2019 Steelers: The More Things Change...

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chris hansen of goats
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Of course this is the week the mighty fucking Pats play like a Pop Warner team.

Edit: Right after Seattle did likewise. What a joke.
 
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dcmissle

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Of course this is the week the mighty fucking Pats play like a Pop Warner team.
Tonight’s performance was foreshadowed by some ragged recent efforts against lesser teams that turned out to be wins. Not an on-off switch but instead a dimmer.

Especially with with the hobbled offense, nothing about tonight surprises me. Harbaugh and Martindale have had 2 weeks to lay traps.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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6-2 with a QB who can barely throw a forward pass. :mad:
In all of his starts, Tim Tebow had a completion% greater than 50% three times and greater than 60% once.

Lamar Jackson went 17-23 for 163 yards and 1 TD - 107.7 passer rating - against the so-called best secondary in the NFL and became the first QB under 25 that has beaten BB in the last 26 such games.

Are you still on the "Lamar can't throw" kick?
 

johnmd20

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In all of his starts, Tim Tebow had a completion% greater than 50% three times and greater than 60% once.

Lamar Jackson went 17-23 for 163 yards and 1 TD - 107.7 passer rating - against the so-called best secondary in the NFL and became the first QB under 25 that has beaten BB in the last 26 such games.

Are you still on the "Lamar can't throw" kick?
It's absurd that Lamar is being completely dismissed as a QB, despite putting up an incredible season. It's like people only remember that playoff game, where he was a rookie and given a horrific game plan.

edit- and you simply cannot just look at the passing stats when it comes to Lamar. Right now, his running is an incredible weapon. It won't last forever, but for now, it's too impactful to ignore.
 

BigSoxFan

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It's absurd that Lamar is being completely dismissed as a QB, despite putting up an incredible season. It's like people only remember that playoff game, where he was a rookie and given a horrific game plan.

edit- and you simply cannot just look at the passing stats when it comes to Lamar. Right now, his running is an incredible weapon. It won't last forever, but for now, it's too impactful to ignore.
If Lamar got hurt like Mahomes and had to stick as a pocket passer for a stretch, how effective do you think he’d be? Lamar the QB is very good. Lamar the runner is elite, probably the best this league has ever seen. Lamar the thrower is still pretty raw. He had that nice throw to Andrews, I think, and hit on a million crossing routes.

The big thing about his is he has learned to take what the defense gives him. A disciplined Lamar is an absolute handful. Since they weren’t able to stop the run, the Pats D wasn’t able to get him in enough tough situations and they paid the price.
 

johnmd20

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If Lamar got hurt like Mahomes and had to stick as a pocket passer for a stretch, how effective do you think he’d be? Lamar the QB is very good. Lamar the runner is elite, probably the best this league has ever seen. Lamar the thrower is still pretty raw. He had that nice throw to Andrews, I think, and hit on a million crossing routes.

The big thing about his is he has learned to take what the defense gives him. A disciplined Lamar is an absolute handful. Since they weren’t able to stop the run, the Pats D wasn’t able to get him in enough tough situations and they paid the price.
I literally said his running 'won't last forever'.

If he can't run like he does, he's obviously way less effective. Look at Cam Newton and how he's done once his running stopped. And Lamar is an exceptional runner, the best the league has been, even better than Vick, it appears. But while he can run, he's a top tier QB in the NFL.
 

BigSoxFan

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I literally said his running 'won't last forever'.

If he can't run like he does, he's obviously way less effective. Look at Cam Newton and how he's done once his running stopped. And Lamar is an exceptional runner, the best the league has been, even better than Vick, it appears. But while he can run, he's a top tier QB in the NFL.
And I literally was talking about his throwing ability. We all know the total package is effective but I thought we were specifically talking about Lamar as a thrower.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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If Lamar got hurt like Mahomes and had to stick as a pocket passer for a stretch, how effective do you think he’d be? Lamar the QB is very good. Lamar the runner is elite, probably the best this league has ever seen. Lamar the thrower is still pretty raw. He had that nice throw to Andrews, I think, and hit on a million crossing routes.
Didn't really mean to hijack the thread so I'll stop after this but Lamar the passer might not be a MVP candidate but he's still very good. Here's some stats to back it up:

(1) Going into Pats game, on traditional drop backs, Lamar ranked 11th in Expected Points Added ("EPA") per in-pocket attempts with no play action
(2) Of his 48 attempts from empty formations (generally straight drop backs) — which have produced a league-leading EPA of 22.9 — 47 have come within the confines of the pocket

source: https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/11/nfl-lamar-jackson-pocket-stats-patriots, citing https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/lamar-jacksons-impact-by-the-numbers/
 

mr_smith02

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The only thing that makes coming into the Steelers thread worse this season is coming in and having to read about the Ravens. LOL
 

Vinho Tinto

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Well, today showed that Ben will not have to worry about getting his starting job back next season.
He's been terrible from the jump. Every once in a while he can throw a nice ball down the sideline, but he stinks overall. Career backup at best. May end up working in the XFL by 2021.
 

mr_smith02

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He's been terrible from the jump. Every once in a while he can throw a nice ball down the sideline, but he stinks overall. Career backup at best. May end up working in the XFL by 2021.
Completely agree...he can't seem to read the defense, waits way too late to release the ball, has no zip on his passes, and seems to have no sense of when the pocket is collapsing around him. The NFL game is vastly faster than college and he's showing why succeeding at QB in the NFL takes next-level skill and talent.
 

Vinho Tinto

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The NFL game is vastly faster than college and he's showing why succeeding at QB in the NFL takes next-level skill and talent.
I have a massive bias against the Big 12 QBs. You can make a case that, before Lincoln Riley groomed Baker and Kyler, the last quality NFL QB the conference produced was Troy Aikman - who transferred from OU to UCLA.
 

BigJimEd

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Not a Steelers fan but that seemed overly harsh and bit out of character for Tomlin or at least my impression of him.
 

mr_smith02

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I have absolutely been critical of Mike Tomlin over the years, but must give a tip of the cap for the performance he is getting out of the crew of players he has this season.
 

NYCSox

chris hansen of goats
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Yeah it's been a great job. But game management is still ... not good. Who the hell would even consider a fake punt at their own 40 with a 10 point lead and 8 minutes left in the game?
 

KiltedFool

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Turns out the call for the fake was waved off but the punter didn’t get the word.
 

DanoooME

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Yeah it's been a great job. But game management is still ... not good. Who the hell would even consider a fake punt at their own 40 with a 10 point lead and 8 minutes left in the game?
Pete Carroll last week against the Vikings. There were 11 minutes left, but it was from their own 32.
 

Vinho Tinto

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They've won 7 out of 8 after starting 1-4. They've done it with their 3rd and 4th string QBs in training camp. I was livid with the fake punt, but that is not the story of yesterday's game.

Joe Haden has 3 picks in the last 2 games and is 3rd in the NFL for pass deflections.

Bud Dupree is either having a classic contract season or has slowly turned into a Pro Bowl player. If he records a half sack in the final 3 games, he and Watt become the first Steelers duo to have 10+ sacks since Harrison/Woodley in 2010.
 

johnmd20

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No question that if this team punches a ticket to the postseason it will be because of the impressive defensive play.
Fair to say, considering the QBs are Mason Rudolph and a guy named Duck. With the top RB and the top WR hurt for a good portion of the season. Pitt took it on the chin with injuries to the offense this year and then they made the trade for Minkah and the defense has been strong and led the way.

The fact that Pittsburgh is in the mix is a minor miracle.
 

NYCSox

chris hansen of goats
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That was just ugly. Buffalo has a great D but you just can't make all those mistakes and win with this prehistoric offense.

Anyway I think they still sneak in but will have no chance with Mahomes.