Chase Claypool, believe it or not, threw the only touchdown in the game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their big loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, 35-13, Oct. 30. Now, he is a member of the Chicago Bears. Just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Nov. 1, the Steelers traded the wide receiver to the Bears for a second-round pick. If you haven’t heard, the Steelers are 2-6, sitting in the caboose in the AFC North and, barring the most improbable of comebacks, will not make it to the postseason this year. (Photo courtesy Pittsburgh Steelers)
It’s time for a change for these present-day Pittsburgh Steelers
:10—Remember a few weeks back when I lowered my expectations for the Steelers’ win total from 11 to 9? You know, it takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong and I’m a big man and 9 seems like a more realistic number for Steelers wins this year, etc., etc., etc. You don’t remember that far back? Me either. What was I thinking?? Nine wins? Are you serious? Must have been the residual effects of too much laughing gas still in my system from my dental appointment that week. Let’s pretend/ignore that outrageous prediction and go with this—Of the remaining nine games, the Steelers should lose to the Ravens twice and the Bengals but the other six games against against world-beaters like the Saints, Colts, Falcons, Browns, Raiders and Panthers are winnable if the Steelers can upgrade the offense’s playbook. That being said, and the putrid way the team has performed for most of the season, is there one game you can look at and say for certain it’s a surefire win? No, didn’t think so. So, here we go.
:09—Four touchdown passes from Jalen Hurts for 39, 27, 29 and 34 yards, three to A.J. Brown, who torched Ahkello Witherspoon until he was mercifully benched in the second half and was able to put out the fire on his uniform. Someone put in a call to Mel Blount, J.T. Thomas, Dwayne Woodruff and Rod Woodson and see if they can find their old cleats and get ready to suit up. Remember, it wasn’t Randy Moss and Jerry Rice out there but it was that bad.
:08—Can someone hold a block for more than half a second out there for Kenny Pickett? Sacked 6 times, hit another 11 times, forced to run half a dozen times, Fran Tarkenton at his best couldn’t have done much better then our rookie QB. The woeful line play is completely attributable to the players on the line, nothing more. Trying to replace David DeCastro, Maurkice Pouncey and Ramon Foster, (yeah, I know he was undrafted, he’s the exception to the rule) with lower round draft picks has not fared well for this team. But maybe a different scheme and some different play-calling could help. Which brings us to our next point…
:07—As you watched the Eagles on offense and watched other teams around the NFL during the late Sunday games and the Sunday Night Football game between the Bills and Packers, it’s become apparent that our play-calling and plays on the offensive side of the football are completely devoid of imagination and rarely vary from what seems like between 10 and 15 plays. A change is absolutely necessary because George Pickens was targeted 3 times and had 0 receptions. Think about that, zero catches. Receivers on all the other teams I watched seem to get open and make catches 25, 35, 40+ yards downfield and running backs seem to have lanes to run through and hit holes with amazing bursts that propel them 7-15 yards downfield. A change is needed and you all know what I’m talking about. And here we go again.
:06—Najee Harris, for whatever reason, most likely his lisfranc sprain and its after-effects, does not have the burst needed to effectively run the ball this season. So maybe, just maybe, use the running back that seems to be 100 percent healthy and hits the holes like a man on fire, Jaylen Warren, he of the 8.3 yards-per-carry average. What’s the worst that can happen? He rushes for 100 yards and catches some passes out of the backfield? C’mon man!!! Give the kid a shot.
:05—Gotcha ya back there, didn’t I. Thought I was going one way and I stutter-stepped and went around the other end. Well, sadly, and I hate to see anyone get sacked, but it’s time for Matt Canada to go. In 26 games as the offensive coordinator, Canada’s offense has topped the 20-point threshold 5 times. That means 21 times they haven’t. Enough said.
:04—One final note on the Steelers’ blowout loss to the Eagles. Minkah Fitzpatrick, as he did so many times last season, was the leading tackler for the Steelers with six. When your safety is your leading tackler and not one of your linebackers is, something is very wrong with your defense. The highest salaried defense in all of the NFL. Wait, what? Really? Really.
:03—The Phillies and Astros are tied a game apiece as I type this up, chasing a World Series title. True to form, both games have been tight and a spinning curveball away from either team winning or losing. Expect the same as the series moves to Philly, the City of Brotherly Love, for the next three games. With no interest in who actually wins, both teams with huge payrolls notwithstanding, can we at least hope for an extra inning, deciding seventh game? A little late-inning, stolen base, play-at-the-plate drama? Am I asking too much considering the average game lasts about 6 hours? I didn’t think so.
:02—The new LIV Golf season is over and a bunch of millionaires made millions more in a vacuum no one watched or much cared about. Yeah, I said it. Who cares? You sold your souls for a bigger piece of pie. Enjoy it while it lasts, right up until the Masters in April when hopefully none of you clowns get invited.
:01—For more sports talk tune in every Tuesday to “Soul Take/Champions Live” from 6 to 8 p.m. at http://www.pghdsn.com. And come join the fracas by calling 412-213-8995 and texting at 412-889-8319. We’re worldwide and never short on opinions.
:00—GAME OVER!!!
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