PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – After three impressive quarterback performances and four touchdowns in the first preseason game, a 180 turn for preseason game two as head coach Mike McCarthy explained what he saw in a 17-0 loss to the Jets Friday night.
“I think I wrote down on my notes a few times during the game was just the execution details,” McCarthy said postgame. “Just to use last week as a comparison, we were able to make big plays, had a lot of production that overcame a lot of our mistakes, particularly penalties. We made mistakes that we didn’t overcome.”
Will Howard throws 2 picks in 1st start
Will Howard started the game and the comparison from Week 1 is harsh
- Week 1 7-9, 86 yards, 0 TD, 0 turnovers, 106.5 rating
- Week 2 10-15, 74 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT, 38.6 rating
What is glaring with Howard is the turnovers, one in the red zone and the other at the Jets 22. Both were intended for Roman Wilson with Jets defenders stepping in front of both.
“It’s just one mistake that leads to two,” McCarthy said. “It happened on both plays. There’s something that wasn’t right. He played through it last week. He had two things happen to him last week, he played right through it. Sometimes you see it, sometimes you don’t.
“It’s a shame because it was a hell of a drive that he established. Both were big plays in the game that they go the other way, I think you’re feeling a little differently about his individual performance.”
Steelers game story including Drew Allar series breakdown
Drew Allar played the entire second half
- Week 1 10-13, 153 yards, 2 TD, 1 rush TD, 0 turnovers, 154.8 rating
- Week 2 11-23, 110 yards, 0 TD, 0 turnovers, 61.9 rating
“A healthier run game would have helped,” McCarthy said. “Some more runaway routes on first and second down versus man would have helped. There’s some play selection based off where we are as far as repping our young guys, who’s in the game, routes certain guys ran. That goes both ways.”
“But I think the fact that he was trusting his feet, trusting his time clock, was sliding through the A and B gaps, those are all quality reps that he can learn from.”
Steelers will have two practices next week before the final preseason game Thursday night at 7p at Buffalo on KDKA-TV.
What the Steelers head coach said about both quarterbacks against the Jets
What the Steelers head coach said about both quarterbacks against the Jets
