What did we learn from the 4th preseason game?

[mc52beast]

Ron actually walks and talks on the sideline

[mrknowitall]

2 hours ago, jtm said:

Learned that the Huddle will say nothing when Moore and Byrd are nonexistent against a bunch of back ups but will call for Smith to be cut after a vet has a slow preseason game against starters

Their situations are different. Moore is a rookie first rounder. Byrd has caught five of his seven targets this preseason (the only two misses being uncatchable balls). Torrey is one of three, with two drops.

[mrknowitall]

1 hour ago, Carl Spackler said:

Gilbert never got a fair shake. He did a good job in the first preseason game, never threw a pick and has a great arm. But Heinicke is Norv’s guy. He was gonna get it all along. 

I thought Allen was OK. Literally everyone who says he should be the backup believes West Virginia is gonna lose to muh Vols #VFL

I agree with this. Don't know if Heinicke was gonna get it all along, but Gilbert didn't get a fair shake (especially this last game). Heinicke played well into the second quarter (to finish up the drive he started). Gilbert played with a more shaky O Line (the penalty by Clausell put him in a tough position), and didn't get a chance to start slow. BUT I think his skills (quick decisions, strong arm) will translate better to the real games.

I can't see Heinicke outrunning first teamers to the pylon (but I could be wrong).

[jtm]

40 minutes ago, mrknowitall said:

Their situations are different. Moore is a rookie first rounder. Byrd has caught five of his seven targets this preseason (the only two misses being uncatchable balls). Torrey is one of three, with two drops.

Calling both of those as drops for Smith is a bit harsh...one of those was over the wrong shoulder and most WRs would not make that catch.

The Huddle has a love affair with Byrd and I understand he went to South Carolina, but he has done nothing in the pros to prove that he is anything other than an average return guy and average to below average back-up.  Last night against guys that will not make most NFL rosters, he essentially did nothing.  In college, his biggest year was 575 yards and most years he only had a couple hundred yards receiving.    

Smith's worst year in the pros is leaps and bounds better than what Byrd has ever done as a receiver in college or the pros.   

[jtm]

2 hours ago, trueblade said:

I've seen this premise repeatedly when discussing the back up QB, and I'd like to challenge it.

With how competitive the NFC looks overall, and even more so how competitive the division looks to be, the difference between sitting home at 9-7 and making the playoffs at 10-6  could be a single game. Yes, if Cam misses multiple games, the season is likely lost. What you need is a back up QB who can win a game or two if Cam gets dinged and I'm not confident the Panthers have some one capable on the roster today. 

You make a valid point and I hadn't thought about it like that.  Agree, if Cam gets injured and is only out a game or two, a capable back up would be really nice to keep us in the playoff hunt and I'm not sure we have one on our roster.  Great point and you changed my mind. 

[Manther]

The breakdowns in the secondary were painful to watch.  I don't think Gaulden is ready for prime time.  The corners didn't look any better.  It was all around bad...hard to watch.  

 

[Mr. Scot]

I'm never that worried about Preseason 4 because it's largely an extended tryout.  But with that said, last night we looked like a team on the wrong side of a "tune up" game.  It would have been nice to have seen better. I'd feel better about our depth then.

Overall though, I'm still optimistic going into the season.

 

[mrknowitall]

3 minutes ago, jtm said:

Calling both of those as drops for Smith is a bit harsh...one of those was over the wrong shoulder and most WRs would not make that catch.

The Huddle has a love affair with Byrd and I understand he went to South Carolina, but he has done nothing in the pros to prove that he is anything other than an average return guy and average to below average back-up.  Last night against guys that will not make most NFL rosters, he essentially did nothing.  In college, his biggest year was 575 yards and most years he only had a couple hundred yards receiving.    

Smith's worst year in the pros is leaps and bounds better than what Byrd has ever done as a receiver in college or the pros.   

First off, I want to point out that I'm not one of the guys who thinks Torrey should be cut. Lol. I think he's probably a genius in the receiver's room and I imagine he's helping all the guys with techniques on watching film. But he hasn't done much in the preseason on the field, and for his career he's caught less than 50% of his targets.

I'm not sure which drop you feel was over the wrong shoulder, but he just didn't do the greatest job tracking the deep ball. And the target he got on third down in the Patriots game, hit him in the hands. Now, in his defense, neither was a particularly easy catch to make, but it doesn't change the fact that he did not catch them.

As far as Byrd goes, who cares what his stats were like in college. If he's good now, he's good now. There's no disputing that he has talent/athleticism (4.2 speed, 40" vert, near 11' broad jump). It's obvious that Byrd hasn't gotten a ton of opportunity, but he's made plays when he's gotten the chance (like making a tough catch in the back of the end zone against two defenders, or not fumbling a ball on a play where he broke his arm after contact with a player's helmet).

Idk, he looks like he could be a consistent player for us if he stops being shoved to the bottom of the depth chart every time we add a Russell Shepard or Charles Johnson or Torrey Smith or Jarius Wright.

[Neylus]

The Steelers secondary looked like straight up pros compared to our college kids.

[Pup McBarky]

Mick still sucks. We need to cut him now and trade for a decent play-by-play guy. Waiting to claim one off of waivers is just nuts. Without a good PBP guy, we may as well not even be on TV. Maybe we can restructure Ruck's contract and offer someone Donnalley in return for a decent PBP guy. I know he won't be all-pro, but hopefully he won't continually gush over Ron's ample chest.

[Raleigh PF]

• We seriously upgraded the value of the Steeler's backup QBs. They are not a tradeable commodity.
• CAP played well, but was really impressed with the run-blocking, especially early. Still think we pick up an OL from the discard pile Saturday.
• Heineke may be the better choice behind a patchwork line, considering his mobility, but I fully expect a trade for a backup QB may be coming.
• Frazier has inserted himself into the WR decision making.
• A little concerned that our top draft pick didn't show up against 3rd and 4th stringers.
• Luke and Cam REALLY like to wear their uniforms.
• Hochuli's son is in danger of being relegated to the practice squad (and for good reason). He, like his father, need to be 'roid checked. 

[Raleigh PF]

Just now, Raleigh PF said:

• We seriously upgraded the value of the Steeler's backup QBs. They are not a tradeable commodity.
• CAP played well, but was really impressed with the run-blocking, especially early. Still think we pick up an OL from the discard pile Saturday.
• Heineke may be the better choice behind a patchwork line, considering his mobility, but I fully expect a trade for a backup QB may be coming.
• Frazier has inserted himself into the WR decision making.
• A little concerned that our top draft pick didn't show up against 3rd and 4th stringers.
• Luke and Cam REALLY like to wear their uniforms.
• Hochuli's son is in danger of being relegated to the practice squad (and for good reason). He, like his father, need to be 'roid checked. 

Now a tradeable commodity, scratch the "not".

[jtm]

19 minutes ago, mrknowitall said:

First off, I want to point out that I'm not one of the guys who thinks Torrey should be cut. Lol. I think he's probably a genius in the receiver's room and I imagine he's helping all the guys with techniques on watching film. But he hasn't done much in the preseason on the field, and for his career he's caught less than 50% of his targets.

I'm not sure which drop you feel was over the wrong shoulder, but he just didn't do the greatest job tracking the deep ball. And the target he got on third down in the Patriots game, hit him in the hands. Now, in his defense, neither was a particularly easy catch to make, but it doesn't change the fact that he did not catch them.

As far as Byrd goes, who cares what his stats were like in college. If he's good now, he's good now. There's no disputing that he has talent/athleticism (4.2 speed, 40" vert, near 11' broad jump). It's obvious that Byrd hasn't gotten a ton of opportunity, but he's made plays when he's gotten the chance (like making a tough catch in the back of the end zone against two defenders, or not fumbling a ball on a play where he broke his arm after contact with a player's helmet).

Idk, he looks like he could be a consistent player for us if he stops being shoved to the bottom of the depth chart every time we add a Russell Shepard or Charles Johnson or Torrey Smith or Jarius Wright.

I agree with your points but I just don't see the Byrd infatuation because he's never done anything as a receiver in college or the pros to justify all the love he gets here.  I live in Charleston and watch every SC game and I'm very familiar with Byrd and I hope he becomes a pro bowler, but I don't see it.  

[mrknowitall]

11 minutes ago, jtm said:

I agree with your points but I just don't see the Byrd infatuation because he's never done anything as a receiver in college or the pros to justify all the love he gets here.  I live in Charleston and watch every SC game and I'm very familiar with Byrd and I hope he becomes a pro bowler, but I don't see it.  

I think it's because he hasn't made very many mistakes thus far. Byrd doesn't have huge numbers, but he also doesn't have fumbles, penalties, balls that bounce off his chest plate and turn into interceptions. He doesn't drop easy catches. He doesn't take returns out of the endzone only to get tackled at the fifteen yard line. And as such he comes across as a net positive with a ton of potential.

And he's local, and we've seen him get better while being here.