Arizona 21, Pittsburgh 13
Everyone knows that, despite the furor that surrounds them, pre-season games mean nothing. Rather, the outcome of pre-season games means nothing: the final score still makes the first paragraph, but it isn't the focus of the coaches, players, and the intelligent fans.
The focus here is on the quality of play. And the Steelers' first report card is significantly variable. Big Ben looked like his old self, which is to say gutty, fearless, and frighteningly skilled. He spun out of tackles, he scrambled, he the threw the ball well. Despite the fact that his only drive ended in a missed field goal, everyone should feel good about Big Ben.
The line's performance was decent, if not spectacular. Cowher expressed concern about the performance of the second-team line, which featured two rookies. The running game was also decent; no one did anything spectacular, but we saw little cause for concern. I got the sense that the backs, Duce Staley in particular, were warming up.
The Steelers' first-day draft picks acquitted themselves well. WRs Santonio Holmes and Willie Reid showed signs of nerves at first, but obviously got more comfortable as the game progressed; each ended up with four catches. Neither did anything impressive in the return game, which isn't a surprise. The rookie who made the biggest impression, though, was Syracuse (whoo!) free safety Anthony Smith, who ended up with two interceptions and two impressive tackles. He was consistently around the ball, and he looked fast, instinctive, and powerful. Ryan Clark may not want to sink his roots too deep in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers' offense was piloted for most of the game by two young quarterbacks: Shane Boyd, who played in the most recent NFL Europe season, and fifth-round draft pick Omar Jacobs. Boyd showed a powerful arm and a quick mind, but his passes lack touch. Jacobs, currently behind Boyd on the depth chart because he's having trouble picking up the offense, looked overwhelmed early. He gained confidence as he played, though. Something seemed to shift in him when he was forced out of the pocket by the Cardinals' rush; he had to stop thinking and start relying on his abilities. Jacobs threw for the Steelers' only touchdown, a one-yard lob to rookie free agent TE Isaac Smolko, who helped his chances of getting on the practice squad by showing great body control in the back corner of the end zone.
The defense was strangely consistent: the Cardinals could get nothing going on the ground (Edgerrin James: 2 carries, -2 yards), but they were sterling through the air (Kurt Warner: 9-13, 118 yds, 2 TDs), especially on 3rd down. On Arizona's first drive, which ended in a touchdown, the Cardinals converted 4 consecutive third downs: 3rd and 7, 10, 13, and 5. The Steelers' secondary seemed to have no answer for the formidable Cardinals receiving corps. Such answers will come with time, though. In a regular-season game, the Steelers' blitz package would, I'm confident, make Warner miserable, and present a serious challenge to the Cards' passing game.
Three who looked good:
Rico Colclough, CB (looked strong in coverage)
Brett Keisel, DE (see: first two defensive plays)
Casey Hampton, DT (did you see him read that screen pass in the first quarter?)
Three who looked bad:
Jonathan Dekker, TE (when the sixth tight end drops multiple passes, it makes the coaches' job easy)
Cedric Humes, RB (fumbled at the goal line; just like Bettis?)
Anthony Madison, CB (multiple penalties offset some good work in the secondary)
The focus here is on the quality of play. And the Steelers' first report card is significantly variable. Big Ben looked like his old self, which is to say gutty, fearless, and frighteningly skilled. He spun out of tackles, he scrambled, he the threw the ball well. Despite the fact that his only drive ended in a missed field goal, everyone should feel good about Big Ben.
The line's performance was decent, if not spectacular. Cowher expressed concern about the performance of the second-team line, which featured two rookies. The running game was also decent; no one did anything spectacular, but we saw little cause for concern. I got the sense that the backs, Duce Staley in particular, were warming up.
The Steelers' first-day draft picks acquitted themselves well. WRs Santonio Holmes and Willie Reid showed signs of nerves at first, but obviously got more comfortable as the game progressed; each ended up with four catches. Neither did anything impressive in the return game, which isn't a surprise. The rookie who made the biggest impression, though, was Syracuse (whoo!) free safety Anthony Smith, who ended up with two interceptions and two impressive tackles. He was consistently around the ball, and he looked fast, instinctive, and powerful. Ryan Clark may not want to sink his roots too deep in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers' offense was piloted for most of the game by two young quarterbacks: Shane Boyd, who played in the most recent NFL Europe season, and fifth-round draft pick Omar Jacobs. Boyd showed a powerful arm and a quick mind, but his passes lack touch. Jacobs, currently behind Boyd on the depth chart because he's having trouble picking up the offense, looked overwhelmed early. He gained confidence as he played, though. Something seemed to shift in him when he was forced out of the pocket by the Cardinals' rush; he had to stop thinking and start relying on his abilities. Jacobs threw for the Steelers' only touchdown, a one-yard lob to rookie free agent TE Isaac Smolko, who helped his chances of getting on the practice squad by showing great body control in the back corner of the end zone.
The defense was strangely consistent: the Cardinals could get nothing going on the ground (Edgerrin James: 2 carries, -2 yards), but they were sterling through the air (Kurt Warner: 9-13, 118 yds, 2 TDs), especially on 3rd down. On Arizona's first drive, which ended in a touchdown, the Cardinals converted 4 consecutive third downs: 3rd and 7, 10, 13, and 5. The Steelers' secondary seemed to have no answer for the formidable Cardinals receiving corps. Such answers will come with time, though. In a regular-season game, the Steelers' blitz package would, I'm confident, make Warner miserable, and present a serious challenge to the Cards' passing game.
Three who looked good:
Rico Colclough, CB (looked strong in coverage)
Brett Keisel, DE (see: first two defensive plays)
Casey Hampton, DT (did you see him read that screen pass in the first quarter?)
Three who looked bad:
Jonathan Dekker, TE (when the sixth tight end drops multiple passes, it makes the coaches' job easy)
Cedric Humes, RB (fumbled at the goal line; just like Bettis?)
Anthony Madison, CB (multiple penalties offset some good work in the secondary)
posted by Shane at 8:53 AM
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