SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘Trouble Brewing’ Edition

Good Tuesday to you Steelers fans.

In case you missed it last evening, the Cincinnati Bengals went into Jacksonville with a backup QB and defeated the South-leading Jaguars 34-31 in overtime. Jake Browning, making his second career start, finished 32/37 for 354 yards and a touchdown. Suddenly that December 23rd game in Pittsburgh doesn’t look so easy now does it? If you want to see two very different approaches to letting your young QB “just play” then I give you Zac Taylor, the Bengals’ Head Coach. Browning was allowed to throw downfield and take deep shots. He wasn’t forced into ‘one-read’ plays and wasn’t hampered by mental mistakes either. Kenny Pickett, who is not down for four weeks, passed one time in his 25 games for over 300 yards. Browning does it in his second career start. I don’t put all of that on Pickett but come on. Something just isn’t right and now, with a really good New England defense coming in Thursday night, there’s trouble brewing for this team in terms of making the postseason.

The New Guy in Town

With Kenny Pickett out for up to four weeks the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to add a body to their quarterback room. Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph will be joined by former Penn State star Trace McSorley. Interestingly enough, McSorley was on the New England Patriots Practice Squad not that long ago so credit Mike Tomlin and company for turning the tables on Bill Belichick. This is a ploy often used by him to gain an advantage on an upcoming opponent. McSorley will be on the Practice Squad initially but I’m curious to see if the Steelers get creative with him. He can very much be a “Taysom Hill” type of player but if Belichick couldn’t use him then I’m guessing we won’t.

Snap Thoughts

Najee Harris had 36 snaps while Jaylen Warren had 26. Last week against the Bengals they were much more evenly split. I still think Warren needs more opportunities… Calvin Austin III had just nine snaps on offense and I’m beginning to wonder if that isn’t going to continue. He just doesn’t block nearly as well as Allen Robinson does and that’s the biggest reason why ARob gets more snaps (33)… Levi Wallace had just 18 snaps on defense and that tells us the team is more comfortable with Patrick Peterson and Joey Porter, Jr then they are with him. Rightfully so in my mind…

Tomlin Talk

When Tomlin was asked yesterday about comments by both Dan Moore and Jaylen Warren regarding whether the Steelers took the Cardinals “lightly” his answer was as expected. He blamed the journalists for asking questions that “led the two players to say such things.” No one is going to confuse most football players for rocket scientists (unless you’re Josh Dobbs) but is Tomlin insinuating his guys aren’t bright enough to figure out questions they’re being asked? Pat Freiermuth lamented on Monday about the mental mistakes saying “the formations have been the same for three years.” Wonder what Tomlin’s response to that would be? Just admit the team wasn’t prepared and learn from it. Stop trying to pretend anything otherwise.

Leadership Void

When Mike Tomlin arrived in 2007, there were veteran players all over the locker room who had incredible experience and a Super Bowl ring. Tomlin had the good fortune to allow these guys to lead and set the tone while he gameplanned. These days, Tomlin has no such luxuries and Sunday was a perfect example. While I believe Cam Heyward to be a solid leader and excellent human being, he can’t do it all himself. He also lacks that championship pedigree too. Being a great leader doesn’t mean you have to have won titles but it helps, big time. I can’t help but wonder if the void in veteran leadership isn’t a problem right now.