Impressions from the Steelers Packers Game

A bunch of things that I think I think after watching the Steelers-Green Bay preseason game a few times.

• The “1st team” OL (minus Pouncey and Foster) played pretty well while they were in there.
• Landry Jones has a solid hold on the #2 QB spot. The play of the other 2 QBs doesn’t justify getting rid of him. I know that everyone was hoping that things would improve with the backup situation. So was I.
• Conner’s spin move is faster than last year, but still fools no one. He should abandon it. It doesn’t work.
• Mason Rudolph played as you would expect a nervous rookie would. No judgement yet on him.
• Rudolph a much better passer between the numbers than outside them vs GB. That’s a reflection of his arm strength,which isn’t great, and the same comes across in his college tape. He’s 23 years old though. His body and mind will both mature over the next few years. Nothing to be concerned about at this point.
• Terrell Edmunds with the strip and fumble recovery. Very nice heads up play.
• But, Edmunds was sloppy in both coverage and tackling vs GB, giving up 2 TD catches. The rookie needs to step up his game and be more consistent. I’m sure he’s taking the game to heart.
• Why Edmunds didn’t light up Hundley at the goal line on that TD I have no idea. He pulled up. This is Pittsburgh, son. You get a chance to hit a QB and you do it.
• Jesse James remains the most reliable player in the TE group, both from an availability standpoint and from a hands standpoint. Now, if he could only learn to block and maybe make a defender miss now and again…
• Defensive Pass Interference on Bostic was a good call. Bostic was trying to catch up with his back to the QB (and the ball in the air) and Graham was coming back to the ball. If Hundley had made a better throw, actually led Graham with the throw instead of making him come back to it, Graham may have scored.
• Bud Dupree still taking a long arc to the QB in pass rush and still allowing the blocker to push him past the passer. Has to shorten that bend if he’s going to have any success.
• Kevin Harlan calls our #11 “Justin Harper.”
• Jake Rodgers (#68) should just clean out his locker now.
• Not having All-22 makes game evaluation cumbersome. It won’t be publicly available until the regular season starts.
• The personal foul on Sensabaugh was BS. He led with his shoulder. The crown of his helmet did not make contact. He did not “line up” the player he was tackling. Preseason officiating can be maddening, especially on “points of emphasis” like this new rule. But, I don’t believe that it will carry over to the extent that it’s been flagged in the preseason.
• Anthony Chickillo is not good. Someone please explain why he has so many people championing his ability as a player.
• LJ Fort may be a good practice player. In games he underwhelms pretty consistently. I don’t understand the fascination. Matthew Thomas is a better player now and he doesn’t know the defense yet.
• Dan McCullers is slow,… and not much else.
• DPI on Allen looks like a good call, he looked back to the ball but was pulling on the receiver.
• Washington with a nice catch in traffic reaching over Demetri Goodson for the pass that was thrown a little short by Dobbs. Not a horrible pass, but good coverage.
• Dobbs is faster than I remembered, takes off to convert a long 3rd down, but has Washington wide open on the next play and throws the ball behind and short. Washington comes back for it. If Dobbs had led him with the ball, that’s a TD.
• James Washington with his 2nd combat catch for a TD, fought the CB for a 50/50 ball. Neither TD pass was great (both from Dobbs), coverage was tight on both and Washington still came down with them. Impressive.
• Brian Allen poor in coverage on long TD pass. Nat Berhe is slow and out of position on the same play and then compounds his problems by taking a bad angle to the runner.  *** On the same play, Matthew Thomas runs 80 yards after the pass is thrown and almost catches the WR at the 1. Impressive speed.
• Allen was not good in coverage vs the Pack. Really disappointing.
• Jaylen Samuels looks very natural catching the ball. Now, if he can only learn to block so that he can be used on passing downs, he’ll have a solidified role.
• Danny Smith’s Special Teams units still aren’t special. Is this the year that Smith finally is shown the door?
• Chuks Okorafor looks pretty good at left tackle, albeit vs 2nd and 3rd teamers.
• Did Marcus Allen play? Invisible.
• If I have to choose between Dan McCullers, Josh Frazier and Lavon Hooks for the 6th DL spot, I take Hooks.
• Keion Adams and Ola Adeniyi are making it hard to pick the 4th OLB. Which is a good problem to have.
• Chickillo having a stranglehold on the 3rd OLB spot is a bad problem.

Photo Credit: Peter Diana, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette