1. It’s too bad the Steelers didn’t play their starting O-line more than two series so we could get an even better read on Washington’s defensive front. Nonetheless, NT Barry Cofield is a major upgrade over last year. On his first play, he got moved back a little bit, though part of that came from DE Stephen Bowen bumping into him. Still, both occupied their men and the linebackers flew to the ball. Rocky McIntosh was in position to make a good stop, but allowed Rashard Mendenhall to turn the corner. London Fletcher’s speed ended the play. It was a four-yard gain, but had the line allowed Fletcher to be blocked, it would have been much worse.
2. It’s amazing how fast Fletcher can still close. Did it on that play as well as on a pass play over the middle. But he also can play so fast because he always seems to know what's coming. Ah, but there was one time (on the third and 1 stop by Cofield and Ryan Kerrigan) that Fletcher wasn't ready. When the ball was snapped, Rocky McIntosh had to push Fletcher, who was shouting instructions and looking left, over to the right. By the way, it appears McIntosh had a better idea of where to be. That's really hard to know without knowing his assignments, but it was easy to tell last year that this wasn't the case.
3. Cofield did do fine vs. starting center Maurkice Pouncey. On the third play of the game, Cofield’s quick, strong hands (a big slap of the right hand) got him free to the right, resulting in a pressure. Cofield got free later in the game with the same move. Once more: for a guy who is 6-foot-4, he is able to stay low and gain leverage. It makes his hands even better when he can combine them with some pop from the lower body.
4. That’s one thing I noticed; more one-on-one battles being won up front. DE Adam Carriker beat the right guard on the fourth play for a little pressure. Some of the other one-on-one victories occurred in the second quarter vs. the backups so I’m not about to go crazy over this aspect (Cofield and Bowen both won some). But it bears watching over the next couple weeks. It would represent a major change from last season. Does this mean the D-line is suddenly full of playmakers? No. But the more they beat one-on-ones, the more others must help – and the longer the 'backers can stay clean.
5. Not sure what to make of Chris Horton’s night. He was late coming over on the deep incompletion (to a wide open target). But on the play, Kevin Barnes was beaten in the slot on the same side and that seemed to hold up Horton. Regardless, Josh Wilson played it all the way as if he was expecting help. Horton also missed a tackle on Isaac Redman at the line; he scored on the play.
6. Notice how well the Steeler receivers block? Two of them threw crucial blocks on Redman’s run; Wilson could not get free of Antonio Brown on the outside. Will this be an issue for Wilson? We’ll see. It’s not about needing to play more physical – never been an issue with him; it’s likely more about his size (listed at 5-foot-9, but he’s also 192 pounds). He also missed a tackle on a smoke route, got beat off the line in press coverage because he lunged when trying to jam the wideout and was called for interference on another pass. But Wilson likes to play press coverage, and did a lot last year in Baltimore, so the play Friday was more of an aberration. Still, he’ll be up and down. This was not a great debut.
7. Rookie Ryan Kerrigan learned a few lessons Friday. Let’s start with a couple positives. First, he made a nice read on the third-and-1 stop, resulting in him moving over a half step to his right just before the snap. That enabled him to get inside the tight end and down the line for the stop. (On the same play, Cofield whipped past Pouncey). (Incidentally, in the second quarter Kerrigan moved a half-step inside on another play; this time the tackle blocked him and drove him too far inside).
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