Steelers Film Room: All-22 breakdown of biggest plays vs. Buffalo
The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business in their second preseason outing, beating the Buffalo Bills 27-15 on Saturday night. A stellar performance from the first team's offense and defense, the team looked to be in regular season form against one of the best teams in the AFC. So here is a look at the […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers took care of business in their second preseason outing, beating the Buffalo Bills 27-15 on Saturday night.
A stellar performance from the first team's offense and defense, the team looked to be in regular season form against one of the best teams in the AFC.
So here is a look at the plays that changed the game, evaluated with coaches film:
Pickett to Muthhhhh
The Steelers motion to a 4-strong look (four receivers on one side of the formation) and you can see the down safety rotate back to a 2-high safety look on the right side of the screen. Matt Milano (58) runs with Pat Freiermuth up the seam but his back is turned and Kenny Pickett throws the perfect touch ball between Milano and the field safety [Jordan Poyer.]
Jaylen Get's Loose
Pittsburgh motions from 1×3 to 3×1 (receivers on the side of the field) and run inside zone weak, (run play away from most of the blockers.) Watch #78 James Daniels sync up with #73 Isaac Seumalo at the second level and blow the Bills off the ball. Terrific execution by everyone involved.
Kenny Shows Progress
Good play from Pickett with excellent location and velocity to keep the chains moving on third down. Allen Robinson is proving to be a reliable target in "gotta have it" situations.
Ideally, Pickett resets and doesn’t run into the throw but that’s trivial when you consider last year he would have just tucked the ball and ran.
Welcome to Pittsburgh Joey Porter Jr.
The Steelers are just in a base cover 2 (two safety defensive formations) and you can tell by Matt Barkley’s (Bills' QB) body language there is an obvious miscommunication but Joey Porter Jr. capitalized with an interception in his first-ever game.
Cole Holcomb is Making a Believer out of me
Great play by #55 Cole Holcomb. The Steelers are in 1 hole (man coverage with one player in zone) and when the slot WR beats the nickel corner, Holcomb feels it and reacts, with Elijah Riley finishing the tip drill.
I have been worried about the ability of Pittsburgh's inside backers to hold up in coverage but if Holcomb is going to make these plays, my concern will be mitigated.
Chandon Sullivan is a Tall Glass of Water
The Steelers bring a little heat with the nickel (Chandon Sullivan) and Buffalo throws hot to replace but the length of Sullivan shows up, catching the INT off his own deflection.
Nick Herbig is Undeniable
First off, Nick Herbig works a cross chop (pass rush move) but his ability to flatten his rush path, keep his balance, and get the strip sack is a thing of beauty.
Then to finish, Buffalo tries to run split flow inside zone, (run play where the tight end comes across the formation) and the well-coached player he is, Herbig attacks the mesh point (area where the QB & RB exchange the ball) before the tight end gets across, forcing the tackle for loss. What a game for the rook, and the Steelers overall.
Steelers’ Gunner Olszewski is playing for his NFL life in preseason Week 3
He needs a big performance to stick
Featured image via: © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
