Tomlin said in his post game presser that they lost because of penalties and turnovers. While true, he said that the other shortcomings (like lack of pressure on Flacco or in inept D-Line) didn't matter. I think his logic, while partially true, is ultimately flawed.

 

Wow, that was a frustrating game. Thankfully, I am more prepared to handle and recover from them mentally after the debacles the past two seasons. That said, here are some observations that I have made over the span of this game and last game.

-First a positive. We are still in the playoff race until we are eliminated from it. We turned it around last season and almost made it there, so if we turn it around earlier, we can get there again too.

* Agreed. Good observation We are likely a 9-7 or 8-8 again this year

-Now some less than positives. The fundamental issue with our defense is our defensive line. I made an analogy last week that I want to make again. I know it is pretty terrible, but it does make you think. If this were the video game Madden, Cam Hayward would be rated around 82, Keisel would be rated around 74, McClendon 72, Cam Thomas would be 70, Tuitt 70 (as a rookie this isn't too low), McCullers in the 60s. This isn't good enough for the game, and isn't good enough for real life. Our defensive line is simply bad and lacks good players. You need REALLY GOOD defensive linemen for this defensive scheme to work, and we simply don't have them.

I think your given more credit to Thomas.. He is more like a 68 and Tuitt is the 70

-The above point is the most important thing to consider as a takeaway from this game. Re-read it if you thought it was too wall-of-text-ish.

-While the secondary is lass than great, they are slightly above average. We only needed average players in the past because our front was so good. Now we need them to be doing more. Unfortunately, that is not really happening. If we had our 2008-2009 front 7 and our same secondary, they would look much much better.

* Secondary did there job for the most part against the Ravens. I am hopeful its because Flacco saw the good coverage. Our Dline blows and if they don't get stout soon enough it will be their demise

-The penalties are ridiculous from two standpoints. First that we are making tackles that are drawing flags, and second that the refs aren't calling them consistently for both teams. The most viscous hit of the night was the one on AB where he got knocked out, and there was no flag.

* AB never got knocked out. I would have to look at the play again but it looked as though the defender made a clean hit and lead with his shoulder . Yes it was similar to Polamaulu hit and Mitchell.. Never the less we got the call.

-I have seen enough of the D-Line to demand to see The Mountain next week. If he sucks, he would be not hurting the team any more than those playing in front of him.

* Me too. Would not have a problem with Mcullers coming into the game

Offense

-They seemed to come out with a game plan and moved well the first drive....then the fumble.

-Oh yea, Justin Brown has been pretty terrible in live games this year. Don't make his moderate performances in camp cloud your judgement on him. He is not good.

* Too early to decide but on the first drive that was indeed a drive killer .. We settled for 3 on that if I am not mistaken.

-On the other hand, Wheaton is very good. I have trust in him to make the catch, and I think Ben does as well.'

* Wheaton is not only good at route running and catching the ball but is a pretty decent blocker as well He is not Hines Ward but there is still time

-Bell is dynamic, but why weren't they using him more in the passing game early, as a dump off target like they did in the first half against the Browns? Also, why do they only seem to call delayed draw runs with him? And only up the middle? He is an off-tackle and around end runner, not an up the middle guy.

* I tend to agree with you there. I love the dump off plays like what we use to do with Mewelde Moore. He is fast elusive and has very good hands.

-Ben was not as sharp tonight as he was against the Browns, but the offensive line won't give him more than 3-4 seconds to throw. He took one notable sack because he held it for a while, but it was only about 5.5 seconds held and he was in the pocket, so throwing it away would have been grounding.

* He was not as sharp as he normally is. Something was wrong about his delivery and execution. Could be wrong here but it seemed like he did not have that gut instinct and willingness to win.

-I am starting to feel disappointed with the work Munchak has done with the offensive line. I thought that he would be able to turn them into a strength of the team. Now, he did not choose these players, and perhaps they are just that bad. But our offensive line right now is no different than last season, and they were not good last season.

* Not enough time to formulate an opinion nor has there been enough time for Munchak to work with this group. Can Munchak coach them up? We shall see.

-I think Pouncey and Gilbert are vastly overpayed for what they offer. If we are going to invest that type of capital into the offensive line, then they should at least be a strength of the team. Pouncey has not played that bad so far this season, but I am not convinced he is worth his cap number when Velasco played at a high level last year at a low cap number. Gilbert is just plain overpaid.

* Alot of people on this forum including me really felt like when Pouncey was out and Velasco was in there was no change relative to quality of play.

-Decastro is solid, but they probably can't afford to pay him when his rookie deal is up because of what they invested in Pouncey and Gilbert.

-Having Foster give Pouncey the snap count tonight was awful. A clear advantage for the Ravens.

That is pretty much it. There is a laundry list of negative observations there, but there is time for the team to improve. I think.

 

I will add one more truth.

-Does anyone really have that feeling anymore that any one player at least on defense has the ability to make a game changing play? Before I always could count on Harrison, Woodley (pre-injury), Farrior, Troy, even a younger Clark or Townsend or Keisel/Smith. Even Hampton at times. But now? Maybe Timmons but I feel he is trying to make up for everyone else that he is out of position a lot. Maybe Shazier eventually, and maybe Hayward eventually, but we have not seen them make game changing plays yet. Troy is still there and is clearly trying, but he is old now.

Harrison has MANY game changing plays, as did Troy and company. Now? not so much. That is a talent issue (and defensive line issue).

 

Fun quote from ESPN:

Defensive end Brett Keisel looked perplexed as he stood in front of his locker and sorted through the Steelers’ worst loss to Baltimore since getting pummeled, 35-7, three years ago at M&T Bank Stadium on Sept. 11. “They beat us in all three phases,” Keisel said. “We have work to do if we want to get back to where we want to go.” It doesn't help a Steelers defense that has struggled that the 36-year-old Keisel, who wasn't re-signed until late Aug. 20, is arguably their second-best defensive lineman.

http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-...gue?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

we generate so few turnovers. We can always count on ike to drop picks though

 

As long as we cannot put pressure on the opposing QB there will be no "turning it around" sorry to say.

 

Couple things that stood out last night...

Miss tackles non- wrap
Plagued with penalties again (we lead in penalties week 1)
Defending the run not'
Defending the pass not'
lack of T/O's again!
No pass rush, sacks NO pressure,pressure,pressure did i mention pressure!!
D~gaps and techniques ?
Protection for ben~ O man handled
No urgency
Non- consistency
Lack of execution~ all 3 phases
Red zone execution Poof!!
Lacking discipline
Secondary virtually non existent man-to-man,zoning all the traits not their!

Note: This current group is not ready for the NFL~ young (inexperienced) added to old and slow. Is what it is.. 2yrs.away from playoffs!

 

Problem with this team is nearly everyone is expendable. I'd say any player on D can be replaced without an adverse impact. Only Bell, Brown and Ben play above the line on O and 3 players isn't enough to carry a team.

Our DL is weak...goes to show how great and valuable Big Snack was....

 

The "up the middle" run over and over and over has infuriated me for seasons. We can't do it anymore, and every team is well prepared for it. One of my biggest pet peeves...

 

Bell had 5 receptions. If he had 5 every game that would be 80 for the year. That would probably lead the league for receptions to a RB. It's a good amount of receptions for a RB. As for running outside, most outside running plays won't be successful. It's very hard to run outside in the NFL, players are just too damn fast. We have to be able to run up the middle. That doesn't mean keep trying something that doesn't work, but it means we have to find a way to make it work

 

Hood, Jarvis Jones etc. When the draft busts add up the roster eventually shows it.

 

This just about hits the nail on the head for me. I was thinking this throughout the 4th quarter.

 

Completely agree withis 100% I cant name one which sickens me. I keep holding out hope for troy but he cant be troy when he is trying to carry the defense. I really like shazier but its going to take time. We have become a team of overpaid mediocre players who i feel have there payday and dont have anything to work for.

 

I could only stay up to watch the first half....

Garvin apparently isn't ready to play, his failure to pickup the ONLY guy coming off the line is inexcusable.

I actually thought there were some bright spots in the first half offense (outside of Justin Brown's fumble.... it could have been tied at half).
Bell had a nice cutback run followed by a 10+ yard reception.
Heath had a nice catch or two.
I don't have a problem with the hit on AB, the defender hit his shoulder. Of course I'm not up to date on all the current rules, it seemed clean to me.
The Suggs hit on Ben was brutal, but I was surprised there was a flag.... typically, unless your name is Marsha Brady... that usually doesn't get called in our favor.
Cortez Allen, really, make a little more effort not to look like you are hand raping the poor guy..... and you might have been able to turn your head and get a INT

Not really sure what happened in the second half, outside of us not being able to do anything. But I do agree, the defense has no BITE

 

What really got me about Garvin on that play was that there was absolutely no point him moving towards the RB, if he was running to the other side of the field. There was no way he would make an impact on that play had it been a run to the right. He should have either held position in case the runner cut back, or followed Daniels. Or, if that's too much of a choice, he should have followed Daniels.

 

We're not a very intelligent football team and haven't been for a while now. We make mistakes that are unacceptable and we make those mistakes a lot

 

Yeah but we dont have Chuck Noll to turn it around this time....

 

I am really hoping he truly does not believe that but is just trying to keep it simple in the presser. Of COURSE that matters. Our entire defense is based on whether or not we get pressure on the QB. Sigh.

 

I was kind of wondering why he was on the field in the first place. Is he normally out there with the starting D?