Pittsburgh’s Stock Up/Stock Down After Week 10
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sitting at 6-3, the Pittsburgh Steelers still have not put together a complete game. It’s maddening to most fans given the potential. Yet despite being out gained every game this season, they have found a way to win games. While not perfect, they are on a two game winning streak with signs pointing upwards.
Here’s what’s trending up and down after their week 10 victory.
Stock Up
The Offensive Line
A month ago this unit was performing at a level near the bottom of the NFL. They couldn’t protect Kenny Pickett and couldn’t produce running lanes regardless of the blocking schemes. A month later, this unit has found. a way to have all five guys are excelling.
The insertion of Broderick Jones at right tackle has opened up the play book in the run game. This one in particular would never have been called with Chukwuma Okorafor in the lineup.
Watch Broderick Jones move. So athletic. Huge block. Thank God Chuks ran his mouth. pic.twitter.com/WeqrZMtpSi
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) November 12, 2023
The movement at the line of scrimmage has been a night and day improvement. The line seems to be enthusiastic about running the ball.
the difference in the Steelers offensive line when moving Broderick Jones to RT has been night and day.
let Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren EAT pic.twitter.com/cQHgDRyGW3
— taylornicole (@ay_taybay) November 12, 2023
Matt Canada
Yes, you read this correctly. Matt Canada has been on his game the last few weeks. He’s figuring out different blocking schemes to run the ball, using motion to manipulate defenses pre-snap, and finally using play action successfully.
Everyone points to the move from the press box, but it started a few weeks earlier. It’s not about him keeping his job. It’s about him understanding what the Steelers need to be a productive offense. It’s only been a few weeks, but Canada is apparently fighting and thats a good thing for the Steelers.
Stock Down
Kenny Pickett
Pickett’s accuracy has been an issue for most of the season. On a day that the running game was hitting on all cylinders, Picket was below average.
His inability to throw the ball downfield against a banged up Packers secondary was frustrating. Going 14/23 for 126 yards was fine, but it should have been a lot more.
While we just praised Canada, it’s going to be up to him to devise a gameplan to get both Diontae Johnson and Goerge Pickens involved in the same game.
Defense Secondary
For the last 2 weeks, the Steelers secondary has been torched by unproven quarterbacks. Too many times on Sunday we saw receivers running wide open in the Steelers zone. Some of that can be blamed on injured Cole Holcomb who is their best linebacker in coverage. But that’s an excuse. Guys are just not covering guys.
Levi Wallace again was burned for a touchdown where he wasn’t within 5 yards of his man in the corner of the endzone. At some point, the Steelers must make a move there because he is regressing.
Things can change once Minkah Fitzpartick gets back from injury. He covers up for a lot of mistakes. But the secondary must as a whole must get better in man coverage. Rerouting guys and cutting off routes need to be the norm moving forward.
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