Steelers vs falcons Initial Thoughts

[stillwright]

Defense:
Run defense was not great but had enough moments.
Pass Rush was good.
Coverage was good but not playing a top 32 QB.
Offense:
Pass protection was very good.
Passing game was like run defense. Had moments but was not great.
Run blocking was poor. Running backs hard to judge when blocking poor.
Specials: gave up kick returns, missed one long FG. Had a decent return to start game.
Coaching : didn't like the call that pushed them to edge of FG distance and missed. Need a quicker hitter. That puts you up 10 with about 7 min left. Rest was pretty standard.
Overall it was exactly what I said. Can't win game and they played worse the I expected. wins a win.

I think we took to many chances deep on 3rd and short. Just the gave flow. Of course if we hit on any of them it possibly changes the game dynamics completely.

 

[stillwright]

That is awesome! Beats his brother and the eagles guy who went to green bay. At something ! Minister of defense. **** can't remember and refuse to look it up

Reggie White

 

[Hypocycloids]

So happy with the win.
But how is it that we can’t acquire a #1 receiver that’s not a mental case?

 

[Shane Falco]

Week 1 football. Sloppy. I’m not going to be knee jerk about the first game. I do like the aggressive attack down field play calling by McCarthy. This was the first actual game for quite a few of the starters-especially Rodgers, DK and Pittman. I like the 9.2 yards average from Rodgers. I hope DK cleans up the mental errors and just plays football. The defense looked good, of course it was against Cooper Rush. I think we are going to see better football the next few games.

 

[stillwright]

So happy with the win.
But how is it that we can’t acquire a #1 receiver that’s not a mental case?

I would have liked to see Pickens with Rodgers throwing to him.....but it was not meant to be. Instead we were given DK.

 

[diver]

7

Tony Gonzalez

9/12/2010

ATL

@

PIT

2

5

35

17.5

0

0

0

0

Thats impressive to find that.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Thats impressive to find that.

Nah, just Google. And there were times when they held Kelce to like 4 out of 5 receptions and 38 yards, no TDs.

 

[BLITZ]

Reggie White

yeah total blank TY

 

[Sarge]

Week 1 football. Sloppy. I’m not going to be knee jerk about the first game. I do like the aggressive attack down field play calling by McCarthy. This was the first actual game for quite a few of the starters-especially Rodgers, DK and Pittman. I like the 9.2 yards average from Rodgers. I hope DK cleans up the mental errors and just plays football. The defense looked good, of course it was against Cooper Rush. I think we are going to see better football the next few games.

9.2? Official stats show him at 5.5 Y/A. Or are you talking about yards per completion?

 

[JMM]

So happy with the win.
But how is it that we can’t acquire a #1 receiver that’s not a mental case?

Not sure they exist anymore

 

[gk1951]

A win is a win. Aaron Rogers is a master at analyzing faults including his own.
I expect next week to be a bit sharper.

 

[Gildong Sack]

DK is a mental case. We screwed the pooch with that signing unless he takes his head out of his ***. I don’t think he really wants to play football. Why do we always get lunatics as wideouts?

I'll bet this post doesn't age well. Remember how he played last year? With no legit #2? He'll be fine.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The run : pass ratio was out of whack, but our OL couldn't run block.

Credit to the coaches to not putting Warren in the doghouse after the fumble, he's the better overall option because of his receiving ability and blocking. Dowdle may be the better pure runner.

We need more from the receivers. Wilson dropped a tough TD and DK had too many drops--for how much he gets paid he has to make those plays. I did like the contributions from the tight ends and Pittman. I still want to see more Bernard because he's another sure-handed option.

Rodgers made some terrific throws--including a few that were dropped--and others that were bad decisions.

I thought the defense looked good for the most part. What I didn't understand is the Steelers seemed content to allow Bijan to be the focus of the offense. I figured they'd take him out and make Atlanta rely on literally anyone else.

Highsmith was very good and Watt came up huge in crunch time. Heyward's batted down passes were huge impact plays.

Two long field goals = 0 points. No clue what went on with the early snap and a near miss from Boswell. Until the offense can develop consistency, the Steelers need to convert on these opportunities.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Only concerns are O line and D line.

DK is garbage.

The leaders stepped up. That's why we won.

Rats and bungles won, as well. We need to step up and take care of our own business.

Dline was playing against a good O line and the beat RB in the league. I think they did fine.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Yes, it's early, got it. So why are other NFL teams showing great passing plays with receivers running open and giving the QB time to throw?

Steelers had chances in the passing game, but either couldn't connect or the Falcons DBs got away with murder.

Rodgers threw the ball well enough to have more TDs and a lot more yards than he did, which is encouraging going forward.

Also, Metcalf almost literally cannot be any worse than he was today the rest of the season. Maybe he should have played a snap or two in the preseason.

 

[Djfan]

Dline was playing against a good O line and the beat RB in the league. I think they did fine.

I was referring to how they started, which I felt wasn't too impressive. They did step up, but it wasn't my favorite showing that they have had.

 

[Shane Falco]

9.2? Official stats show him at 5.5 Y/A. Or are you talking about yards per completion?

Air yards per target. Best in quite a few years. Now the 5.5 y/a I expect will improve as the offense settles down.

 

[BurghThing]

So happy with the win.
But how is it that we can’t acquire a #1 receiver that’s not a mental case?

Is there such a thing?

 

[Punxsutawney]

We need more from the receivers. Wilson dropped a tough TD and DK had too many drops--for how much he gets paid he has to make those plays. I did like the contributions from the tight ends and Pittman. I still want to see more Bernard because he's another sure-handed option.

For as difficult as some of those plays may have been, Hines Ward or Antonio Brown probably make most, if not all, of them.

That's the difference between the good ones and the great ones.

Metcalf is basically a slightly better (and much more jacked) version of Martavis Bryant.

He's about as talented as anyone, but the actual football skill doesnt quite match the raw ability.

 

[TheDudeAbides]

Question #1: Am I correct that we didn't see Washington until the second half? Was he naughty?

Question #2: Where was Elandon Roberts? We brought him in the help stop the run, play a team with virtually no QB and just Robinson as 85% of their offense, and Roberts sits? Is he hurt?

 

[CoolieMan]

Question #1: Am I correct that we didn't see Washington until the second half? Was he naughty?

Question #2: Where was Elandon Roberts? We brought him in the help stop the run, play a team with virtually no QB and just Robinson as 85% of their offense, and Roberts sits? Is he hurt?

washinton was on the field in the first half just no targets
Roberts was cut so they could keep 3 mid backup qbs

 

[jitter77]

Thats impressive to find that.

I think this is the game when Troy was matched up against him and it was a good battle

 

[SteelerFan448]

washinton was on the field in the first half just no targets

Also, if I had to guess, Washington had more snaps than Freiermuth...at least it seemed that way.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Thoughts:

Aaron- still older than dirt
The Backs- Warren fumbles too much, Rico who?
DK- still sucks. drops too much, too much PI
Roman- still sucks, but less than previously, maybe
Pittman- decent routes, will eventually help more
Muth- made some key plays
Washington- not earning that dough… yet, a key first down but let’s get him blocccking!!!
The OL- gotta be better, gonna take some time

The DL- pretty solid, Cam with the bats
The LBs- looked better in this system. TJ!!!!!!
The DBs- Joey who????

Boz- alright, bro. That’s your one miss for the year

Liked Graham’s plan more than the last 100 or so Tomlin game plans.
Game one- win one, all that counts in the end.

Good start Mike!

Get that first for Joey heading into week 2 to build some real momentum and remove the distraction and I’ll call week 1 a win-win

 

[Drink IRON City]

Thank God football is really back

Amen Brother, at just the right time.

first half was sloppy as hell

OL did ok in pass protection but were not opening any running lanes

OL is the slowest room to gel, by week 4- 6 we will be speaking differently of them

defense was better than I thought, other than the ****** coverage on the TD pass,

I would have sworn the DL was subpar but the falcons only had 24 yards rushing at the half...

Heyward knocking down passes and Highsmith and Watt both with sacks. Brisker with the gift int, but at least he caught it....

Defense develops faster than the O, and yes you are right about being better than one thinks. We've only had the Tomlin special to compare to for the last couple decades. I think we will be more pleasantly surprised in the weeks to come now that the unit is on the field of play and game day speed.

DK just shoving DBs out of the way, not sure why he thinks that is legal, Wilson was finally a weapon but really should have caught that ball in the endzone

2nd half was just as sloppy...will DK actually catch a pass? will the refs call a PI for him???? inquiring minds want to know

offense is out of sync, drops (mainly DK) no run blocking some questionable play calls...gotta get it together

Give them time together in game day activities and they will improve. In fact, that is more what my eye will be watching for is improvement as the season progresses.

way too many rushing yards for atlanta in the second half. bad tackling - Herbig hit the RB hard in the backfield but failed to finish and off he went....gotta do better

Watt with a huge 2nd half...another sack a big TFL and a pick 6....one man wrecking crew for a little while today

Highsmith with a good game, Heyard with the hat trick of patting down passes

I agree here, but 1st game always shows a wart or two. Time will help, games will help.

58 rushing yards is not going to be good enough, the OL needs to get it together and open some holes. not a great passing day but DK's drops really hurt that part of the offense. it was good to see wilson make a few plays and pittman as well. Freiermuth had a good day with 5 catches and a TD and Washington with 2 big catches late

Special teams needs to be better - gave up too many yards on returns and really did not do a lot when receiving the ball.

good thing they were playing cooper rush led falcons

over all sloppy as hell, but a win is a win..

Agree with all of this Coolie, things will get better as each game gives them time as a unit.
..... I think Cooper Rush was 9-2 as a starter for Dallas, so there is that.
The OL needs time together and with the season progressing should improve.



Thanks Coolie, I look forward to these on a weekly basis




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