The Steelers beat the New York Giants 24-17 in the 2nd preseason game of the 2010 season. Below are my notes and nuggets I kept on the game along with my observations. I have much more coming on this game and am working through the night. These are initial reactions of mine as I am about to watch the game a second time and begin working up tape selections. Below are the notes I compiled throughout the game.
The team overall looked a little sluggish getting started. Camp finally breaking and traveling did not help.
Let us hope Ike Taylor got that out of his system. Any how I gave Taylor the unanimous decision.
Post snap penalties have to stop by start of season.
I will break down both Flozell Adams snaps and the early snaps of Jonathan Scott at right tackle, but Flozell failed again in my opinion. Athletic defensive ends can beat him on the edge with ease. Hard to see him sticking right now for the price he demanded as 2.5 million should buy a better free agent product. Scott looked adequate on the surface, but I sure would like to see him start next week to see how he fares.
Max Starks looked tired and going through the motions tonight. Trai Essex looked like Trai Essex. Enough said.
Maurkice Pouncey will be your opening day center in my opinion. I do not think he took any snaps tonight at right guard and was 3 times the center Hartwig was. What is sad is I thought Hartwig showed more fight for his job tonight. Pouncey was moving two at a time on some plays.
Byron Leftwich to Mike Wallace was a great all around play. Line blocked well, Leftwich sold it. Wallace will win all foot races.
Leftwich I think is your starter with packages mixed in for Dennis Dixon. For only 4 games you can play to both quarterbacks strengths.
I think Ben Roethlisberger will be fine. I do not think he forces that ball up in the regular season. He looked relaxed, but thought he stayed in a series too long.
Too many negative plays on the night.
Rashard Mendenhall should be able to run up the middle this year especially if Pouncey starts.
Frank Summers still is slow off the snap and leading to the hole. Still getting acclimated to the NFL.
Brett Kiesel is hot and cold at times. Will certainly need snaps off this season.
Bryant McFadden is a better left corner than right corner. Not sure the reasoning he was moved over there after Taylor was ejected other than to get Keenan Lewis into the game earlier and not take snaps away from BMac.
Troy Polamalu showed some burst, he also showed he still can miss a tackle or two. Regardless, he is still the best strong safety in the league.
I liked the effort to get the ball more to Antwaan Randle El this week along with Heath Miller. These two will get plenty of chances to contribute this year. Miller may even lead the team in catches. Miller did wiff on a block. It happens.
Outside linebacker play tonight was pedestrian, especially from the rookies Thaddeus Gibson and Jason Worilds. Oh, and wave goodbye to Patrick Bailey. God forbid he ever had to start at left or right outside linebacker.
There is nothing wrong with the motor of Lawrence Timmons. Larry Foote and James Farrior looked more focused this week as well. Inside linebacker play was good overall on the night.
I think Nick Eason is still ahead of Sunny Harris. I will look closer in the next 8 times through the game, but Harris has not taken the roster spot in my opnion.
Will Allen is an upgrade over Tyrone Carter from last year. His recognition and quickness are still there and he is great on special teams.
Joe Burnett caught him one. Corners need more plays like that. Burnett does get cauight out of position at times.
Daniel Sepulveda did an adequate job kicking off. I need to time the hang times though before I can give a true assesment. He did make a huge tackle though. You want that to happen never though.
Antonio Brown did a great job on returns. Stefan Logan still seems adequate as well. It will come down to the progress of Brown as a receiver in my opinion. I think Emmanuel Sanders will get his chance returning next week in Denver. Logan needs to really make himself uncut-able and has yet to do it.
I really was hoping Ziggy Hood will be a little more dominating than he has been in the first two games. I am not too worried though.
Casey Hampton can still plug up the middle.
Tony Hills on the surface looked good again in the snaps I was watching him specifically. The tape will not lie though. I reserve my judgment until I get a closer look.
I do not see how Kraig Urbik makes the 53 man roster without an injury. 3rd round pick wasted.
I can do without seeing Byron Leftwich run. He makes Dan Marino look like Usain Bolt.
I like the way Dwayne Wright runs. It will not matter though.
Mewelde Moore is one of the best blitz pickup backs around. Fearless and will take 3rd down snaps away from Mendenhall again.
Isaac Redman has become a complete running back. His work on special teams is improving.
