Ups and downs of Steelers’ loss
The Steelers were pelted by the Green Bay Packers, 51-34, Thursday night at Lambeau Field in both teams’ second preseason game.
As might be expected with such a score, there were plenty of Ups and Downs for the Steelers as the games begin to mean more in terms of roster jobs. Here’s my take:
UP
Landry Jones — He rose by not playing, but in my opinion this was the game to see if Joshua Dobbs could elevate to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart in place of Jones, the sixth-year veteran in the final year of his contract.
For many reasons, I want to see Dobbs make the roster. I believe he represents a better future than does Jones, who represents a better present. So the point, I felt, was to see how much Dobbs could cut into that deficit of the present, but in my opinion he didn’t get to prove much with the second team.
Of course, Dobbs didn’t help himself by throwing a pick-six on his first pass, but recovered to post his career-best passer rating of 116.0, giving him a 101.9 rating this preseason. It’s much-improved over the 68.9 of his rookie preseason, so he’s clearly improving on the field and he has the leadership skills to become another Charlie Batch for this team.
Perhaps Mike Tomlin wanted to see if Mason Rudolph could elevate to that No. 2 spot, so the rookie – who’s already a lock as the No. 3 — was given the surprising start. But on his first snap, Rudolph threw one of his soft outs to the sideline and was intercepted for a touchdown. Unlike Dobbs, Rudolph couldn’t overcome it. He completed 5-of-12 for 47 yards and was sacked three times. He was indecisive and Tomlin said so.
DOWN
Keith Butler — Subtract the pick-sixes and the Steelers’ defense allowed 37 points. This would’ve been somewhat acceptable had Aaron Rodgers been the QB all game, or at least longer than his five-play touchdown drive on his only series. The Steelers’ starters (minus Cameron Heyward, Joe Haden, T.J. Watt and Sean Davis) then allowed Brett Hundley to score 13 points in three series before the next unit (with two full-time starters) allowed DeShone Kizer to quarterback the Packers to a touchdown and 34-14 lead before halftime.
After Rodgers’ only series, three Packers quarterbacks combined for a 115.6 passer rating against the Steelers, who once again missed too many tackles and left gaping holes as Butler seems as if he’s trying to do too much instead of buttoning up the fundamentals.
UP
Terrell Edmunds — With a lack of speed at linebacker, and Morgan Burnett missing another early tackle as a miscast free safety, the Steelers need this hard-hitting, speedy rookie strong safety somewhere in the lineup. It’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, particularly after Burnett recovered for a decent performance and will likely be the strong safety next to Davis. But, Edmunds will make things happen on special teams and in packages. Edmunds routinely was the first coverage man downfield on kickoffs, and on the second kickoff stripped Ty Montgomery and recovered the fumble to allow the Steelers to tie the game.
On the preceding series, Edmunds showed great hands and athleticism in catching a free-play Rodgers heave into the end zone, but it wasn’t an interception and Rodgers threw for a score on the third-down do-over. Edmunds did get beat for a touchdown by Jimmy Graham, and missed a tackle on Lance Kendricks’ catch in the flat that went for 15 yards, but Edmunds looks like an obvious asset for a defense that craves his type of athleticism.
DOWN
Mike Hilton — More of a question than anything else because Hilton did not play. He was replaced by the higher-pedigreed Cam Sutton, who missed most of his rookie season as Hilton became a hit as the nickel back. Sutton looked good, as we knew he would, and it makes one wonder if the 5-8 Hilton is being phased out due to his potential mismatches in coverage.
UP
James Conner — Matt Feiler, Alejandro Villanueva, B.J. Finney and the blocking receivers all deserve their own special “UP” notifications for helping Conner pop gains of 24 and 26 yards on consecutive carries. But it was Conner who broke two tackles by himself on the way to the end zone when he should’ve been tired from his previous gain. Obviously, Conner is in great shape and showed, with his best performance in his two seasons, that he can be counted upon early in the season until Le’Veon Bell finds his rhythm. Conner finished with 57 yards on 5 carries, all in the first half. In last season’s second preseason game, he gained 98 yards on 20 carries, but gained only 13 in the first half.
DOWN
Anthony Chickillo — Unlike Hilton, Chickillo played, but appeared to be slower than deep reserves Keion Adams, Ola Adeniyi and Farrington Huguenin. It’s a solid group of players presumably fighting for the final OLB roster spot and a job with the practice squad, but on a defense that needs speed at the second level, perhaps Chickillo’s job isn’t as safe as previously thought.
UP
James Washington — The Steelers’ star of the game, this rookie caught 5 passes for 114 yards with touchdown catches of 19 and 22 yards from Dobbs. Washington may have a difficult path to playing time, but he can do one thing better than any other Steelers receiver: go up and grab the ball in the end zone. His 19-yarder was a Brinks heist as Washington went over the top of a CB for the catch. Washington then got open on a post for 58 yards to set up another second-half touchdown. Early in the fourth, Washington went up to share possession with a DB for his 22-yard touchdown catch. Strong hands. Sneaky speed. Great leaping ability and timing. It’s adding up to a rookie without a complete understanding of the offense still getting on the field because of his knack for producing touchdowns.
DOWN
Quadree Henderson — The most competitive roster battle may be running back, so it could be that Henderson is battling Fitzgerald Toussaint for a job. Not that Toussaint showed much as the deep returner, nor does he return punts as Henderson does, but Toussaint appears to be pulling away from Stevan Ridley for a backfield job. Henderson needs a splashy return, but was once again conservative, fair-catching both punts and returning only one kickoff 27 yards. Since the undrafted rookie from Pitt isn’t going to block Pro Bowl linebackers bearing down on rookie quarterbacks any time soon, Henderson needs to flash the skills we all know he has.
UP
Jaylen Samuels — Because Samuels can also high-point passes and bring them down in the end zone with strong hands, a la Washington, the Steelers no doubt consider the fifth-round rookie a lock behind Bell and Conner at running back. Samuels solidified his value with a solid showing as a runner (9-38, 1-yard TD), receiver (3-13) and willing pass-blocker.
DOWN
Jordan Berry — No one’s really worried about the punter, but heading into his fourth season Berry should be more consistent than Thursday’s punts of 30, 58, 65, 28, 56 and 30 yards. Maybe he was working on direction, or another aspect guided by the coaching staff, but no coach guides any punter to a 31.8 net.
UP
Matthew Thomas — The undrafted rookie is the athletic inside player the Steelers need. While he’s still not ready for prime time, Thomas may have made the team by hustling down the field to tackle Jake Kumerow on the 83rd yard of his 82-yard touchdown catch and run. Thomas later ran stride for stride with a tight end on a third-and-10 deep pattern that was overthrown.
DOWN
Helmet Rule — Terrible call on Coty Sensabaugh on the nebulous new use-of-helmet penalty. Sensabaugh, though, got away with interference on a deep ball later in the half. Speaking of bad calls, the pass interference penalties on Jon Bostic and Brian Allen were wrong, even though both were in position to APPEAR to have interfered.
UP
Pharoah McKever — Undrafted rookie TE snared a 10-yard pass just shy of the pylon on a third-and-8 to set up Samuels’ short TD run. It made up for a lousy holding call on McKever during a third-and-1 conversion run by Samuels.
DOWN
Nat Berhe — Took a terrible angle on the aforementioned Kumerow touchdown play. Berhe was signed as a special-teams personal protector but is being pushed at safety by Malik Golden and Jordan Dangerfield. Can either of those two bark out calls for the punt team? It could develop into a problem for Danny Smith on special teams.