Pre Season: Bills @ Steelers..What are you looking to see in this game?

[Steel Maniac]

Okay guys..

We get an upgrade in an opponent this week. What are the key areas on our team that your looking at in this game?

[The Man of Steel]

If the Steelers can just avoid getting down 31-3 by half time again I would consider that progress for both the defense and the offense.

[blacknblue80s]

I'm hoping to see some improved (from last year) redzone offense and more of Darnel Washington and CAIII with the ones. Washington could be huge (literally) for the redzone offense.

[whisper]

If the Steelers can just avoid getting down 31-3 by half time again I would consider that progress for both the defense and the offense.

I was worried this was gonna be the reaction: What happens in a preseason game has ZERO, nada, NO impact on reality. If we hang with the Bills, or even win the game, Yinzers will all come out proclaiming this team is now fixed and is superior to Buffalo. Nothing could be further from the truth, not based on a preseason game any how.

How many times have we seen teams go undefeated in the preseason to only win like 3 games when the games count?

All that being said, I will be watching the starting OL, with the LT (Moore and Jones) being the pivotal players to watch and evaluate. I am hopeful that Jones can get "over the hump" and play better than the below-average Moore.

Pickett will also be a spot to watch, obviously. Also noteworthy will be the "battle" for the #2 QB (however, I expect Pgh to treat Trubisky like last year, where he wins out because of his pay, regardless of if he is actually playing better). Once Art makes up his mind, he is too slow to change it, even when reality dictates that he should.

RBs won't feature probable starters, or at least shouldn't. (Don't remind me of Tomlin playing Najee last week or preseason when it was obvious he should have rested him, further adding to his injury/recovery time. Not the brightest move there (understatement employed here).

DB battles will be noteworthy. I hope Robinson keeps up his play at ILB.

Biggest key: No significant injuries.

[Steel Maniac]

I'm hoping to see some improved (from last year) redzone offense and more of Darnel Washington and CAIII with the ones. Washington could be huge (literally) for the redzone offense.

I know that we purposefully may be trying not to show too much; but it would be nice to see KP hit that big TE in the end zone as well this weekend. Don't care if it's Muth or Washington. Just want to start to see that being utilized; but again, maybe they don't want to show that card right now.

[Steel Maniac]

I was worried this was gonna be the reaction: What happens in a preseason game has ZERO, nada, NO impact on reality. If we hang with the Bills, or even win the game, Yinzers will all come out proclaiming this team is now fixed and is superior to Buffalo. Nothing could be further from the truth, not based on a preseason game any how.

How many times have we seen teams go undefeated in the preseason to only win like 3 games when the games count?

All that being said, I will be watching the starting OL, with the LT (Moore and Jones) being the pivotal players to watch and evaluate. I am hopeful that Jones can get "over the hump" and play better than the below-average Moore.

Pickett will also be a spot to watch, obviously. Also noteworthy will be the "battle" for the #2 QB (however, I expect Pgh to treat Trubisky like last year, where he wins out because of his pay, regardless of if he is actually playing better). Once Art makes up his mind, he is too slow to change it, even when reality dictates that he should.

RBs won't feature probable starters, or at least shouldn't. (Don't remind me of Tomlin playing Najee last week or preseason when it was obvious he should have rested him, further adding to his injury/recovery time. Not the brightest move there (understatement employed here).

DB battles will be noteworthy. I hope Robinson keeps up his play at ILB.

Biggest key: No significant injuries.

I'd love to see Najee in there for a minute and for him to rip off a nice run or two; just to see him and the O-line getting in sync. Getting that run game going is just as important of an aspect to keep that D-line honest and keep them from solely focusing on KP.

[NorthCoast]

I'm looking forward to this;

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/steelers-to-unveil-franco-harris-jersey-display-during-preseason-game-against-buffalo/

[SteelerOfDeVille]

"keeping up" - whether that be by the defense slowing their offense, or by our offense scoring with them.

If the starters come out and are down 10 or less, that's progress. If they're ahead, I'd be excited.

[Steel Maniac]

I'm looking forward to this;

https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/n...ainst-buffalo/

Yeah....that's going to be real nice.

[Steel Maniac]

"keeping up" - whether that be by the defense slowing their offense, or by our offense scoring with them.

If the starters come out and are down 10 or less, that's progress. If they're ahead, I'd be excited.

If our first unit comes out clicking against their starting defense, that WOULD BE really exciting. That would hold more merit with me then what they did against a bottom 5 team in Tampa Bay.

[pczach]

For me, it's always about seeing as many of the rookies and young players get as much playing time as possible. I think most of us know and understand where the veteran players are and what to expect from them when the regular season starts.

I want to see more of Benton if healthy.

I want to see Leal and Loudermilk continue to improve and look like they can be a factor.

I want to see somebody play backup center that doesn't just send snaps by the QB and doesn't get blown up into the QBs lap on nearly every play.

I want to see Washington get more playing time and try to work him into more complex route trees.

I am dying to see Joey Porter Jr get on the field and watch him compete and get experience.

We need to see more of the same aggression from all the ILBs. If it continues, that is going to carry over to the regular season. Want to see more in coverage opportunities.

I want to see more of what Roche has been doing. It appears he may have taken another step in his development. I want to see him go up against a good tackle and hold up physically against the run, while still being able to get something done with pressure.

I want to see underdogs in the secondary like Riley and Robinson continue to look good and make plays. The nickel corner position seems to be up for grabs, and with all the secondary injuries, a player like Robinson has a real opportunity to not only make the roster but get real playing time.

Let's see McFarland show more toughness and be able to run between the tackles or in traffic, break some tackles, and power forward after contact for a few extra yards. He needs to stack good games together and carry that over when things really count.

At this point it's all about seeing potential and growth in the young players, while determining who is going to make the final few spots of the 53 that can help the team.

[whisper]

I'd love to see Najee in there for a minute and for him to rip off a nice run or two; just to see him and the O-line getting in sync. Getting that run game going is just as important of an aspect to keep that D-line honest and keep them from solely focusing on KP.

Yea, but it's rare for a team to give more than a few touches, if that, to their starting RR in PS.

[Oviedo]

A couple long drives led by KP

Nick Herbig showing he can do it two games in a row

Washington proving he can contribute in the passing game

I'm more interested on McFarland doing more than Najee. Najee will be fine...save for regular season

[Northern_Blitz]

I would like to see us lean on the pass again. I doubt we'll have as much success as last week if they only get one drive.

Nice throws that are accurate and leading guys to YAC.
Guys getting YAC.
I'd like to see us get some 1st team passes in the redzone since this was something we struggled with last season.
More passes to the middle of the field (like the GP TD last week!)

The passing game is the only thing I really want to see. I think we'll have a pretty good running game.

On defense, I want to see how our CBs (particularly JPJ) and ILBs play. But I'm less worried about the D than the O for this season.

[Steel Maniac]

For me, it's always about seeing as many of the rookies and young players get as much playing time as possible. I think most of us know and understand where the veteran players are and what to expect from them when the regular season starts.

I want to see more of Benton if healthy.

I want to see Leal and Loudermilk continue to improve and look like they can be a factor.

I want to see somebody play backup center that doesn't just send snaps by the QB and doesn't get blown up into the QBs lap on nearly every play.

I want to see Washington get more playing time and try to work him into more complex route trees.

I am dying to see Joey Porter Jr get on the field and watch him compete and get experience.

We need to see more of the same aggression from all the ILBs. If it continues, that is going to carry over to the regular season. Want to see more in coverage opportunities.

I want to see more of what Roche has been doing. It appears he may have taken another step in his development. I want to see him go up against a good tackle and hold up physically against the run, while still being able to get something done with pressure.

I want to see underdogs in the secondary like Riley and Robinson continue to look good and make plays. The nickel corner position seems to be up for grabs, and with all the secondary injuries, a player like Robinson has a real opportunity to not only make the roster but get real playing time.

Let's see McFarland show more toughness and be able to run between the tackles or in traffic, break some tackles, and power forward after contact for a few extra yards. He needs to stack good games together and carry that over when things really count.

At this point it's all about seeing potential and growth in the young players, while determining who is going to make the final few spots of the 53 that can help the team.

Your usually right on those points; but a few of these "vets" have a lot to to show as well. Najee needs to show me he can run at a 4.5 yards a clip. Linebackers need to show me that the coverage is better than it was last year. Muth needs to show me he's better at "sitting down" in those zone coverages.

Like you said, rookies and such have to show & earn, but I'm looking at quite a few vets in the first couple of series.