Steelers vs 49ers: 3 things to watch for out west

The Pittsburgh Steelers travel to San Francisco to take on an improved 49ers team.

It's going to be a tough matchup for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are coming off two rather forgettable losses to start the season. But despite being 0-2, this team isn't giving up yet. They'll head to San Francisco looking to make a statement in Week 3. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick's first game impact

Don't expect Minkah Fitzpatrick to walk into the locker room and fix this defense. The Steelers don't have wholes, but rather improvements that need to be made. This unit is lacking in intensity and communication. Fitzpatrick could help this issue, but his first game isn't a prime example. 

With less than a week to prepare for his first start with the Steelers, Fitzpatrick isn't going to be 100% up to speed with the defense. That means he isn't the play he'll be in two weeks. 

His first game could be exciting. If he makes a play or two on the football, the hype becomes real. But don't judge his first game as his overall impact on this team. It's too early to determine that.

Donte Moncrief's reps

There's a strong chance Donte Moncrief has seen his final week as a starter in Pittsburgh. After five drops through two weeks, Mike Tomlin was short on words for support of his newest receiver. 

During Tuesday's press conference, Tomlin said, "I know we haven’t been able to depend on him to this point. He’s got some challenges and we have some challenges moving forward." Tomlin was then asked if Moncrief will be able to work through the struggles with the Steelers, to which he replied, "we'll see."

It's not a good outlook for Moncrief, who desperately needs to take advantage of whatever oppurtunity he's given in Week 3. The Steelers will likely use more of James Washington and Diontae Johnson while they decide how to utilize their offseason signing. 

This week, keep an eye on how much action Moncrief actually receives. It wouldn't be surprising if he doesn't touch the field for most of the game, if at all. But if he does get reps in San Francisco, his performance will be a testament to the coaching staff's decision making. 

The running game

Mason Rudolph will obviously be the person everyone is watching in Week 3, but his success will come from a number of different factors. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Vance McDonald, the game plan, but above all, the running game will boost his performance. 

James Conner has been a disappointment through two weeks. Dealing with limited touches in Week 1's disaster, and an injury that sidelined him for most of Week 2, he's yet to build steam this season. 

It's unknown if he'll play yet this weekend, but if he does, his impact is important. The Steelers need to take pressure off Rudolph and the best way to do that is with a strong running game. 

Expect Conner to take on the bulk of the load if healthy, but Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell Jr. will also see touches. A strong run game will be something the Steelers push for in Week 3.