Steelers vs. Vikings Game Thread (Hall of Fame Game)

6 stats that stood out vs. Vikings

Teresa Varley
Steelers.com

A look at some stats that standout from the Steelers 14-3 loss to the Vikings.

Six stats of interest from the Steelers 14-3 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game:

1. Quarterback Landry Jones played the entire game, finishing with 16 completions on 32 attempts (50%) for 135 yards.

2. Dri Archer led the Steelers in rushing with four carries for 24 yards, including a 15-yard run. Cam Stingily had 11 carries for 18 yards before leaving the game injured.

3. Archer also had six receptions for 33 yards, a long of 14 yards. Shakim Phillips had two receptions for 43 yards.

4. Linebacker Ryan Shazier led the Steelers in tackles with five, while Antwon Blake had four tackles on his birthday.

5. The Steelers had nine first downs in the game, five passing, two rushing and two as a result of penalty.

6. Red zone is an area the Steelers have focused on improving in, but were 0-2 inside the 20-yard line against the Vikings.

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/6-stats-that-stood-out-vs-Vikings/314983bc-5b7d-4ed5-928e-bd99b7d0d576

Well after that showing by Landry, that should free up a roster spot for someone that 'actually' can serve a purpose.
But no doubt they'll still keep him as the 3rd qb.

I think Landry did a decent job last night. He wasn't overly impressive, but the WRs dropped a few balls too.

The young defensive guys showed some moments of brilliance and it's hard to tell if the defense was scaled back so as not to reveal everything, was it part of the first game jitters, or a combination of both?

SteelersNorth wrote:

Well after that showing by Landry, that should free up a roster spot for someone that 'actually' can serve a purpose.
But no doubt they'll still keep him as the 3rd qb.

I thought he actually played well. I counted 4 missed TD passes due to poor play by the receivers.

1. Coats cut his route short right at the goal line when he was wide open. Jones threw the ball deeper into the endzone. If you watch the replay, Jones throws the ball just as Coats beats his guy and the ball is placed in the endzone where Coats would have been had he kept running. It's a rookie mistake to just stop running because you're open ... he needs to look for the ball and keep going.
   
2. During the series with the 1st and goal, Jones threw a really nice back shoulder pass to Coats (it was even better because Jones wasn't expecting the snap and still made a good throw). Coats got a good hand on the ball, but didn't haul it in. For the NFL, the receiver needs to make that catch.
   
3. The next play Jones throws a pass to (I think) Gardner. Thought it was a great pass and appeared to be within his grasp, but Gardner doesn't come down with it.
   
4. Then there was that Jesse James pass. That totally was not Jones' fault as the pass was right on the mark and James was thinking about getting hit (at least that's what it looked like). Goodwin was open on that play in the back of the endzone, but James was the hot read and was the correct throw for Jones.
   

What I liked about all those throws is that they were all accurate and only where his receivers could catch the ball. There was no opportunity for the defense to pick the ball on those plays.

kirklandrules wrote:

SteelersNorth wrote:

Well after that showing by Landry, that should free up a roster spot for someone that 'actually' can serve a purpose.
But no doubt they'll still keep him as the 3rd qb.

I thought he actually played well. I counted 4 missed TD passes due to poor play by the receivers.

1. Coats cut his route short right at the goal line when he was wide open. Jones threw the ball deeper into the endzone. If you watch the replay, Jones throws the ball just as Coats beats his guy and the ball is placed in the endzone where Coats would have been had he kept running. It's a rookie mistake to just stop running because you're open ... he needs to look for the ball and keep going.
   
2. During the series with the 1st and goal, Jones threw a really nice back shoulder pass to Coats (it was even better because Jones wasn't expecting the snap and still made a good throw). Coats got a good hand on the ball, but didn't haul it in. For the NFL, the receiver needs to make that catch.
   
3. The next play Jones throws a pass to (I think) Gardner. Thought it was a great pass and appeared to be within his grasp, but Gardner doesn't come down with it.
   
4. Then there was that Jesse James pass. That totally was not Jones' fault as the pass was right on the mark and James was thinking about getting hit (at least that's what it looked like). Goodwin was open on that play in the back of the endzone, but James was the hot read and was the correct throw for Jones.
   

What I liked about all those throws is that they were all accurate and only where his receivers could catch the ball. There was no opportunity for the defense to pick the ball on those plays.

I agree. I rewatched those plays as well and Coates could have kept running his pattern on play 1 you reference. Play 3 Gardner showed why he wont make the 53. That pass was right on his hands. James......what can you say.

There was also a 3rd and long that he threw to Gardner in the end zone while under pressure from a blitzer up the middle. I think that was one of 3 plays I saw where Dri Archer could not, or would not step up and take on the blitzer. That kid is a Matador as a RB in pass protection.

this thread was missing all the angst, outrage, cursing, calling for coaches heads, doomsday news for the season of failure, redundant doom and gloom, threats to other members, ripping moderators, and bans that i had become so accustomed to at steelersfever.

while not quite as entertaining as the mayhem of sadnes, anger, despair and maniacal venting, the rational out takes is very interesting to see.

kirklandrules wrote:

SteelersNorth wrote:

Well after that showing by Landry, that should free up a roster spot for someone that 'actually' can serve a purpose.
But no doubt they'll still keep him as the 3rd qb.

I thought he actually played well. I counted 4 missed TD passes due to poor play by the receivers.

1. Coats cut his route short right at the goal line when he was wide open. Jones threw the ball deeper into the endzone. If you watch the replay, Jones throws the ball just as Coats beats his guy and the ball is placed in the endzone where Coats would have been had he kept running. It's a rookie mistake to just stop running because you're open ... he needs to look for the ball and keep going.
   
2. During the series with the 1st and goal, Jones threw a really nice back shoulder pass to Coats (it was even better because Jones wasn't expecting the snap and still made a good throw). Coats got a good hand on the ball, but didn't haul it in. For the NFL, the receiver needs to make that catch.
   
3. The next play Jones throws a pass to (I think) Gardner. Thought it was a great pass and appeared to be within his grasp, but Gardner doesn't come down with it.
   
4. Then there was that Jesse James pass. That totally was not Jones' fault as the pass was right on the mark and James was thinking about getting hit (at least that's what it looked like). Goodwin was open on that play in the back of the endzone, but James was the hot read and was the correct throw for Jones.
   

What I liked about all those throws is that they were all accurate and only where his receivers could catch the ball. There was no opportunity for the defense to pick the ball on those plays.

Spot on. I thought Jones played really well in the first half, but he struggled in the second. So I'll give him a C for his final grade. That's an improvement over the solid Fs he was getting the past two years.

stlrtruck wrote:

The young defensive guys showed some moments of brilliance and it's hard to tell if the defense was scaled back so as not to reveal everything, was it part of the first game jitters, or a combination of both?

I'm just glad it's the first of five preseason games. I really thought the defense was lacking. There just was very little push up front and the OLBs weren't anywhere near the Vikings QBs. I agree that they were running a vanilla scheme, but you'd expect the Steelers to have been more physical up front. Am I worried? No, it's still preseason, but I was expecting to see a few plays where the pocket was collapsed.

Agreed the 1st half wasn't bad.
I wasn't as thorough as a few of you here but yes the back shoulder fade was a nice pass; and the James one hit him square in the numbers/right in the hands. Not much more Jones could do other than to hand it to him.

But anyway my overall point from my first comment is that would anyone (since I didn't say it lol) cut Gradkowski in favor of Jones? and in saying that does anyone think keeping him as a 3rd qb is a wasted roster spot?

I'm a no and yes

I've seen enough. After week one sign Mike Vick so his contract is not guaranteed and place Landry Jones on the practice squad if eligible.

tony hipchest wrote:

I've seen enough. After week one sign Mike Vick so his contract is not guaranteed and place Landry Jones on the practice squad if eligible.

I don't see the point in getting a 2nd qb who could create some locker room problems. I understand that Vick is a better qb than Gradkowski/Jones and that he could win some games if something would happen to Ben but he's not going to win the SB for us in that case. If Ben would go down the Steelers season is over just like with any other team that has an elite qb.

Vick showed his lack of professionalism last season with the Jets when he needed to replace Geno Smith and wasn't prepared at all for the game. Then I rather take the risk having a poor qb with a good mentality than having a decent one who might have a bad influence.