The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Week 15 - Patriots

I hope it's because he's still young and learning, but Davis appears prone to mental mistakes in general. I don't think he's a bad player, but he's a box safety through and through at this point. It would help if we had a tall press corner for tall receivers along with a true coverage safety to complement Davis, and I'm sure Ryan Shazier could have helped tremendously (he's taller than Davis by about three inches and has defensive back-like speed), but if Davis was the best we could do, that's not good. Hopefully also, the absence of Joe Haden contributed to leaving Davis on an island more than Butler should have.

Based on this season alone, I'd believe Brown could go off like that before Gronk. Maybe I was naive in believing the Steelers had a chance at limiting Gronk based on our depleted defense, but I also didn't think he'd set a new season high for himself in yards.

 

This is something that needs addressed in the offseason. While I can appreciate the fact that Mitchell is very disciplined and doesn't let balls get behind him he really needs to play with a little more aggressiveness sometimes. How the hell are you supposed to make any kind of play 15 yards deeper than the deepest guy?

 

Watching the game again reminded me of something that was pissing me off during the game - spotting of the ball.

There were several occasions where NE got the benefit of the “spot of the ball” on defense and offense, the most evident was on NE’s TD drive to make it 17-16. On the 3rd down before they went for it on 4th Down, their receiver is stopped at Pittsburgh’s 17 yard line but on the 4th down play the ball magically appears at the 15 1/2. Perhaps Bellichick still goes for it on 4th and 2, we’ll never know but I believe a he would have kicked a FG in that situation.

Thoughts?

 

I wonder if the Pats would have went for the 4th and 1 early if Heyward doesn't jump offsides. Probably based on their first drive of the 2nd half when they went for it on 4th and 1...hitting Gronk on a slant against Artie.

What a drive by the Steelers to end the first half. Great job by Ben converting short 3rd downs...including an arrow route to JuJu on an early 3rd and 3 (same route Eli ran on last failed 3rd down that Beach showed).

2nd half offense...2 runs for 33 yards, then we go empty set.... no play action...sack!

 

Interesting...didn't notice that

 

Go back and look if u can, it’s clear the receivers forward progress was stopped at the 17.

There were other occasions where the Steelers were shorted a yard a couple of times .

 

Eli needs to field that punt late in the 3rd quarter...it was sloppy tho.

 

That holding call on Big Al was huge.... I think Conner gained 8 on 1st down that play.

Woohoo, Bryant got a target on 3rd and 21

 

3rd and 1...Gronk roughs up Dupree in the running game and easy pick up

 

Great job by Ben avoiding the sack on 2nd down and I can see why Ben thought JuJu would get the yardage on 3rd down, but the Patriots were very smartly keying him and it worked.

Pathetic defense inside 10 gave the Steelers a chance after the Brady-Gronk show. Run the ball at either Dupree or Burns (big nickle or dime D)...take your pick

 

Bryant was on the field for JuJu's long catch and run, but we take him off the field for 1st and goal at the 10? I can't understand it.

On 2nd down, Ben did a nice job of avoiding pressure...the Pats brought it...before the pass to DHB. I guess Ben figured he could get out of bounds.