Game 5- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Detroit Lions

Liqourish · Post #1 » by **Liqourish** » Tue Oct 6, 2009 3:41 pm

Sunday, October 11th 1:00 PM EST @ Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan

Bartender · Post #2 » by **Bartender** » Tue Oct 6, 2009 3:51 pm

Personally, this will be a test on our Defensive front 7. If they can't get to Big Ben in this game, then we have some issues to work out cuz their offensive line SUCKS... like, worse than ours.

Post #3 » by **ajaX82** » Tue Oct 6, 2009 4:36 pm

Bartender wrote:Personally, this will be a test on our Defensive front 7. If they can't get to Big Ben in this game, then we have some issues to work out cuz their offensive line SUCKS... like, worse than ours.

I have a hard time believing that....ours is pretty bad. Not Packers bad mind you, that line is going to get Rodgers literally killed on the field.

Im gunna guess Culpepper starts this one. They dont want to put a non-100% Stafford out there against Blitzburgh. Either way, i dont see this going so well

TSE · Post #4 » by **TSE** » Tue Oct 6, 2009 5:40 pm

I'm guessing Stanton gets the start.

I'm also guessing that I will be proven wrong.

But that's ok, because I don't mind getting shot down by sticking up for the guy that I believe in the most, a guy of which that also NEEDS to play in order for the best interests of the team to be served, for both the short and long term.

Liqourish · Post #5 » by **Liqourish** » Tue Oct 6, 2009 8:14 pm

I want to see our defense play a FULL game. We've seen them have good halves, I want a full game dammit!!

I'd also like to see more protection out of our O-line and less penalties (looking at you Backus). I'm tired of the same damn players getting called for the same infractions game after game. QUIT IT!! You're costing the team!!

I'm not expecting a win, but I'd like to see great effort. I can deal with losses, I can't deal with not trying. Our defense and special teams don't even look like their trying at times.

Post #6 » by **ajaX82** » Thu Oct 8, 2009 4:25 pm

Is Polamalu still out? His abscence or lack thereof is a big part of how this game could go.

Liqourish · Post #7 » by **Liqourish** » Thu Oct 8, 2009 4:52 pm

I believe he is, but don't quote me.

This game will NOT be blacked out!!

Post #8 » by **ajaX82** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 4:37 pm

I saw Stafford is inactive

Its Daunte time kiddies!

Liqourish · Post #9 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:38 pm

Offensive looks pathetic with Daunte in the game. He had consecutive first downs where he just lost yards because he wouldn't move out of the pocket. Had a nice 32 yard run for a 1st down, but the offensive just isn't working with Culpepper in there.

2 46-yarders from Hanson and a TD return from a interception for our defense. Otherwise, we wouldn't have scored at all.

Our defense and secondary look bad once again. Our cornerbacks are giving up the outside to the receivers for untouched touchdowns. Disgusting. Will James did get a INT for a TD, but he also gave up a TD right before that.

Derrick Williams running better as a returner this game. Gave us nice field position a few times, but Daunte just gave yards right back.

Stafford isn't inactive, he's our 3rd QB today. He's not expected to play, but he can if we need him.

Liqourish · Post #10 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:13 pm

Culpepper starting the second half better. At least he's converting on 1st downs now. Need our receivers to step up with CJ out. Kevin Smith can't run every snap.

Liqourish · Post #11 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:16 pm

Soon as I say that Culpepper throws the ball to the opposing team. UGH!!!

TSE · Post #12 » by **TSE** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:09 pm

Culpepper was abysmal all day long. We had a real shot to win this game and we blew it with terrible QB play. 3 fumbles and 7 sacks by Culpepper, as well as a penalty and an INT, and a ton of terrible passes. Heck, one of the best plays he had was that early run that luckily he just found himself in a giant open void, but the value of that play didn't really require any real skill or talent on his end.

Liqourish · Post #13 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:15 pm

Culpepper had a good run late in the game but it was too little too late.

The game wasn't nearly as close as the score would lead you to believe. We couldn't get anything offensively. Northcutt got a TD late, but that's it.

Our offensive line allowed Pittsburgh to sack Daunte 8 times. That is inexcusable. I thought 5 sacks for Stafford was bad.

Our defense played better donw the stretch to stop the Steelers and get the ball back, but our offense couldn't capitalize.

1-4.

Post #14 » by **ajaX82** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:35 pm

Culpepper was really bad. He had a decent 4th until the sacks, but some of those he needs to get rid of the ball. The line was certainly terrible, but CPep has to know that the heat is coming and adjust.

The D showed some life and wasnt too bad

TSE · Post #15 » by **TSE** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:41 pm

Liqourish wrote:Our offensive line allowed Pittsburgh to sack Daunte 8 times. That is inexcusable. I thought 5 sacks for Stafford was bad.

I don't agree that our OL should be put down by the number of sacks. They did a pretty decent job today imo. The sacks are going to happen to any team in the NFL when the defense brings a ton more bodies than you have, and it's all about the adjustments and the presence of the QB. This was the biggest gripe I had with Jon Kitna, is that so many sacks were HIS fault, not the OL. The OL did enough for Culpepper to win, and he let his team down today. That's as honest and straightforward assessment on my end.

Liqourish · Post #16 » by **Liqourish** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:50 pm

ajaX82 wrote:Culpepper was really bad. He had a decent 4th until the sacks, but some of those he needs to get rid of the ball. The line was certainly terrible, but CPep has to know that the heat is coming and adjust.

The D showed some life and wasnt too bad

The sacks weren't ALL of O-Lines fault, Daunte needs to know to get out of the **** pocket when there's pressure coming. But the O-line also had the same coverage coming at them on multiple consecutive possessions and NEVER adjusted, not once. That is bad protection no matter how you slice it.

Our defense was bad early, especially our cornerbacks. They can't keep letting receivers get outside the help defense and into the endzone untouched. Not just this game, they've done it all season so far.

I didn't expect a win, but I did expect better effort all around.

Bartender · Post #17 » by **Bartender** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 4:28 pm

Culpepper wasn't as bad as you all are saying. Yeah, he was bad... but not THAT bad. This was his first action this season and it came against the most brutal defense in the NFL. Our O-Line had SOOO many busted assignments. It wasn't that they brought in 2 or 3 blitzes everytime, but it's that the O-Line dropped there assignments to block someone else instead of blocking there main guy and trying to clog the gaps at the same time. Culpepper had just a bad situation. CJ was out, his RT was out, he was playing Pitt. He converted nearly every 3rd down he was in. Give the guy a break.. he did what he could with the situation he was in. I mean, you can't expect him to be the guy he was in Minnesota with that horrible of a O-Line and his best WR out there being Bryant Johnson.

Post #18 » by **Icness** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:37 am

I thought Culpepper was okay. The Pittsburgh defense had a lot to do with what people are critcizing him for. Not having Calvin was a major issue too. Not saying Pep was great or anything but he wasn't the reason the Lions lost.

The larger problem I saw is with the defensive front in general and run defense gap awareness/discipline in particular. Either the line has to do a better job creating those gaps and holding their spots or the LBs and safeties have to fill better and more consistently anticipate and read the play. I love Delmas but he chooses some real poor angles too often.

I liked the fight and I thought that other than a couple of plays the pass coverage was looking better. It's still not great but it's improving weekly.

Bartender · Post #19 » by **Bartender** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:50 am

The pass coverage was the worse IMO. It looked like Rod's tampa 2 out there with all the WR's in open gaps and the shallow safeties which led to that speedy boy Mike Wallace and Hines to get past our whole secondary to many times. Ben Roethlisburger showed some bad decision making throughout the game. Ward was open down field past our secondary a couple of times and Ben didn't see him. I couldn't believe how bad we played on defense. Pitt has a HORRIBLE offensive line and we STILL couldn't put pressure on Ben.

Post #20 » by **Icness** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:28 pm

Bartender wrote:The pass coverage was the worse IMO. It looked like Rod's tampa 2 out there with all the WR's in open gaps and the shallow safeties which led to that speedy boy Mike Wallace and Hines to get past our whole secondary to many times. Ben Roethlisburger showed some bad decision making throughout the game. Ward was open down field past our secondary a couple of times and Ben didn't see him. I couldn't believe how bad we played on defense. Pitt has a HORRIBLE offensive line and we STILL couldn't put pressure on Ben.

The over-the-top safety help is terrible, agreed. The corners are doing a fair job on conventional 5-step drops, but they can't cover forever. That's where the lack of pass rush factors in.