When Moore Is Less
The first day back to practice for the Steelers on the South Side involved Diontae Johnson, Dan Moore Jr., and Pat Freiermuth return to the starting offense.
For Johnson and Freiermuth, it makes sense: Pickett has struggled mightily to find open targets with Johnson out, and whether Freiermuth’s blocking is up to snuff or not he’s also been a dependable check down target for the suddenly happy-footed QB.
Broderick Jones, in just one game as a starter and a half or so in relief of Moore – 124 snaps, to be exact – is ranked by Pro Football Focus as the 33rd best offensive tackle in football. It’s not out-of-this-world praise, but it’s a damn sight better than Chuks Okorafor, ranked 64th out of 74 NFL OTs, and most certainly better than Moore.
Because EVERYONE IN THE LEAGUE IS BETTER THAN MOORE, at least according to PFF, which has him ranked dead last, 74th out of 74 offensive tackles who’ve played at least 110 snaps.
Make no mistake about it: If Dan Moore Jr. returns to the starting lineup on Sunday in L.A., it’s coaching malpractice.
Meanwhile, the guy taken just one spot ahead of Najee Harris in the 2021 NFL Draft is handing out pancakes like frickin’ IHOP.
Geno Machino
Evgeni Malkin’s best three-game start to a season in his storied career earned him the NHL’s 3rd Star of the Week.
Wait. A pair of goals and four apples in three games only gets you the THIRD star of the week??
This just might be the year they put it together.
Speaking of Putting It Together…
Is it somehow possible for Pitt to salvage their season and find their way to bowl eligibility?
Brett McMurphy’s latest projections don’t have it happening, but other than the Florida State and Notre Dame games, if Pitt’s defense continues to play as they have against their other four opponents, they have a chance to scratch and fight and claw their way to 6-6. Wake Forest, Boston College, Syracuse, and Duke are a combined 3-8 in the ACC, and two of those wins are the Blue Devils behind Riley Leonard.
Duke’s QB will almost certainly be back for the season finale Thanksgiving weekend in Durham, and that game may be what it comes down to for the Panthers.
Just imagine if Pat Narduzzi hadn’t allowed Phil Jurkovec to run the season into the ground and taken him out when he should have, halfway through the Backyard Brawl, or at the very least, before the UNC game. At the very least, Pitt’s looking at at least one more crucial W that would have kept them from having to snag on a win over a ranked opponent down the stretch.