Passing Out Flowers from Steelers Win vs. Bengals (Nov. 16)
via NFL+
No window dressing…straight in. These are the dudes that led us to victory on Sunday in my opinion. Keep coming back for more of my opinions!
Yinz better know where I’m starting. When we played the Bengals last month, Ja’Marr Chase had 16 catches for 161 yards and a TD, but he didn’t have to take a trip to Pierre island that day did he? On a serious note, I touched on this in my last post, but James Pierre has had some really tough moments in the black and gold since being brought in as an UDFA in 2020. He has played in spots this season and done so at a very high level, but I wasn’t ready for him to break out like that as a starter. It just goes to show what certain guys are capable of when the supporting cast around them raises the standard. In the play above, he goes stride-for-stride with Ja’Marr Chase, maintains great leverage, and most importantly, plays the ball. Teach tape. I know Darius Slay has had a tough year, but you’re crazy if you don’t think that Pierre benefits from Slay and Ramsey being in the film room with him.
I went back and checked out the ‘nearest defender’ stuff just to see what Pierre got dinged with in this game. NGS hit him with 5 receptions for 44 yards. Of those 5 catches, he was only playing man coverage on two of them: a 7-yard completion to Iosivas, and a 13-yard completion to Higgins. He was LOCKING these folks up. Shahtaht James Pierre.
I thought about bunching all the DBs together for one long soliloquy, but I thought Joey Porter Jr. and James Pierre both deserved to have their names mentioned separately. The perception is out there that Joey Porter Jr. is a walking flag. As much as I resent that notion, there’s certainly some truth to it, specifically when he matches up against this Bengals core. I’m trying to say, delicately, that he has been pretty bad against the Bengals in his career. Check out the play above. Remember, that initial contact he has on Ja’Marr Chase is only legal within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage. He does a WONDERFUL job letting Chase go 5 yards into the route, and then he puts his foot in the ground, closes separation, and uses that length of his to get a PBU. Again, teach tape. It’s no coincidence that Joey Porter Jr. and James Pierre are two of the best corners in the league in terms of passer rating allowed and yards allowed per coverage snap. It’s a shame that Mike Tomlin has already declared Darius Slay the starter when he’s healthy, because JPJ and James Pierre have become must-see TV.
I feel like every time I do a post like this, I show a ton of love to the defense, and not so much to the offense. Unfortunately, that’s going to be the case again in this one. The offense just leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion, especially lately. Honorable mention to the two running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell who continue to overachieve among all the shite going on around them. But, come on, guys…we know who gets the game ball on offense. Darnell Washington is a straight up unicorn. There’s something so magical about just throwing a football short…maybe 5 yards…and telling your big man to just run in a straight line and annihilate everything in your path, and then he just goes out there and does it. Ya know? It’s so simple and beautiful. I am grateful.
We can all see that T.J. Watt isn’t producing sacks at the record-breaking pace he once was, which, ya know…who is? Still, I continue to be impressed at his ability to affect the game one way or another. You can chip and double team him into oblivion, but then you look at the box score at the end of the night, and it’s like…T.J. Watt: 0 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 passes defended, and you’re like wait what? When did that happen? But, yes, he did get his hands on two of Flacco’s throws in this one. Between he, Yahya Black, and Cam Heyward, our d-line oughta be near the top of the league in batted balls. Pause.
Hey man…if you saw the news that Alex Highsmith was out for this game and you didn’t immediately fire up fanduel and bet on Nick Herbig to get a sack, then that’s your own damn fault. He actually only finished this game with one sack, but don’t look at that box score for too long…just go watch the film…Herbig had the Bengals LT in hell all day. I’m pretty sure we’re all on the same page on this one at this juncture, but just so we’re clear: Nick Herbig is the best pure pass rusher we have on this roster. Point blank period. Enjoy him while we have him, because I’m not so sure that the Steelers are going to be able to shell out the kinda money he will command when he’s due to be paid.
I needed this win like I need air, to be honest. As an Illinois resident, I need this next one too, though. We’re on to Chicago.
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