The Steelers did some dumb things yesterday.
Some, they got away with. I disagree with Mike Tomlin going for it on fourth-and-one from the Steelers' 34 in the fourth quarter. He trusted his inferior offense instead of his superior defense. But QB Mason Rudolph converted via a six-yard pass to Trey Edmunds. That drive consumed eight minutes and yielded a field goal.
Some, they didn’t get away with. The Steelers almost never use play-action. But they tried it in the shadow of their goalposts earlier that fourth quarter. Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald wasn’t fooled. He corralled Rudolph for a safety.
But right before that safety, the Steelers’ Ryan Switzer screwed up big-time.
You don’t field a punt inside your 10. That’s Football 101.
Switzer nonetheless caught a punt at the Steelers' six-yard line. His return produced a loss of one yard. The safety came on the very next play.
That’s stupid. Switzer is experienced at punt returns. He knows better.
When you’re a marginal player, you can’t make mistakes like that. Switzer played only four snaps on offense. If he doesn’t nail special teams, what good is he?
Courtesy of Getty Images.