Tag: Robert Spillane

Week 9 Review

This week was a tale of two stories. On one hand, Garret Gilbert and the Cowboys came extremely close to pulling off an upset against the Steelers. On the other hand, the Buccaneers looked more like the 1976 Bucs than the 2020 Bucs after getting blown out by the Saints, despite having Antonio Brown.

Was Week 1 a fluke for Drew Brees?

Answer: YES. Brees lit it up against the Bucs with 4 touchdown passes. Brees spread the football around, with 6 receivers having more than 20 yards. The return of star receivers Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders has certainly helped Brees prove that he is still a dominant force in the NFL. The Buccaneers defense which was supposed to be one of the best defenses in the NFL could not force a single takeaway or sack against the Saints offense, which shows just how good Brees and Co. really are.

Will Antonio Brown be a help or a hindrance for Tom Brady?

Answer: Neither. AB did not have the super game that many were expecting. This is probably partly due to the fact that the entire Buccaneers offense was off point. Also, Brady seems to still be favoring his other stars in Evans, Goodwin and even Lennard Fournette. If Brown wants to keep his spot, he needs to be in the same form as he was back with the Steelers. If not, his second shot at the NFL could come to an early end.

Can Robert Spillane keep his starting spot?

Answer: Maybe. Spillane had a decent game against the Dallas Cowboys but wasn’t anything too spectacular. However, his case will be helped by the fact that Vince Williams was placed on the COVID/Reserve list after being in close contact with Vance McDonald who tested positive. If Williams is unable to play, then Spillane should still be a starter even if the Steelers believe that newly acquired linebacker, Avery Williamson, is ready to go. If Williams tests negative and exhibits no symptoms till Saturday, he will be eligible to play. This would lead to a three-way race between Williams, Spillane, and Williamson, in which case there is no clear answer as to who will not start. To complicate matters further, the Steelers signed Tegray Scales to their practice squad. While he is not expected to be activated immediately, a few good practices could mean that he could compete for a roster spot.

That’s it for this article. Check back before Sunday’s game to know all that you need to watch for in the Week 10 matchups. 

Week 9 Preview

Week 9 features a few exciting games. Two aging quarterbacks go head to head when Drew Brees’ Saints head to Tampa Bay to take on Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Garret Gilbert & the Dallas Cowboys will pull off the upset of the century if they can defeat the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. Here’s what to look for in this week’s games.

Was Week 1 a fluke for Drew Brees?

Brees had one of his worst games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. He got back on track with a 3 Touchdown performance against the Packers two weeks later, but critics wondered if Brees was on the decline. If Brees can put up another solid game and lead his team to a win, he can prove all the critics wrong. It won’t be easy. Tampa has one of the leagues top defenses and augmented their offense with former All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown.

Will Antonio Brown be a help or a hindrance for Tom Brady?

Antonio Brown was arguably the best receiver in the NFL. His season took a turn for the worse when he demanded a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers. After he was traded to the Oakland Raiders, Brown was sidelined due to a frostbite injury. After reports of off-field issues showed up, Brown was traded to the New England Patriots. He played just one game there before being cut by the team. Now he has a second chance. He’ll play with QB Tom Brady and one of the most potent defenses in the NFL. If he can stay on the field, this team could be tough to beat.

Can Robert Spillane keep his starting spot ?

Robert Spillane played only five games when he was called up to replace Devin Bush in Week 6. The undrafted second-year out of Central Michigan blew up last week, with 11 tackles and a pick-six. However, the Steelers did bring in Avery Williamson from the Jets. Assuming the Steelers intend on starting Williamson, either Vince Williams or Spillane will have to be benched. Spillane will need a near-flawless performance if he intends to start in the weeks to come. The good news is that the Steelers will be going up against the 2-6 Dallas Cowboys who will start 4th string QB Garret Gilbert. Look for Spillane to get lots of opportunities tackling an injured Ezekiel Elliott. Williamson is not expected to have much of an impact this week as he has not practiced with the Steelers.

That’s it for this article. Don’t forget to check back to see my analysis of these games next week. If you have any thoughts on these players, let me know in the comments section.