Below are my notes and observations upon reviewing the first half of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
- On Dri Archer’s first kick return, Vince Williams missed his block, which got Archer tackled on the 14.
- The ‘start’ by Lance Moore was evidently a token gesture, as he didn’t play again until after the two-minute warning with the Steelers down 18. It seemed the game plan was to run, but that had to change.
- The Steelers’ first drive ended in a three-and-out when Heath Miller missed his block on a run left on third and one.
- Jason Worilds had nice coverage on first down when the Steelers dropped eight in coverage.
- Troy Polamalu read run early on second down by the tight end’s engagement. The result was a three-yard loss.
- Cameron Heyward had the only sack for the Steelers on the day. They don’t generate enough pressure.
- Miller is missing too many blocks. He got Le’Veon Bell tripped up at the line of scrimmage on the Steelers’ third play of their second drive.
- Archer appears to have tripped over Ramon Foster’s foot on his first carry. Had he not, he would have had room to run.
- Three straight rushes on goal to go starting from the eight—ends in three points.
- Who knows where this run defense would be without Lawrence Timmons and Polamalu. They need to play out of their minds on Monday night with Steve McLendon
- Jason Worilds got some pressure off the right side on third and eight to help coax out an incompletion.
- Justin Brown was award for his run-blocking with a reception on third and one.
- The momentum in the game died with the first foul-up between Ben Roethlisberger and Markus Wheaton. It came on third and three inside the red zone. What followed was a botched field goal hold and 31 unanswered points by the Browns.
- The Steelers let Jordan Cameron slip right through everybody on a heavy run look and bootleg by Brian Hoyer. It should have gone for a touchdown if not for an underthrow, but the Browns got in on the next play anyway.
- Although Timmons was held on the touchdown.
- Bell was very close to tapping his left foot down on the deep ball his way. If he can work on his sideline footwork, he can be a very scary receiving threat.
- Roethlisberger stared down Wheaton on third and six and threw to him anyway even in tight coverage.
- The second punt by Brad Wing only traveled 35 yards. Fortunately a penalty on the Browns added 10 more.
- The best tackle by James Harrison of the day was negated by an offside penalty.
- He did get to Hoyer on Jordan’s long touchdown pass. But football isn’t horseshoes.
- And finally a decent play from Archer on a 15-yard carry to the edge. Of note is Wheaton’s blocking down the field.
- Roethlisberger overthrew Wheaton on third and one on a deep ball.
- Wing’s next punt also when 35 yards, but it was caught at the 16, and Ross Ventrone made the tackle on the 15.
- The failure of Sean Spence to get off block opened up some opportunities for extended runs.
- Mike Mitchell had probably his best game thus far with the Steelers, laying some big hits that jarred loose footballs, including one forced fumble.
- The defensive line was dominated on Ben Tate’s first touchdown.
- Outside of two catches by Antonio Brown, the Steelers’ two-minute offense was a disaster.
