Mike Tomlin called the Steelers’ performance “junior varsity” after a dismal outing Friday against the Panthers.
Dwayne Haskins got the start and played the first half and the first drive of the second half, tallying 38 yards on 5-12 passing. He fumbled a snap that hit him right in the hands, and had an interception off a tipped pass thrown high and behind Derek Watt. There were flashes, though; on one play Haskins shed a blitzer like 2009 Ben. If Ray-Ray McCloud attacks some of those balls instead of waiting on them and letting DBs make plays, the first half may have looked a lot different.
Josh Dobbs wasn’t much better at the helm, finishing 6-11 for 35 yards. He did have a 12 yard run, but left the game with an injury (INC on the report card). Haskins re-entered and looked like a whole new man, going 4-4 for 70 yards. McCloud also found a new gear; he had 2 of those catches for 50 yards, and added a 5 yard run.
Helping his case to make the team is the fact that Matthew Sexton did everything he could to lose his job. Maybe he has sweet post-COVID travel plans we’re keeping him from, that’s the only reason I can think of for trying to field punts on the bounce, in traffic. Was he not paying attention when the Steelers played the Cowboys? I was surprised Tomlin let him back out there, and even more surprised when he dropped another punt. Why would he shoot himself in both feet?
Speaking of drops, Chase Claypool also had one early in this game. While you don’t like to see that, look on the bright side: Chase Claypool played in this game! It wasn’t long ago he had that scare in practice and we were talking about if he’d be ready for Buffalo. He also had an 11 yard jet sweep, and most importantly got out healthy. He’ll be ready for Buffalo.
Photo: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
On the defensive side, there wasn’t much to smile about. Jamir Jones did have an excellent showing, leading the team with 8 total tackles, 2 QB hits and a sack (to be fair, if Mondeaux wasn’t held, he would have gotten at least half of Jones’s sack). Jones quickly went from a reserve LB whose path to the roster was via special teams, to a legitimate two-phase threat.
James Pierre was also strong in run defense; I wonder if the team has looked at him for the more physical slot corner role.
Tre Norwood dropped yet another pick, at least his third of this preseason. But Mike Tomlin coaches football – which is neither horse shoes nor hand grenades – so almost intercepting passes may not be good enough.
Already up 17-0, the Panthers’ received to open the second half. The word for what happened next was “efficient”: the last 4 plays went for 10+ yards, the last 3 went for 20+ en route to another TD.
As frustrated as they must have been in their defense, the coaches didn’t do many favors to the guys trying to keep their jobs. At one they point made the baffling decision to combat a 5-wide set with their base 3-4 defense. PJ Walker threw to a TE over the middle of the field who dropped the pass, but clearly the scouting report is out on Steelers linebackers in coverage.
Lamont Wade forced a fumble that was ruled down by contact on the field. Tomlin challenged, and it was ruled the runner did in fact fumble before going down. Huzzah, the Steelers win a challenge for once! Right? Not so fast. Ulysses Gilbert, trying to make the recovery, touched the ball with his right toe on the sideline, making the ball dead and returning possession to the Panthers. Steelers were charged a TO because they didn’t take possession, but they did overrule the down by contact and awarded Wade a FF. “The Steelers are challenging the ruling on the field that the runner was down by contact.”
Kam Canaday DNP tonight due to an illness, so it’s up to the team to decide if Christian Kuntz did enough to win the long snapper job. Chris Boswell contributed a 52 yard FG he sliced through the uprights, but missed an extra point on the team’s only TD. I’ll have to go back to the tape and see if a bad snap/hold influenced that.
Now for the battle you’ve been waiting for: the punters. Both entrants had 4 attempts; they must know how much I love consistent sample sizes. Jordan Berry averaged 43.8 yards per, narrowly edging out Presley Harvin’s 42.3. The team has said consistency is the most important trait for a punter; has Harvin’s streakiness been a turn-off?
FINAL SCORE: 34-9 Panthers. ON TO BUFFALO.
INJURY REPORT:
Marcus Allen, hamstring
Josh Dobbs, turf toe
Jaylen Samuels, seen leaving with Dobbs but Tomlin didn’t address it
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