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Pre-season Game 3 Notes

August 27, 2004 by Steel Phantom

Pre-Season Game #3 Notes:

Pre-Season Game #3 Notes:

 

The Steeler starters got their last consequential pre-season action in Philly, squaring off for one half against the Eagle ones.� If last night�s game is any indication, it�s gonna be a very long year for Coach Lebeau�s group though, on the plus side, Coach Whisenhunt�s O-charges look to be good to go.� Defense first, so:

 

Evidently, Chad Scott has his own unique interpretation of the league�s emphasis on contact.� What else could explain that three times in the Eagles first six snaps, Scott gave Terrell Owens a free outside release?� IMO, the Steelers were in Cover 2 on two if not all three cases; in that coverage, the one thing a CB cannot do is allow a WR to gain outside advantage.� Scott didn�t so much allow that as he flat gave it up.��� Now, the results were not disastrous but only because the Eagles misfired.� In the first case, McNabb tried to throw through Scott, a little touch and that�s a TD.� In the 2nd case, McNabb and TO did hook-up for a score but a holding penalty (Thomas on Porter) erased that.� The third time, rather than going back to Owens, McNabb threw to Todd Pinkston, who had a step on Townsend in the EZ.� Fortunately, for the PS, Pinkston dropped the ball.

 

Just off Scott�s play, the Eagles should have scored on their first two possessions; instead, poor execution on their side limited the tally to one TD in two.� But pre-season is for evaluation and, no doubt comfortable with their supremacy in the WR v. CB match, the Eagles turned to their TE.� Check this:

 

  • McNabb was 8 of 19 for 109 yards in the first half.

 

  • �TE LJ Smith had 2 grabs for 31 yards, about half the total in the Eagles 2nd scoring drive (possession 4).

 

  • TE Chad Lewis had 1 for 25 yards as the Eagles closed out possession 5 on the Steelers 20.

 

Three passes to TE netted better than half of McNabb�s passing yards.� The victims?� Smith beat Farrior for 20, then hooked up between Foote and Hope for an 11 yard score.� On the next possession, Chad Lewis beat Farrior for 25.� The PS didn�t stop the Eagle TE and, really, they didn�t stop their WR either.� Not good.

 

Then there�s 3rd down:

 

  • The Steeler D did get two 3 and outs in 5 possessions.

 

  • On the Eagles 2nd possession, the Steeler D permitted two 3rd down conversions.� Those were: 3rd and 3 and 3rd and 16, both by pass.

 

  • On the Eagles 4th possession, the Steeler D permitted three 3rd down conversions.� Those were: 3rd and 10, 3rd and 10 and 3rd and 11, by penalty, by McNabb�s umpteenth scramble and by air (that being the TD to Smith).

 

  • On the Eagles 5th possession, the Steeler D permitted one 3rd down conversion.� That was: 3rd and 10; Reno Mahe went 33 yards on an inside handoff.

 

Shades of 2002, the 3rd and long package went a nifty zip for five.� Overall, the Steelers stuffed the Eagles on 3rd down twice in eight goes; that�s 25%, a rate which if doubled would still stink.�� In fairness, it should be acknowledged that the PS did get a 3rd and 10 stop (in possession 5) that was nullified by an Eagle hold.� Okay then, 3 for 9 or 33%, which, if doubled, would not stink.

 

Late in the first half, the PS flashed their 3-man package front on 3rd and long; quite obviously, that was ineffective.� Generally, the NT didn�t get off the line, the DE (OLB of course) didn�t get home and Lebeau�s mad blitzers (DB Logan and Taylor, ILB Foote) got to McNabb, but did not get him on the ground.� This set is susceptible to the run (as we�d expect of what is essentially a 1-4-6 personnel grouping); just to cite two instances: McNabb scrambled for 26 and Mahe took an inside handoff for 33.�� Overall, Mahe had 10 carries for 49 yards; that is, 9/16 against more conventional fronts.

 

In sum:

 

  • The starting CB did not man-up successfully.

 

  • Opposing TE ran wild.

 

  • The Steelers could not get off the field on 3rd down.

 

  • The package line got gouged on the run.

 

Though not mentioned above, when in Cover 2, the starting safeties did not get over.� It�s well known that in the WW2 war years, the Eagles and Steelers combined rosters, forming the Steagles.� Imagining New Millennium Steagles, over the War on Terror years, Brain Dawkins and Michael Lewis would be my starting safeties, with Polamalu and Hope backing up.�� So, what�s new?� Well:

 

  • Ike Taylor played 4 quarters and, generally, played well.� Owens whipped him on one comeback but at least Taylor seemed aware that TO was in the game.� That�s an upgrade from Scott.�

 

  • Zo Jackson showed some improvement.� Jackson had a nice stop, crashing down on Mahe early; Jackson got to McNabb once but didn�t close the deal.� Not great, not awful; considering the Steelers� absolute lack of outside rushers off the bench, IMO, Zo will make the team.

 

  • James Harrison was the Steelers� most active LB.� In the first half, Harrison had 2 stops on KO coverage; he had 2 stops and half a sack in Q3.�� Down at RDE in Q4, he got nothing done, as expected of a player under 6�-0�.� Still, Harrison is active and tough; IMO, he has the makings of a solid package defender, possible a back-up for Farrior at dime LB.��

 

  • Chris Hoke leads the pre-season Steelers with 1.5 sacks.� That can�t be good.

 

  • Dedrick Roper, phenom early in camp but bounced around some in game action, did have a sack and a T in scrub time.� Roper continues to show some good energy, seems to be head of Adibi.��

 

On the O-side:

 

After a nice PR by ARE, the Steelers opened on their own 41.� Two plays later, they faced 3rd and 26 from their own 25; this after Oliver Ross was whipped by Jevon Kearse for a sack and strip (recovered by the PS) and Jeff Hartings drew a 10-yard hold.� However, from there, the PS went 75 yards in 9 plays, a drive initiated when Maddox and Spike hooked up for 29.� Spike made a big-time play on the ball, getting over 5-10 CB Sheldon Brown before absorbing a blow from Philly S Michael Lewis.� After that, the PS ground it home rushing 8/35; Staley was featured in this with 7/33 including a 14 yard score.

 

Staley got just one touch in the 2nd possession; Bettis 5/16; this drive ground out when Maddox missed Hines Ward open in the right flat.� However, Reed did convert and Maddox went to the pine having directed two scoring drives in two possessions, 4/7 on the pre-season.�

 

Roethlisberger and Dante Brown were featured in the 3rd possession, this being Brown�s first action with, and against, starters.� The Steelers went 54 yards, though aided by a 25-yard PI penalty against Sheldon Brown.� Cousin Dante burrowed in from the one, extending his scoring streak to 3 straight and 5 in 7 pre-season tilts over two seasons.� It�s worth noting that, while Dante first got attention as a breakaway type, he did score from in close this week, and last; additionally, he and Verron Haynes were the only PS backs to break in during those Latrobe goal-line drills.�

 

Verron Haynes was the RB for possession 4, which flamed out on Barrett Brooks� hold.� Brooks has been penalized in each of the Steelers� 3 pre-season tilts.� There�s your #2 LT.� Otherwise:

 

  • The Steelers did run right some; considering only quality opposition, Staley�s first 2 carries were right, for 9 yards.�

 

  • In the 2nd half, Willie Parker ran left, right, pretty much wherever he wanted.� IMO, Parker looks to bounce out too often but he did demonstrate the ability to hit it up and burrow for some tough yards.� There is no way the PS can stash this player on their practice squad.�

 

  • Freddie Milons is a cut: coughed it up on one KO, short-armed a ball over the middle; whiffed on another pass resulting in a rebound INT.� Not good.�

 

  • For the 2nd week, Brian St. Pierre demonstrated that he has mastered all the skills required to hand-off and to kneel down.� That really wasn�t in doubt but why the PS braintrust didn�t give him a wider range now, in the evaluation period, is elusive.�

 

  • With 3 receptions, Matt Kranchick leads all Steeler TE; last night, Kranchick bailed Ben out, coming back to the QB, making a nice catch along the right sidelines.� Reportedly, Coach Whisenhunt has installed some multi-TE sets featuring one in standard set and one flexed out, in the slot or in a sort of H-back configuration.� An F-back in Steeler parlance, Kranchick looks to be the best candidate on the roster, including Jay Reimersma.���

 

Summary:

 

The Steeler offense moved the ball well but it is worth noting that these Eagle starters were not in action last night:� FS Brian Dawkins, DT Corey Simon and SOLB Dhani Jones.� Starting WOLB Nate Wayne went out early.� Excluding Kendall Simmons, the Steeler O was healthy; that is worth consideration in evaluating these results.

 

By the same token, the PS D played without Kendrell Bell and Clark Haggans; that is two of four starting LB and, presumably, 2 of the top 3-4 pass rushers in this set.� The Eagles sat Brian Westbrook, going with 3rd string RB Reno Mahe and 4th string RB Thomas Tapeh (also 2nd string FB).�� Again, worth consideration especially with respect to the Steelers� 3rd down woes.��

 

Dealing the Bus:�

 

A couple days ago, Ed Bouchette reported that the Miami Fins had made inquiries towards acquiring Jerome Bettis.� Per Bouchette, these were rebuffed; regardless, the story has been picked up elsewhere so these four:

 

Questions:

 

  1. T/F:� The Steelers cannot afford to deal Bettis because that would cost 3M against the 2004 cap.��

 

  1. T/F: �The Steelers can�t deal Bettis because he is their only viable short-yardage back.

 

  1. T/F:� To offset the hit they�d incur dealing Bettis, the Steelers would surely have to cut one or more starters.

 

  1. T/F:� Looking to the future, the Steelers will make this deal hoping that 1 of 3 young RB will pan out..

 

Answers:

 

  1. False.� It is true that all 3M remaining from Bettis� 2001 6M SB would be charged this season; however, that would be partially offset by eliminating his current cap charge.� That�s 2M; 1M salary and 1M pro-rated bonus.� Trading Bettis, the PS would take a net hit of 1M; on the plus side, they�d clear their books for 2005.���

 

  1. False.� The PS has scored 7 RZ TD in the past two games; they haven�t been held out since Duce spit it up in the opening possession at Detroit. If you believe pre-season games have any evaluative merit then the fact that Duce, Haynes and Parker have 1 RZ TD each and Brown has 2, compels the belief that the Steelers can ram it home, with or without the Bus.�

 

  1. False.� They could cut Jay Reimersma, who is #2 behind Tuman at TE.� That�s a clear of about 1.150M.� Presumably, Matt Kranchick would be #3 overall though possibly #2 at that F-back spot.� Both Tuman and Cushing are better blockers than Kranchick but they�re better than Reimersma too.� That is, the Steelers are paying decent vet coin to a pass-catching TE, a position they don�t employ.� If the Steelers cut, say, Clint Kriewaldt (retaining James Harrison as an ILB/package LB/ST monster), then they�d clear about 630K.� Dicier, if the Steelers cut Mike Logan (retaining Battles and Stuivants as #3 and #4 S), then they�d clear about 530K.�

 

  1. False:� Pittsburghers do not retire to Florida.� They remain, scuttling over the nub of the Appalachians, as will the Bus.� Dealing Bettis would be a PR disaster; it�s not ever going to happen (but then I said that about Roethlisberger too...)���

 

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