Player Observations from Steelers – Bills

PLAYER OBSERVATIONS FROM STEELERS – BILLS

— RB DeAngelo Willams – One of the few positives from the Steelers 43-19 loss to the Bills was DeAngelo Williams. Williams rushed three times for 15 yards, including a long-run of 14 behind Marcus Gilbert. Williams added a 10 yard reception and has shown enough flashes the last two weeks to make the Steelers comfortable that he can hold the fort until Le’Veon Bell is back.

“DeAngelo was above the line today,” Tomlin said of the veteran back. “He’s really been above the line all preseason. He’s done a nice job getting acclimated to this environment and being the guy we thought he would be when we signed him back in the spring.”

Behind Williams the Steelers are expected to be monitoring the trade market and waiver wire for depth at the running back position. Josh Harris struggled rushing for 20 yards on 10 carries.

Dri Archer can’t be counted on and played just three offensive snaps.

— LDE Leterrius Walton – Walton got a surprise start over Cam Thomas at left defensive end and played 30 of 74 snaps. Walton was blown up on Fred Jackson’s 41 yard run on the Bills opening play from scrimmage as he got caught inside.

Walton, though, put in a solid performance overall. Aside from the miscue on Jackson’s run, the Steelers have liked the push Walton gets off the line and see him as a potential asset in stopping the run, but the Steelers depth on the D-line is in question going into the season.

Walton had 3 tackles, 1 batted pass and 1 stop.

— CB Kevin Fogg – Bills QB’s went a combined 30/33, posting a 146.8 QB rating vs the Steelers on Saturday. It wasn’t a good day for anybody. Cornerback Kevin Fogg has been a camp darling with a knack of making plays but if he’s going to make the roster it has to be for his special teams play where he’s getting a strong look and had one special team tackle.

Fogg is sixth on the depth chart at corner going into the final week. The UDFA allowed 4 receptions on four targets vs the Bills and had a rough day in coverage.

— CB Doran Grant – Grant continues to show signs of being able to contribute this season. One reason the Steelers love Ohio State players under Urban Meyer is because of how well coached they are. Grant has excellent instincts defending the pass and was solid in coverage again Saturday. Has allowed 1 reception for five yards over his last two preseason games.

The one knock on Grant’s day was a false start on in punt formation, stuff that drives coaches nuts. Still, Grant continues to be one of the Steelers top young performers in camp, a group overall that has been very disappointing.

“Some of our young guys who pushed through this game, who are quite frankly fighting for jobs, did not execute with enough detail to be in consideration,” Tomlin said “And that’s disappointing. As we push towards the end of this thing, I’d like to see guys with their arrows pointed up; fighting for jobs. Some of those guys looked like they were just walking dead.”

— LB Lawrence Timmons – Timmons remains sidelined with turf toe, an injury that can sideline a player for up to four-six weeks. The Steelers continue to downplay it as being serious but Saturday showed the trouble the Steelers are in when Timmons isn’t on the field.

Vince Williams who started in place of Timmons has struggled in the zone during pass coverage situations and the Steelers are too small when Sean Spence has to see significant snaps.

“Obviously we played [without] Lawrence and some others, so not enough of a complete body of work,” Tomlin said.
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— C Cody Wallace – Wallace graded out very poorly in pass coverage and teams are going to attack him on the interior. We’re going to see Doug Legursky at somepoint in the regular season.

— Martavis Bryant – 3 Receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. He was officially only listed as having three targets but Bryant also drew two pass interference penalties. He adds a dynamic that will be impossible to replace the first four games of the season.

— Jordan Berry – Berry had an incredible day. Averaged 58.2 yards on four punts that included a 78 yard punt. The days of Mitch Berger are at least over.
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