SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘Gaining While Sitting’ Edition

Good Tuesday to you Steelers fans.

Week six in the National Football League is now upon us and with the Pittsburgh Steelers on their BYE week, not much is expected. But, if you take a look at the schedule for the other three AFC North teams, you can make an argument that the Steelers could actually gain ground while sitting on their collective behinds. The hottest and best team in the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers play in Cleveland. That’s sure to be a tall test for the Browns. Cincinnati hosts Seattle which is never an easy victory despite Joe Burrow looking a lot more like more like himself in Arizona on Sunday. Lastly, the Baltimore Ravens travel to London with the sting of a brutal loss to their main rivals fresh in their minds. They’ll take on the Tennessee Titans. Being that this is the NFL of the 21st century, there is no outcome in these three games that I would find surprising. That said, I can easily see a situation where all three teams lose. If that’s the case, the Steelers could find themselves in first place all alone despite having one of the worst offenses in football. Stranger things right?

Snap Thoughts

Najee Harris had five more snaps than did Jaylen Warren (37-32) out of 66 possible offensive snaps on Sunday. I continue to believe that this ratio will continue to become even closer as Warren has emerged as a more dynamic threat. If that isn’t the case then shame on Mike Tomlin and Matt Canada for not seeing the obvious…For all the talk of Desmond King getting some time on defense he ended up getting just one snap… Although not to the level that most want, Joey Porter, Jr did see another increase in snaps this week as he reached 28 defensive snaps… Isaiahh Loudermilk, who the Steelers traded up to get in the draft a few years back had just 13 snaps. With Cam Heyward still out, one would have thought his play time would have increased but it hasn’t… Need further proof as to why Gunner Olszewski needs to go? When Calvin Austin III was getting medically checked out on the sideline, the Steelers used Miles Boykin (13 times) more than they did Gunner who saw just four snaps at receiver.

Keeping Up With Jones

Granted, it was one game and his first NFL start but Broderick Jones made a very strong case to be the starting left tackle going forward. He was solid in pass protection and he was an immediate upgrade in run blocking. For some odd reason Matt Canada started running right in the second half which didn’t make a lot of sense but what do I know? With this in mind, I have to wonder if Dan Moore doesn’t get a chance at right tackle. Personally I think he’s better than Chuks Okorafor and we know Moore saw time at RT in the preseason so it’s something to keep an eye on.

5 Things

I put out my ‘To-Do’ list for the Steelers on the BYE week last night. While the players get some much needed rest, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin should be busy.