Preseason Game 3: Winners and Losers

Hello fellow members of TSF. AQL here with another installment.


As always, self explanatory. Give me your picks. I will have mine in a bit.

 

Early on kudos to Tomlin for not putting any of the members of the offense in when it didn't count. AB, Bell(when back) Wheaton and Big Ben are going to do some great things. I think the defense with surprise some people

Negatives: Heyward bad mojo, Timmons in coverage meh mojo, any receiver not in the top three learn that the sideline is your friend, he keeps nasty smelly ballplayers away from you and protects your precious, get to the sideline and all is good.

 

Alright... here we go. Plently of winners.


DISCLAIMER: Not putting in tier one players on the list due to expected level of play (i.e. Big Ben, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Maurkice Pouncey, etc.). Remember all of my picks are based from greatest to least. In addition, limiting this list up to five.


Winners:


Javon Hargrave: Has been in the top three since I started this list and more than likely will finish out the preseason that way to. There really is not anything I can add about "GraveDigger" due to him Diggin' himself into a treasure chest of playing time and my personal sure fire Joe Greene Great Performance award pick. One thing that I admired greatly in comparison to his last two games? Hustle... and loads of it. He already has bought what John Mitchell has been selling and he already gets it.


Alejandro Villanueva: Constant improvement game by game. Improved timing of his punch. Improved footwork. Improved hand placement. Situational awareness has also improved. Kick slide has as well. Growing more and more into that "dancing bear" moniker that a lot of good to great offensive tackles have. Add that to his athleticism and length.. and he is already ready to rely on more than just athleticism and protect Ben even more; that blindside no longer a fear of his I am sure.


Jarvis Jones: Still no sacks... but harassing and frustrating Terron Armstead was a positive sign for him. Lots of pressures. Harness those go tos better and sacks will come.


Sammie Coates: Getting better and better each game. Combat ability has improved. Route running still raw.. but he is showing signs of growth. He is now starring to learn how to sell routes; antipodean of what we saw in the first two weeks.


Anthony Chickillo: Lots of pressures. Edge setting has gotten much better. His dip rip seems to be his go to move and he is getting more comfortable with it. Just needs to perfect it and he will unlock more weapons in his arsenal.. but that will take time.


Honorable mention: Tyler Matakevich: Had he been put in sooner... I would have gotten a better read from him. However.... that INT does show that the game is slowing down for him; exceptional even for an atypical 7th round draft pick. That being said. Look for him to build on it for his ultiamte coming out party next week.



Losers:



Doran Grant: Lapses in coverage? Check. Miscommunication? Check? Lack of situational awarenes? Check. Total amont is a bad showing; worse now that Artie could make a return next week.


Ross Cockrell: Expected a better showing in coverage. Why he is on this list is that physicality is still lacking. Too many missed tackles; CJ Spiller taking advantage as a result. Needs to improve and is running out of time to do so.



Injuries: Cameron Heyward's injury was already spilling blood in itself. Losing Gilbert makes the blood an ugly downpour. This goes bad for the offensive tackle position due to Hawkins being banged up and the next person... who is..



Ryan Harris: I understand he is a backup who has been brought in to ensure competition for Alejandro Villanueva.. but at some point you have to distance yourself from the others. Still is not leveraging himself well enough. Everything else is good.. bit with no leverage.. none of those things really matter.


Daniel McCullers:...

..............

.............


.........








Honorable mention: None

 

Winners: Jesse James
Eli Rodgers
Marakevich
Markus Wheaton
Hargrave


Losers:
Daryl Richardson
Dangerfield
Cockrell


Net Even:
Sean Davis
Ayers

 

good: jones had a good night.

hargraves

coates

fort

tuitt

chickillo

harrison still getting it done

offense in general

db's i'm not as down on them as some. first real action together. i liked that we had 3 guys tackling the catch most of the time so they are in the right spots and this aspect should improve with time together.

grimble showing what he can do down the middle of the field. baby steps.

jesse james too. all is not lost with the TE group yet.



bad: cam injury.

gilbert injury.

shark injury.

AB he's a bad man.

cockrell not being given the fumble recovery.

the announcers for the game were pretty sickening. you would think the steelers lost the game and the saints were the best team in the NFL.

 

Winners:

The starting offense.
Tomlin, showed you he knew what he was doing, and why the starting offense didn't need any reps the first two games. They are ready.
Tyler Matakevich- Great INT, he might have made the team with that play. If not Practice squad for sure.
Eli Rogers- Like this guy more and more.
Jesse James- Showed he can be Ben's go to guy.
I think starting defense is looking better. Tuitt is a wrecking machine!

Losers:
Heyward and Gilbert getting hurt. Hope they aren't out for an extended period of time.

 

winner not from our team (anymore) Tony Hills

great 1st team offense still saw Pouncey getting stood up some but he pulled well
Harrison we gotta get this boy one more ring come on!!
J james impressive. think Heath is selling his blood to Jesse
good passing game heavy run game ?guess you take what the d is giving

losers ; us if we are without Cam for long

 

Local broadcast.

 

yea but sheesh. i almost had to turn the sound off.

 

Matakevich needs to be a special teams ace to make the team.

I'm curious what he plays against better competition. Right now he is usually in with the scrubs.

 

i hate to part ways with any of these guys. one guy that is quietly having a good camp is mike riely. he's an overlooked guy that i hope can make the PS too. i think he's gotten a little better each week. i'm impressed with our depth at LB this preseason. i know we can't keep them all but the improvement is showing me the coaching is doing well. of course we have 3 good ones coaching them. none the less a good sign.

 

It's easier to see what all the players did in this game with the box score:

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/boxscore?id=7991

 

what part BLITZ?
all?
the surprise of seeing tony hills due to injuries?
to go get Harrison another ring?
tell me its not the truthful part about Pouncey the guy who had a holding penalty too.

 

Winners-Steelers
Losers-Saints

 

Well.. this is what level of competition he will be facing next week for the final preseason game; Steven Johnson the same.

 

Can't argue with that.

 

I said this after the draft.. and I'll say it again. Of all the rookies... Javon Hargrave will have the biggest impact and most playing time and will be Rookie of the Year for the Steelers.