Packers @ Steelers game thread

I really think the Steelers are starting to see what Pickett is and are taking steps to rely more on the running game. Putting Jones at RT seems to indicate they'll try anything, although I'm happy with his play. Having Washington as a TE is also an indication to me that they are beefing up the line.

 

I agree with you on the projection for Pickett long-term. But when I look at the Steelers offense, I see the same thing I see currently with Justin Fields, Bryce Young, etc (Kenny Pickett being the least talented among those names, granted) - an offense that is so confused / poorly run / bereft of talent that it's hard to pin it on any one player on the field. It's a chicken and egg situation: Pickett and the offense would look better with a better coordinator, and a coordinator would look better with a better QB. That being said, when I see receivers running bad routes, linemen not blocking, and high school plays being called, I tend to lean towards the coaching as the main problem. Again, QB isn't far behind, but it starts up top.

Did Nagy look bad because of Trubisky, did Trubisky look bad because of Nagy, or did they both suck? I think it's generally agreeable (beachbum notwithstanding) that it's the lattermost case. I would say the same is true in Pittsburgh right now. That's a better comp than the Fields, Young, etc. of the world.

 

I kind of agree, but there are a couple things that stick out to me:

The 'high school' thing is something that may be brought on by the level of competency at passer. It could be that Canada can't get it right, but his offenses in LSU didn't look this bland and he consistently had one of the better offenses at the college level.

The route running by Pickens is a product of his lack of explosion, but Diontae is one of the better route runners in the league. He's probably a top 10 guy at that specific aspect, he gets regular separation and Pickett simply cannot get a rhythm with him. Freiermuth has morphed into a reliable route running TE and it's the same story.

The line issue is one that could definitely be a product of play calling as Pittsburgh looks like a 'zero identity' offense, mainly because they cannot excel at just one aspect.

Possibly, but Nagy had a decent track record that included taking over play calling from Reid and saving the Chiefs 2017 season.

I think he hitched his cart to the wrong quarterback to run the offense he wanted, and it ended with him drafting a second quarterback that likely wouldn't have fit what he was trying to do either.

If Nagy drafts Mahomes, I'd wager that he would still be the head coach in Chicago.

The drafting of Fields was a move made of desperation to save his job.

I'd say that the downfall of Nagy is tied directly to the drafting of Mitch, a quarterback that cannot create separation with depth or touch to arc, attempting to run an offense that creates windows in layered space.

And that would be the case in Pittsburgh as well, IMO.

 

I think we ultimately agree. I don't think Pitt is as devoid of talent at the skill positions as, say, Carolina is. But the lack of production is definitely a combination of both QB and the way the offense is being run - and no doubt that one influences the other. To that point, I remember Nagy calling a high school play that I recognized as day one stuff, and Mitch still being unable to execute it. No doubt that call was made BECAUSE Mitch was such a bad QB, but I would also argue that Nagy didn't do the other things he needed to be successful in spite of Mitch. Seems like Pitt is echoing that. As for whether or not Mahomes and Nagy would've succeeded... my faith in the Bears' staff is a lot emptier than yours, but I won't argue that Mahomes would've been significantly better for just about anyone than Mitch was.

Edit: I also watch way less Steelers football than many here, so I'll defer to y'all if you see something I'm not. Just my observations based on the film I have watched before bed on a weeknight.