Steelers of Pittburgh vs Bills of Buffalo

[stillthere]

This is a good matchup for the young players on this team. We played this team in the preseason week 2. So the rookies will get a chance to assess how they have grown against a common opponent with and without gameplanning. With the weather being shit this weekend on the shores of Buffalo it may be the Najee vs Leonard duel. SEC special Alabama vs LSU. Bullyball may rear its head in northern New York come Sunday at 1 pm.

Also who thought it was a good idea to allow Dalvin Cook to sign with Baltimore?

[SteelerDayTrader]

Steelers offense

- Need to make plays and keep things winnable for Mason on offense.

- I expect Pickens will be taken away on offense with 2 DBs . Harris DJ Warren Friermuth etc must take advantage.

- Need to avoid East West ideas on offense. Bills are too fast for them.

- Need to make some throws early to keep the box manageable. Need to avoid going run run pass too often. Mix it up with some safer throws early in the count but also throw long at times to back off the top of the D

- The OL must hit guys hard. Make them pay a price for their insolence. The must exact a physical and mental toll on the Bills front end.

- If the Steelers let the Bills crowd the box and play downhill without retribution they are cooked

- Harvin can’t give Allen cheap opportunities

Steelers defense

- Herbig Highsmith and Golden need to make Allen skittish. He won’t quit but he can be affected. The Steelers need him to feel it’s all on him. Mental pressure.

- The middle of the field 5th string couch crushers need to hold it together enough to let the rest of the D make plays.

- The back end cannot let Allen believe he has a good chance to break the game wide open. Must tackle catches hard and fast. Can’t let the receivers get easy YAC. Need some interceptions.

- The DL has to protect the ILBs and force 3rd downs. Can’t let the RBs take over

Tomlin knows he’s getting extended. Rudolph knows he’s getting a nice multi year contract somewhere. They are playing with house money. Don’t play too tight. Have fun playing football. Help the rest of the team enjoy the ride. Emotion wins a lot of football games. Take some shots. Allen and the Bills are beatable. Put the pressure to succeed on them at home vs a team no one wants to lose to.

[Ice]

Pretty much spot on.

[Steelersfan]

STD forgot the #1. Set the edge & keep Allen in the pocket for the pressure up the middle. Keep that fucker from running for 50-60+ yards on his own. First time he does, hit him so hard, ya send him into his off-season.

Highsmith gotta be careful. He likes to use that spin move to the inside. He does that, Allen's taking off around the outside. Got to contain him. He willed himself to pull that Miami game out his ass, WITH HIS LEGS. And he did.

[VeritasSteel]

Keep the Bills in Cover 2. they don’t want to give up chunk plays to 18 and 14 that they can’t cover man up. Then run the ball against those 7 man fronts and get 88 some work on some simple pitches. I figure they’ll make an adjustment and go hard nickel so they can blitz. getting that LB or run safety on 19 or 14 in the slot on quick route should be money. If the Steelers put up 150 rushing on the Bills they have a 80% chance to win the game. No turnovers 90%.

I want a better blitz pick up plan this week.

Defense needs to put Allen in the same situations you would Lamar. Make him run to his left with a zone defender pushing him to the boundary and plastering the TE he likes across his body when everyone uncovers and tries to tackle him. And hopefully we can figure out how to neutralize the TE now that the two safeties are back. Not a lot of man coverage because of Allen’s run ability- but I like JPJ on Diggs if we bring pressure.

[bradshaw2ben]

Keep the Bills in Cover 2. they don’t want to give up chunk plays to 18 and 14 that they can’t cover man up. Then run the ball against those 7 man fronts and get 88 some work on some simple pitches. I figure they’ll make an adjustment and go hard nickel so they can blitz. getting that LB or run safety on 19 or 14 in the slot on quick route should be money. If the Steelers put up 150 rushing on the Bills they have a 80% chance to win the game. No turnovers 90%.

I want a better blitz pick up plan this week.

Defense needs to put Allen in the same situations you would Lamar. Make him run to his left with a zone defender pushing him to the boundary and plastering the TE he likes across his body when everyone uncovers and tries to tackle him. And hopefully we can figure out how to neutralize the TE now that the two safeties are back. Not a lot of man coverage because of Allen’s run ability- but I like JPJ on Diggs if we bring pressure.

To that end, Steelers should take the pages in their playbook with outside runs , rip them out, and run them through a shredder this week. They couldn't run outside vs a Baltimore defense playing with backups at 3/4 speed; they're not running outside vs a very fast D (even one without Milano).

[jebrick]

They need to pull the 2004 playbook out and put in those play action passes. They run an absurd amount for not doing PA. Go back and watch Ben's rookie year and every other play was a PA.

[jeemie]

Keep the Bills in Cover 2. they don’t want to give up chunk plays to 18 and 14 that they can’t cover man up. Then run the ball against those 7 man fronts and get 88 some work on some simple pitches. I figure they’ll make an adjustment and go hard nickel so they can blitz. getting that LB or run safety on 19 or 14 in the slot on quick route should be money. If the Steelers put up 150 rushing on the Bills they have a 80% chance to win the game. No turnovers 90%.

I want a better blitz pick up plan this week.

Defense needs to put Allen in the same situations you would Lamar. Make him run to his left with a zone defender pushing him to the boundary and plastering the TE he likes across his body when everyone uncovers and tries to tackle him. And hopefully we can figure out how to neutralize the TE now that the two safeties are back. Not a lot of man coverage because of Allen’s run ability- but I like JPJ on Diggs if we bring pressure.

To that end, Steelers should take the pages in their playbook with outside runs , rip them out, and run them through a shredder this week. They couldn't run outside vs a Baltimore defense playing with backups at 3/4 speed; they're not running outside vs a very fast D (even one without Milano).

If I see one more shotgun pitch play to Najee, I’m going to need a new TV set…

[jeemie]

By the way, can we stop being scared of 20-30 mph winds like it’s the end of the world?

It’s not like Mason Rudolph has a noodle arm.

Since he has been on the Steelers, he’s had the best deep ball of any of their QBs and that includes Ben Roethlisberger.

Remember the pass play to Pickens in Seattle that he threw while under heavy duress?

It was all arm as he couldn’t step into it because of the pressure…and it went 30+ yards in the air.

Mason has a lot of warts…lack of an arm is not one of them.

[SteelerDayTrader]

.

Since he has been on the Steelers, he’s had the best deep ball of any of their QBs and that includes Ben Roethlisberger.

[bradshaw2ben]

By the way, can we stop being scared of 20-30 mph winds like it’s the end of the world?

It’s not like Mason Rudolph has a noodle arm.

Since he has been on the Steelers, he’s had the best deep ball of any of their QBs and that includes Ben Roethlisberger.

Remember the pass play to Pickens in Seattle that he threw while under heavy duress?

It was all arm as he couldn’t step into it because of the pressure…and it went 30+ yards in the air.

Mason has a lot of warts…lack of an arm is not one of them.

Having great deep ball touch does not equate to having a strong arm. It takes A LOT more arm strength to throw a deep out to the other side of the field than it does to throw a ball 45-50 yds downfield on an arc.

Mason has a below-average NFL arm in terms of intermediate arm strength.

[jeemie]

By the way, can we stop being scared of 20-30 mph winds like it’s the end of the world?

It’s not like Mason Rudolph has a noodle arm.

Since he has been on the Steelers, he’s had the best deep ball of any of their QBs and that includes Ben Roethlisberger.

Remember the pass play to Pickens in Seattle that he threw while under heavy duress?

It was all arm as he couldn’t step into it because of the pressure…and it went 30+ yards in the air.

Mason has a lot of warts…lack of an arm is not one of them.

Having great deep ball touch does not equate to having a strong arm. It takes A LOT more arm strength to throw a deep out to the other side of the field than it does to throw a ball 45-50 yds downfield on an arc.

Mason has a below-average NFL arm in terms of intermediate arm strength.

I disagree and pointed out one throw he made that was all arm and still went 30+ yards through the air.

Your schtick is being much more down on a player than is warranted.

I don't think Mason Rudolph is a stud, but he is also not as bad and noodle armed as you are making out.

[SteelPro]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

[jeemie]

I would worry more about the kicking game than the passing game with the winds…especially Percy giving the Bills too much field position advantage.

[jeemie]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

If anything, the wind should dissuade Tomlin from even considering Kenny Pickett for this game…and I still don’t discount that he’s considering him.

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

we will find out once he concludes his presser (up in 5 mins)

[SteelerDayTrader]

I’m not too worried about Rudolph per se in this game

He’s obviously taken his time on the bench seriously and refined his game a bit. Commendable effort. Most don’t do that. (And just to be real clear he WAS horrible previously and well deserving of QB 3 status)

I never think pro football players are dumb about football. They know what’s going on and they know their teammates strengths and weaknesses and most of all effort far better than we usually give them credit for.

The Face’s teammates go to the wall for him. That says a lot to me. Particularly since the offense hasn’t changed at all in scheme and approach.

I think ultimately this game comes down to two things

- Will the offensive line be able to provide some semblance of reasonable postseason performance ?? Of that I have my doubts but if they do I like our chances there as an underdog with nothing to lose.

- Will the defense show up and keep the game within reach or are we destined for another postseason 40+ burger ?? Highsmith Herbig Porter Benton Heyward Fitzpatrick etc need to rise up. Win this game and you could draw two division foes you know well enough to beat

Free shot with house money

Have fun and take some big shots

It usually only takes 2 or 3 big plays to swing a game

Go Steelers !!!

[DumlinBumlinStumlin]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

If anything, the wind should dissuade Tomlin from even considering Kenny Pickett for this game…and I still don’t discount that he’s considering him.

Mason keeps the Ball - 'Tomlin'

Watt is out

Minka, depends on his 'activity level'

[stillthere]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

If anything, the wind should dissuade Tomlin from even considering Kenny Pickett for this game…and I still don’t discount that he’s considering him.

He already stated in the press conference that Mason would start due to having the hot hand.

[955876]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

If anything, the wind should dissuade Tomlin from even considering Kenny Pickett for this game…and I still don’t discount that he’s considering him.

He already stated in the press conference that Mason would start due to having the hot hand and KP kind of sucking…

Fixed it for you.

[jeemie]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

If anything, the wind should dissuade Tomlin from even considering Kenny Pickett for this game…and I still don’t discount that he’s considering him.

He already stated in the press conference that Mason would start due to having the hot hand.

I wrote that before the press conference.

[Stosh-67]

It usually only takes 2 or 3 big plays to swing a game

If I see one more shotgun pitch play to Najee, I’m going to need a new TV set…

This is the biggest problem with the Tomlin offense and philosophy......they very seldom take advantage and run plays off of great success.
Hence, many games over the years in which we totally dominated, and mauled and trampled opponents only to find a 13-7 or 10-3 lead.
The Bills need to pay for creeping up to stop the run. And I believe its has to be early in the game, since I believe they will be playing many in the box to stop the success of our run game the last 10 weeks.

They need to pull the 2004 playbook out and put in those play action passes. They run an absurd amount for not doing PA. Go back and watch Ben's rookie year and every other play was a PA.

See above.
Since Broderick was inserted into the line-up for good, the last 10 games, they have averaged 145 yards per game.
They had 2 stinkers vs. Pats and Indy in which they fell behind big to N.E. and lost game vs. Indy by end of 3rd....that prevented them from running as much.

Minus those two games and its been a running machine......8 games, 271 carries for 1,294, 4.77 per carry.
115 Carries for 470 yards last three games.

Hence,
1. We will be looking to establish the run
2. Buffalo will be looking to stop the run.
3. PA will be key as we can not save the element of PA surprise for a future game that is not promised to anyone.

Set the edge & keep Allen in the pocket for the pressure up the middle. Keep that fucker from running for 50-60+ yards on h

Jeez.....we waited for the most important game of the year in our worst weather game of the year to start tossing big pitch plays.

Run Najee North South.
Stay away from potentially negative run plays that get behind the downs and distances.
Not our strength.

On defense, yes.
Let JPJ take Diggs. But I do think we have been moving JPJ around the field to latch on to opponents #1?

And yes......with Minka and Kazee back, and Rowe playing well all over the field.....
We need to take away Kincaid and Knox at the TE spot.
Do Kincaid bang a knee Sunday night?

Cam needs to play his best game of the year. Have not seen too many wrecking ball plays this year.
Benton has been solid but quiet. Let see him dump someone into Josh's lap.

We have been playing alot of 2 down lineman this year......
This is a weather game that may be a ground and pound game......
Do not be afraid to show a different look at Buffalo for a handful of plays.....
Cam, Benton, Adams and Larry Og as 4 defensive lineman......

Can not underestimate the job TJ did against the run.....in thinking of seeing Herbig on the field. more.
Herbig does not have the anchor of TJ. They may attack the kid on the ground.

Minka needs to be a play maker......If Minka is all over the secondary along with Rowe all of the place....
I could see some Allen picks.

The formula for this game knowing the Bills and Allen turnover problem...
will be to NOT turn the ball over ourselves.

Bills have 28 turnovers on the year, The Steelers only 16 ( 27 take-aways )
Tho the Bills have also taken the ball away, 30 take-aways.

Stay in the + on turnovers will be our best chance.
Go Steelers

[K_C_]

I would worry more about the kicking game than the passing game with the winds…especially Percy giving the Bills too much field position advantage.

If we lose on Sunday, Harvin and field position will have a lot to do with it.

[stillthere]

Can not underestimate the job TJ did against the run.....in thinking of seeing Herbig on the field. more.
Herbig does not have the anchor of TJ. They may attack the kid on the ground.

Pretty sure Herbig will only be in for predominant pass personnel. I don't see the Steelers leaving him out there when Fournette comes in. I could see Robinson in there when Fournett is in though.

[bradshaw2ben]

Yeah.. I’m not seeing evidence of Mason having a below average arm. Seems to me he has comparative zip to most NFL QBs. Is his arm elite? No way. But it’s not below average either. Let’s stop classifying “not elite” as “below average”

I'm not overly down on him. I'm using arm strength in a very specific context. If someone says to me: wind up and throw the ball as far as you can... I will heave it high and as far as I can. Most guys playing in the NFL can heave it at least 50 yards. Many 55-60. Some 65. But that to me is not the real separator of arm strength. Throwing a low trajectory ball with velocity that can go from far hash to opposite sideline 18 yards downfield or a 20 yard in cut that can beat the safety into a tight window-- those are much harder velocity/arm strength throws than moonballs way downfield. Mason has maybe average NFL arm strength for those kinds of throws. His deep out throws make me hold my breath a little and pause until the ball gets there. I'd call it something less than an NFL QB I'd refer to as "he has a strong arm". Like, there's no comparison between prime Ben's intermediate arm strength and someone like Rudy. Rudolph's arm may not be bad and it may be even NFL average but he does not have "great" arm strength by the way I'm defining it.

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[SteelerDayTrader]

It’s funny how accurate those scouting reports often are

[jeemie]

And no one said he had “great” arm strength…but neither is he so weak that we need to worry so much about his throws in 25-30 mph winds that we have to take those throws out of the game plan.

Which, of course, I am supremely worried Mike Tomlin is going to instruct his offensive coaches to do.