1. It’s too bad the Steelers didn’t play their starting O-line more than two series so we could get an even better read on Washington’s defensive front. Nonetheless, NT Barry Cofield is a major upgrade over last year. On his first play, he got moved back a little bit, though part of that came from DE Stephen Bowen bumping into him. Still, both occupied their men and the linebackers flew to the ball. Rocky McIntosh was in position to make a good stop, but allowed Rashard Mendenhall to turn the corner. London Fletcher’s speed ended the play. It was a four-yard gain, but had the line allowed Fletcher to be blocked, it would have been much worse.
2. It’s amazing how fast Fletcher can still close. Did it on that play as well as on a pass play over the middle. But he also can play so fast because he always seems to know what’s coming. Ah, but there was one time (on the third and 1 stop by Cofield and Ryan Kerrigan) that Fletcher wasn’t ready. When the ball was snapped, Rocky McIntosh had to push Fletcher, who was shouting instructions and looking left, over to the right. By the way, it appears McIntosh had a better idea of where to be. That’s really hard to know without knowing his assignments, but it was easy to tell last year that this wasn’t the case.
3. Cofield did do fine vs. starting center Maurkice Pouncey. On the third play of the game, Cofield’s quick, strong hands (a big slap of the right hand) got him free to the right, resulting in a pressure. Cofield got free later in the game with the same move. Once more: for a guy who is 6-foot-4, he is able to stay low and gain leverage. It makes his hands even better when he can combine them with some pop from the lower body.
4. That’s one thing I noticed; more one-on-one battles being won up front. DE Adam Carriker beat the right guard on the fourth play for a little pressure. Some of the other one-on-one victories occurred in the second quarter vs. the backups so I’m not about to go crazy over this aspect (Cofield and Bowen both won some). But it bears watching over the next couple weeks. It would represent a major change from last season. Does this mean the D-line is suddenly full of playmakers? No. But the more they beat one-on-ones, the more others must help – and the longer the ‘backers can stay clean.
5. Not sure what to make of Chris Horton’s night. He was late coming over on the deep incompletion (to a wide open target). But on the play, Kevin Barnes was beaten in the slot on the same side and that seemed to hold up Horton. Regardless, Josh Wilson played it all the way as if he was expecting help. Horton also missed a tackle on Isaac Redman at the line; he scored on the play.
6. Notice how well the Steeler receivers block? Two of them threw crucial blocks on Redman’s run; Wilson could not get free of Antonio Brown on the outside. Will this be an issue for Wilson? We’ll see. It’s not about needing to play more physical – never been an issue with him; it’s likely more about his size (listed at 5-foot-9, but he’s also 192 pounds). He also missed a tackle on a smoke route, got beat off the line in press coverage because he lunged when trying to jam the wideout and was called for interference on another pass. But Wilson likes to play press coverage, and did a lot last year in Baltimore, so the play Friday was more of an aberration. Still, he’ll be up and down. This was not a great debut.
7. Rookie Ryan Kerrigan learned a few lessons Friday. Let’s start with a couple positives. First, he made a nice read on the third-and-1 stop, resulting in him moving over a half step to his right just before the snap. That enabled him to get inside the tight end and down the line for the stop. (On the same play, Cofield whipped past Pouncey). (Incidentally, in the second quarter Kerrigan moved a half-step inside on another play; this time the tackle blocked him and drove him too far inside).
8. Kerrigan’s best rushes came against Pittsburgh’s backup line; he was mostly neutralized against the starters and often seemed to try and get too wide. He turned the corner on tackle Kyle Jolly, mostly with his speed, for a pressure. On the next play he got tight end John Gilmore, who started the game, off-balance. It was one of the few times Kerrigan could use his hands in an explosive manner. This is part of the learning process, but it seems he’s still trying to coordinate how to use his hands with how to rush upfield. He’s not going to blow past tackles the way Brian Orakpo does with his speed; Orakpo has that knack for dipping his inside shoulder yet maintaining his speed. Kerrigan doesn’t get that low. Anyway, on this rush, he did it; his hands were in tight and exploded into Gilmore’s chest, bumping the TE off-balance, and allowing Kerrigan to get inside.
9. But Kerrigan also has to learn not get caught too far inside. Happened a couple times, including right before the play in which he made the stop on third and 1. Earlier in the game, Kerrigan lost contain on an 11-yard run; if he stays another two steps outside it’s a stop for no gain. But he took those two steps, and ended up side by side with Fletcher.
10. Saw Andre Carter and others adjusting to OLB make the same mistakes early in their education at this spot as well. Takes time. But it’s why, though this defense is upgraded, it will face early growing pains. For now I wonder if Kerrigan won’t be a guy who runs quarterbacks into the arms of others. Nothing wrong with that.
11. Also saw Kerrigan move just a smidgen before one rush, tipping off that he was coming. Granted, he’ll rush 75 percent of the time but why give it away. I’ve seen this in practices, too, and each time he flinches or leans forward just a bit in anticipation, then he’s coming.
12. Now, onto my man Jarvis Jenkins. He had a mixed night, as you would expect. His first play showed what he must learn: how to stay low. When the ball was snapped and he engaged the offensive lineman, his knees were almost straightened making him too high – and he lunged into his man. Contrast that with Cofield to his right, whose knees were bent and whose helmet was lower than his opponent’s. Jenkins was easily turned inside on the play.
13. The issue with his knees happened time and again. Hard to explode into a blocker if you aren’t using that spring from your lower body. Cofield usually had it; Jenkins too often did not. It wasn’t like he was standing straight up off the snap, but he did stay too high and sometimes you wonder if some of that stems from thinking too much (it was his first game after all). Also noticed that on at least two occasions Jenkins was the last lineman off the ball. The ball would be snapped and a half-second after the rest of the D-line reacted, Jenkins would finally do so.
14. But on his second play, he showed that quick first step. Jenkins slanted to his left and the left guard could not reach him. This forced the back to cut up, right into Orakpo sliding down the line for no gain. That quick first step separated him from other potential 3-4 ends in the minds of the scouting staff. Right now he’s better when he can just get upfield in those rush situations. He beat starting left guard Jonathan Scott in a one-on-one.
15. Also, on a play near the end of the first half, Jenkins showed something he’s also displayed in practices: the ability to free others on stunts. This happened with Adam Carriker in a nickel situation. Carriker and Jenkins were the only linemen on the play. Jenkins lined up between the left guard and tackle with Carriker on the other side. Jenkins started upfield and moved the guard back, with the tackle blocking down on him. Carriker than stunted to his right, around Jenkins. Because Jenkins got good penetration, Carriker was able to at least force the QB up a bit. By the time the left tackle got to Carriker, he already was deep.
16. Keyaron Fox moved well and I can see why the Redskins wanted him as a backup. Maybe he knew some of the plays because he’d practiced against this offense for a while. But he did a good job eluding blockers and anticipating. Plus he has the size Horatio Blades does not.
17. DeJon Gomes flashed with a couple plays as a safety in the box. Nice plays, no doubt. He showed good reaction and aggressiveness in traffic. Still wonder about where he’s at in terms of playing coverages, but at least he flashed. But have to give some props to Doug Worthington on one of Gomes’ stops. The end made the play by pushing his man two yards deep and forcing the back wide, right into Gomes. Worthington actually had a couple good pushes; could be worth saving on the practice squad.
18. Not sure why Anderson Russell didn’t go for the interception on a pass over the middle in the third quarter. He made a good break but never raised his arms.
19. Rookie linebacker Markus White showed strength a couple times; liked how one time he stepped up into guard Keith Williams and couldn’t be moved, allowing Perry Riley to get wide of him and force the run back into Fox. White got off another block well using his hands and on one rush he slapped the tackle and created an opening only to be picked up by the back. But White’s pass rushes are very raw. You can tell it’ll be a long adjustment, which is what you’d expect from a seventh rounder. Sometimes he uses too much movement; almost wonder if he’s not sure what he wants to do sometimes.
