Game Balls, Game Goats & FU's........vs Broncos

[Chicoman]

Someone in the game thread said it's Angina time in the 4th QTR and they were right.....It's never a easy Steelers win but they prevailed today and I'll take the win as the Steelers move to 2-3. First off I've gotta tip my hat to Cameron Heyward....he has brought it week in, week out and his effort is second to none. He's always creating havoc on the inside and was very stout versus a excellent Denver running game behind a much improved O-line under Mike Munchak. Hats off the O-line too that looked like they were finally able to move some bodies out there on Defense, open up the running game for Najee Harris who has his first 100yd game of his career and gave Ben some time to find his receivers downfield. Ben did good today to silence some of his critics this season who have said the game has passed him by. Was a little worried when Najee went down with cramps because there's a big drop off in talent when Snell is out there and Ballage is not good either. We need Anthony McFarland back in the mix to see if he's a better option than Snell moving forward. Good all around effort by the Steelers in all 3 facets of the game. Pressley Harvin finally hit a clutch punt with the Steelers backed up deep in the shadow of their Goalline he hit a 63 yd punt to flip the field on the Broncos. A nice team win I look forward to another challenge next Sunday a Prime Time match-up vs the Seahags.


Per Tomlin's Post Game:
Najee Harris - Suffered cramping in the 3rd Quarter....could have gone back in was held out as a precaution the rest of the game after coming out a 2nd time in the 4th Qtr
Devin Bush - Groin
Juju Smith Schuster - Shoulder injury being evaluated at Hospital

Game Balls:
Najee Harris - 23 for 122yds, 2 rec for 20 yds.....great effort today and his first 100+yd game rushing in his young career
O-line - Great job holding up at the point of attack, giving Ben time to throw downfield and opening up some good running lanes for Najee Harris. The best they've looked all season by far
Chase Claypool - I've been hard on him for saying he doesn't play to the best of his ability....today might have been his best game as a Steeler. Stepping up for an injured Juju...he played great today.
Chris Boswell - two clutch FG's today from 51 yds & 48yds....He was clutch today
Cam Heyward - This guy has been a monster week in, week out. His effort is second to none. What heart he has. The young players on this team should look up to this Veteran on the Defense for his effort!
James Pierre - Yes he gave up a couple big plays but I'm putting him here for 2 plays...The INT to seal the victory and his effort on Javonte Williams 49yd run.....He saved a TD there and Denver had to settle for a FG. He rose up in the face of adversity today after being burnt on a few plays that gave Denver some momentum in the 4th Quarter. He could have crumbled but he rose to the occassion. He's only a 2nd year kid.

Game Goats:
Alex Highsmith - This kid has done nothing in 2 weeks....2 tackles last week, 1 tackle today....he's practically invisible out there. Gotta step up your game son! Ingram should be starting over Highsmith
Minkah Fitzpatrick - Gotta fill those gaps in the running game...took a terrible angle on Javonte Williams 49yd run in the 2nd Quarter....he was ok the rest of the game but he's gotta make that tackle.

FU's:
FU to all the critics who were ready to write off Big Ben....he might be 39 years old but he can still sling the rock! Ben got the protection this game that he didn't have the first 4 games of the season and he looked much better. Going forward hopefully the O-line continues to improve.

 

[TDX27]

I definitely give a game ball to Ben. A few misses today like every QB every week but he threw some beauties down the field and he was missing JuJu and Washington. We only had 2 of our top 4 WR's for the majority of the game.

 

[TDX27]

Tuszka got some snaps again today. I was surprised. I thought someone was injured. I guess it was just Highsmith not playing well.

Heyward is a ******* freak. Dude is like a fine wine. He gets better with age and that's not normal for a D lineman.

I would not be surprised if we end up not signing Minkah. He is going to want to much and I don't think he has earned the guaranteed money he is going to want. He is not Watt.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Tuszka got some snaps again today. I was surprised. I thought someone was injured. I guess it was just Highsmith not playing well.

Heyward is a ******* freak. Dude is like a fine wine. He gets better with age and that's not normal for a D lineman.

I would not be surprised if we end up not signing Minkah. He is going to want to much and I don't think he has earned the guaranteed money he is going to want. He is not Watt.

nice post and correct on Cameron and minka, he is not WATT but lately WATT has not been WATT.

Minka definitely took a bad angle on that big play and he had full sight & tackle path with no one in his way, no excuse.




Salute the nation

 

[Ironcitysteelers]

High smith and fitz have been very disappointing so far. I still say year one with fitz was so good bc he was just told to go out and ball. Now that MT has his thumb on him he isn’t the same. Set the man free

 

[SteelerFan448]

Heyward is a ******* freak. Dude is like a fine wine. He gets better with age and that's not normal for a D lineman.

Heyward is unreal. He has one of the best bull rushes in the league and today getting his hands up in passing lanes was huge.

 

[Punxsutawney]

I think Highsmith is in a similar situation to Watt in that he is not fully recovered from his groin injury.

He does not look as quick as he did last season or this past preseason.

 

[Drink IRON City]

High smith and fitz have been very disappointing so far. I still say year one with fitz was so good bc he was just told to go out and ball. Now that MT has his thumb on him he isn’t the same. Set the man free

Commonly known as "Tomlinised"




Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

I think Highsmith is in a similar situation to Watt in that he is not fully recovered from his groin injury.

He does not look as quick as he did last season or this past preseason.

I don't think either will fully heal while continuing to play on it. Some eventually have to have a mesh-like screen installed to get proper healing



Salute the nation

 

[Buster]

Only got to see red zone today…I know it’s only one game, but does the o-line look like it is starting to gel?

 

[Djfan]

Only got to see red zone today…I know it’s only one game, but does the o-line look like it is starting to gel?

Maybe too early to say "gelled", but did do better.

 

[Chicoman]

Only got to see red zone today…I know it’s only one game, but does the o-line look like it is starting to gel?

The O-line looked pretty good today. Only 1 sack and a couple times Ben got knocked down. Moore gave up the sack early in the 1st QTR and it led to Ben fumbling the football away to the Broncos. They opened up some good running lanes for Najee Harris and gave Ben time to look downfield and make throws. I still have concerns with Dan Moore at LT protecting Ben's blind side but he settled down and had a good game today. The entire O-line played very well. It's a step in the right direction but it is the Broncos. If they were able to do this in 3 weeks vs the Clowns then color me impressed!

 

[Drink IRON City]

Only got to see red zone today…I know it’s only one game, but does the o-line look like it is starting to gel?

Amazing how when play calling can help a young line. Yes they looked way better but committing to the run wwas definately a positive factor. Made the "D" repect the run so the pass worked way better.


Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

The O-line looked pretty good today. Only 1 sack and a couple times Ben got knocked down. Moore gave up the sack early in the 1st QTR and it led to Ben fumbling the football away to the Broncos. They opened up some good running lanes for Najee Harris and gave Ben time to look downfield and make throws. I still have concerns with Dan Moore at LT protecting Ben's blind side but he settled down and had a good game today. The entire O-line played very well. It's a step in the right direction but it is the Broncos. If they were able to do this in 3 weeks vs the Clowns then color me impressed!

Dan Moore blocked his man way past the QB drop back, text book of what he should do. The defender then got free and got to Ben. I think that sack was as much on Ben as Moore as to how long Ben held the ball, he should have felt the pressure coming.

I hear what you are saying but just making clear the full play is described.

Dan Moore has done well but yes he needs improvement, same as every player on that OL.



Salute the nation

 

[Punxsutawney]

It will be interesting to see what they do with Okorafor when Banner is ready to play.

I know the original plan was to play him at LT and Banner at RT, but if the line does well again next week without Banner, I'm not really sure they would want to make any changes.

 

[Chicoman]

It will be interesting to see what they do with Okorafor when Banner is ready to play.

I know the original plan was to play him at LT and Banner at RT, but if the line does well again next week without Banner, I'm not really sure they would want to make any changes.

They should bring Zach Banner in as an extra O-linemen on occasion to ease him into the game. Frikkin stadium would go NUTS if Banner reports as a Tackle Eligible play and go insane if he actually catches one for a TD!

 

[Shane Falco]

Ben did a great job of managing the game and choosing his spots for big plays. He got the protection he needed finally and a run game to allow him to balance the offense.

 

[CoolieMan]

other than a couple of passes Ben was much more accurate today

both his TD throws were beautiful

Pierrre likely deserves a game ball for his two td stopping plays

even after getting beat a bit on deep balls

 

[KStilley]

Some comments down playing OL performance because it was the Broncos. I could be wrong but I thought I read that they were a top five team against the run coming into today.

 

[nooneuno]

Minkah a goat for one bad play? Man some of you people are harsh. Edmunds makes 3 of those a game.

 

[CoolieMan]

Minkah a goat for one bad play? Man some of you people are harsh. Edmunds makes 3 of those a game.

he made plenty of others to offset that one. **** the haters

 

[stillwright]

I will keep this simple...

Game ball(OL)....simply our OL stepped up and we saw results in the passing game and the running game.
Goat(D)....shutting the Broncs down for most of the game. Then probably should have lost because of their lack of plays.

 

[CoolieMan]

I will keep this simple...

Game ball(OL)....simply our OL stepped up and we saw results in the passing game and the running game.
Goat(D)....shutting the Broncs down for most of the game. Then probably should have lost because of their lack of plays.

but they won because of their final 4 plays at the goal line

 

[Drink IRON City]

Someone in the game thread said it's Angina time in the 4th QTR and they were right.....It's never a easy Steelers win but they prevailed today and I'll take the win as the Steelers move to 2-3. First off I've gotta tip my hat to Cameron Heyward....he has brought it week in, week out and his effort is second to none. He's always creating havoc on the inside and was very stout versus a excellent Denver running game behind a much improved O-line under Mike Munchak. Hats off the O-line too that looked like they were finally able to move some bodies out there on Defense, open up the running game for Najee Harris who has his first 100yd game of his career and gave Ben some time to find his receivers downfield. Ben did good today to silence some of his critics this season who have said the game has passed him by. Was a little worried when Najee went down with cramps because there's a big drop off in talent when Snell is out there and Ballage is not good either. We need Anthony McFarland back in the mix to see if he's a better option than Snell moving forward. Good all around effort by the Steelers in all 3 facets of the game. Pressley Harvin finally hit a clutch punt with the Steelers backed up deep in the shadow of their Goalline he hit a 63 yd punt to flip the field on the Broncos. A nice team win I look forward to another challenge next Sunday a Prime Time match-up vs the Seahags.


Per Tomlin's Post Game:
Najee Harris - Suffered cramping in the 3rd Quarter....could have gone back in was held out as a precaution the rest of the game after coming out a 2nd time in the 4th Qtr
Devin Bush - Groin
Juju Smith Schuster - Shoulder injury being evaluated at Hospital

Game Balls:
Najee Harris - 23 for 122yds, 2 rec for 20 yds.....great effort today and his first 100+yd game rushing in his young career
O-line - Great job holding up at the point of attack, giving Ben time to throw downfield and opening up some good running lanes for Najee Harris. The best they've looked all season by far
Chase Claypool - I've been hard on him for saying he doesn't play to the best of his ability....today might have been his best game as a Steeler. Stepping up for an injured Juju...he played great today.
Chris Boswell - two clutch FG's today from 51 yds & 48yds....He was clutch today
Cam Heyward - This guy has been a monster week in, week out. His effort is second to none. What heart he has. The young players on this team should look up to this Veteran on the Defense for his effort!
James Pierre - Yes he gave up a couple big plays but I'm putting him here for 2 plays...The INT to seal the victory and his effort on Javonte Williams 49yd run.....He saved a TD there and Denver had to settle for a FG. He rose up in the face of adversity today after being burnt on a few plays that gave Denver some momentum in the 4th Quarter. He could have crumbled but he rose to the occassion. He's only a 2nd year kid.

Game Goats:
Alex Highsmith - This kid has done nothing in 2 weeks....2 tackles last week, 1 tackle today....he's practically invisible out there. Gotta step up your game son! Ingram should be starting over Highsmith
Minkah Fitzpatrick - Gotta fill those gaps in the running game...took a terrible angle on Javonte Williams 49yd run in the 2nd Quarter....he was ok the rest of the game but he's gotta make that tackle.

FU's:
FU to all the critics who were ready to write off Big Ben....he might be 39 years old but he can still sling the rock! Ben got the protection this game that he didn't have the first 4 games of the season and he looked much better. Going forward hopefully the O-line continues to improve.

Chicoman, thanks for these gameball post(s), I enjoy the hell outA them.!!!

Great post and pretty accurate.




Salute the nation

 

[Steelmann]

The O-line looked pretty good today. Only 1 sack and a couple times Ben got knocked down. Moore gave up the sack early in the 1st QTR and it led to Ben fumbling the football away to the Broncos. They opened up some good running lanes for Najee Harris and gave Ben time to look downfield and make throws. I still have concerns with Dan Moore at LT protecting Ben's blind side but he settled down and had a good game today. The entire O-line played very well. It's a step in the right direction but it is the Broncos. If they were able to do this in 3 weeks vs the Clowns then color me impressed!

Denver's front 7 is weak! Our O-line is still awful you are just seeing less "SUCK" today from our O-line.

Lol......during the game I remember you giving them the gears. But it’s all good. I think they played excellent today and have improved a hell of a lot each game. Before the game,I read all sorts of things about how Denver’s front 7 would raise havoc. They didn’t. Most teams give up a sack or two during an NFL game. And QB’s do get knocked down a time or two. Just like most QB’s miss a throw or two. Have to give credit where it’s due,proud of their progress. Obviously the coaching deserves some credit too.

Definitely giving the game ball to the line,Big Ben,Naj,Cam,and finally the OC for calling a much better game than the usual.

By the way.....Ben’s fumble was all on Ben. He had tons of time. Throw the ball away.