Steelers @ Redskins Postgame Takeaways

[DarthMonk]

Run defense was vraiment terrible.

Not sure if they took him away or not but after targeting Reed A LOT early we didn't go back to him until very late. In the first quarter we had him for a TD if Kirk leads him by another foot and throws it a foot higher in the back of the end zone.

In spite of the 30-43 stat line, Kirk was inaccurate.

DJax looked like a guy who could get open all over the field.

Didn't Garcon catch over 100 balls a few years back? He's not that much worse now, is he?

This next game is much more important. Fingers crossed.

[Hooligan]

I listened to the radio broadcast at work. The biggest problem seemed to be the inability of the 'Skins D-line to control the line of scrimmage. Once the Steelers established that they would get at least 3 yards on every running play, no matter what the circumstances, the game was already over IMHO. From the sound of things, their RBs could get hit in the backfield and fall over for 2+ yards. That and our secondary was making a lot of tackles in the run game.

It sounded like there were some bright spots: receivers got open, Kirk had time and made some good throws, run game sounded promising even if it didn't produce. On Defense, Will Compton seemed to be all over the ball.

Can anybody tell me whether we ran 3 or 4 down linemen for most of the game? We need to add some bulk and grit up front.

[masterkwon]

Same old offseason and preseason overhype. Unrealistic expectations. Copying the Steelers with the maroon towel give away was embarrassing...at least they didn't go with the all maroon uniforms as well. Scoots should focus on not scheduling home prime time games...actually prime time games period. Don't you know he got deep into the vodka last night.

[grampi]

I'm not hitting the panic button after week 1, but if the team is actually as bad as they looked last night, we may in for a long, miserable season...

[riggofan]

I honestly couldn't even get upset during that game. There wasn't anything there that really surprised me.

Roethlisberger is still a top five QB.
Antonio Brown is still the best WR in the game.
The Steelers are still a much better team than we are.
Our d-line still can't stop the run.

If there was anything that disappointed me in the game, it was mainly that we weren't more aggressive early to capitalize on some opportunities. But I don't know that it would have made a difference in the end - Deangelo Williams could not be stopped and Big Ben can apparently just chuck no look passes into the end zone and will them to bounce off a DB's helmet into a WR's hand.

Go out and beat Dallas this weekend, and I'll forget about this one.

[Sonny9TD]

Amazing the way the Redskins can't stop the run. With no help in the draft on the D-Line until the 5th round who eventually was cut it is no surprise the team got ran out of the stadium. A total jazz kicking by the Steelers O-Line. Instead we pay Josh Norman more money than the national debt and instead of letting him cover Antonio Brown every time we let Breeland do it . Why not pay Breeland mad money if he is going to cover the best receivers of other teams. Not only do we not invest in the D-Line at all we don't use the the player we played a treasure correctly and just let him cover his side of the field. For that we deserve an jazz kicking. What Is Joe Barry thinking with Josh Norman who locked down Brown every time until the coach of the Steelers figured out he could change that match up easily by lining up on the other side of the field. Maybe this offseason we may and I mean may draft somebody for the D-Line.

[PulpExposure]

That was ugly, but that's also generally how the Redskins do on MNF. Despite his stats, I personally thought Kirk was terrible. He was inaccurate (that early third down pass that he absolutely just missed an open receiver for a first down was inexcusable), and basically didn't challenge the Steelers at all. I know their defense was funneling him to short passes, but I think the only pass he threw over 7 yards was the one to DJax that forced a pass interference call.

Also very little pass rush. Not a good sign. Run defense was okay at first, and then just wore out over time. Maybe Pot Roast can come back and help out...because otherwise, we're screwed this year. Dallas will have fun with that d-line this weekend.

Not a lot of positives to take from this, really. At least Matt Jones ran hard, the 5 times he got the ball.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Defensive line play was complete *sh$t* and since they obviously acknowledged that, Cullen Jenkins was re-signed.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

Maybe Pot Roast can come back and help out...

We can only hope. That performance was sickening.

[riggofan]

Defensive line play was complete *sh$t* and since they obviously acknowledged that, Cullen Jenkins was re-signed.

hah. Least surprising thing I will read today. Hope he can help!!!

[riggofan]

That was ugly, but that's also generally how the Redskins do on MNF. Despite his stats, I personally thought Kirk was terrible. He was inaccurate (that early third down pass that he absolutely just missed an open receiver for a first down was inexcusable), and basically didn't challenge the Steelers at all. I know their defense was funneling him to short passes, but I think the only pass he threw over 7 yards was the one to DJax that forced a pass interference call.

1st and 10 at WSH 25
(10:10 - 2nd) K.Cousins pass deep right to D.Jackson to PIT 42 for 33 yards (M.Mitchell)

[riggofan]

Defensive line play was complete *sh$t* and since they obviously acknowledged that, Cullen Jenkins was re-signed.

Released Austin Reiter to make this signing btw.

[hitmandm]

Kirk is 0-26 against teams with winning records. Weak armed and not a franchise QB.

Fat Gruden's teams are sloppy, I'll-prepared and he has shown an inability to make good adjustments. He is not a winner on the NFL level.

[Deadskins]

Copying the Steelers with the maroon towel give away was embarrassing...at least they didn't go with the all maroon uniforms as well.

This confirms what I've always suspected about you. At least you should use the avatar of the team you actually root for.

[gushogs]

On the positive side, OL gave Kirk a lot of time. All the breaks were to the Steelers: Ben fumble recovered by their center, Antonio Brown fumble called incomplete, the bouncing TD pass...
Not into panic alert yet, but checking the evac routes just in case!
HaiL,

[mastdark81]

Run defense was vraiment terrible.

Not sure if they took him away or not but after targeting Reed A LOT early we didn't go back to him until very late. In the first quarter we had him for a TD if Kirk leads him by another foot and throws it a foot higher in the back of the end zone.

In spite of the 30-43 stat line, Kirk was inaccurate.

DJax looked like a guy who could get open all over the field.

Didn't Garcon catch over 100 balls a few years back? He's not that much worse now, is he?

This next game is much more important. Fingers crossed.

I think we all knew the run defense would be no better. If you look at the players they are actually worst. Got a gang of veterans that were throw-aways from other teams that have never lived up to their potential.

Yeah I love Jordan Reed but he's no game changer, just a guy to move the chains. No reason that other teams can always feature there best player yet Desean Jackson isn't targeted more. Great qb's know how to get their main guys the ball. Kirk he's just following a script instead of playing football most times. Cannot win like that without a good defense and you definitely cannot turn the ball over AT ALL this year.

Garcon still the same guy, I still see that burst, however I'm sure he is unhappy with his route tree that is given. You can give Grant or any other receiver in the league those bubble screens and quick passes. In Indy he was a nightmare with the post play because his ability to run after the catch.

Kirk should bounce back and everyone can't catch every ball, there are not enough to go around. But the Steelers have had a bad secondary in a long time and they didn't try to exploit it (whether or not they wasn't given the deep ball or not). Our offense don't dictate we allow the defense to dictate what we do.

[mastdark81]

Defensive line play was complete *sh$t* and since they obviously acknowledged that, Cullen Jenkins was re-signed.

hah. Least surprising thing I will read today. Hope he can help!!!

What is sad is that Jenkins might be close to our best dlineman. He was good when he was good. Shouldn't have cut him.

[Burgundy&GoldForever]

The Redskins are releasing OL Nila Kasitati from the PS. They'd like to sign Austin Reiter to the PS but he has to clear waivers first.

[markshark84]

My biggest fears entering this game were our DL's ability to get pressure and/or stop the run and our ability to run the football. Both of these areas were atrocious last night. Before/beginning of the game, when they were reading out the D lineup, I thought to myself "our DL was one of the BIGGEST areas of improvement and we didn't even address it; instead it is worse than last year."

The only inclusion was that Kirk was equally as bad. He had a couple nice throws, but way too many mistakes. He does make the OL look much better than they are since he gets the ball out superfast, but it is to his detriment ---- you could visibly tell by the second quarter that he was rushing through his progressions in fear of how quickly PIT's DL was getting past the LOS. It looked like he was "skimming" instead of "reading". You could also see he was getting frustrated with the penalties; which are partly on him as the QB. All in all, it was a D grade performance, but Kirk (and any other QB) does need more than 47 yards of rushing support.

All in all, this game merely emphasized our weaknesses: DL, running game, OL and DBs. IMHO, Tomlin is the BEST HC in the NFL --- and he showed us why last night. This was a DEF loss. We got taken to school.

[riggofan]

Defensive line play was complete *sh$t* and since they obviously acknowledged that, Cullen Jenkins was re-signed.

hah. Least surprising thing I will read today. Hope he can help!!!

What is sad is that Jenkins might be close to our best dlineman. He was good when he was good. Shouldn't have cut him.

Read an explanation of that today that made some sense. Basically said that Jenkins knew he would probably be cut and re-signed after week 1. Something about the rules where his salary is only guaranteed if he's on the roster for week 1.

[grampi]

IMHO, Tomlin is the BEST HC in the NFL

I usually agree with most everything you post, but this? You can't be serious...you think he's better than Billichick? I don't think he's even in the same league...

[aswas71788]

This game looked like the ones in the first half of last year. Lots of penalties, no running game, missed passes, drops, fumbles, can't stop the run, can't stop the pass, out coached. It is disheartening when they give up more yards from penalties that they gain running the ball. Hope they get it straightened out like they did last year.

[OldSchool]

The Skins can pass and catch, punt and kick. Unfortunately that cannot run the football or stop the run and while they invested a lot in the defensive backfield they cannot defend the pass either. The problem as I see it is upfront. The contrast between the OL & DL of the Steeler and the Redskins is tremendous. The Steeler lines dominated at the line of scrimmage and because of that the game. People can criticize Cousins but if he was playing with the Steelers and Big Ben for the Skins the Pittsburgh winning big because they dominated up front where most football games are won.

[tribeofjudah]

Pass Rush sucked sooooooooooooooooooooooooo badly that we went and signed Cullen Jenkins again.

What happened to our PUSH up front. It's gonna be a LONG......................season. smh

[markshark84]

IMHO, Tomlin is the BEST HC in the NFL

I usually agree with most everything you post, but this? You can't be serious...you think he's better than Billichick? I don't think he's even in the same league...

I don't count Belichick. I think he is an @ss. Is he the best --- perhaps, but if I were picking, I'd take Tomlin merely because there is no way I could support him. That smug face makes me sick. I work very hard to make sure bias doesn't get in the way of my opinions/analysis, but in this case it does.....