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Steelers stock rising/falling after ugly season opener

By Brandon Kring

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots shake hands after the Patriots defeated the Steelers 33-3 at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 08: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots shake hands after the Patriots defeated the Steelers 33-3 at Gillette Stadium on September 08, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 28: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a 12 yard touchdown run during the third quarter in the game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on October 28, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 28: James Conner #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a 12 yard touchdown run during the third quarter in the game against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field on October 28, 2018, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

James Conner: stock – up

When you go down big early, it is hard to have a good day as a running back. When Conner did get looks, he looked about as good as you can when behind in a game.

Conner is a talented back, and the Steelers need to get going earlier in games if they want to establish momentum. The Steelers need to be more balanced on offense if they’re going to make up for the loss of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

Conner caught four passes for 44 yards in the game. His rushing stats did not look so hot, but there was not much room for a run game when getting blown out of the building.

Coaches: stock – DOWN DOWN DOWN

The coaching was atrocious, and it was evident during the game that there was a severe lack of preparation against the Patriots for the thousandth time. This is now a trend the team can’t buck, and it is downright infuriating.

The lack of creative offensive play-calling was frustrating, to say the least. The team at one point seemingly ran the same play three times in a row. Who does that?!

This was the same stuff different day in New England, and I have come to expect them to look like crap against them every time, especially in Foxborough. That said, I did not expect it to be this bad.

Next. Winners and Losers from Steelers blowout loss to the Patriots. dark

The Steelers got whooped up and down the field and week two will show what they learned. They are at home versus Seattle, and they need to come out polar opposite from tonight. It is hard to gauge how a season is going to go after week one, but it is hard to think they will do anything special this season after the ugliness we saw in New England.

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