THE GOOD: T.J. Watt has 1 QB Sack Jaylen Samuels averaged over 5 ypc (but only 5 carries) Kareem Hunt rushed for 12 yards on 6 attempts (see bad) The Steelers have extra time to work on quite a few things. THE BAD: The Steelers didn't show up for this one. The Steelers gave up 4 QB Sacks Berry bobbled the snap and Boswell missed a 44 yard FG attempt Mayfield completed 17 of 32 attempts for 193 yards 2 TD 0 INT 1 Rush TD Nick Chubb rushed for 92 yards on 27 attempts THE UGLY: Mason Rudolph's 4 INTS Myles Garrett The Brawl Greedy Williams helmet to helmet hit on J2S2 Damarious Randall helmet to helmet hit Diontae Johnson
19 games in a row that the offense committed a TO no play makers on offense, OL can’t run block and inconsistent results on pass blocking Rudolph’s pocket awareness is below the line. Aikman explained it best. There have been many chances that he’s had to take a step or two to the left, right, or forward to buy more time but he just sits there in the same spot Baron is awful in coverage, he always seems to have his back to the ball when it looks like he has time to turn around and make a play on the ball. bottom line, they weren’t ready to play (not blaming Tomlin or any coaches), it’s the short week playing on the road the offense may need to go into rebuilding mode after the season, OL needs to be upgraded at LT & LG, Connor is not the long term solution at RB - too many missed games because of injuries, need a WR or 2 and a TE it’s a shame because they had an offense that could get them to SB with a lousy defense now it’s the complete opposite
Ugly: Refs calling offsetting penalties and repeat 4th down? It was 3rd and 29 before the brawl and 4th down afterwards? Should have gone back to 3rd and 29. There was no need for a kneel down by the Browns. Should have been over after the Brooks-James kneel down.
The Good: Not much. The D was still mostly good. They gave up about 3 big plays that swung the game. Take away those three plays, and Cleveland's O did basically nothing all game. David DeCastro for not only protecting his QB, but for handling himself properly in the scrum. I will also give a nod to Coach Kitchen and Baker Mayfield of the Browns for taking ownership and handling the post-game interviews well. There were things I wanted to hear from them after the game, and they delivered the contrition and responsibility I wanted to hear. I know that will be controversial with some fans on here, but I liked what I heard from them. The only other good is that the game is over. The Bad: Where do I begin? Almost everything on offense. The running game has been awful all season. When Conner was in, there was a clear jump in the effectiveness of the ground game. It still wasn't great, but it at least was present. Without Conner, there is no run game in Pittsburgh-- and now Conner is gone again. I was afraid of this; I worried they were rushing him back too soon. If this had been a Sunday game, maybe. But Thursday night was too soon. Now he's going to be gone again. The wide receivers are incapable of creating separation. They are never open. Every window is tight and every catch is contested because the WRs cannot manufacture space. AB was great at manufacturing space regardless of the coverage. Then everyone had to shift defenses to AB, freeing the other receivers. There was a cascade effect. Without AB, it is clear that none of our current receivers can get separation. And now, our nos. 1 and 3 receivers are in concussion protocol. (Picture this likely scenario-- in our next game, Rudolph is out with a 1 game suspension for his role in the scrum, Pouncey is out for his role in the scrum, Connor is out with injury, J2S2 and D. Johnson are both out with concussions-- damn, are we even going to have an offense on the field?) The O-line had as bad a game as they have had in a long time. Cleveland's D-line won most of the battles. On the defensive side, the pass rush lost containment too many times. They did a good job collapsing the pocket, but they failed on numerous occasions to account for Mayfield's mobility. Mayfield looked like Big Ben out there breaking away from the pass rush, buying time and improvising. Also bad was the snap on the missed FG. The Ugly: First, the obvious: Myles Garrett crossed a line. I don't care what Mason Rudolph may have done, there is no excuse. This is inexcusable; I can't stand some people like Max Kellerman this morning trying to excuse and justify Garrett's actions. Ogunjobi's (sp?) cheap shot, and then in post-game interviews saying he was "protecting his guys" by hitting the defenseless QB in the back-- away from the scrum, by the way. The head shots on the Steelers' receivers, especially the hit on Diontae Johnson-- that defender needs to be suspended, but the seriousness of that hit is being ignored because of what happened at the end of the game. Mason Rudolph did himself no favors-- chasing after Garrett once his helmet had been removed, the pouty-faced whine when he got hit from behind, and the smugness in his post-game interview. I hate to say it, but he came off as kind of an entitled bitch. (I realize that may earn me some flames.)
Lost in the helmet debacle, did anyone notice it was the Browns' backup QB taking the knee to end the game, not Mayfield? I've been highly critical of Kitchens all year (IMO - rightfully so). But - given the climate at that point - that was maybe his best decision all year.
Garrett isn’t even able to say he is sorry to Rudolph. The only thing he regrets is he won’t be able to play Screw him.
I hope we don’t overlook the Bengals. The next game with Cleveland is in two weeks. What players on our team aren’t really looking forward to this game? We have to keep focus on the Bengals. I can’t see us losing to the Browns but we may be short handed against the Bengals.
Garret suspended for the year, Pouncey got 3 games, the other Browns guy got a game and teams were both fined $250,000. No way Pouncey should’ve gotten 3 games for coming to his QBs aid.
You can come to your qbs defense without kicking an opponent that is on the ground. If he doesnt kick him in the head he likely doesnt get suspended Short week on not someone is responsible and if not Tomlin and the coaching staff then who? Other teams have won on the short week many who have had to take longer trips to get there. The short week only seems to be an excuse when teams drop the ball. With 8 seconds on the clock they should hae just called the game and sent both teams away from that ugly ending, .
I understand they can’t just call the game but they got the end totally wrong. Should have ended after the Steelers kneel down. It was replay of down.. it was third down when everything happened.
I did not, but anyone scarecrow enough to put his starting QB back in at that point ... Garret is Joe Greene on steroids back when that kind of play was revered, but never to my recollection as blatant as that ... `/2 the country watching...seriously... what a DOLT Two years from now when your offense catches up to your defense and Kitchens catches on period ... you gonna have a whole lot to root for...these ain't your Old Brownies ...
No buddy he gets them for jack hammering a Cleveland Oline man lying on the ground (LYM?) and then kicking the same guy twice while was on the ground... Another Brownie sprinted to the scene and knocked/shoved Rudolph to the ground .... understand... he ran from his sideline to sucker shove Rudolph... Intentionally... An unbelievable inability to show any control ... our conference reeks of it... silver lining; see you in two weeks with the refs using train whistles...
Actually, that was Larry Ogungobi a defensive tackle who was in the game when the ball was snapped. He's lucky he only got a one game suspension. IMO, he should have gotten the same as Pouncey.
I believe that our team will come out with their hair on fire and kick some serious ass the rest of the season
