PHILADELPHIA (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers won game 2 of the preseason 24-16 at Philadelphia, but was there movement between Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins for QB2. What about the play of the starting offensive line?
1. QB comparison—there are variables with every preseason game, such as weighing the starter playing against potentially a better defense, but yet with more first-team offensive players.
-Mason Rudolph 8 of 9, 77 yards including a 33-yard play to Diontae Johnson. No scoring drives
-Dwayne Haskins 16 of 22, 161 yards with a scrambling 22-yard touchdown to Anthony Johnson in the back of the end zone. Led the team to three touchdowns and a field goal. The offense was 9 for 11 on third down with Haskins at QB
2. OFFENSIVE line—Chukwuma Okorafor returned to game action starting with Rashaad Coward, Kendrick Green, Trai Turner and Joe Haeg. Holding call on Turner, Okorafor called for a false start, Joe Haeg, Coward and Green all burned on the same play as Mason Rudolph was sacked. Still without likely starter Kevin Dotson and Zach Banner, the group made it hard on Rudolph. Dotson replaced Coward later in the first half as the second group of offensive lineman, including JC Hassenauer, was more effective.
"It was self-inflicted wounds," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "Run game holding calls, they kill drives. Penalties were a component of our issues early on. That's one of the many things that I'm acknowledging that we have to work at. Offensive penalties kill drives. We are well aware we have to be better."
3. RBs take advantage of no Benny Snell or Kalen Ballage
-Anthony McFarland with nice footwork at the goal line to shuffle into the end zone from one-yard out, 9 carries for 34 yards.
-Jaylen Samuels powered through at the goal line for a one-yard touchdown, 10 carries for 45 yards.
-Najee Harris involved heavily in the first series of the game finished with 2 carries for 10 yards and a reception for 9 yards.
-Tony Brooks-James 6 carries for 26 yards
4. LBs--Devin Bush returns to play first game since his knee injury, gave up a 34-yard reception to the tight end on the first series playing alongside Robert Spillane, who gave up a 19-yard reception. Ulysees Gilbert with another missed tackle and allowed a 13-yard reception. Changes coming after the reported trade for Joe Schobert.
-not all of the linebacker play was bad, second year free agent Jamir Jones (Notre Dame) with a sack and a QB hit helping cause to an interception by Justin Layne.
-Tomlin said some of the reason for the linebacker issues are the simplicity of their scheme, saying they just use a couple of plays and it was more noticeable against a veteran like Joe Flacco.
"Our defensive menu is on a notecard," Tomlin said. "We are not trying to trick anybody. We want to see who can rush, who can cover. We are not challenging them (opposing quarterbacks). They are going to hit some plays. We are ok with that."
5. Terrell Edmunds got caught up in a receiver screen leading to a 79-yard touchdown from Joe Flacco to Quez Watkins as he outran the secondary including rookie Tre Norwood who never really had a chance. It looked like the refs missed a hold against Cam Sutton, but still a busted play, from the Steelers point-of-view
6. Other Notes
-Justin Layne forced a fumble in the opening preseason game. Thursday he intercepted a Nick Mullens pass in the third quarter. Layne is in his third year out of Michigan State and is fighting for a roster spot.
-1st game with the Steelers, former Pitt star Lafayette Pitts with a fourth quarter interception and a 22-yard return. A four-year NFL veteran who hasn't played a regular-season game in the league since 2018, Pitts signed with the Steelers six days ago.
-Jordan Berry punted four times for 44 yards a kick with one downed at the two-yard line, a 54-yarder and a net average of 42.3
