OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Dont panic, they are 2-0!

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TooManyHumans

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May 4, 2018
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I disagree here. They (Smith/MT) love VJ bc he's a good blocker and that is why he's getting all the snaps. The running game is taking precedence over anything else.

No one else in their right mind would pick VJ over Pickens, but because we love the stone age offense this is what we'll get.

Would love to be a fly on the wall to see if it's Smith or Tomlin who prefer VJ.
I might buy this if VJ were actually a good blocker. I didn't notice against the Broncos, but he was terrible blocking against the Falcons.
 

bigdaddyk88

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Apr 21, 2019
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Only way the Steelers cover imo is if Herbert can’t play or is severely limited, which is why I’ve been waiting…
It doesn’t matter if he plays or not. They don’t have any skill players at wr that scares you. There running stats are high because Dobbins has broken a few long runs this season he only has 1 rushing td in his career against us. Minshew had over 250 against them passing and it was 16-10 in the 4th
 

Andy99

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Jun 26, 2017
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It doesn’t matter if he plays or not. They don’t have any skill players at wr that scares you. There running stats are high because Dobbins has broken a few long runs this season he only has 1 rushing td in his career against us. Minshew had over 250 against them passing and it was 16-10 in the 4th

And we have one skilled player lol…difference is whether Fields can keep avoiding the negative plays like sacks and TOs this week…I’m guessing no
 

Buddy Bizarre

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Jul 9, 2021
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I might buy this if VJ were actually a good blocker. I didn't notice against the Broncos, but he was terrible blocking against the Falcons.

Couple points to this:

1. This organization doesn't have a good track record of matching playing time with capability. Devin Bush is Exhibit 1A. Dude literally avoided contact yet he was taking 100% of the snaps even though he couldn't do his job

2. Related to the above, how else do you explain VJ taking snaps over Pickens? No person in their right mind would say VJ is more talented in any facet of the WR position. So it's either his blocking or he gets ice cream for the fellas after practice.

There is no other reasonable explanation other than his blocking. And I can't disagree with your statement that VJ is the WR God of Blocking. He's not Hines Ward or anything
 

Peat

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Jun 14, 2016
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Here's the snap reel of VJ's blocking vs the Falcons...


That said, BB's point that something is making them look at VJ over Pickens is correct.

But. That might be trying to make VJ work. That might also be an attempt to keep Pickens fresh, or even a minor disciplinary thing to encourage him to get on top of his details on blocking and route running. I don't know it's that they think VJ is an amazing blocker. But. Maybe they do think he's their best. Which is shambolic but there we go.

I would add that Smith has only ever put his WR1 out there for 80% of the snaps by and large, so Pickens isn't far below the Smith standard at 72%... but it's notably enough that some of this is probably them not being happy about some stuff from Pickens.

Which, given where the offence is right now, maybe seems a little stupid. Still, if this encourages Pickens to get more things right and pays off long term...
 

TooManyHumans

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May 4, 2018
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Couple points to this:

1. This organization doesn't have a good track record of matching playing time with capability. Devin Bush is Exhibit 1A. Dude literally avoided contact yet he was taking 100% of the snaps even though he couldn't do his job

2. Related to the above, how else do you explain VJ taking snaps over Pickens? No person in their right mind would say VJ is more talented in any facet of the WR position. So it's either his blocking or he gets ice cream for the fellas after practice.

There is no other reasonable explanation other than his blocking. And I can't disagree with your statement that VJ is the WR God of Blocking. He's not Hines Ward or anything
I don't know why he is out there that much. I just know that it isn't because he is a great blocking WR. It might be that they think he is better at it than he is or at least better at it than the other guys we have. Other than Pickens the WR room sucks. We have to hope Wilson can add something positive but I am skeptical.
 

Peat

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Jun 14, 2016
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Only way the Steelers cover imo is if Herbert can’t play or is severely limited, which is why I’ve been waiting…

 

Peat

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Jun 14, 2016
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Also I can't believe I'm saying this given all my biases but...

Passing is down

RB rushing is the same


The big clear vulnerability of NFL defences right now is QBs using their legs and you have maybe the single best guy in the NFL for this

Design Justin some runs. Get that boy moving.

If course, it's a hell of a lot easier to get Fields some runs if defences are backing off rather than bringing six man pressures to stop the run.



edit: Also re that Smith video on Boz -

The thing I really don't like is he sounds genuine about not knowing when the HC would send the kicker on. That seems pretty darn sloppy information sharing.
 

Peat

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Jun 14, 2016
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Smith was planning on punting until Tomlin said let Boz kick it for his 1st attempt in ATL. These two are perfect for each other (not in a good way)

I had assumed they'd had Patterson run it on 3rd and six the preceding play because they'd already decided they were in field goal range. If Smith was really thinking "if I don't get first down here we don't get a scoring chance so lets have Patterson run the ball", that's incredible. So incredible I might actually mean the old fashioned literal sense of incredible as in I can't credit that as being real. Surely not... I hope. Wow.
 
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T1K

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I had assumed they'd had Patterson run it on 3rd and six the preceding play because they'd already decided they were in field goal range. If Smith was really thinking "if I don't get first down here we don't get a scoring chance so lets have Patterson run the ball", that's incredible. So incredible I might actually mean the old fashioned literal sense of incredible as in I can't credit that as being real. Surely not... I hope. Wow.
Ironically with offense down in the league across the board, maybe this is the year a great defense is what matters most. I highly doubt it, but that’s my copium take.
 

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