Random thoughts after loss @OAK

Some of my thoughts after today's game:

Negatives
-So, we have an issue with our running game: Could APeterson, AFoster or CJ run behind our Oline?
-Redman and Dwyer: are they what we thought they were? This was the game they were supposed to explode (I mean, the Dolphins ran for 200+yds last week to this D)
-It begins with our Oline: one sack allowed is ok, but its only part of their job, they need to open running lanes!
-Wallace and Brown's fumbles were a matter of time: look on tape how they hold onto the ball, Raiders' coaching staff saw it for sure, and went after them.
-Pressure? Seems a decade since we last made the opposing QB feel the heat!
-One takeaway per game is not leading us anywhere nice
-No one pressures the QB, no one covers the middle of the field... what were we expecting on that last series?
-Penalties: 10 penalties are enough to kill any team. The timing of some of them was pretty ugly
-3 penalties called against the Raiders? Really? (I saw at least 3 clear holdings, and a cheap chop block to Hood)
-Can't take away big plays with penalties and pretend nothing happened: Brown's return was meant to be a turning point (we were winning, but we could have been dominating)
-31 points should be enough to win in this league with a decent D. Is our D really what we saw today -and against Den-?
-Is our D becoming too predictable (some of you have been saying this for a couple of years)?
-D Butler punted worse than.. Gardocki? Kid: you must bring your A game soon, or Kapinos will receive a call in october
-Is it time to realize we must get a high draft pick to improve our secondary?

Positives:
-Ben spreading the ball: 10 receivers caught a pass today
-Ben & Haley's approach to coverage: get whatever their D gives to you. Ben is upgrading his game overall, and improving his decision making.
-Miller getting more involved
-Our return game seems to be 1 block (or 1 less penalty) away from taking one to the house
-Suisham so far has been effective
-Bye week: Harrison, Polamalu & Mendy will be back
-R Clark seems to be the best defensive player so far. He is a playmaker, but needs to start playing as a gamechanger (he has the experience and some of the tools to do it)

Either way:
-Many of you are not gonna like this, but Coach T understood the game very well going for it on 4th and 1. Our D was not gonna stop them, so if they were going to score, make it quick so our O could have the ball with time on the clock
-I miss that stat they used to show during games, something like this "Coach Cowher is 101-1-1 when leading by 9+"...

 

The Cowher stat was ... when leading by 11 points or more.

 

i agree with your either way statment......i really thought we would go for it again on 4th down instead of punting it to them

 

We lost that game in the middle of the second qtr. somewhere. We had a 10 or 14 point lead with our foot on Oaklands neck. Instead of putting them away we got conservative all of a sudden (like we also do), and ran running plays on second and third down. Three and out. Instead of being up by 21and taking the wind out of sails, they scored. I think we ended up with a fg to go into half time leading by 3 instead of 21.

 

My random thoughts. Can't run the ball and can't stop the run means it's going to be a very long and ugly year.

 

I wish we had a running game !!
the D ,,well we all know about the D...Sad to watch the old boys getting punched in the mouth now..
I don't get into breaking down every play or analysing every move ,,but i know the D just isn't what it used to be and Troy is a shell of his former self and good ol ' Dick is no longer fooling anyone

 

You know your running game is horrific when Your qb has the longest run of the day.

 

The postives:
Ben-Had an awesome day throwing, Plain and simple, he will take the blame, but in no way was the loss his fault.
Heath-For a 30 year old guy who has been an afterthought the last 2 seasons, he can still play, and unlike a lot of players on this team he plays hurt.
O-Line, best effort of the year of pass blocking, Ben had all day to throw, still the run blocking needs to get better.
We have the bye week, to get healthier and correct glaring mistakes.

The Negatives-
We are 1-2 should be 2-1.
Can't stop the run, and not getting much pressure on the Quarterback. Which is leading to too many 3rd down conversions.
We are our own worst enemy. Fumbles, pentalties, etc.

My biggest disappointment is that the Team played down to the Raiders, even the fans did. Their are no easy games, did you really think the raiders wanted to be 0-3? Tomlin needs to try the have his best players on the field, we need Troy and Harrison, they might not be ready to go, but try to get them to practice. I think he sent the wrong message by not even having those guys practice, it made the rest of the team feel that it was going to be a laydown.

What can we do to right the ship and what are the postives.
We are only one game behind the Bengals and Ravens and we still play them both twice.
We are a much better home team than away team and have more remaining home games.
We need a defensive leader or a team leader in general, this team is lacking it big time.

I think this team looks like a 9-7 or 8-8 team. But, I really don't think the AFC is as good this year as past years, so who knows maybe that's good enough to get the the playoffs.

 

there's enough blame to go around, but i will say this and i don't give a crap what anybody thinks, the refs screwed us without a kiss, and i'm not to certain that it isn't league mandated against us. it was so blatent and disgusting. when we were at 10 penalties to zero, something is wrong. they broke our momentum everytime. there was so much not called on them it about made me puke. after 53 years i'm really fed up with this NFL. :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs: :bs:

 

When did Steeler fans turn into such freaking kittens? They played pathetic stupid football and lost because of it. It certainly wasn't because of some league ****ing mandate. Four freaking fumbles killed momentum, not the refs.

 

Giving up a 64 yard TD run in the 1st quarter didnt help the cause, 4 fumbles 2 recovered and a non existant running game that only racked up 54 yards on 20 carries stunk up the place, the Oline did keep Ben clean, they only gave up 1 sack but I dont know if they blocked better or if the raiders just didnt have a pass rush. The bottom line is, the Defense was horrible and it's not improving, even with harrison and troy coming back this defense needs more than just getting them back, and you never know when troy comes back if he is back or will he be back on the bench after a half of play, besides he isnt playing like the old big play troy so it probably wont matter anyway....

 

The only thing I want is for Mundy and Lebeau to retire. I would cut Mundy today, he's the worst player in the nfl, besides our entire OL except Pouncey.

 

you're right, that's the one I miss... Managing a lead almost always = effective running game. We had a lead in both of our losses (no 11+lead, but lead). And we weren't able to stop them and kill the clock. That's what I miss.