Quick Yinzing: Steelers improve to 2-0 in preseason

Welcome to “Quick Yinzing”, a fast reaction article where a member of the SCU staff gives their initial post-game impressions without digging into any films, stats, or other analysis. It’s as real as that car ride home or sobering down at the bar following the game!

When is a win not a “win”?

That would be in the preseason, where records do not count, and also do not tell the entire story for a game. Of course, if this were the regular season, a “W” would be a win by any definition.

However, in these exhibition games, you want to see the team gel early, and we’re not seeing that as much as we’d maybe like to due to some players watching from the sidelines. On the offense, it was third-string quarterback Josh Dobbs filling in for Ben Roethlisberger, and also for backup Landry Jones.

Dobbs went three-and-out on Pittsburgh’s first two possessions, running an offense which featured backup linemen, and a backup running back (Fitzgerald Toussaint). Another backup who figures to be the primary one come to the start of the season, rookie James Conner, received an ovation for his efforts but also looked like a rookie at times too.

There was no Antonio Brown, but there was a Martavis Bryant sighting, as the team attempted to work him in early by getting the receiver his first touches in something like 16 months.

The defense had their own issues, missing a key playmaker in Ryan Shazier, starting safety Mike Mitchell was out as well and having Javon Hargrave leave the game for concussion protocol. While some of the other starters were out there, the Falcons also had most of theirs, and what ensued was not a pretty display for the defense.

In fact, the only “pretty” plays on the day mostly came from the special teams unit, where punter Jordan Berry dropped bombs and looked as sharp as ever pushing the opposition’s starting field position backward. Chris Boswell also nailed a 42-yard field goal, but it was two other special teams plays which really stood out.

The first was a blocked punt by Roosevelt Nix to end the first half, while the second was a bit more spectacular, a dashing 64-yard punt return touchdown by running back Trey Williams, who further complicated the “does AB return punts” argument!

I’d be remiss to mention Jordan Dangerfield‘s two interceptions, but stats won’t always cut it when it comes to performances in the preseason. James Conner nearly ran for 100 yards, but that was playing nearly the entire game, with a good chunk of the numbers against backups of backups. Not to say I’m not excited to see what he can produce, but you have to take that into consideration just as you would all of the offensive and defensive starters sitting out.

Moving forward, we should see a number of those starters suit up, if only for a quarter, during the Steelers third preseason game, a “dress rehearsal” against the Indianapolis Colts.

Stay tuned for more breakdowns on the preseason games throughout the week here at Steel City Underground.


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