Home Quick Hitters SCB Steelers’ Quick Hitters: “The Morning After” Giants’ Edition

SCB Steelers’ Quick Hitters: “The Morning After” Giants’ Edition

by Steeldad

Good Morning Steelers’ Fans! For the third straight week there’s a little extra bounce in our step and that’s never a bad thing.

I recapped the game last night with this piece which chronicled how the Steelers won by doing a little bit of everything.

As much as I like winning, I’m also never satisfied. The Steelers had 12 penalties for 115 yards and that’s not even close to acceptable. Penalties are going to happen over the course of a game but there are also penalties that are careless and uncalled for. The fact that the Steelers won should not overshadow this issue because if they don’t clean it up it will doom them at the worst possible time.

Some offensive coordinators have a knack for calling a ‘trick or ‘gadget’ play at the right time and some don’t. Todd Haley’s ill-fated halfback pass was doomed from the start and here’s why. First of all, it was 2nd and 11. I like trick plays where I have much less to go for a first down because in a situation like this, the defense is already thinking ‘pass’ and is on alert. Secondly, this was called from the NYG’ 25-yard line. I’d much prefer a call like this came closer to mid-field where the defense is again a little less inclined to think it’s coming. I also think the play came too soon. Give Bell a few carries in that direction first to at least set the play up a bit.

Rookies Sean Davis and Artie Burns led the Steelers in tackles with seven each.

What can you about James Harrison and Lawrence Timmons? Old guys making big plays.

Steelers’ tight ends caught nine passes yesterday with Ladarius Green getting six and Jesse James three. I don’t have a huge problem with the 15 targets but what I am concerned about is how often Haley uses multiple tight end sets especially in heavy formations. Why on god’s green earth he tried to set up a designed screen to David Johnson is beyond me. Green and James should be the only tight ends on the field as far as I’m concerned. And when they are, one should should be spread wide.

Tweet of the Day… Could not agree more Mr. Beard.

Some of the dumb penalties occurred on special teams and that’s been a broken record for the longest time under Danny Smith. What frustrated me even more was when Antonio Brown didn’t field a punt. Why Fitz Toussaint was not making more of an effort to get the hell out of the way of the ball is frustrating. Usually the returner will yell ‘poison’ or some other key word telling a player to get away. Another reason why I’m not fan of Danny Smith.

I’ve said this before and I’m saying it again. I love the story of Alejandro Villanueva. I couldn’t be prouder to have a man who has served his country  the way he did playing for our Steelers. That said, he’s still struggling in pass protection and much of that has to do with his build which there is little he can do about that. Olivier Vernon had his way with him several times last night. 

The Steelers have won nine of their last ten games against Buffalo. Their last loss was in 1999.

Ben Roethlisberger seems very dialed in lately and more importantly he seems to be really enjoying the game. I’m not sure I could say the same thing several weeks ago when he appeared frustrated and just not himself. Being healthy has a lot to do with that though too.

Sammie Coates had just four snaps on offense yesterday and that tells me his fingers aren’t quite where they need to be yet. 

 

 

 

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1 comment

bob graff December 5, 2016 - 4:52 pm

It’s no coincidence that this defense is playing better with Jarvis spending more time where he belongs.[off the field]. We are looking better but still maybe a few bricks shy of a load.

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