The home of die hard Pittsburgh Steelers fans. It's not just a team, it's a way of life!

Stillers - Gmen Postgame Analysis and Grades

October 29, 2024 by Still Mill


Stillers 26,  Giants 18...... Oct 28, 2024 …………Game # 8

 

Stillers - Gmen Postgame Analysis and Grades

 

The 5-2 Stillers hosted the 2-5 Giants on MNF.   The Stillers moved the ball well in the 1H, but settled for FGs and were tied at 9 going into the half.  The Stillers managed to score 2 TDs in the 2H, one on a punt return. 

 

Due to the late nite game, this report will be more succinct that usual.

 

Grades:

 

QB:   Wilson got the start.  

 

Slightly underthrew Miller on a deep ball, late 3Q, which fell INC.  Superb deep flag to Pickens for 43 yards, 4Q. 

Had a hideous fumble during a scramble,430 4Q.  A solid outing.   B+

 

RB:  

Harris  –  ripped off a big 26 yard run, 1Q.  Had several other good runs in the 1Q as well.  Dropped cake-easy valve dump, early 2Q.   Nice vault over a DB, next play, for 14 yards.   114 yards on a solid evening.   A

 

Warren –  big 17 yard run, 1st series.   Chipped in well.    A

 

Cord Patterson – did not dress. 

 

FB:    Conn Hey played a fair amount of FB.  

  

WR: 

Pickens –  Hung onto a TD grab despite big hit, 2Q.  But, although his one foot hit twice, the 2nd foot never came down IB, and was correctly ruled INC.   Had a couple of big grabs.   B

 

Van Jeff – grabbed short out, 4 years, 1st series.  Grabbed 12 yard pass, 2Q.  Made a good catch on a deep lob, last play of 3Q.   B

 

Austin – grabbed short pass, 10 yards, first play o’ game.  PeePee hauled on a 29-yard TD pass, early 4Q.   A miracle !!    It was a cake-easy grab, but still, it was stunning.    B

 

Miller- was thrown a deep ball, late 3Q, but the ball was slightly underthrown. 

 

Rom Wilson – Placed on IR earlier today.  What a twerp.

 

TE:  

Pat FryBoy – Chipped in meagerly.   2 grabs for 19.  Anyone recall the fatty contract he was lavished with in early Sep??     C 

 

Darnell – Good grab and run for 29 yards, 1Q. 

 

Con Heyward – mostly blocked. 

 

OL:  Overall, the line (Moore, Seumalo, McCullom, McCormick, Jones) had a decent game.

 

Jones was flagged for a mask, which negated a TD grab by Pickens, 1st series.  Jones got whipped by Armond Watts on a run, for a 3 yard loss, 3:32 2Q.   Dex Lawrence busted thru C and RG for a big sack, just before the 2MW, 1H.   Was just a man among boyz on this play. 

 

Seamalo was flagged for a false start on 3d & 6, late 3Q.  McCormick was flagged for a hold on a run, 1st play 4Q. 

 

Overall, a B+

 

DL:   

Heyward –  held completely off the scoresheet, 1st half.  Fat Cam rolled the donut !!     Scam chipped in on a harmless draw play on 2d & 10, 7:00 4Q.   Scam had 3 solos and 3 As in a very drab, mediocre game.    C- 

 

Ogunjobi –  played ok

 

Lowdermilk- played here and there. 

 

Benton – good stop on a 3rd down tunnel screen, 1st series, to force the FG. 

 

LB: 

Queen – Stop the presses !   A rare, crisp, adroit tackle by Queen, on a flare pass to the RB, late 3Q.   Had only 3 solos all nite long, as NY gashed this D in the ground game.   Ain’t nowhere good enuf.    C-

 

Landon Rob – good run stuff, 1st series.  Good run stuff, mid 2Q.   B-

 

Watt – Got a Dong sack, 3Q.  Stripped the QB and recovered the fumble, late 4Q.  Was quiet for too much of the game.   B

 

Highsmith – got to face Chris “Mother” Hubbard, who was just signed off the scrap heap last week to be the starting LT.   Flagged for roughing the passer, late 1Q. 

 

(1:21 - 2nd) (Shotgun) T.Tracy up the middle to NYG 19 for 4 yards (A.Highsmith).   This was Fraudsmith’s ONLY tackle the entire 1H.

 

Stop the presses !   Big Alex Fraudsmith got a Dong sack, 3Q !     Was doing NOTHING, and Watt chased the QB into Big Alex's lap.   So dominant & impressive!!

 

Big Alex got a 2nd sack, 5:45 3Q, when he looped around the slowfooted Chris “Mother” Hubbard, who was just signed off the trash heap last week.

 

Big Alex got a “pass breakup” on the goofy 2 point try by NY.   The Gmen lined up with like 5 players split out wide left, but NO ONE moved at the snap of the ball, allowing Bumsmith to come in UNTOUCHED to bust up the pass to the split-out receiver who was stationed a few yards behind the picket fence. 

 

Had 4 solos, including a Dong sack, and a sack where he looped around the entirely worthless Mother Hubbard.   Not much to crow about.    C

 

Herbig – did not dress.  

 

Pey Wilson –  watch Big Peyton Wilson on that 10 yard run by Tracy, late 1Q.....Big Peyton literally WANDERS way to his left, and takes himself woefully out of the play.   Another defender who has been rabidly fawned over ad nauseum.  Finished the game with ONE solo.  Grossly inadequate.    C-

 

DB

Joey Porter Jr. -   got away with a blatant PT/hold on a deep ball, late 1Q.   C.   overed ok, although at time played soft.    B

 

Donte Jackson – got abused for a deep ball, 4th play of game, good for 43 yards.  Got abused by Slayton on a 3d & 8, late 2Q, for a 36 yard gainer.     C

 

DeShon Elliot – Solid game.     B

 

Minkah -   fairly quiet.  Too quiet, in fact.    C

 

Bishop – got abused on 4th & 2, early 2Q.  Got a Dong INT (his 2nd in 2 weeks) late in the game, when the pass clanged off another DB and then softly landed in Queenie’s lap.   B-

 

Spec teams:  

Waitman –   boomed a 55-yard punt, landing near the sideline, mid 3Q.   Excellent work.    A

 

Boswell – shallow KO, late 1Q, to the 8, returned to the 34.   Not good.   Booted 4 FGs.  A

 

Pee Pee Austin returned a punt for a TD, mid 3Q.  Poor KO coverage, early 4Q, allowing a KO 3 yards deep tp be returned to the NY 45 yard line. 

 

OC:  Art Smith produced a lotta yards in the 1H, but played turtle ball in/near the RZ and settled for 3 FGs. 

 

1st series, after the flag, 2nd & 24 at the NY 26, and Smith calls a draw play that gains 2 yards.   Here you have a veteran QB, who should be trusted to pass the ball on that down & distance.   This was a white flag of surrender, settling for a FG.  

 

Decent 2H.  B 

 

DC:   Austin allowed a TD, early 2Q, but a ticky tack illegal shift flag wiped out the TD.  The defense got gashed by the rookie RB, Tracy, in sickening fashion.   Far, far too much softness from this defense.   D+

 

 

HC:  Mike Asslin had a rocky 1H.   Asslin stupidly challenged the Pickens TD that was correctly ruled INC, only to be told one cannot challenge a call that was made by the upstairs crew, AND the timeout is still charged.   What a jackmule !    At least the team mostly rebounded in the 2H.   The def woes should be alarming.   B

 

Synopsis:  A poor 1st half.  Adequate win over a weakling foe, but nothing to crow about.  Now, a bye week, before the real meat of the schedule takes place. 

 

 

Follow Mill on Twitter, at StillMill1

 

Like this? Share it with friends: Follow me on Twitter: