JTG
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- Sep 30, 2007
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I have been disappointed by Benton. His tackling has been really shoddy and he hasn't been holding the point of attack like he did last year.
OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: 5 and 2 Justin who? Hand the Fields to Wilson
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bigdaddyk88
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They played a ton of nickel against the giants to offset their quick passing game
Buddy Bizarre
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I've said this in the beginning of the season: this defense is built to stop the pass. They want to tackle the runner on the way to the QB.
This is why they don't blitz- bc really they don't have to since everyone is winning their 1 on 1 matchups in the passing game. But they better mix in some run blitzing or teams will absolutely gash them on the ground.
And yes, I have noticed that Benton is a bit too quite for my liking this season. After his rookie season I thought he might sniff All Pro next year but he looks WORSE. I thought we had Cam's replacement in Benton.
MrBrightside
Registered User
That's not true. Queen played every defensive snap. Wilson and Roberts combined to play 77% of the defensive snaps.
New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 28th, 2024 | Pro-Football-Reference.com
New York Giants 18 at Pittsburgh Steelers 26 on October 28th, 2024 - Full team and player stats and box score
www.pro-football-reference.com
They just aren't getting it done against the run game.
MrBrightside
Registered User
It's PFF so take it for what it's worth, but he grades out very well this year. That said, he's MUCH better against the pass than the run.
Keeanu Benton | Pittsburgh Steelers DI | NFL and PFF stats
NFL and PFF player stats for Pittsburgh Steelers DI Keeanu Benton on Pro Football Focus.
www.pff.com
I still feel optimistic about Wilson having enough left in the tank to be a difference maker and pessimistic that push comes to shove, he doesn't. He's still underthrowing and I'm wondering if that isn't just rust, but lingering injury. Four sacks and a fumble is the ugly side of Wilson and although iirc two of the sacks were just OL failures with zero chance to act, two weren't. That said, some of his deep balls are stunning, and his throw choice is just, well, real QB on deck stuff.
Also, while I think it's telling we've seen CAIII and Van the Man contribute two weeks in a row, I'd believe in this offence so much more with a big dog in over them. Even a medium dog.
Najee is on fire with the holes they're creating but I couldn't help but notice him come back down to earth hard in the second half when the Giants adjusted. That's also when we saw the moonballs fly so huzzah for team strategy - but he's still mortal.
I think that's the first time they've been gashed apart by the run all game long so not going to get too excited about it but in general, you can't do that. Looked like Daboll knew exactly where to tell Jones to throw either. There needs to be some bye week adjustments there.
Also finally... yeah, so far Tomlin is pulling all the right levers. I'm a little ho-hum that a guy who still doesn't really seem to get it with young QBs will use a veteran QB to earn the credit needed to take a shot with the next one, but if there's going to be a Russnaissance I can live with that.
Okay actually finally. I think pretty much every power rankings this week is going to put the Steelers within two spots of 8 either way. That feels legit. I don't know if it matters when it feels like there's a gap between the very best in the NFL and the rest, but this team feels legit.
Also, while I think it's telling we've seen CAIII and Van the Man contribute two weeks in a row, I'd believe in this offence so much more with a big dog in over them. Even a medium dog.
Najee is on fire with the holes they're creating but I couldn't help but notice him come back down to earth hard in the second half when the Giants adjusted. That's also when we saw the moonballs fly so huzzah for team strategy - but he's still mortal.
I think that's the first time they've been gashed apart by the run all game long so not going to get too excited about it but in general, you can't do that. Looked like Daboll knew exactly where to tell Jones to throw either. There needs to be some bye week adjustments there.
Also finally... yeah, so far Tomlin is pulling all the right levers. I'm a little ho-hum that a guy who still doesn't really seem to get it with young QBs will use a veteran QB to earn the credit needed to take a shot with the next one, but if there's going to be a Russnaissance I can live with that.
Okay actually finally. I think pretty much every power rankings this week is going to put the Steelers within two spots of 8 either way. That feels legit. I don't know if it matters when it feels like there's a gap between the very best in the NFL and the rest, but this team feels legit.
Double-Shift Lasse
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Everyone is better against the pass. Two of the team's best run defenders are Heyward and Watt, and it isn't even their thing.It's PFF so take it for what it's worth, but he grades out very well this year. That said, he's MUCH better against the pass than the run.
Keeanu Benton | Pittsburgh Steelers DI | NFL and PFF stats
NFL and PFF player stats for Pittsburgh Steelers DI Keeanu Benton on Pro Football Focus.
MrBrightside
Registered User
Yep. Queen is literally one of the worst starting off-ball LB in the NFL against the run. He's basically unplayable in run sets. He's really the #1 problem with the defense, but given his reputation and paycheck, Tomlin isn't going to bench him even if he's the 3rd best off-ball LB on the team.
Patrick Queen | Pittsburgh Steelers LB | NFL and PFF stats
NFL and PFF player stats for Pittsburgh Steelers LB Patrick Queen on Pro Football Focus.
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PensandCaps
Beddy Tlueger
- May 22, 2015
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Haven't seen a QB who is of starting caliber since Ben. Wilson has been much better than I ever thought he'd be. Looking like Seattle Wilson, the one who was a top 5 QB in the league.
bigdaddyk88
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Correct because TJ and Highsmith had their hands in the dirt so it was 4 down line men. Elliot missed his run fit on the long td run. Wilson is the dime backer. Typical they run 3 safety heavy nickelThat's not true. Queen played every defensive snap. Wilson and Roberts combined to play 77% of the defensive snaps.
New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers - October 28th, 2024 | Pro-Football-Reference.com
New York Giants 18 at Pittsburgh Steelers 26 on October 28th, 2024 - Full team and player stats and box score
They just aren't getting it done against the run game.
MrBrightside
Registered User
TJ and Highsmith play with a hand in the dirt 95%+ of the time, especially TJ. This was nothing new or schematic. They played 2 off-ball backers almost 80% of the time. Again, we can argue semantics and schematics, but anyone who's watched the Steelers play and doesn't recognize that Wilson and especially Queen are massive liabilities in the run game isn't paying attention. They have to get Roberts on the field more in run downs, and hopefully Sutton coming back will give them more confidence to do that and not feel they need Wilson as often since Tomlin refuses to take Queen off the field.
PensandCaps
Beddy Tlueger
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Also, it seems like Wilson is using the big guy Washington a ton more than previous QBs. Love that.
Buddy Bizarre
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They really thought Queen would button up the run game, but can you say he's been any better than the other guys over the years: Spillane, Holcomb, etc?
If they want to play 2 LBs they need to consider Roberts as he's more of a run stopper. He's a liability in coverage, but you have to concede something on defense.
One of the most surprising things from yesterday’s game was that I actually said “Oh no” when Dan Moore had to leave the game. His play has been one of the most unexpected, positive things so far and I’m starting to wonder whether they might actually re-sign him.
Double-Shift Lasse
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Colonel Mustard
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He is spreading the ball around alot. I havent seen someone have this much control over the offense since ben
bigdaddyk88
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Ideally it Holcomb with the greendot and queen just running around hitting people.
I fully expect Roberts to play more against Cleveland and Bmore heck even against kc
Wilson is the 1st Qb Tomlin has not treated like a backup since Ben retired. Smith realized that he can do everything he did in Tennessee with Tanahill with Wilson
Ryder71
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CheckingLineCenter
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Kind of insane this team should probably be 8-0
also insane I think I am more worried about the defense than the offense lol
also insane I think I am more worried about the defense than the offense lol
Empoleon8771
Registered User
I think the only real concern I have with Wilson at this point is his clearly declined arm strength, as others have noted. Even with the nice moon balls, he pretty firmly underthrew some of them and got lucky one of them wasn't intercepted. That being said, he's 36 so I have no expectation that he'll have the same physical traits as he had at 26.
I talked about this last night, but I do think this team will need to make a decision on either going with Wilson or Fields as the starter beyond this year. I do not think it's possible/reasonable to keep both, I think you either keep Wilson and draft a successor high in the draft or you keep Fields and build the offense around him. And with how Wilson has played, I think the first option is becoming more and more the obvious option to pursue.
It stinks because I really liked what I saw out of Fields and think there is real room for growth there, but Wilson gives them the best chance to win now and I think Fields is too old to sit as a backup for 2-3 years. I'd much rather draft a 20/21 year old QB and have him sit and learn behind Wilson over having a soon to be 26 year old Fields sitting in that role. Fields definitely earned himself at minimum a Minshew type of contract/opportunity with his play this year, I hope he cashes in on that.
I talked about this last night, but I do think this team will need to make a decision on either going with Wilson or Fields as the starter beyond this year. I do not think it's possible/reasonable to keep both, I think you either keep Wilson and draft a successor high in the draft or you keep Fields and build the offense around him. And with how Wilson has played, I think the first option is becoming more and more the obvious option to pursue.
It stinks because I really liked what I saw out of Fields and think there is real room for growth there, but Wilson gives them the best chance to win now and I think Fields is too old to sit as a backup for 2-3 years. I'd much rather draft a 20/21 year old QB and have him sit and learn behind Wilson over having a soon to be 26 year old Fields sitting in that role. Fields definitely earned himself at minimum a Minshew type of contract/opportunity with his play this year, I hope he cashes in on that.
UnrealMachine
Registered User
I don’t think it’s necessarily arm strength as it was just timing his receivers correctly. Underthrowing *can* work in some cases, but it is clearly not a recommended strategy since it gives the defense a better chance to defend the pass or intercept it. Underthrowing Miller yesterday gave the defender a chance to catch up and ultimately block Miller’s view of the ball - which is often all you need to do to make a pass defensed. I was more concerned about the lack of intermediate and long (not necessarily deep) passes through much of the game and the tendency to throw short - which is what he was advertised as coming from Denver. But his deep ball - either perfectly or even imperfectly thrown - is a game changer for this offensive gameplan. Just need to do it earlier in the game and preferably just a little more frequently.
NewAgeOutlaw
Belie Dat!
I've been surprised myself with the quality of Wilson's play considering his age, year of not starting, and coming off an injury but I don't see it as shocking that he is still productive.
He is like, one of the most efficient passers in the history of the league. The Broncos tried to fix a shitty team immediately by bringing in a star qb and team sports don't work like that.
He is like, one of the most efficient passers in the history of the league. The Broncos tried to fix a shitty team immediately by bringing in a star qb and team sports don't work like that.
UnrealMachine
Registered User
And it’s looking like the steal of the century for Steelers getting him on sale, with double coupons, and maybe an additional 15% off via subscribe ‘n save?
It's just too early. There's only a two game sample for Wilson and still half a season to play. Wilson could ascend and be a must keep, or fizzle out and be a one and done, or even get injured again and let Fields take the spot. Wilson has put his best foot forward as the short term future but this decision is so far down the line.
Also, without having counted out the QB hungry teams and the QBs available (not that you can really do that until you figure out which QBs are getting drafted), it wouldn't be utterly surprising to me if Fields once again missed out on a starting spot and was looking for a one year back-up deal somewhere before trying again and chose the Steelers. I'm not betting heavily on that idea but it wouldn't be the first time I've seen something like that happen, with Fields not being wanted as a starting QB last summer being an obvious example.
