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Game Balls, Game Goats & FU's...........week 4 vs Vikings.....

Chicoman

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Another week another nail biter for our Steelers team! Some great individual efforts by some players in this game allowed the Steelers to escape from Ireland with the win. I will start with the Defense.....alot of bumps and bruises for our Steelers in this game...most notably Jalen Ramsey, Brandon Echols, Darius Slay & Cam Heyward....but all were able to return to the game though. Keanu Benton finally showed that he deserves a helmet on Gameday as he had a nice game....however I did notice late in the game he was getting pushed around again. I just think he's not in good physical condition. Still gotta get better out there Benton! Our ILB really stepped up this game when it came to tackling the ball carrier as Wilson & Queen had a combined 24 combined tackles. Seven sacks by the Defense in this one a big improvement by the Defense.

Offensively Rogers had a repsectable game going 18 for 22 for 200 yds 1 TD. Kenneth Gainwell filling in for Jaylen Warren had a great game 133 yards combined rushing and receiving. Looking at this offensive line I'm still baffled by why our tackles Fautanu & Jones are in 2 point stances most of the time....I saw Fautanu in a 3 point stance more often than Jones....Steelers had good success running to the right side of the line but then on short yardage especially the 4th down call at the goal line...they ran to the left and Jones was in a 2 point stance and got completely BLOWN UP! Isaac Seumalo struggled again in this game....giving up 2 sacks in the first half. Mason McCormick is quietly our best O-linemen and it's not even close! Good to see Caleb Johnson get some carries late....he seemed to find some seems.....maybe he's starting to gain more confidence.

This is the best this Steelers team has looked the entire season. And IMO it's still just not good enough! I'll take 3-1 at this point with an early BYE this season. The team is pretty banged up....hopefully they can get healthy and continue to improve. Next up @ home vs The Clowns! Broderick Jones better improve quick or stick Darnell Washington alongside him because Myles Garrett could really be a problem in 2 weeks! If Calvin Austin is OUT for an extended period of time....I'm curious what the Steelers will do at WR. I'm not sure if anyone is still out there or on the trade block.

Per Tomlin's Post Game:
Calvin Austin - Shoulder injury and he was taken to the hospital.....Hospital.....what is it? Well it's a Big building with patients....but that's not important right now!
Jalen Ramsey - Hamstring injury being evaluated
Darrius Slay - Cleated during the game
Brandon Echols - Cramps but was able to return

Game Balls:
Peyton Wilson - 13 tackles including running down the Vikings WR in the 4th Quarter. Hell of an effort!
TJ Watt - 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT.....he's no Myles Garrett :P but I'm glad he's a Pittsburgh Steeler
Patrick Queen - 11 tackles, 1 sack....he didn't miss a tackle for the first time all season. The guy has no excuses going forward
Keanu Benton - I thought he had 2.5 sacks...regardless he was great for 3 Quarters...but faded down the stretch in the 4th Quarter. Gotta get into game shape!
Nick Herbig - 5 tackles, 2 sacks....got good pressure when he was in there today. Was actually pretty good in pass coverage too.
DeShon Elliot - 6 tackles, 1 INT.....welcome back DeShon....the Defense isn't the same without you. our best DB in run support!
DK Metcalf - 5 rec 126 yds 1 TD....nice to know you can produce when I bench you in my FF League!
Kenneth Gainwell - 99 rushing, 34 receiving....great game!


Game Goats:
Isaac Seumalo - gave up 2 sacks early in the game.....he's been pretty awful through 2 weeks
Broderick Jones - This guy needs to be in a 3 point stance more often! He got blown up too many times...especially on 4th & Goal in the 4th Quarter

FU's:
FU to the NFL for playing these ******* games in foreign countries. For ***** sake our QB Skylar Thompson was robbed by 2 ******* THUGS! Keep the games in the USA! Player safety > $$$$
 
Game Balls:
-Kenneth Gainwell - really good game stepping back into the starting role this week
-DeShon Elliott - made his presence felt in his return, really good game
-ILBs - active all game, Wilson made an incredible play to chase down Addison hitting over 22 mph
-Pass rush - Herbig, Watt, Benton, etc. just took advantage of a bad QB today

Goats:
-Mike Tomlin - permanent fixture here until the Steelers win a playoff game
-Pat Meyer and Teryl Austin - until their units string 5-6 good weeks, they're on this list every week
-Miscommunication on defense - Still see this too much, especially on the long pass to Addison, so multiple players as well as the defensive coaching staff are to blame
-Arthur Smith - not targeting DK Metcalf enough, keeping Jonnu Smith's depth of target to a half a yard for every pass
 
Game Balls:
-Kenneth Gainwell - really good game stepping back into the starting role this week
-DeShon Elliott - made his presence felt in his return, really good game
-ILBs - active all game, Wilson made an incredible play to chase down Addison hitting over 22 mph
-Pass rush - Herbig, Watt, Benton, etc. just took advantage of a bad QB today

Goats:
-Mike Tomlin - permanent fixture here until the Steelers win a playoff game
-Pat Meyer and Teryl Austin - until their units string 5-6 good weeks, they're on this list every week
-Miscommunication on defense - Still see this too much, especially on the long pass to Addison, so multiple players as well as the defensive coaching staff are to blame
-Arthur Smith - not targeting DK Metcalf enough, keeping Jonnu Smith's depth of target to a half a yard for every pass
Great comment about Jonnu Smith. I thought for sure he would be our 15-20 yard guy. He’s an athletic freak. He can line up anywhere. Let’s hope the offensive brain thrust figures this out.
 
So, how about Herbig? Dude is a freakin' baller! Will they end up keeping both him and Highsmith, or will they look to trade one?
Their defense needs a pass rush. They have to try to keep both, but if Highsmith can't stay on the field, they'll move on from him. There was a reason Sawyer was drafted and his pass rush is already improved from the preseason. He could potentially fill the Highsmith role--though Highsmith is excellent when healthy.
 
This might start something.. But Jaylen Ramsey looks slow and out of shape. Like hes Kevin ffrom Sponge Bob, just here for the merch.
 
So, how about Herbig? Dude is a freakin' baller! Will they end up keeping both him and Highsmith, or will they look to trade one?
I’d be trying to shop Highsmith. Been saying that for a couple seasons now.
You have to keep Nicky Herbig on the field with TJ. He’s relentless and all he does is make plays.
Does any team need an experienced edge rusher in exchange for a # 2 WR? I’m on the phone making inquiries!
 
FU's:
FU to the NFL for playing these ******* games in foreign countries. For ***** sake our QB Skylar Thompson was robbed by 2 ******* THUGS! Keep the games in the USA! Player safety > $$$$
I’d be willing to bet that quite a few NFL cities have a significantly higher violent crime rate than Dublin.
 
Goat and FU to Mike Tomlin, he had nothing to lose going for it on 4th down at the end of the game. 9 ******* inches for a first and that chickenshitmotherfucker punts. the next time I hear that cocksuckerpussybitch say he doesn't live in his fears i'm gonna need a new TV.
 
- Gameballs:
  1. Gainwell, hope the first of many, you earned it sir.
  2. Pass rushers, this includes the front 7 plus Queen, finally I see a game worth of his contract and pedigree, if you will. Relentless pressure upfront.
  3. Elliott, welcome back.
  4. DK Metcalf, little megatron, we gotta target you more than this.
- Unsung heroes:
  1. Hats off to Monsieur Pierre, coming in cold and making 2 critical pass breakups,
  2. Juan Thornhill also had a few impact plays.
  3. Skowronek is a daredevil, does everything right, even flopping, that caused flag was Academy Awards worthy.
  4. Oline (rushing edition). opened holes constantly and were getting their paycheck worth today.
- Other thoughts:

- I'll blame the long pass on the injuries creating miscommunication in the back, the receiver went by 3 different dbacks, one of them should have had that assignment. The Patrick Wilson dash should be an example for the rest of the team on never giving up.

- I hope Tomlin learned something from the playcall debacle on 4th down. A FG secures a 2 TD lead, a pass attempt to your big receivers gives you the chance to close out the game, but a run with 3 or more yards to go secures you a heart attack until the final whistle.

- Where are the TEs? Muth with a big whiff on the FG block

- This game should have been a comfortable win by the end of the 3rd, why isn't it possible to ever enjoy a comfortable win?

- I'm worried about the health of the team, we need a full active roster to be competitive through the upcoming schedule.

A Big, **** You to the refs, on the final TD of the vikings I'm pretty sure there was O holding, but I guess close games improve ratings.
 
I’d be trying to shop Highsmith. Been saying that for a couple seasons now.
You have to keep Nicky Herbig on the field with TJ. He’s relentless and all he does is make plays.
Does any team need an experienced edge rusher in exchange for a # 2 WR? I’m on the phone making inquiries!
for Highsmith I'd ask for a 1.b WR
 
Game Balls:
-Kenneth Gainwell - really good game stepping back into the starting role this week
-DeShon Elliott - made his presence felt in his return, really good game
-ILBs - active all game, Wilson made an incredible play to chase down Addison hitting over 22 mph
-Pass rush - Herbig, Watt, Benton, etc. just took advantage of a bad QB today

Goats:
-Mike Tomlin - permanent fixture here until the Steelers win a playoff game
-Pat Meyer and Teryl Austin - until their units string 5-6 good weeks, they're on this list every week
-Miscommunication on defense - Still see this too much, especially on the long pass to Addison, so multiple players as well as the defensive coaching staff are to blame
-Arthur Smith - not targeting DK Metcalf enough, keeping Jonnu Smith's depth of target to a half a yard for every pass
I thought Anderson did well in the swing TE/ blocker role. Enough that they should be helping out Jones and Isaac more often than not.

Really silly to see Heyward Jr. on the field. I know Smith likes to rotate his players but you really aren’t putting your most explosive playmakers on the field.

I also dislike leaving points on the field. If the red zone play is a running play anything outside of two yards on 4th down , kick the field goal.

Really looks like the team took their foot off the gas. They aren’t good enough to do that, plus you aren’t fine tuning your units doing that. In the press conference shades once again used the living in their fears term. But they do this and often.

If Austin is out any significant time they really should WR search. Not sure they ever should have stopped.

Gainwell and the rookie showed well. Not sure when the dust settles if Warren will still be the starter. I like him but not sure I am locked into him being the long term starter.

Loved the win just some notables when thinking back.

Was really great seeing the team play after missing the last two games. Been spoiled with my circumstances over the decades.
 
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I’d be willing to bet that quite a few NFL cities have a significantly higher violent crime rate than Dublin.
What NFL cities would they be?
 
Game balls:
Rodgers- super efficient and made the necessary plays without mistakes, Gainwell and DK also get them for obvious reasons on the offensive side of the ball.

Defensively gotta give one to Watt for the timely pick, Elliot for making his presence felt and Herbig and Benton for bringing some pass rush.

I can’t pat the ILBs on the back, they got some tackles while looking soft and chasing plays down from behind but they are still a huge reason for the soft,SOFT, soft middle of this D. If those tackles were behind the line or even near the LOS maybe a different story…but they just constantly seem to put themselves out of position trying to run around contact and chase plays down. Weak AF. Almost worthy of goat status but they got some tackles chasing plays down, a sack between them and didn’t lose the game so just another “D grade” performance. Let’s see some more of Holcomb, please!

Goats: Isaac for being a seive once again and Tomlin for making/keeping this game closer than it needed to be…it’s what he does, **** Tomlin.

Honorable mention (tongue in cheek) for Roman Wilson who didn’t **** the bed on the onside kick…was that his first “big play” of his career?
 
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