Steelers lose 24-21 to the Bills, Dixon shows poise
August 15, 2008 by Jamie Van Dusen
Filed under NFL Football, Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers came up a little short in Toronto on Thursday night. The Steelers defence struggled to stop the running game of the Buffalo Bills and yielded two early scores. Ben Roethlisberger was pretty effective completing 9 of 11 passes for 142 yards, including a 40 yard bomb to wide out Santonio Holmes, who continues his impressive play as well. The running game of the Steelers was pretty ineffective, which has some wondering, is this offensive line good enough to take the Steelers to the next level?
Rookies Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed both had sub par performances and will be asked to show a little more next game. Sweed dropped two passes that were basically right in his mitts. Another rookie, Dennis Dixon, came in to the game in the 4th to take over for Byron Leftwich who struggled after completing his first pass for 24 yards. Dixon led a impressive first drive and then had a 47 yard run for a TD. Dixon definitely turned some heads and is going to make the back up quarterback role a real tough decision for the coaching staff. The kid showed extreme poise and looked like a cagey veteran in his time.
The Steelers defence and special teams seemed very sluggish and better find themselves in better game shape quickly. Coach Tomlin had some pretty convincing words for those two teams after the game;
“We have to get our regular season legs under us pretty quickly and become a better tackling team,” said Tomlin. “Nothing is broken schematically. Guys are where they are supposed to be. We don’t have enough guys making sure tackles.”
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One bright spot on defence was second year Lawrence Timmons accompanied with James Harrison, who look as if they are going to be a real force to be reckoned with. Several mainstays struggled throughout the night, but none more evident than 3rd year receiver Willie Reid. Despite making a few nice catches, Reid showed the same old inconsistencies he has shown since joining the Steelers. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him placed on the practice roster or cut at camps end.
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The Bills are definitely a much improved team from last year and rookie Leodis McKelvin looks to be the real deal. It was evident that the Steelers were in pre-season form and I would look for them to show a better performance the next game against the Vikings (August 23rd).
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August 15th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Did Leftwhich see any action last night or will he not see any till the Vikings game.
August 15th, 2008 at 5:50 am
He saw almost two quarters of work. He threw a great first pass, but struggled there after. He’s a decent quarterback, but when they say he has a slow release, they aren’t joking. Something can be said that he hasn’t had much time to work with the recievers either. Dixon looked very good though.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Dixon did look good. Sure it’s against 2nd and 3rd teamers but he is showing composure and great instincts. He is athletic ability it second to none. I said it before, he is a better version of Kordell Stewart. The OC has to implement plays for him, like the Jets did with Brad Smith in NY last year, that sort of thing. You can’t have a weapon like that sitting on the sidelines. He makes defenses think and puts in on their toes!
August 15th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Nice breakdown Jamie! I really hope the Bills saw the best of Pittsburgh’s starters, but I have a feeling they didn’t. I have a glowing review of the Bills performance, but I know that if this had been a regular season match-up, it would have been different.
I guess my overall question is, do you think the Bills saw a legitimate effort from the Steelers first team offense and defense?
August 16th, 2008 at 4:58 am
I think they saw an effort there’s no denying that, but the defence for the most part is still trying to find their legs and they are still without the like of Polomalou who we all know make the Steelers a much different defence.
I have to say though Tim the Bills are so much better than they were a year ago and the 2nd year and 3rd year guys seem to be coming into their own, especially the quarterbacks looked more calm back there than before. It will be tough, but I do think your Bills can make a run for the playoffs.
Here are some interesting words from Harrison that pretty much answers your question:
Harrison, a Pro Bowl outside linebacker and the team’s Most Valuable Player last season, was upset after the 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills Thursday night and criticized the mindset of his defensive teammates for the way the starting unit has performed in the preseason.
So, while some of his teammates pooh-poohed the poor tackling and the two touchdowns allowed to the Bills, the third-worst scoring team in the National Football League last season, Harrison stood at his locker and warned that it is time for the defense to start performing before bad habits carry over to the regular season.
“We’re going out there and treating the preseason too much like the preseason,” Harrison said. “We’re going out there and thinking everything is just going to come when the regular season begins and we’re just out there playing snap for snap, getting our timing and not playing up to the level were capable of playing at. I don’t feel that’s OK.”