Steelers/NFL
Steelers woes in Philly a long-term concern or just one of those games?
The debacle in Philadelphia.
Did the Steelers get exposed or was this just one those games a team will have?
That’s the million dollar question coming out of the Steelers 34-3 loss.
From the Offense, to the Defense, Special Teams, to Coaching, the Steelers graded out with an ‘F’ performance.
Offense
If the Eagles did anything for future Steeler opponents, it put out tape of a blueprint on how to defend the Steelers.
Philadelphia’s front four dominated the Steelers at the line of scrimmage. Pittsburgh believes it has the best offensive line in football on the right side and the Eagles got the upper hand in a big way.
Fletcher Cox had two sacks against David DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert who the Steelers believe has evolved into the best right tackle in football, allowed his first sack of the season.
Ben Roethlisberger (24/44, 257 yards – 1 INT) was sacked four times and lost a fumble.
While Roethlisberger was off with his throws for most of the day, what also played out was a lack of separation being created by Pittsburgh receivers.
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And when they were getting open, MarKus Wheaton was dropping touchdown passes.
Wheaton had a disaster of a game in playing for the first time this season. Wheaton had a drop on third down in the end zone on the Steelers opening drive and followed that up with two more drops, both that would have went for first downs.
Not having Martavis Bryant showed up in this one and remains a concern when the Steelers face teams that can get pressure on them.
Antonio Brown was targeted 18 times and had 12 catches for 140 yards, but when the game mattered he didn’t provide any game changing plays.
The Steelers had just three passing plays for 20 yards or more, two of them, though, went for 30+ yards.
Eli Rogers got open in the middle of the field for a 32 yard gain and Sammie Coates hauled in a 41 yard catch, his fourth catch of 40+ yards this season. The Steelers couldn’t turn the big plays into points.
What ailed the Steelers was an inability to make game changing plays after the catch, while the Eagles had over 200 yards after the catch.
Good time for Le’Veon Bell to return vs the Chiefs. DeAngelo Williams has 20 carries of one yard or less in his last two games.
The Steelers in the first two weeks were an offense that showed it has Ben Roethlisberger and it can plug any skilled player out there and succeed as a unit. Sunday afternoon it was a different story as the Steelers looked like an offense that didn’t have enough playmakers to make plays.
Something to watch when they face a strong front-seven.
Defense
Prior to Week 3 the Steelers defense had been a unit showing great signs of trending up. They were a unit led by Ryan Shazier that has looked built on speed and despite giving up 300+ passing yards in the first two games of the season, their zone scheme had great success against two average QB’s in Kirk Cousins and Andy Dalton.
One thing of note, going back to last season the Steelers avoided seeing many top tier quarterbacks.
Against Carson Wentz and the Eagles everything came crashing down and it was all about the Eagles not the Steelers having four banged up defenders throughout the game.
Carson Wentz looked everything of a franchise quarterback in going 23-of-31 for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Wentz’ performance reminded me of Tom Brady’s performance against the Steelers last season in Week 1 where ‘mentally’ Brady carved up the Steelers ‘D’
Wentz did the same exact thing.
It wasn’t just that he could make any throw against the Steelers, the way he read their coverages was phenomenal and at an All-Pro level.
He surgically took apart the Steelers defense.
“He played like a freakin’ Hall of Famer,” Steelers defensive end Cam Heyward said, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “I don’t know how many passes he missed, but he managed the game, got the ball to his receivers, got the ball to the running backs. We just have to get a lot better.”
It’s wrong to say the Steelers weren’t prepared for Wentz.
The Eagles offense crushed the Steelers defense with mis-directions and screens.
About that Steelers pass rush?
It was non-existent again and will continue to be a major concern when the Steelers face elite quarterbacks who know how to beat a zone.
The microscope is now back on the Steelers ‘D’ and their most important player Ryan Shazier whose inability to stay healthy only going to be a continued theme. [/hide]
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