Everything You Need To Know From Steelers’ Opener
Credit: Barry Reeger-USA TODAY Sports
The Steelers opened their preseason with a 20-12 defeat at the hands of the Houston Texans. The score doesn’t really matter in preseason, but the way the Steelers got to that score does matter. Let’s take a look at the top takeaways for the Steelers.
The big storyline heading into the Steelers’ first game was Justin Fields‘ debut with the team, and for the former Ohio State standout, he wishes it had been better. Fields made some solid throws and some good plays, but crucial mistakes cost him. A fumbled snap exchange in each of the first two drives was all the chatter that surrounded him after the game.
Both of Justin Fields' fumble exchanges with the center early in the game.pic.twitter.com/gBiW0lRL9Q
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) August 9, 2024
After the game, Mike Tomlin focused his comments on the exchanges that led to turnovers.
“I thought he did some nice things,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “But obviously he was a component of the C-Q exchange, and from my perspective that’s dual responsibility on the center and the quarterback. It negated a lot of good things going on in those first couple of drives.”
Rookie quarterback Kyle Allen didn’t have the fumble issues, but he still had some negative plays. Allen threw an interception and also took a costly sack. Allen did have some nice plays, too, including a 35-yard pass to Scotty Miller.
Kyle Allen to Scotty Miller for 35 Yards🔥 pic.twitter.com/lIv7csNCiC
— Dylan🔮🪼 (@dillybar2145) August 10, 2024
Allen finished the game, completing 17 of his 23 passes for 193 yards. The quarterback hype may have been solely focused on Fields and Russell Wilson, but Allen did show some flashes in the first game.
The WR3 battle has been open all offseason, but Miller appears to be taking the lead now. Miller looks super comfortable in the offense, and he finished the game catching three passes for 47 yards.
The biggest winner from the first game for the Steelers was rookie center Zach Frazier. Center Nate Herbig started the game and had those two fumbles. Frazier came in and played a clean game. The center position is still a battle, but after that performance, perhaps Fraizer finally has the upper hand.
Steelers Rookie OL Zach Frazier in Preseason Week 1:
🟡 19 Pass Block Snaps
🟡 Zero Pressures Allowed
🟡 72.2 Run Block Grade pic.twitter.com/AT41nIZFa5— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 10, 2024
Frazier was the biggest winner, but there were many losers from this game. Matthew Wright missed his only PAT because of a bad snap by Christian Knutz.
That wasn’t the only part of the special teams that had issues. Quez Watkins made another mental mistake, something that has continued to be an issue during his career. Watkins tried to catch a punt over his shoulder, but it was muffed, and the Texans were able to take over at good field position.
MUFFED PUNT = TEXANS RECOVERY ‼️
📺: NFL Network/ABC13 pic.twitter.com/FYE9hYoCpr
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) August 9, 2024
Tomlin said heading into the game that he wanted the Steelers to play a clean game, and the way things played out was the exact opposite.
Back to the offensive line, there has to be some concern this season, especially in the passing game. Broderick Jones and Troy Fautanu were solid-to-good in the run game, but they were awful in the pass game.
On live viewing, haven't been too geeked about Broderick Jones' performance. Just not sure why the Steelers seemed so intent on making a guy so raw in pass pro coming out of college switch sides rather than settling down at one spot to start.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) August 10, 2024
Jones has switched between right and left tackle, so there is probably some truth to that above Tweet. They need to let him just focus on one position.
On defense, the Steelers appear to have a good one in linebacker Payton Wilson, but it might take a while for him to be a finished product.
Payton Wilson = dawg
Steelers got a baller https://t.co/D0gIJghBcS
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 10, 2024
Especially early in the game, Wilson was consistently making plays, and it was a headache for the Texans to try and keep him away from the ball. He ended up leading the team with seven tackles.
Former NC State LB Payton Wilson was all over the field with the Pittsburgh Steelers tonight:
7 total tackles (led the team)
5 solos (led the team)
1 tackle for a lossSome things never change. pic.twitter.com/fXatLKvIYV
— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) August 10, 2024
As strong as Wilson looked, there are clear areas of improvement that will take his game to the next level. He did have some missed tackles and a couple of missed assignments, but for the first game, let’s focus on the positives. Wilson looks like he’s going to be a problem for the AFC North for a very long time.
One interesting storyline to follow the rest of the preseason is the play of former UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. He’s still listed as a quarterback on the roster but took all his snaps on special teams.
Watch 4th-string QB John Rhys Plumlee, the upback on this punt, get down field and make a tackle. 👀#Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/HT0SbyypMG
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) August 10, 2024
It’s probably his best path to the team by being a special teams standout, but will we see him take any snaps under center this fall? We will have to wait and see.
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