Five things we learned from Colts 30, Steelers 13:
1. Slim Pickens
Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that second-year receiver George Pickens’ demonstrative frustrations with his role in the offense were becoming an issue because they were not “solution-oriented.”
Tomlin told the team website in a story published Saturday morning that he had a “great meeting” with Pickens in advance of the game at Indianapolis.
If that is the case, Tomlin may want to go back to the drawing board and find another way to get through to the talented, yet volatile pass catcher. While Pickens was used more on down-field routes and averaged 15.7 yards on three receptions, he showed a lack of awareness when the ball was not being thrown his way.
The most egregious offense came on a Jaylen Warren run to Colts 1 in the second quarter. Replays showed that Pickens, rather than block a defender, stood by and watched as Warren approached the end zone. That allowed Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones to peel off and assist in the tackle. What’s more, Pickens leaped over the pile as it approached him.
Pickens’ effort was reminiscent of Diontae Johnson walking away from the play after Warren’s fumble against the Bengals last month.
CBS Sports analyst Kyle Long also criticized Pickens for the timing of his leap on a Mitch Trubisky deep pass that was intercepted by cornerback Nick Cross. Pickens mistimed his leap on the jump ball, which allowed Cross to come down with it.
2. Tight situations
Another game, another touchdown by an opposing tight end.
Dating to the win at Cincinnati, when Drew Sample scored the only touchdown for the Bengals, a tight end has found the end zone in four consecutive games against the Steelers. The list includes Trey McBride of the Cardinals, Hunter Henry (twice) for the Patriots and Mo Alie-Cox with an 18-yard score Saturday for the Colts.
The inability to cover the tight end is one of the biggest issues on defense in the aftermath of season-ending injuries to inside linebackers Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander. Second-year linebacker Mark Robinson was exposed for his liabilities in pass coverage when he couldn’t keep up with Cox on the TD pass from Gardner Minshew.
Meantime, tight end Pat Freiermuth has disappeared from the Steelers offense since his big game against the Bengals. During the three-game losing streak, he has totaled nine catches for 63 yards. He had nine for 120 against Cincinnati.
3. Hold that thought
The regression of the offensive line was evident in that the Steelers averaged 3.1 yards per carry while quarterbacks Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph were sacked a combined four times.
It also manifested on a pair of drives that were short-circuited by holding penalties. In the second quarter, center Mason Cole was called for a hold on a Warren run that gained 14 yards and put the ball at the Colts 30. The play was brought back to midfield. Trubisky threw his first interception on the next play.
It took five more drives before the Steelers got back into Colts territory. That was the third quarter possession Dan Moore, James Daniels and tight end Connor Heyward were called for holding penalties.
The Colts were so confident in the Steelers’ inability to get a first down that they accepted the Moore penalty at the 29 rather than make it fourth-and-4 after a Trubisky incompletion. With the ball at the 39, Trubisky had another errant throw, and Tomlin bypassed a 57-yard field goal try. Another issue altogether.
4. Run down
On the other side of the ball, the Steelers were powerless to stop the run in the second half. That’s when the Colts, down to the third and fourth options on their depth chart, rushed for 127 of their 170 yards.
Zack Moss, who was filling in for the injured Jonathan Taylor, never returned after being on the receiving end of Mykal Walker’s horse collar tackle in the second quarter. His absence should have worked in the Steelers’ favor.
Instead, Trey Sermon, playing for his third team in as many seasons, had a game-high 89 rushing yards on 17 attempts. He had 37 yards rushing entering the game. Tyler Goodson, elevated from the practice squad for the game, had 69 yards rushing on 11 carries.
The duo exposed the Steelers defense on a drive that consumed nearly nine minutes spanning the third and fourth quarters. The Colts ran it on 13 successive plays, gaining 70 yards.
Tomlin cited attrition as the reason the defense couldn’t stop the Colts’ running game. That is true at inside linebacker and safety, but the defensive front was healthy yet powerless to stop the Colts from running at will.
5. Modest returns
Let’s end this installment with some positivity for the Steelers. You have to search deep, but it exists in the form of kickoff returner Godwin Igwebuike.
It seemed a little curious that Igwebuike continued to get a helmet on game day instead of Anthony McFarland, who was inactive for the fourth consecutive game. But he does play on other special teams units, which works in his favor.
Igwebuike’s contributions came in the form of two kickoff returns that averaged 32.5 yards. He brought back the opening kickoff 34 yards to give the Steelers possession at their 38.
After scoring their first touchdown, the Colts kicked off from the 50 because of a penalty. Igwebuike fielded the line drive kick and advanced the ball 31 yards to the 36.
The Colts never bothered giving Igwebuike a third chance. Matt Gay’s final five kickoffs went for touchbacks.
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