Steelers vs Cowboys: HOF Preseason Game Thread

[COR-TEN]

How about some positives? I'll start

Harris
Highsmith
Roche
Buddy Johnson
Punter

Have any to add?

I don’t notice Buddy Johnson but I’m glad to hear you say he did well

He seemed to be everywhere in the run game. I could be wrong but, it was a game of going back and forth from the tv to the comp to see who was who with all the new players. He was #51.

I want to know what people though of the O line. I didn't have the player numbers, and kept confusing 53 for center, but shit, green even LOOKs like pouncy.

[Orangesteel]

I still think our RB room is meh. I mean Harris will be a stud but if he goes down good lord almighty...

[K_C_]

How about some positives? I'll start

Harris
Highsmith
Roche
Buddy Johnson
Punter

Have any to add?

Ballage

Ballage looked fantastic.

I loved the signing but a bunch of people on this board said he was too slow.

Bettis was slow as shit and he had a pretty nice career. Ballage runs with POWER.

[Havoc]

How about some positives? I'll start

Harris
Highsmith
Roche
Buddy Johnson
Punter

Have any to add?

All 3 QB's had some really nice plays.

I would start Haskins in the next game, if Roethlisberger doesn't play.

I'd like to see him with Harris and the starting o-line (or at least the o-line they consider the starting o-line at present).

Harris had zero room to run and that is worrisome.

All the clamoring for a RB by some as if that was going to solve the problem. Harris will suck similar to our last year's RB's if our OL is not better.

OL > RB and it's not close.

I said 7.7 Y/R from Harris after we drafted him. I didn't see anything from Harris to make me think different.

[BouldernBun]

How about some positives? I'll start

Harris
Highsmith
Roche
Buddy Johnson
Punter

Have any to add?

All 3 QB's had some really nice plays.

I would start Haskins in the next game, if Roethlisberger doesn't play.

I'd like to see him with Harris and the starting o-line (or at least the o-line they consider the starting o-line at present).

Harris had zero room to run and that is worrisome.

All the clamoring for a RB by some as if that was going to solve the problem. Harris will suck similar to our last year's RB's if our OL is not better.

OL > RB and it's not close.

I said 7.7 Y/R from Harris after we drafted him. I didn't see anything from Harris to make me think different.

it will be different because the resident slugs are all less than Harris . Even (an uninjured) Mr Conner may have been less than. No way we bring up the rear in rushing this year. Of course there is the oline and 2 three yard passes every 4 downs to consider. Regardless. I am sure Harris will be in all 24 games we play this year. NEXT!

[Havoc]

All 3 QB's had some really nice plays.

I would start Haskins in the next game, if Roethlisberger doesn't play.

I'd like to see him with Harris and the starting o-line (or at least the o-line they consider the starting o-line at present).

Harris had zero room to run and that is worrisome.

All the clamoring for a RB by some as if that was going to solve the problem. Harris will suck similar to our last year's RB's if our OL is not better.

OL > RB and it's not close.

I said 7.7 Y/R from Harris after we drafted him. I didn't see anything from Harris to make me think different.

it will be different because the resident slugs are all less than Harris . Even (an uninjured) Mr Conner may have been less than. No way we bring up the rear in rushing this year. Of course there is the oline and 2 three yard passes every 4 downs to consider. Regardless. I am sure Harris will be in all 24 games we play this year. NEXT!

I believe Harris will help us.

I doubt he's going to be dynamic.

I fear Harris will be the small ball dream RB.

If you can't roll something dynamic out there at RB in today's league, you are really missing an opportunity.

Again, I believe Harris will help us. It is what it is. He's our RB, I'll be pulling for him.

[Ice]

So, I'll say this:

Pressley Harvin, sheesh. Was expecting an amusing player, but dude has game.
Ballage: can he be, like, Isaac Redman good? That'd be a decent backup RB on the cheap.
QBs: all honestly played pretty well.
Why was Claypool out there?
Defense and STs opportunistic if nothing else. Might be the most important attribute for a 2021 NFL defense.
Louddermilk: slowly gaining acceptance... looked better than I expected.
Johnson: I like so far.
Roche: really good stuff. The back end of this draft is actually looking really good at this early (emphasis on early) juncture.
Even in a preseason game, nice to beat the Cryboys.

[Havoc]

Even in a preseason game, nice to beat the Cryboys.

When you live in DFW, it's definitely nice

[Kodiak]

Even in a preseason game, nice to beat the Cryboys.

8-10 years ago (so not sure if it changed) I looked at a bunch of preseason records. Going undefeated doesn't correlate with winning a SB, but finishing below .500 in preseason generally did correlate missing the playoffs and losing records. My take was below .500 was indicative of below average overall talent.

There were exceptions, of course. There always are. Anyway, 1 win away from at least .500 in preseason (and that seems to matter).

[Ice]

Even in a preseason game, nice to beat the Cryboys.

8-10 years ago (so not sure if it changed) I looked at a bunch of preseason records. Going undefeated doesn't correlate with winning a SB, but finishing below .500 in preseason generally did correlate missing the playoffs and losing records. My take was below .500 was indicative of below average overall talent.

There were exceptions, of course. There always are. Anyway, 1 win away from at least .500 in preseason (and that seems to matter).

We have a pretty young team, on balance. Coaches and players. Even meaningless wins aren't meaningless when you're trying to instill and reinforce culture, and prove that systems are worth buying into.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Wide Bowl contender

[Jobu]

Even in a preseason game, nice to beat the Cryboys.

8-10 years ago (so not sure if it changed) I looked at a bunch of preseason records. Going undefeated doesn't correlate with winning a SB, but finishing below .500 in preseason generally did correlate missing the playoffs and losing records. My take was below .500 was indicative of below average overall talent.

There were exceptions, of course. There always are. Anyway, 1 win away from at least .500 in preseason (and that seems to matter).

So then, here’s the big question…Has Cool Shades ever had a losing pre-season?

[Ice]

Watching some replay action... Gilbert had some good plays, too.

[JackLambert58]

I still think our RB room is meh. I mean Harris will be a stud but if he goes down good lord almighty...

No love for Ballage? I thought he did quite well.

[steelmann58]

I was very impressed the way Ballage ran the ball yesterday.
I also thought both Mason and Haskins looked scared and was worried about being to perfect.
I have to watch the replay again but Green really can get out there and liked the play from Gilbert

[Kodiak]

I was very impressed the way Ballage ran the ball yesterday.

Let's call a TO here - he balled against future grocery baggers. His upside is ball-boy.

Reminiscent of Isaac Redman and other jag-offs. When your OL sucks, you can't expect much from a 2-tool back.

[Jobu]

I was very impressed the way Ballage ran the ball yesterday.

Let's call a TO here - he balled against future grocery baggers. His upside is ball-boy.

Reminiscent of Isaac Redman and other jag-offs. When your OL sucks, you can't expect much from a 2-tool back.

Not to mention he averaged 3.8 ypc. Pretty meh, although best on the team.
While we’re at it…Najee Harris averaged 3.1 ypc.
Samuels, who had the most attempts with 11, averaged 1.8 ypc.
Overall, the Steelers rushed 30 times for 75 yards. A puny 2.5 yards per attempt.
But everybody, including Cool Shades are gushing over the improvement in the running game. Just goes to show how desperate we are for any semblance of a ground game.
A lot of work to do.

[Kodiak]

But everybody, including Cool Shades are gushing over the improvement in the running game. Just goes to show how desperate we are for any semblance of a ground game.
A lot of work to do.

True. Really not much to be excited about. "Boy, look at Najee work....nice run....damn, that was only 3 yards?!?"

OL obviously will get better every week [hopefully]. An experienced QB getting the right protection calls and getting them out of bad plays will make a big difference, as well. Along with not being vanilla in the playcalling. But I don't think it will make THAT much of a difference.

Really that efficiency is horrendous in any circumstance. If you can't average at least 3.8 running the ball, your offense is going to start to look like PIT at the end of last season.

Man, that's a nightmare scenario: Try to run the ball come hell or high-water, end-up in a ton of 2nd and 3rd and longs and watch guys get tackled short of the sticks for days.

[steelmann58]

The all ran behind a line that is not going to be the opening day OL

[jebrick]

Green looked decent at center against backups. Show off some athletic ability. I am hopeful.

[Jobu]

The all ran behind a line that is not going to be the opening day OL

And they ran at a defense that’s not going to be Dallas’ opening day defense.
There really wasn’t much to get excited about, if you ask me.

[COR-TEN]

The all ran behind a line that is not going to be the opening day OL

And they ran at a defense that’s not going to be Dallas’ opening day defense.
There really wasn’t much to get excited about, if you ask me.

So you're a glass half empty guy. . .

I agree with tomlin (!!!!). They showed a lot of energy and giddyup. It looked like they got off the snap quick - but maybe didn't hold blocks - and definitely showed some young, athletic ability. It's the first time they've faced an opponent other than the steeler defense. No fumbled snaps, no injuries, no massive blown assignments considering it's a new offense and a lot of pre snap movement (aside from the fumbled handoff), and how many sacks did they allow? So one non starting line against another non starting line and it ended up with the steelers coming out on top. In a meaningless game that was meant to try out players and see what they have under live game circumstances.

I'd say there's some promise and certainly enough for me to get excited about.

[Orangesteel]

I’m ready to be done with Samuels. I get that he has history with Canada and blah blah blah, but I don’t see him as an effective NFL back. You roll with Harris - Snell - McFarland and Ballage and work on IMPROVING the RB room, not whatever we have been doing.

[bradshaw2ben]

I’m fine with moving on from Samuels… but no way do I keep Snell over him. Benny Snell was 2nd to worst last year in stuff rate, has zero impact in the passing game, has no burst… WHY ARE WE ASSUMING HE STAYS???!

Good lord, move on already. Scrap heap guys are better.

[Roeth2Rudolph]

Most of Snell's runs last year were short yardage where the opposing team knew we were gonna run it. That, coupled with our OL meant he was met in the backfield by at least one defender on most occasions. That one game he started he looked pretty dominant in I thought.

[Kodiak]

Good lord, move on already. Scrap heap guys are better.

Maybe. I'm thinking there's a reason the average NFL career is like 3.2 years. Teams draft a guy, and then give him 3 years to prove he can play in the NFL.

How much of an upgrade is another teams scraps, really? Doesn't seem like many teams are so deep at a position that they cut NFL-capable players they can't find a roster spot for.

[bradshaw2ben]

RBs are so fungible—and here you don’t need a starter, you need role players. They could use a short yardage guy. They could use speed. They could use a solid pass game player. That’s the backup crew that fits Najee.

Snell is NONE of those. He’s a short yardage type RB am who is absolutely awful in short yardage. Please make it stop.

[Orangesteel]

I’d love to get rid of Snell too, I’m speaking more from what they will do, not what they should do. I don’t see them moving on from BSF just yet, even though he’s all of those things you mention directly above.

And no, I’m sorry, Kalen Ballage does not excite me. He’s a lumbering back with little to no wiggle. We don’t need that.

[K_C_]

And no, I’m sorry, Kalen Ballage does not excite me. He’s a lumbering back with little to no wiggle. We don’t need that.

You can always use a back that runs with power. Actual power and Ballage has that. Dude might not be a burner, but he gets to the hole fast (much faster than a guy like Snell) and he moves the pile forward. I also don't see him as lumbering.

Basically, Ballage has a great chance at being the short yardage type back who might able to grow in a closer role. Moving the chains late in games.

I'm one hell of a lot more worried about the other back up RB's on the roster before I am this kid.

[DP39]

And no, I’m sorry, Kalen Ballage does not excite me. He’s a lumbering back with little to no wiggle. We don’t need that.

You can always use a back that runs with power. Actual power and Ballage has that. Dude might not be a burner, but he gets to the hole fast (much faster than a guy like Snell) and he moves the pile forward. I also don't see him as lumbering.

Basically, Ballage has a great chance at being the short yardage type back who might able to grow in a closer role. Moving the chains late in games.

I'm one hell of a lot more worried about the other back up RB's on the roster before I am this kid.

When it comes down to it I think the most important ability they want in Najee's main 'backup' role is availability. Snell is/gets hurt and Ballage has shown to have issues staying healthy, as well. That's why I think they should just go out and get AP. He's not the player he once was, but he's certainly no worse than those guys and he's basically ALWAYS available. He'd come cheap like those guys, too.