It’s another Wednesday which means we’ve had time to review some film and have a hard look at the Steelers performance from last Sunday against the Cowboys. There were some shining moments, and of course, the ones where a very good Dallas offense exposed a weaker Pittsburgh defense.

The game started out on the right foot, on the very first drive. Ryan Shazier comes in unblocked for a blitz, which he nearly blew; but thanks to Anthony Chickillo for coming from the other edge and forcing a fumble on the mobile Dak Prescott.

Chickillo nearly stops on the play but has enough sense to keep going after Shazier fails to wrap up Prescott. Jarvis Jones does a nice job of disengaging from his blocker as well, filling a gap that Prescott could have exploited to escape.

Ironically, Shazier is the one who ends up with the ball, and Pittsburgh gets some huge momentum at home to start the game.

The Steelers take a quick 12-3 lead and look like they’re poised to blowout the Cowboys, backing them up to a 2nd and 18 with 27 seconds left in the first quarter. Instead, Prescott completes a well designed screen play, which finds several Steelers out of position for an Ezekiel Elliott 83 yard touchdown.

This is where some people note I’m too optimistic about the Steelers, and I prove them wrong with some strong criticism. First, the defense called for this play isn’t terrible. It’s the usual 4-man rush we’ve seen from Keith Butler all season. Sean Davis is playing the slot as an extra DB, as this was while Artie Burns left to tape his ankle. Davis lines up, bumps his man in the zone, then correctly reads the play but totally whiffs on reading Zeke’s run (going outside of the blocker instead of inside).

Ross Cockrell is the next player who gets taken by a blocker, while Mike Mitchell sweeps in to do whatever it is he tried to do.

It’s as if Davis, Cockrell and Mitchell had no idea how fast Elliott is.

But wait, there’s more!

Robert Golden (21) is the last hope here, but completely misses a tackle after fighting off a would be blocker (the same player Davis bumped in zone coverage).

This play was disappointing on so many levels: the Steelers had momentum, had the Cowboys backed up, and could’ve contained this play at several levels, but instead blew every opportunity possible.

The Steelers held the Cowboys to a field goal in the second quarter, so it wasn’t until the third things heated up. The defense was till doing alright at this point, with Dallas facing a 3rd and 5 situation:

Stephon Tuitt annihilates Zack Martin, who loses his footing and falls, leading to an easy sack.

Being at the game live, I thought Harrison got to Prescott first, as he also beats #77 Tyron Smith (the right tackle). More than likely, even if Martin doesn’t slip, 92 gets to the QB.

This forced the Cowboys to attempt a 46-yard field goal in the open end, which Dan Bailey converted.

The defense had another great opportunity when G Ronald Leary was called for offensive holding, turning an Elliott 3rd and 1 conversion into a 3rd and 11 try.

The old “fire” blitz where the two inside linebackers cross into each other’s gap assignments actually works. However, Prescott avoids contact, and finds Dez Bryant for a 50 yard touchdown.

This play is awkward for several reasons, as you watch the outside linebackers Jarvis Jones and Anthony Chickillo drop into coverage. My educated guess is that each was assigned to TE Jason Witten (82) and RB Lance Dunbar (in the backfield, 25). The only other reasonable explanation would’ve been a QB spy, which doesn’t appear to be the case as one of the two would’ve recognized pass, and blitzed Prescott.

Burns is practically left on an island as his only safety help over the top is Sean Davis: Mike Mitchell delays his blitz from the secondary, following in behind Shazier and Timmons.

I had felt that Bryant got separation by pushing off, and actually, Burns isn’t as beat as it appears. Chalk this up to a nice play by Prescott and Bryant, who pull off a sandlot style play akin to Big Ben and Antonio Brown. Prescott puts the ball where Dez has to make the play, and he does.

Unfortunately, not much you can do about that. The Steelers offense lives and dies by extended plays and Ben avoiding pressure: now we got a taste of that from the opponent.

The next three plays all involve a double tight end set. The Cowboys regular tight end in these packages, Geoff Swaim, was injured early in the game, and would be replaced by a declared eligible receiver, offensive lineman Joe Looney (73).

The first play is a a 3rd and 1 from the Dallas 20:

Sean Davis and Lawrence Timmons do not blitz, and correctly identify the gap, stopping Elliott for no gain, and a Dallas punt.

Notice the Steelers employ a 3rd linebacker in his formation, #98 Vince Williams along with Arthur Moats (55) Timmons (94) Shazier (50) and James Harrison (92) from left to right.

On Elliott’s first touchdown run in the 4th quarter, Pittsburgh was in a traditional 3-4. The secondary is pretty useless here, as Davis comes in from the weak side of the jumbo set, while the inside backers get blown out of the play.

Shazier getting leveled is the key here, as Javon Hargrave, and potentially Cam Heyward, both have a shot to maybe make a play. Hargrave can’t release from hs block, and Heyward is essentially taken out by Shazier being taken out.

This was a great job by Dallas getting a “hat on a hat” for the score.

The one that absolutely hurts the most was the game winner. Pittsburgh deploys 5 linebackers similar to the 3rd and 1 play, except this time Zeke finds a hole between the guard and tackle. Davis is in a similar position as the above play, but late to arrive, as he’s covering Dez (off screen, to the right). Jarvis Jones doesn’t disengage, where he could make an attempt at a tackle, and Shazier flat out falls on his rear end as he likely tries to cut back to the play.

This was a disappointing play to say the least. Golden is late to recognize the run (likely to help cover Witten, 82 left side of screen) and Mitchell is the safety help for Davis, covering Bryant (far right of screen).

Timmons is easily picked off as well.

The Cowboys executed and the Steelers did not. End of story.