Gameballs and Goats Steelers @ Browns 10/31

GAMEBALLS:

Ben Roethlisberger - Did a good job getting the ball out quickly in the face of an elite Browns pass rush. Myles Garrett was absolutely embarrassing Dan Moore, and if it wasn't for Ben getting the ball out quickly and decisively, more of Garrett's rushes would've gotten home. Ben isn't lighting up the stat sheet, but he's managing the games fairly well and he helped put us in positions to succeed. Would like to see more from him in the deep passing game though.

Offensive Line - I thought the o-line as a unit held up fairly well. They were noticeably better in their run blocking and looked to me like they were being very physical. They had a tall order today being asked to block Clowney, and Garrett. Clowney and Garrett had their moments but the o-line didn't let them completely dominate either.

TJ Watt - Continues to show why he's worth the money he was paid. He's a disruptive force to be reckoned with game in, and game out.

Najee Harris - Really going to be amazing to see what all this kid can do if the o-line continues to improve. He's been the bell cow, and asked to do a lot as a rookie and has shouldered the load and seems to relish in it. So many plays where he gets hit behind the line in short yardage situations and his power and ability to lean and keep his legs churning gets us crucial first downs. Love this kid and his work ethic.

GOATS:

Mike Tomlin - That fake field goal attempt was horrible. I know it's one of those plays where if it's completed you're happy and coach gets called a genius for it. But this didn't seem like the right call given the situation and the way the game was going. It also gave the Browns an opportunity to get dirty and injure our kicker and they did just that. Here's to hoping it's just a concussion and Boswell is able to return for the next game.

Devin Bush - Week after week whiffing on tackles, overrunning plays, and failing to maintain his gap discipline. Not at all impressed with Bush this season. Not playing up to his draft billing at all. Not even close. He's the singular reason that Browns rushing TD even happened, he completely overran the play and didn't even see where the ball was until it was too late. Has to get better, or ILB is going to be a priority this offseason and Bush could end up competing for his job. Devin Bush should learn from Najee Harris on the offensive side of the ball and start watching film religiously. Whole lot of physical talent here, but I'm not seeing the brains that need to complement the talent.

Gameballs:

TJ Constant motor that disrupts every plan.

Najee saying you're not gonna hit me. Ima hit your ass. And the worm..priceless.

Oline played a lot better and more aggressive.

Kirkland Rules for predicting it would take Buggs,Mondeau,Wormley and Loudermilk to stop Chub.

Goats:

Playing opposite Garrett was a true test for Moore and he failed.

Hey Mike lets sign off on letting our PK take a CHEAP SHOT.

Bush is beginning to look like a liability instead of a blue chip ILB. Does the knee injury have him playing scared?

solardave wrote:

Playing opposite Garrett was a true test for Moore and he failed.

I'm giving Dan Moore a mulligan on this one. He was asked to block Myles Garrett 1v1 most of the game. They didn't give him enough help, and let's be honest, Myles Garrett gives veteran blockers fits and Dan Moore is a rookie. Garrett is right up there with TJ as one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL regarding his talent (despite being a douchebag). So honestly, given the circumstances I think Moore held up as good as he could.

Balls:
O-line improving weekly.

Harris making something out of nothing he gets positive yards.

Friermuth hell of a clutch catch.

D-LINE stuffed the best running team and made Mayfield have to try to beat them...

Schoebert all over the place making tackles and forced a key fumble.

GOATS

Tomlin calling a fake FG when the game was tied 3-3... wtf man?

Referees - way way way too many garbage calls that went both ways... more against the Steelers but still... wtf refs?


I can't put Moore on the Goat side... 1v1 against Garret is a monster task to ask a rookie to do. He did a decent job against one of the leagues best pass rushers and hopefully learned a lot to take with him growing as an NFL left tackle... possibly the most thankless job in the NFL.

O-Line should absolutely get a game ball. The way the Steelers ran right at the #1 ranked run defense in football was impressive. Love the improvement from this unit.

Dan Moore will be fine - there's hardly anyone in football who can block Garrett 1 v 1.

Goat to Tomlin for the fake field goal try, for many reasons. But I give him a game ball for having the Steelers ready to get after it! Nobody ever seems to give him credit for getting the team up for games, but always criticism when we play poorly in games. Fair is fair.

Steelers Bullied the Browns for 4 quarters. That was GREAT to see. Love that.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

solardave wrote:

Playing opposite Garrett was a true test for Moore and he failed.

I'm giving Dan Moore a mulligan on this one. He was asked to block Myles Garrett 1v1 most of the game. They didn't give him enough help, and let's be honest, Myles Garrett gives veteran blockers fits and Dan Moore is a rookie. Garrett is right up there with TJ as one of the best pass rushers in the entire NFL regarding his talent (despite being a douchebag). So honestly, given the circumstances I think Moore held up as good as he could.

couldnt agree moore (see what i did there ? ) throwing a 4th round rookie who is really only starting out of desperation ,against one of the leagues top pass rushers ? c'mon man how do you expect it to go any differently ? no one thinks moore is an elite talent, thats why he was a 4th round pick. any tackle on the roster right now would have gotten the same results.

here is a classic example of devin bush not understanding angles, over running plays, and just not being aware of whats going on around him. this is the browns touchdown run.

he recognizes it is a run .    LET'S GO BRANDON !!!


Minkah shows up to assist. excellent , Minkah has outside containment, now bush just needs to stop him from cutting inside.


so instead of squaring up and going at the ball carrier he continues with the angle and over runs the play , AND... he picks minkah and takes away any chance that he makes the tackle  too.

GAMEBALLS:

Harris: love watching him with the ball in his hands. The diving-flying TD was awesome.

Freiermuth: the juggling , fighting with Harrison, keeping feet in bounds, catch for what turned out to be the winning score.

Watt: is to defense what a great QB is to offense. He single-handedly controls outcomes of games.

IowaSteeler: for reviving these Gameballs and Goats threads

GOATS:

Refs: for all they did and all they didn't...especially not calling roughing on Boswell.

Tomlin: for putting the Steelers most reliable source of points in harm's way. With the fake FG failing, and 2 missing extra points, there were 5 points we didn't get.

Browns fans: they are annoying to see and hear. Can't stand them and the rats and cheats fans

THIS block alone gets najee a game ball. ben is for sure going to be sacked and there would not have been a spectacular TD catch by friermuth. muth gets the credit but najee is the hero. its amazing all the little things you notice watching on playback at .25 speed ...

Master_Of_Puppets wrote:

THIS block alone gets najee a game ball. ben is for sure going to be sacked and there would not have been a spectacular TD catch by friermuth. muth gets the credit but najee is the hero. its amazing all the little things you notice watching on playback at .25 speed ...

That is a terrific point via images, MoP, very helpful to see such detail.

There's not much that Najee ins't excelling at, is there?

lets look at the blatant hold on the very first play of the game.  you can tell he is being held because he cant move forward despite the blocker not being in front of him. look at pic 2 and see he has hold of the back of the jersey . then if you look at illustration 3 , the blocker throws up his hands like..i diint do nuttin.

now this here is the shit i been waitin to see from canada .. look at this beauty. teams are so used to the steelers only run when the QB is under center they were absolutely shell shocked when ben rolled out. the clowns looked like browns. this gave me a nick chubb ...my favorite play of the game. i have been pissing and moaning for years about the lack of play action, roll outs and taking more snaps from under center.

Ben don't like to run!

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Ben don't like to run!

you just know the entire time he was praying the receiver get open quick so he could get rid of the ball and stop moving. there is actually a CB out of the picture. i dont know if he fell or what but that dude is WIDE open.
if im canada and after i watch this film i would have washington adjust his route. change direction and move towards the other side of the field. to often it seems they have receivers running routes to close together. the more receivers in the area the more DB's.