OT:James Conner

[Fk_Pitt]

Was on the field for 46% of offensive play calls last night. Ryan Switzer was on the field for 67%. I get the difference of the positions...but there is so much to digest here.

Steelers need to do better.

Not that it matters. Between last night and NE’s dismal division, the Patriots locked up home field advantage last night. Provided AB doesn’t blow up the team.

 

[Dointhatrag]

I cant believe on the 3rd and goal at the 1 they didn't run it two times to start the third quarter, instead option to throw a fade then kick a meaningless field goal.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I cant believe on the 3rd and goal at the 1 they didn't run it two times to start the third quarter, instead option to throw a fade then kick a meaningless field goal.

I hate the fade on 3rd down. Always have. Additionally they threw a fade to a guy who still has no chemistry with ben and he ran his route wrong apparently. It’s just another reason why I have been vocal about the Steelers approach to camp and the preseason. I realize that it’s the norm in the league. But last year should have been proof alone that 1/16 of the season of not being sharp will cost you a playoff birth.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Hate him running out of the shotgun. My man needs a blocking back. Not this shotgun handoff silliness.

 

[CCHS82]

Was going to post this in a separate thread but this is good here.

I thought that during his brief pre-season appearance, James ran the ball not to get hurt. Saw him run out of bounds instead of delivering a blow and he was going down much easier than he has in past. I chalked it up to not wanting to get hurt in pre-season.

Last night, there were several times where he did the same. Plus, he appeared to be dancing a bit too much in the backfield. Not hitting the holes and gaining the tough yards. I know that he has slimmed down this year and has been injury prone over his career but I don’t see the same runner that got himself to the NFL.

I am ok re-inventing your game but got to do what has made you successful.

Maybe it’s early and the sample size is still small but I don’t like the style that I see right now for him.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Was going to post this in a separate thread but this is good here.

I thought that during his brief pre-season appearance, James ran the ball not to get hurt. Saw him run out of bounds undressing of delivering a blow and going down much easier than he has in past. I chalked it up to not wanting to get hurt in pre-season.

Last night, there were several times where he did the same. Plus, he appeared to be dancing a bit too much in the backfield. Not hitting the holes and gaining the tough yards. I know that he has slimmed down this year and has been injury prone over his career but I don’t see the same runner that got himself to the NFL.

I am ok re-inventing your game but got to do what has made you successful.

Maybe it’s early and the sample size is still small but I don’t like the style that I see right now for him.

It’s cause he’s running out of shotgun. Dude needs to get ball, start going, make one move just to be at line of scrimmage.

 

[JD1976]

It’s amazing looking back at last year that the games where the Steelers truly committed to be run they were successful — mostly it was the stretch where they won 6 straight games where Conner put up huge numbers, plus the game where James was hurt and Samuels ran over the Patriots. This team definitely needs to run in order to set up the pass as opposed to the opposite philosophy from the last few years.

 

[pittman71]

When the Steelers clean house after this season Connor will be one of the casualties. He and many of the Steelers looked out of their depth against the faster and stronger and more athletic Patriots.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Was going to post this in a separate thread but this is good here.

I thought that during his brief pre-season appearance, James ran the ball not to get hurt. Saw him run out of bounds instead of delivering a blow and he was going down much easier than he has in past. I chalked it up to not wanting to get hurt in pre-season.

Last night, there were several times where he did the same. Plus, he appeared to be dancing a bit too much in the backfield. Not hitting the holes and gaining the tough yards. I know that he has slimmed down this year and has been injury prone over his career but I don’t see the same runner that got himself to the NFL.

I am ok re-inventing your game but got to do what has made you successful.

Maybe it’s early and the sample size is still small but I don’t like the style that I see right now for him.

Interesting observation that I’ll keep an eye on. But I still expect him to be more involved.

But my other point was about Ryan Switzer. If a guy is going to be involved in 67% of your offensive plays AND be a key in your special teams...you gotta do better than him. I think the sample size is large enough for us to see that he’s not capable of much, other than being someone whose best attribute and only attribute is that he gets along with the QB.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Interesting observation that I’ll keep an eye on. But I still expect him to be more involved.

But my other point was about Ryan Switzer. If a guy is going to be involved in 67% of your offensive plays AND be a key in your special teams...you gotta do better than him. I think the sample size is large enough for us to see that he’s not capable of much, other than being someone who actually does get along with the QB.

ryan switzer could be the first player ever to have more receptions than yards. the guy will avg 7 receptions per game for 6 yards..

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Hate him running out of the shotgun. My man needs a blocking back. Not this shotgun handoff silliness.

Rosie Nix did not get one snap.

 

[TempleBAPittMPA]

Rosie Nix did not get one snap.

I wondered if he was still on the roster.

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

I cant believe on the 3rd and goal at the 1 they didn't run it two times to start the third quarter, instead option to throw a fade then kick a meaningless field goal.

Really poor judgement on the coaching to believe with the Oline we have that you don’t believe in them and James (or even Nix) to push it in from a yard out.
Just embarrassing.

Really bad play calling for most of the game.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I wondered if he was still on the roster.

His brother was more involved in Jamie Dixon’s offense than he is in the steeler offense.

How cool is it to get a Rozelle Nix reference in a JC thread!!

 

[RingDinger]

ryan switzer could be the first player ever to have more receptions than yards. the guy will avg 7 receptions per game for 6 yards..

Is there a stat for fair catches + number of times having been tackled by the turf monster? I'm pretty sure he's the all-time recorder holder if there is.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

ryan switzer could be the first player ever to have more receptions than yards. the guy will avg 7 receptions per game for 6 yards..

Moncrief may have had more drops than yards.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Rosie Nix did not get one snap.

But we got Switzer to catch those passes on 2nd and 10 so we can have more manageable 3rd and 9’s.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Is there a stat for fair catches + number of times having been tackled by the turf monster? I'm pretty sure he's the all-time recorder holder if there is.

Has he ever had a good punt or kick return in the nfl? He catches it so that’s good but in the nfl, u need to raise bar a bit.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Has he ever had a good punt or kick return in the nfl? He catches it so that’s good but in the nfl, u need to raise bar a bit.

Yep. I agree. There’s something to be said about having sure hands, getting a 6 yard return and getting out of bounds. But if you’re the Steelers, you can’t find someone else who can do that AND is a threat to make some kind of an impact at some point during a season??

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Has he ever had a good punt or kick return in the nfl? He catches it so that’s good but in the nfl, u need to raise bar a bit.

The Steelers lost 33-3. I hate that we are talking about Ryan Switzer when there’s so much else that went on on both sides of the ball. First and foremost is the game plan.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

The Steelers lost 33-3. I hate that we are talking about Ryan Switzer when there’s so much else that went on on both sides of the ball. First and foremost is the game plan.

he's the least of our problems, i know. just find his role in this offense basically useless. the Edelman comparison last night was beyond laughable. they are both white and short, that's the end of that comparison..

if you are gonna have an outlet, a checkdown, use Mcdonald. do what they did with jesse james, have him run 5 yards and turn around. Ben doesn't see his WR open, throw it to him. we will have 2nd and 5 instead of 2nd and a long 9 when we throw it to switzer..

 

[CCHS82]

Interesting observation that I’ll keep an eye on. But I still expect him to be more involved.

But my other point was about Ryan Switzer. If a guy is going to be involved in 67% of your offensive plays AND be a key in your special teams...you gotta do better than him. I think the sample size is large enough for us to see that he’s not capable of much, other than being someone whose best attribute and only attribute is that he gets along with the QB.

I must have asked myself a 100 times last night, how in the hell did this guy kill Pitt every year!

Dude had like 6 catches last night for 20-some yards. What has he accomplished as a Steeler so far? Nada

 

[Gunga_Galunga]

W

Last night, there were several times where he did the same. Plus, he appeared to be dancing a bit too much in the backfield. Not hitting the holes and gaining the tough yards. I know that he has slimmed down this year and has been injury prone over his career but I don’t see the same runner that got himself to the NFL.

Agree, and saw the same thing. On the long catch and run, he gave up another 5 yards to just trot out of bounds Franco style rather than run over a DB. Another time he just threw himself on the ground when there wasn't a hole.

And yeah, he needs to get up field. I don't know what this back and forth wiggle is he's trying. He needs to be a north / south guy to be effective.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I must have asked myself a 100 times last night, how in the hell did this guy kill Pitt every year!

Dude had like 6 catches last night for 20-some yards. What has he accomplished as a Steeler so far? Nada

how did he look sooo fast against Pitt and he looks like he is running in wet sand when he returns kick or punt for steelers. i get it, nfl players are faster but that much difference is crazy.

 

[CCHS82]

Switzer for the Steelers, as s punt returner, reminds me of the slow, sure- handed white guy that caught punts for Pitt during Walt’s tenure. Tim Stein? Walt never believed that special teams was 1/3 of the game.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Agree, and saw the same thing. On the long catch and run, he gave up another 5 yards to just trot out of bounds Franco style rather than run over a DB. Another time he just threw himself on the ground when there wasn't a hole.

And yeah, he needs to get up field. I don't know what this back and forth wiggle is he's trying. He needs to be a north / south guy to be effective.

even at pitt, he needs to get handoff when running forward. this "put the ball in his gut from the shotgun" and then having him go is such a bad plan. i remember some teams facing him and when they made him stop and cut in backfield, he was soo ineffective. he doesn't start and stop very good..

having him as a "side car" just really limits him..

 

[Fk_Pitt]

he's the least of our problems, i know. just find his role in this offense basically useless. the Edelman comparison last night was beyond laughable. they are both white and short, that's the end of that comparison...

I got a chuckle out of Madden the other day. This was after the AB/Mayock news and before the AB signing and when everyone was questioning the Pat’s receiving corp. He said Gordon was a weedhead and Edelman was overrated...because he’s a cracker.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

I got a chuckle out of Madden the other day. This was after the AB/Mayock news and before the AB signing and when everyone was questioning the Pat’s receiving corp. He said Gordon was a weedhead and Edelman was overrated because he’s a cracker.

how belicheck makes these little white wrs look so great is beyond me. this is like the third time it's happened. Brady's accuracy helps but all of our DBs, and many other teams too, they look flat out slow when trying to cover him. this isn't an oversized mlb covering him doing crossing patterns either, these are starting DBs who are getting beat consistently by him..

 

[Pitt79]

Moncrief may have had more drops than yards.

He dropped a TD. AB would of had that!

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

He dropped a TD. AB would of had that!

AB would have been tweeting nonsense from florida and not even made the game..

 

[happjack]

how belicheck makes these little white wrs look so great is beyond me. this is like the third time it's happened. Brady's accuracy helps but all of our DBs, and many other teams too, they look flat out slow when trying to cover him. this isn't an oversized mlb covering him doing crossing patterns either, these are starting DBs who are getting beat consistently by him..

Belicheck has the greatest QB or his era and what looks like the greatest QB of all time throwing to those "little white wr's".

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Belicheck has the greatest QB or his era and what looks like the greatest QB of all time throwing to those "little white wr's".

Is it that hard to throw those short crossing routes?

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

The Steelers lost 33-3. I hate that we are talking about Ryan Switzer when there’s so much else that went on on both sides of the ball. First and foremost is the game plan.

Agreed. Switzer just needs to a little room and I feel very confident Switzer will deliver this year. He will likely have some good returns and Ben can count on him not dripping the ball (unlike another certain receiver).

He has food hands and was an elite WR and kick returner in college (something every Pitt fan should remember vividly).

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Is it that hard to throw those short crossing routes?

he makes it look easy, that's for sure. great ones do make it look easy though.

 

[McKee Place]

how belicheck makes these little white wrs look so great is beyond me. this is like the third time it's happened. Brady's accuracy helps but all of our DBs, and many other teams too, they look flat out slow when trying to cover him. this isn't an oversized mlb covering him doing crossing patterns either, these are starting DBs who are getting beat consistently by him..

Per the Trib, the Steelers whined that the Patriot crossing route success is due to illegal picks.

 

[Pitt79]

AB would have been tweeting nonsense from florida and not even made the game..

No, if he would of stayed with the Steelers he would of been in that game and the Steelers would have been too. Personally, last year before he was traded I wanted them to try to keep him, I kind of had a feeling the dumbasses weren't going to replace him with a comparable talent. This offense looks like it's going to be bad.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

No, if he would of stayed with the Steelers he would of been in that game and the Steelers would have been too. Personally, last year before he was traded I wanted them to try to keep him, I kind of had a feeling the dumbasses weren't going to replace him with a comparable talent. This offense looks like it's going to be bad.

He wasn’t staying man. He wanted out and wasn’t playing another down as a Steeler. Same as raiders, he wanted out.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

He wasn’t staying man. He wanted out and wasn’t playing another down as a Steeler. Same as raiders, he wanted out.

When the Pats pass the Steelers winning their 7th Lombardi, and AB is kissing it, it’s just another contribution to their achievement made possible by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s amazing to me how many ways the Steelers have helped New England become the greatest franchise in the NFL.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

When the Pats pass the Steelers winning their 7th Lombardi, and AB is kissing it, it’s just another contribution to their achievement made possible by the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s amazing to me how many ways the Steelers have helped New England become the greatest franchise in the NFL.

Pats are fine with our without AB, just like they were fine with or without James Harrison.. they played the raiders, not the steelers with this AB fiasco..

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Was going to post this in a separate thread but this is good here.

I thought that during his brief pre-season appearance, James ran the ball not to get hurt. Saw him run out of bounds instead of delivering a blow and he was going down much easier than he has in past. I chalked it up to not wanting to get hurt in pre-season.

Last night, there were several times where he did the same. Plus, he appeared to be dancing a bit too much in the backfield. Not hitting the holes and gaining the tough yards. I know that he has slimmed down this year and has been injury prone over his career but I don’t see the same runner that got himself to the NFL.

I am ok re-inventing your game but got to do what has made you successful.

Maybe it’s early and the sample size is still small but I don’t like the style that I see right now for him.

Oh man, Mark Madden just eviscerated him for this. But you know, as I was watching him last night, I thought the same thing. Conner looked like he was running in the preseason. First contact down. He wasn't quick. Didn't break one tackle. Conner wasn't powerful or explosive last night. Could be chalk it up to a team effort mailing it in. But Conner, like almost every other Steeler, looked and played scared.