Protection kinda sucked first series. Not in the way it usually does, by giving up vs. pass rush moves but by letting free blitzers come home. Seems like they aren’t good against the disguised blitzes. Coaching issue.

First series on defense and it seems the Rams have identified our weakness against the run, Larry O is just getting pushed, 2nd run play is embarrassing for him
-Coming back to this a little later, he is REALLY bad in this game. Worst I’ve seen him all year against the run…He does improve and make a few nice plays later. Must have got yelled at.

Our Linebackers are not great at crossing the face of blockers (talking Holcomb and Alexander)

Rams did an amazing job of neutralizing Watt on the pass rush with chip blocks (it’s what every team has done) I do feel like the Steelers might be better off trying to move him around or generating pressure based on him taking that chip block every play
-for example, you can have TJ take the chip and just bury the guy in the dirt (man cover that dude basically freeing up someone else), can overload the other side since the tackle will be looking at him.
-Or simply just have TJ move alignment before the snap to rush anywhere else
-I’d like to see if he could ghost technique a guard. Line up him and Herbig on one side and let them both try ghost outside moves over the tackle and guard. Have a 1 tech and LB distract the center and guard the other way
(I will say TJ did switch spots a couple plays this game, but he still got chipped lol)

2nd series on offense, first run play has pulling blockers…nice. Got a good gain (as Najee fumbled it lol) But this is exactly what they needed to run last game when they tried to use zone blocking too often.

I will say the run came from a compressed form right away but they didn’t do as much of this like they had in previous weeks. Canada’s getting better folks. AND this run came from shotgun compressed instead of always under center compressed like we’ve seen and complained about before.

2nd run is an under center zone run…no gain. COME ON.

Najee needs to get tutelage from Le’Veon Bell, he gets too happy and bounces outside. Brutal one from this second series. Learn to hesitate if you must and stick the head forward, bouncing is for Barry Sanders, you are not Barry Sanders.
-Or, just run full speed at the line and let God sort out the rest. You’re a power back, act like it.

I know we know this but it bears repeating, Kwon Alexander is bad against the run. I know Elandon Roberts is the dude for that but I feel like Elandon against the run is a bigger upgrade that I’ll take his loss of pass just to get that thumper on the field. The Rams are bullying the inside of the Steelers defense early.

The Steelers are playing a lot of man coverage against these Rams compressed sets. Any Madden player can tell you that compression and bunch are man killers with the rubs and releases you can get out of them. Surprised Steelers came to this game with that as their scheme vs. a more zone or match based scheme since match is how a lot of teams combat the tightness.

The Evolution of Matt Canada
1st play of the series after a Rams punt
Tight set, under center…oh crap here comes the run again
But wait
It’s a playaction
Rollout, perfection
Diontae on the comeback, gets a yard of separation
Kenny throws the ball a yard off, incompletion
Good play call though
I’m here for it

(they used a similar play action rollout later to great success)

It is amazing watching a great interior vs. a great edge. Rams had really bad edges and therefore we didn’t hear much about our tackles being bad but watching Donald make Seumalo look terrible is interesting.
Like Mason Cole we know is bad and he puts it on film every week. But Seumalo up to this game was doing fine (after the SF game)
But seeing a generational DT, even an undersized one blow him up and back is kinda crazy vs. what we had seen before this.

I will say our interior did play decent enough against Donald, he dominated the blockers at times but overall didn’t take over the game like he has in the past.

The theory of the Steelers offensive line right now (b/c for some reason we aren’t playing Broderick Jones) goes like this: They are completely average to below average with below average coaching as evidenced by blitz pickups. When they face average to below average talent they look fine. When they face anyone good they look terrible.
There isn’t a rock as you call it. Like SF has a below average o-line but they have a rock (when he’s back healthy) and that’s a lot easier to scheme with than no rocks.

Steelers scramble drill against man coverage is well below average, these dudes need to get that dawg in them. On scrambles it looks like only Kenny and the defense are running hard.

I feel like I make this note every week but I will keep doing it until Benton gets more playing time. He is sooooo good right now. And for some reason he only played 28% of the snaps.
-I feel like when Cam Heyward comes back it should be Benton and him as one DT pairing then keep Adams and Larry O together. That’ll be a solid rotation. If they cut back on Benton’s reps when Heyward is back I will be very disappointed.

Almost had the full Wisconsin d-line on Herbig’s first career sack. Just need to have that bum Loudermilk out there for a play with Watt, Herbig and Benton to get the full line.

Levi Wallace…Please play someone else Tomlin.

Larry O and Adams, our main interior d-linemen. I am so conflicted watching them. At times they make such nice plays and then they look like they don’t belong at DT at others, getting pushed back and separated from the line of scrimmage.

I think one of Kenny’s problems is his looking off from his reads too quick and checking down. Some guys he looks away right as they’re about to come open. He needs better anticipation, a problem I’ve seen a few times this year. I think it’ll improve with time and with an O-line he trusts. He started this year under fire from the 49ers and Browns that it makes sense he thinks he’s about to get hit every rep back there in the pocket.

It almost feels like Pickett doesn’t trust the windows in the middle of the field sometimes. There will be guys open that it looks like he’s looking at but he doesn’t throw it. Other times he does bullet it in there. Again, this might get better with experience.

Steelers offensive line looked a lot better at the end of the game with pass pro and run lanes. Strangely enough they started pulling more players and down blocking…huh some blog out there recommended they do that more in the previous few weeks. Glad the Steelers can self scout cause ain’t no one reading this…I can say whatever I want! weiner!