5 Things We Learned From the Pittsburgh Steelers After Week 4
Zack Cook
Host · Writer
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The Good and The Bad
If you looked at Justin Fields's stat line, you'd likely be somewhat impressed with what he showed on Sunday. He had some bright spots as the Steelers played catchup, but he also had some moments that slipped back into his game from his time with the Chicago Bears. Fields had some bad sacks and struggled with some of his reads, but there was still more good than bad. There will be bad points with Fields's game, but as long as the Steelers continue to limit it, they'll be fine rolling with him as QB1.
Pickens Rollercoaster Game
If you've watched George Pickens from his days at Georgia and into the NFL with Pittsburgh, you'd know this was a typical game for him. Pickens had a fumble in a prominent spot but also was dominant in the passing game, tallying seven catches for 113 yards. Pickens must cut out the fumbles and inopportune plays if he ever wants to reach his ceiling as a wideout. Still, the Steelers are unlikely to make it a game if Pickens isn't on the field. Give and take, I suppose.
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Defense Shows Cracks in Armor
This is the first game this year in which we've seen the Steelers struggle defensively. The defensive line got bullied by an elite Colts' offensive line, and the secondary couldn't tackle or play strong coverage to save its life, especially in the first half. Although we're still very bullish about the Steelers' defense as a unit, they at least showed they were human on Sunday afternoon, which isn't great news for this team's overall outlook.
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Injuries, Inconsistencies Pile Up on Offensive Line
The Steelers have been piling up injuries on their offensive line, which hasn't allowed this group to find cohesion. Another entrant was added to the list on Sunday afternoon, with James Daniels getting injured and not returning. The offensive line struggled to allow the Steelers to run the football on Sunday afternoon, which is a big concern when you factor in how badly the Indianapolis Colts had been gashed on the ground prior to this matchup. On the bright side, Isaac Seumalo is close to returning, which should help.
Lack of Adjustments for Arthur Smith in First Half
This was the first game where I've had some legitimate pause with Arthur Smith's game plan in the first half. As Mike Tyson once said, everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the face. The Steelers were punched in the face on defense in the opening half, and the offense struggled to respond. It's hardly a secret that this Steelers team isn't built to play from behind, but Smith and company had to be much better in their adjustments before halftime.
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Check out The Smylie Show on SportsGrid
The Good and The Bad
If you looked at Justin Fields's stat line, you'd likely be somewhat impressed with what he showed on Sunday. He had some bright spots as the Steelers played catchup, but he also had some moments that slipped back into his game from his time with the Chicago Bears. Fields had some bad sacks and struggled with some of his reads, but there was still more good than bad. There will be bad points with Fields's game, but as long as the Steelers continue to limit it, they'll be fine rolling with him as QB1.
