Collectively, the Pittsburgh Steelers performed their worst sport of the season Sunday in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts and had been rightfully saddled with their first loss. They nearly pulled off the comeback, rallying from a 17-0 gap to only fall in need of the top. Blame must be unfold round for the loss. The offense was too sloppy with its two turnovers, the run sport was inefficient, the protection got here out flat and allowed too many third down conversions. We have already got and can proceed to debate all of that. However head coach Mike Tomlin had a stinker of a sport filled with bizarre choices that did the staff no favors.
Let’s break it down.
1. Gameday Roster Building
How Mike Tomlin selected to assemble his gameday roster might be essentially the most forgiving factor on this record. Accidents impacted the staff with 5 of their inactives injured to a point. Solely CB Darius Rush and WR Roman Wilson had been wholesome scratches. Placing collectively a roster mid-season to juggle the wants of offense, protection, particular groups, and the sport plan and balancing round accidents isn’t simple. I get that.
Nonetheless, the development for this sport was odd. The Steelers once more dressed solely 4 extensive receivers and three edge rushers (if you happen to embrace DeMarvin Leal in that group) whereas suiting up six different defensive linemen and 11 defensive backs. Did DL Dean Lowry want to decorate in a sport the place Pittsburgh may fairly be anticipated to be in sub-package in opposition to the 11 personnel-heavy Colts, getting into the sport with the Seventh-highest charge of three receiver units within the league? In opposition to the tough and tumble Chargers, I get going heavy on the d-line. The Colts aren’t constructed the identical method.
Tomlin would argue that as a result of Leal was going to see extra EDGE snaps, an additional lineman was wanted. In the end although, Lowry and even Isaiahh Loudermilk solely performed a handful of snaps on this one as Pittsburgh operated from sub-package a lot of the day. Based mostly on my early charting, over 70-percent of their snaps.
Having 11 DBs possibly then is smart for a sport like this. However the staff in all probability may’ve gotten away with simply 10, nonetheless giving them flexibility. Terrell Edmunds didn’t must play in dime packages. It’s a job DeShon Elliott may’ve assumed. Did CB Thomas Graham Jr. must be elevated for this one? There are particular groups issues right here, particularly figuring out Nick Herbig was beginning at OLB and – I assume – had his particular groups duties curtailed.
However 4 receivers and three EDGEs may be very skinny the place one damage actually places stress on the staff. Tomlin may counter and say Cordarrelle Patterson is one other receiver however given he was the No. 2 operating again on the day, you begin placing an excessive amount of on his plate. And Pittsburgh is fortunate Herbig didn’t miss a lot time along with his ankle damage, which might’ve in any other case left the staff with two EDGE gamers, a hybrid Leal being certainly one of them. The final two occasions the Steelers dressed solely three outdoors linebackers, somebody has gotten harm. Alex Highsmith in opposition to the New England Patriots final yr (T.J. Watt additionally performed by way of damage that day) when Markus Golden was sat and Herbig in opposition to the Colts when Pittsburgh rolled with three.
You possibly can twist issues round and perceive the conclusions Tomlin got here to. However this development was enjoying with fireplace.
2. Failing To Problem Najee Harris’ third Down Run
On third and a couple of from the Steelers personal 38 late within the first quarter, RB Najee Harris appeared to cross the 40-yard line for a primary down. As an alternative, the refs marked him 1-yard quick on the 39. Tomlin didn’t problem and as a substitute went for it, the conversion failing and the Colts getting the ball in superior subject place.
Harris’ run ought to’ve drawn the pink flag. Whereas spot fouls are robust to win, Tomlin’s rule is he’ll problem if there’s a transparent landmark. Difficult if somebody made it to the 32 or 33-yard-line in a pile of our bodies is unlikely to be reversed. However clear marks like being close to the sidelines and the primary down marker or 5-yard intervals just like the 40-yard line that stretch the entire subject is simpler. Right here’s what Tomlin stated in 2017 which, humorous sufficient, referenced the 40.
“Very hardly ever will I problem a line to realize, except there’s visually a line to realize,” stated Tomlin on the time. “I used to be standing on the yard marker, it was possibly the 40-yard line. There was a white line. When the road to realize is a line that’s the solely time I’ll take into account difficult a spot as a result of the visible proof required to flip it you in all probability have a greater shot so far as seeing one thing definitive.”
And right here’s a have a look at the play.
I’m not going to faux like that’s a slam dunk overturn and the congestion makes it onerous to know when precisely Najee is down. However the yard-line and the soccer and clearly seen, rising the possibility of the decision being overturned in Pittsburgh’s favor. A second price difficult. Maybe Tomlin received dangerous intel from whoever feeds him information from the sales space and being on the street is tougher to collect such info. However this deserved a sales space assessment.
And the fourth down name itself? Tomlin says don’t make the easy advanced. What ought to’ve been a QB sneak became a lure run from cut up again the place Pittsburgh misplaced a blocker and simply botched the play, turning it over on downs. Which may not have been Tomlin’s play name and blame can fall on Arthur Smith too, however in these weighty moments, Tomlin has to verify this name is Fields discovering the bubble and sneaking forward.
3. Difficult Colts WR Josh Downs’ Catch
4 performs after failing to problem Harris’ run, Tomlin challenged a third and 6 reception by Colts WR Josh Downs. This one simply didn’t make any sense. None in anyway. At first, it appeared like he challenged if Downs received the primary down, which it appeared like he did. However the problem was over if Downs caught the ball. Right here’s the play.
This isn’t even shut. The ball by no means hits the bottom. Clear as day, it’s a catch. A straightforward problem for the Steelers to lose, costing them their first timeout of the half. One that will’ve been helpful afterward. That is Tomlin’s worst mistake of the day. Once more, blame the intel he’s getting in his headset, it’s not like he’s taking a look at a monitor of the replay, however this form of weak problem can’t occur.
4. Group Comes Out Flat
Assessing a catch-all of the staff being down early. Digging a 17-0 gap and making an attempt to storm again solely to fall quick. Felt like a playoff sport. Gamers take warmth right here, too. They’re in cost executing. However it’s truthful to placed on a training employees when the opposition comes out delivering the primary blow. Indy’s up-tempo offense had Pittsburgh on their heels that first drive whereas it’s nonetheless a wrestle for the offense to get a lot going early. They’ve simply 10 first quarter factors this season.
5. Finish Of Half Run Play
Trailing 17-0 on the Colts’ 44 with one timeout and :41 left within the half, what do the Steelers dial up? An RPO that became a run by RB Aaron Shampklin. It netted 5-yards and a primary down however saved the clock rolling, the staff not snapping once more till there have been 23 seconds left.
Fields was sacked on the next play, forcing Pittsburgh to burn their remaining timeout for a web acquire of 2-yards, on the Colts’ 42, and with none timeouts left with 18 seconds to go.
In fact, Tomlin isn’t the play caller and Smith can once more be criticized right here. However the staff had a very long time to speak about their calls right here after the refs reviewed George Pickens’ catch the earlier play. That is the place Tomlin can provide his total suggestion, as we’ve seen him do earlier than in big-time moments.
There are occasions the place I perceive the Steelers hyper-conservative nature. Their third and long term in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1 to get into subject aim vary. I get it given the circumstances. It’s early within the sport, you’re trying to tie it. However down 17 on the half? Be aggressive, attempt to come away with seven.
I’m guessing the actual fact Pittsburgh was getting the ball at half performed a job right here, the Steelers making an attempt to double-dip with a subject aim and landing out of the half, however this was too conservative for a staff down three-possessions. They nonetheless got here away with a subject aim however I didn’t like this second. And it certain would’ve been good to have that timeout misplaced from the horrible problem on Downs’ catch earlier.
6. Fourth Quarter Timeout
A forgotten bizarre one from Tomlin. Colts up 24-17 mid-way by way of the third quarter. Steelers stuff RB Trey Sermon for a 2-yard loss, organising 4th and 5 from the 16. Indy brings out the sector aim unit to kick a subject aim. And the Steelers…name a timeout? It was fast, too, proper after the third down play ended. Wasn’t even a problem of each side lined up and Pittsburgh having say, 12 males on the sector.
From the second the Colts had been stopped on fourth right down to the time the ref got here on the mic to announce the timeout, 10 seconds elapsed. Which suggests the precise timeout was signaled even faster than that.
Why? No clue. The Colts didn’t point out they had been going for it. Joe Flacco is strolling off the sector. The Colts are clearly kicking the sector aim to go up 10 factors with six minutes left. Why burn the timeout? There was no damage and no confusion from what I can inform. I’d genuinely love a solution. Perhaps one thing occurred that required it. However I can’t make sense of burning your first timeout forward of the sector aim that’s going to place you down two-scores.
7. No Timeout Final Possession
You possibly can’t take timeouts with you. However Tomlin did. On the ultimate possession, the Steelers didn’t use their final timeout. They didn’t use it after the catastrophe that was the botched snap that misplaced 12 yards, organising 2nd and 22. They didn’t use it when Najee Harris couldn’t cease the clock on the third and 22 completion, going backwards out of bounds to maintain time operating.
That led to a hurried 4th down name with time operating out, a Fields incompletion that ended the sport.
Tomlin stated he needed to maintain the timeout in his again pocket in case Pittsburgh received into subject vary. And I get that. I understand how the sector modifications and the way defenses play you in another way if you’re out of timeouts. However the again pocket clock stoppage doesn’t matter in the event that they don’t convert on 4th down first and I’d moderately calm down an clearly chaotic couple of performs for my finest name in a gotta-have-it second. You could possibly even map out the subsequent name if you happen to needed to in the course of the break. In the end, the staff didn’t use its sole timeout on their remaining possession.
Remaining Ideas
Not precisely Tomlin’s smoothest sport and his staff’s play matched that power. To be clear, I’m not saying Tomlin is horrible and must be fired. That is only a matter-of-fact evaluation of the sport.
I may be the particular person panicking the least, ugly because the loss was. Nonetheless believe in Justin Fields and this protection and so they can bounce again Sunday evening with a win over the Dallas Cowboys. However any of Tomlin’s choices in opposition to the Colts had me scratching my head.