Pittsburgh Steelers: More Tricks Than Treats for Pittsburgh to Handle Vs Saints
Playing their first game without Aaron Smith, the Pittsburgh Steelers had to face a dangerous New Orleans Saints offense with Drew Brees at quarterback.
As expected the Saints came out passing early and often.
While the Steelers held New Orleans’ offense in check for most of the game, it is a near impossible task to shut them down throughout as Drew Brees was lights out in the second half, completing 20 of 22.
The defense held the Saints to only three first half points but short field position set up by questionable coaching moves was just too much for the Steelers defense to handle.
Pittsburgh’s offense could not take advantage from the defensive effort, allowing the Saints pressure to completely disrupt their offensive game plan.
As usual, the Bruce Arians’ offense looked completely unprepared for a high pressure defense on the road in a prime time game. It was as though Pittsburgh had never played in a hostile environment against a team that rushed the passer nearly every play.
Arians did not adjust his game plan, continuing to send receivers on mid-deep routes giving Ben Roethlisberger no time to throw the ball, until the fourth quarter and by then it was too late.
While the loss may seem bad on paper, realistically it is not.
The loss came to the defending Super Bowl Champions who just so happen to be an NFC team.
New Orleans was playing at night game at home on Halloween and was looking to bounce back after an embarrassing loss to Cleveland. More importantly, they needed a win to stay in their division race.
For the Steelers, it will be imperative that they shake this one off as they head to Cincinnati to play the AFC North rival Bengals next Monday night.
Quarterback: C-
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Ben Roethlisberger had pressure in his face all night long playing behind a porous offensive line that looked clueless on how to pick up a blitz.
Even when he did have time though, Roethlisberger was unable to connect with his receivers as he usually is.
Roethlisberger’s one chance at a long touchdown was prevented when rookie Emmanuel Sanders broke off his route, dropping a ball that was intended for a streaking Hines Ward who would have scored a touchdown.
It wasn't until the fourth quarter when Arians adjusted his play calling to include more short and medium routes that Roethlisberger came alive.
By this point it was too late.
Though the Steelers scored a quick touchdown, after going down 20-10, Roethlisberger was unable to lead a last minute drive to close the gap, throwing an interception that sealed the game.
Roethlisberger finished 17 for 28 with 195 yards and an interception.
Season GPA: 2.30
Running Backs: B-
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Rashard Mendenhall was running into the back of his linemen for much of the game. Then the fourth quarter came.
After Roethlisberger spent time picking the Saints defense apart with short passes against a soft defense, Mendenhall was able to break open a 38-yard touchdown run to bring the Steelers to within 13-10.
As impressive as Mendenhall’s 38-yard scamper was, it was the one yard that he could not get earlier in the game that proved to be costly.
It was curious that Mike Tomlin did not line up Isaac Redman at half back and guard Doug Legursky at fullback since Redman is the Steelers short yardage specialist.
Redman had been running strong, finishing with 19 yards on three carries.
For the running game, however, it was yet another week that they were overall ineffective due to the lack of blocking up front.
Mendenhall did have 71 yards on 15 carries, but without his touchdown run he only averaged 2.4 yards per carry.
Mewelde Moore added another 19 yards on two carries.
Season GPA: 3.20
Wide Receivers: B-
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Antwaan Randle El had one of the biggest receptions of the year which was then called back after a successful Sean Payton challenge.
A diving Randle El was met head on right at the goal line, preventing him from scoring the first touchdown of the game.
Pittsburgh was unable to punch the ball into the end zone leading to a 19-yard Jeff Reed field goal.
Hines Ward looked to have a big catch but was hit, helmet-to-helmet, jarring the ball loose. The defender was not called for the hit and instead Ward drew an offensive pass interference penalty for a push off.
Pittsburgh was unable to connect deep with Mike Wallace. He was limited to three receptions for 43 yards while running intermediate routes.
Emmanuel Sanders had one reception for 21 yards. However it was the play that he did not make that stood out.
As Roethlisberger was scrambling on a fourth down and four, he found Ward running wide open down the sideline, which surely would have been a touchdown.
Sanders broke off his route to try to make the reception, not knowing Ward was open, and was unable to haul in the ball resulting in a turnover on downs.
This play was the beginning of the end for the Steelers.
Season GPA: 3.30
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Tight Ends: C+
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For the first time all season all three tight ends made a reception.
Pittsburgh’s tight ends finished with five receptions for 69 yards.
Normally this type of production would be encouraging but not this evening.
On what appeared to be the big play of the game for the Steelers, Miller caught a ball over the middle and was picking up big yardage. Then, what quickly looked to be a 25-yard gain which was setting the Steelers up for a potential tying or go ahead score turned into disaster.
Miller was spun around and the defender punched the ball from him. The fumble was recovered by the Saints who proceeded to march down the field for the game sealing touchdown.
The usually sure handed Miller went from a potential hero to a goat in the matter of seconds.
Pittsburgh’s tight ends also were unable to help slow the pass rush and while David Johnson helped spring Mendenhall on a 38-yard touchdown run, his missed block of the night is when he fanned on a third and goal from the one. If he makes a block on the play, Mendenhall may be able to score.
Season GPA: 3.10
Offensive Line: D
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For the third straight week Pittsburgh’s offensive line did not look as good as it did earlier in the season.
Take away Mendenhall’s long touchdown run, Pittsburgh’s ground game was only able to muster a 3.5 yards per carry average.
Since Roethlisberger’s return, the offensive line looks like it forgot how to run block.
Of greater concern was how terrible they were against the pass rush. Roethlisberger had defenders coming at him all night, though he was only sacked three times.
The guards are too unathletic and slow to effectively pull in the running game and looked confused against New Orleans ferocious pass rush.
Season GPA: 2.44
Defensive Line: B
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The numbers look great. New Orleans had 21 carries for 30 yards and a paltry 1.4 yards per carry average.
Do not let those fool you, the Saints showed to commitment to running, plus they had their third and fourth string running backs in the game.
The more important factors were the plays that the defensive line made, or did not make.
Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason were invisible, not making even one noticeable positive play for the defense.
On the other hand, Casey Hampton blew up one play near the goal line, showing that he can still be unstoppable when he wants to be and Chris Hoke did the same.
The Steelers will really need to get Brett Keisel back soon if they want to have any sort of disruption from their defensive line.
Season GPA: 3.45
Linebackers: A-
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James Harrison had the only sack by a linebacker but the unit as a whole was very physical and effective all night.
Brees was hit three times by Harrison and was saved from more by his offensive line holding the Steelers star linebacker.
LaMarr Woodley put another hit on Brees and drew a holding call while playing an overall very physical game, showing no signs of an injured hamstring.
The stars of the night, though, may have been the inside linebackers.
James Farrior played a strong game, laying hard hits on the Saints and played with speed, finishing with five tackles, one for a loss as well as a pass defended.
Lawrence Timmons was even better, accumulating 11 tackles, two for a loss, and one quarterback hit.
Even in pass coverage Timmons played well, but also came up inches short a couple of times, including a near miss on tipping the ball on the Saints last touchdown.
Season GPA: 3.20
Defensive Backs: D
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Looking at the positive, Troy Polamalu played one of the most physical games of his career. Bryant McFadden had a sack and a huge forced fumble, which the Steelers offense wasted, and Ike Taylor made his second interception of the year.
That is about it.
Drew Brees connected on 34 of 44 passes for 305 yards, including a 50-yard pass after a blown assignment.
Pittsburgh’s defense allowed Brees to complete 20 of 22 passes in the second half and with future games against Carson Palmer and Tom Brady, they will most certainly need to improve.
Despite the overall terrible performance, Brees only had two passing touchdowns and the Saints were held to 20 points.
Season GPA: 2.23
Special Teams: C
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Jeff Reed connected on a 19-yard field goal and then later missed badly on a 51-yard field goal attempt, setting up a Saints score right before the half..
Daniel Sepulveda played well, averaging 48 yards on four punts and had two downed inside of the 20 yard line. The punt coverage unit was not as good, allowing one return to go 17 yards.
After successfully keeping Devon Bess in check last week, Pittsburgh’s kick coverage team allowed 27.7 yards per return against the Saints.
Emmanuel Sanders was once again a spark for the Steelers return game, returning one punt 38 yards and three kicks for an average of 32.7 yards, including a long of 41 yards.
For the second straight week, though, Sanders fumbled a kickoff which was recovered by the Steelers.
Season GPA: 2.85
Coaching: D
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Defensively the Steelers could not get off the field in the second half, allowing the Saints to convert six of eight third downs en route to scoring 17 points after holding New Orleans to one for eight in the first half and only three points.
Pittsburgh’s defense had trouble getting to Brees and their defensive backs could not keep the ball away from the Saints receivers.
The Steelers offense was a mess, unable to do anything against the Saints blitz. This is typical of an Arians offense as he continues to try to force long passing plays when Roethlisberger does not have time to throw.
Late in the game, the Steelers offense had success when they went to a short passing game. Either Arians is that clueless or he is that arrogant to not go to this sooner.
Failing to call a quarterback sneak from the one with a 6-5 241 quarterback is also inexcusable.
Mike Tomlin also had some questionable calls.
Once again, Tomlin’s challenge was awful and had no chance of being reverse. This is the norm when he challenges a play.
Of greater consequence were two decisions that led directly to points for the Saints.
Before the half, Tomlin elected to have Reed attempt a 51-yard field goal with plenty of time on the clock. Reed missed and the Saints went down the field and kicked a field goal of their own prior to the half.
Later, Tomlin went for a fourth down and four from inside the Saints zone. The Steelers could have punted, pinning New Orleans deep, but instead failed to pick up the first down.
The game may have gone differently if these situations were handled more conservatively.
Season GPA: 2.53
Study Up: What Must Improve
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Pittsburgh has a very important game in Cincinnati next week.
The Bengals are falling fast the Pittsburgh can all but eliminate them from any contention with a win.
To do so, Tomlin will have to have his team prepared for yet another frenzied environment for an away prime time game.
Surely the Bengals will follow the Saints defensively model and attack the Steelers offense.
Arians will have to develop a game plan that actually takes this into consideration.
Defensively, Dick LeBeau will have to find new ways to get pressure on the quarterback. With their weakness in the backfield, Pittsburgh will have a tough time defending the Bengals talented group of receivers.
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