Vikings 17, Steelers 10
So: the Steelers have started the pre-season 0-2. Preseason records are historically irrelevant, but it's hard not to want to see a better performance from the defending Super Bowl champions as they ramp up for the regular season. Once again, Big Ben looked like the star he is becoming; it was also good to see the rapport he is apparently building with Cedric Wilson. Nate Washington was, arguably, the offensive star of the game: he, Willie Reid, and Santonio Holmes should battle for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th WR slots.
The defense looked poor against the pass again, and the O-line performance was, for the second week, spotty. The optimist will say that these problems will be addressed with game planning and game experience, but the pessimist will lament the continued struggles of the pass D and sound alarm at the poor performance of the O-line, one of the team's perennial strengths. Time will tell.
Four who looked good:
Aaron Smith (played on the opening series like Brett Keisel played last week)
Nate Washington (a tribute to the Steelers' scouting program, he looks nothing like a second-year player from a tiny school)
Cedric Wilson (finally, finally starting to look like a part of the offense)
Ike Taylor (pay this man! he is, behind Polamalu, the best tackler in the secondary)
Four who looked bad:
Troy Polamalu (consistently a step slow in pass coverage; made to look bad on the Vikes' first touchdown, though it wasn't entirely his fault)
Omar Jacobs (come on, man! learn the offense!)
Duce Staley (missed holes, missed blocks)
Santonio Holmes (made a couple very visible rookie mistakes)
I'm not concerned about Polamalu, obviously. He'll be fine, and so will Santonio Holmes. There is some talk now of the Steelers keeping two QBs on the final roster, and hiding both Jacobs and Shane Boyd on the practice squad; both have exciting talent, but neither has distinguished hismelf. Jacobs is thinking way too much (and way too slowly?), and Boyd seems to have only one gun in his arsenal. Duce, as Joseph Aubele argues in his blog, may be reaching the end of the line. Verron Haynes simply looks better in every aspect of the game.
Should make the squad:
Quincy Morgan, WR (a little inconsistent, but, as a sixth WR, makes the Steelers very deep at the position)
Rising:
Richard Seigler, LB (big tackler; might make the final squad)
Rian Wallace, LB (utility player in the mode of James Harrison, plays inside and outside; looked great on the INT return)
Mike Lorello, S (exciting player; had a sack; would be great asset on special teams)
John Kuhn, RB (Making Duce more expendable?)
No room at the inn:
Lee Mays, WR
Anthony Madison, CB (skilled but inconsistent; possible practice squad player?)
Sean Morey, WR/ST (a valuable player, but, given the skill at WR, expendable)
And one note about the Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson, the rookie QB from South Alabama, is the real deal. If Brad Johnson gets hurt, we could be looking at a Ben Roethlisberger situation. Once Jackson gets into the starting QB role, it might be hard to get him out.
Don't panic yet, friends. Friday's game against the Eagles will be give insight.
The defense looked poor against the pass again, and the O-line performance was, for the second week, spotty. The optimist will say that these problems will be addressed with game planning and game experience, but the pessimist will lament the continued struggles of the pass D and sound alarm at the poor performance of the O-line, one of the team's perennial strengths. Time will tell.
Four who looked good:
Aaron Smith (played on the opening series like Brett Keisel played last week)
Nate Washington (a tribute to the Steelers' scouting program, he looks nothing like a second-year player from a tiny school)
Cedric Wilson (finally, finally starting to look like a part of the offense)
Ike Taylor (pay this man! he is, behind Polamalu, the best tackler in the secondary)
Four who looked bad:
Troy Polamalu (consistently a step slow in pass coverage; made to look bad on the Vikes' first touchdown, though it wasn't entirely his fault)
Omar Jacobs (come on, man! learn the offense!)
Duce Staley (missed holes, missed blocks)
Santonio Holmes (made a couple very visible rookie mistakes)
I'm not concerned about Polamalu, obviously. He'll be fine, and so will Santonio Holmes. There is some talk now of the Steelers keeping two QBs on the final roster, and hiding both Jacobs and Shane Boyd on the practice squad; both have exciting talent, but neither has distinguished hismelf. Jacobs is thinking way too much (and way too slowly?), and Boyd seems to have only one gun in his arsenal. Duce, as Joseph Aubele argues in his blog, may be reaching the end of the line. Verron Haynes simply looks better in every aspect of the game.
Should make the squad:
Quincy Morgan, WR (a little inconsistent, but, as a sixth WR, makes the Steelers very deep at the position)
Rising:
Richard Seigler, LB (big tackler; might make the final squad)
Rian Wallace, LB (utility player in the mode of James Harrison, plays inside and outside; looked great on the INT return)
Mike Lorello, S (exciting player; had a sack; would be great asset on special teams)
John Kuhn, RB (Making Duce more expendable?)
No room at the inn:
Lee Mays, WR
Anthony Madison, CB (skilled but inconsistent; possible practice squad player?)
Sean Morey, WR/ST (a valuable player, but, given the skill at WR, expendable)
And one note about the Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson, the rookie QB from South Alabama, is the real deal. If Brad Johnson gets hurt, we could be looking at a Ben Roethlisberger situation. Once Jackson gets into the starting QB role, it might be hard to get him out.
Don't panic yet, friends. Friday's game against the Eagles will be give insight.
posted by Shane at 9:35 AM
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