Quick summary: Keisel nearly pulled a Kimo, Todd Collins dissected the starting D, LaMarr Woodley and Deshea Townsend are on a mission, Carey Davis is a beast and Conner Hughes is making Jeff Reed look over his shoulder (which he probably already does, in order to take Motorola Razor-cameraphone pictures of the top of his fanny). Steelers squeak past the ‘Skins, 12-10. Eat it, MattyG.
I needed to get that out, because I would’ve forgotten it otherwise.
I spent most of the game disgusted, because the combination of Jason Campbell/Todd Collins made the new Steelers D look like a Pop Warner team. Sure, Deshea and LaMarr brought some pressure, and Troy Polamalu looked good, but either the coverage was terrible, or the Redskins are going to convert 3rd downs at a record pace this season.
Despite completion after completion (mostly to Chris Cooley), the defense stepped up when needed, especially evident on Woodley’s sack to force a Redskins punt. Todd Collins, however, hit Brandon Lloyd to put The Redskins up, 7-0.
The offense continued the recent cold streak, and used ill-timed Washington mistakes to sustain the most successful drive of the night, a 15 play drive that resulted in a field goal to end the first half.
Charlie Batch and Brian St. Pierre kept the team in the game late, allowing Connor Hughes (who?) to kick 3 fourth quarter field goals to defeat the home team and up the preseason record to 2-1.
Now…let’s nitpick.
Ben Roethlisberger. If I were a betting man, I’d put money on the potential captain being critiqued in a good many MMCNYs. This was our first chance to see him play for more than a drive, and I’m still left with a good many questions. Why couldn’t the team convert from the 3 yard line at the end of the half? Ben finished 8 for 12 with 87 yards, so on paper, Ben looked decent. When Tomlin felt the team was “out-tempoed,” he let Ben go no-huddle, which resulted in the first team’s only points. However, it should have been 7 and not only 3, so I’ll give Ben 3 of 5 motorcycle helmets.
Willie Parker. Not much to say. 4 yards on 4 carries. He says he’s healthy. I believe him. 3 of 5 helmets.
Wood and Timmons. Lawrence got his first taste of the NFL. LaMarr got his first sack. We must remember that Timmons is a rookie, and his progress will come. Woodley has just shown a rather quick adjustment to speed of the NFL version of the game. Timmons has a bright future, and its unfair to label him a bust. He will come around and turn some heads. Woodley is already starting to do that. 4 of 5 combined motorcycle helmets for the duo.
Todd Collins. It’s gotta be tough to be Mark Brunell, especially when Todd Collins gets the nod when Campell goes down with a knee injury. Then , the journeyman responds by hitting on 10 of his 13 attempts for 74 yards and a score. And this was mostly against the first team defense. Collins gets much respect, and 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets.
Connor Hughes. Won the game. 3 of 3 motorcycle helmets, for obvious reasons.
Carey Davis. He needs to make the team. Didn’t get any carries, which still leaves me scratching my head, but did catch 3 balls for 17 yards. The Steelers could use that little 5.7 yards per catch that Davis brought last night. Plus, dude is hittin’ some people in the mouth on special teams. If he keeps making standout special teams tackles, Tomlin will recognize and the carries will come. I gotta give him 4 of 5 motorcycle helmets. Some of his greatness is below:
Preseason legend in the making?
Feel free to point out any of your own observations/critiques/personal favorites.
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