The 49ers’ Physicality Smothered the Steelers’ Hype
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Mike Tomlin said it best when referring to his team in his post-game press conference. “They gotta play better, and that’s just the reality of it,” the defeated coach said. “We got kicked in the teeth today in a lot of ways.”
The San Francisco 49ers dominated every facet of the game during their 30-7 route of Tomlin’s men. It’s going to be ugly, but let’s break this one down.
From the opening kickoff, the 49ers meant business. Their physicality was apparent, and the Steelers couldn’t match it. San Francisco’s alpha dominance sucked the life out of everything the Steelers were trying to do.
The 49ers more physical at the point of attack. Their secondary bullied Pittsburgh’s receivers. They ate the offensive line’s lunch. San Francisco defenders lived on the Pittsburgh side of the line of scrimmage all day with very little resistance from the home team.
Kenny Pickett looked like a deer in the headlights. He was wildly inaccurate and constantly late on throws. After a stellar pre-season, it looked as if the second-year QB had regressed all the way back to Pitt. “He panicked and forced the ball into places he shouldn’t have,” former Steeler Chris Hoke said on KDKA’s post-game show. “This happened over and over and over again. I think that frustration grew stronger and stronger and he struggled to get that under control. It’s something we’re not used to with Kenny. He’s very collected. He’s very good at keeping these emotions in check and today, it got the best of him”.
If the Steelers are going to do the damage this season that many have predicted, Pickett has to take a step forward. Games like this must be the exception and not the rule.
The defense, a unit most hoped would wind up near the top of the league, didn’t fare well either. Of the 49ers’ first five drives, four resulted in scores as they built up a 20-0 lead. The Bay Area squad’s offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. The middle of the Steelers’ defense, which many had concerns about going into the season, got manhandled early and often. Christian McCaffrey carved up Pittsburgh for 165 yards and a touchdown as he soared through open running lanes without even the assistance of a complicated blocking scheme. Most of San Francisco’s successes in the run game were simple off-tackle runs or straight dive plays that the Steelers just didn’t give a lot of resistance to. This lopsided trench battle was just one group of men saying, “We’re better than you” to another group of men.
Brock Purdy also unfortunately did whatever he wanted against a rebuilt secondary. Receivers were running free on crossing routes and dig routes over the middle in a way we’re not accustomed to. For a team that prides itself on having thinking-man’s cornerbacks, on Sunday they appeared clueless. Patrick Peterson looked like Darrelle Revis on the Kansas City Chiefs as he struggled mightily in man coverage, giving up a pair of touchdowns to Brandon Aiyuk. I know he’s a future Hall Of Famer, but if that’s what the team is going to get from him, why not put Joey Porter Jr. out there to get the experience?
Aiyukk caught eight balls on eight targets for 129 yards and two touchdowns, beating not just Peterson but the entire secondary. Something that looked to be a strength was exploited tremendously, and, with this performance on tape, the secondary will need to figure something out quickly to compete with one Cleveland is bringing to town.
The team can, amidst the disaster, point to a couple bright spots. T.J. Watt — what more can you say? On a day when nearly everyone in Black and Gold looked outmatched, Watt more than held his own with three sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Some may look at these as empty stats in a blowout loss, but Watt did his damage while the game was still in doubt. If he can stay healthy, he might challenge his own single-season sack record.
Some rookies also got some valuable playing time. Keeanu Benton saw some reps and posted three run stops. Darnell Washington pancaked Nick Bosa. Broderick Jones entered the game late and Dan Moore Jr moved to right tackle. I have said this continually throughout preseason: This is the Steelers’ ideal offensive line. If Chukwuma Okorafor, who exited with a head inury, is out next week, it was good for Jones to get the reps in a real game.
Now comes the time to watch this film, correct the mistakes, and then burn it. If there ever was such a thing as a throwaway game, this would be it. The Steelers have 16 more chances to prove themselves. Next week, the Cleveland Browns come to town with a lot of the same challenges the 49ers brought. There is no better opponent to have a proverbial do-over against. I look forward to seeing a different Steelers team next Sunday.
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