Initial Thoughts on Charger Game

[stillwright]

Look at all the money we saved by not trading for a #2 WR !

Continuing our long standing tradition of not addressing our glaring weaknesses.

We had a #2 but traded him to Dallas. We were never going to make a big splash trade for one.

 

[stillwright]

Reading this, I’m sure glad I didn’t stay up.

Yep. I bailed when AARon threw his first INT. Figured the Chargers would go down and scored to break the game open right before halftime. When I got up this morning I saw that is exactly what happened.

 

[Djfan]

Rogers is just embarrassing himself this point.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Rodgers was bad, but I'm not going to be concerned about it unless it starts becoming a trend, which is always a possibility at his age.

Saying that, it's not like he struggled because he suddenly cannot move well enough or rip the ball anymore. He was just off last night.

On that first missed throw to Metcalf, Rodgers actually did a great job of avoiding the rush and getting the ball downfield after Broderick Jones got beat instantly (something shocking, I know). He really didn't miss the throw by THAT much, given the timing was ****** from the beginning.

There's a lot of heat being thrown toward Arthur Smith, much of it warranted, but he did draw up and call opportunities for big pass plays in the first half. If they connect on them, the complexion of the game is completely different.

The OL and running game just aren't good enough, and being nine games into the season, this is pretty much what they are going to be the rest of the way. It's beyond disappointing, given all the high draft picks on the OL. Keeping Pat Meyer looks worse by the week.

On a positive note, I still think the defense is playing better than it was a few weeks ago, but they were on the field way too much last night.

For much of the season, that was their own fault, but not really last night when the Steelers offense did not convert a 3rd down until the 4th ******* quarter.

It seems typical of Tomlin's teams when one side of the ball starts improving, the other regresses.

That's the tried and true recipe for 9-8 and being on the receiving end of a curb stomping in the wildcard round.

 

[Badcat]

And yet again, I get suckered into staying up late. **** ers!

I went to bed, got a great night's sleep with a belly full of bourbon, just watched the low lights this morning on youtube, jumped on here to read everyone's thoughts with a smile on my face knowing what the ******* bullshit standard is. I'm done, done with this organization and its complete lack of accountability.

 

[Shane Falco]

This was an outright *** kicking. There’s no other way to say it. The defense was playing and hitting hard tonight. They just got out punched. Aaron was sailing balls and missing guys he usually hits. Metcalf needs help. The 3 TE was cute, but you need to open things up. Have another target other than DK.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The defense played well enough to win last night.

Rodgers was awful.

Too many errors and they just snowballed.
-Boswell missed FG.
-Rodgers missing DK for 6.
-Dropped INT by JPJ.
-Rodgers running himself into a safety.
-Muffed punt by Williams.
-CA drop that turned into a pick.

 

[Coryea]

Chargers were down to their 3rd and 4th tackles on the depth charts, and what their 3rd or 4th string RB?
We didn't get 5 or 6 turnovers.
Rodgers worst game by a mile, was rattled from getting hit, wasn't stepping into his throws because of that and was sailing everything. He looks low rent cussing about Austin after the pick that went through Austin's hands, after the dumb play he made in the endzone and the horrible pick he threw earlier. I guess when Rodgers screams and swears at teammates, that's leadership?
Again we get into FG range, we go even more conservative to save the FG try.

 

[Punxsutawney]

The Steelers told you that they were punting on this season when they did nothing at the deadline.

I'm on board with that. Why trade draft picks to be slightly better this year and lose in the wildcard round anyway? So we can't be too surprised when they come up short.

My issue with that is why bring in Rodgers and pay all those guys on defense if you're not going to try to address an obvious need or two when leading the division in November?

I could see if they were something like 2-6 going into the deadline and saying **** it, but to be sitting where they are in the standings and basically doing nothing bothers me, though you could argue getting Dugger was a good move.

Winning the division and playing at home would help their chances of at least getting past the wildcard.

Rodgers, despite his play last night, would give them a fighter's chance in any playoff game, especially this year with the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens not looking as strong as year's past and the Steelers having already beaten the Patriots and Colts.

The defense is definitely better with Ramsey at safety, and I don't believe the offense will be close to that bad the rest of the season.

For as ugly as it was, Warren still averaged 5 yards a carry and they "just" missed some big plays in the passing game, one of which was a great play by the Chargers DB.

 

[Troglodyte]

When you are +5 in giveaway/takeaway and win by only 7 and consistently lose whenever the other team doesn’t turn the ball over, you’re not winning football games, your opponents are occasionally defeating themselves. The Steelers just aren’t a good football team and aren’t going to beat good teams by moving the sticks on offense and forcing punts on defense.

 

[Coryea]

My issue with that is why bring in Rodgers and pay all those guys on defense if you're not going to try to address an obvious need or two when leading the division in November?

I could see if they were something like 2-6 going into the deadline and saying **** it, but to be sitting where they are in the standings and basically doing nothing bothers me, though you could argue getting Dugger was a good move.

Winning the division and playing at home would help their chances of at least getting past the wildcard.

Rodgers, despite his play last night, would give them a fighter's chance in any playoff game, especially this year with the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens not looking as strong as year's past and the Steelers having already beaten the Patriots and Colts.

The defense is definitely better with Ramsey at safety, and I don't believe the offense will be close to that bad the rest of the season.

For as ugly as it was, Warren still averaged 5 yards a carry and they "just" missed some big plays in the passing game, one of which was a great play by the Chargers

Shouldn't be a surprise, look at the **** show they surrounded Ben with his final two seasons, that Oline his final season was just ridiculous to do to one of your franchises all-time great players, then look at his weapons Dionte, Chase, Ray-Ray McLoud. This is just another do what we can so we don't have a losing season.

 

[steel dino]

Yep, it’s very very frustrating.
But you guys know I kind of live by the KISS method, especially when it comes to our favorite football team.
But net net and root causeof the problem.
If you package it up and tie it up with a bow, is our offensive line is terrible!
Full stop.

 

[steel dino]

My issue with that is why bring in Rodgers and pay all those guys on defense if you're not going to try to address an obvious need or two when leading the division in November?

I could see if they were something like 2-6 going into the deadline and saying **** it, but to be sitting where they are in the standings and basically doing nothing bothers me, though you could argue getting Dugger was a good move.

Winning the division and playing at home would help their chances of at least getting past the wildcard.

Rodgers, despite his play last night, would give them a fighter's chance in any playoff game, especially this year with the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens not looking as strong as year's past and the Steelers having already beaten the Patriots and Colts.

The defense is definitely better with Ramsey at safety, and I don't believe the offense will be close to that bad the rest of the season.

For as ugly as it was, Warren still averaged 5 yards a carry and they "just" missed some big plays in the passing game, one of which was a great play by the Chargers DB.

Thanks for the sunshine this morning Punx..
I think we all needed that and there is some truth to what you mentioned.
Just imagine men after next Sunday when we lay one on Cincy at home all will be right in the world again.

 

[Litos]

Defense did their part, true that they vacated the middle a couple of times and got slanted but that is a high powered offense with good playmakers. Holding them to 22 is very good in current pass happy NFL.

 

[Superman]

Tomlinship is getting closer, but also further away.

This team is ***, from top to bottom. Defense played decently, but as I said in a text - "Tomlin will say the offensive game plan was thrown out the window when Slay got hurt" - since one doesn't necessarily effect the other in the magnitude Tomlin wishes we'd believe.

Aaron looked like a 41 year old last night. He looked hesitant to move and the pass that he threw to Gainwell inside the 10 where he turned around as he threw... dude... that's some b1tch shiite.

TJ got his sack, but ... it was garbage time and quite frankly he should have been on the sideline at that point in the game since the outcome was decided. Cam looks like he's not lost a loaf since the season started, and typically players do lose weight as the season goes on. Glad Carb Heyward is holding down the fort... he sure isn't doing much else.

The overlooked bright side on defense was Lamar Jackson's cousin, James Pierre, who is Lamar Jackson's cousin, came to play last night. He was playing like we'd been wanting him to since being signed.

Pat Myer and Teryl Austin are still auditioning for this season's scapegoat. You simply cannot tell me that these guys we've spent high draft picks on suddenly cannot block or do their jobs. Both should be gone asap. And, yes, nothing will change when either or both are gone. This season-long turd has started from the top.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The only guy who showed a spark once again was Jaylen Warren. That’s it.

Never throwing the ball to Pat. Or Jonnu.
These coaches are jokes.

I think Warren averaged 5.2 yards per carry with 14 being the longest run. Why not feed the machine.

Chargers had just over a FULL QUARTER ADVANTAGE ON TIME OF POSESION
Pitt- 22: something against Chargers 37: something.

Who’s our OL coach (rhetorical), that fool hasn’t done **** for the OL developement.

Coaching from top to bottom needs turned over.

Don’t worry, players need held accountable as well

I could see a new HC come in and near 1/2 the team being replaced in one season.




Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

This offense really hasn't changed in 5 years. It doesn't matter what qb you stick in this **** show. They're starting a pretty long line of them post Big Ben.


I'm not sure what the deal was with Rodgers throwing high. I haven't seen much of that all year.

This offense is easy to defend and shut down. The wideouts are not beating anyone.

Does this team ever script anything?


The corners need to catch a few hundred balls a week on the jugs machine.


And yet again, I get suckered into staying up late. **** ers!

The strength of the Charges “D” is against the pass. What do we do………… pass-pass-pass

Like it or not, our ONLY offensive player that stands out is Jaylen Warren (5.2 YPC) and abandoned.




Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

Initial thought: Rodgers has played well for the most part all season, but he was horrendous tonight. For all the bltching about Metcalf, had AR hit him early on for that wide open 41-yard touchdown (and at least one other time I recall where DK was open and overthown), he would have had a productive game.

Other thoughts:
1) Why oh why can't they take a shot down the field on 2nd-and-1? Three different opportunities tonight, three runs up the middle.
2) Every audible that Rodgers has ever called has been a running play. You can set your watch by it. And it usually doesn't work.
3) Watt gets a garbage-time sack when it was 22-3, but was once again mostly a non-factor for the vast majority of the game. Was hopeful that he had turned a corner last week...nah.
4) Herbig made some plays when he was in there.
5) Yet another instance of a Steelers edge rusher getting a costly offsides penalty that has absolutely nothing to do with the play when Highsmith got flagged, nullifying a a sack. Just plain asininity that these guys cannot stay on the right side of the line of scrimmage before the snap.

Pathetic Discipline, starts at the top.




Salute the nation

 

[Hypocycloids]

This game was the deciding factor for me.
We’re not going anywhere this year except maybe down.

 

[Drink IRON City]

This game was the deciding factor for me.
If we’re not going anywhere this year except maybe down.

We are still above .500 and leading the North.

Never have I said that and felt less satisfying than today, knowing what is to come.



Salute the nation

 

[Litos]

This game was the deciding factor for me.
If we’re not going anywhere this year except maybe down.

to me it was the bungles'. This one was a loss from the get go

 

[timsim00]

This loss wasn't as embarrassing as the Bungles loss, but it was embarrassing. After the Indy win, which showed the possibility of this Defense, this was a very lack luster performance.

San Diego, yes they are still the SD Chargers, was pretty banged up on the O-line, if not decimated, and yet they were able to block our rushers and then ran the ball on us. Hurtful. I was way off on my prediction of Pass INT in this game, but did it matter?

Has this coaching staff EVER made half-time adjustments? NEVER!! So horrible!!

In my opinion, the most optimistic angle to this game was watching the two safeties actually play Pittsburgh Football! Dugger is legitimate!

 

[Badcat]

The Steelers are tied with the Vikings for second least amount of points scored against the Chargers at 10 points, the Raiders scored only 9 points...That is where your Steelers are peered with on offense. Hell, even the Dolphins put up 27. Pathetic.

 

[Superman]

i was particularly fond of the graphic they showed DURING the game with the Rats favored to win the division, even though they were behind us in the standings.

tells you all you need to know about this team and every team under Tomlin.

 

[TDX27]

I'd be very surprised if this team can win 3 more games, let alone the 4 or probably 5 to win the division and make the playoffs. The Ravens are rolling with Lamar back, and we can't stop the Bungholes. It seems Tomlin didn't want to run the same D last night that worked great against the Colts. This will be yet another epic collapse from a team that started 4-1 and now lost 3 of 4. The Ratbirds should blow through the remainder of the season to win the division, and the Bungholes might even pass us up.

Terrible coaching on this team. That D should be stuffing teams. They have the players to do it, but Tomlin has no clue how to run a new-age D. He's still trying to run what worked 15+ years ago. O's have adapted, but Tomlin has not.