Not what they're looking for: The Steelers starting offense wasn't able to get in the end zone on Saturday night against Buffalo, falling to the Bills, 9-3, in the team's second preseason game.
Coach Mike Tomlin wasn't happy overall with the results, but did point out some things he liked seeing, including the work by punter Cam Johnston, who averaged 56.8 yards per punt, including a 65 yarder.
"Still not what we're looking for. It was better in some areas, but still, JV in too many others," said Tomlin. "An area of improvement I thought was net punting, the field position component. A play got flipped this time around. We were much better in this game than we were in the last one.
"Still not winning enough possession downs on offense, particularly early, in an effort to establish rhythm in game plays and develop personality and so forth when you're not winning possession downs in the early portions of the game. All of those things really get stymied."
One area Tomlin pinpointed was the pass protection, with the offense allowing four sacks, three of Russell Wilson and one of Justin Fields.
"I thought we didn't do a good enough job of protecting the quarterback," said Tomlin. "We've got to do a better job in pass protection than we did, not only in possession downs but just in general.
"I was really up front with the group about it in that regard. That can't be a problem for us. We've got to be better than we were tonight in that area."
Defensively the Steelers were without starters Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt, both who were rested, while other starters didn't play into the second half. The Bills finished with 167 yards rushing, after being held to 42 yards in the first half.
"On defense, particularly in the second half, I thought our young people wore down some," said Tomlin. "(The Bills) were able to control the game and minimize our opportunities because they were running the football some.
"Our secondary people in the crack replays gaps and so forth, you don't have a chance to have really good run defense unless your secondary people are really on it.
"I thought we had a lot of area for improvement, particularly in the second half, in terms of some of those things, and that's why their run total was what it was and really limited some of our possession opportunities in the second half."
Good to be in the black and gold: Quarterback Russell Wilson saw his first action of the preseason against the Bills, and his first action in a Steelers uniform.
While the results weren't what he wanted, getting that first playing experience with his new team was special.
"We always want to win," said Wilson. "That's our mission every time. Obviously, we didn't get to do it tonight. It was good to be in the black and gold, just to have the honor to wear the jersey, and to be out there with our teammates, it's a blessing for sure.
"Just to be in this stadium again and playing, putting my cleats on and getting ready to go. But we always want to be able to step on the field between the white lines and find a way to win, and we didn't get to do that tonight."
Wilson played the majority of the first half, leading the offense through the first five drives.
Wilson completed eight of 10 passes for 47 yards, while getting sacked three times, causing Coach Mike Tomlin to say they have to do a better job of protecting the quarterback.
The offense had only one third down conversion with Wilson at the helm, an 11-yard completion to receiver Van Jefferson at the Bills 37-yard line midway through the second quarter. That reception was followed up by what Wilson thought was a beautiful sideline reception by George Pickens, but he was ruled out of bounds.
"I thought I was trying to play in rhythm, trying to get the ball out when we could, and also just trying to hang in there on third down. Those plays (Van) did a good job," said Wilson. "GP (Pickens) did a really good job on his choice route. We thought he was in on that go ball. That was a sweet catch. I thought he double toe tapped that one.
"Every preseason is different. There's highs, there's lows, you have great practices, which we've had a lot of those, guys have been working their tails off every day. We had a great practice on Thursday. So, there's a lot of good that goes unseen sometimes, and there's some things that we also have to fix and get right.
"That's the diligence that we have to have. We have a sense of urgency, every week, every day you step into the building, every day you step into the white lines, and that's what we're going to do.
"I think the biggest thing is staying on schedule. I think we had too many third and longs in the first two drives in particular, and we did some good things on offense, but at the same time, we've just got to give ourselves the best chance possible to be successful, and that's third and shorts and third and mediums, and we converted one of those later in the second quarter, Van did a good job sitting over the middle.
"I think the best thing we can do is put our heads down and keep getting to work."
The one thing Wilson does like, is the offense is moving in the right direction and progress can be seen on a daily basis.
"The practices, the things that we do, the extra work, the amount of time guys are spending, I'm really excited about this football team. I really am," said Wilson. "You can't blink an eye. They all matter. Every game matters. Every time the ball is kicked off it matters. But you also have to understand the process, to understand what we're doing really well, and then continue to do those things, and then the things we're not doing so well, let's fix them. Then you give yourselves the best chance, but you can't run from fixing the little details.
"We're closer than we know, I think, to be honest with you. I think that -- I really love the work ethic of the guys that we have. Pat Freiermuth, just the detail that he puts into it. GP, obviously such a special player, Calvin (Austin), Van has really risen to the occasion. Love Scotty Miller. Obviously, our backs are physical as can be.
"I think of our offensive line, we're young but talented, and I think that's a great thing to have. Guys have a want to, and we have that, and then obviously we have a great defense.
"I think the best thing that we can do is look at the film, study it. I'm just grateful, every time I get to play this game, there's so much gratitude and joy for me, and just to put this jersey on for the first time -- I put it on last week, but this time it's playing real football. It's a good feeling. I'm excited about our football team."
Coming up big: Linebacker Nick Herbig isn't accustomed to sitting in the press room after a game, but when you have the night he did, it's warranted.
Herbig, the second-year linebacker, finished with one and half sacks and four tackles, as well as two special teams tackles, earning himself Steelers Digest Player of the Game honors.
But one of the best feelings of the night for him was when Coach Mike Tomlin gave him a 'Mr. Herbig' shoutout.
"Yeah, that's probably like top five best feelings in the world I'd say," said Herbig.
And it was well deserved. Herbig continues to build on the season he had in 2023, emerging as one of the team's top rookies and a solid option at outside linebacker with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
"I think just recognizing alignments and pre-snap things, stuff I wasn't keen to last year, and I think that's coaching and being around guys like T.J., Alex, and seeing how they go about their business and just trying to take mental notes of that," said Herbig of what he has picked up on since last season. "I think there's never going to be a true time when you're like, okay, I'm ready. When the lights come on, you've got to show up. You've just got to stay ready, so you don't have to get ready."
