Many NFL fans refer to Preseason Week Three as a “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. If that is the case, the director may be getting anxious for the 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers regular season. Last night’s performance had its fair share of sour moments, but also had bright spots. The secondary proved why it is Pittsburgh’s worst recurring nightmare. Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown made worthy debuts. The running backs continue to be difficult to rank. Finally, JuJu Smith-Schuster had himself an impressive game.
Pittsburgh Steelers Preseason Week 3 Takeaways
One of the biggest worries for anyone who follows the Steelers is the secondary. It is a universal opinion that for Pittsburgh to win a Super Bowl in the near future, this unit must step up. The woes continued in the secondary, and they started early.
Secondary Struggles
With 12:54 left in the first quarter, the Indianapolis Colts took their first snap of the game. Scott Tolzien found Donte Moncrief for a 55-yard gain. On this play, not only did Artie Burns allow the completion, but also missed a tackle. Almost immediately after, Robert Golden lowered his head and failed to bring Moncrief down. Moncrief then galloped into the red zone, where Frank Gore scored shortly after. The issue of coverage is one thing that can develop throughout the season. However, missing tackles cannot happen for the Steelers come regular season.
Stars Return
Playing in their first preseason game of the season, Roethlisberger and Brown did not miss a stride with their chemistry. They connected twice on the team’s second possession, resulting in a field goal. While these two players have secured their starting spots for Week One, seeing them back in action and leading the offense is always a refreshing moment.
Jam Packed Backfield
The running back position may just be the most crowded aside from wide receiver. While most assumed Fitzgerald Toussaint would be the second option behind Le’Veon Bell, he has underwhelmed drastically. After leaving the game with an injury, it seems Toussaint may not even make the roster. James Connor and Knile Davis continued to impress. Also, Terrell Watson may have earned himself a spot on the roster with his impressive preseason play. With Bell set to return September 1st, Pittsburgh will most likely not keep five running backs.
Good JuJu
The Steelers wide receiving corps is undoubtedly one of the best in the NFL. It was also improved without a doubt when Pittsburgh selected JuJu Smith-Schuster in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. While Schuster has struggled this preseason, he has looked impressive physically. Despite injury issues, Schuster has shown both acceleration and overall speed in the few receptions he has had. Watching him play, Schuster looks to be a great talent that can have an immediate effect this season.
Despite the 19-15 loss, the bright spots did shine through for Pittsburgh in preseason Week Three. With the season fast approaching, players have distinguished themselves while fighting for roster spots. As Pittsburgh heads into the preseason finale against Carolina, the focus will be on staying healthy and fine tuning.
