NFL
By: Melo Williams
Let’s get straight to the point Steelers fans, Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) got beat down in Week 1 by the San Francisco 49ers (1-0). The 49ers punched first and never stopped punching until the game clock read four zeros with a 30-7 final score.
In all of my years of watching and covering Steelers football, I have never seen a Steelers team so unprepared, so predictable, and dominated at will from start to finish as I did with the Steelers in Week 1.
Let us start with coaching, It stunk from Coach Tomlin overall, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin’s defensive schemes, and offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s play calling. Based on yesterday’s performance all three of their jobs would be in question if jobs were retained on a game-to-game basis, it was that horrendous.
Being the Steelers’ identity is defense and the standard is the standard, I have to ask, do the Steelers have an identity and what is the standard, mediocrity?
Defensively, Pittsburgh was outcoached and out-schemed from the start. Yes, the Steelers have a lot of new players on defense, veteran players at that, but against the 49ers they didn’t appear as if they belonged on the field.
The Steelers couldn’t stop the run or pass. The 49ers rushed for 188 yards averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Christian McCaffrey led the 49ers in rushing with 22 carries and 152 yards with a 65-yard touchdown run averaging 6.9 yards per carry. McCaffrey alone gashed the Steeler’s defense.
49ers QB Brock Purdy, went 19/29 with 220 yards and 2 TD’s. Receiving, Brandon Aiyuk torched Patrick Peterson and the Steelers secondary. He had 8 catches for 129 yards with 2 TD on the day averaging 16.1 yards per reception. Deebo Samuel didn’t have a huge day but was impactful with 5 receptions for 55 yards averaging 11.0 yards per reception. Tight End George Kittle finished with 3 receptions and 19 yards, averaging 6.3 yards per catch. McCaffrey even got in on the receiving end and finished with 3 receptions for 17 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per catch.
I know Coach Tomlin wasn’t that worried about the new additions to the team because they’re veterans and have seen it all, however after the lack-luster performance on Sunday by Pittsburgh’s defense, I think Coach Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin need to get a better understanding of their personnel for better defensive schematics.
T.J. Watt on the other hand was the only bright side for the Steeler’s defense. Watt recorded three sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. T.J. Watt also joined James Harrison at the top of the Steelers sack record at 80.5 sacks in his career. Watt will continue to be the only consistent bright spot for the Steelers defense.
Offensively, the Steelers were the same against the 49ers as they were in 2022 under offensive coordinator Matt Canada Play calling, stagnant. The Steelers only scored seven points. After watching Pittsburgh’s offense in the preseason, no one expected the offense led by 2nd-year QB Kenny Pickett to come out and lay a dud.
Pickett looked stiff, antsy, unsure, robotic, and simply just off with horrible timing and chemistry with his receivers. Pittsburgh didn’t get a first down until late in the 2nd quarter and also only had 1 total yard late in the 2nd quarter as well and was down 20-0.
Kenny Pickett finished the day 31/46 232 yards, 67.4%, 1 TD, and 2 INT’s with a QBR of 68.4.
The Steeler’s only positive possession came with 1:35 remaining in the first half in the two-minute drill which again put focus on OC Matt Canada’s inability to make play calls. Pickett led the Steelers 95 yards in 12 plays with no timeouts, capping off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Pat Freiermuth with 10 seconds remaining in the 1st half.
When asked about the Steeler’s troubles, QB Kenny Pickett said “I think it was more us than them.”
“We didn’t execute, honestly. I felt comfortable with what I was seeing, what they were doing. We just didn’t execute like we needed to.”
Pittsburgh’s running backs combined carried the ball 10 times vs. 46 pass attempts. Najee Harris rushed for 6 carries 31 yards, Jaylen Warren 3 carries for 6 yards, and Kenny Pickett 1 carry for 4 yards.
The Steelers were very one dimensional and for a defense like the San Francisco 49ers, that made their day easy.
Steelers receivers were led by Allen Robinson with 5 receptions for 64 yards, Diontae Johnson had 3 receptions for 48 yards, Calvin Austin III 6 receptions for 37 yards, George Pickens 5 receptions for 36 yards, Connor Heyward 2 receptions 19 yards, Jaylen Warren 5 receptions 12 yards.
Pickett said “It felt like we’re just kind of one-sided today, couldn’t get anything going on the ground today. I wish we had more balance, but we need to improve in a lot of areas.”
After Week 1 there’s plenty of blame to go around Pittsburgh. No one is safe from the criticism besides T.J. Watt who performed like the all-world defender that he is.
Up next for the Pittsburgh Steelers is their division rival, the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football.
Follow Melo on Twitter and Instagram: @_MeloWilliams
