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Steelers/Bucs: My two and a half Nichols.

Fiji Mariner said:
Since Cam is being a lil ***** it makes Holcomb even more valuable. The run D was much worse with him off the field last year. If Cam is a hold out it makes weak run defenders like Payton a liability, should likely give the edge to Holcomb.

Save the weak run defenders like Wilson and Herbig for known passing downs if Cam is out.

Hopefully Harmon is ready out of the gate too, he looks the part so far.
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Why are we calling Wilson a weak run defender? I have like what I have seen so far with him against the run.
 
slashsteel said:
* Well skip to my Lew..is Nichols trying to stick or what?

* A reminder that turnovers still often sway outcomes. Each QB thought enough to put their hand in the pile. Although Skylar‘s wasn’t on him.

* Roman Wilson continues to stack plays and the light is starting to come on.

* Harmon gets his first sack , although not official. Still that arrow is pointing up. He looked like a bulldozer on that play. Safe to say there is nothing wrong with his bull rush.

* Kaleb with some nice runs and a healthy 4.5 average per carry. Johnson is settling in after a rough first outing. (that’s what she said) This is more indicative of his capable.

* Scotty doesn’t know Scotty doesn’t know, don’t tell Scotty… well perhaps he does know that he is all but a lock for the 4th or 5th receiver roster spot? Which number in the pecking order ? I don’t know

* Brandon Johnson - the kid just makes plays. Another sleeper to make the roster… if the team doesn’t add another WR post cutdowns.

* Holcomb and Harrison: The depth at ILBer is solid.



Feel free to add your own game thoughts, the more the merrier.
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I still don't think Nichols should be a lock...
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
Why are we calling Wilson a weak run defender? I have like what I have seen so far with him against the run.
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A minus not a plus in that component of the game, his play has been below the line and things of that nature. His pass potential pedigree and that component of the game is where he shows his pedigree, when he isn’t giving up TDs…obviously

I’ll take Holcomb over Wilson vs the run 8 days a week at this stage of their careers. Wilson, while not an absolute dud vs the run is not very good vs the run imo. See him get caught in the wash too much, he’s light in the pants and not someone who makes the run D better at this point. He may get better, likely will…but he needs more strength to be more effective at the POA

To my eyes he’s ok when at his best vs the run, definitely not a plus like Holcomb. Good thing he’s one of the best coverage backers on Earth…or so I’ve heard someone say.
 
Fiji Mariner said:
A minus not a plus in that component of the game, his play has been below the line and things of that nature. His pass potential pedigree and that component of the game is where he shows his pedigree, when he isn’t giving up TDs…obviously

I’ll take Holcomb over Wilson vs the run 8 days a week at this stage of their careers. Wilson, while not an absolute dud vs the run is not very good vs the run imo. See him get caught in the wash too much, he’s light in the pants and not someone who makes the run D better at this point. He may get better, likely will…but he needs more strength to be more effective at the POA

To my eyes he’s ok when at his best vs the run, definitely not a plus like Holcomb. Good thing he’s one of the best coverage backers on Earth…or so I’ve heard someone say.
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I would have said that last year but so far this year he seems to be doing well and playing far more aggressive against the run. He may be the best on the team against the outside runs. Inside is where he still has some refinement to do but he has made a few nice inside stops in his limited time this year. As far as coverage he is in the right place which some of predecessors were not he just needs to relax and follow the ball now.
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
I would have said that last year but so far this year he seems to be doing well and playing far more aggressive against the run. He may be the best on the team against the outside runs. Inside is where he still has some refinement to do but he has made a few nice inside stops in his limited time this year. As far as coverage he is in the right place which some of predecessors were not he just needs to relax and follow the ball now.
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My assessment is indeed based on last year
I put zero stock into 90% of what happens in preseason

It’s barely football

I liked the pick and the player
Also realize he’s got plenty of growing to do to become dominant
 
bermudasteel said:
He didn't stand out so...meh...
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Just like with Sawyer he is not an early round pick expected to dominate early. The fact he has done as well as he has should be encouraging. He made some impact last week and has done well in practice. For where he was drafted he is doing very well. Same for Sawyer.
 
slashsteel said:
I dunno. I took it as two fold. That he was just finding his footing and still is, and that the first team run blocking needs work.

Most of that starting Oline played all but one G and there didn’t seem to be much running room for any RB early.

I think as he gets more comfy he will stack up fine against varsity. That varsity will of course have to do their part and be run blocking proficient.

I was mulling this over prior to the game and was thinking with the talent acquired (DK and Jonnu) that we might see the teams strength be in the passing game as our Ts are very pass block athletic capable. So we could see the pass setting the team up to run efficiently.

Hopefully along they way they stand on their own two legs and become a strength.
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I hope so too. But Jaylen is still RB1 IMO. #RBbyCommittee
 
our RBs should be:
Warren
Johnson
Nichols
Hurleman (as RB/WR)

Gainwell has never impressed me. He's not bad, but he's not that good either.

I'd also be shopping Mason to the Saints for either a late pick.
 
Superman said:
our RBs should be:
Warren
Johnson
Nichols
Hurleman (as RB/WR)

Gainwell has never impressed me. He's not bad, but he's not that good either.

I'd also be shopping Mason to the Saints for either a late pick.
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If Howard wasn't hurt, I'd be here with yaz.

Also realize as the season progresses, Mason's value should increase.



Salute the nation
 
I must admit,for the first time in years I haven’t even tried to watch the Steelers first couple of games .Am I starting to lose interest in my old age? Must be because it’s preseason. I’ve never understood how you are supposed to gauge a talent when they are playing your #2’s and 3’s against the other teams backups as well. I don’t get it. You’d think playing your regulars a bit would help get the timing thing happening. Especially with a new QB,RB,WR,TE on offense. Not to mention an OLine that has a few positional changes as well. I haven’t even mentioned the changes in D.

I know, know. The injury factor.
 
how did Black look yesterday?
Steelmann said:
I must admit,for the first time in years I haven’t even tried to watch the Steelers first couple of games .Am I starting to lose interest in my old age? Must be because it’s preseason. I’ve never understood how you are supposed to gauge a talent when they are playing your #2’s and 3’s against the other teams backups as well. I don’t get it. You’d think playing your regulars a bit would help get the timing thing happening. Especially with a new QB,RB,WR,TE on offense. Not to mention an OLine that has a few positional changes as well. I haven’t even mentioned the changes in D.

I know, know. The injury factor.
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I watch preseason cause by thst time it has been months since I saw steeler football. It is a drug
 
Superman said:
our RBs should be:
Warren
Johnson
Nichols
Hurleman (as RB/WR)

Gainwell has never impressed me. He's not bad, but he's not that good either.

I'd also be shopping Mason to the Saints for either a late pick.
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We arent keeping 4 rbs unless it was 3 rbs and a fb who can play h back sets and TE...

Arthur Smith has 4 te formations in the offense this season... so we are keeping at least 4 TE...
the Oline is young so expect 9 OL... they wont short it this season, especially with the premium on olinemen now
They will keep 3 qbs
Thats 16 players.
Mike tomlin never shorts the D in roster spots
Typically its 26 D and 24 O, though on occasion its 25/25
Because the D is far deeper than the O, its hard to see them cutting a more talented d guy to keep an extra O this season, so expect they typical 24O and 26 D

If they keep only 5 Wrs and only carry 24 O players, that leaves 3 RB spots
 
DesertSteel said:
Kaleb looked good against 4th stringers. There's something about his running style and frame that leave me questioning if he'll stack up against the varsity.
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Preseason isn't a time to draw definitive conclusions, that said he has looked like 3rd rd RB so far. Hasn't done anything that jumps off the page, although he has shown what looks to be decent vision/ awareness. Hoping he just needs time to adjust to NFL game speed and shake off the nerves.
As of now 2 preseason games in I would say the training camp hype has been hit with a dose of reality, Warren is the better runner, pass protector and pass catcher. Hoping Kaleb turns into a monster runner, I can see him being the guy that is capable of breaking through the second level for some big runs to the house, being the 1a and 1b RB we have been waiting for.
 
Steelmann said:
I must admit,for the first time in years I haven’t even tried to watch the Steelers first couple of games .Am I starting to lose interest in my old age? Must be because it’s preseason. I’ve never understood how you are supposed to gauge a talent when they are playing your #2’s and 3’s against the other teams backups as well. I don’t get it. You’d think playing your regulars a bit would help get the timing thing happening. Especially with a new QB,RB,WR,TE on offense. Not to mention an OLine that has a few positional changes as well. I haven’t even mentioned the changes in D.

I know, know. The injury factor.
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Here’s the inside scoop

The NFL is keeping the “pre-season” as a negotiable consequence for the next CBA. The NFL wants 18 game season and will concede a pre-season game (or 2) to get that, Pre-season doeesn’t even matter to any degree other than bubble developement. Essentially, the weak-aszzed Player’s Union will concede a preseason game or two to allow the added game to get to that 18 game season. Ironically, none of the starters play in the pre-season game much anyways.

After the Joint Practice I had read that they get way more out of the practice than the pre-season game. Maybe the focus should become “Joint Practices” instead of the pre-season…………

In any event, I can’t remember a less disinterested start of a season. I follow here daily as this is my #1 source and I like reading many’s here post(s), your’s being one of those………



Salute the nation
 
Superman said:
our RBs should be:
Warren
Johnson
Nichols
Hurleman (as RB/WR)

Gainwell has never impressed me. He's not bad, but he's not that good either.

I'd also be shopping Mason to the Saints for either a late pick.
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Cam and Mason for Olave?
 
bigben said:
Preseason isn't a time to draw definitive conclusions, that said he has looked like 3rd rd RB so far. Hasn't done anything that jumps off the page, although he has shown what looks to be decent vision/ awareness. Hoping he just needs time to adjust to NFL game speed and shake off the nerves.
As of now 2 preseason games in I would say the training camp hype has been hit with a dose of reality, Warren is the better runner, pass protector and pass catcher. Hoping Kaleb turns into a monster runner, I can see him being the guy that is capable of breaking through the second level for some big runs to the house, being the 1a and 1b RB we have been waiting for.
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Baldy disagrees, and I tend to trust his opinion over anyone here. Jaylen won’t be able to stay healthy and hold onto the rock long enough to be anything more than a change of pace back.

https://x.com/BaldyNFL/status/1957531178203807894
 
SteelerInLebanon said:
I would have said that last year but so far this year he seems to be doing well and playing far more aggressive against the run. He may be the best on the team against the outside runs. Inside is where he still has some refinement to do but he has made a few nice inside stops in his limited time this year. As far as coverage he is in the right place which some of predecessors were not he just needs to relax and follow the ball now.
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I thought Payton looked just fine against the run in the first preseason game, and I didn't notice much of a drop off this week. Not sure how people make current assertions based on old information.

And his coverage on the touchdown wasn't bad either -- they had him lined up outside, one-on-one with a very elusive starting NFL RB, and he was right there with Irving the whole way. It was just perfect execution by the Bucs.
 
Steelmann said:
I must admit,for the first time in years I haven’t even tried to watch the Steelers first couple of games .Am I starting to lose interest in my old age? Must be because it’s preseason. I’ve never understood how you are supposed to gauge a talent when they are playing your #2’s and 3’s against the other teams backups as well. I don’t get it. You’d think playing your regulars a bit would help get the timing thing happening. Especially with a new QB,RB,WR,TE on offense. Not to mention an OLine that has a few positional changes as well. I haven’t even mentioned the changes in D.

I know, know. The injury factor.
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I watch it because I enjoy seeing how the young guys perform. Especially the draft picks and new free agents. For example, a guy like Beanie last year. Yeah, most of the time they're going to be going up against other backups, but if they dominate their opposition, chances are they'll make the team.
 
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