Game Balls, Game Goats & FU's................vs Redskins

[Chicoman]

Well I've had a bad feeling about this game for the past several weeks. It was bound to happen and happen it did. Forget the fact that we lost....this team still controls their own destiny. I don't think I've ever been more pissed off in all phases of a football game from the coaching and playcalling throughout the entire game to the officiating.....I am pissed off in all phases of the game. It's also starting to look like the Steelers might be losing the attrition battle on the football field as our guys seem to be dropping like flies....Haden & Spillane down tonight was just too much for us to overcome. I'll start with the playcalling.....when you have the ball 1st & Goal from inside the 1 yd line and you have 5 plays to punch it in and a 6'5" QB and you don't try a QB sneak I'm just at a loss for words. It's not like Ben is going to get killed on a QB sneak....he either gets in or he doesn't. If that wasn't bad enough the 4th down play call to Jerald Hawkins who just returned off the CoVid-19 list was a WTF moment for me. Also seeing Ben tonight trying to toss a screen or short pass to the right side tonight and seeing Montez Sweat get his hands on the ball and they kept trying and trying to execute a short pass on the right side......Cmon man.....he went to the well one too many times and it cost us with a game ending Interception....I think that was Sweat's 6th tipped pass of the day. At what point do you rule that play out of your playbook? The running game is a serious problem....I was hoping to see Decastro pull to his left and see the Steelers run right at Chase Young but I don't think I saw either guard pull on any running play all night. If this team can't establish a running game this season is going to be a one & done in the playoffs. It's the biggest problem I see with this team right now and it's their lack of ability to run the football. Decastro & Okorafor can't run block to save their lives. I think Decastro is having a very bad year because his run blocking has never been this bad. Conner returning will help our running game but how much remains to be seen. Anthony McFarland is electric but he's too indecisive on his runs and dances around too much. I hope Spillane isn't seriously hurt but I'm worried he tore his ACL. If he did that will make 3 torn ACL's on Heinz field's turf. Onto the officiating tonight.....and I think you know where I'm going here....the end of the First Half.....Smith is sacked.....no timeouts....8 seconds on the clock.....CLOCK STOPS......Time should have ran out....no way do the Redskins get the team out there fast enough for the FG. Not to mention Alex Smith ran off the field with the football. The mistake of the officiating crew gave the Redskins 3 points at the half. That should have been Delay of Game Penalty on Alex Smith.....which includes a 10 second runoff....The Half should have been over. Instead the officials put 8 seconds back on the clock and let the Redskins like up for the FG before starting to wind the clock. Seven NFL officials on the football field and they can't track down the G'damn football is just UNACCEPTABLE! I thought Alex Highsmith played very good tonight but as the game moved into the 2nd Half I thought he looked winded at times.....hopefully that will change after he gets a few starts under his belt. Last but certainly not least is the fact that for the 2nd week in a row our WR's are dropping too many passes.. Ebron & Johnson dropped 3 each, Juju & McFarland both dropped one each. Going forward this can't happen, The Steelers might be their own worst enemy right now as they have actually turned themselves into a one dimensional offense making it much easier for Defensive co-ordinators to game plan against us instead of forcing a Defense to try and make you one dimensional they are bringing a one dimensional offense to the line of scrimmage against every Defense they play right now. No running game....no play action passing game.....no balance on offense. The Steelers need to start pounding the rock if they are going to make a serious push for the playoffs. There's not such thing as a good loss but maybe this team was playing too tense worrying about an Undefeated season? Now that's off the table I hope this team can re-focus and get their **** together the next 4 weeks....starting with Buffalo on Sunday Night on the road in Buffalo. We need to see a more balanced attack on the football field from our Steelers. I'm beginning to think Kevin Dotson might be a better option on the O-line than Chuck Okorafor....slide Feiler over to RT and move Dotson in at LG.....he's a better run blocker. James Washington still needs more playtime. Such a frustrating loss tonight but congrats to the Redskins on a game well played.

Per Tomlin's Post Game:
Joe Haden - Concussion being evaluated
Robert Spillane - Knee that is being evaluated

Game Balls:
Mike Hilton - 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 pass defensed
TJ Watt - 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL
Sean Davis - Heads up play on McClouds fumble on the punt return....not sure how he recovered it but he did.....overlooked in this loss but a heads up play none the less


Game Goats:
Benny Snell - 8 carries for 5 yards.......he has no burst at all once he takes the handoff....this guy isn't NFL material.
Eric Ebron & Dionte Johnson - 3 drops each tonight all uncontested balls......gotta make these catches. Catch those it might be a different outcome tonight

FU's:
FU to the officiating crew tonight who blew the call at the end of the First Half....Alex Smith should have been penalized for Delay of Game for carrying ball off the field....10 second run off....End of the Half. No way would they have got their FG unit out there in time to complete the kick.

 

[BurghThing]

Well I've had a bad feeling about this game for the past several weeks. It was bound to happen and happen it did. Forget the fact that we lost....this team still controls their own destiny. I don't think I've ever been more pissed off in all phases of a football game from the coaching and playcalling throughout the entire game to the officiating.....I am pissed off in all phases of the game. It's also starting to look like the Steelers might be losing the attrition battle on the football field as our guys seem to be dropping like flies....Haden & Spillane down tonight was just too much for us to overcome. I'll start with the playcalling.....when you have the ball 1st & Goal from inside the 1 yd line and you have 5 plays to punch it in and a 6'5" QB and you don't try a QB sneak I'm just at a loss for words. It's not like Ben is going to get killed on a QB sneak....he either gets in or he doesn't. If that wasn't bad enough the 4th down play call to Jerald Hawkins who just returned off the CoVid-19 list was a WTF moment for me. Also seeing Ben tonight trying to toss a screen or short pass to the right side tonight and seeing Montez Sweat get his hands on the ball and they kept trying and trying to execute a short pass on the right side......Cmon man.....he went to the well one too many times and it cost us with a game ending Interception....I think that was Sweat's 6th tipped pass of the day. At what point do you rule that play out of your playbook? The running game is a serious problem....I was hoping to see Decastro pull to his left and see the Steelers run right at Chase Young but I don't think I saw either guard pull on any running play all night. If this team can't establish a running game this season is going to be a one & done in the playoffs. It's the biggest problem I see with this team right now and it's their lack of ability to run the football. Decastro & Okorafor can't run block to save their lives. I think Decastro is having a very bad year because his run blocking has never been this bad. Conner returning will help our running game but how much remains to be seen. Anthony McFarland is electric but he's too indecisive on his runs and dances around too much. I hope Spillane isn't seriously hurt but I'm worried he tore his ACL. If he did that will make 3 torn ACL's on Heinz field's turf. Onto the officiating tonight.....and I think you know where I'm going here....the end of the First Half.....Smith is sacked.....no timeouts....8 seconds on the clock.....CLOCK STOPS......Time should have ran out....no way do the Redskins get the team out there fast enough for the FG. Not to mention Alex Smith ran off the field with the football. The mistake of the officiating crew gave the Redskins 3 points at the half. That should have been Delay of Game Penalty on Alex Smith.....which includes a 10 second runoff....The Half should have been over. Instead the officials put 8 seconds back on the clock and let the Redskins like up for the FG before starting to wind the clock. Seven NFL officials on the football field and they can't track down the G'damn football is just UNACCEPTABLE! I thought Alex Highsmith played very good tonight but as the game moved into the 2nd Half I thought he looked winded at times.....hopefully that will change after he gets a few starts under his belt. Last but certainly not least is the fact that for the 2nd week in a row our WR's are dropping too many passes.. Ebron & Johnson dropped 3 each, Juju & McFarland both dropped one each. Going forward this can't happen, The Steelers might be their own worst enemy right now as they have actually turned themselves into a one dimensional offense making it much easier for Defensive co-ordinators to game plan against us instead of forcing a Defense to try and make you one dimensional they are bringing a one dimensional offense to the line of scrimmage against every Defense they play right now. No running game....no play action passing game.....no balance on offense. The Steelers need to start pounding the rock if they are going to make a serious push for the playoffs. There's not such thing as a good loss but maybe this team was playing too tense worrying about an Undefeated season? Now that's off the table I hope this team can re-focus and get their **** together the next 4 weeks....starting with Buffalo on Sunday Night on the road in Buffalo. We need to see a more balanced attack on the football field from our Steelers. I'm beginning to think Kevin Dotson might be a better option on the O-line than Chuck Okorafor....slide Feiler over to RT and move Dotson in at LG.....he's a better run blocker. James Washington still needs more playtime. Such a frustrating loss tonight but congrats to the Redskins on a game well played.

Per Tomlin's Post Game:
Joe Haden - Concussion being evaluated
Robert Spillane - Knee that is being evaluated

Game Balls:
Mike Hilton - 5 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 pass defensed
TJ Watt - 5 tackles, 1 sack, 2 TFL
Sean Davis - Heads up play on McClouds fumble on the punt return....not sure how he recovered it but he did.....overlooked in this loss but a heads up play none the less


Game Goats:
Benny Snell - 8 carries for 5 yards.......he has no burst at all once he takes the handoff....this guy isn't NFL material.
Eric Ebron & Dionte Johnson - 3 drops each tonight all uncontested balls......gotta make these catches. Catch those it might be a different outcome tonight

FU's:
FU to the officiating crew tonight who blew the call at the end of the First Half....Alex Smith should have been penalized for Delay of Game for carrying ball off the field....10 second run off....End of the Half. No way would they have got their FG unit out there in time to complete the kick.

It's about time we got another "letter"

 

[Skott]

A big FU to the same coaching staff that can’t not make any adjustments and are so predictable everyone watching at home knows exactly what’s coming.

Tomlin and his bullshit is getting old. He hasn’t won **** in a long damn time.

Ebron is useless. A kicker they won’t let kick? WTF. Absolutely sick and tired of this bullshit coaching staff. Tomlin and his favorites is ridiculous.

Never had a losing season... who ******* cares... get back to us when he’s won 5 SBs.

 

[topseed]

Game Ball to James Washington. I have no idea why they don't use him more.

Game Goat is the offensive coordinator. I've witnessed some bad efforts over the years, but today was just about tops. They're running tackle-eligible plays with a zero chance of success even if completed; throwing the ball on 4th-and-1 almost 20 yards down the field to a running back who's barely played in the game; passing the ball out to the short right for umpteenth time when the guy has been batting the ball all night, when they should have been going deep down the middle because the clock was going to stop for the 2-minute warning anyway. Just a total cluster-**** of poor strategy and lack of adjustment.

FU to the refs at the end of the first half. Alex Smith took the ball off the field. What the ****.

And finally, except for the the holding call, and the play I'm about to reference, I thought Watt played very well. However -- with the Steelers up 17-10 with 14 minutes left, he makes a great play to strip the ball. It's sitting on the ground directly below him. All TJ has to do is fall on the ball, accept his congratulations...and the Steelers are in business with a 7-point lead on the WFT 36 with all the momentum they need to essentially close out the game with a touchdown. Instead, inexplicably, he goes to the ground with both hands to attempt to balance himself first, so he can pick up the football and run with it. Of course, while he's attempting this, a member of the Football Team jumps on the ball. I've never seen anything quite like it. Then Washington punts the Steelers deep, and they go 3-and-out from their own 10. Not blaming Watt at all for the loss, but it was a strange and uncharacteristically selfish play.

 

[Confluence]

Haven't seen 5 wide on that many short yardage downs since that nasty night in Cleveland about 10 years ago.

Sent from my SM-N950W using Tapatalk

 

[6Lombardis]

Game Ball to James Washington. I have no idea why they don't use him more.

Game Goat is the offensive coordinator. I've witnessed some bad efforts over the years, but today was just about tops. They're running tackle-eligible plays with a zero chance of success even if completed; throwing the ball on 4th-and-1 almost 20 yards down the field to a running back who's barely played in the game; passing the ball out to the short right for umpteenth time when the guy has been batting the ball all night, when they should have been going deep down the middle because the clock was going to stop for the 2-minute warning anyway. Just a total cluster-**** of poor strategy and lack of adjustment.

FU to the refs at the end of the first half. Alex Smith took the ball off the field. What the ****.

And finally, except for the the holding call, and the play I'm about to reference, I thought Watt played very well. However -- with the Steelers up 17-10 with 14 minutes left, he makes a great play to strip the ball. It's sitting on the ground directly below him. All TJ has to do is fall on the ball, accept his congratulations...and the Steelers are in business with a 7-point lead on the WFT 36 with all the momentum they need to essentially close out the game with a touchdown. Instead, inexplicably, he goes to the ground with both hands to attempt to balance himself first, so he can pick up the football and run with it. Of course, while he's attempting this, a member of the Football Team jumps on the ball. I've never seen anything quite like it. Then Washington punts the Steelers deep, and they go 3-and-out from their own 10. Not blaming Watt at all for the loss, but it was a strange and uncharacteristically selfish play.

In hindsight, sadly, Watt probably was our best chance to score LOL. I agree with you 100%.

 

[6Lombardis]

Haven't seen 5 wide on that many short yardage downs since that nasty night in Cleveland about 10 years ago.

Sent from my SM-N950W using Tapatalk

Sadly, it feels like we are doing teams a favor when we try to run
:-(

 

[MT~Forged]

Game Ball to James Washington. I have no idea why they don't use him more.

Game Goat is the offensive coordinator. I've witnessed some bad efforts over the years, but today was just about tops. They're running tackle-eligible plays with a zero chance of success even if completed; throwing the ball on 4th-and-1 almost 20 yards down the field to a running back who's barely played in the game; passing the ball out to the short right for umpteenth time when the guy has been batting the ball all night, when they should have been going deep down the middle because the clock was going to stop for the 2-minute warning anyway. Just a total cluster-**** of poor strategy and lack of adjustment.

FU to the refs at the end of the first half. Alex Smith took the ball off the field. What the ****.

And finally, except for the the holding call, and the play I'm about to reference, I thought Watt played very well. However -- with the Steelers up 17-10 with 14 minutes left, he makes a great play to strip the ball. It's sitting on the ground directly below him. All TJ has to do is fall on the ball, accept his congratulations...and the Steelers are in business with a 7-point lead on the WFT 36 with all the momentum they need to essentially close out the game with a touchdown. Instead, inexplicably, he goes to the ground with both hands to attempt to balance himself first, so he can pick up the football and run with it. Of course, while he's attempting this, a member of the Football Team jumps on the ball. I've never seen anything quite like it. Then Washington punts the Steelers deep, and they go 3-and-out from their own 10. Not blaming Watt at all for the loss, but it was a strange and uncharacteristically selfish play.

You have to understand the INDIVIDUAL awards mean everything to these players. Those awards drive their earnings as well as their EGOS. The days of unselfish play so the team succeeds, are over. It is all about “look at me”. This was an opportunity for Watt to increase his “brand” he was going to take it. Now, he may have simply been trying to make something happen, since it was VERY MUCH NEEDED. It is really hard to say, since I don’t know him personally. Who knows, maybe Tomlin is the one preaching to the team, more YAC’s, more “splash”plays.

Sometimes the best thing is to just fall on the ball.

 

[TDX27]

Either an FU or a game goat goes to the entire OL for their run blocking. This should be a sticky for just about every game.

 

[Drink IRON City]

GREAT write up Chicoman, I thank you and enjoy these imensley !


FU's to Chewey Bubbles and Randy Gichtner, no explaination needed.

FU's to the NFL league as they are responsible for the chaotic ****** up no warning giving teams near two weeks rest & prepare for the VERY short turn around (3-games in twelve days never done before in the NFL) STEELERS. **** YOU "rog"



Positives........... We will now get back to a near regular schedule and maybe some CONSISTANCY in preparations.





Salute the nation

 

[Drink IRON City]

PS

FU's to Art Duece and how could he let the league run over HIS team in this type of schedule debacle ??? TWICE




Salute the nation

 

[Hines57]

Game Goat: Mike Tomlin, take the damn points Mike. A play action pass to an OL just off the Covid list and a wheel route to a rookie pick who is lost on the field aren't wise. That's 6 points we gave away and lost by.

Too many drops and the defense is showing signs of wear with players dropping. They need some days off and there is no rest for the weary with a very good Buffalo team up next.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

FU to Randy Fictner.

I never seen an NFL offense look so much like a bunch of monkeys trying to **** a football. I had youth teams with better offenses. There is no rhyme or reason to any of it. It looks like they did last year with Duck and Mason. I thought missing ben was the problem. NOPE! It's fictner.


oh btw,, this is my new mantra. If Tomlin cant get rid of his old friend, its also his fault.

 

[SteelerFan448]

When is the last time Tomlin ever fired a coach? I know they let guys contracts expire or make them "retire" but outright fire a guy?

 

[Drink IRON City]

When is the last time Tomlin ever fired a coach? I know they let guys contracts expire or make them "retire" but outright fire a guy?

YESTERDAY !




Salute the nation

 

[slashsteel]

GREAT write up Chicoman, I thank you and enjoy these imensley !


FU's to Chewey Bubbles and Randy Gichtner, no explaination needed.

FU's to the NFL league as they are responsible for the chaotic ****** up no warning giving teams near two weeks rest & prepare for the VERY short turn around (3-games in twelve days never done before in the NFL) STEELERS. **** YOU "rog"



Positives........... We will now get back to a near regular schedule and maybe some CONSISTANCY in preparations.





Salute the nation

That is what few are talking about that short week did this team no favors. I think you will see a more focused team and a little fresher. Add to that with Pounce and Conners return and that helps the run game. Hopefully Nelson will be back too.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

YESTERDAY !

What?

 

[Drink IRON City]

What?

In my "spirit world" ot was yesterday that Coach Tomlin fired fichtner & bubbles, called them 1-cab and made them share the ride outtA town.




Salute the nation

 

[Hypocycloids]

What I don't understand is that both the Stains and Ravens blew out Wash, but we couldn't even eke out a win. Weird.

 

[insaniti]

What I don't understand is that both the Stains and Ravens blew out Wash, but we couldn't even eke out a win. Weird.

We blew out the Browns, squeaked by the titans, the titans squeaked by the Ravens, who blew out the Browns, the Browns nearly blew out the titans (they came back and at least made it look closer).

But you never can say what any team is going to do from week to week. Did you think KC would struggle against the Broncos? I mean Kelce had a monster night, but it took a game sealing INT to close the game out. Denver had a chance to win.

KC also was in close games with LV, who needed a hail mary to beat the jets. There's a reason they say any given Sunday.


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app

 

[Hypocycloids]

We blew out the Browns, squeaked by the titans, the titans squeaked by the Ravens, who blew out the Browns, the Browns nearly blew out the titans (they came back and at least made it look closer).

But you never can say what any team is going to do from week to week. Did you think KC would struggle against the Broncos? I mean Kelce had a monster night, but it took a game sealing INT to close the game out. Denver had a chance to win.

KC also was in close games with LV, who needed a hail mary to beat the jets. There's a reason they say any given Sunday.


Sent from my iPhone using Steeler Nation mobile app

And the Rats blew out the Bengals and the Bengals blew out Titans, and the Titans beat the Rats.!

 

[topseed]

You have to understand the INDIVIDUAL awards mean everything to these players. Those awards drive their earnings as well as their EGOS. The days of unselfish play so the team succeeds, are over. It is all about “look at me”. This was an opportunity for Watt to increase his “brand” he was going to take it. Now, he may have simply been trying to make something happen, since it was VERY MUCH NEEDED. It is really hard to say, since I don’t know him personally. Who knows, maybe Tomlin is the one preaching to the team, more YAC’s, more “splash”plays.

Sometimes the best thing is to just fall on the ball.

I don't know, TJ doesn't strike me as too much of a "me first" type of guy. Maybe he just thought he had more time to steady himself and make an even bigger play. It's hard to say for sure in a split-second moment in the heat of battle like that.

His brother JJ does seem to have a great deal of concern about TJ winning the DPOY award, though.

 

[topseed]

What I don't understand is that both the Stains and Ravens blew out Wash, but we couldn't even eke out a win. Weird.

Those games were both 14-point decisions. The Browns were actually losing the game entering the fourth quarter; hard to call it a blowout. Plus Haskins was the quarterback for both of those. Alex Smith is a much steadier fit for their offense, and their defense is playing much better than it was earlier in the year.

 

[Stryker]

Those games were both 14-point decisions. The Browns were actually losing the game entering the fourth quarter; hard to call it a blowout. Plus Haskins was the quarterback for both of those. Alex Smith is a much steadier fit for their offense, and their defense is playing much better than it was earlier in the year.

It's not who you play, it's when you play them. WAS is playing their best ball right now. 3 straight wins. They will win their division.