Preseason game 1 - my two & a half cents

[Shane Falco]

I would be cautious about saying the offense looks different. In 2023 Pickett only had 2 incompletions, a perfect QB rating and the team was 5/5 on TD drives. It's just going to come down to and Tomlin allows the team to do once the lights come on.
Both QBs looked good and threw accurate balls. Wilson looked better than I expected which is a good sign. I thought Max Hurleman looked good. His catches were not easy and he is versatile. Just don't know if there is room for him or not. Running game early was not good. If Najee would have had the game Johnson did people would be calling for his head. I think Johnson will be fine, but the main issue is the run blocking is just not very good. Defense was pretty solid. We had good tackling but pass rush was non-existent. We didn't have our main guys so not too concerned yet. Also we were not aggressive and lacked blitzes. Hopefully that is just a preseason thing and not a trend like last year

I mean different than what we are accustomed to from a Steelers offense. Rudy and Skyler both 3 step drops and fire it. Quick slants, hooks and hit'em. Definitely a sign of Rodger's fingerprints in this offense. I do want to see more the next couple of weeks but to me, it was obvious on the way the play calling/designs were rolling.

 

[mightyguru]

Some solid performances on offense. Seemed to flow nicely even though the O-line 1s were not out there very long.

Mount Warshington is a freakin' load.

 

[MT~Forged]

Is there any place to watch a replay of the game?

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

Cook and calvin anderson stink, Anderson is making a living off injury settlements.
#68 peat will be our swing tackle barring another vet being signed

 

[slashsteel]

Hopefully Tomlin can remove himself from the offense and just allow Smith and Rodgers to call the shots.

Well damn…… why stop there.

 

[steelhurt]

Well damn…… why stop there.

I like your thinking! I didn’t want to get too overboard otherwise I would have been attacked by his fan club.

 

[JMM]

Sitting in an airport, no time to read the previous posts, sorry if someone else mentioned it but,,,,granted it is as early as it gets ...Never get too high or too low when it comes to preseason. That said, I thought Mason looked sharp except for the sack. He should have felt that pressure and dumped it.

The running game looked ok. Was good to see them pick up the yards they needed to pretty much ice the game and not take a chance at an incomplete pass stopping the clock.

I'd really like to see Mt Washington become the Eric Green we knew a long time ago. That guy was such a weapon and should have been used more. He was Gronk before Gronk was a twinkle in his old man's eye.

I also liked what I saw from Thompson. He very well could be #2 behind Mason.

It was a fun game to watch and the team did not disappoint by making it close there at the end.

Oh yeah, the kicking game was good too. We have two punters I think can do a great job. Good to have a known good call up too if Boz gets hurt.

That was a hell of a FG made by the Jag kicker.

 

[slashsteel]

Updates on our starting tackles:

https://x.com/Bradley_Locker/status/1954672609292845552

“Against the Jags, #Steelers tackles Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu didn't allow a pressure on 24 combined pass-blocking snapsOnly the preseason (and Mason Rudolph got the ball out fast), but a strong sign against a premier duo in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker”

 

[Drink IRON City]

I would like to see the star players - Rodgers, Watt, Heyward, Metcalf, Freiermuth, etc. - get some reps next week against the Buccaneers. Never liked starters getting zero game time before the season starts.

What if C.Heyward holds out……….???




Salute the nation

 

[slashsteel]

What if C.Heyward holds out……….???




Salute the nation

For me hold in in preseason is nothing. He is working out. I am sure he is putting in the necessary time. As I said before into the season it then becomes an issue.

 

[Drink IRON City]

For me hold in in preseason is nothing. He is working out. I am sure he is putting in the necessary time. As I said before into the season it then becomes an issue.

Agree on the pre-season crap, but real season…………

Fine him to the full degree allowable,

Give him the decision that if he doesn’t end the hold out…….. he will be traded to a team of our liking…. No say for him

Move his locker to the back of the room, tucked out of sight……….

No media availability of any kind, no promotions of any kind………………

**** the “hold-in” if regular season, we3 don’t want hostages, either you want to be a Steeler or you don’t.

Hypocrite (cam)




Salute the nation

 

[topseed]

OFFENSE
Mason looked confident and accurate. Thompson played well, but I can't see the Steelers keeping him as the #3 QB ahead of Will Howard.

I don't know what it is, but Kaleb Johnson appeared much smaller than what I remembered from last year at Iowa. Just seemed a good deal lighter and less put together. Maybe it's just me.

Starting OL looked pretty good and gave Rudolph plenty of time. Backups were unimpressive. Cook sucks. Not sure if #79 Steven Jones has any chance to hang around, but I like his size and movement skills.

Washington is a load out there, and it's always nice to see him get involved in the passing game. The Steelers have a trio of quality tight ends with varied skillsets.

#85 Williams had a noticeable game. Definitely practice squad material. Miller gets open. Good to see Roman Wilson actually on the field catching some passes.

DEFENSE
Payton Wilson looks like a legit starting linebacker, and if Holcomb can stay healthy, there is some nice depth there. Surprising that no one has mentioned Bruener. He led the team with 7 tackles, including 5 solo. Seemed to understand the game well for a rookie playing in his first game, and looks to have a ton of developmental potential. #45 Welschof rarely gets any pressure, not sure why he's still around.

DL didn't impress me much. I think Loudermilk is on his way out the door. Had one nice bullrush, but was otherwise invisible except for the damaging penalty roughing the passer which negated an INT. Harmon didn't stand out to me like I was hoping.

The secondary has some interesting possibilities. Beanie is a solid tackler. Castro and #17 Jamison played well, with the latter impressing in the return game. He looks like a PS candidate. Porter made a couple of plays. #37 McMichael is a goner, missing several tackles and dropping an interception.


Overall it's always fun to have football back in game form and trying to evaluate some of the new guys in the preseason.

 

[Drink IRON City]

OFFENSE
Mason looked confident and accurate. Thompson played well, but I can't see the Steelers keeping him as the #3 QB ahead of Will Howard.

I don't know what it is, but Kaleb Johnson appeared much smaller than what I remembered from last year at Iowa. Just seemed a good deal lighter and less put together. Maybe it's just me.

Starting OL looked pretty good and gave Rudolph plenty of time. Backups were unimpressive. Cook sucks. Not sure if #79 Steven Jones has any chance to hang around, but I like his size and movement skills.

Washington is a load out there, and it's always nice to see him get involved in the passing game. The Steelers have a trio of quality tight ends with varied skillsets.

#85 Williams had a noticeable game. Definitely practice squad material. Miller gets open. Good to see Roman Wilson actually on the field catching some passes.

DEFENSE
Payton Wilson looks like a legit starting linebacker, and if Holcomb can stay healthy, there is some nice depth there. Surprising that no one has mentioned Bruener. He led the team with 7 tackles, including 5 solo. Seemed to understand the game well for a rookie playing in his first game, and looks to have a ton of developmental potential. #45 Welschof rarely gets any pressure, not sure why he's still around.

DL didn't impress me much. I think Loudermilk is on his way out the door. Had one nice bullrush, but was otherwise invisible except for the damaging penalty roughing the passer which negated an INT. Harmon didn't stand out to me like I was hoping.

The secondary has some interesting possibilities. Beanie is a solid tackler. Castro and #17 Jamison played well, with the latter impressing in the return game. He looks like a PS candidate. Porter made a couple of plays. #37 McMichael is a goner, missing several tackles and dropping an interception.


Overall it's always fun to have football back in game form and trying to evaluate some of the new guys in the preseason.

EXCELLENT post topseed, appreciate yaz.!




Salute the nation

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

#45 Welschof rarely gets any pressure, not sure why he's still around.

hes in the international student slot. It seems more a pain in the keister to participate in the program,, so they just keep the same dude on the books to satisfy the quota.

 

[bigben]

The backup QB room all looked great, the rookie WR's also stood out. From what I saw this WR room is deep and the talent between WR#2 and WR#6 might be non existent, we don't have enough tape on any of these guys to know whats what. It's reassuring to know the depth is there but for the depth to look so close to the starters is concerning.
Johnson looked rushed and trying to do too much, looked liked first live action NFL Jitters, Hopefully. I would not be shocked if this kid is a stud, but I also think he has a huge hill to climb to become the Starter. Warren has proven himself at the NFL level and despite his line and QB situation, he was only the second or third RB in history to average 5+ ypc through his first 3 seasons. Rare air. If I had to make the call today I don't think he has anything to lose sleep over.

 

[Troglodyte]

It’s only one game but I was disappointed with Johnson and the run game overall. It’s been a long time since the Steelers had a strong run game.

 

[slashsteel]

It’s only one game but I was disappointed with Johnson and the run game overall. It’s been a long time since the Steelers had a strong run game.

I think you will see improvement as the Oline gets comfy and the rookie gets some reps and feels comfy within the new scheme. They have the talent to run it and the bodies to pass to set up the run if teams want to stack the box.

I think part of the problem is the depth. Not overly impressed with it. At least from a run blocking aspect.

But preseason game 1 and they have film now to build off of.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I think you will see improvement as the Oline gets comfy and the rookie gets some reps and feels comfy within the new scheme. They have the talent to run it and the bodies to pass to set up the run if teams want to stack the box.

I think part of the problem is the depth. Not overly impressed with it. At least from a run blocking aspect.

But preseason game 1 and they have film now to build off of.

Game 2 is when the first team gets to knock off some rust.
It should be a better indication of the pluses and minuses.

 

[Drink IRON City]

It’s only one game but I was disappointed with Johnson and the run game overall. It’s been a long time since the Steelers had a strong run game.

With the OC being able to use more of the field it will cause the defense to defend more of the field. It should slow down the stacking of the box.

Coach Tomlin has said there needs to be change, so in this 1st pre-season game, he showed some change even if just a pre-season.

A TD down the middle of the field is a rarity in the old ways, shows that change………….. in the right direction.





Salute the nation

 

[topseed]

I would've liked more running plays to see the run blocking.

First time that any Steelers fan has said something like this in a while. We've all seen the run-run-pass-punt routine ad nauseum for years now. Personally, I thought it was refreshing to watch a different approach.