Steelers vs bills

[Slapstick]

Really? He has looked every bit as bad as Jones this preseason.

This is true.

[Ghost]

Special teams were not all that special against the Bills. Same as last season.

[Ghost]

Can not cut Gradkowski. Jones can never see the field. He is totally incapable as an NFL QB. I posted in another thread what Eddie said. Time to cut Jones and move on. Either they are giving him every last chance to show something or the kid from Cincinnati, Kay is totally incompetent as well and not worth giving any time to him. I find that hard to beleive, given what we've see from Jones.

[buccoray61]

How much time has Gradkowski been on the field with the starters? I suspect not much last night, since he came in after Jones. I have seen Gradkowski play some decent games when he was with Tampa and later with Oakland. In fact, he had a very good day against us a few years ago while with Oakland. I think that if he had to step in for Ben he'd be at least as serviceable as Batch or Leftwich.

I was at the game in 06 when Grad started for Tampa Bay against the Steelers,and he was terrible. When it comes down to it,it hardly matters who the backup is,if Ben misses any amount of time beyond a game or two,the Steelers are in deep trouble.

[Steelwolf]

Well hopefully Ben gets rid of the ball quicker to limit the hits he takes. There is no reason since we have a few more weapons he can check down to.

Also the 1st OL looked much better protecting Ben. I still would like to see a little more tough running from Blount but time will tell since it is only the second game in.

[sick beats]

Why does Grad get a pass? He is just as bad. The fact is this, if Ben goes down the Steelers are screwed. So those who hated us drafted a QB are short sighted. We certainly needed to draft and develop a QB but it's starting to be glaringly obvious they picked a dud. This team desperately needs to have a solid #2.

Well, to be fair, what team with a franchise QB isn't dead if their #1 goes down? It would be awesome if we had a #2 who could still make us a contender (like Hostetler for Simms, Brady for Bledsoe, etc.) but it is rare. My problem wasn't with them drafting a QB to find a decent back up, it was WHO they drafted for it and when. Jones isn't even a legit NFL back up. He is simply terrible, inaccurate, weak.

[sick beats]

My musings......

1.) I have never seen Ben look better. He is at his prime. This offense is going to be really tough to contain, now that the coaches finally figured out to let Ben call his own plays and use the slow/no huddle. That TD to Brown was a thing of beauty on both their parts. The TD pass to Wheaton was a super throw and catch.

2.) Dri is going to make 1-2 big plays every game. Sure, if you get your hands on him, he is toast, being so small, but once he gets in space, look out. Pop Dat Thang.

3.) Blount will be just fine. He needs some reps with the starting to get things cranked up; he will have his moments this season.

4.) The announcer said someone told him Heath walks slower now. I actually don't like seeing him play in the preseason. He seems beat down, dropping passes, getting hit hard in the legs two games in a row. He is starting to go down hill at this point.

5.) OL providing some decent protection. Hopefully Munchak is making a difference.

6.) I worry about giving up too many yards on D up the middle. It seems everyone is trying to penetrate but in doing so, they are blowing gap responsibility. I have a feeling teams are going to have success running up the middle, unfortunately.

7.) Shazier looks fantastic already. That is crazy. Just how good is this kid going to be?

8.) Troy looks like the old Troy. Since we had a disappointing season last year, most don't realize that he actually played pretty well last year, although he did get lost in coverage too often. If he can stay healthy, I think he can still make a difference.

9.) I like this team. I like the vibe they are on. We just have to stay relatively healthy.

10.) I think Wheaton can be a solid #2. He's fast and has good hands. And with Ds having to worry about Brown, he will be in single coverage a lot.

11.) We are going to need Shazier on the field to try to limit Johnny Football week 1.

[RobinCole]

buccoray, I didn't say that Grad had a good game against the Steelers while he was with Tampa. He did have some decent games against other teams during his Tampa years.

In 2009, when he was with Oakland, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his play against us. As I recall he threw 2 or 3 TD passes in the 4th quarter.

My point simply was that if he has to play in a real game, surrounded by the starters rather than backups and FAs, he will likely be no worse than Batch or Leftwich and may be better. I also agree that I'd rather not see him on the field at all unless we have a big lead.

[Captain Lemming]

buccoray, I didn't say that Grad had a good game against the Steelers while he was with Tampa. He did have some decent games against other teams during his Tampa years.

In 2009, when he was with Oakland, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his play against us. As I recall he threw 3 TD passes in the 4th quarter.

.

.

Yeah THAT happens with ALL Raider QBs lately.
They become Joe Montana for a week.

[sick beats]

buccoray, I didn't say that Grad had a good game against the Steelers while he was with Tampa. He did have some decent games against other teams during his Tampa years.

In 2009, when he was with Oakland, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his play against us. As I recall he threw 2 or 3 TD passes in the 4th quarter.

My point simply was that if he has to play in a real game, surrounded by the starters rather than backups and FAs, he will likely be no worse than Batch or Leftwich and may be better. I also agree that I'd rather not see him on the field at all unless we have a big lead.

I have seen him play well. He will never be an NFL starter again, but that doesn't mean he can't ever offer some decent QB play. I liked when they signed him; he is a better options than a 45-year-old Batch or the ridiculous wind up of a Leftwich.

[papillon]

I have seen him play well. He will never be an NFL starter again, but that doesn't mean he can't ever offer some decent QB play. I liked when they signed him; he is a better options than a 45-year-old Batch or the ridiculous wind up of a Leftwich.

Did anyone watch the Denver game last night? Zac Dysert was playing in the 4th quarter with scrubs and played well, he wasn't making bone headed plays, ate it if he had to and made some nice throws. I'm sitting there thinking, why couldn't the Steelers find someone similar that isn't panicking at the first sign of pressure. Oh well, Grad and Jones looked really bad, IMO, and if there are other options out there I'd be looking that's for sure.

I know you can't labor over your backup quarterback, but I would hope that player is at least serviceable, Josh Freeman could be the next Batch (not from Pittsburgh obviously), probably won't be a starter ever again, but could very well be the solid #2 for which this team is looking.

Pappy

[RobinCole]

Captain Lemming, you think Pryor was like " Joe Montana" against us last year? One long run to open the game and not much for the next 59 minutes - - when did Montana EVER play a game like that? C'mon mannnn.

There aren't even 32 good STARTING QBs in the league, so don't expect to see good backups hanging from the trees like ripe fruit.

[feltdizz]

Did anyone watch the Denver game last night? Zac Dysert was playing in the 4th quarter with scrubs and played well, he wasn't making bone headed plays, ate it if he had to and made some nice throws. I'm sitting there thinking, why couldn't the Steelers find someone similar that isn't panicking at the first sign of pressure. Oh well, Grad and Jones looked really bad, IMO, and if there are other options out there I'd be looking that's for sure.

I know you can't labor over your backup quarterback, but I would hope that player is at least serviceable, Josh Freeman could be the next Batch (not from Pittsburgh obviously), probably won't be a starter ever again, but could very well be the solid #2 for which this team is looking.

Pappy

yep, there is no reason our backups should look this bad in their second year. I see other teams playing back ups and they look decent..

Jones is trash.

[K Train]

The backup oline is so terrible. There might be one or two servicable backups in that squad

[papillon]

yep, there is no reason our backups should look this bad in their second year. I see other teams playing back ups and they look decent..

Jones is trash.

They've looked bad and it's not like they're playing against the the other teams starters, they're playing against guys looking to make NFL football teams and are still looking pretty bad.

I thought Jones was a savvy selection at the time and liked the pick when they made it, not so much now, he's got the deer in the headlight look. I hope they give Kay some reps this week to see what he can do. It can't be any worse.

Pappy