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Games Balls, Game Goats & FU's........Week 3 vs Texans.....

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Chicoman

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Great performance today from the Steelers on all sides of the football today. This year has been nice to see some rookies contributing more than in recent years. Anthony McFarland IMO earned some more play-time today with his limited action. I don't think we will see him on the Inactive List anymore after today. Also other rookies showing something are Chase Claypool, Alex Highsmiith and last week we saw Kevin Dotson put on a nice performance too. I gotta first give credit to Tomlin & Butler for a nice halftime adjustment when the Steelers went to a man-to-man coverage scheme instead of playing Zone in the first half as Watson was able to pick the Zone Defense apart. None of the Texans WR's are good enough to win man-to-man....great adjustment that proved to be the difference in the game. One guy who stuck out like a sore thumb today IMO was Bud Dupree. The stat sheet shows he had 1.5 sacks today but the sack they gave him credit for was a DONG sack as Watson scrambled for his life to the left and was hit by Bush, Dupree & Watt. I know he's a descent OLB but today we all saw how terrible he was against an Elite level OT in Laremy Tunsil. He struggled miserably and this is a guy who is an UFA after this season looking for a BIG $$$ Contract......I say you let him walk. It's quite simple really if you can't perform against Elite Level NFL talent then you don't deserve Elite NFL Salary. Sorry Bud! Besides we have more talented players on this roster who are more worthy of BIG $$$ contracts.....Juju Smith-Schuster, TJ Watt and a couple others. I tell you this.....we've got to give a little credit to the Steelers Front Office when you look at this team. There have been 31 NFL draft picks for the Steelers in the last 4 years and of those 31 players drafted....They have 22 of them still on this roster and most of them are good contributors on this team. This is how the Steelers have built this team into a NFL Powerhouse right now. Each week Ben looks like he's getting more and more comfortable with his offensive weapons and I expect that to improve as the season goes along. Don't look now but our Steelers are 3-0 for the first time since 2010! Bring on the Titans as the Steelers try to go 4-0 for the first time ever in the history of the Tomlin era and the first time in team history since 1979 when Chuck Noll was coach!


Per Mike Tomlin's Post Game:
DJ Watt - Hamstring that is being evaluated
Dionte Johnson - Concussion
everything else is just bumps and bruises that come along with playing the game.....


Game Balls:
Stephon Tuitt, Cam Heyward, Tyson Alualu, Chris Wormley - These guys really did a great job up front all game and really too charge in the 2nd half of this football game
TJ Watt - Stats today won't show he had a great game but he had a great game.....constant pressure and fighting through double teams, holding by OL to try and stop this man today. He was a wrecking ball today
Mike Hilton - He had one bad play today and he was flat footed when he gave up the first TD to the Texans as Randall Cobb caught a 28yd TD pass from Watson in the first quarter. His INT late in the game really changed the momentum in this game.
Ben Roethlisberger - He seems like he's starting to get more comfortable in that offense each and every week. 23 of 36 273 yds 2 TD's. His final TD drive today capped off by James Conner's TD run was Vintage Ben and so was the 2 point conversion to Juju. BTW congrats to Big Ben for starting his 221st Career Start for the Steelers breaking Mike Webster's streak
James Conner - Definitely deserving of a game ball today 18 car 109 yds, 4 rec 40 yd 1TD. He looked great today
Eric Ebron - 5 rec for 52 yds 1 TD.....finally saw how effective he can be as a weapon
Vance McDonald - only 3 receptions here but I'm giving him a game ball for his blocking on some big runs by James Conner....he really stepped up today in run blocking when he opened some big holes in the running game
Mike Tomlin & Keith Butler - Great adjustment in the 2nd half going to man-to-man instead of zone scheme. They took Deshaun Watson and made him a non-factor in the 2nd half.


Game Goats:
Bud Dupree - Yes he belongs here....given a sack he didn't deserve....actually should have gone to TJ Watt. He deserves a Game Goat because he went against an Elite NFL Tackle in Laremy Tunsil and he was ineffective and absent for most of the game with only 1 tackle. I'm sorry but this is a guy in the final year of his contract and he's going to want BIG Money to keep him a Steeler. If you can't deliver against Elite level NFL talent then you don't deserve Elite level money! Besides the Steelers have too many other players that are more talented and better that deserve that big money more!

FU's:
I'm going to ***** about the officiating....Holy Crap I saw TJ Watt getting completely MUGGED and Blatantly Held by Texan's OT & TE. Also the no call on the pass by Ben to Claypool......Claypool almost made an incredible one handed catch...because Bradley Roby had both hands on Claypool's other arm holding him for being able to catch the ball. How the Hell can they miss that? Then when Ben scrambled for the 3rd down run for a first down....they missed the spot declaring 4th down. Tomlin challenges it....looked pretty obvious that Ben made the first down marker......PLAY STANDS AS CALLED.......4th Down Steelers. Complete BS!
 
The OL gets a game ball. Chucks is fine at RT, he made JJ Watt look like an average player.

Nelson is a game goat, he's been burned often, 3 times for touchdowns.

I would not give our coaching staff too much credit, we had to play to win this one. I say they get some credit, mixing in McFarland paid dividens.

As for an almost game ball, Ray Ray you time will come.
 
Chicoman said:
FU's:
I'm going to ***** about the officiating....Holy Crap I saw TJ Watt getting completely MUGGED and Blatantly Held by Texan's OT & TE. Also the no call on the pass by Ben to Claypool......Claypool almost made an incredible one handed catch...because Bradley Roby had both hands on Claypool's other arm holding him for being able to catch the ball. How the Hell can they miss that? Then when Ben scrambled for the 3rd down run for a first down....they missed the spot declaring 4th down. Tomlin challenges it....looked pretty obvious that Ben made the first down marker......PLAY STANDS AS CALLED.......4th Down Steelers. Complete BS!
Click to expand...

Let's tell the truth, there would have been a ton of bitching if Tomlin hadn't challenged that spot, yet the blind men still got it wrong. Of course they made up for it on the next play with a very cheap PI on Houston.
 
Don't share the same view about Bud he is having a solid start. Does he deserve an elite contract? No. But he definitely deserves a good contract. It is debatable if the Steelers will give him one. But that is more of an off-season debate at this point. I want to give the game ball to the team. Both sides of the ball had some fails in the first half. But got their **** together in the second half when it matter the most. If I had to zero in it would be TJ and Conner/Ben with the nod. Why Ben? 3 and 0 compared to last year's disaster of a start. I was cussing early and happy late. Good win Steelers!

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The defensive line may not be putting up huge stats, but they are playing dominant football right now. It's probably the best group on this team. Both tight ends played to their strengths very well today and it's nice to have a strong duo after struggling at the position in recent years.

I think Vince Williams is quietly having a very good year. He doesn't make the same type of plays as Watt and Dupree, but is just playing solid football right now.

Very disappointed in the secondary. Nelson looks like Kansas City Nelson. Haden has been so-so. Fitzpatrick isn't playing to the level we've come to expect.
 
Coach, are you seriously gonna pimp Mcfarland over Conner today?

Conner was clearly running very well and once again he essentially iced the game with a late big run.

Mcfarland played well as a change if pace guy. I'm not unhappy with him.
 
SteelerFan448 said:
The defensive line may not be putting up huge stats, but they are playing dominant football right now. It's probably the best group on this team. Both tight ends played to their strengths very well today and it's nice to have a strong duo after struggling at the position in recent years.

I think Vince Williams is quietly having a very good year. He doesn't make the same type of plays as Watt and Dupree, but is just playing solid football right now.

Very disappointed in the secondary. Nelson looks like Kansas City Nelson. Haden has been so-so. Fitzpatrick isn't playing to the level we've come to expect.
Click to expand...
The secondary faired better in the second half. I would like to see some improvement in this area too, some of it is not putting them in the best position to succeed. Cheating Mink up, poor D shift that results in LBers with unfavorable matchups,zone when they should play man more. Some is on the players sure, but put them in the best position to succeed. I think they did just that in the second half.


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Coaching staff. Which I rarely say. Good halftime adjust. Bad finish to the half but not one more point. Minkah Fitzpatrick has not made a play in three weeks. I wont say goat but All pro needs to make plays.
 
Thanks for the writeup Chico.

Agreed that Bud had a quieter game; do did JJ against Chuks.

FWIW, Bud with TJ on the other side seems the same as Woodley with Deebo causing worry on the other side. Without Deebo, Woodley was at best average for the Steelers and Raiduz. Same future for Bud? So far, I'd rather pay Juju.

As for game balls, I should get one too. Wife says I don't need any beer for game today. Something about a detox plan. Steelers are losing 14-3, I tell her, I can fix this. NO. End of 2Q, 21-17, I say see this game is winnable, she says NO. After first drive of 3Q, punt, I look over and without a word from me she says YES. So I grab a beer, and should get full credit for the 10-0 run to win the game. You all are welcome.


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slashsteel said:
The secondary faired better in the second half. I would like to see some improvement in this area too, some of it is not putting them in the best position to succeed. Cheating Mink up, poor D shift that results in LBers with unfavorable matchups,zone when they should play man more. Some is on the players sure, but put them in the best position to succeed. I think they did just that in the second half.


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Click to expand...

Sure they performed better in the second half, but Watson carved them up in the first. Driskel looked like an All Pro at times against them last week. The defense has time to improve and I hope it happens because we need them to play at an elite level to be a contender.
 
Confluence said:
Thanks for the writeup Chico.

Agreed that Bud had a quieter game; do did JJ against Chuks.

FWIW, Bud with TJ on the other side seems the same as Woodley with Deebo causing worry on the other side. Without Deebo, Woodley was at best average for the Steelers and Raiduz. Same future for Bud? So far, I'd rather pay Juju.

As for game balls, I should get one too. Wife says I don't need any beer for game today. Something about a detox plan. Steelers are losing 14-3, I tell her, I can fix this. NO. End of 2Q, 21-17, I say see this game is winnable, she says NO. After first drive of 3Q, punt, I look over and without a word from me she says YES. So I grab a beer, and should get full credit for the 10-0 run to win the game. You all are welcome.


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Click to expand...

The wife should listen to you more often! (Don't show her my post please lol)
 
Agreed. I understand the hate on Dupree. Was it his best game? Nope. He still was in the area to grab a sack and half.
slashsteel said:
Don't share the same view about Bud he is having a solid start. Does he deserve an elite contract? No. But he definitely deserves a good contract. It is debatable if the Steelers will give him one. But that is more of an off-season debate at this point. I want to give the game ball to the team. Both sides of the ball had some fails in the first half. But got their **** together in the second half when it matter the most. If I had to zero in it would be TJ and Conner/Ben with the nod. Why Ben? 3 and 0 compared to last year's disaster of a start. I was cussing early and happy late. Good win Steelers!

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Click to expand...

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First gameball I give is to Chuks. He deserves it.
Ray Ray on returns was tough as nails.
JC ran hard and well and got solid blocks from both the line and the receivers.
Defense played well in the second half. Not sure what the issue was in coverage, but they seemed to solve it.

On the Dupree situation - pretty good OT he played against and we don't know the strategy. With a mobile QB, you generally don't want to get too far up field as that can create a lane behind you. I would bet that part of the game he was playing more contain to keep Watson tight. Speculation on my part, but that is often the way to play mobile qb's. Guy is better than a lot of people here want to give him credit for. Doubt we resign him though. He will command a good bit in FA and Highsmith is already flashing.

Ben's long ball timing isn't there yet. It will come, but he is just over throwing a few feet.

Tomlin/Butler do deserve credit for second half. I also gotta give some props to RF. I do not like our OC, but the run game in the second half was North and South for the most part and worked well.

Good game against a team who is better than their record shows. They opened with arguably the top 3 teams in the AFC to start their year.

In the end - 3 and 0!!!!
 
Hoot said:
First gameball I give is to Chuks. He deserves it.
Ray Ray on returns was tough as nails.
JC ran hard and well and got solid blocks from both the line and the receivers.
Defense played well in the second half. Not sure what the issue was in coverage, but they seemed to solve it.

On the Dupree situation - pretty good OT he played against and we don't know the strategy. With a mobile QB, you generally don't want to get too far up field as that can create a lane behind you. I would bet that part of the game he was playing more contain to keep Watson tight. Speculation on my part, but that is often the way to play mobile qb's. Guy is better than a lot of people here want to give him credit for. Doubt we resign him though. He will command a good bit in FA and Highsmith is already flashing.

Ben's long ball timing isn't there yet. It will come, but he is just over throwing a few feet.

Tomlin/Butler do deserve credit for second half. I also gotta give some props to RF. I do not like our OC, but the run game in the second half was North and South for the most part and worked well.

Good game against a team who is better than their record shows. They opened with arguably the top 3 teams in the AFC to start their year.

In the end - 3 and 0!!!!
Click to expand...

Agree 100% on maintaining containment.


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Lots of missed holding calls that should have been called on the tackle blocking TJ Watt. That guy was mugging TJ.
 
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yea, I'm not as hard on Bud. He was an absolute monster the first 2 games and played at a pro bowl level all last year. Saying he isn't a good OLB because Tunsil managed him is the same as saying JJ Watt is terrible because the 3rd best RT on our roster negated him. I don't make those assumptions. It's weird, like when Jarvis Jones went up against Joe Thomas, he'd play like he's a pro bowler, but everyone else made him look like ****. It's one game, so I'm not killing Bud on this game, but I'm also balanced enough to realize his play is not worth his contract price next year, especially with all the other needs we have for FA next year.

Tomlin gets a game ball from me.
3/3 on 4th downs (though I wish he went on the other 2 4th and shorts)
Good challenge, bad interpretation of the rule there. I will never accept spotting the football where Ben's knee hit the ground. You spot the ball where the ball is when the knee hit the ground, and Ben clearly was over the line. Still it was a good TO, and gave a lot of options for the Steelers to prepare after the review if they lost the call.
GOING FOR 2! The numbers are there to always go for 2. Nifty RPO by Fichtner on that play and excellently executed by BB.
Time management was excellent. We scored a TD under 2min in the 1st half. And held possession for 6+ minutes to ice the game. This is the 2nd time this year we kneel down in victory formation with a Goal-to-go situation.

Sure we see the adjustments in the 2nd half, but kudos for the players we have active on game days. They are by far our best 48 to win games. And using each and every one of them is even smarter. I believe everyone played a snap today, and nice to see McFarland get worked in.
 
steelhurt said:
Lots of missed holding calls that should have been called on the tackle blocking TJ Watt. That guy was mugging TJ.
Click to expand...

Just like watching Harrison all over again. Watt will start getting those calls because the refs were afraid of JH and the league hated him...
 
Confluence said:
Thanks for the writeup Chico.

Agreed that Bud had a quieter game; do did JJ against Chuks.

FWIW, Bud with TJ on the other side seems the same as Woodley with Deebo causing worry on the other side. Without Deebo, Woodley was at best average for the Steelers and Raiduz. Same future for Bud? So far, I'd rather pay Juju.

As for game balls, I should get one too. Wife says I don't need any beer for game today. Something about a detox plan. Steelers are losing 14-3, I tell her, I can fix this. NO. End of 2Q, 21-17, I say see this game is winnable, she says NO. After first drive of 3Q, punt, I look over and without a word from me she says YES. So I grab a beer, and should get full credit for the 10-0 run to win the game. You all are welcome.


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Click to expand...

in that scenario, i'd say your wife is the one that deserves the game ball, since apparently you require HER permission to have a beer, lol
 
Cope said:
yea, I'm not as hard on Bud. He was an absolute monster the first 2 games and played at a pro bowl level all last year. Saying he isn't a good OLB because Tunsil managed him is the same as saying JJ Watt is terrible because the 3rd best RT on our roster negated him. I don't make those assumptions. It's weird, like when Jarvis Jones went up against Joe Thomas, he'd play like he's a pro bowler, but everyone else made him look like ****. It's one game, so I'm not killing Bud on this game, but I'm also balanced enough to realize his play is not worth his contract price next year, especially with all the other needs we have for FA next year.

Tomlin gets a game ball from me.
3/3 on 4th downs (though I wish he went on the other 2 4th and shorts)
Good challenge, bad interpretation of the rule there. I will never accept spotting the football where Ben's knee hit the ground. You spot the ball where the ball is when the knee hit the ground, and Ben clearly was over the line. Still it was a good TO, and gave a lot of options for the Steelers to prepare after the review if they lost the call.
GOING FOR 2! The numbers are there to always go for 2. Nifty RPO by Fichtner on that play and excellently executed by BB.
Time management was excellent. We scored a TD under 2min in the 1st half. And held possession for 6+ minutes to ice the game. This is the 2nd time this year we kneel down in victory formation with a Goal-to-go situation.

Sure we see the adjustments in the 2nd half, but kudos for the players we have active on game days. They are by far our best 48 to win games. And using each and every one of them is even smarter. I believe everyone played a snap today, and nice to see McFarland get worked in.
Click to expand...
Thinking Chuks is moving up the RT ladder quickly. Just maybe he keeps it next season too.

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I think the offense in general deserves a game ball. I think they almost doubled up the texans in plays in the second half. Specifically i will single out conner. I didn't think he looked right last week, but seemed much better today. Also Ebron showed up.

GOAT secondary...fitzpatrick is invisible. i hope we didn't ruin him.

FUs - not really much stands out... some questionable calls i guess
 
The Steelers are deficient at both coordinator positions. The team has so much damn talent on both sides of the ball that any moron could have success calling plays.

The sad fact is this steeler defense now boils down to get the sack or get beat. Before we name the Texans some juggernaut, remember that Daniel Jones and Jeff ******* Driskel also made plays vs the supposed great steeler defense.

Fichtner has no focus. He's always trying to do everything, almost like he feels he has to call every play on the sheet before the game is done. Every damn week, the steeler flush the 1st quarter down the toilet while Fichtner tries to figure it out.

It's absurd how the steelers routinely struggle early on offense. The initial gameplan is always wrong. You would think out of shear dumb luck that they'd come out of the gate guessing right and put up some early scores but No. Always having to make adjustments.
 
Edmonds had a couple good plays as well. Can't add anything that hasn't been said other than 3-0 in September brings good thin Gs in February to Remeber.


I'm just a pompous *****
With a super bowl itch

Glaring thing to Remeber
3 N Oh in September

What's that again
Towering big BEN

BOOM chucA boom
ChucA boom boom

More to come
Defensive for some

**** the refs
AN a girl named steff

Dupree3 for me
Still on a sack spree

TJ electrifying WATT
Show the world who is WATT

Yes sir all said aN done
Watching STEEL is lotSA fun

Boom boom shulackA smackA fackA





Salute the nation
 
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