Labriola on the win over the Packers

Key Points:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers won their preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers 28-9, marking the first game under new head coach Mike McCarthy and providing a positive first impression despite the preseason context.
• The Steelers' 90-man roster showed depth during the game, but coach McCarthy and management face challenging decisions ahead of the NFL roster cutdown to 53 players by August 30, including how many quarterbacks to keep.
• Penalties were a major concern, with 11 accepted for 134 yards, including six for unnecessary roughness; rookie left tackle Troy Fautanu struggled with penalties, which McCarthy highlighted as an area needing improvement.
• Positives included rookie Kaden Wetjen’s impactful receiving and return contributions, and linebacker Jamin Davis’ strong defensive performance with multiple tackles and sacks, while defensive line and secondary players showed promising depth despite some key absences.
• McCarthy emphasized the importance of discipline and execution moving forward, viewing the game as a valuable learning experience and a solid start to his first year with the Steelers, with a focus on improving the passing game and overall team cohesion.