Regulars on both sides start slow
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday the amount of time the starters played Saturday night in the third preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts was going to depend upon how well they played. With most of the offensive and defensive starters playing deep into the second quarter it’s safe to say Tomlin wasn’t thrilled with theirperformance.
The offense turned the ball over on their first series when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was hit from behind and stripped. The first-team defense then allowed the Colts to drive for a touchdown on their first driveof the game.
Pass defense proved to be the biggest problem for the defense again. Donte Moncrief caught a 55-yard pass from backup Scott Tolzein on their first play from scrimmage to set the Colts up at the Steelers 8. After a pass-interference penalty on Ross Cockrell in the end zone on third down, Frank Gore scoredfrom 1 yard.
In three series, the Colts scored 10 points against the Steelers first-team defense. Tomlin kept all of his starters in the game until 7:40 remained in the second quarter.
The offense didn’t fare much better. Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, who wereplaying for the first time this preseason, played two series and were pulled after Chris Boswell booted a 36yard field goal.
Landry Jones and Darrius Heyward-Bey replaced them, but the rest of the starters remained in for the remainder of the first half. Boswell kicked another field goal just before halftime.
Cockrell gets the start
Two days after Tomlin threw the right cornerback job up for grabs between Ross Cockrell and Coty Sensabaugh, it was Cockrell who got the start with the firstteam defense. Sensabaugh came in for the second series and they rotated every series thereafter.
Cockrell struggled again. In addition to the pass-interference penalty on the first drive that gave the Colts a first-and-goal at the 1, he was beaten for a 32-yard reception by Phillip Dorsett in the secondquarter.
One week ago, Cockrell gave up a 44-yard reception to Falcons third-string receiver ReggieDavis.
Slot corner Will Gay also rotated with Mike Hilton in the first half.
Davis gets a look
Just as Tomlin took a long look at James Conner last week he took the opportunity to watch Knile Davis with the first-team offense. It was a mixed bag for Davis, who had seven carries for 21 yards behind the first-team offensive line in the first half. He ripped off two 10yard runs on the first drive, but he also had two negative runs. Conner played the first series of the second half.
Bryant gets longer look
Ten of the 11 offensive starters did not start the second half, but Martavis Bryant also played the first series ofthe third quarter.
Bryant played in his second preseason game after missing the first against the Giants. The Steelers want Bryant to play as much as possible because he missed a year on an NFL drug suspension. Justin Hunter took Bryant’s place on the second series of the third quarter.
Injuries
Running back Fitzgerald Toussaint injured his left leg and did not return to the game. Rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was injured again, but this time not seriously. He limped off the field late in the second quarter with a lower body injury, but he played on the first series of the second half.