Steelers vs Bears - REPORT CARD

A Career Day for Antonio Brown Wasn't Enough
To Save the Steelers from Another Loss...

I am a teacher, so it just seems natural that without the time to do my normal full recap and thoughts on the Bears game (since I was there and had to travel back I'm late anyways), I figured I'd steal a page from my lesson plan book and grade each position against the Bears...this could be ugly.

- QUARTERBACK - Ben Roethlisberger doesn't have much time.  That becomes even more blatantly obvious when you see a game in person.  However, when he does have time, he has been off.  Plain and simple, he missed a couple big throws in the game that could have been difference makers.  A deep ball to Emmanuel Sanders that had beaten his man and was overthrown, and another crossing route to Antonio Brown that could have gone for a score but was thrown behind him.  Oh, and he turned the ball over 4 times.   
GRADE - D -

- WIDE RECEIVERS - Antonio Brown was the saving grace for this group.  There weren't many drops (except a big 3rd down conversion through the hands of rookie Markus Wheaton), but there also weren't many plays to be made.  When they were made, it seemed they were all by #84.  Alot of the failures of this group are due to the horrendous offensive line not giving Ben enough time to complete plays, as well as Ben being "off" the past 3 games.  
GRADE - B -

- RUNNING BACKS - Well, the Steelers rushed for the highest total of the season, but a Felix Jones fumble, and an Isaac Redman missed blocking assignment turned to be huge momentum killers for the Steelers.  Again, alot like the Wide Receivers, the success of the running game depends on the strength of the offensive line, and that isn't very good.   
GRADE - D

- O-LINE - Whether it was rotating tackles, the constant pressure on Ben, or the non existant running game, this offensive line has been downright horrendous.  Nothing here to say except...they stink.  
GRADE - F

- D-LINE - What might be more troubling for the Steelers isn't the OLine, but the Defensive Line and how they are being run on.  Matt Forte broke a big run against the vaunted defense, and those 3rd and 2s that used to be like running into a wall are becoming "gimmes" for the opposing offense.  Not a good sign for a team that thrives on stopping the run and making the oppostition one dimensional.   
GRADE - D

- LINEBACKERS - The Linebackers had a decent game, but again, there were ZERO splash plays.  Lamarr Woodley got a sack, but besides that there wasn't much good news coming from this group.  Larry Foote's leadership is missed, but the production on the field has not sunk any since he left.  The young linebackers are filling in nicely, and although not making splash plays...not many people on the defensive side of the ball are.  Lawrence Timmons is starting to heat up, and Lamarr Woodley's team high 2 sacks still is shocking after 3 games...shockingly bad.  
GRADE - C

- DEFENSIVE BACKS - Alot of Steelers fans were really upset at the beginning of the game when the Bears marched down the field taking what the defense gave them, which was simple underneath routes.  However, I thought the defensive backs played a pretty solid game against a decent passing attack.  They limited the big plays (except for 2) and were good in run stopping as well.  A few gaffes left them vulnerable, but all in all I thought it was a solid performance with a starting corner back out of the game.  
GRADE - B

- SPECIAL TEAMS - Special teams coverage units did a nice job keeping Devin Hester in check, but the punter, Zoltan Moskos, had a horrible game.  Brought in for his big leg and directional punting style, Moskos has had an average season at best for the Black and Gold.  Shaun Suisham made every opportunity that he was given, and showed great control in the kickoff game.  In the preseason this part of the team was a weakness, but the coverage units are slowly becoming a strength.   
GRADE - B

- COACHING - Sure, maybe falling behind dictated the play calling a bit, but for the most part I didn't have a huge issue with the play calling in the game against Chicago.  There was only one play (a WR Screen) that was taken down for a 2 yard loss that I had an issue with.  Other than that, the players didn't make the plays on some of the underneath and crossing routes that killed drives, and thats not on Todd Haley.  The defense still doesn't seem to be throwing the kitchen sink at any teams yet, and I wonder why.  Except for Larry Foote, the defense is relatively healthy.  I hope Lebeau decides to take the kid gloves off some of these players and lets them get after the QB and make some plays.  Mike Tomlin has yet to be faced with many in game decisions that are controversial, but his clock management surely comes into play more often than it doesn't.  The coaches need to get things right with themselves before this team can take the next step.
GRADE - B-