Hey Steelers Fans. Welcome to Tuesday.
The Kickoff
I suspect in Cleveland, Ohio this week there’s a lot of talk about Jaylen Warren. There should be since over the last several games he’s been one of the most productive players in the League. The Browns’ defense is very good and they’ll rely on that confidence to stop Warren. This is a classic situation where other guys have to step up. This isn’t to say that Warren won’t have a big game, but with Browns gearing up to stop him, someone else has to pick up the slack – or at least be willing to do so.
Heavy
Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports that the Steelers averaged 6.4 yards per carry when they went with a sixth offensive lineman (Spencer Anderson). They ran 12 times for 79 yards. Two thoughts on this. First, the Saints came in with a terrible run defense and second, the Browns will have seen it and will be prepared. That doesn’t mean however Mike McCarthy shouldn’t use it. I expect that he will come up with some play action off of it too.
Dante
Oregon Head Coach Dan Lanning announced that QB Dante Moore would likely miss the rest of the season after suffering a concussion back in September. This shouldn’t disqualify Moore from anything the future holds for him but… NFL teams needing a QB will have to be cautious. If I’m the Steelers I’m very hesitant. Head injuries are far different than a guy with a past ACL injury.
The Edges
We need to have some patience with Troy Fautanu and Max Iheanachor. It seems that fans are very quick to judge – imagine that – anytime these guys give up a pressure or a sack. Iheanachor is a rookie. Fautanu is playing on the left for the first time in his pro career. These guys are going to have some bad reps. If it’s still happening next year at this time then it’s OK to be concerned. Remember too that sometimes the situation dictates their struggles too. Meaning, there are times when Aaron Rodgers doesn’t make it easy on them.
Oh Really?
A former Browns’ defensive back said yesterday that the Steelers are intimidated by the Browns. Hey, the Cleveland defense has been good for a long time but saying the Steelers are intimidated by them might be a stretch. I’m guessing this has already found its way onto a bulletin board in Pittsburgh.
Random Reads
Someone get Pat McAfee a tissue. What a whiny baby… People around the NFL are finally figuring out that Zach Frazier is pretty damn good… If the Steelers truly are in the market for a wide receiver then they have to prioritize a guy who can beat man coverage above all else… Seems to be some real mystery around Lamar Jackson’s injury. Things are clearly not going well in Baltimore… Aaron Rodgers’ claim that the NFL and NFLPA once suggested a weekend of all international games has been proven false. Not sure why he decided to say this… Jay-Z will be the halftime entertainment for the Super Bowl in 2027. I miss the days of a marching band…
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