Week 2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers season is underway, and there’s nothing more they’d like to do than forget about Week 1. As is customary, Mike Tomlin spoke highly of several players of their rival Cleveland Browns opponent.
RB Nick Chubb
Mr. Chubb. Mike Tomlin referred to Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb as “Mr. Chubb” three times out of respect for his elite game. He’s one of the best in the league at what he does, but Pittsburgh seems to keep him moderately in check.
In nine games since his 2018 rookie season, Chubb’s logged rushing yards and 84 receiving with three total touchdowns (two rushing). That’s 72.5 yards per game, and while it’s nice and all, it hasn’t been enough to beat Pittsburgh. He hung 106 on the Cincinnati Bengals and is on pace for his fifth-consecutive 1,000-yard season, two of which were north of 1,400 yards.
Christian McCaffrey gashed the Steelers defense for 152 yards, but they have a familiarity with Chubb that I don’t think will allow him to put on that kind of show. But without the services of Cam Heyward, the best run-stopper in the Black and Gold, anything is possible.
It starts with Mr. Chubb. What he is capable of doing, the way he controls the game, and so forth. It’s a little bit different, but similar to Christian McCaffrey in that he keeps him on schedule, he controls the climate. If we’re doing anything in this football game, man, we got to work to minimize that guy’s impact.
QB Deshaun Watson
This will be only the second time the Steelers defense has faced Deshaun Watson, who serving his 11-game suspension in their first matchup of the 2022 season. Watson, who threw for just 154 yards versus the Bengals last week, had a rough first outing versus Pittsburgh last year with two interceptions and seven sacks.
While Tomlin never underestimates QBs, he anticipates a sharper Watson this time around.
This guy is really talented, man. His ability to extend plays, his ability to attack a defense vertically, his ability to see to field as plays get extended, his arm talent in terms of throwing the ball downfield. He’s got a myriad of eligibles that are challenging.
WR Donovan Peoples-Jones
Can’t say enough about (Donovan) Peoples-Jones, man. That’s
another guy who’s kind of grown up within their program and kind of just carved out a niche for himself continually over time.
DEs Za'Darius Smith/Myles Garrett
Za’Darius Smith, 31, has bounced around the league since 2021 and landed with the Browns this offseason as his third team in as many seasons. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015.
We respect Za’Darius, we know him, obviously, from being in this division. He’s a dominant rundown player. He’s also adept at passing, rushing the passer. He’s a guy that’s an outside inside guy. They’ll move him around, they’ll move 95 (Myles Garrett) around, it’d be difficult to nail down where they are and work to minimize them from a protection standpoint. They got some front flexibility that aides them in that regard.
