Kevin Smith

30 years of coaching as HC/OC. Football analyst for Fans First Sports (FFSN) and Host of "The Call Sheet" podcast every M-W-F.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Today's @SteelCNetwork article looks at the changes Pittsburgh and Cincinnati have each made since their initial matchup in Week 3 that has allowed them to take off on offense:

https://t.co/cPYsBBYnL0

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

The Steelers did a great job of neutralizing Bengals star DT Dexter Lawrence (97) in their first meeting in Wk 3.

Lawrence had two sacks but was mostly a non-factor. PIT did this by sliding protection towards him and getting multiple bodies on him in both the run and pass game:

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

The Panthers, Bengals and Packers are all on pace to throw nearly 700 passes this season. They're all in the playoff hunt, but can any win big this way? How much passing is too much passing?

We dive in on today's Call Sheet pod:

https://t.co/WctirIQFxq

https://t.co/42aiVw8hHD

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

@starfox64cincy @NRuland47538 True. But so are the Steelers on both sides of the ball. Going to be a great game.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Joe Burrow put up good numbers in Week 3 vs the Steelers (28-37, 282 yds, 3 TDs) but Patrick Graham often made Burrow throw checkdowns or leave the pocket. PIT had a 90% zone rate but dressed it up with fire zones and late rotations.

Look for a similar approach Sunday night.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Vikings had to do it. It’s the only shot they have at capitalizing on their incredible defense. NFC North is going to be an absolute slugfest to the finish.

[Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero]

Blockbuster! The Raiders are trading four-time Pro Bowl QB Kirk Cousins to the Vikings for their 2027 third-round pick, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports.

Cousins returns to Minnesota for the playoff push, while Las Vegas turns to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Wrapping up my "State of the Steelers" articles @SteelCNetwork with a look at Pittsburgh's defense, where the outlook is bright both now and in the future:

https://t.co/f5xoRGW7Gi

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Watch Byron Murphy here (#7, arrow). He picks this Josh Allen throw to the post from press position into the boundary. It's a good read by Allen. There's no way Murphy should be able to get there.

I don't know how you play QB vs MIN's defense. Imagine if they had an offense...

[Steel Curtain Network @SteelCNetwork]

SCN TUES #Steelers Podcasts
🏈Best for business?
🎧BAD LANGUAGE https://t.co/H110XGIXhc
🏈Time to go “All In”?
🎧HANGOVER w/ @ShannonW4550 https://t.co/jBFVXWwXCo
🏈Strengths & Weaknesses
🎧HERE WE GO w/ @KTSmithFootball https://t.co/GicITiqddx

[Doug Farrar ✍ @NFL_DougFarrar]

Pretty much everybody on the @ChicagoBears' defense has benefited from the Jeffery Simmons trade, but I can't imagine that anybody's happier about it than LB Devin Bush.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Today’s “State of the Steelers” article @SteelCNetwork is Part Two of a look at the quarterback position, and asks the question “Who will quarterback the Steelers in 2027?”

https://t.co/sADLRDdOnY

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

In Week 3, PIT played zone on 36 of 40 CIN dropbacks (90%). Joe Burrow killed two-high looks (cov-2, 4, 6) but was just ok vs single-high (cov-3).

Steelers often get to single-high with post-snap coverage rotations. Can they run more of these in the rematch to frustrate Burrow?

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

I know it's just Monday, but I'm already excited for Bengals-Steelers this week.

The past 3 games, Joe Burrow is 1st in the NFL in pass EPA and has 1,025 pass yards and 12 TDs. In its past 3 games, the Steelers D ranks 2nd in sacks and 3rd in pass EPA.

Heavyweight matchup...

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

It's Monday morning, which means Game Balls at The Call Sheet!

On today's show we honor punters faking it, rookies making it, the Packers owning Gillette, and hey look -- the Chargers scored a touchdown!

Join us ⬇️

https://t.co/DgJlVYa482

https://t.co/I4fbsKemDM

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Punt block Miles Killebrew.

Losing Killebrew hurt. Losing Danny Smith hurts more. That’s the one area where the Steelers coaching staff is worse.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Jeffrey Simmons (99) is an absolute freak. 6’4-305 and he runs like this:

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Devin Bush just rocked Baker Mayfield on a 4th-and-1 QB sneak.

Bush is having a nice career renaissance the past two years. Looks like the knee is healthy and he’s in the right scheme.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

Saints hold off the Browns by stopping their game-winning 2-pt conversion attempt in OT. Steelers now two games up on CLE in the loss column.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

The Commanders — down by seven with the ball on the +32 yard line and :03 to play — opt for a short crossing route and some laterals rather than throwing into the end zone.

This is the stuff that gets people fired.

[Kevin Smith @KTSmithFootball]

SCHEME OF THE DAY

Saw some creative designs in college football yesterday but this may have been my favorite.

Texas Tech running zone-bluff with a raise route from the H-back. Six OL and a diamond formation in the backfield. Interesting wrinkle on a great red zone concept.