Has to be

Most complete game we’ve seen all year. Except for 2-3 bone head penalties we had it all together. I still don’t understand why they don’t play Warren more and throw to Pickens more. Congratulations Steelers on a good win.

 

O line/ D line all deserve game balls today. Props to Trubisky managing the game well after all the Rudolph talk

 

Totally agree. Every part of the game was best of the season including run defense, receivers and QB play.

 

All wins are great wins. This was against a bad team. But, we’ll take it. Let’s not make it more than it was.

 

With what he has shown with limited opportunities, to me it's a mystery why Pickens isn't targeted more. I guess they just love all of those 6-8 yard gains by Johnson.

 

Trubisky knew if he turned the ball over like he did against Baltimore, he was going to get benched.

 

True. Steelers get fortunate some years to get the weakest division in the NFC. The year we started 11-0 we had NFCE and they were horrible that season. Damn Washington got us. Real glad we got the NFCS this year.

 

Pickens is getting the other team’s best CB. The result then is that DJ gets CB2 and has an advantage. It’s all about matchups.

 

I mean yeah 4/6 wins have been against the NFC South. That division is terrible. Tampa is in first with a losing record.

 

DJ was the most valuable offensive player today, even with the penalty. Did you watch the game?
More importantly, have you ever coached any sport at any level? Because had you, you would understand that matchups dictate results. And when teams are devoting their best CB to Pickens, the result has been that DJ has the more favorable matchup.
Anyone who has coached football, soccer, basketball, etc. knows you win by exploiting the most favorable matchup. Period.

 

good observation. If we had the nfc East this year there would be articles and posts all over the place calling for Tomlin’s head. He’s probably thanking his lucky stars he’s got the nfc south this season.

 

DJ knows how to get open and runs disciplined routes.

 

They’re up on the Bengals right now.

 

Canada can’t figure out how to or just won’t move the kid around. Pickens has a raw route tree in my opinion but that dude should be moved around get some slot action and work the middle of the field as well.

 

I don't have to have been a coach to see that the boy can go and get the ball. Some receivers don't need to be open to be open. Anyone who has coached football knows that. For him to only get 3 targets is ridiculous.

 

I generally don’t disagree with you and the NFL certainly has a “get the ball to the best player regardless of match up mentality”. But when our number 2 has such a match up advantage over the CB, the correct play is to take advantage of the matchup until the defense adjusts. Yesterday the defense never adjusted and we never stopped. The results speak for themselves.

 

I don't think he is getting open all that often. Keep forcing those combat catches and some of them are going to become turnovers. He needs to improve his route-running to get more separation.

 

Pickens has a natural instinct to position his body to make the tough catches and he has great hands on top of all that. The only issue I have seen and its not every play or every time, but he seems to run lazy routes. He doesnt seem to be fooling too many defenders on his intentions. I think if he can improve in this area, the sky is the limit, he is that talented. Oh, one more thing I noticed, and once again, its not every time but I noticed that if he doesnt put his mouth piece in, its usually a running play away from his side. Just a few things I noticed and obviously things he can correct.

 

I hadn't noticed the thing with his mouthpiece. That's not great. It basically tells the defense that the play is a run and it is away from him.

He definitely needs to be consistent with his routes. He occasionally runs some great ones, but that has to be every play.

 

Good observation on the mouthpiece. Coach T and C need to stop that right away. DCs are smart and pick up on those clues.

 

Agree, one player getting more attention allowing another more opportunities. Perhaps DJ : Pickens as AB : JuJu. JMO>

 

DJ is the WR that this team could least afford to lose because of his still set to beat a variety of NFL coverages. Man, zone, or triple coverage DJ can beat them all. IMO, DJ is a "mini" AB in development. AB was probably a more physical WR than DJ. DJ was paid for reasons. DJ doesn't have a HOF QB throwing to him at this stage. Let's see how things develop for the Steelers offense next season. The glue that will determine the fortunes of the skill position players that the Steelers assembled is the QB.

 

Don't you mean 8 - 6 yards by Johnson? Dude just can't help himself, has to go backwards.

 

He does need to play within himself and not try with every catch to curl and think you are taking it to the house. Fine line of curbing not being too aggressive but remaining aggressive. Enough of a body of work to show him that he is doing it too often and turning easy first downs into the Eric Green effect (coming up just a short) by running backwards. Never forget Eric Green just coming up short and we couldn't punch it in. Man he was a beast though, oops I digress.