Game 13 Report Card: Steelers vs. Browns
Share with others:
STEELERSVS.BROWNSGERRY DULAC grades the Steelers' effort in the 27-7 win against the Browns last night. The report is broken down into defensive and offensive positions and coaching.
QUARTERBACK
After throwing three interceptions in the first meeting, Ben Roethlisberger did not have any while passing for 225 yards. He also showed some deft play-action on two touchdowns. One was a pump-fake to Nate Washington for a 49-yard score. The other was a fake handoff that resulted in his first touchdown run since the Super Bowl.
GRADE: B+
RUNNING BACK
Willie Parker had his fifth 100-yard game of the season in the first half and finished with a club-record 223 on 32 carries, his second 200-yard game of the season. Parker had 114 yards in the first half and finished with six runs of 11 yards or longer. His only blemish was a lost fumble.
GRADE: A+
RECEIVERS
It was difficult to tell starters Hines Ward and Cedrick Wilson did not play because of injuries. Santonio Holmes had four catches for 81 yards, including a pair of third-down catches to keep alive each of the first two touchdown drives. Washington ran a nice out-and-up route that allowed him to beat CB Leigh Bodden for a 49-yard touchdown.
GRADE: B
OFFENSIVE LINE
G Alan Faneca put on a clinic on how to run block, particularly on counter plays that opened big holes for Parker. The Steelers rushed for a season-high 303 yards against the same defense that held them to 77 on 20 carries in the first meeting. LT Marvel Smith did a nice job to ride LB Kamerion Wimbley to the outside on Roethlisberger's touchdown to Washington.
GRADE: A
DEFENSIVE LINE
The line didn't get a lot of pressure on the pocket because QB Derek Anderson used a lot of three-step drops. But it did a good job stuffing the run, holding the Browns to 18 yards on 11 carries. DE Aaron Smith was also credited with a forced fumble and recovery after a replay.
GRADE: A
LINEBACKERS
RB Reuben Droughns had 6 yards on only five carries and the Browns didn't have a run longer than 5 yards, mainly because ILBs James Farrior (seven tackles) and Larry Foote did a good job filling lanes. Foote was also strong in coverage, playing Troy Polamalu's role in the nickel defense. He limited TE Kellen Winslow to four catches for 19 yards in the first half.
GRADE: B
SECONDARY
The Browns receivers didn't help Anderson with a number of drops, but several were the result of big hits by rookie FS Anthony Smith, making his first NFL start. Smith had his first interception in the third quarter when the Browns moved to the Steelers 34.
GRADE: B-
SPECIAL TEAMS
After allowing a 92-yard return for touchdown in the first meeting, the kick coverage was scary good. The Browns averaged only 15.8 yards on six returns, including just 17 yards on two returns in the first half. The biggest gaffe was when James Harrison was assessed a 5-yard penalty for running into the kicker. And Jeff Reed had a 35-yard field goal blocked -- his fourth miss inside 36 yards, all at home.
GRADE: A+
COACHING
The defense didn't allow a touchdown until 5:20 remained, just missing a shutout for the second game in a row. Ken Whisenhunt had the offense in good rhythm with scoring drives of 97 and 91 yards. And coach Bill Cowher has kept the team headed in the right direction with four wins in the past five games.
GRADE: A
First Published December 8, 2006 12:00 am
