49ers at Steelers Pregame Thread - 2023 Season Week 1

PIT's inside LBs could be an area for the 49ers to exploit. Maybe they aren't a big weakness, but they are unproven as individuals and as a unit. If the 49ers can somewhat control Cameron Heyward in the middle and get to those ILBs, I can see the 49ers having some success attacking the middle both passing and running.

It's PFF but I know very little about PIT so I'll go with it for now.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2023/6/22/23769346/pittsburgh-steelers-linebackers-leave-a-lot-to-be-desired-according-to-pff-nfl-news
It feels strange to place Steelers linebackers this low, but their unit struggled badly in 2022, carrying the fourth-worst overall grade in the NFL at 51.1. Gone are Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane. Arriving are Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Tanner Muse.

Holcomb is a starting-caliber player who has struggled to stay healthy in two of the past three seasons. Roberts is an excellent blitzer who doesn't excel at much else, and Muse played well when given a chance in Seattle but has only 125 career defensive snaps to his name.

Originally posted by thl408:
PIT's inside LBs could be an area for the 49ers to exploit. Maybe they aren't a big weakness, but they are unproven as individuals and as a unit. If the 49ers can somewhat control Cameron Heyward in the middle and get to those ILBs, I can see the 49ers having some success attacking the middle both passing and running.

It's PFF but I know very little about PIT so I'll go with it for now.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2023/6/22/23769346/pittsburgh-steelers-linebackers-leave-a-lot-to-be-desired-according-to-pff-nfl-news
It feels strange to place Steelers linebackers this low, but their unit struggled badly in 2022, carrying the fourth-worst overall grade in the NFL at 51.1. Gone are Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane. Arriving are Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Tanner Muse.

Holcomb is a starting-caliber player who has struggled to stay healthy in two of the past three seasons. Roberts is an excellent blitzer who doesn't excel at much else, and Muse played well when given a chance in Seattle but has only 125 career defensive snaps to his name.

I've been saying it - our offense is going to do really well, as long as our o Line plays well. It's special teams we need to worry about and broken coverages on blitz for the D. Otherwise, if we are disciplined, we should convincingly win.

only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

Well until I see Brock lose a game that he finishes healthy I'll bet on the 49ers

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

It's the only reason I won't bet on this game. If this was week 7 and the rosters were the same I'd take the over without thinking about it. Niners should slaughter these guys.

Originally posted by okdkid:
It's the only reason I won't bet on this game. If this was week 7 and the rosters were the same I'd take the over without thinking about it. Niners should slaughter these guys.

Where are you guys going to bet on these games? Looking for a good place to try my hand as I've never bet on games before inside professional circles

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

It's the only reason I won't bet on this game. If this was week 7 and the rosters were the same I'd take the over without thinking about it. Niners should slaughter these guys.

Steelers have a really good roster. Possible playoff team here, on the road. I think a lot boils down to Pickett, is he a real guy, or a dud? But the roster around him is strong, and the HC has a SB ring.

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

Didn't have Brock Purdy week 1 before

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

It's the only reason I won't bet on this game. If this was week 7 and the rosters were the same I'd take the over without thinking about it. Niners should slaughter these guys.

Steelers have a really good roster. Possible playoff team here, on the road. I think a lot boils down to Pickett, is he a real guy, or a dud? But the roster around him is strong, and the HC has a SB ring.

All of that can be true, and they still are not at this level. Just another mediocre team who won't make it out of the AFC.

Week 1 weirdness is always a variable with the Niners. But they should walk these dudes.

Originally posted by Pillbusta:

Originally posted by okdkid:
It's the only reason I won't bet on this game. If this was week 7 and the rosters were the same I'd take the over without thinking about it. Niners should slaughter these guys.

Where are you guys going to bet on these games? Looking for a good place to try my hand as I've never bet on games before inside professional circles

DraftKings. But I would go for whichever major app has the best introductory deals. Many will match up to $500 on your initial deposit to keep you loyal.

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

It's the only reason I won't bet on this game. If this was week 7 and the rosters were the same I'd take the over without thinking about it. Niners should slaughter these guys.

Steelers have a really good roster. Possible playoff team here, on the road. I think a lot boils down to Pickett, is he a real guy, or a dud? But the roster around him is strong, and the HC has a SB ring.

All of that can be true, and they still are not at this level. Just another mediocre team who won't make it out of the AFC.

Week 1 weirdness is always a variable with the Niners. But they should walk these dudes.

I'm hoping this is Kyle's first season opener beat down. Take the world by storm and make a statement in this game to the rest of the NFL.

A 4TD game from Brock would be nice.

Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:
I'm hoping this is Kyle's first season opener beat down. Take the world by storm and make a statement in this game to the rest of the NFL.

A 4TD game from Brock would be nice.

now you are speaking my language, this is my kind of party

Originally posted by thl408:
PIT's inside LBs could be an area for the 49ers to exploit. Maybe they aren't a big weakness, but they are unproven as individuals and as a unit. If the 49ers can somewhat control Cameron Heyward in the middle and get to those ILBs, I can see the 49ers having some success attacking the middle both passing and running.

It's PFF but I know very little about PIT so I'll go with it for now.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2023/6/22/23769346/pittsburgh-steelers-linebackers-leave-a-lot-to-be-desired-according-to-pff-nfl-news
It feels strange to place Steelers linebackers this low, but their unit struggled badly in 2022, carrying the fourth-worst overall grade in the NFL at 51.1. Gone are Devin Bush, Myles Jack and Robert Spillane. Arriving are Cole Holcomb, Elandon Roberts and Tanner Muse.

Holcomb is a starting-caliber player who has struggled to stay healthy in two of the past three seasons. Roberts is an excellent blitzer who doesn't excel at much else, and Muse played well when given a chance in Seattle but has only 125 career defensive snaps to his name.

That's Kyle's bread and butter, right there.

Originally posted by SlipAndSlideBosa:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:

Originally posted by okdkid:

Originally posted by riverrunzthruit:
only thing that has me worried is that Shanny does not have a good record with week 1 games

I predicted a 4 TD game by brock already! muhahah The offense should be the least of our problems this game.

Wilks is a new play caller for these guys and likes to blitz. Pickett is the type of QB we usually feast on - he's mobile but not crazy fast. So I'm not overly concerned about him burning us. It's usually guys like Fields/Lamar/Murray etc that we have a problem with, guys who are elite with their mobility.

Special teams concerns the hell out of me. I really hope we fair catch everything and that Moody is good to go, but that the game doesn't come down to his leg (I hope that doesn't happen week 1, let him get some exp and healthy).

I really like Tomlin as a HC, and this is a solid roster, but we are elite with the capability of being a juggernaut. this offense will be too much for their older CB/Bum linebackers. just need our Tackles to do their job and this offense should churn out too high of a score. If we can get off to scoring early, PIckett will have to shoulder the game (not ideal for him) and our defense will pin their ears back. muahaha

our new DC better live up to being a blitzer, dont need no Wilks Toast