Steelerfury.com Post Game Grades – Denver Broncos

Posted Tue, 11/10/2009 - 16:56 by Iron_City


 

 

The Steelers made the week 9 trip to the Rocky Mountains to face the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City. The big story coming into this game was 3 defensive starters inactive for the Steelers with the headline being Ryan Clark and his elevation problems with his sickle cell condition.  The Steelers have only won 2 previous regular season games in Denver headed into this contest and historically aren’t a great team when traveling west.  The game was played in front of a crowd of 76,716 in paid attendance on a mild 55 degree night.  Mike Tomlin entered Monday night with 11 consecutive primetime wins in a matchup that highlighted 2 of the youngest head coaches in the NFL

 

OFFENSE:  B

The Steelers got off to a slow start in the first half.  They didn’t seem to have an answer for the 2-man coverage Denver DC Mike Nolan threw at them.  But Im sure Bruce Arians was aware of the looks he saw had he listened to yours truly in the Steelerfury podcast.  It took some time to feel this team out and for the passing game to get crisp enough to move the chains.  Pittsburgh won time of possession by a 33-26 advantage including over 22 minutes in the second half alone.  They racked up 375 yards of total offense,  21 first downs,  and 3 of 4 in red zone trips.  The second half was highlighted by balance,  execution,  and dominance.  This offense was nearly unstoppable at times late in the game and moved the ball at will when asked.

 

QB:  B-

21/29 – 233 yards – 3 TD –  1 INT - 116 QBR – 72% CMP

 

Ben started out slow.  Wasn’t crisp in his reads and errant on some throws.  He had some looks thrown at him that took the pro bowler time to adjust to.  He held the ball too long at times taking some early sacks and threw a pretty bad INT on the goal line on what looked like could’ve been a sure TD to Hines Ward.  But it was a tale of 2 halves.  His 2nd half performance was very good throwing 3 TD’s while effortlessly managing a no huddle attack at times to prevent substitutions.  He got better with his checkdowns as the game wore on recognizing different fronts and attacking them with the run game while getting everyone set milking the playclock down to nothing.  He took full command of this offense after halftime and seemingly moved the ball at will.

 

Running Back: A

26/173 – 0 TD – 1/1 REC

 

Rashard Mendenhall got the start and hit holes with authority.  He totaled 155 yards on only 22 carries at 7 yards per clip.  He went into halftime with just 26 yards and exploded in the 2nd half that included runs of 24,  28,  36,  and 18 yards.  He showed good burst and seemed to have left his patented spin move back at Heinz Field.  He still hesitates downfield at contact at times,  but his learning curve is to the point where he should be the feature back going forward.  Mewelde Moore chipped in with a few 2nd half carries as both backs did a good job in blitz pickup when called upon

 

Tight End:  C-

3 catches 18 yards

 

For the first time in a few weeks,  the Steeler TE’s became a non-factor in a game.  The speed of the Bronco LB unit seemed to neutralize their threat in the passing game.  Heath Miller let a nicely thrown seam route right over a LB pass right through his outstretched hands as he went airborn for it,  but the ball still should’ve been caught.  Miller will also take heat this week for Brian Dawkins pancaking him on a stretch play bringing Mendenhall down for a loss.  Matt Spaeth was a also a non factor in this game and in limited action David Johnson struggled to locate a target from the fullback position in the run game.  Late in the game in stacked 3 TE sets off of RT,  the trio did get movement at times in the run game and Heath Miller did a nice job on lead and counter plays from a bunch set off tackle sealing the edge.

 

Wide Receiver:  A+

17 catches - 206 yards – 3 TD’s

 

An outstanding effort from this group.  They had some struggles early against press coverage,  but OC Bruce Arians began stacking sets,  utilizing bunch formations,  and motion to acquire free release and let them go to work.  Santonio Holmes went to work on perennial pro bowler Champ Bailey and completely owned him at will.  The crafty vet Hines Ward chipped in with a pair of TD’s including a late game sealing score on a bubble screen he went airborn over a lunging Champ Bailey to waltz across the goal line.  Rookie Mike Wallace continues to put smiles on Steeler fans faces everywhere by working to get open on a busted play for a 25 yard TD and chipping in on 3 other key drive extending catches as well. 

 

Offensive Line: A+

Just another outstanding effort from this unit.  They’ve already sewn up my vote for comeback player(s) of the year.  Steelers can now enter each game confident in their book end tackles without the need of a TE or RB to chip.  Max Starks completely neutralized NFL sack leader Elvis Dumerville while Willie Colon came out locked and loaded and anchoring down the right side.  Teams no longer force the interior blitz due to improved OL communication and as a Steeler fan its nice to see when the broadcasters  put a stopwatch on and salivate over the time Big Ben now gets in the pocket.  It was pointed out as we knew all along that the Steelers are a predominant right handed run team behind Trai Essex and Willie Colon with Big Kemo pulling and sealing the edge.  Big props to those boys for dominating the point of attack.  Early in the week I got on Max Starks for lack of intensity,  but he showed some fire in his eyes,  at times,  in the run game this week.  A sign of good things to come.

 

DEFENSE:  A+

 

The boys are back.  Mike T. motivated his guys by telling them Denver has the best defense in the world right now,  and they answered the call.  Steelers entered this game without 3 defensive starters,  including reaching to the 3rd team on the depth chart to Nick Eason to fill the strong side DE role.  This unit only allowed one offensive score on a day which was a FG on the opening drive of the game.  They completely suffocated the vaunted Denver rush attack by holding it to 27 yards on ZERO first downs.  This Steeler defense also held Josh McDaniels supposed high flying attack to a meager 242 yards and didn’t allow them in the red zone all night long.  On the night,  they accounted for 3 INT’s,  1 TD,  2 sacks,  and 7 tackles for loss,  on top of countless pressures. 

 

Defensive Line:  A+

As mentioned,  completely squashing the Denver rush attack holding it to 27 total yards on the night.  This group completely controlled the line of scrimmage in every phase of defense.  Stalwart DE Brett Keisel chipped in with a pair of sacks while backup NT Chris Hoke showed off his Rod Woodson like turn-and-run hips in coverage on a Denver RB and did a good enough job to force a pick 6  into the hands of Tyrone Carter. 

 

Linebacker: B

When facing top tier LT’s such as Ryan Clady,  DC Dick Lebeau tends to drop James Harrison back into coverage more often or moving him around to obtain a better look.  His scheme isn’t predicated on overloading an area,  but rather obtaining matchups and winnable 1 on 1 looks in pass rush.  Although no Steeler LB registered a sack on the day,  Lamar Woodley did a good job in contain in the run game against a backup RT.  James Harrison was also suffocating in the run game and nearly beheaded Correll Buckhalter on a little crossing pattern between the hashes. Keyaron Fox did a nice job of flowing to the ball as usual and filled in nicely for the injured Timmons.  His game is still rounding into form though.  His diagnose skills aren’t as crisp as they need to be which is probably due to a lack of being a full time starter.  The flaw I noticed in his game in getting into his drops quick enough with proper depth while diagnosing route trees while reading blocks and playaction.  Not trying to take away from his game and I think he did a nice job.  Im just pointing out how I feel he can elevate his game on par with a full time starter in the Steelers defense

 

Defensive Back:  A-

Three key and crucial INT’s on the day.  Two of which came by lil evil himself,  Tyrone Carter.  Twenty Three stepped up and took one to the hizz-ouse 48 yards for the games opening TD.  For his sake,  I hope noone put a stopwatch on his return,  but he chipped in with another pick late to seal the game and nearly had a 3rd INT in the flats if not for a poorly thrown ball.  All world Troy Polamalu also had a pick and devastating tackle for loss on a run blitz off the corner.  The low point of the day was the opening Denver drives that had them attacking and picking on Willie Gay with Eddie Royal.  It was clear he was their target and worked.  Bill Gay needs to transition out of his backpedal a little sooner by reading the depth of the QB drop.  I understand they play a lot of cover 3 deep,  3 under stuff which puts him on an island at times for double moves, but it has to get better than his performance Monday night.  I do think Key Fox not getting the hash quick enough on his drops left that seam open for the continual slants they threw at him.  As the game wore on,  he adjusted and they put a stop to it.  Ike continues packing his bags for Hawaii.

 

Kicking Game:  B-

Jeff Reed walked out of the prosecutors office and onto the team plane to go a perfect 4/4 on PAT’s,  but it was a bit disconcerting he couldn’t reach the end zone in the mile high city on kickoffs while watching counterpart Matt Prater continually go 5 yards deep.  Dan Sepulveda launched 5 punts for a 44.2 average and a net of 40 even.  He even registered a tackle on a punt return by Eddie Royal by forcing him out of bounds.  Continues to do a good job as a holder even after recovering from a bobbled snap on a PAT late in the game.

 

Coverage Unit:  B-

Allowed 2 punt returns for 21 yards and 4 kick returns for 74 yards.  Keiwan Ratliff exited the spotlight this week so I expect the Steelerfury faithful to begin their crucification of the rookies Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis,  each of whom had pretty near significant penalties in the return game.  Burnett ran into the punter while Lewis had an illegal block on a punt return by Stefan,  errr,  I mean,  MEWELDE MOORE which  broke deep into Bronco territory.  Limas Sweed also joined the ST’s penalty party with a holding call of his own. 

 

Return Game:  D+

I set up high speed cameras at the Steeler 20 yard line,  but unfortunately didn’t have a Stefan Logan sighting until late in the 3rd  QTR when he eeked out to the 25 yard line.  Logan made several poor decisions including running kickoffs out from 5 or more yards deep,  2 of which he didn’t even reach the 20 yard line.  Also had a gaffe on Steelers ST’s player of the year,  Mitch Bergers,  short 2nd half punt where Logan ran up waving fair catch when he should’ve been waving teammates off b/c he couldn’t get there in time.  On a positive note,  Logan did break his first arm tackle of the season on a 14 yard punt return.  There was one sign of a pulse in the return game for one brief second,  but it was nedated when Mewelde Moore,  who apparently now shares punt return duties for some reason with a player that made the roster just to return kicks,  ran a punt deep in to Bronco territory which was negated by a Keenan Lewis block in the back.