Game notes from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 23-20 comeback win over the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night.
First Half
– Kick return uni. Front five. Moats-Watt-Matakevich-Chickillo-Fort. Golden behind. Conner/Walton/Nix part of the “wedge.” Fitz/Bryant the returners.
– Jerald Hawkins route alert.
– Punt coverage. Watt-Fort-Canaday-Matakevich-Chick. Nix/Davis the wings, Golden the upback. Hilton/DHB gunners.
– Linebackers get suckered in by playaction. Can’t get depth to defend throw over the middle.
– Coty Sensabaugh was pretty bad in coverage but against the run, I liked what I saw. Good run fits. For whatever that’s worth.
– Punt return. Golden-Nix-Chick-Fort-Matakevich-Fitz-Wilcox. Burns as a jammer to one side, DHB/Brian Allen the other two. Eli Rogers on punt returners.
– Sluggo seam miscommunication. Roethilsberger threw it inside, AB cut outside.
– Screen…not sure what Vince Williams is looking at here. Definitely not the ball.
– Too bunched up in zone. Gotta space it out and stay at home. Easy completion on 3rd and 7.
Nice idea on the slot fade out of bunch. Draws a flag, gets three points before the half.
Second Half
– Kick coverage. Sensabaugh-Allen-Nix-Fort-Vince Williams-Boswell-Matakevich-Chick-Fitz-DHB-Hilton
After Matakevich went down, James Conner replaced him at L1. First time he’s been there all year.
– Can’t leave Vontaze Burfict unblocked…
– Impressive combo block by Xavier Grimble, who has shown steady improvement in that area.
– Bad rep from Ramon Foster. Not square. Ben gets hammered.
– Bad communication. Gets L.J. Fort on A.J. Green down the seam. Vince Williams bails them out with a sack.
– Cam Heyward sniffed out RB screen that led to Bud Dupree’s sack. Heady play in a critical moment.
