5 things we learned from Steelers loss: Devin Bush continues to struggle

Five things we learned from Chargers 41, Steelers 37:

1. Devaluing Devin

Devin Bush has become a lightning rod for the Pittsburgh Steelers fanbase who see his status as a No. 10 overall draft pick but lament the lack of commensurate production. Sunday night’s effort might have been the worst of the season for Bush, who hasn’t appeared to be the same player in 2021 that he was in his first 1½ NFL seasons prior to suffering a torn ACL last year.

If Pro Football Focus’ subjective grades mean anything, Bush’s performance during the defeat in Los Angeles was indeed not only his worst of 2021 but the worst of any of the 30 he’s played in his career. Bush was the Steelers’ lowest-graded player and the defense’s lowest-graded against the run. His coverage grade was second-worst to only rookie Tre Norwood among any Steelers defender who was in coverage more than three snaps.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert completed all six of his passes thrown to a receiver covered by Bush, gaining 67 yards (53 after the catch) and producing a touchdown. Bush’s struggles in coverage hit a trifecta of failures against a tight end (Donald Parham has two catches), wide receiver (Josh Palmer had one) and running back (Austin Ekeler had three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown).

But Bush’s poor play against the run perhaps stood out more. During Ekeler’s first touchdown run, Bush did little to fill a hole and was easily neutralized by blocking tight end Jared Cook.

I somehow didn’t really mention how awful Devin Bush’s effort was on The Early Morning Show. Or at least not enough.

I’ve never seen a guy look like he’s not even trying quite like he does on this play. pic.twitter.com/XCB29nhNyX

— Matt Koll (@MKoll15) November 22, 2021

2. No-named D

Bush was one of the few big-name defenders the Steelers had available Sunday. T.J. Watt, Joe Haden, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu were all out because of injury or covid-19. For all but Tuitt and Alualu, Sunday was the first game they’d missed for their current ailment.

With defensive linemen Carlos Davis and Isaiahh Loudermilk also injured and an overall lack of quality depth on the roster for defense, some of the personnel the Steelers deployed against the Chargers had the feel of a preseason game. Even some of the team’s most ardent fans had to be scrambling to check rosters and asking themselves, “Who?”

Outside linebacker Delontae Scott and defensive tackle Daniel Archibong made their Steelers debuts as call-ups from the practice squad. Safety Karl Joseph (another practice-squad temporary promotion) and cornerback Ahkelllo Witherspoon played in just their second game for the Steelers. Outside linebackers Taco Charlon (49) and Derrek Tuzska (32) played season-high snaps Sunday, with Charlton in just his fourth game with the team.

None of those six players were with the Steelers when they broke training camp. All but one (Witherspoon) either are on the practice squad or were on it as recently as last month. Throw in defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux, that makes it for six of the 19 players who got at least two defensive snaps for the Steelers on Sunday who were cut at least once by an NFL team at some point over the past three months.

It’s tough to compete when attrition is that much tested, and it showed via the 533 yards allowed.

Up & in ????@ohthatsNajee22 | ????: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/KtwXwQ5epx

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 22, 2021

3. Najee’s numbers

First-round pick Najee Harris became the first rookie in franchise history to reach 1,000 yards from scrimmage over his first 10 games. But he did it during a game he was utilized as little as he has been all season.

Harris’ carries (12), touches (17), snaps played (52), rushing yards (39) and scrimmage yards (59) all were the second-lowest of his young NFL career. It should be noted, though, that Harris was prevented from playing for the remainder of a fourth-quarter series during which he absorbed a hard hit and was presumably checked out for a concussion.

Backups Kalen Ballage and Benny Snell Jr. combined for three carries for 10 yards.

BLOCK. THAT. KICK. #HereWeGo

????: #PITvsLAC on NBC
????: https://t.co/JnzC2ZIHCv pic.twitter.com/fVnzgox4bL

— NFL (@NFL) November 22, 2021

4. Blocked party

Miles Killebrew by himself has now accounted for 25% of all of the blocked punts in the NFL this season. Ten weeks after getting his hands on a Matt Haack kick that turned around a game during the second half at the Buffalo Bills, Killebrew similarly shifted momentum Sunday when he got his hands on a Ty Long punt late in the game.

The Steelers and Dallas Cowboys each have two blocked punts this season; the entire rest of the NFL has combined for four. Counting one he had for the Detroit Lions in 2020, Killebrew alone has three of the 21 blocked punts in the NFL over the past two seasons.

The #Steelers have gone *40* games without allowing 30 or more points in a game. The longest streak in the league.

It's amazing, considering the second longest streak belong to the #Saints before this game... with 10. #Eagles ended it.

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 21, 2021

5. Points aplenty

The Steelers had been playing, on average, the lowest-scoring games in the NFL this season. That changed in a big way Sunday, when they allowed the most points they had over a span of 55 games since a Sept. 26, 2018, loss to the Kansas City Chiefs (42). Sunday was the first time the Steelers had given up more than 27 points in a span of 22 games and the first time they’d given up as many as 30 points since the 2019 opener at New England.

Similarly, the Steelers on offense hit the 30-point mark for the first time in a 17-game span dating to November 2020.

Of course, all those stats account only for the regular season. The Steelers were involved in a 48-37 playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns in January.

Hey, Steelers Nation, get the latest news about the Pittsburgh Steelers here.