The Steelers' offense had its first opportunity to show its full potential for 2016 in the 27-14 victory Friday in New Orleans. For the first two preseason games, Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, three of the NFL's best offensive players, stood on the sidelines and watched as Landry Jones tried to improve, but that all ended with three first-half touchdowns against the Saints.
This session of All He Does Is Analyze Touchdowns will break down those three touchdown passes:
RED-ZONE ROUTE TO JAMES
Roethlisberger walked the offense 74 yards down the field on the 15-play opening drive, all no-huddle. While several plays on that drive showed how lethal the offense can be, the touchdown above shows Roethlisberger's classic X-factor element that he's been known for throughout his career.
Using Brown to clear out safety Jairus Byrd, Roethlisberger sees that the middle of the field is open and that James has the open lane in the end zone. The Saints' third year cornerback, P.J. Williams, gets caught with his eyes in the backfield watching Roethlisberger instead of playing his zone, which allows for James to sneak by for the easy throw from Roethlisberger.
The Saints' defensive end, Cameron Jordan, had a clear path to the quarterback on the play but fell for a solid move put on by Roethlisberger. While the rest of the defense was too focused on either Brown coming across the field, Bell in the flat, or what Roethlisberger might do with his feet, James was able to sneak into the end zone. This is a trademark Roethlisberger type of play after a series of great pre-snap reads and executed schemes throughout a long drive.
AB's ROAMING CALL
When opponents press Brown at the line of scrimmage, they'd better use an elite cornerback, or it could be problematic. Here, cornerback De'Vante Harris is charged with the already difficult task of locking down Brown who lines up off the line, but he also has to fight through Markus Wheaton, whose inside route gives natural space for Brown to run his route. Harris is already at a disadvantage when he fails to get his hands on Brown at the snap of the ball, but once the separation is created, he looks lost as the Steelers play pitch-and-catch for a 57-yard touchdown.
COATES' SCORCHING CORNER
Jones threw 19 completions on 22 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown in what could arguably be dubbed his most complete performance in a preseason game.
This touchdown pass to Sammie Coates was the highlight of a night when Jones looked like he was comfortable enough to read the opposing defense and make the throws that were open when the scheme he was facing allowed them.
This bunch-right formation is often a nightmare for defenses and, when both the Saints' outside defenders take their coverage responsibilities to the flats to cover Xavier Grimble and Eli Rogers, the right corner of the end zone is wide open for Coates to exploit. Jones makes the routine pass for the score and Pittsburgh finishes what was a fun first half of offensive football to watch for the Steelers' fans.
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