Schleprock said:
I watched the game today finally. Frerotte went 7/18 , half of those were at least 15+ yard passes. His long was 42 yards. First pass long to Chambers was perfect because he left it short for him to come back to and CC dropped it, 3 drops by McMike, 2 drops by Booker (the 1 lob looked like pass interference by Townsend), 1 drop by Morris, 1 intentional throw at Ricky's feet that was a good play because the screen was blown up, and 1 nice pass down the sideline in the 2nd qrt. that Chambers caught but couldn't get the second foot in. So that makes a total of 2 passes Frerotte threw that were truly bad.
The first fumble was not his fault, he never had time nor saw it coming, second one was.
Feeley was something like 16/20 with about 12 of those being dump offs in the flat. His long was 12 yards.
I failed to see why everyone has been crying so much about Frerotte since Friday. I think I know why, it's because they are looking at the paper stats and not what actually went on. There was a big difference between the Steelers #1 D that Gus saw and the #2's who were in by the time AJ got in there late in the 2nd.
The Pass to CC was underthrown, it may have been intentional, but CC didnt know that, as CC said it was a matter of he and Gus not on teh same page. That should come but it isnt a drop. The deep ball to Booker ws batted away by teh db, not a drop. The 1 "drop" by McMike was a ball clearly behind him, he had to turn 180 degrees on a dime. Yes could have been caught but it is a tough catch. Not a drop.
Yeah throwing at Ricky's feet was smart, but I find it funny that a Gus supporter uses that for Gus when numerous Gus supporters bashed AJ supporters for saying the same thing for AJ in teh Chicago game.
Fact is this, there were times during teh Pitt game where teh receivers could have given Frerrotte help by making the tough catch and yes maybe they should have. However, It doesnt change the fact that those passes were off the intended mark. They were not accurate throws all but two required a sign adjustment by teh receiver to have a chance to catch teh ball.
This inaacuracy of Gus is not just a one game phenomenon, it has plagued him his whole career. So you can spin it all you want. It also doesnt say he is not the best qb to start of teh 4 on the roster, it just is what it is, Gus is not going to wow you with his accuracy.
As far as AJ's "short" passes. I find it very amusing that many criticize him now for doing what everyone criticized him for not doing last year, that is checking off to his second or third or safety valve receivers. at a minimum, 4 of his short passes were teh result of pressure from a blitz where he hit the open guy rather than take a sack. 4 were designed plays, they were one step and throw to teh receiver at the line, so at a minimum that accounts for half his completions. Now at least passes were the 9 to 14 yd passes, that is 11 to 12 of teh 16. So maybe at best he had 4 passes where he went short and could have gone deep but didnt.
I suggest if you want people to objectively watch, you do the same.
