• The fast guys stole the show in the 19-16 preseason victory over Buffalo on Saturday, but the slowest guys set the stage: Ben Roethlisberger went almost untouched in his quarter-plus of action, and that was almost entirely due to a rejuvenated, all-pistons-firing offensive line.
As Roethlisberger put it, “I think they did a heck of a job. They kept me clean. I don’t have any stains on my pants, so that’s good.”
He didn’t have any in East Rutherford the previous week, either, though that was different. By design, it turns out.
Kelvin Beachum was telling me after this game that the offensive plan was to run one week, with hardly any no-huddle, then throw this week, exclusively out of the no-huddle. And the biggest adjustment, of course, had to be made by the beef up front.
“It’s a matter of finding out what we do best and sticking with it,” Beachum explained. “We ran the ball well against New York, threw the ball well here, and those are both good signs. As offensive linemen, we just need to do our job, whatever’s called, run or pass, screen, draw, to the left or right, up the middle, no-huddle or not, we need to make it work.”
So what if the line is making it all work?
Can’t be ruled out, you know. Remember, there’s some serious pedigree up there, with two first-rounders in Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, a second-rounder in the best shape of his career in Marcus Gilbert, an established veteran in Ramon Foster, and Beachum finally having a chance to stay set at left tackle.
Which he loves, by the way.
“Oh, I do,” Beachum said with a grin. “It’s good to help the team wherever needed, but having one position, anyone will tell you they prefer that.”
The line has made a mantra of finally staying healthy, finally fulfilling expectations this year, as Foster explained after this game …
Hope you clicked that one. Maybe my favorite video since this site started.
Healthy bodies and, so far, a healthy mindset.
“We’re making some strides, but there’s a long way to go. This is no time to brag, no time to pat ourselves on the back. We’ve still got a lot to prove.”
• Troy Polamalu illustrated that he needs offseason tackling to keep him sharp like he needs a better barber, and he did so on more than one occasion. Not least of those was a trademark flying tackle on the Bills’ Fred Jackson that stopped him cold in the flat for a 5-yard gain in the first quarter.
Polamalu expressed some satisfaction at being back on the field, but he was visibly displeased with what he saw as a lack of discipline. He specifically cited “a lot of penalties,” and it’s entirely possible he was referring to his new safety partner Mike Mitchell, who was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct for some silly barking at Buffalo back C.J. Spiller after the whistle, plus a later defensive holding that was declined. Mitchell might well have had another flag or two dropped his way had the refs been paying closer attention.
“We have to play better, play smarter,” Polamalu said, continuing to not mention any individual.
Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau took turns getting in Mitchell’s face right after his unsportsmanlike, but expect Polamalu to take a different — if no less serious — approach during the days and weeks to come. Mitchell came to Pittsburgh with the reputation of a bit of a hot-head, but it won’t fly here. At least not as it relates to costing the team yardage.
• Sorry, but I’m still not seeing the real Heath Miller out there. You?
• How cut is Chris Carter after being given the start in place of Jarvis Jones, then getting yanked for Arthur Moats after a play in which he lost contain on the run?
Doesn’t exactly help Carter’s cause that Howard Jones keeps coming up huge on special teams. Jones has been something of a special project in Latrobe, but plays on the field speak a whole lot louder than any drill.
• Let’s dispense with any drama here: Ryan Shazier will start, and Vince Williams and Sean Spence will continue to have a richly spirited duel for primary backup duty. Which is fine. Raise your hand if you thought inside linebacker would be a position of real depth by the fall.
• Cam Heyward was wonderful at the right edge. On one play, he was double-teamed but rather than bite and engage — hey, who criticizes a guy getting double-teamed? — he backed off both, zipped around them and made the play.
“Just took what was there,” Heyward told me.
• Always feels wrong to single out a bunch of players for praise while taking for granted the franchise quarterback. Roethlisberger was 8 of 11, including a clear drop by Miller, for 128 yards, two TDs and a 150.8 QB rating.
But if you really want to appreciate his greatness, rewind the Markus Wheaton TD and look at how he had LeGarrette Blount right between him and the play that would develop. Easy outlet right in his face. Chose the harder one, as the great ones do.
August 17, 2014
Steelers PATs: Go ahead, lay it on the line
by Dejan Kovacevic • Columns • Steelers
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
One last look at the Steelers’ last game …
• The fast guys stole the show in the 19-16 preseason victory over Buffalo on Saturday, but the slowest guys set the stage: Ben Roethlisberger went almost untouched in his quarter-plus of action, and that was almost entirely due to a rejuvenated, all-pistons-firing offensive line.
As Roethlisberger put it, “I think they did a heck of a job. They kept me clean. I don’t have any stains on my pants, so that’s good.”
He didn’t have any in East Rutherford the previous week, either, though that was different. By design, it turns out.
Kelvin Beachum was telling me after this game that the offensive plan was to run one week, with hardly any no-huddle, then throw this week, exclusively out of the no-huddle. And the biggest adjustment, of course, had to be made by the beef up front.
“It’s a matter of finding out what we do best and sticking with it,” Beachum explained. “We ran the ball well against New York, threw the ball well here, and those are both good signs. As offensive linemen, we just need to do our job, whatever’s called, run or pass, screen, draw, to the left or right, up the middle, no-huddle or not, we need to make it work.”
So what if the line is making it all work?
Can’t be ruled out, you know. Remember, there’s some serious pedigree up there, with two first-rounders in Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, a second-rounder in the best shape of his career in Marcus Gilbert, an established veteran in Ramon Foster, and Beachum finally having a chance to stay set at left tackle.
Which he loves, by the way.
“Oh, I do,” Beachum said with a grin. “It’s good to help the team wherever needed, but having one position, anyone will tell you they prefer that.”
The line has made a mantra of finally staying healthy, finally fulfilling expectations this year, as Foster explained after this game …
Hope you clicked that one. Maybe my favorite video since this site started.
Healthy bodies and, so far, a healthy mindset.
“We’re making some strides, but there’s a long way to go. This is no time to brag, no time to pat ourselves on the back. We’ve still got a lot to prove.”
• Troy Polamalu illustrated that he needs offseason tackling to keep him sharp like he needs a better barber, and he did so on more than one occasion. Not least of those was a trademark flying tackle on the Bills’ Fred Jackson that stopped him cold in the flat for a 5-yard gain in the first quarter.
Polamalu expressed some satisfaction at being back on the field, but he was visibly displeased with what he saw as a lack of discipline. He specifically cited “a lot of penalties,” and it’s entirely possible he was referring to his new safety partner Mike Mitchell, who was flagged for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct for some silly barking at Buffalo back C.J. Spiller after the whistle, plus a later defensive holding that was declined. Mitchell might well have had another flag or two dropped his way had the refs been paying closer attention.
“We have to play better, play smarter,” Polamalu said, continuing to not mention any individual.
Mike Tomlin and Dick LeBeau took turns getting in Mitchell’s face right after his unsportsmanlike, but expect Polamalu to take a different — if no less serious — approach during the days and weeks to come. Mitchell came to Pittsburgh with the reputation of a bit of a hot-head, but it won’t fly here. At least not as it relates to costing the team yardage.
• Sorry, but I’m still not seeing the real Heath Miller out there. You?
• How cut is Chris Carter after being given the start in place of Jarvis Jones, then getting yanked for Arthur Moats after a play in which he lost contain on the run?
Doesn’t exactly help Carter’s cause that Howard Jones keeps coming up huge on special teams. Jones has been something of a special project in Latrobe, but plays on the field speak a whole lot louder than any drill.
• Let’s dispense with any drama here: Ryan Shazier will start, and Vince Williams and Sean Spence will continue to have a richly spirited duel for primary backup duty. Which is fine. Raise your hand if you thought inside linebacker would be a position of real depth by the fall.
• Cam Heyward was wonderful at the right edge. On one play, he was double-teamed but rather than bite and engage — hey, who criticizes a guy getting double-teamed? — he backed off both, zipped around them and made the play.
“Just took what was there,” Heyward told me.
• Always feels wrong to single out a bunch of players for praise while taking for granted the franchise quarterback. Roethlisberger was 8 of 11, including a clear drop by Miller, for 128 yards, two TDs and a 150.8 QB rating.
But if you really want to appreciate his greatness, rewind the Markus Wheaton TD and look at how he had LeGarrette Blount right between him and the play that would develop. Easy outlet right in his face. Chose the harder one, as the great ones do.
“Perfect ball,” Wheaton said. “Just perfect.”