Game Comments

[Steeltime]

While the offense played great I felt they did get lucky a few times that could have changed the score. The ping pong ball that Rogers caught was forced and I did not like the 4th and 1 bomb to brown. I liked the aggressiveness going for it, but Rogers and I think Coates had no one covering them. Brown was double covered and made a great catch. Brown was also lucky on his non fumble. It was close but the right call was made. I liked what I saw from Rogers and James. Coates was up and down but that was expected. Oline and dwill were great.

Our D was rough. Lots of missed tackles and no pass rush. Cousins was off and hurried some throws with no one around. Reed was eating us alive. Shazier played great, but no one else really stood out on D.

So how many points did the Steelers lose by?

Re-read your comment ... waaaaaay too negative.

First, I do not for the life of me understand this idea that the pass to Brown "could have been intercepted." No, it could not. The defender was behind Brown with no chance for the pick, and did a great job getting his arm in the way of the catch but Brown caught it because ... well, Antonio Brown is great. You know why you throw to Antonio Brown on 4th and 1, when he is being single-covered by a guy named Breeland? Because he is Antonio Freaking Brown, that's why.

Second, the deflection was a strike to Coates and bounced off him. If Coates had hands he catches a TD.

 

[antdrewjosh]

The pass to Coates was tipped by Breeland. Not a drop. Coates and Rogers didn't run their routes correctly according to Ben

 

[ark steel]

Tackling was terrible on D. That and the lack of pass rush were the glaring issues I saw on D. And for the pass rush, I am not blaming our front 3. We rarely blitzed yesterday. We sent Heyward, Tuitt, Jarvis and another LB most of the time and only Heyward and Tuitt could get any push. Jarvis struggles enough on the outside and they kept moving him over the nose tackle. WTF was that?

Also, I said this in the game thread. I thought Jarvis was finally healthy. WTF was that contraption on his arm? It definitely hindered him from tackling and I am sure on his pass rush. Why start him if he is obviously hurt? He has never proven to be good even at 100% so at 80%, he is pretty much useless.

I thought I saw Jones in the center, too, but decided it must have been Matthews. I couldn't see the number, but he has the hair out the back of the helmet, too.

 

[TDX27]

He did have 200 carries, and ended the year injured. That's the point

True but so did Bell and he is 10 years younger. There is no doubt DW is on borrowed time. At his age, the wheels could fall off at any time during a season. The only good thing for him is he has relatively low lifetime carries for someone his age. He has always split the backfield.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Of course you are looking for the sack but you are also trying to force the QB to feel quick pressure in his face causing him to throw quick and short. Then have multiple defenders run to the ball and tackle the catch.

 

[TDX27]

I thought I saw Jones in the center, too, but decided it must have been Matthews. I couldn't see the number, but he has the hair out the back of the helmet, too.

I didn't pay attention to it in the 2nd half because we were winning but early in the game, he kept moving to the center. Then on a tackle along the sidelines, he had trouble using his arm that is in that contraption. I'd rather start Deebo and spell him with Jones until Jones is 100%.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Steelers defensive scheme and approach vs. the Redskins worked to perfection
5
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense might not have gotten the big plays most demand, but the scheme deployed by Keith Butler worked to perfection.
By Jeff.Hartman @BnGBlitz Sep 13, 2016, 11:05a
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Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense last season thrived on red-zone stops, sacks and timely turnovers. Keith Butler proved he was a gambler willing to throw the gambit at opposing quarterback to help protect a below average secondary. A perfect illustration of this would be how last season safety Will Allen recorded 4 sacks, the most of his lengthy career.

With the 2016 season approaching, fans were waiting for more of the 'Blitzburgh' style defense they grew accustomed to seeing last year, but when the Washington Redskins had their first several offensive possessions, fans quickly saw the Steelers weren't getting pressure on the quarterback.

Even I made a comment, to anyone who would listen, how the Steelers simply aren't getting enough pressure on Kirk Cousins. When looking at the game itself, it became clear the Steelers were working their game plan to a 'T'. They wanted to pressure Cousins, but they weren't going to sell out to do so.

Instead, Butler's defense dropped back into several different, and unique, zone packages which forced the Redskins' signal caller to make throws into air tight pockets of space. As was evident last night, Cousins was unable to perform such a task with any level of consistency, and their offense sputtered the majority of the night.


The Steelers didn't record a sack in the game, something which was rarely the case in 2015 as they racked up 48 sacks on the season, but it doesn't mean the defense wasn't effective. The Pittsburgh defenders forced Washington to take the underneath routes, and when Cousins was forced to push the football down the field, in an attempt to get his team back in the game, it resulted in a timely interception by Ryan Shazier.

The most impressive aspect of this defensive performance, in my opinion, was the unit's patience. After Washington moved the ball well on their first possession, and tallied two field goes on their next two possessions, it would have been easy for Butler to say "screw it" and start dialing up corner and backside blitzes to rattle Cousins. Instead, he saw a defense which was holding firm in the red-zone, and an offense which was bound to break through at some point during the game.

The Steelers can't, and won't, deploy this same philosophy on a week-to-week basis, but it shows the maturation of Butler as a coordinator, and how comfortable the players have gotten under his system, when he trusts the communication will be there to execute such a game plan.


Was the performance perfect? Not in any stretch of the imagination. Simply watch Lawrence Timmons or Sean Davis' missed tackles and you'll know there are still lingering issues, but as a complete body of work, the Steelers defense showed plenty as they perfectly executed a game plan which held the Washington offense to 16 points.

 

[jitter77]

So how many points did the Steelers lose by?

Re-read your comment ... waaaaaay too negative.

First, I do not for the life of me understand this idea that the pass to Brown "could have been intercepted." No, it could not. The defender was behind Brown with no chance for the pick, and did a great job getting his arm in the way of the catch but Brown caught it because ... well, Antonio Brown is great. You know why you throw to Antonio Brown on 4th and 1, when he is being single-covered by a guy named Breeland? Because he is Antonio Freaking Brown, that's why.

Second, the deflection was a strike to Coates and bounced off him. If Coates had hands he catches a TD.

I did not say the pass could have been intercepted, but it was a very high risk pass when others were WIDE open. If that pass is incomplete it is -7 points. If the ping pong pass is intercepted it is another -7 points. It was not a strike to Coates it was deflected. I am not saying the steelers would not have won, but it would have been closer and who knows what momentum would have done. My post was not negative it was factual.

 

[Stlrs4Life]

Outside of the missed tackles, the D looked good.

 

[steelerscotty]

Wiff Johnson actually made a couple of nice blocks. Hope he continue to do his "will gay reborn" act.

 

[Stryker]

The pass to Coates was tipped by Breeland. Not a drop. Coates and Rogers didn't run their routes correctly according to Ben

Usually we're on the same page, but here I blame Coates squarely for not even having his hands in an attempted catching position. He was trying to body catch in traffic. Fortunately the bounce was in Eli's favor!

 

[Stryker]

I was most impressed with the O-Line and the coaching. Oline has been mentioned, so I'll move to coaching.

Usually September is penalty month. We're used to seeing 8-10 a game in the first month, but not last night. a whopping 4 penalties, while Washington looked like a team just coming out of the preseason. Their presnap miscues were inexcusable at home, and were a big part to keeping that offense hamstrung. Off the top of my head, I believe the penalties were holding on an INT, AB Dancing, Offensive holding, and a defensive hold. That's it. 2 action penalties, one on a transition TO, and one on AB's triple thrust. That's pretty impressive for a game 1 on the road.

Tomlin was consistent, going for it on 4th and 1 is his MO, and with this offense, we're going to try it every time. We won't be 100% on the year, but we will be over 75%, and that is always worth the risk.

Game planning was improved, and our players looked prepared. Kudos coaching staff, and way to get those young guys working well: Villa, Jessie James, Eli are all looking like productive players.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Usually we're on the same page, but here I blame Coates squarely for not even having his hands in an attempted catching position. He was trying to body catch in traffic. Fortunately the bounce was in Eli's favor!

You are always taught or teaching catch with your hands but in that instance it's one of the few times I don't mind the body catch. In traffic. Strong quick hands like Brown ok. Snatch and put it away. Coates needs all the help he can get. Body catch it and take the potential hit was probably his decision.

Cockrell should of body catched his interception attempt. Could of gave himself more room for error by making a basket for the ball that was coming in hot and was tipped.

 

[Stryker]

You are always taught or teaching catch with your hands but in that instance it's one of the few times I don't mind the body catch. In traffic. Strong quick hands like Brown ok. Snatch and put it away. Coates needs all the help he can get. Body catch it and take the potential hit was probably his decision.

Cockrell should of body catched his interception attempt. Could of gave himself more room for error by making a basket for the ball that was coming in hot and was tipped.

It's just a difference in philosophy. Anquan Boldin is the best big bodied receiver at making plays on the ball in traffic. He always uses his hands, which is why he is one of the best at it. The problem with body catching in traffic, is if you are hit at the point of the reception, your body works against you to springboard the ball away from you. That is why it is so important to catch the ball with your hands. Coates is also a man among men. He has big, strong arms, and should be able to pluck and bring in any pass, but it doesn't seem to be a priority on that play.

Body catchers, more often than not, end up being plagued with inopportune drops, and it's a trend I'd like to see corrected in Coates' game.

I do, however, expect defenders to body catch more often, since they aren't receivers, I don't expect them to have perfect hand placement.

 

[antdrewjosh]

It's just a difference in philosophy. Anquan Boldin is the best big bodied receiver at making plays on the ball in traffic. He always uses his hands, which is why he is one of the best at it. The problem with body catching in traffic, is if you are hit at the point of the reception, your body works against you to springboard the ball away from you. That is why it is so important to catch the ball with your hands. Coates is also a man among men. He has big, strong arms, and should be able to pluck and bring in any pass, but it doesn't seem to be a priority on that play.

Body catchers, more often than not, end up being plagued with inopportune drops, and it's a trend I'd like to see corrected in Coates' game.

I do, however, expect defenders to body catch more often, since they aren't receivers, I don't expect them to have perfect hand placement.

We on the same page for the most part. There are some instances where I don't mind it though. It helped me brace for the hit. Hopefully Coates can get there where he has confidence in his hands like that. You can watch Bey and see he will always struggle. He looks so uncomfortable lol.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Pittsburgh Steelers film study: Inside that goofy bobbled TD

Eli Rogers,Bashaud Breeland,Sammie Coates
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Eli Rogers (17) reaches for the ball deflected by Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) from Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates (14) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Rogers scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (Patrick Semansky)
Jacob Klinger | jklinger@pennlive.com By Jacob Klinger | jklinger@pennlive.com
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on September 13, 2016 at 7:42 PM, updated September 13, 2016 at 7:49 PM





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With a pass that touched as many Washington Redskins defensive backs as it did receivers, the Pittsburgh Steelers sealed their 14-6 halftime lead Monday night.

It was Eli Rogers' three-yard touchdown catch but neither he nor Sammie Coates knew who the ball was meant for Monday night.

A combination of postgame player reflections and reviewing tape of the game gives us a chance to break down the play that put the Steelers in control of their eventual 38-16 season opening win for good.

Pre-snap

It's first and goal from with 31 seconds left in the first half. Ben Roethlisberger has the team in shotgun formation with an empty backfield. DeAngelo Williams is motioned wide to his right with Antonio Brown inside.

He has Coates wide left with Rogers in the slot and Jesse James as the lone tight end on the same side. The Redskins are showing a four-man rush.

Will Compton sits in the middle of the defense at linebacker.

Pittsburgh Steelers TD #2 vs. Washington Redskins
NFL.com

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Post-snap

Coates and Rogers each run slants, which Coates said they were supposed to do. Washington brings a four-man rush. Roethlisberger doesn't turn his head toward any part of the field other than the one with three defenders and his two receivers in a seven-yard diameter.

Steelers TD #2 vs Redskins, post-snap
NFL.com

Coates sees Rogers stop and, unsure of if the ball is meant for him or not, he sticks a hand out anyway. Coates has Bashaud Breeland on his back, Dashawn Phillips in front of him, seemingly tracking Rogers and David Bruton Jr. infield from Rogers, trying to jump the pass. But it wasn't to Rogers.

"We both stopped so it kind of threw the ball off. I see Eli stop so I kind of slowed up and I still see the ball coming so I just put my hand in there and it went in the air and I was there," Coates said.

The ball goes off Coates' hand, Breeland's shoulder and pings back toward the line of scrimmage.

"It was so clustered in there you really couldn't tell because I seen him, then I slowed up and it was just the ball," Coates said.

The ball smacks off of Rogers' facemask. Bruton can't make a play on it and Compton tries to sling Rogers off the ball. The rookie receiver, to the extent that one thinks in these moments, decides falling down with it makes the most sense.

It was a see-ball, catch-ball situation, he said. And it worked.

Said Rogers: "It bounced off of one of them guys and I had seen it in the air and caught it, fell with it, protected it."

Eli Rogers TD on the ground

http://www.pennlive.com/steelers/index.ssf/2016/09/steelers_film_study_goofy_td.html

 

[ark steel]

I bet Arians is reviewing that TD and trying to write up that play.