I like the fact that the defense gave up fewer points than it did in the previous game. Yes--It would be nice to have a defense that didn't allow the opponent's offense to run or pass (I think the defense needs a NT who can play the run and pass at an all-universe level), but the secondary is better with the addition of a great player, and the pass rush got home against a team without an OL. That is an excessivelent combination that no team in the NFL has had in years...and key in the modern NFL game for anyone who can't coach and needs 11 number one picks to make the D look decent. Even Bud Dupree's mother hates him, but in one quarter of the game last week, I don't remember which one so don't quote me, had 4 tackles and a whole sack. That's on pace for 4 sacks a game, and 64 in a season, which might (and I said might so don't quote me) make the Steelers think about resigning him to a long term contract. You can say the same for any other player who got a sack against the Bungles.
On offense, our new TE has helped more that the old TE who got no yards despite being injured. D. Johnson doesn't play like a Steelers draft choice, and I love the RB depth we have. There's Conner, Konner and Coner, and behind them there's Samules, Samuels and Sameles. All of them can be key players as long as the coach calls the right one. I hope he continues to get 8-10 yards rushing per attempt with 3-6 TDs a game. Samuels could be a key player (one of many. so don't quote me as to who is the keyest), as I think he fits with some of the stuff (like taking a hand-off) that any college QB does well. Until a #3WR emerges that we can count on, that other guy Sameles can do something that probably only Emmitt Smith would understand WR/TE/RB, sometimes wild cat QB. Samules (the other other guy) can do it all, and he has speed, which is something all the other RBs including Sameles and of course the OL don't.
The key is our OL. Protecting Rudolph is a must, even though protecting the QB is pretty much unheard of. I still think he's an interception waiting to happen despite the fact that he has rarely thrown one, and wonder if he can move the chains by completing enough passes 7-15 inches down the field. The dink and dunk can work as long as the running game works, but what happens when the center can't even snap the ball? We already know he can hit a wide open WR when he has time to plant his feet, look downfield and check out the cheerleaders on the sideline.
