What a start to the season. I don’t think you can ask for a whole lot more (except for a little offense). We saw big time sacks, a clutch interception, field goal drama, and of course a game-ending 50-yard TD run.
As a whole, the Steelers looked pretty solid. The defense was stellar all game long and held the Falcons to 58 yards rushing on 25 carries. On the other side of the ball, Hines Ward and Rashard Mendenhall helped carry a unit that was mediocre most of the afternoon. Now, onto the grades…
James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons – A
The best group of linebackers on the planet proved it again yesterday. Harrison and Woodley were in the backfield all game. Each finished with a sack. Timmons played his best game as a pro, finishing with 9 solo tackles and a pass deflected. He used to struggle in pursuit and take poor angles, but now he’s doing the right things and his speed is lethal. Great to see.
Jeff Reed – B-
I was praising Reed most of the afternoon. He made a record-setting 51-yard field goal — the longest in Heinz Field history. And he was inches away from nailing a 55-yard kick. He even had a touchback on a kickoff! But then Skippy shanked a 40-yard field goal that would have, in essence, ended the game. It was a rare miss from that range for Reed and it came at the worst time. He gets somewhat of a pass for his stellar play otherwise, but that’s a kick that you have to make.
Jump it to read the rest of the grades…
Isaac Redman – B+
Redzone wasn’t spectacular but he was very efficient in moving the chains with the one exception late in the 4th quarter. Tomlin and Arians are clearly confident in him and he’s playing quite a bit.
David Johnson – A
I’m still upset that the Steelers don’t have a real fullback on the roster, but what a block Johnson threw on Mendenhall’s OT run.
Matt Ryan – C
He never looked too comfortable out there. I know the Steelers defense was swarming for four quarters, but Ryan has been around the league long enough and I expected him to play much better. Maybe I’m just jaded after hearing FOX call him “elite” all game long.
Dennis Dixon – C+
This is a tough grade to decide on. I didn’t expect much from Dixon this game, but I also didn’t expect him to look as jittery as he did. He never made the killer mistake that cost the Steelers the game, but Dixon rarely looked confident throwing the ball yesterday. He aimed instead of threw and a lot of times he was short arming the ball. I also expected him to make a few more plays with his feet, but maybe I’m just nitpicking at this point. I’m sure this win will do a lot for his confidence.
Bryant McFadden – A
After watching McFadden suck in Arizona last season, I really wasn’t expecting him to be that great this season. He shut me up quickly. McFadden might have played his best NFL game to date, totaling 12 solo tackles and being a disruptive force all game long. He was the best DB in the run game and didn’t look bad at all in pass coverage. If he keeps playing like this, the Steelers will give every offense they face fits.
Injuries – F
Hate seeing Max Starks go down for a month with an ankle sprain. That is a big loss for the Steelers. Real big. Casey Hampton tweaked his hamstring too. Injuries on either line is the last thing the Steelers need.
Al Everest – B
Hey, aside from one missed field goal, so far so good for the new special teams coach. My heart skipped a beat a few times when it looked like there was a seam forming in kick coverage but nothing bad happened. Yet.
