Wow, I see the bandwagon got really light with our first loss

[tapeANaspirin2it]

I am not bothered that they lost 1 game. I'm bothered that they lost because the weaknesses that have become more and more evident each weak have not only remained, but have gotten even worse. Namely the ability to run the ball at all.

I don't think this is hyperbole, but the steelers may be the worst NFL rushing offense i have ever seen. I honestly can't think of any team more inept at running the ball. I'm not talking about just being ranked low statistically. I'm talking about the ability to gain even 1 yard running the ball when the defense is thinking run.

The only word that comes to mind is pathetic. Again, that is not hyperbole. It really is the only word that describes the run game at this point. They are simply incapable of blocking anybody. The only rushing successes come when the defense is thinking pass. But even that is no longer working because the pass offense is all short passes. Defenses are playing closer to the line because they are not afraid of being beaten deep.

 

[wig]

I foresee an AFC Championship in KC, it'll be tough but hopefully we can pull it off!

Who do you think will be playing the Chefs? The Bills? The Ravens?

 

[nitsuj1225]

He turned his body inside. Had he turned to the outside he would have at least had a chance.

But again, the ******* playcall. When the WTFs needed a big play, they threw to a receiver. When the Steelers need a big play, they throw to an offensive lineman or a 3rd string running back.

You know what you need to know right there.

Actually McKissic, their 3rd string running back, tore up our D for 10 catches and multiple first downs. Oh and Logan their TE had a career game. We actually shut down their WRs so idk what you are talking about.

The difference is their TE can catch and their 3rd string RB is a prototypical 3rd down back (ie good pass catcher) that we sorely lack. Agree with you that they designed great plays to get those guys open but it was far from only their WRs making plays.

 

[Drink IRON City]

You guys need to read the game thread. No point watching the rest of the season, this team is done, shot, no chance, or so I was reading

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Not for me as We have one poster here who can analyze the entire game through the game day post. Players level of play and coaching as well, everything yaz need to know about the game...............I'll just wait for his next post(s).




Salute the nation

 

[mdk2]

Actually McKissic, their 3rd string running back, tore up our D for 10 catches and multiple first downs. Oh and Logan their TE had a career game. We actually shut down their WRs so idk what you are talking about.

The difference is their TE can catch and their 3rd string RB is a prototypical 3rd down back (ie good pass catcher) that we sorely lack. Agree with you that they designed great plays to get those guys open but it was far from only their WRs making plays.

I'd bring up Wendell Smallwood and see what he can do. I liked what I saw out of him when he was with the Eagles. He can't be any worse than our other RBs.

 

[Coryea]

Actually McKissic, their 3rd string running back, tore up our D for 10 catches and multiple first downs. Oh and Logan their TE had a career game. We actually shut down their WRs so idk what you are talking about.

The difference is their TE can catch and their 3rd string RB is a prototypical 3rd down back (ie good pass catcher) that we sorely lack. Agree with you that they designed great plays to get those guys open but it was far from only their WRs making plays.

Pretty much all those RB catches came in the second half, Washington made adjustments on both sides of the ball, we didn't.

 

[GILBERT]

I am not bothered that they lost 1 game. I'm bothered that they lost because the weaknesses that have become more and more evident each weak have not only remained, but have gotten even worse. Namely the ability to run the ball at all.

I don't think this is hyperbole, but the steelers may be the worst NFL rushing offense i have ever seen. I honestly can't think of any team more inept at running the ball. I'm not talking about just being ranked low statistically. I'm talking about the ability to gain even 1 yard running the ball when the defense is thinking run.

The only word that comes to mind is pathetic. Again, that is not hyperbole. It really is the only word that describes the run game at this point. They are simply incapable of blocking anybody. The only rushing successes come when the defense is thinking pass. But even that is no longer working because the pass offense is all short passes. Defenses are playing closer to the line because they are not afraid of being beaten deep.

Well, they won the SB with the worst O-line in the NFL. Maybe they can win with worst running game! lol.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

McFarland is NOT the answer. Period the end...

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No one is until Randy F. stops thinking he can pound a nail through a 2x4 by smashing his bare head into it. The play calling is a joke. There is no guessing to what we are about to do we telegraph every paly call by personnel and formation. We need to get back to being under center and running our whole offense out of it not just running. Put Watt to some real use and not just as a blocker. He can catch and we could use some creative power football with play action and the ability to run down hill.

 

[nitsuj1225]

I'd bring up Wendell Smallwood and see what he can do. I liked what I saw out of him when he was with the Eagles. He can't be any worse than our other RBs.

Couldn't hurt. The problem is we have 3 very similar type running backs and none of them do anything particularly well except Conner runs the hardest which is the only reason he has had any success this season and the other 2 continue to be stonewalled. I was all for getting rid of Leveon because he was too expensive and we had Conner and could bring in a cheap pass catching RB to fill the gap in the passing game (i.e. a Smallwood type player) but all they did was bring in more between the tackle type runners who can't catch and we badly need a shifty 3rd down back with good hands who can get open and move the chains through the air. That type of back would thrive in our new dink and dunk style passing game right now.

I actually wouldn't mind trying out Ray-Ray McCloud in that type of role.

 

[Stryker]

And this game would have been a lot different if Watt falls on that FF instead of trying to pick it up...

 

[bigben]

Was never on the bandwagon, I could see it from a mile away, subpar play calling,, No run game, ****** TE, No true#1 WR, A good defense that looks great because of 1 superstar (Watt).
This team went down to the wire and got lucky against the Broncos and Ravens 2nd string QB's, let Philly and Dallas hang around, and just lost to a 4-7 Skins team with a journeyman backup QB

This team was never half as good as their record may have suggested.
Like I said last week 11-0 means nothing to any fan who actually watched the games and knows what they are looking at.

 

[Punxsutawney]

To echo what others have said, the record is still great, but considering how it has been achieved in the context of the team's ability to win a championship, there is a lot of reason for concern and pessmism.

The offense is not only one dimensional in terms of run vs pass it is also very limited within the passing game itself.

The defense is still good, but it is overly reliant on its pass rush which was somewhat diluted with the loss of Dupree.

I'm sure as hell not getting Super Bowl vibes with this team and haven't for about a month now.

 

[slashsteel]

And this game would have been a lot different if Watt falls on that FF instead of trying to pick it up...

Take off 3 points that was an error on the refs part and it is a closer game too..

Regardless I would make it mandatory for every receiver to put in at least 30 minutes to an hour on the jugs after practice..

 

[wig]

being 11-1 with problems to be resolved for a playoff run is better than being 6-5 with the same problems.

Totally true.

Ebron missed a key block on the 4th down, dropped 3 balls. Fix that and they get the win, easily, tonight

The game before he dropped at least 2 or 3 as well as Johnson et. al. They didn't fix it for the WTFs, why are they going to suddenly fix it for the Bills?

14 carries 21 yards. Is that winning football? ...

It can be. Ask Marshall Faulk. He had 10 carries for 17 yards when the Rams beat the Titans in the Super Bowl.

In fairness, the Rams could throw the ball more than 3 yards that season. The Steelers do NOT have a dynamic passing game that can make up for this ****-show running game.

 

[KStilley]

Except I would have Feiler as the backup RT.

My son and I were arguing this point, he agrees that Okoafor needs to stay at RT because of pass protection. I'm not convinced, I saw some a comment somewhere that the opponent's DL is just trying to collapse the pocket and stay in their lanes with their hands up knowing that they're not going to get to Ben due to the quick release. Others on this site have mentioned this of course, the DL can tip the ball or interfer with short passing lanes.

It seems to me that any OL can at least get in someone's way for a second or two. If Ben decides to abandon the short pass, he's usually under pressure. Ben has been under pressure his entire career but he's tough to bring down and like all great QB's, he has that six sense of knowing where the rush is coming from, he'll step up, step back or roll away from the heat.

I don't see that anymore, is his knee hurt worse than they're letting on and what about his arm, I saw him grab it at least once this year. Does the intermediate pass cause pain and is he confident he can even continually throw it without injury. I know he can "loft" a ball deep but are the mechanics the same (throwing deep vs 10 to 20 down field on a dime).

There's allot of questions here, Ben's health, our receivers ability to get seperation ten yards down the field, OL ability to hold a pass block etc. and this all affects the run game.

I'm even beginning to wonder even if Ben wanted to go under center could he effectively drop back into the pocket consistently. We have no alternative but BB but I believe his knee is much worse than publicized and his arm and OL is no where near the 2018 season.

 

[madinsomniac]

Take off 3 points that was an error on the refs part and it is a closer game too..

Regardless I would make it mandatory for every receiver to put in at least 30 minutes to an hour on the jugs after practice..

They could put in 10 hours a day and it won’t matter... their issue isnt bad hands, its looking for a run lane before they solidify the catch

The priorities:
1. Catch the ball
2. Run

Its a gametime focus thing that isn’t going to be practiced away... its like lazy fumbling...

 

[Troglodyte]

Yes, the Steelers are 11-1 but I don’t see how anyone can be optimistic about the rest of the season considering how they have played and who they have played the past two games. The offense is currently one dimensional and that one dimension is mostly limited to short passes and plagued by drops. The defense is still good but not as good as before the injuries. Special teams are inconsistent and questionable. If I had to guess, they finish 12-4 and then 1-1 in the playoffs, maybe even 0-1.

 

[Pittsburgh Charlie]

Yes, the Steelers are 11-1 but I don’t see how anyone can be optimistic about the rest of the season considering how they have played and who they have played the past two games. The offense is currently one dimensional and that one dimension is mostly limited to short passes and plagued by drops. The defense is still good but not as good as before the injuries. Special teams are inconsistent and questionable. If I had to guess, they finish 12-4 and then 1-1 in the playoffs, maybe even 0-1.

That’s why they play the games


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[Drink IRON City]

Take off 3 points that was an error on the refs part and it is a closer game too..

Regardless I would make it mandatory for every receiver to put in at least 30 minutes to an hour on the jugs after practice..

Very true slash except I'd go with 150 receptions not including drops and from all different catching angles. If I was one of those receivers or TEs I'd be doing this willingly and pushing the feeder guy to make them harder to catch.




Salute the nation

 

[Pittsburgh Charlie]

Very true slash except I'd go with 150 receptions not including drops and from all different catching angles. If I was one of those receivers or TEs I'd be doing this willingly and pushing the feeder guy to make them harder to catch.




Salute the nation

And make them do them outdoors!


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[Hines57]

Take off 3 points that was an error on the refs part and it is a closer game too..

Regardless I would make it mandatory for every receiver to put in at least 30 minutes to an hour on the jugs after practice..

Yeah that end of first half FG was bullshit. Smith knew what he was doing the whole time. Ironic that we cost the Rats a chance to score before the half last week and this week Smith pulls this BS Can call it karma but we still had a chance to win this football game. I think this team needs rest more than anything. They are physically worn down and it shows. There will be no rest v a very good Bills team and with a Monday night game following they should get at least one extra day off the next week but that could come with us at 11-2 and having to beat the Bungles, Colts and Clowns to hang on to win the division.

 

[Coryea]

I heard Greeny say this is the first time a team had to play on 4 days rest vs a team on 10 days rest, and it's no coincidence the Steelers looked fine first half, but drained the second half.

 

[CoolieMan]

Was never on the bandwagon, I could see it from a mile away, subpar play calling,, No run game, ****** TE, No true#1 WR, A good defense that looks great because of 1 superstar (Watt).
This team went down to the wire and got lucky against the Broncos and Ravens 2nd string QB's, let Philly and Dallas hang around, and just lost to a 4-7 Skins team with a journeyman backup QB

This team was never half as good as their record may have suggested.
Like I said last week 11-0 means nothing to any fan who actually watched the games and knows what they are looking at.

yeah you are the only one who knows what they are looking at

******* idiotic

 

[SteelerFan448]

My son and I were arguing this point, he agrees that Okoafor needs to stay at RT because of pass protection. I'm not convinced, I saw some a comment somewhere that the opponent's DL is just trying to collapse the pocket and stay in their lanes with their hands up knowing that they're not going to get to Ben due to the quick release. Others on this site have mentioned this of course, the DL can tip the ball or interfer with short passing lanes.

I'm with you on this. The OL's pass protection is nowhere as near as good as the numbers indicate because of the quick release time.

 

[bigben]

yeah you are the only one who knows what they are looking at

******* idiotic

This board is mostly idiotic.

That's why everyone can't believe we lost to the Redskins Second string QB and second string runningback.

I'm not surprised, I won't be surprised when they get the 1 and done in the playoffs either.

And to everyone crying for the wr and te to spend extra time on the jugs machines, that's a joke!!
These guys have been playing football their entire lives. To think they are going to improve their hands now??
Most of these guys have been playing for 20+ years
That line of thinking is beyond stupid

They are what they are at this point of their athletic career.

We knew Ebron had bad hands when the Colts sent him packing.