Initial Steelers Post Game Thoughts

by cgolden on Dec 21, 2007 8:56 AM EST in News

Here are some quick post game thoughts to get the conversation going.

I think for the first time in several weeks, we can't complain about the offensive play calling. Not only did the Steelers put up 34 offensive points, but they also had 4 plays over 20 yards and another 5 plays between 15 and 20. This offense can be absolutely dangerous when run correctly.
I don't think the defense did much last night to quiet anyone's worries. Stephen Jackson is a hell of a running back but he made this defense look like the Bad News Bears during the first half. In fact he had 65 yards rushing on just 5 carries and another 18 yards on two receptions. The two Rams' touchdown drives in the first half totaled 109 yards and Jackson had 76 of those yards. The defense simply got lucky that the offense scored enough points that the Rams had to adjust their game plan.
Anyone else ready to push the panic button on the kickoff coverage again? Derek Stanley, a rookie returning kicks for just his second game, had 8 returns for 229 yards (28.6 average). Both of the Rams' touchdown drives in the first half were aided by kickoff returns of 43 and 49 yards, in fact every scoring drive that St Louis had in the first half started at the STL 41 or better. Oh yea, and Rossum is moving himself closer and closer to the end of the plank.
FWP's season was over on the second offensive play last night as a result of a broken right fibula. It's really a shame because he could have gashed that Rams' defense and posted a number that might have given him a healthy lead for the rushing title. Najeh filled in admirably but there were several times that I thought to myself, "FWP would have broke that run for a huge gain." That STL run defense was pathetic last night. It will be very interesting to see how this offense moves forward now, but I would expect we'll see a breaking news story about Verron Haynes making another trip to Pittsburgh for a workout (only this time he won't be leaving).
The offensive did a good job of run blocking last night (4.5 yards per rush) but once again allowed Ben to get abused. He held onto the ball too long at times (like normal) but other times there were just guys running free. In total they allowed 4 sacks to a team that had 27 total in the previous 14 games.
Congrats to Big Ben for tying an NFL record for his third career game with perfect QB rating (158.3), tying him with Peyton Manning as the only QBs in NFL history do that three times.

That's all I have for now. It was a win and that's what this team needed. There are still a couple areas that will have to be improved before this team is taken seriously in the playoffs (OL, special teams). What did you guys see/notice and what encourages/worries you about this team going forward?

Hopefully our fearless leader, Blitz will be back by his comp sometime today to give some more insight.

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Comments

Ike

his INT return for a TD was his first ever, according to the PG

by acrollet on Dec 21, 2007 10:10 AM EST reply actions

Much Needed Rest

BigBen and Davenport both looked hobbled towards the end of the game too. These are 3 crucial extra days going into a division-rival spoiler game next weekend.

The defense really looks sluggish too. Perhaps they've lost some swagger after having almost 100 points dropped on them the past 3 weeks. But maybe they just need a day or two off as well.

Again, only 1 sack against a patchwork O-line?? I'd say they got more pressure on Bulger than they did either Brady or Garrard, but still not good enough to provide the big play to ruin drives.

Long way to go and only 60 more minutes until the playoffs, hopefully.

We Dey

by loyal and true on Dec 21, 2007 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Defense pressing too much

It seemed to me that there were several times where the defense had opportunities to get a sack or hit Jackson behind/near the line, but the player was just out of control enough to whiff on the tackle. I wonder if they're pressing too much because of the last couple of games.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 21, 2007 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Thoughts on Najeh and Allen Rossum

First of all, losing the league's leading rusher can never be a good thing. But did any of you notice how differently the team plays with Najeh as the lead back?

It reminds me of how the offense used to be when (dare I say) Bettis was here. The power running game for the first time in a long time looked like it used to.

Who knows, but could the silver lining be that we get our hard-nosed offense back? Time will tell.

--------------

I said it before and I'll say it again....Allen Rossum is the worst starting return man in football.

Not fumbling does not qualify him as good.

I can count the number of quality kickoff runbacks on one hand and the number of quality punt returns on one finger.

With our defensive struggles lately and our offensive line problems, field position is a big part of our game.

Sure there are bigger problems, but that doesn't mean this isn't a problem.

Over all a very satisfying win.

by pola maul youns on Dec 21, 2007 10:23 AM EST reply actions

still mad

....about the pass interference call on Ike in the first half........what game were the refs watching? he didn't touch Bruce, was in better position to make a play on the ball, when he (Ike) did go for the ball, Bruce shoved him in the back stopping the INT......and a flag comes for interference on Ike. unbelievably bad call. Ike also looked a little slow, or with less burst than usual on Bruce's TD....he didn't seem to have a good explosive burst to get to the route like he usually does, don't think he is 100%. other than that thought Ike did a pretty decent job, couple passes defensed. it's clear to me Ike plays much better when he is close to the line of scrimmage as then he can just turn and run with the receivers and there is noone who can outrun him. when a corner plays off it takes more mental skill/knowledge of routes to figure out where the receiver going and at this still fairly early stage in Ike's career he can't consistently do that.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Dec 21, 2007 11:14 AM EST reply actions

Ike

yea the pass interference was pretty bogus, both guys were hand checking each other. It's possible Ike wasn't 100% after being dinged up last week and only having a couple of days to recover. He did seem to play better when they moved the corners up and I hope thats a trend that we see next week and in the playoffs.

"The more violent team will win tonight" - Mike Tomlin.

by cgolden on Dec 21, 2007 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

The announcers

Made the comment that it looked like Ike arm-bared Bruce, but that was only the case because the ball was severly underthrown and Ike slowed down before Bruce. Agree with the horrible call

We Dey

by loyal and true on Dec 21, 2007 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Looking ahead...

While losing the NFL's leading rusher for the season can never be a good thing, I don't think it impacts us as much this year as it would some other year. We are going to have to throw it successfully in the playoffs to go anywhere and tighten up on defense. And both of those things are within the realm of possibility.

After watching almost a whole season of play, I'm convinced that we've been giving the O-line a bit more blame than they deserve for a lot of the sacks Ben has taken. Yes, this is still no better than an average NFL O-line (at least in pass blocking), but Ben just holds on to the ball way too long. A big priority for him in the offseason should be learning to get through his progressions quicker and throwing the ball away - at least on 1st and 2nd down. His huge hands reduce the probability of fumbles but he's taking way too many hits and that's going to bite us eventually.

The best scenario for this weekend's games would be for Cleveland to lose at Cincy and for SD to win. That would assure us of the #4 seed and make #3 unlikely (we'd need SD to lose at Oakland and beat BAL). If this scenario happens, I hope Tomlin forgoes the #3 seed and rests all critical or even slightly dinged players against the Ravens. It also considerably reduces Baltimore's motivation to beat us (up). You know those thugs will try to maim somebody if we have something at stake.

by santhome on Dec 21, 2007 11:33 AM EST reply actions

root for cincy

We should all be huge Cincy fans this weekend. It would be nice to see about 3 quarters of Mr Batch and Haynes and Russell next Sunday.

Ben does hold the ball too long but that's also when he makes his biggest plays (bomb to Holmes last night). Maybe he'll always have more sacks than your other elite QBs. Either way both he and the OL can improve to cut down on sacks and pressures.

"The more violent team will win tonight" - Mike Tomlin.

by cgolden on Dec 21, 2007 12:06 PM EST up reply actions

D & Special Teams

Our D looked as sharp as a bowling bowl again last night. Scary when you think you may drop a game to another sub-par team. Unfortunately we play well with sub-par teams because I think we lower our game to suit the competition.

Najeh looked good and as Pola Maul mentioned he fits that "big" RB we are used to seeing in the backfield from the days of Foster and Bam Morris and than The Bus. He did well and granted the Rams D is nothing to brag about he filled in and got the job DONE!

I think our kickoff return team and our kickoff team are rotten and quite frankly our kickoff team has been horrible for years. I get nervous every time we kick the ball off because we either get torched or they get a 30 or 40 yard return. This needs improvement immediately!

Every day brings future to past, every breath leaves me one less to my last. DT

by usmcsdi69 on Dec 21, 2007 12:00 PM EST reply actions

thanks for the report cgolden

Good stuff. Appreciate you all filling me in. I missed all but two plays. They were at the end of the 2nd half when Pittsburgh got it back after a FG by the Rams. 1st down = sack of Big Ben where he rolled his leg a bit; 2nd down = ineffective screen to Davis.

by Michael Bean on Dec 21, 2007 2:57 PM EST reply actions

running

Nice to see Arians realized that running the ball twice in a row isn't illegal. When we were on 1st and goal on the 1 I expected two cute pass plays, a failed run, and then a field goal. Fortunately that didn't happen.

If we have a "run-blocking" offensive line, lets just go with that.

If we clinch this weekend, I'd love to see russel and davis fight it out next weekend for the 2nd back playoff spot. Personally I got a kick out of watching little man davis run. Seeing him get hit on the line of scrimmage and hampster wheeling for 2 yards was excellent. Good fight.

by steelguy on Dec 22, 2007 12:50 PM EST reply actions