Steelers Morning Huddle 10/29/2013
By Kim Myers
Huddle up!
Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Is it just me or did this loss sting a little more than the previous four? Maybe it’s because the Steelers spotted the Raiders seven points after deferring the kickoff thinking it would be beneficial to put the defense on the field first. Maybe it was the missed field goals. Maybe it was the late comeback attempt that ultimately fell short. When this one stop stinging the reality that the Steelers can very well be 2-6 after their trip to New England this weekend will set in and that’s going to sting worse. Here’s what’s being said about your Pittsburgh Steelers around the block.
Prisuta’s Review
Mike Prisuta of the Steelers website reviewed the Steelers loss to the Raiders. He spoke with DE Brett Keisel about the Steelers inability to contain Terrelle Pryor on the first play from scrimmage.
"“We gotta come out of the locker room ready to play, we do. We can’t ease into football games. When the National Anthem goes, you gotta be ready to go. So far this season we’ve struggled in that area. We gotta step into stadiums ready to go.” – Brett Keisel"
He also covered Ben Roethlisberger’s inexplicable answer for why he wasted a timeout in a situation where he could have just taken a 5-yard delay of game penalty following confusion over whether or not the refs were going to call a horse-collar penalty on a tackle of Le’Veon Bell. Roethlisberger’s answer was questionable.
"“I know timeouts are valuable, but for an offense that wasn’t scoring touchdowns so are 5 yards.” – Ben Roethlisberger"
By Roethlisberger burning that timeout at that point it left the Steelers with one less timeout to use when the Raiders got the ball following the failed onside kick attempt.
Antonio Brown had a couple of passes on Sunday that he wishes he could have back. The first was on a 3rd and 15 early in the fourth quarter Ben hit Brown for an apparent first down inside the Oakland 40-yard line but Brown was hit and dropped the ball as he went out of bounds. The other play was on a 3rd and 3 on the Raiders 24 where Brown got an apparent first down to the 20-yard line but the ball came out and Raiders CB Tracy Porter recovered.
Slow starts a problem for the Steelers
Even ESPN’s Scott Brown noticed that the Steelers have started their games so far this season without a sense of urgency. The Steelers have been outscored 54-19 in the first quarter this season. On Sunday, they were down by two touchdowns before any of them realized the game had started. LaMarr Woodley was questioned following the game and still doesn’t seem to get the sense of urgency that the 2-5 record should impose.
"“We’re still a good football team. We just gave up some big plays. No one questions us as a football team.” – LaMarr Woodley"
He must not listen to a whole lot of sports talk radio.
Raiders defense underrated
Around the League’s Chris Wessling noted that it was a good thing for Oakland’s offense to strike quickly in the game on Sunday because they completely fell apart in the second half. The Steelers defense allowed just one first down for Oakland in their final nine possessions. The Oakland defense, however, made some more impressive stops. The Raiders defense behind DE Lamarr Houston and LB Sio Moore sacked Ben five times and held Le’Veon Bell to under two yards per carry. Sure the Steelers had some more of their cursed O-line struggles, but the Raiders defense definitely took their opportunities to capitalize off of that and stifled the Steelers running game as well as pressured Ben all day long.
Also, on a personal note, Happy Birthday to my wonderful and amazing Mom!
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