It wasn’t perfect, but it was a win
TheSteelers think enough ofhim that they signed him to a six-year, $61.05 million contractlast week. A year ago,they had to play the final 10games without Cam Heyward.Now, it’s Tuitt. He’s a hugeloss. There’s no way theirdefense will be as good withouthim.
But the other negatives from the game? They are fixable. Bell looked better as the game progressed. I’m not worried about him or the fact the Steelers rushed for just 35 yards on 17 attempts. Martavis Bryant, who dropped a pass and had just two catches for 14 yards in his first real game since the 2015 playoffs, also should be much improved against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. The entire offense should be. Bell wasn’t the only player to miss game action in the exhibition season. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown played just a handful of snaps. They still combined 11 times for 182 yards. Imagine what they will do when they get in a rhythm.
Brown was terrific, as usual. He caught all 11 balls that Roethlisberger threw his way, including a spectacular grab over defensive backs Jason McCourty and Briean Boddy-Calhoun for a 38-yard gain that clinched the win. But there were other offensive highlights. The line kept Roethlisberger clean, giving up just one sack when Alejandro Villanueva was beaten by defensive end Carl Nassib, and even that could be considered a coverage sack. How about Jesse James? Did he deliver a message to Mike Tomlin or what? The Steelers traded for Vance McDonald during the exhibition season, presumably because they weren’t satisfied with James at tight end. McDonald had a rough debut Sunday with a dropped pass and a holding penalty. Duly motivated, James had six catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns, the first on Roethlisberger’s best pass of the day, a rifle shot through linebacker Joe Schobert.
I’m willing to bet the Steelers offense won’t be held to 14 points again this season.
Thedefense had seven sacks.T.J. Watt had the greatestdebut by a defensive player infranchise history with two sacksand a wonderful interceptionwhen he showed off hisleaping, catching skills fromhis tight end days at Wisconsin.The special teams weremore than solid, contributingan early touchdown whenTyler Matakevich blockeda punt and Anthony Chickillorecovered the ball in theend zone.
Thesix defensive penalties,including four that came froma late hit or a hit to the head,must be cleaned up. Thosepersonal fouls can be avoided.Mike Mitchell, as fierce a hitter as there is in theNFL, proved that when hedelivered a hard blow to widereceiver Ricardo Louis’ midsectionand wrapped him uprather than going for the kill shot. Other than Tuitt’s injury,the penalties were the mostdisappointing part of thegame. I’m guessing they willbe addressed this week byTomlin and Keith Butler.
No, it wasn’t a perfect game. Not even close.
But when is the first game ever perfect?
“We’ll take a win any way we can get it,” Roethlisberger said.
Rough translation: It’s tough to win a game in the NFL. The other guys get paid, too. The Steelers are 1-0. No need to give the win back.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter@RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Poni” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.