So because it is a preseason game and frankly the only one that I will see live this preseason because of my geography, I am not going to do the usual game report. Here is my take on what I saw Saturday. Unlike some fans who were besides themselves that we lost…again in preseason, I was very much encouraged.
Here is a Quick Hits about Saturdays game:
-Dri Archer is as fast as advertised. He was very exciting to watch and he looks like he could be a force.
-The running backs with Archer look very strong. Le’Veon Bell is in great shape and was impressive. LeGarrette Blount looks like a great compliment. Miguel Maysonett is the long shot who I am pulling for. He graduated from Riverhead HS and went to Stony Brook University! The position looks solid.
-The Steelers have an embarrassment of riches up front. Every defensive line combination and every linebacker combination were outstanding. BTW Jennings big gash up the middle was a blatant hold on Timmons, while both Mike Mitchell and Will Allen were caught flat footed, there is no way the play gets off without Timmons being held. So lets not panic.
-Stephon Tuitt will start this season and with Cam Thomas or the bulked up McClendon and with Steelhead Heyward the Steelers look great and athletic up front.
-Dan McCullers is a work in progress. I mentioned last week I was excited to see him play. He doesn’t do much but eat up space, but that he does well, including taking on three blockers at one point.
-The linebackers could be a very special group of players. Sean Spence had a terrific game, capping one of the best comebacks in NFL history. He looks like he can be very special. Jarvis Jones had a nice first game as well.
-Howard Jones and Josh Mauro will basically end any chance of a reunion with Brett Keisel and James “Silverback” Harrison. This is so bittersweet to me. LOVE both of these guys and they both had outstanding games. I just wanted Harrison and Keisel for one more year but Jones and Mauro seem to be great options.
So here is the bad news:
-If Big Ben gets hurt we are dead. Seriously Gradkowski and Jones were erratic at best. Landry Jones looked like the better of the two but neither can right the ship if Ben goes down for a long time.
-The offensive line looked good…their backups didn’t. The bright spot was Mike Adams who was good in pass protection, the usually dependable, Guy Whimper looked like he was playing in cement shoes, Cody Wallace struggled as well.
-Martavis Bryant had a downright awful game. Not sure how else to put that.
-Brad Wing P was erratic as well. He doesn’t look like the answer at Punter unless he dramatically improves.