*** Steelers / Ravens Game Thread ***

[AdamJT13]

Zach Thomas had a rather average game yesterday... Bradie James played well.

James was a nonfactor in the running game. When I rewatched the game today, I kept track of who was actually making tackles (not just getting credit for making the tackle because they came out of the pile first ... or last). James was in on ONE tackle on a run that gained less than 7 yards (or 5 yards, if you count an end-around to Randle El as a run). On the play before the Commanders' second touchdown, Ware and James tackled Portis on a 1-yard run at our 2-yard line. That was the only time James helped stop a running back on a carry of less than 7 yards. He was in on the tackle for three other runs, and those gained 7, 7 and 13 yards (plus the 5-yard end-around).

Thomas was in on far more tackles against the run, including three for 2 yards or less. His came after runs of 6, 5, 4, 6, 1, 13, 2, 1 and 4 yards.

Our best run defenders yesterday were Ware (eight tackles, on gains of 1, 1, 2, 6, 0, 3, 2 and 2, plus a 0-yard stuff wiped out by Watkins' 12-men penalty) and Spears (seven tackles, on gains of 0, 3, 3, 3, 1, 0 and 4 yards). Ratliff and Canty both made one or two nice plays against the run but had trouble on other plays. Bowen and Tank Johnson were pretty bad.