My observations from the bye week.... AFC North edition

1. Cleveland is up next...Both of their starting tackles are injured.... Kareem hunt is injured.... Jarvis Landry and OBJ are not at full speed.... this is looking eerily like a certain recent playoff game that I don't want to mention

2. This ain't your daddy's Bengals

3. The Ravens have the softest secondary in the league

4. What's the word on tuitt, banner, macfarland, Carlos Davis etc ????

5. Do we trade James Washington now or wait for a comp pick in 2023

6. Hope we don't take offers for Melvin Ingram

7. Time for chase claypool to take the next step

8. Note to Keith Butler: the use Minkah Fitzpatrick like Troy polamalu experiment is not working... Get him back to single high

9. Get Tre Norwood more snaps

10. Let DJ return a few punts once in a while

 

Jedrick Wills returned to the lineup for the game against the Broncos, so at most, they are only missing one starting tackle. It looks like they will have Chubb back, too. I think we would have heard by now if Tuitt was going to return for that game, so this idea that the Steelers should win in Cleveland makes no sense to me. The Browns are hurting on defense, but they are a terrible matchup for the Steelers without Alualu and Tuitt.

 

11. We've overrated the Steelers' ability to draft wide receivers. Ward and AB were self-made mid to late round picks, nobody else with staying power or a true #1 in Pittsburgh since the Noll era.

If they don't go QB next year in round 1 it might be time to take a true #1 WR.

 

Is the self-made comment an attempt to take credit away from the Steelers for drafting and developing those two great receivers? If so, that's a load of crap. Almost all great players put in the work, but that doesn't mean the teams didn't do something right as well.

They have drafted quite a few very good receivers, but sure, only one headed for the Hall of Fame and another who is borderline. Man, they just suck at it.

 

Browns are definitely a bad matchup for us with or without baker

 

I don't think it is going to be an issue. I can't see Mayfield being cleared for this one. If I'm the Steelers, that is bad news. I'd rather see a banged-up Mayfield out there. The Browns sometimes get a little pass-happy with him, which would be a gift. Cleveland should run, run some more, then think about it, and run even more.

 

Yep… they can run all game and probably still win. We can’t stop it

 

I don’t think Tuitt is even close to actually coming back unfortunately. As Scribe said without him and Alulu this Run D is in bad shape. That Seattle run game looked horrible last night which doesn’t bode well for us seeing how bad they gashed our unit.

 

Biggest thing to worry about with the browns is Myles garrett and Jadeveon Clowney. While Cloney is not the world beater stud everyone thought he would be he is def no slouch when playing opposite of Garrett. I am only half joking when i say we could witness Ben's final game this season.

This O-line mixed with that Def Front is a scary thought. Ben is going to have a tough day. He will have to get the ball out fast.

 

To be fair, the Saints are second in the league in yards rushing allowed, first in average per carry allowed (3.3).

I imagine the Steelers will load up on the run and dare Keenum to beat them.

 

They should have done that vs Geno Smith too though? I know TOMLIN got caught up in the 14-0 score but still

 

Apparently, you didn't see DK Metcalf burn the hell out of Marshawn lattimore, and we don't have any corners near his talent

 

Has Tuitt even come off of IR yet and officially opened his 3 week window? I don’t think he’s participated in practice, outside of a few individual drills. Please correct me if I’m wrong.

 

Wait another half day, and there should be more to discuss.
Tomlin has to give the weekly Tuesday press conference about the health of the team.

 

The problem wasn't the scheme. The problem was that they didn't adjust quickly enough when the Seahawks started pounding away at them.

 

TOMLIN says all hands should be in the pile this week for active guys including Carlos Davis and Banner.

Did not mention Tuitt at all, I don’t think he’s close.

 

He actually did mention Tuitt. He said he didn’t have an update on him, but his return is not imminent this week. Said he’s progressing well….
3 week window hasn’t opened yet. Would be nice to at least get him back practicing.

 

The article I read didn’t mention that gotcha. Still doesn’t sound like he’s back anytime soon which means the guy is missing more than half the season best case scenario

 

What do you mean by staying power? Salary cap and player development are two different things, no?

 

They re-signed the guys they wanted to keep, Hines and AB. Hoping DJ falls in that group.

 

I hope we don't dare anyone to do anything, because they will.

 

Its amazing what these guys get paid for playing a game. Its more amazing what they get paid for not playing. Time to fish or cut bait. IMO>