Well we saw a much more balanced attack on offense this game than we have the first two games. I'll elaborate a little more on that later.....I'm still not impressed with Matt Canada's play calling but at least tonight we didn't see a Jet Sweep for a 8 yard loss in a critical moment of the game. The most disturbing thing about Matt Canada's offense is the lack of using the middle of the football field in the passing game. The Steelers and Kenny Pickett threw 8 passes between the numbers and 7 of them were complete for some good yardage including a 72 yd TD to Calvin Austin in the first quarter to tie the game at 7. Looking at the passes outside the numbers Pickett was 9 for 20 throwing outside the numbers and with the exception of the TD pass to Freiermuth there was one completion for over 10 yards that was thrown outside the numbers. Defensively the Steelers Defense did enough to preserve the win down the stretch and they won the turnover battle 3-0 tonight with Jimmy G just tossing 2 of those passes blindly up for grabs and both were Intercepted. Davonte Adams carved up our secondary pretty good tonight for 13 rec 172 yds & 2 TD's on 20 targets. Chris Boswell kicked 3 FG's tonight including a clutch 57 yd FG and Pressley Harvin did a great job punting the football. Josh McDaniel is a terrible Head Coach.....he proved that tonight opting to kick a FG from the Steelers 8 yd line instead of going for it on 4th & 4 from the Steelers 8 yd line......awful coaching decision. The Steelers ran some play action if you want to call it that with Kenny under center but if that's what they call play action passing it was poorly executed play action. TJ Watt continues to put up the sack numbers this season with 2 more sacks tonight giving him 6 sacks in 3 games this season.....I'd love to see him get 30+ sacks this season! There's been alot of criticism of the Steelers predictible play calling this season 90% when Pickett was under Center they RAN and 82% in Shotgun they passed the football. Tonight you saw the Raiders when Pickett was under Center they loaded up with 9 or 10 guys in the box and on a few play action passes the Steelers were able to complete a few passes which is what we need to see more of going forward. It wasn't perfect tonight and at the end of the game it started to get a little ugly with a couple 3 & outs but they were able to find a way to win on the road in Vegas which has traditionally been a nightmare for Steeler teams. Tomlin needs to get his rookies more reps in the game....Keanu Benton, Joey Jr, Broderick Jones....all these guys should be getting more reps in game. I've attached a passing chart and play call chart of Pickett Under Center vs Shotgun run & pass plays. Also there's a chart showing Pickett's passing.....Looking ahead to next week I hope the Steelers continue to throw more between the numbers.....they did it a little tonight but clearly it's not enough.
Per Tomlin's Post Game:
Levi Wallace - Bumps and Bruises but was able to return
Najee Harris - Bumps and Bruises but was able to return
Game Balls:
Kenny Pickett - 16 for 28 235 yds 2 TD's. First multiple TD game of his career.....he wasn't perfect but tonight was a step in the right direction...way to shake off the critics!
Calvin Austin - 2 rec 72 yds 1 TD.....First NFL TD....nice 72 yd catch & run
George Pickens - 4 rec 75 yds.....this kid has all the tools to be the #1 WR
Chris Boswell - 3 FG's, 11 points....a clutch 57 yd FG kick in the 3rd Quarter......The Wizard of Boz
Pressley Harvin - 6 punts 53.8 yd average, long of 63.....only one bad punt tonight and it was his 5th punt...41 yds I think.
TJ Watt - 2 more sacks tonight...giving him 6 on the season. I wanna see TJ get 30 sacks this season! GO TJ GO!
Minkah Fitzpatrick - 11 tackles tonight and 1 BS Penalty
Levi Wallace - 6 tackles 2 INT's
Game Goats:
DeMarvin Leal - Cmon son that Penalty on that FG kick gave your opponent a fresh set of downs and a 2nd chance......terrible!
Dan Moore & Chuck Okorafor - They might be the 2 worst tackles in football both struggle in Run Blocking & Pass Protection.....How is it that we haven't given Broderick Jones some reps....he can't be any worse!
FU's:
FU to the Refs - Should have flagged Max Crosby for a helmet to helmet hit on Pickett and WTF was that Roughing the QB Penalty on Minkah when the game was on the line....TERRIBLE. The Zebras almost cost us the game tonight late in the 4th Quarter.
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Here's my notes and passing chart for Pickett.....as you can see a better mix of plays from Under Center and in Shotgun but they need to throw more over the middle of the field with the success they had there this week....
