Week 17...Browns

[Cali Steel]

 

[Cali Steel]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Stairway to 7!!!!

 

[Cali Steel]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Steelers be like:

 

[MISKO]

wooo hooo we are in the playoffs ... the Not Yet jets just aint ready

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

wooo hooo we are in the playoffs ... the Not Yet jets just aint ready

Jets gonna Jets... And Browns gonna Browns

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[Cali Steel]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I think its time for a hearty recap... While I finish this six pack

Coaching... Hot damn this one looked scary early on, but I'll take a drink off the ol' IC Light here just for them! Tomlin played rather conservative early on but then put his foot on the pedal later in the game. Credit to Tomlin for keepin the troop on point, as well as being prepared. Haley deployed a more rounded offense that tried to get the ground game going, but sadly we lost another RB (more on that later) so that changed the scheme. Glad he still made an effort to stick with the ground game. The O went 75% in the RZ, so that's a success in my book. Butler got cute with his cover 3 again, and it was about as successful as Limas Sweed's career in Pittsburgh. He made the switch to cover 2, and once again it improved the defense immensely. Why they keep trying to run the cover 3 is baffling. But it doesn't help that one of the only weaknesses to their cover 3 has been one player in particular, Antwon Blake. Maybe if hell freezes over we might see Boykin in cover 3, or anyone else other than Blake. B+

O... First thing, we gotta talk about the huge blow that came in the form of an ankle injury to D-Will. Keep all of your fingers & toes crossed that it is nothing more than a mild sprain, and that he'll be ready to go next weekend. He is an integral part to making this offense click. Without him, its 2014 postseason all over again. O-line played well. The INT's were on Ben, once again. It seems like he's trying too hard to force plays. But it also doesn't help that one of his weapons has a case of the dropsies so there might be a lack of confidence brewing. Martavis once again proved that he is nothing more than a raw talent. If they can get the ball in his hands then he makes an immediate impact, but the problem is getting it in those greasy mitts. Glad Tomlin went with DHB in the 2nd half, because until Marty B can get his confidence back he has no business being out there. He's nothing more than a decoy if he can't catch. Hate to pull this card, but I also wonder if Ben's illness this week played any part on his early blunders. Thank god the D created good opportunities for this group or this could have gone the other way. C+

D... For as much shit as we give Blake, he actually didn't play all that terrible today. Yes he gave up big plays to a recently converted backup WR (Pryor), but he had a huge sack and a pass defensed to start the game. Sort of pointless to point that out, because its like trying to convince someone that my shit doesn't stink. It does. But moving on... The pass rush was solid, as evidence by the whopping 7 sacks! Love seein the DBs getting in that mix too, Allen & Blake. As a direct result from that front 7 pressure we saw the re-emergence of the run defense. Also glad to see the D creating turnovers again. Highlighted by a rare Deebo INT and Mr Law Dog layin the wood on a sack fumble! Boykin showed some tenacity today. Got a FF, couple passes defensed & he fought through blockers to compile 4 solo tackles. This unit was faced with some difficult situations in this game, and they rose to the occasion. Pitched a TD shutout. They need to play like this more often. B+

ST... Rare day for this group. Only a few botched moments, but overall solid output. The FF from Chickillo was huge. The Berry punt that pinned them on the 2 was even bigger, but sadly the swiss cheese secondary allowed them out of that hole. The Wizard of Boz missed 1 FG, but came through twice. Largely the coverage seems to have improved. Glad to see Ventrone back in the fold. He's a solid STer. Not sure if I remember any other negative points, but that could be the beer kickin in. A-

Overall... Not the sexiest of outputs, but they got the job done and it will serve as a solid platform to build back up from. Simply put they need to get better consistency from all 3 phases. If they can ride the momentum from this feeling today then the Bungals are going to have their hands full next weekend. B+

Outlook... On to Cincy and what will be a much heated 3rd matchup between these bitter rivals. I cannot wait to see the fireworks!! It's going to be nasty. But hopefully Burfict doesn't target Ben's legs again. And hopefully the team can get back on track to being a "hot team". It's all about peaking at the right time, and they showed a really good glimpse of that in weeks 14 & 15. The defense will need to step up like they did today. I'll be hoping that Deebo opens a vintage can of whoop-ass in Cincy. And please, for the love of God, run the Cover 2 more.

As always... Hold on... Let me finish this last IC Light...

Go Stillllllllers

 

[3riverbabe]

The stars aligned & the football gods smiled upon us. Bring on the Bungholes!

May their streak of playoff games losses continue!

 

[ATL96Steeler]

We got the Jet/Bills game ironically...following the PIT game online at the same time.

Given that @FaCe-LeE-uS has done such a great job again grading this one out I'll just add a couple of tidbits.

Bills Jets...hats off to the Bills and thank you!...Tyrod Taylor kept coming thru on 3rd down late in the 4th to keep the clock moving and possession...tough weather day...when the Jets finally did get the ball back it was like 44 secs left, their TOs were zapped and it was pretty much miracle needed but another Fitz pick closed it out allowing our Steelers to sneek into the playoffs.

Browns...fortunately they were playing a team that was fairly transparent they were firing their HC & GM after the game and played it with the 3rd or 4th option @ QB...so many RZ trips with FGs...even though it was close for a while, I never got the sense the Browns could score a TD...but generally speaking I would say lower grades on the D and O....maybe c- for the OFC...and b- for DEF.

OFC...Haley has to figure out a way to get some balance...with or w/o DWill...Ben's pick count is rising and one could say that's been the biggest contributor to nearly every loss this season.

MB...has to find his game/confidence, whatever, they're not going to win in the playoffs if he's not a factor imo.

DEF...again, they got lucky facing a QB with little experience...McCarron or certainly Dalton will deliver better results if they get that many RZ shots.

Now that they're back at the dance...what will they do in CIN in the rematch? I don't expect Dalton to play, if he does, he will be limited...sucks for CIN, but McCarron has been winning games....on the flip DWill will be iffy at best...hi ankle is 3 weeks they say and we've seen with Ben. If it's not hi and mild, he might play, but still won't be his best game.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I have a feeling that if D-Will is a no-go next weekend that Cincy is going to use Baltimore's week 16 defensive scheme against us. Keep the 2 safeties deep and force PIT to run.

Like you said... Haley has to figure out a way to balance it out. I'd expect to see a timeshare between Toissant (sp?) & Todman if D-Will can't go.

 

[Psych-Ward]

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I have a feeling that if D-Will is a no-go next weekend that Cincy is going to use Baltimore's week 16 defensive scheme against us. Keep the 2 safeties deep and force PIT to run.

Like you said... Haley has to figure out a way to balance it out. I'd expect to see a timeshare between Toissant (sp?) & Todman if D-Will can't go.

Yep...then Haley should have an answer for it this week....Ben has fallen in love with the deep ball lately so maybe that will force him to go underneath more. Whatever game plan he comes up with, he has to force the CIN DL to respect the run...even if it doesn't get many yards.

As in most games, the trench battle will go a long way towards deciding a winner, but I do like Gilbert vs Dunlap...Wallace will again need help inside, so AVill has to hold up again. On DEF, the front 7 has to play well and get hits on the QB, get him moving off his spot.

 

[MISKO]