The 4 Man Rush presents a Front Four Film Review on....... Pat Elflein vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

[Icege]

I zeroed in on Elflein/Erving for almost the entire second half.

While neither looked like world beaters, Elflein looked bad. Erving looked unremarkable, but (and maybe this is because he was next to Elflein) he didn't look as bad as I was originally fearing.

Now I'm going to go do it again, but with focus on comparing the two to see who is ultimately the weakest link on the left side (I'm not worried about Paradis because TYLER GOTT DAYUM LINDERBAUM IS GONNA BE SNAPPING THE BALL NEXT SEASON).

Pray for me, Huddle; I am about to suffer again.

Edited September 3, 2021 by Icege

[Icege]

1st Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q1 13:30) - Elflein immediately gets his hands swatted down and the DL goes around to the outside. Sam hits Chuba on the check down coming out of the backfield. Erving had his man stonewalled the entire play.
• 2nd & 6 (Q1 12:55) - Elflein & Erving double team the DL and push him 2yds off of the LOS. Chuba rumbles for the 1st.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 12:20) - Bootleg play action. Erving has to get a little wider to get his man (while getting a chip from Ricci who was at FB), but is successful in getting there. Elflein completely whiffs on his man, but thankfully Sam is rolling in the opposite direction and gets it out to Ian Thomas.
• 2nd & 2 (Q1 11:53) - Inside handoff to Chuba. Erving is helping Robbie deal with the edge rusher. Elflein gets a small push off of the snap, but gets his hands swatted down after just over 1sec. 
• 1st & 10 (Q1 11:13) - Erving has been doing a surprisingly good job of getting wide off of the snap vs. the speed rush. Elflein gets pushed 2yds deep after contact is made but Sam gets it to DJ on a quick out.
• 2nd & 8 (Q1 10:33) - Tricky little OL play on a WR screen. Hats off to the CB that read the play and stayed with DJ on the play fake, though DJ slipping likely allowed the DB a little more time to recover and secure the tackle as Erving was getting there.
• 3rd & 6 (Q1 9:55) - Elflein got away with a baaaaad hold vs the DT, otherwise it'd have been a sack. Erving again maintained his block the entire play but has getting more chips from the RBs/TEs than folks swore that Daryll Williams got when he was playing well for the team.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 9:20) - Both down block pretty well on the run. Yaye.
• 2nd & 7 (Q1 8:42) - Quick pass, both men get their man but have to only hold them up for a half a second.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 7:57) - Both again hold their blocks long enough for the ball to get out. I would prefer this to be the norm.
• 2nd & 10 (Q1 7:53) - Erving looks to initially be beat, but recovers well and maintains the block. Elflein does a good job in protection as well. Okay boys, that's 3 in a row! Keep it going!
• 3rd & 2 (Q1 7:16) - Double team vs. the edge, play sealed on their end. Looks like Miller missed his assignment.
• 4th & 2 (Q1 6:37) - Well poo... maybe these guys aren't as bad as I thought. Erving definitely hasn't been as bad as advertised.

2nd Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q1 4:48) - Good protection again. Erving does a good job of reading the delayed blitz on the edge after initially moving to assist Elflein.
• 2nd & 3 (Q1 4:12) - Elflein is able to engage his man and keep on him, Erving leaks to the second level to seal off an LB. Paradis gets the play blown up (pretty sure he got one blown up on the first drive as well).
• 3rd & 6 (Q1 3:30) - Erving and Elflein both doing pretty damn well in pass pro.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 2:49) - Elflein is supposed to engage the DE and get around him to seal him off, but the DE muscles outside and is able to stop Chuba for a short gain.
• 2nd & 7 (Q1 2:13) - Elflein puts a hand on the DE, but keeps running away and leaves Erving in a less than stellar position to try and block him. Ian Thomas had already gotten beaten on the other side while Paradis was getting beaten inside, so Sam was already pulling the ball down to take off with it.
• 3rd & 2 (Q1 1:36) - FB dive. Elflein makes contact with his man and maintains the block, but gets no drive. Ricci runs directly into Elflein for no gain. Looks like Thompson made the incorrect block as Erving and him went for the same man and you can see Erving hesitate when he notices Thompson engaging as well.

3rd Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q1 0:38) - Erving gets muscled into Sam's back, gives up the sack. Elflein did a good job of shoving the blitzing DB on to his back when he tried to jump to bat down what would've been the pass.
• 2nd & 16 (Q2 15:00) - Elflein got beat to the outside relatively quick, but did a good job staying on the defenders hip and getting him off balance before he could get to Sam.
• 3rd & 16 (Q2 14:56) - Elflein takes too long to help Paradis and ends up bumping the DL outside and giving him a straight shot at Sam. This was the sack that was called an incomplete pass.

4th Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q2 (12:00) - Elflein gets a good push, Erving does a good job creating a lane. 
• 2nd & 8 (Q2 11:26) - Good pass pro from both men again. Me likey.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 10:47) - Playaction bootleg away from both men, but they both do a good job of hitting their blocks.
• 2nd & 3 (Q2 10:04) - Good run blocking on this snap, especially by Elflein who seals his man off.
• 3rd & 2 (Q2 9:20) - One of the better pass pro reps for both men, and they've had some decent ones so far. Both hold their blocks, Elflein looks decisive.

5th Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q2 9:06) - Elflein gets a push of about a yard, Erving gets beat but the play is going to the other side of the line so no impact on the play really.
• 2nd & 8 (Q2 8:31) - Screen TD to TMJ! Convoy is Paradis-Elflein-Erving. TMJ does most of the work. Elflein doesn't touch anybody.

6th Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q2 5:29) - Quick screen to the outside. Both do a good job of getting in the way to allow the throw.
• 2nd & 13 (Q2 5:07) - Elflein gets pushed into Sam's lap. Sam seems used to this and gets the ball out to Chuba who takes off for the 1st.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 4:28) - Both get their blocks, but Erving stays at the LOS and Elflein gets his man pushed a yard back.
• 2nd & 5 (Q2 3:51) - DT beats Elflein with a spin move, but the ball was going to Chuba who had a HIDEOUS drop.
• 3rd & 5 (Q2 3:45) - Elflein looked to have gotten beat wide, but recovered and kept Sam clean.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 3:13) - EXCELLENT run blocking by both men! Elflein gets his man on the ground, Erving gets to the second level and seals off a defender all while staying with Chuba.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 2:37) - Another solid run blocking rep. Both get their men pushed backwards on the play.
• 2nd & 11 (Q2 2:00) - Erving's dude ran right by him and Elflein got knocked back two yards and thrown another yard back to the ground. Things had been looking so much better too...
• 3rd & 11 (Q2 1:27) - Another rep where Elflein looked to initially be beat, but recovered this time.
• 4th & 1 (Q2 1:18) - Elflein gets beat bad, but luckily it's a quick out to DJ who secures the first.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 1:13) - Not the cleanest pass pro rep, but they did their job and helped Sam connect to TMJ for a big gain.
• 1st & Goal (Q2 0:28) - Good pass pro. Back shoulder strike to RA for 6.

Summary

Admittedly, Elflein didn't look nearly as bad as I worried. He definitely had the most red marks on his post game report card, and is definitely the weakest link on an already subpar OL, but Erving did a pretty good job aside from the sack he got out muscled for. I understand that this was against the 2nd & 3rd string front 7 for the Steelers when dismissing Erving's performance, but that should create even further concern for Elflein.

Can't help but think that the coaches are hoping that SOMEBODY can supplant Elflein which would make him an expensive back up center.

[OldhamA]

31 minutes ago, Icege said:

1st Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q1 13:30) - Elflein immediately gets his hands swatted down and the DL goes around to the outside. Sam hits Chuba on the check down coming out of the backfield. Erving had his man stonewalled the entire play.
• 2nd & 6 (Q1 12:55) - Elflein & Erving double team the DL and push him 2yds off of the LOS. Chuba rumbles for the 1st.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 12:20) - Bootleg play action. Erving has to get a little wider to get his man (while getting a chip from Ricci who was at FB), but is successful in getting there. Elflein completely whiffs on his man, but thankfully Sam is rolling in the opposite direction and gets it out to Ian Thomas.
• 2nd & 2 (Q1 11:53) - Inside handoff to Chuba. Erving is helping Robbie deal with the edge rusher. Elflein gets a small push off of the snap, but gets his hands swatted down after just over 1sec. 
• 1st & 10 (Q1 11:13) - Erving has been doing a surprisingly good job of getting wide off of the snap vs. the speed rush. Elflein gets pushed 2yds deep after contact is made but Sam gets it to DJ on a quick out.
• 2nd & 8 (Q1 10:33) - Tricky little OL play on a WR screen. Hats off to the CB that read the play and stayed with DJ on the play fake, though DJ slipping likely allowed the DB a little more time to recover and secure the tackle as Erving was getting there.
• 3rd & 6 (Q1 9:55) - Elflein got away with a baaaaad hold vs the DT, otherwise it'd have been a sack. Erving again maintained his block the entire play but has getting more chips from the RBs/TEs than folks swore that Daryll Williams got when he was playing well for the team.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 9:20) - Both down block pretty well on the run. Yaye.
• 2nd & 7 (Q1 8:42) - Quick pass, both men get their man but have to only hold them up for a half a second.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 7:57) - Both again hold their blocks long enough for the ball to get out. I would prefer this to be the norm.
• 2nd & 10 (Q1 7:53) - Erving looks to initially be beat, but recovers well and maintains the block. Elflein does a good job in protection as well. Okay boys, that's 3 in a row! Keep it going!
• 3rd & 2 (Q1 7:16) - Double team vs. the edge, play sealed on their end. Looks like Miller missed his assignment.
• 4th & 2 (Q1 6:37) - Well poo... maybe these guys aren't as bad as I thought. Erving definitely hasn't been as bad as advertised.

2nd Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q1 4:48) - Good protection again. Erving does a good job of reading the delayed blitz on the edge after initially moving to assist Elflein.
• 2nd & 3 (Q1 4:12) - Elflein is able to engage his man and keep on him, Erving leaks to the second level to seal off an LB. Paradis gets the play blown up (pretty sure he got one blown up on the first drive as well).
• 3rd & 6 (Q1 3:30) - Erving and Elflein both doing pretty damn well in pass pro.
• 1st & 10 (Q1 2:49) - Elflein is supposed to engage the DE and get around him to seal him off, but the DE muscles outside and is able to stop Chuba for a short gain.
• 2nd & 7 (Q1 2:13) - Elflein puts a hand on the DE, but keeps running away and leaves Erving in a less than stellar position to try and block him. Ian Thomas had already gotten beaten on the other side while Paradis was getting beaten inside, so Sam was already pulling the ball down to take off with it.
• 3rd & 2 (Q1 1:36) - FB dive. Elflein makes contact with his man and maintains the block, but gets no drive. Ricci runs directly into Elflein for no gain. Looks like Thompson made the incorrect block as Erving and him went for the same man and you can see Erving hesitate when he notices Thompson engaging as well.

3rd Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q1 0:38) - Erving gets muscled into Sam's back, gives up the sack. Elflein did a good job of shoving the blitzing DB on to his back when he tried to jump to bat down what would've been the pass.
• 2nd & 16 (Q2 15:00) - Elflein got beat to the outside relatively quick, but did a good job staying on the defenders hip and getting him off balance before he could get to Sam.
• 3rd & 16 (Q2 14:56) - Elflein takes too long to help Paradis and ends up bumping the DL outside and giving him a straight shot at Sam. This was the sack that was called an incomplete pass.

4th Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q2 (12:00) - Elflein gets a good push, Erving does a good job creating a lane. 
• 2nd & 8 (Q2 11:26) - Good pass pro from both men again. Me likey.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 10:47) - Playaction bootleg away from both men, but they both do a good job of hitting their blocks.
• 2nd & 3 (Q2 10:04) - Good run blocking on this snap, especially by Elflein who seals his man off.
• 3rd & 2 (Q2 9:20) - One of the better pass pro reps for both men, and they've had some decent ones so far. Both hold their blocks, Elflein looks decisive.

5th Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q2 9:06) - Elflein gets a push of about a yard, Erving gets beat but the play is going to the other side of the line so no impact on the play really.
• 2nd & 8 (Q2 8:31) - Screen TD to TMJ! Convoy is Paradis-Elflein-Erving. TMJ does most of the work. Elflein doesn't touch anybody.

6th Drive

• 1st & 10 (Q2 5:29) - Quick screen to the outside. Both do a good job of getting in the way to allow the throw.
• 2nd & 13 (Q2 5:07) - Elflein gets pushed into Sam's lap. Sam seems used to this and gets the ball out to Chuba who takes off for the 1st.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 4:28) - Both get their blocks, but Erving stays at the LOS and Elflein gets his man pushed a yard back.
• 2nd & 5 (Q2 3:51) - DT beats Elflein with a spin move, but the ball was going to Chuba who had a HIDEOUS drop.
• 3rd & 5 (Q2 3:45) - Elflein looked to have gotten beat wide, but recovered and kept Sam clean.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 3:13) - EXCELLENT run blocking by both men! Elflein gets his man on the ground, Erving gets to the second level and seals off a defender all while staying with Chuba.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 2:37) - Another solid run blocking rep. Both get their men pushed backwards on the play.
• 2nd & 11 (Q2 2:00) - Erving's dude ran right by him and Elflein got knocked back two yards and thrown another yard back to the ground. Things had been looking so much better too...
• 3rd & 11 (Q2 1:27) - Another rep where Elflein looked to initially be beat, but recovered this time.
• 4th & 1 (Q2 1:18) - Elflein gets beat bad, but luckily it's a quick out to DJ who secures the first.
• 1st & 10 (Q2 1:13) - Not the cleanest pass pro rep, but they did their job and helped Sam connect to TMJ for a big gain.
• 1st & Goal (Q2 0:28) - Good pass pro. Back shoulder strike to RA for 6.

Summary

Admittedly, Elflein didn't look nearly as bad as I worried. He definitely had the most red marks on his post game report card, and is definitely the weakest link on an already subpar OL, but Erving did a pretty good job aside from the sack he got out muscled for. I understand that this was against the 2nd & 3rd string front 7 for the Steelers when dismissing Erving's performance, but that should create even further concern for Elflein.

Can't help but think that the coaches are hoping that SOMEBODY can supplant Elflein which would make him an expensive back up center.

How did Paradis do on these plays? He's the biggest problem on that Oline.

[Icege]

41 minutes ago, OldhamA said:

How did Paradis do on these plays? He's the biggest problem on that Oline.

He had a couple where he got blown up (mentioned those in the write up). He also had a few where he was on roller skates (didn't mention those). Elflein was above and beyond the worst player on the OL though.

Edited September 4, 2021 by Icege

[OldhamA]

1 minute ago, Icege said:

He had a couple where he got blown up (mentioned those in the write up). He also had a few where he was on roller skates (didn't mention those). Elflein was above and beyond the worst player on the OL though.

Guess we're watching different games then. Paradis was responsible for several splash plays for them - can't have that on the Oline.