The Steelers could not have been happy with the way their running backs were putting the ball on the ground against Detroit Saturday night.
Rashard Mendenhall's fumble is one that should not have happened. If it doesn't, he rips off a 30-yard gain if he doesn't take it for a touchdown. Instead, Mendenhall was carrying the ball very loosely.
Head coach Mike Tomlin yanked Mendenhall out of the game on the second series and his backup, Mewelde Moore, promptly put one on the ground as well.
For a team that will be hoping to bide its time with Byron Leftwich at quarterback, those kind of drive killers can't happen.
© Isaac Redman is working his way into a roster spot and Jonathan Dwyer could find himself on the outside looking in.
It must be noted, however, that much of Redman's work came against backups.
© Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett both made nice plays in the end zone on 6-5 receiver Calvin Johnson.
Lewis was later beaten for a TD by Johnson, but it appeared to me that Johnson pushed off on the play.
Still, a touchdown is a touchdown.
Lewis shouldn't feel too badly about that, though. Johnson's an all-world talent.
© Let's not get too giddy over Dennis Dixon's final numbers being better than those of Leftwich.
There isn't a quarterback controversy in Pittsburgh - yet.
Dixon played pretty well. But as we saw Saturday night, he's quick to tuck the ball and try to run.
That may work against Detroit's backups. But remember that Detroit went 2-14 last season. How good can the Lions' backups be?
Plus, a lot of Dixon's passing yards were due to great runs after the catch by Arnaz Battle and Antonio Brown.
© Speaking of Battle and Brown, there may be no more difficult cut for the Steelers than at wide receiver.
That is why I have been saying for weeks that Stefan Logan has no shot of making this team.
We didn't get to see Brown or third-round draft pick Emmanuel Sanders in the return game, but that will be coming next week.
And with Antwaan Randle El and Burnett also capable of working in the return game, keeping a one-trick pony like Logan won't be possible.
© I was a little surprised the Steelers didn't try Daniel Sepulveda on kickoffs. Then again, Jeff Reed's kickoffs were pretty good in this one.
You know what they say about a little competition.
© One of the things the coaching staff had to be happiest with was the fact the Steelers were penalized just two times for 25 yards. Detroit, on the other hand, had 11 for 88 yards.
That means the young guys weren't overwhelmed by the experience of playing in their first preseason game.
© To hear about my thoughts on Saturday's game, listen in on Fox 970-AM from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.
