Jaylin Samuels and Washington...

[Scunge]

One of the things that I would like to see them do with Samuels is try him some as the upback on punts. His pass protection has improved and yeah being the up back on punts can be just as daunting, but for me it would be an option to explore for trick plays.

A direct snap to Samuels where he can then pick up say 1, 2 or 3 yards for the first down?? Yes, please! Or he can throw for the first down. Jaylin was 2 of 3 passing for 84 yards and a TD at NC State. Simply putting Jaylin in there makes the special teams coach take notice and makes them nervous, maybe they don't go all out to block a punt, instead looking for a trick play.

This is one of those things that we used to do with Robert Golden, he was able to audible into a pass and go for a first down if the opportunity presented itself. I also wish they would use him more on kick returns. This is a 230 pound man who has some speed and wiggle and you have to think at times he would be better than Switz weighs 50 pounds less. A very good special teams coach would mix it up more with Switz and Samuels.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Tough to call this year’s draft a bust or the worst. Five guys made the team and four contribute playing more than just special teams. Good to see them coming along.

[stillthere]

Now the play calling with him, in my opinion, was pathetic. For all the good I see in the Ben/Fictner combo, there are some major fucking flaws. Way TOO many Haley leftover empty backfield plays in the playbook. That shit piss me off. At least with a RB, back with Ben, the defense has to guess just a little bit. Way TOO many plays where the opposing defense can "pin" their ears back. And does the Fictner/Ben combo have or know what play action is. After the runs over 10 yds and the 7.5 per carry Jaylen had, play action and him as a check down outta of the backfield was ripe for the taken. Especially on that last possession when we needed to run out the clock. It Never happened!
. .

Those 5 WR sets were designed to force the Pats to show scheme on D. They were a big reason we were able to get the AB TD. Kept Van Noy on the field but in the middle instead of outside and rushing the QB which is in his wheelhouse a whole heck of a lot more than following Samuels around in space. We dictated personnel by using the 5 wide looks usually NE dictates shit to us. It also shows that we are now rounding into a multiple look offense. We can have the same personnel on the field and split out Vanimal and Samuels and basically have a 5 WR look or we can be in a run formation with Vance as a TE blocking on the edge (or as the lead on the counter). If the D puts base personnel on the field we spread them out if they bring in more DB's to stop the spread we can go to running formations without changing personnel. I really liked the wrinkle they implemented.

[bradshaw2ben]

Those 5 WR sets were designed to force the Pats to show scheme on D. They were a big reason we were able to get the AB TD. Kept Van Noy on the field but in the middle instead of outside and rushing the QB which is in his wheelhouse a whole heck of a lot more than following Samuels around in space. We dictated personnel by using the 5 wide looks usually NE dictates shit to us. It also shows that we are now rounding into a multiple look offense. We can have the same personnel on the field and split out Vanimal and Samuels and basically have a 5 WR look or we can be in a run formation with Vance as a TE blocking on the edge (or as the lead on the counter). If the D puts base personnel on the field we spread them out if they bring in more DB's to stop the spread we can go to running formations without changing personnel. I really liked the wrinkle they implemented.

Thank you, voice of reason.

I thought it was actually brilliant vs a team that wins on defense by disguising what they're doing.

I think you might see the 2 TE to 5 wide look this week, but NO is pretty good vs TE & slot. I wouldn't be shocked to see Samuels and Conner together, though. NO struggles to cover RBs and #1WR, so they're likely to make big asks of Apple and Anzalone. If Steelers can pass pro, they will slice NO in the pass game... and using Samuels as more of a variety piece with misdirection suits both his game and running vs the Saints, who are going to stop you if you try and run at them or outside zone.

[Donnie Brasco]

Samuels has always looked elusive and possessing burst when he's got some space (like a screen pass). The difference last night was they figured out how to get him some space and he figured out a little how to make his own when things were tighter.

He's a stud, man-- he is really explosive out of his breaks on routes when he's split out and he has a scorer's mentality when he gets close. I also like that he intentionally stayed in bounds on that late pass reception. That's football smarts in the heat of battle, and I'll take it.

Just like Ben isn't your prototype robotic QB, Samuels isn't measurably an ideal RB

But they both can play football...Steelers need more of those guys and less "measurable" guys

[COR-TEN]

One of the things that I would like to see them do with Samuels is try him some as the upback on punts. His pass protection has improved and yeah being the up back on punts can be just as daunting, but for me it would be an option to explore for trick plays.

A direct snap to Samuels where he can then pick up say 1, 2 or 3 yards for the first down?? Yes, please! Or he can throw for the first down. Jaylin was 2 of 3 passing for 84 yards and a TD at NC State. Simply putting Jaylin in there makes the special teams coach take notice and makes them nervous, maybe they don't go all out to block a punt, instead looking for a trick play.

This is one of those things that we used to do with Robert Golden, he was able to audible into a pass and go for a first down if the opportunity presented itself. I also wish they would use him more on kick returns. This is a 230 pound man who has some speed and wiggle and you have to think at times he would be better than Switz weighs 50 pounds less. A very good special teams coach would mix it up more with Switz and Samuels.

DId samuels take punts or KO's in college or HS?

[955876]

Samuels has always looked elusive and possessing burst when he's got some space (like a screen pass). The difference last night was they figured out how to get him some space and he figured out a little how to make his own when things were tighter.

He's a stud, man-- he is really explosive out of his breaks on routes when he's split out and he has a scorer's mentality when he gets close. I also like that he intentionally stayed in bounds on that late pass reception. That's football smarts in the heat of battle, and I'll take it.

This.

I’m really hoping they can incorporate some two back sets when Connor gets back. So many possibilities.

Especially with both of them being capable pass catchers.

[COR-TEN]

Now the play calling with him, in my opinion, was pathetic. For all the good I see in the Ben/Fictner combo, there are some major fucking flaws. Way TOO many Haley leftover empty backfield plays in the playbook. That shit piss me off. At least with a RB, back with Ben, the defense has to guess just a little bit. Way TOO many plays where the opposing defense can "pin" their ears back. And does the Fictner/Ben combo have or know what play action is. After the runs over 10 yds and the 7.5 per carry Jaylen had, play action and him as a check down outta of the backfield was ripe for the taken. Especially on that last possession when we needed to run out the clock. It Never happened!
. .

Those 5 WR sets were designed to force the Pats to show scheme on D. They were a big reason we were able to get the AB TD. Kept Van Noy on the field but in the middle instead of outside and rushing the QB which is in his wheelhouse a whole heck of a lot more than following Samuels around in space. We dictated personnel by using the 5 wide looks usually NE dictates shit to us. It also shows that we are now rounding into a multiple look offense. We can have the same personnel on the field and split out Vanimal and Samuels and basically have a 5 WR look or we can be in a run formation with Vance as a TE blocking on the edge (or as the lead on the counter). If the D puts base personnel on the field we spread them out if they bring in more DB's to stop the spread we can go to running formations without changing personnel. I really liked the wrinkle they implemented.

The bolded. They looked like they were reacting, as opposed to being proactive. Brady and belichick looked confused, both on defense and offense.

[Legacy User]

Now the play calling with him, in my opinion, was pathetic. For all the good I see in the Ben/Fictner combo, there are some major fucking flaws. Way TOO many Haley leftover empty backfield plays in the playbook. That shit piss me off. At least with a RB, back with Ben, the defense has to guess just a little bit. Way TOO many plays where the opposing defense can "pin" their ears back. And does the Fictner/Ben combo have or know what play action is. After the runs over 10 yds and the 7.5 per carry Jaylen had, play action and him as a check down outta of the backfield was ripe for the taken. Especially on that last possession when we needed to run out the clock. It Never happened!
. .

Those 5 WR sets were designed to force the Pats to show scheme on D. They were a big reason we were able to get the AB TD. Kept Van Noy on the field but in the middle instead of outside and rushing the QB which is in his wheelhouse a whole heck of a lot more than following Samuels around in space. We dictated personnel by using the 5 wide looks usually NE dictates shit to us. It also shows that we are now rounding into a multiple look offense. We can have the same personnel on the field and split out Vanimal and Samuels and basically have a 5 WR look or we can be in a run formation with Vance as a TE blocking on the edge (or as the lead on the counter). If the D puts base personnel on the field we spread them out if they bring in more DB's to stop the spread we can go to running formations without changing personnel. I really liked the wrinkle they implemented.

The bolded. They looked like they were reacting, as opposed to being proactive. Brady and belichick looked confused, both on defense and offense.

You're not suggesting, are you, that Tomlin OUTCOACHED BELICHICK????

[stillthere]

You're not suggesting, are you, that Tomlin OUTCOACHED BELICHICK????

I will say Tomlin's team played more disciplined than New England and that is something we rarely if ever say. Also if we don't get the screw job by Al Riveron last season we would have a 2 game winning streak on NE and how different would the narrative be in local and national view of this team if Al Riveron doesn't get involved in game decisions.

[bradshaw2ben]

I would argue that Tomlin's worst decision this year was sticking with his troubled kicker. This loyalty better pay off in the end, because it's really cost this team as much as if not more than anything else.

[Legacy User]

Tomlins got a whole long list of absolute braindead stupid shit hes done this season..he isnt getting a pass from me on any of it cuz we beat NE once in i cant rememeber how many tries.

[bradshaw2ben]

Tomlins got a whole long list of absolute braindead stupid shit hes done this season..he isnt getting a pass from me on any of it cuz we beat NE once in i cant rememeber how many tries.

I really don't think so. I'm not going to question his late half use of the clock/strategy when he's been killing the NFL in late half scoring differential for several years. As I always say, they seem to make the necessary changes, just not as quickly as we would like... but there's a method to the madness and the players seem to respond to stability... never goes entirely off the rails.

The decision to keep Ben out in OAK, was complicated and a team decision, even if I might have done differently, after re-watching the end of half #1, I can see the concern and playing it conservatively. I would have put Ben in at least a drive or two sooner.

All in all, though, I think the Steelers got dicked out of a couple of games, their kicker cost them at least 1.5 wins... and they've been a good deal more consistent this year than in previous years. Only the first Ravens game was a really poor performance from start to finish.

[steeledge]

If only Colbert was half as good at drafting DBs as he is WRs...

Nice to see Washington and Samuels shine. We are definitely set at RB for a while.

Colbert does a fine job drafting DBs.
Lest you forget, as soon as they're drafted, he turns them over to the care of a HC that's a former DBs coach himself.

...what happens after that is not Colbert's fault...

[Havoc]

Conner going down could end up working in our favor this season.

Conner comes back with fresh legs, and now we know we have another RB who can play in Samuels.

Nice 1-2 punch at RB the rest of the way once Conner returns if we utilize both and I hope we do.

[stillthere]

Conner going down could end up working in our favor this season.

Conner comes back with fresh legs, and now we know we have another RB who can play in Samuels.

Nice 1-2 punch at RB the rest of the way once Conner returns if we utilize both and I hope we do.

Plus Eli Rogers making plays and Washington making plays we can have legitimate play makers with almost any combination of

Conner
Samuels
AB
JuJu
Vanimal
J. James
Grimble
Rogers
Washington
Switzer
Nix

DHB is the only guy that the next play he makes will be his first in years.