By Adam McCoy
SteelerNation.com
For every game played, you have players that stand out, both for good and bad things. We're going to look at those players, both winners and losers each week, and highlight or throw them under the bus.
Winners
James Conner
After making the Pro Bowl in his first starting season last year, James Conner had a slow start to this season, only averaging 2.9 yards per carry. He had his breakout game this week, and really the whole run game did. The inclusion of the running backs in the pass game especially helped for both Conner and Jaylen Samuels. Conner finished with over 100 scrimmage yards for the first time this season with 42 yards on 10 carries, and 83 yards and a touchdown off one reception. If Conner can return to last year's form, this team has something to build on, and there is no reason to think he can't.
Jaylen Samuels
Samuels showed some great flashes at the end of his rookie year, so it was confusing to see him not be a part of the game plan for the first three weeks. That changed tonight as Jaylen Samuels saw himself featured heavily, especially playing "quarterback" when the Steelers deployed the wildcat formation, yes that's right, the wildcat formation. Four weeks into this season, we've seen just about everything on, and off the field, as they were even able to score a touchdown from the wildcat. Samuels finished the night with 26 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and 8 receptions for 57 yards. He also technically had 3 passes for 31 yards. For those keeping track at home, that's over 200 yards from the two running backs. If the Steelers can keep this run game going, the Steelers could very well boast the best 1-2 punch running back duo in the NFL.
Mason Rudolph
Mason Rudolph has thrown 2 touchdowns in each of his first 3 games as an NFL quarterback. Consistency if nothing else is a good sign for the young man, and consistent he has been. Finishing the night going 24/28 for 229 yards, 2 touchdowns, zero interceptions, the big key was the offense finally revolving around him. They focused heavily on the run, and showed a west coast zone run scheme, but still took the top off the field with Diontae Johnson. This is a game to build on for Mason.
Steelers Pass Rush
This unit has really been a strength for the defense all season long, and it continues here as they just terrorized Andy Dalton. With eight total sacks, they really took advantage of a weak Bengals offensive line. Here we go, there's a lot of guys to mention here: Cam Heyward had 2.5 sacks, TJ Watt had 1.5 sacks, Javon Hargrave, Tyson Alualu, Bud Dupree, and Devin Bush all had one sack. TJ Watt is starting to grow into a perennial all-star, and is absolutely living up to the Watt lineage. Dupree had the strip sack, and Javon Hargrave needs to get paid. This unit will continue to carry the defense throughout the year.
Losers
It's nice to only have one name in this column for the first time this year.
Ryan Switzer
I'm not sure what's going on with Switzer. Last week he saw zero offensive snaps. This week it was the same, and he was pulled from punt return duty in the 3rd quarter. I really like Ryan Switzer, he's a great guy in the community, and seems like an all around good guy, but he cannot seem to crack the lineup. Diontae Johnson has been playing well, and that might have punched Switzer's ticket.
Let us know who you thought might've been a "winner" or "loser" in the comment section below!
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