HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- Welcome to my written feature at DK Pittsburgh Sports!
After each game the Steelers play, I'll grade their performance, overall and by positional groups ... and here I go with the 16-14 loss to the Ravens on Sunday:
QUARTERBACKS (F)
Can't have multiple turnovers against a divisional rival. And I'll even go on the other side. I love the way that Kenny Pickett is trying to make plays, but you've got to be smart about your career and the health of your team. When you don't get down, just simply throw the ball away.
RUNNING BACKS (D)
Not clean enough. There is so much more left on the bone with the way this team runs the ball. Having the ability to extend runs and be efficient in hitting the gap is something that needs to be tuned up. If it's scheme, if it's plays, if it's timing of plays, something has to change.
TIGHT ENDS (C)
Although Zach Gentry had one target, you can't miss that one target. Pat Freiermuth is who Pat is. The touchdown on the day is just good enough for this group.
WIDE RECEIVERS (B)
The playmaking ability is there at all times. They have playmakers, and it's good when it's good. They have to figure out who's the No. 1. I put that on the offensive coordinator though. George Pickens goes three for three. Why the hell would you not go to him more? They're pacifying him is what they're doing. Find the No. 1 because they're pacifying George.
OFFENSIVE LINE (B-)
Baltimore has the No. 2 ranked run defense. They moved the line of scrimmage good enough, but I guess they've gotta do more. Two sacks were more or less coverage sacks than they were just getting beat. Nobody just got beat this week.
DEFENSIVE LINE / OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (C-)
Gotta be way better against the run. Against a divisional rival, you cannot give up over 200 yards rushing on the ground. That says it all.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (D+)
Gotta be able to fill the gaps a whole lot better when you got a run team primarily. The passing game, I don't think anybody in this stadium was worried about Tyler Huntley throwing for 300 yards. Gotta be better. Devin Bush, you can't trade a one for one with a llama. You better go in and throw your body into the gap to clog the hole. Devin's gotta hit the gap a whole lot better on that 44-yarder against J.K. Dobbins.
SECONDARY (C+)
They did what they could when they weren't getting any assistance up front. I will say I want to give the missing plays on the sidelines and having DeSean Jackson get a 25-yard pass an 'F.' But, if you can't get to the quarterback on scramble plays, that's how that happens.
SPECIAL TEAMS (D-)
A 17-yard put in itself is just terrible -- and a blocked field goal! That is not winning football. Your phase of the game cannot lack like that when you have specifically under 20 plays a game.
