Steelers 2022-23

Porktown
We need our own thread for this.
 

EMitch
Didn't seem to matter which offensive line was in there, 1st, 2nd, or third, they just didn't seem to be on the same page on run or pass blocking. Even defensively, there was a few gaping holes due to players in the wrong places or late getting there. At any rate, the objective is to weed out what they don't want and some of those guys may go this week. Sadly, they're rich in running backs and there may be one guy, (forgot the name), who really looks promising and there may not be a roster spot for him, but he'd most likely hook up with another team. Speaking of hooking up, did you guys hear anything on Rudolph possibly goin' to Detroit? Might have been another team. I read too much stuff. Just askin'.

For the O-line, I agree to an extent on what we saw with 1st, 2nd and 3rd string all seeming to be a mess.  That said, there are some excuses that make sense to me at least.  Maybe I am just being hopeful.  They were each going against 1st, 2nd and 3rd string opposition.  They noted in the broadcast that Jacksonville spent the most out of any NFL team in the offseason, much of it was rebuilding their defensive front.  So, "on paper" their starters are a top 10 defensive front.  They should give just about any starting O-line some fits, except elite O-lines, which I think even the biggest homer Stillers fan wouldn't say we have.  I doubt they subbed out at the same time the Steelers did, but assuming relatively close, our 2nd and 3rd stringers were having fits against their 2nd and 3rd stringers.  In that, I am assuming our starters are better than our 2nd and 3rd string.  I think with a few games together, if the starting 6 stay as the starting 6, they should gel a bit.  At least that is what they say of O-lines, not sure how true that is.  I really can't say that if one goes down, the backup isn't as good as the starter, but that whole gelling thing goes away.  They need a lot of that gelling thing!!! 
 
Not having Najee playing is kind of a huge thing for the O-line too.  The defense has to respect if they go all out pass rush, they can be blown up by a bulldozer out of the back and watch him rip off 20-30.  Having an elite RB slows down the pass rush, unless it is obvious passing situation.  If he goes down, their season is over, IMO.  They don't have the o-line that any of the backups would be able to roll with.  There seems to be some good guys that would do well to spell Najee, but highly doubt any of them could be RB1 behind this line.  I would have preferred that they build an elite O-line, which could make most of these other RBs and even QBs look better than they are.  But they went the elite RB route that will make their O-line look better than they are (when he is in).  When he is not in, we are seeing what they are.  Maybe get a bit better with the gelling thing...  If that really is a thing?

Chemistry for sure is a thing in sports. The O Line won't be highschool level like some media is making it out to be. AFAIK, they are all relatively young as well as playing together for the first time this season. 

Having mobility at QB is gonna help ease the burden, at least on the eyes. 

Steelers have a pretty rough schedule for first 8 games before their bye week.  I would be pleasantly surprised if 4-4.  I think more realistically 3-5 and would not be overly surprised if 2-6 or even 1-7.  Trubisky will start and likely be the fall guy for what likely will not be his fault.  I think he keeps his job at 4-4, but half of yinzer nation giving him the Rudolph treatment.  Likely 3-5 or under and it is Kenny time.  The remaining 9 aren't all that much easier.  Although a few more dumpster fires to likely lose or tie to in that bunch...  Pickett will likely come in and look about the same as Trubisky, but will keep fans from skipping games.  I would imagine that attendance numbers will be about as much of a factor as Trubisky's game play in his ability to keep the starting role.
 
The best that I can see them is 10-7, if absolutely no key injuries.  The D will need to score points and their O line will need to turn things around for that to even remotely be a possibility.
 
7-9 if dealing with an average about of key injuries and D plays great, but lacks scoring.  The O line slowly puts things together and some growing pains for the QBs and other O skill players.
 
They could easily be 4-13 or worse.  2-3 key injuries on either side, which is football and happens.  The O line looks like they have looked.  Najee's foot isn't 100% and plays that way.  Bush keeps on his same path to recovery and never being the same player as a rookie.  One of their D linemen to go down and be just like last season on the rush D.  
 
I see their offense being absolutely worthless if Najee goes down.  With how much they use him, it wouldn't be a surprise at all.  I like Pickett, but should be playing somewhere else and they should have focused on both O and D line.  Not surprised that they didn't, since they did the same thing with Najee.  Excellent back, but a good O line would have the backups looking like up and coming stars.  Most were just that in high level D1 college programs.  Steelers are my team, but their way of doing things has been about a complete opposite of how they did things winning Super Bowls and being highly competitive for a long time.  How Patriots did it for a long time.  There is rarely a team in the NFL with long term success that doesn't focus effort on putting the best O line they can on the field.  Every player on the offense looks better, if given more time, protection and running/passing lanes.  
 
Watt, maybe top 5 player in the league, but his contract takes that much of a salary cap hit too.  With all starters on D healthy, they will be a top defense.  All it takes is one to go down and lack of depth makes them good/average.  For how incapable their O line is, I expect their D to be on the field a lot more than they should be.  The more chance of those injuries happening.
 
Not the best feeling here.  But, it is that time of year and I'll be watching regardless.

Entertaining game and a win is a win. Watt and Harris out for significant time and possibly the only W for the season…

Seconds left and I thought they'd already lost. Nobody ever misses an extra point, so I went out on the porch to smoke. Came back in 10 minutes later and I thought they were showin' the highlights, but no, they're still playin'. Defense looked good except for #20, (i'm horrible remembering names, is it Sutton?) but he had 2 interference calls for sure, and I think maybe 1 personal foul. Can't have that. As for the offensive line, they can't move anybody out of the way, and they can't even get in the way of defensive players chasin' Trubisky all over creation.

Without an athletic QB like Trubisky, it would have been 5-6 sacks. If Ben, likely 15.

DeadGator401
Man, rough day.

I'm beginning to think it doesn't matter whos in there, with that O line, and the garbage plays Canada runs, I think most every QB would fail.

Agree. I hear yinzers calling for Kenny. Why would you put a 1st round pick into that. I think ride Trubisky all year. Maybe last 3-4 games if the line seems to be solidified a bit more. 2 of first 4 round picks need to be O line and pick up a real free agent O linemen.

Listened to it while I was in the garage all day. 1 n 1 and tied for 1st in the Division, 🙄😆

fishin coyote
I saw one offensive series and it was offensive. Why would you throw a 2yd check down on 3rd and 8? I’d agree that the play calling is the main problem followed by the O line

Ha - well said. That made me laugh out loud. 

Saw this today:

Mitch Trubisky has attempted 71 passes in a Steelers uniform. Just 10 of those have traveled over 20 air yards and 15 of them have been at or behind the line of scrimmage.

Sounds like I made the correct choice golfing 9 holes on short notice with my son, after I finished painting the trim yesterday on the outside of the house.  Better then sipping beers, yelling at the TV..
 
 

Anyone go to the Elton John concert? I heard he sang a tribute song to Kenny Pickett? It was called " Hold me closer tiny Handser"

Miami's QB got massacred really, twice in a week. Sunday/Thursday turnaround, and got knocked on Sunday, played Thursday, got crushed. Missed last few weeks because of it. 

Because of this, teams/league are paying hyper attention to these kinds of things recently. 

According to this site, concussions dropped in 2021 pretty drastically:
https://sportsnaut.com/nfl-concussions-statistics-2021/

As for this year, no clue on the rates. 

Garbage…

Looked like it was going to be 40-0. With this team, all you can really hope for is a competitive game. They settled and providing that.

Yep. He will need to learn when he needs to force it. His stats are awful. But so were many great QBs first season, doing the same thing. Take away the “should have been caught”, INT’s, and not so awful. The forcing it in desperation time INTs like this one, he needs to learn to take the smart play. It was clearly there and thought he could hero it in. Not sure if it will happen or not, but he is getting this team within competitive distance. Got to stick with him from now on. Remember, prior to the Tau concussion thing, they were the talk of the NFL. First quarter looked like it. Got to take it for what it is. Rebuild, and possibly working? I would have done it different, but going to hope it works.

psu_fish
PICKett is 24, he is an old rookie. Took 5 years to be good in a watered down ACC. I was not a believer, and still not. Here is a good stat with Kenny under center:
 
8 scoring drives
7 INTs
14 punts
11 Three and outs. 
 
His best shot is the Steelers fire Canada and find a good upcoming OC. 

Can't argue wit dat