Skins vs. Steelers Positives and Negatives

When I saw that Schneed had posted in this thread, I was looking forward to reading an epic rant as only he can produce. I'm so disappointed.

Nevertheless, I think his points are valid - especially those related to coaching. There's little doubt that our coaching needs to improve going forward.

- But I'm very concerned that the Steelers respected our running game so little that they chose to drop 7 or 8 into zone. Our coaches need to get the running game figured out. They have Trent and Scherff, two extremely high picks there. And it's not like Moses and Lauvao are devoid of capability. I put the poor running performance on coaching more than I do on personnel and it needs to get better.

I also don't get why we didn't adjust to this and start using screens or short passes in order to keep the chains moving. The middle of the field was wide open all night, but Cousins/Gruden kept insisting on trying to throw it deep.

I've seen a number of teams turn their running game into screens and short passes, when the actual running game doesn't work.

I feel like the Steelers just put up a coverage wall on deep passes, yet our team throwing into this coverage over and over without any success.

Venting is needed and natural but I'm going to focus on the things that make for go-forward concerns as opposed to situational things:

- I'm concerned about the coaching capabilities of our defensive coaching staff. I keep hearing it's "easier said than done" to match your best CB up with the best WR, and it causes communication issues, etc. Well other teams can do it, why can't we? We can't figure that out?

- 'Steiger is physically overmatched. That's not news, but it's also not going to get better.

- I'm actually not concerned with Breeland. On the first TD to Brown he was in position to not only cover, but make the pick. He just missed it. The fact that he hung with Brown there was a good thing because he'll at least knock that ball away 9 times out of 10. That was just the 1 out of 10 last night.

- I am actually quite concerned that DeAngelo Hall couldn't get over the top for the help on Brown on that same play. He was in the deep middle but reacted a step late to the deep ball to Brown. He didn't get there in time. He looks pretty good in run support but we are still limited at free safety from the center-fielder perspective.

- Cousins was nervous as shit in the beginning of the game. That's the one intangible piece about him that gives me pause. Everything else is good, the preparation, the intelligence, the toughness. But he exhibited a lot of jumpiness and anxiety in the first quarter, and he missed several throws because of it. He settled in, and he needs to settle in faster going forward.

- We don't appear to have gotten better at running the ball or defending the run. Our personnel is the same pretty much, which makes you scratch your head at McCloughan. But it also makes me concerned about our coaching staff on both sides of the ball. If they can't coach up any improvement then WTF?

- Weapons are great. DJax had a game. Reed was reliable. Garcon was reliable. Crowder was reliable. No news there.

- But I'm very concerned that the Steelers respected our running game so little that they chose to drop 7 or 8 into zone. Our coaches need to get the running game figured out. They have Trent and Scherff, two extremely high picks there. And it's not like Moses and Lauvao are devoid of capability. I put the poor running performance on coaching more than I do on personnel and it needs to get better.

Well written.

A lot of last night was straight coaching or lack of.

Breeland got smoked, did he make any plays at all on Brown?

Corners get beat, it happens, especially against the best in the biz. But Breeland had a flat out bad game.

He started out playing well, and was actually in good position on that first TD to Brown. That should have been intercepted but the ball went right through his hands. I think that got in his head and yes, the rest of the game he was smoked again and again.

hopefully the lose will focus the group

The Steelers are the better team, but that had nothing to do with Cousins missing a bunny to Crowder that would have given us a 1st and goal, or the awful interception he threw when other guys were open, or throwing the ball out of bounds when he could have skipped for a first down, etc.

Also doesn't explain the penalties, or Kerrigan not falling on the ball. We shot ourselves in the foot in the 1st quarter then pooped our pants quarters 2-4.

Things that will be a concern all year is stopping the run and rushing the passer. At this point its clear that Kerrigan is just an above average player, he'll never be elite, and our D-line is extremely devoid of talent. No push on the pass rush and no stopping the run. Our MLBs aren't much to write home about either. I'd like to see Spaight get some minutes.

Cousins really needs to get it together vs good teams, its becoming extremely worrisome.

And above all else, we need a new center, that was embarrassing last night.

Positives:
no injuries
loss to AFC team - not NFC
WRs and TEs came to play
1st quarter defense
kicking game
turnovers


Negatives:
penalties
running game
run defense
Kirk (had some decent throws but was off most of the night)
2nd,3rd,4th quarter defense (shows that they adjusted and we had no answer for it)
Breeland Island
short week
turnovers

When I saw that Schneed had posted in this thread, I was looking forward to reading an epic rant as only he can produce. I'm so disappointed.

Nevertheless, I think his points are valid - especially those related to coaching. There's little doubt that our coaching needs to improve going forward.

My reputation precedes me. I think if we find ourselves at the midpoint of the season looking up at other teams in the NFC East, then I'll go apeshit. Right now though I'm staying with the long view.

The Steelers outclassed us but it's one game, and it's a matchup driven league. I like how we match up against the Cowboys, now it's time to deliver.

My reputation precedes me. I think if we find ourselves at the midpoint of the season looking up at other teams in the NFC East, then I'll go apeshit. Right now though I'm staying with the long view.

The Steelers outclassed us but it's one game, and it's a matchup driven league. I like how we match up against the Cowboys, now it's time to deliver.



Still think this team is going 11-5? :laughing-

Redskins re-signing defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins (http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescription/tabid/61/EntryId/58584/Redskins-re-signing-defensive-lineman-Cullen-Jenkins/Default.aspx)