That...Just...Happened - Steelers - 13 / Redskins - 24

Ben's Face About Sums Up the Steelers Performance

Last night, the Pittsburgh Steelers laid an egg (again) in front of a national audience...this time it wasn't the NFL Network.  No, this time it was on ESPN's Monday Night Football.  Its time that I started my weekly recaps of what I thought in terms of the game that was, and possibly what should have been.  This could get out of hand if fans take these preseason games as if they were regular season games (plenty of those on Twitter last night), but I'll try to put my "perspective" glasses on and keep everyone focused.  Here goes nothing...

- SteelerNation...Just Breathe - This team is new in a lot of different ways, and alot of young players being inserted in positions that are typically foreign for rookies.  OLB, RB, WR...just to name a few.  With that comes growing pains.  You can't expect Jarvis Jones to walk onto the field and be James Harrison.  You can't expect Le'Veon Bell to suit up and be the next dominating RB for the Steelers (if he could ever get on the field and stay there).  There will be mental mistakes, and that can include 2nd year players as well.  David DeCastro and Mike Adams both had their growing pains last night, but hopefully they get that out of their system before the regular season...although if Mike Adams gets called for another "illegal formation" penalty I might just break my foot off in his hind quarters.

- Injuries and more Injuries - There was a laundry list of bumps and bruises, and no unit got injured worse than the backfield.  Lets see...Le'Veon Bell (Sprained Foot), Isaac Redman (Stinger - Did not Dress), LaRod Stephens-Howling (Did not Dress), Will Johnson (Rib Injury), and Baron Batch (Stinger).  That not enough for you?  Well, these injuries have a silver lining if you ask me.  First, although we don't know the severity of Bell's foot sprain, most injuries will heal quickly and most players won't miss any regular season time.  If they miss preseason games...who cares.  I realize you'd like to see Le'Veon Bell get some reps before the games count, but the man knows how to play football.  Besides the RBs, the Steelers (knock on wood) remained fairly healthy. 

- Offensive Line...YIKES - That is the nicest way I could put what I saw from the first team OLine.  All the buzz around the "zone blocking" scheme turned to "I can't watch this...Ben's gonna die!"  The Steelers starters surrendered 2 sacks, and almost a 3rd if it were anyone besides Ben Roethlisberger with the ball in his hands.  I thought the line did a pretty decent job in run blocking....Dwyer racked up 68 yds on 14 carries (4.9 yds/carry).  Not too shabby to be honest.  I have been hard on Dwyer and he showed some speed, quickness, and agility I have never seen from #27.  He looks as if he can carry the load if called upon...as long as he can hold onto the damn football.  As "Decent" as the OLine was in run blocking, they were just as horrendous in pass blocking.  Gilbert got abused be Kerrigan, Pouncey looked like a rookie and not a 3 time Pro Bowler, and every lineman except Ramon Foster attributed to at least one penalty.  Not a good night for that unit.  Lets just burn this footage after the players evaluate themselves (just like the spy-gate film) and NEVER WATCH IT AGAIN.

- Turnovers Good, and Turnovers Bad - Everyone last season (myself included) was clamoring for more turnovers.  Well, the Steelers defense provided some turnovers for the offense.  Jarvis Jones created a splash play by causing a fumble, a DB actually caught an INT (and a hell of a catch if you haven't seen it), and when all was said and done the Steelers had caused 4 turnovers.  That is GOOD!!  Now the bad.  The Steelers not only turned it over 3 times, but those turnovers led to points.  Ben Roethlisberger played "pepper" with Kerrigan and Kerrigan took the ball the distance for a Redskins TD.  Jonathan Dwyer forgot that he was supposed to hold onto the football and fumbled, and Marcus Gilbert got victimized by...surprise surprise...Kerrigan and caused Gradkowski to lose the ball.  The defense is doing their job...now if the offense can actually not give it right back and turn those turnovers into points...a man can dream right??

- EVERY STEELER FAN READ THIS - Everyone was griping about the offense, and rightfully so, they've looked horrible in the first 2 games.  However, I want everyone to think back to last preseason.  New OC, Todd Haley, was talking about how he wants to use the Tight End more and more this year.  In the preseason Heath Miller caught how many passes?  I believe, one.  One pass.  The local media was constantly ripping Haley for saying he would use the TE more and wasn't demonstrating it in the preseason.  What happened in the regular season?  Heath Miller had a career year in only 16 games.  What I'm trying to say is this...it IS just the preseason and although there is cause for concern, there is no need to go jumping off a bridge just yet.  Wait till the games start to matter and the "real" proverbial bullets start to fly...then criticize till your little hearts can't take it anymore!  In the meantime...just take everything with a grain of salt and pray for no key injuries...

...Now can the Steelers PLEASE put together a performance on Saturday against the KC Chiefs so I don't have to field a million questions from family, friends, colleagues, tweeps, FB friends, and others about why the Steelers suck in games that don't count?  Yeah...that'd be great guys.  Please take care of that.