I've now re-watched the Steelers' game against the Ravens a couple of more times today and I really only have a couple of minor issues with the coaching job done in that game by Mike Tomlin and his staff.
One would be attempting a third-down pass to Sammie Coates late in the game on a quick slant. I don't know that Coates was the primary target, but that's where Mike Vick went with the ball.
Coates isn't known for having great hands and asking him to catch a ball in traffic in what is his first real NFL playing time is a risk I wouldn't have taken.
But again, I don't know that Coates was the top target there.
And you expect Josh Scobee to make a 41-yard field goal.
The other was the attempted keeper call by Vick in overtime. You've got Le'Veon Bell. Use him in that situation.
Outside of that, it's easy to second-guess things that don't work. But I didn't have an issue with Tomlin's decisions in those cases.
@ Speaking of Scobee, the Steelers will begin trying out kickers, as I wrote here.
Kai Forbath, Chris Boswell and Randy Bullock will all get a shot at replacing Scobee.
Breaking: The Steelers have signed Boswell.
And no, Jeff Reed was not an option.
@ Vick struggled waiting for things to develop in this game. He got off his initial read too quickly, especially when that read was Antonio Brown.
And Vick also didn't utilize Heath Miller at all.
He'll get better at those things the more comfortable he gets in this offense. Having Martavis Bryant back won't hurt, either.
@ I meant to make mention of it but forgot. Dri Archer got an opportunity to return a kick - at the start of overtime - and made a nice 31-yard return out to the 31.
Was it a great return? No, not great. But it was solid.
@ A lot is being made about the Steelers' missed tackles in this game - and there were a bunch - but the Ravens certainly missed their share as well. It's a league-wide dilemma.
@ I didn't make note of it at the time, but a mishandled snap by Vick late in the game was costly, as well.
In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't huge, but it was a lost play.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/jeff-reed-takes-break-from-car-dealership-to--get-the-leg-loose--in-case-steelers-call-204210666.html
ReplyDeleteAt least today is a good day to test out kickers at Heinz Field, cold, wet, rainy, windy.
ReplyDeleteWas our deep secondary coverage that good that Flacco did not test it or was it he no longer had Torry Smith?
ReplyDeleteCoverage was decent. We blitzed a lot, which limits the time necessary to throw long. And yes, they drafted a replacement for Torrey Smith, but he is injured, leaving them with no real deep threat.
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ReplyDeleteWhy is Jay Feely no longer a kicking option? He is a veteran who has done very well in the league. They brought him in when they signed Hartley. I find it hard to believe he was so bad in his tryout that he is completely off their list now!
ReplyDeleteRavens just traded with Rams for Chris Givens. S. Smith has four broken bones in his back and Campaniero, who had the TD on a reverse, ruptured a disk against the Steelers.
ReplyDeleteFeely obviously did not impress them Qwikdoc. Nobody else has signed him, either.
Why do so many people want Jeff Reed back? I like Jeff. Good dude. But his last full season in Pittsburgh, he made 70 percent of his kicks. His kickoffs were never a strong point. I realize the kickoffs have been adjusted, but I can't imagine his leg has gotten any stronger. At some point, we all have to give up the playing days and the past.
Hmm, sounds like Balt achieved a pyrrhic victory.
ReplyDeleteThursday's game had a terrible ending - but, it's a long season and there's always games we should have won or should have lost. This is one we should have won, just hope we don't have more with this ending.
ReplyDeleteDale - Any thoughts on Ben not using crutches? He looked surprisingly well for what he experienced. Also, who gets cut this week? Dri did have a nice return but, I don't see a long term role on this team for him. Would rather us develop Chick, Grant, Lyons, etc.
Well, Lyons was released to sign Chickillo, who was signed because they weren't sure if Harrison would be ready to go. And Grant is still on the practice squad, so there's that.
ReplyDeleteI would guess that Todman goes, but who knows?
Come on down Chris Boswell
ReplyDeleteI would drop a player who has reached their low ceiling first. Ventrone, todman, or Thomas, veteran players with no upside.
ReplyDeleteDefend Tomlin all you want. Cowher would have won that game.
ReplyDeleteOver the past 3 seasons, kicking from 40 to 49 yard FG, Suisham was 30 of 30. I'd expect him to make it; Scobee, with a make percentage near the bottom of (recently) active kickers, not so much. But, 41? Yeah, that one i'd expect him to make, even at Heinz. But, in the ones he made were shaky; first started right and drew in; second started left and faded in. Kinda quick hooked the last pair.
ReplyDeleteScobee was ok on KO, bad on FG. Given that, i question the first attempt. What ever happened the coffin corner punt? Sure, in the best case, inside the 5, say, the Ravens woulda been only ~ 60 yards from a sure FG, but down deep they'd probably be running a fairly limited offense. Same case in OT, especially the first possession ending at the BALT 39. That's 31 yards, full playbook, from a sure FG.
I too thought they should have punted that.
DeleteThe second kick Scobee made was tipped, but faded in anyway.
DeletePunting wasn't a great idea. Certainly, no chance of scoring if you punt, and what if it goes into the end zone? Then it's a 13 yard punt! Scobee was due to make one. Either he should've been given a chance, or Bell, who had been highly successful all day. The ball definitely shouldn't have been carried or thrown by Vick, who was not productive at either all day.
The second kick Scobee made was tipped, but faded in anyway.
DeletePunting wasn't a great idea. Certainly, no chance of scoring if you punt, and what if it goes into the end zone? Then it's a 13 yard punt! Scobee was due to make one. Either he should've been given a chance, or Bell, who had been highly successful all day. The ball definitely shouldn't have been carried or thrown by Vick, who was not productive at either all day.
Man, that was a brutal, brutal loss. I was watching the Giants-Bills and then had to turn it off because watching football reminded me - duh - of the Steelers. "Imagine being 3-1 instead of 2-2." Repeat, repeat, repeat...
ReplyDeleteI thought the game was over like four times.
Seems like the Ravens have (for the most part) owned the Steelers from 2011 up to last Thursday.
I agree with Dale's take, i.e., more critical of a few of the play calls rather than the actual decision-making. (Yes, Dri Archer had a pretty good return.)
Vick did about as well overall as could be expected, probably. Will have to play much better the next three-four games, though. Ugh.
Dale, I still think it is between Dri Archer or Nix. At least Nix and Toddman can play on special teams. I would rather it be Cam Thomas for how he got pushed 5 to 7 yards down the field on running plays against the Ravens. I still don't understand how the Steelers couldn't have found a better backup option for $2M at DE than Thomas.
ReplyDeleteBut then again, this is the same team that paid a kicker $2.5M for 4 games this year of less than .500 kicking. At least Bryant is back. Bengals getting off to a 4-0 start puts extra pressure to hold the fort and win games until Ben gets back.