The Steelers preseason got off to a promising start with an impressive 27-17 victory on the road over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The starters played a handful of drives. Overall, I would say we acquitted ourselves well, but obviously, we still have some things to clean up on both sides of the ball.
I am not going to 'make a mountain out of a mole hill', as it were since it is one win and it was a preseason game, but you have to be encouraged by what we witnessed on the field on both sides of the ball, albeit it was a preseason game, as I stated.
Let's see what we learned on the offensive side of the ball.
The Steelers offense was efficient and looked sharp in what may have been one of Matt Canada's best games as offensive coordinator
For those of you who have read my previous game-recap articles, you know that I am honest in my assessment of how well or poorly the offense played in a particular game. Although the game against the Buccaneers was a preseason game, I would offer that it was one of the best games Matt Canada has called since he has been our offensive coordinator.
Look, I call it how I see it. The game that Canada called against the Buccaneers was really good. According to ESPN, the Steelers offense amassed three-hundred and forty yards on sixty plays, averaging almost six yards per play.
The first-team offense, led by Kenny Pickett, was methodical and efficient, as evidenced by the fact that we scored a TD on the first drive. Frankly, I am glad the offense scored on the first drive because I really did not want to see us trot out our front-line starters for a second series.
After the starters gave way to the backups, the offense continued to score points and continued to move the ball, despite turning the ball over twice on INTs and despite converting only four of twelve third downs. The score was twenty-seven to seven at one point, so we will take that.
Let's see what we learned on the defensive side of the ball.