Najee ran hard that is all you can ask for. I saw him make one bad decision when he should have just turned it upfield. He made the best out of nothing most times. He was getting hit at the line or behind the line alot. Most of that is not on the back. If Najee gets a little steam he is a tough guy to bring down. He is not going to make the big splash plays, but he holds onto the ball and is a workhorse.
Game Balls, Game Goats & FU's.............week 3 vs Chargers....
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Case in point. You don’t understand football, you understand fantasy football (stats). Najee was impressive when he was 14-30 yards.
When a player fights to gain three yards after contact, it’s impressive, regardless if it’s a zero yard gain or a 10 yard gain. Najee does that.
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Not really. He wasn't getting help but by no means was he impressive either.
Really just depends on who is giving the credit. Media loves them some playmakers, as do fans. In general the lines get less accolades but they shouldn’t.
They can get those all pro and pro bowl recognitions but yeah generally a thankless job.
Not lost on us diehard fans we know the value of great trench play.
Perhaps the best measure of a running back is something that can’t be measured…it’s what he does after the O line does their job.
Harris appears to turn into a beast after the O line opens a hole.
From tossing defenders aside with his stiff arm, to carrying defenders on his back, to leaping over them…all that without ever fumbling.
Tomlin didn't mention Spencer as injured? The broadcasters said he was injured since McCormick was in the game in the 2nd half. Maybe he was pulled for poor play. Either way, McCormick deserves a pat on the back or something. He was a beast. On one run play, he pushed 2 players back. On another, he pushed his man 2 yards backward. Dude could be another steal from this draft and could be a starter next year.
Besides the players… I have to give the game ball to the coaches. I surely have criticized them many times in the past. Time to give them some credit. I thought the game changed when they did what we’ve all been calling for. Passing in the middle of the field. Even the drop by Pat,which was huge. The slant by Calvin and the other throw and catch to Pat seemed to open things up. You could feel the air instantly go out of the whole chargers team when their QB left. You just knew they were done.
Great game planning by our Defensive Coordinator. They had to get after their QB while he was hobbled and shut down the run.
Our D was relentless. Great game.
Shout out to Dan Moore for being steady. Shout out to McCormick….getting his feet wet and getting the job done. Shout out to our beast of a Center. What a difference he makes. Jones had a better game today. It was great to finally see Calvin being thrown too on a slant caught in full stride ,with a perfect ball over the middle. Shout out to our mountain of a TE. Watched him block a few times with great success. On the Fields TD run the Chargers D definitely thought it was going to him. They put 2 players on him which created all that space for Justin. Finally. An OC that draws up an actual play.
Justin Fields has done absolutely everything that the Steelers have asked him to do. A couple little burps here and there,but has far exceeded what i had expected. I felt that he should be throwing down the field way more than he has. You can see he’s got the arm. But I think I was too impatient. They have brought him along slowly,building his confidence gaining trust on both coaches and players. He has progressed each game. Let’s see them keep this pace up. Trust his natural abilities and use them.
You can see the team coming together more offensively. It’s a pleasure to witness. Next up the Colts…..bring it on!
By the way, got unexpected company during game time yesterday. Who the **** does that. Dropping by when my Steelers are playing. Expecting me to be happy to see them. I mean seriously.
Great game planning by our Defensive Coordinator. They had to get after their QB while he was hobbled and shut down the run.
Our D was relentless. Great game.
Shout out to Dan Moore for being steady. Shout out to McCormick….getting his feet wet and getting the job done. Shout out to our beast of a Center. What a difference he makes. Jones had a better game today. It was great to finally see Calvin being thrown too on a slant caught in full stride ,with a perfect ball over the middle. Shout out to our mountain of a TE. Watched him block a few times with great success. On the Fields TD run the Chargers D definitely thought it was going to him. They put 2 players on him which created all that space for Justin. Finally. An OC that draws up an actual play.
Justin Fields has done absolutely everything that the Steelers have asked him to do. A couple little burps here and there,but has far exceeded what i had expected. I felt that he should be throwing down the field way more than he has. You can see he’s got the arm. But I think I was too impatient. They have brought him along slowly,building his confidence gaining trust on both coaches and players. He has progressed each game. Let’s see them keep this pace up. Trust his natural abilities and use them.
You can see the team coming together more offensively. It’s a pleasure to witness. Next up the Colts…..bring it on!
By the way, got unexpected company during game time yesterday. Who the **** does that. Dropping by when my Steelers are playing. Expecting me to be happy to see them. I mean seriously.
First half was a slog. Second half much better after Herbert was knocked out. We can't complain about winning and if they take care of this upcoming game they have a chance to enter October 4-0. Hope the guys dinged up are not long term injuries. We should be getting closer to Seumalo coming back, maybe a few more weeks.
Thats media speculation... I think they pulled him when he got minorly banged up because he was the top backup at both T spots left and they didnt want to risk it...
I liked the change though... Spence is Ok, but a true Guard is better
Perhaps they should then just let MC handle the G spot and let Anderson swing backup at T and G..
I am the biggest Najee detractor on here but his game yesterday was solid. He isn't quick or laterally explosive and isn't going to make something out of nothing type RB, He's no Leveon Bell he's never gonna put a stink leg on a defender with a brutal cut. But when he has an open lane and gets a few steps to grab a north south head of steam, lookout once he gets up to speed. He ran the ball HARD yesterday when he had a lane. Nice gains of 6-8 yards on early downs. The strong runs were offset by a few rushes for loss and a few plays where Fields should not have thrown him the ball as he was covered. Overall I would take that game from Harris every week.
I will admit I may have been wrong to underestimate Cordarelle Patterson. Dare I say he could not have looked better?
My biggest gripe this season with Tomlin is why rush these injured guys back and make the injuries much worse. Warren, Troy, Jones The list goes on. it's idiotic to play these guys hurt especially this early in the season. Looks like Troy is done and Warren may be as well. STUPID coaching decisions was definitely a major factor. Not to mention hurting the QB 1 preseason on a sled drill??
With Fields and the O, keep in mind, Tomlin was deliberately holding them back. He opened things up a little at home. Right or wrong, those were his decisions and not caused by the players. Now, the players did have a lot of penalties in the first 2 road games and just a few stupid penalties on Sunday. Hopefully, the O will keep opening things up even on the road.
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I loved Field's placement - he was throwing perfect dimes all day that I can remember. I watched the Dallas/Ravens game and Prescott looks like ****! Every thrown was behind his receiver. If that's what $240 million + gets you, I'll take a rookie QB! Prescott sucks! I know they made a comeback, but I saw a couple of his receivers get a little frustrated that the ball was thrown behind them.
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I was not really a fan of the signing originally, as it felt like a “just a guy” Smith was familiar with. After yesterday, I an being forced to reconsider that opinion. I think I would like to see him used more in the passing game too, he just seems to play “larger” than he is.
To be fair, rushing players back is a tradition that goes back to the start of the league.. head coaches typically dont have long term vision... they are trained to be focused on the next game ... they dont trust unproven guys... its not just Tomlin who does that stuff...
Patterson is going to the HOF as a returner one day.. I felt like they were shoehorning him into tge O and forcing stuff to him earlier... forcing that pass to him led to the pick
But he was fine as a late game changeup RB.. he still has speed and moves
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Props to Trog listing the details and not the stats. Ask those LBs and DBs who were shying away from the contact late in the game, how impressive Harris was. We haven’t had a back like this since Bettis. Bell was more athletic and explosive, but Najee has a punishing style reminiscent of the Bus.
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I agree 100%. There's still times I wish Najee would just ram it into the line though instead of heading east west when there's nothing there.
I dont think he will .. Not by a far sight.
Gary Anderson isnt even in the HOF yet.
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LOL, yeah it’s the coach playing hurt guys. First, any player will tell you there is a difference in being “hurt” and being injured. The NFLPA has the league requiring the franchise’s medical professionals to approve players to participate when they are injured. Second, the HC only decides if a player is active based on the team docs and trainers. The game isn’t like “North Dallas Forty” which depicted the 60’s and 70’s era. There is way too much money invested in players and their union won’t allow haphazard actions to a player. Plus the league is under scrutiny by the “player safety” mafia to allow a coaching staff to mismanage a injured player.
The same medical professionals that let Tua get nearly knocked out of the NFL? Tomlins trademark has always been run 1 RB til the wheels fall off. Been that way until Warren proved his worth. This year with Warren being banged up preseason Tomlin should have let him get healthy, It's 100% on Tomlin
Anderson was a K... they just dont put K's in
Patterson holds the KO return td record and should finish his career around top 50 all time in all purpose yards... he is a four time first team all pro.. that is extremely close to the profile that got Devin Hester elected this year as a PR...
He also was liked by the media... he is on lists of future HOF guys
Here is an espn prediction that he gets in with the 2033 class
Being a media darling absolutely helps when its the media voting for you
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