Steelers at Chargers (Week 10) | Pre-game Discussion

[powderblueboy]

Much better than what? Defense was lights out yesterday.

This is a pretty even game, like most in the NFL. Whichever team makes the most random unpredictable mistakes or TOs will lose, and folks will talk about the outcome like its some fucking manifest destiny and eternal truth anyway.

The Chargers are 6-3, they earn their respect too. Nobody is giving them games. LFG LAC!

That was just one of Jamrock's patented,

Chargers have to play out of their minds,
60 minutes of crisp, focused, error free football,
while the big bad opponent (Pittsburgh) needs to come in unfocused,
red eyed from the night before, reeking of whiskey and gin,
and shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly,

just so that the Chargers are still in it by the middle of the 4rth quarter post.

[Boltx]

This!

Roman can scheme to have Gadsden and Fisk chip the edges

I wouldn't mind 6 OL or 5Ol/Fisk all the time

I am fine with less in the pattern to give Herbert time

This is absolutely the way forward, simplify the playbook and keep Herbert alive.

I'm not saying to give up trying to win, but avoiding a catastrophic, career-altering injury to Herbert is key. Need to think beyond this season. If it means limiting our offensive options, so be it. He just gets hit SO MUCH.

[powderblueboy]

Hard to gauge the defensive effort yesterday as Ward was flat out terrible and missed 2-3 wide open guys.

Rodgers will find the open guys against our zone if he has time. Hopefully we can find creative ways to generate pressure.

This just feels like a bad matchup all around - good trenches vs bad trenches. Be nice if defense and/or STs chipped in with a score or two.

I agree, Pittsburgh is a much better team .... but still highly beatable.

However, is their Oline/rb better than Tennessee's? That is what has gashed the Chargers this year.
If Ward made those two to three throws, Tennessee was still going to lose that game.

Chargers now have chess pieces they can move around to stress out your weakest of the back 7 defenders.
All Herbert needs is a bit of time.

[richpjr]

I agree. Chargers can't turn the ball over like the Colts did

Special Teams needs to play better

Agree - the Steelers forced 6 turnovers and only won by 7 points.

[jamrock]

That was just one of Jamrock's patented,

Chargers have to play out of their minds,
60 minutes of crisp, focused, error free football,
while the big bad opponent (Pittsburgh) needs to come in unfocused,
red eyed from the night before, reeking of whiskey and gin,
and shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly,

just so that the Chargers are still in it by the middle of the 4rth quarter post.

Zoom out people. Pittsburgh is a better team than Tennessee. The defense can't be abused like they were against the Colts and Wash and we know Pitt likes to run and use their monster TE's both of which have been issues in prior games for our defense. We're going to have to be more stout.

[richpjr]

Zoom out people. Pittsburgh is a better team than Tennessee. The defense can't be abused like they were against the Colts and Wash and we know Pitt likes to run and use their monster TE's both of which have been issues in prior games for our defense. We're going to have to be more stout.

Their pass rush scares me as they have the 3rd most sacks and have forced the second most turnovers.

Having said that, the Steelers do not have a good offense. They are 30th in the league at 87.3 rushing yards per game, 20th in the league in passing at 200.9 yards per game and 28th in total offense at 288.1 yards per game.

Despite the sacks and turnovers, the Steelers do not have a very good defense. They are 14th in the league in rush defense allowing 105.5 yards per game, dead last in passing yard allowed at 278.3 yards per game and are 30th in total yards allowed at 383.8 yards per game. They are 26th in points allowed at 24.4.

If we can take care of the ball and somehow protect Herbert enough to make some plays (a huge task to state the obvious), this is a winnable game. But we gotta get the ball out quick and run enough to make the play action more effective.

[jamrock]

Their pass rush scares me as they have the 3rd most sacks and have forced the second most turnovers.

Having said that, the Steelers do not have a good offense. They are 30th in the league at 87.3 rushing yards per game, 20th in the league in passing at 200.9 yards per game and 28th in total offense at 288.1 yards per game.

Despite the sacks and turnovers, the Steelers do not have a very good defense. They are 14th in the league in rush defense allowing 105.5 yards per game, dead last in passing yard allowed at 278.3 yards per game and are 30th in total yards allowed at 383.8 yards per game. They are 26th in points allowed at 24.4.

If we can take care of the ball and somehow protect Herbert enough to make some plays (a huge task to state the obvious), this is a winnable game. But we gotta get the ball out quick and run enough to make the play action more effective.

Yes their pass rush and run defense limited us last season and Herbert was hobbled so the threat of him running or rolling out was gone. Hopefully Roman can come up with a plan to keep Herbert on the move where he's one of the best throwing and running. But I don't expect that.

on defense, we play better against immobile QBs but Rodgers is slippery in the pocket. Our run defense has not been good this season and we know Pitt will want to establish that and get the ball to the TE's and Probably DK. I just expect a physical game with them and we will need to match their toughness. Tomlin prides himself on that element

[Bolt4Knob]

This is absolutely the way forward, simplify the playbook and keep Herbert alive.

I'm not saying to give up trying to win, but avoiding a catastrophic, career-altering injury to Herbert is key. Need to think beyond this season. If it means limiting our offensive options, so be it. He just gets hit SO MUCH.

But, Roman also can't limit Herbert running. As Herbert running, he might get tackled, but he can also slide or run out of bounds as opposed to taking hits

herbert also needs to be willing to get out of the pocket quicker, not take the sack, throw it away, whatever. 3rd and 10 is better than 3rd and 16+

Plus, Herbert running the ball is a weapon - it works for Allen and others. Use your skills young man!

[Riverwalk]

But, Roman also can't limit Herbert running. As Herbert running, he might get tackled, but he can also slide or run out of bounds as opposed to taking hits

herbert also needs to be willing to get out of the pocket quicker, not take the sack, throw it away, whatever. 3rd and 10 is better than 3rd and 16+

Plus, Herbert running the ball is a weapon - it works for Allen and others. Use your skills young man!

Agree. IMO, there were far too few designed rollouts which left Herbert standing in the pocket like a sitting duck.

This and how the TE’s and RB’s could be utilized more effectively for quick screens frustrates me about Gro’s play calling which too often does not account for who is manning his OL.

[dmac_bolt]

Professional gamblers who risk money for a living don't think PIT is a stone cold lock. I posted earlier - its fairly even in that both teams have notable flaws and strengths. For LAC its our injuries to the OL. For PIT, its more endemic to their overall roster.

A lot of talk about the Steelers defense, and they did create a big win yesterday. But they are 30th in total yards per game, 32nd in yards pass/game, 18th in ppg allowed - this plays to our offensive strength. Maybe they get their sacks, ok - if they don't break Herbert, he's never dead. Their offense has been very pedestrian. they are 28th in total ypg. 30th in rush ypg, 17th in pass ypg.

We all know who we have played. lets look at who PIT has played:

Jets-W
SEA-L
NE-W
MIN-W
CLE-W
CIN-L
GB-L
IND-W

They beat NE before NE started to play well. NE also lost to LVR to start the year and they started their 6-game run the week after PIT. NYJ and CLE are just horrible. We both beat MIN. And they got the big upset yesterday. They showed that a team can beat a better team by forcing turnovers and not making big mistakes. But they were +5 in turnovers and only won by 7, that may say something in itself.

If Chargers play reasonably clean (not perfect), Herbert can score enough points and our Defense will stop them enough times to win. If we don't play well - they can win. Teams are gonna have to show up, no trophy by mail this week.

[Heatmiser]

Steelers can be a bit Jekyll and Hyde. But Chargers always seem to struggle mightily against them. We have won a few here and there but generally out muscled and out hustled. Even Duck Dodges beat us. I would be pessimistic about this game even with a healthy OL, which we ain't got.

TG

[Velo]

Harbaugh and Roman will have a plan to protect Herbert well enough to get the win. I think the defense will have a good game.