SCB Steelers Hot Reads – The Morning After Week Eight

0
363
steelcityblitz.com

Hey Steelers Fans.

The Kickoff

6-2 at the BYE. Tell me back in August that you wouldn’t have signed up for that? The Pittsburgh Steelers got there by defeating the New York Giants last night 26-18. It was a sloppy game that saw the Steelers have two touchdowns wiped out – one by penalty and the other because George Pickens couldn’t get his other foot down in the back of the end zone. The game also saw the defense shredded by a Giants’ running game that averaged over six yards per carry. At the end of the day, it’s a win and you don’t apologize for those, ever, in the NFL.

This Defense is NOT Elite

I hate to burst your bubble but this current version of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense is not as good as many believe it to be. In the first half, it looked like a group of guys who saw the game as a chance to pad some stats against a poor opponent. No one told the Giants they were supposed to lay down. I don’t put all of this on the players. Teryl Austin and Mike Tomlin bear some of the responsibility for New York putting up 396 total yards. There is too much cushion being given to receivers and guys just were not getting off blocks at all. T.J. Watt was largely invisible in the first half as he dealt with more chips than a toll house cookie and double teams throughout. His breakthrough finally came when the NYG unwittingly left Watt one on one. The BYE week will give the coaching staff an opportunity to self scout and it’s needed.

The Ups and Downs of Arthur Smith

The opening two series for the Steelers’ offense were things of beauty. Play-action, empty sets, heavy sets, mixing the run and the pass… Then it was like Matt Canada somehow broke into the headset and took over the play-calling. First down run, second down run… The Giants weren’t fooled by it at all. Eventually, Smith got his mojo back and some of that was due to just solid execution from Russell Wilson but Smith has to be able to adjust quicker especially when you’re being forced to kick field goals.

Wideout Wondering

I have to believe that Van Jefferson and Calvin Austin III have heard as much about the Steelers trading for a number two wideout as much as you and I have. Rather than be down on themselves, they’ve done the complete opposite. Since Wilson took over, Jefferson has become a viable option as a receiver. Jefferson has six receptions for 77 yards and a score in the last two games. Austin meanwhile got the Steelers first TD of the night on his 73-yard punt return then added a TD catch later in the game. Have to wonder if they are doing enough to make Omar Khan think twice about trading for another wide receiver. Personally, I think they still need a true #2.

Najee and Jaylen

Najee Harris went over 100 yards for the third straight game and Jaylen Warren looked as healthy as he has since last season. I think it’s going to be very interesting to see how Arthur Smith uses Cordarrelle Patterson who should be back after the BYE. As for Harris, I don’t know if he’s playing for a contract in Pittsburgh or playing for a deal elsewhere but the effort has been amazing.

Random Reads

Ryan McCollum isn’t going to make anyone forget the great centers in Steelers’ history but I thought he acquitted himself quite well the last two weeks. Perfect? Heck no, but he was better than I think most people anticipated… I still think Broderick Jones is playing hurt. He has so little strength in that arm that he just can’t do much with pass protection at times. I’m not giving up on him by a long shot but I don’t think he’s where the Steelers thought he would be… Alex Highsmith might be playing the best football of his career. I cant recall him ever looking so quick off the edge… Should the ‘running into the kicker’ have been called on Jeremiah Moon on the punt return TD? Perhaps but I thought Jones’ facemask call was ticky tacky too… The penalty against Malik Nabors that nullified a NYG TD was also a borderline call but like the call on Jones, it was the right one technically speaking… Danny Smith is a national treasure.

Visit our online store at DC4Lcustomtees.com! Brand new Chris Boswell gear today!

Hot Reads is presented by Frank Walker Law.

LEAVE A REPLY

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.