Re-watch Offense

[steelclan]

This is without all 22 so some guessing and assuming. If others saw differently please feel free to correct amateur hour.

1st Series:
Holds killed this series. Thought first hold call on Ju Ju was ticky tacky. That put them in a hole then McDonald dug it deeper with a bad hold.

2nd Series: sloppy. 1st D: Ben made a bad throw to Bryant on drag route nearly led to Int. 3rd Down: Found James for conversion then of course silly pen on 1st down. 1st D: Ben and Bell not on same page 2nd and 15 hole. Bell run for not much and on 3rd down McDonald drops short gain. Is Haley at fault here? Perhaps should've run ball more Browns had safeties in different zip code. Browns it seems were petrified of Bryant and Brown deep. May explain why Brown had so much room underneath.

3rd Series: got first down on hold I didn't see. 1st D: Nice play to Rogers to set up a 2nd and short. 2nd D: Then the WTF. Why try for a 3 yard gain on 2nd down? If you want to throw take a shot and if Browns put safeties in next zip code? Fucking run Bell get first and move on. On that play meh throw by Ben yes it was a tough throw to a fairly well covered Bell but still should've been executed better. 3rd down and short Browns penetrated and blew play up. Again this had far more to do with Steelers rust and poor execution than anything Browns did.

4th Series: 1st D: AB makes nice play for a first down. 1st D: James nice catch for short gain. 2nd D: Bryant did look ponderous on this throw, however, Browns blew up blocking and he had nowhere to go. On 3rd down thought Ben should've put more into throw but great PD by Browns DB.

5th Series: 1st D: wow that call on Bell for "illegal peel back block" was utter garbage. Nix blocked low initially, Brown's player came off Block and Bell engaged him with Nix on ground not in play. If I have this right after Brown player beats Nix poor attempt to cut him and is no longer in contact with Nix to avoid a pen Bell can't touch him? The that wasn't fair you should let Browns sack Ben call? Truly an abysmal penalty.

Shame as it was nice play to AB ruined and btw Bryant had gotten behind the D. Bell made man miss on 2nd down for short gain and on 3rd down Steelers got a bit fortunate: deflected pass got to AB who of course AB'd. Next 2 plays Browns sat way deep with CB cushions Ben could've gone to AB or Bryant both wide open underneath.

He went to AB can't blame him. AB promptly moved Steelers into red zone. 1st D: Ben on throw away had Bryant for easy 4 or 5 and if breaks a tackle who knows. Not sure why he didn't dump it down. 2nd D: Nice run with Bell might have scored but Brown player in pursuit made a good hit.

3rd D: TD to James. Superb throw by Ben into a small window. That window opened up because Bell leaked out underneath and of course Browns went to him likes Bees to honey.

5th Series: 1st D: Ben bad throw or Bell bad route? Tough to tell but again shows why pre-season reps are at least important in sense of executing simple plays. 2nd D: Yes Villy got beat on sack but man Ben had Rogers wide open on crosser for easy 1st and a bunch more. 3rd D: Wow Browns were playing off Bryant. DB gave him a 15 yard cushion and Bryant still got past him. Yes it was only a step but if Ben puts more air under that ball gives Bryant a chance to make a play.

6th Series: 1st D: finally! I have no idea why Steelers didn't run this play a ton more: Bryant again huge cushion fakes deep and comes back makes good catch on good throw. Steelers could've done this with AB and Bryant all damn day. Yep Haley deserves blame for that. 1st D: Bell short gain shame he didn't cut back had a ton of room.

2nd D: On DPI I've seen worse not called but Brown had 1/2 a step and yes Taylor was arm barring him so much as Brownies whined it likely prevented a TD. BTW Bryant attracted a crowd on other side which left AB in single coverage.

1st D: Nice play on move by Ben and Bell. 1st n goal: Bell had a crease but late Brown blitzer took it away and led to a short gain. 2nd D: Much better run: Bell nice job and got inside 2 yard line crappy spot by Refs.

3rd D: Great call on TD Ben and James made a really nice play. Bryant was also wide open on goaline.

7th Series: set up by Watt Int. 1st D: James short gain. Ben quick throw but had time and Rogers sat down in zone wide open beyond the sticks. Also Bryant again streaking down field open. Offense is not on same page at all. It was as if AB and Ben aside all skill players were on different play calls. 2nd D: Nice run by Conner. Ben to AB for easy first on 3rd down. Browns were playing Bryant with cushions even Lebeau would chafe at.

1st D: Conner with shortish gain would have been far more had Bryant sealed his guy. 2nd D: AB worked open again both he and Bryant had huge cushions. Bryant went deep and opened up space for AB to find hole and Ben made good throw.

1st D: Conner tried to Bell. Conner needs to one cut and go. He had room to outside Gilbert had his guy sealed and Conner had a solid 4-5 and maybe more if he breaks tackle. He tried to dance and and go inside and ended up with fuck all. 2nd D: Batted down pass a good play by Browns.

3rd D: Int all Ben. He eyed Bryant entire time and even though Bryant had a step on DB he had safety and LBer deep just behind him. It was a poor decision by Ben to throw into what amounted to triple coverage. If he throws ball higher 2 deep Browns come into play. He had nowhere to put that ball. Meanwhile Ju Ju had his man beat on outside, Bell was open underneath for an easy first on dump off and ton more. What made that decision worse was game situation: in FG range with chance to put game beyond Browns. BTW Ju Ju nice hustle play to make tackle on return.

8th Series: 1st D: sigh...run Bell for no gain when Browns bring 8 in box and blitz 9th player but don't run with Browns safeties in next county and 6 in box...frustrating. 2nd: Decent gain on slant but AB had single coverage why not let him go deep and take a shot? Browns again had 8 in box to stop run. 3rd D: Good throw, good coverage, AB...just wants it, takes it and makes play for 1st down.

1st D: Nice run by Bell, well blocked but...Ju Ju called for what again seemed a really ticky tacky hold. Yes he got hands on blitzing DB but DB fell over, Ju Ju didn't tackle him he merely helped him on his way. Refs had an absolute shocker. Of course this ruined drive. 1st D: Ben throws ball behind Bell who juggles ball loses his balance and stops any chance of positive play. 2nd D: Great throw by Ben and Rogers has to make that catch. Yes Browns DB makes nice play but part of being a good slot is making contested catches. Again frustrating.

3rd D:oh look a draw play that a blind man lost in Andes Mountains in a snow storm could see coming. I get it with double digit lead but man at least try a different formation to be less obvious.

9th Series: 1st D: Browns blitz: Ben dump off to James made a nice play. 2nd D; Man refs worked to keep Browns in this game. Bell nice gain but ah yes the yellow to save Browns again. Pouncey called for hold. 2nd D: Ben and AB said Fuck You and made play of game. 1st D: Bell puts game away.

Units overall:

Oline: I'm going to go against the grain here: oline played well. They pass blocked to level we've come to expect and outside of one sack can anyone honestly remember Browns pressuring Ben that much? Yeah because they didn't despite constant blitzing. Run blocking wasn't as good but it also wasn't that bad. Some frankly BS hold calls made it seem much worse than it was.

RBs: Bell was rusty but looked his normal self when he was on same page as offense. Conner looked fine with exception of one run he badly missed on.

WRs: AB had a monster game. Bryant didn't but it wasn't because he lacked speed or explosion he simply didn't get ball thrown his way and did to be fair to him get open a bunch. Browns paid Bryant a ton of respect with coverage (cushion and safety over the top entire game). Rogers was ok but nothing special I was disappointed. He was open a few times and Ben missed him but has to make that catch over the middle. Ju Ju 2 x pens can't happen. Both put Steelers in a hole. He wasn't targeted but on Int had his man clearly beat and was open.

Ben: by his standards a meh game. Yes he made some superb throws especially to James and throw on a postage stamp to AB for game sealer but he missed open guys and made a terrible decision on Int. He makes a simple dump to Bell and Steelers despite obvious sloppiness win this game by 3 scores. He got tunnel vision on Bryant and forced a play that was never on.

[Stosh-67]

Nice recap Clan.
Thanks for the work and summary.

The offensive, offensive game plan, strategy and in game play calling will almost always put this team at a disadvantage long before kickoff.

Combine that with the 2 series and 7 total preseason passes for Ben and the first team offense and it's no surprise that the offense was outscired 14 points to 18 by a rookie led offense.

When Ben said it's gonna be a "wait and see offense".....that tells me they did not do enough in preseason to get ready for this season.

"Wait and see" is he kidding me.
Unacceptable comments and thought process for a team with a HOF qb. All pro RB. HOF wr. Top 5 OL.... and many other very good parts .

Wait and see how rusty my throws are?

I thought I read or heard Tomlin or Ben say.... that Ben had every third day off during the preseason.
That knowing he and Bryant needed to get extra work. New kid in JJSS. Working in new backs in
Connors and Watson.

That statement tells me Ben is also ok with using the the first quarter of the season to get the offense in Gear. I beleive this has been Tomlins thought process over the years as well.

Yesterday was par for the course as we have seen this offensive performance 4-5 times a year. We are lucky we got the blocked punt TD.

We know we don't script plays.
No one in their right mind would start a season / game like that....not to mention counting on a rookie WR and new to team TE to be asked to execute these difficult blocking assignments in wide open spaces.
But 4 in a row?

Then of course the 2nd and 1 empty sets.
Madness. Madness that has become the staple of stupidity for team Tomlin.
It eliminates any possibility of run.
Takes ALL of the run / pass guessing out of the defenders head. Eliminates a great PA down and distance possibility. Eliminates a 2 yard first down run By Bell to move the chains and keep momentum. He almost always gains a yard...especially in those spots.

2nd and 15 draws...nothing new.

Then the following 3rd and 1 heavy set with 9 i. Box. Ben pauses. Scans the field. Audibles and hands off into 9 men in the box. Stupit is that stupit does. This team plays dumb football top to bottom.

And again....empty sets from the 5 yard line.
Bailed out with a nice but dangerous play...short of the goal line pass to JJ.

Short of the sticks is a staple of this offensive passing game.

Again. No PA passing. No misdirection.
No element of surprise. No roll out passes. There is no fooling defenses. Not real football I guess.

I don't recall one counter left with TE and Decastro pulling and leading...along with Rosie here and there. My son's favorite run play. Called for it all day.

Anyway. This team has to outscore opposing offenses . This team can't count on getting quick defensive points.

I've been saying for years...this team loses more games Wednesday thru Saturday than any top team in football. Long before kickoff.

I expect a much better game plan. Play calling and execution on Sunday.

[Kodiak]

When Ben said it's gonna be a "wait and see offense".....that tells me they did not do enough in preseason to get ready for this season.

I think Ben selects comments from a list of cliches prepared for him by Tomlin. Lot of things I think Ben says are just empty noise, said only to satisfy a reported wanting a comment.

Ben has had said he believes an arm only has so many throws in it in a lifetime. So he doesn't work throw much in the offseason (which was not true in his earlier days). Then he supposedly had every third day off, but there were reports he was throwing 200 balls a day. Reports he did a lot of throwing out in warm-ups of those preseason games.

If you read between the lines, you might say Bell is such a big focus of this offense that they all kind of took preseason off because of his holdout. And so, yeah, CLE was a preseason game and you get what we saw.

[Stallworth16]

Good posts Clan and Stosh.

Do any posters here get that All 22 coaches film on a weekly basis?

[stillcajun]

Nice recap Clan.
Thanks for the work and summary.

The offensive, offensive game plan, strategy and in game play calling will almost always put this team at a disadvantage long before kickoff.

Combine that with the 2 series and 7 total preseason passes for Ben and the first team offense and it's no surprise that the offense was outscired 14 points to 18 by a rookie led offense.

When Ben said it's gonna be a "wait and see offense".....that tells me they did not do enough in preseason to get ready for this season.

"Wait and see" is he kidding me.
Unacceptable comments and thought process for a team with a HOF qb. All pro RB. HOF wr. Top 5 OL.... and many other very good parts .

Wait and see how rusty my throws are?

I thought I read or heard Tomlin or Ben say.... that Ben had every third day off during the preseason.
That knowing he and Bryant needed to get extra work. New kid in JJSS. Working in new backs in
Connors and Watson.

That statement tells me Ben is also ok with using the the first quarter of the season to get the offense in Gear. I beleive this has been Tomlins thought process over the years as well.

Yesterday was par for the course as we have seen this offensive performance 4-5 times a year. We are lucky we got the blocked punt TD.

We know we don't script plays.
No one in their right mind would start a season / game like that....not to mention counting on a rookie WR and new to team TE to be asked to execute these difficult blocking assignments in wide open spaces.
But 4 in a row?

Then of course the 2nd and 1 empty sets.
Madness. Madness that has become the staple of stupidity for team Tomlin.
It eliminates any possibility of run.
Takes ALL of the run / pass guessing out of the defenders head. Eliminates a great PA down and distance possibility. Eliminates a 2 yard first down run By Bell to move the chains and keep momentum. He almost always gains a yard...especially in those spots.

2nd and 15 draws...nothing new.

Then the following 3rd and 1 heavy set with 9 i. Box. Ben pauses. Scans the field. Audibles and hands off into 9 men in the box. Stupit is that stupit does. This team plays dumb football top to bottom.

And again....empty sets from the 5 yard line.
Bailed out with a nice but dangerous play...short of the goal line pass to JJ.

Short of the sticks is a staple of this offensive passing game.

Again. No PA passing. No misdirection.
No element of surprise. No roll out passes. There is no fooling defenses. Not real football I guess.

I don't recall one counter left with TE and Decastro pulling and leading...along with Rosie here and there. My son's favorite run play. Called for it all day.

Anyway. This team has to outscore opposing offenses . This team can't count on getting quick defensive points.

I've been saying for years...this team loses more games Wednesday thru Saturday than any top team in football. Long before kickoff.

I expect a much better game plan. Play calling and execution on Sunday.

Hammered down that nail pretty effectively Stosh. Correct all around.

[LakecrestSteeler]

Good posts Clan and Stosh.

Do any posters here get that All 22 coaches film on a weekly basis?

I do. It is simple to get. £189. Just set up your DNS for Ireland, then go to NFLGamePass. You can do the season for £20 a week as well.

I Tried to use DAZN to watch the Steelers, but could not get by the Canadian credit card requirement for payment.

Missed yesterday’s game trying to work through all the madness of payments and had to listen on Sirius. iTunes has cracked down on gift cards being used to fill your account(I have a US account and British account), I believe I used gift cards to transfer funds between accounts or switched my billing address to England.

Finally got it to work going old school with an actual Windows computer. The NFL takes any old credit card via PC. They just want it to look like your internet connection is from Ireland or Europe. Apple and DAZN thinks everyone is the next Bin Laden

Now I have the £189 pound pro package with coaches film, all teams, and all live games every week, NFL Red zone, NFL Network and all game archives. Great deal I believe; right on my iPhone, iPad and AppleTV or PC. Absolutely refuse to do Directv even though I subscribe to DirectvNow.

Some how all the IOS apps work or sync this year. They have not in previous years. Would work on the iPhone or iPad, but not ATV. Now all 3 work perfectly in HD.

[Obviously]

Start the game with four straight screen passes. Just fuckin' dumb

[steelmann58]

I was curious seen part of ben going to the sidelines and yelling at Tomlin and Haley did anyone else seen that?

[jeemie]

Anyone here subscribe to DKSports?

I'd love to see the Ben rant at Tomlin and Haley.

[Legacy User]

Start the game with four straight screen passes. Just fuckin' dumb

after browns recive ko..defense just kills them...they go to punt..we block it into endzone..holy fuck...im like what team am I watching here??!!!! great special teams; a smothering defense.. steelers get ball finally.. 4 fucking shit screens. I say theres the steelers I know!!!! many more screens to follow..and penalties!! and shit play calls as mentioned above. how infuriating are the empty back fields with short yardage situations; with a dynamic back not involved as a run threat or decoy.?? then with ball game in balance all world bengi heaves up a duck hoping for a brown miracle. luckily he delivers.. a better option? get the short yardage 1st down idiot.. I left the bar as mad as a loss..tho ill be happy with this win later. such stupid play all day..
1st game tho and peeking to soon is a curse!

[steelmann58]

sorry no i don't hopefully someone will leak it.

[Kodiak]

I do. It is simple to get. £189. Just set up your DNS for Ireland, then go to NFLGamePass. You can do the season for £20 a week as well.

Germany is $20 (USD) per game and $179 for the season. Looks to be a at least a few dollars cheaper than other European countries, probably due to all the US military there.

[Steelwood]

Here is the article on DK Pittsburgh Sports. If you haven't been on there or subscribed, it's well worth it. (no, I don't get paid by them...)



Kovacevic: Why Ben was right to flip out
By Dejan Kovacevic

Posted on September 10, 2017 BEN ROETHLISBERGER YELLS TOWARD MIKE TOMLIN LATE IN THE SECOND QUARTER SUNDAY. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS
COMMENTS
CLEVELAND — As Ben Roethlisberger strode toward the sideline late in the first half Sunday, he undoubtedly spoke for the sum total of Steelers Nation upon barking a series of expletives toward Mike Tomlin.

Then Todd Haley.


Then pretty much anyone within earshot, because that’s precisely the scope of the fire that burns within this particular franchise quarterback.

And then, once his helmet had been peeled off and he watched yet another Jordan Berry punt, enough heat had been released that a cooler head began to prevail. Landry Jones, his trusted confidante as much as his backup, made the first approach, soon followed by Haley and Antonio Brown. Those four formed an impromptu huddle on one of the long benches, and they began to discuss all that was going so miserably wrong for the offense.


“We just weren’t there,” AB would tell me later. “First game. First time out there together for a lot of us in a long time. We just didn’t have it.”

No, they most certainly did not.

Yes, they did win. They played the Browns, you might have heard. But the cold fact that it was a 21-18 tiptoe rather than the expected candy theft, that’ll only be magnified by the colder fact that this tour-de-force offense, one that’s expected to sail from here to Super Bowl LII and a seventh championship … well, you saw it.

There was nothing going on the ground, with Le’Veon Bell held to 32 yards on 10 carries, only 8 on four carries in the first half. There was nothing going for James Conner, either, with 11 yards on four carries.

Rushing total for the day: 35 yards.

Passing total for the day: 263 yards.

The latter sounds a whole lot better. But at the time of Ben’s outbursts, on the Steelers’ third-to-last drive of the second quarter, their passing yards were … wait for it … 27. Oh, for real. The first four drives were punt, punt, punt, punt, with only three first downs accrued along the way.

And would you believe that, of the offense’s 14 plays to that point, 11 of them were sideways short routes?

Nope, me neither. Still don’t.

It’s often difficult to discern who’s calling the plays for the Steelers. The next time Tomlin answers a question on that subject will be the first. Haley only speaks to reporters once a week, and that comes on Thursdays. And Ben — hm … I’ll word this delicately out of respect to all that he’s achieved — tends to lay claim to calling the plays only after events have met with his satisfaction.

Well, these events very clearly were not trending that way, judging by his vocal ire, so let’s assume that this horizontal road map was authored by Haley, that noted scholar from the University of Bubble Screen.

That fair?

Good, because there’s honestly no other way to explain the rationale behind a pass like the straight-to-his-right flick to Martavis Bryant that opened the second drive, other than that maybe the Steelers wanted to lure the Browns into a false sense of security by showing their utterly senseless side:



It was nearly picked. Imagine if it had been.

Heck, imagine if these weren’t the bleeping Browns.

So when those four met at the bench to try to right all this, one can only assume that the conversation consisted of a total of two words: THROW. DOWNFIELD.

Should anyone have felt compelled to elaborate, a logical addendum would have been: IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, ALLOW YOUR GENERATIONAL QUARTERBACK TO THROW THE BALL FARTHER THAN A FEW FEET FROM HIS NOSE.

Or something like that.

Whatever was actually spoken, some common sense was shaken from the cobwebs. Ben found AB for 10 yards, then Jesse James for 6. Another punt resulted, but it beat slamming foreheads into the cement scheme that Cleveland defensive coordinator Gregg Williams had concocted to stop the run, one that David DeCastro almost jokingly referred to as a “20-man front.”

Haley’s obvious thought was that he could bypass the Browns’ heavy box by flicking left and right. And it’s obvious because he’s reacted that way every time John Harbaugh and the Ravens have tried it on him, too.

But here’s the wrench: It doesn’t work.

The Steelers have some supremely talented wide receivers, but they don’t have a young Hines Ward in the fold to break tackles or escape tight quarters. Going sideways to Bryant is going to result in one of his ankles being grabbed and his body embedded into the grass.

Besides, it doesn’t exactly take a mind-melding of Bill Walsh and Don Coryell to grasp that, when you have one of the NFL’s premier deep threats, you … oh, I can’t even complete the sentence.

The next great leap of logic occurred on the Steelers’ next drive, a 95-yard gem that consisted of — read them out loud with me, and I mean this — pass to AB for 15 yards, pass out of the backfield to Bell for 6 yards, pass to a streaking AB down the middle for 50 yards after it caromed off a linebacker’s hand …



… then two more passes to AB totaling 30 yards, followed by this bullet to James in the end zone:



Other stuff mattered on the day. AB was at his most excellent, catching all 11 targets for 182 yards. James reminded us all that he’s not about to hand his job to Vance McDonald. T.J. Watt and Anthony Chickillo had two sacks each, with Watt adding an acrobatic interception and Chickillo a touchdown-scoring blocked punt recovery. And yeah, they did come out on top against an opponent that, despite its wretched history, seemed to genuinely impress the Steelers.

“They played us hard, from front to finish,” Mike Mitchell said. “I mean to the very last play.”

Wonderful.

But this late drive, at least from this press box perch, was what counted most. Assuming the lesson resonates.

THROW. DOWNFIELD.

There are times when this coaching staff, for reasons probably not even they could explain, forget that, in this offense, the run doesn’t set up the pass. It’s the other way around. Because Ben sets up everything. I mean, it’s admirable that Bell and Conner went full-bore into those 20-man fronts, but it’s also mindless old-school machismo. It’s running to show that the bad guys can’t stop the run.

On the drive that set Ben ablaze, the Steelers began under their goalposts, handed off to Conner for 1 yard, handed off to Conner again for a 1-yard loss and, after two more of the short sideways passes, handed off to Bell for no gain.

Gee, can’t imagine what got into the quarterback.

How big was that drive that ended the first half?

“Huge,” Roethlisberger said. “We went to a four-receiver, one-tight-end set. We were throwing the ball, trying to create a mismatch on the backside with AB. That’s big, coming into halftime and putting points on the board.”

“It was good just to feel like we were getting loose,” Ramon Foster replied when I asked him the same question. “We needed to stretch the field, you know?”

I asked AB, too:



Did the coaches get it?

I guess we’ll find out against the Vikings next Sunday, or further down the schedule. For what it’s worth, Tomlin’s postgame focus regarding the offense was on penalties, and that’s justified with six flags for 49 yards, a couple of them lazy holds by rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster. He also dismissed Bell’s output by first accusing reporters of being ready to blame Bell’s holdout and then again pointed to the penalties.

“Write that,” Tomlin said. “Because that’s what happened.”

Um, no and not really.

You’ll never guess who produced the sharpest perspective on what happened.

“We got penalized,” Ben said, “and we kicked our own butts a little bit.”

Listen to the man.

[Drummer Boy]

Could it be that Dejan is a sack of shit?

[bradshaw2ben]

Could it be that that article includes the most truth in anything I've read about the team for about 30 years?

[Legacy User]

Could it be that that article includes the most truth in anything I've read about the team for about 30 years?

[Kodiak]

This is what is so maddening and I just don't understand: if you've got no creativity or balls, at least let your guys do what they're best at.

It's not a fucking intrasquad scrimmage, Todd.

[LakecrestSteeler]

I do. It is simple to get. £189. Just set up your DNS for Ireland, then go to NFLGamePass. You can do the season for £20 a week as well.

Germany is $20 (USD) per game and $179 for the season. Looks to be a at least a few dollars cheaper than other European countries, probably due to all the US military there.

I forgot to look at all the countries as I knew there were differences. I was at the end of my rope late Sunday after messing with it for a good 3 hours in total.

DAZN is the best deal I believe....it is roughly $20 per month, cancel any time, but as I stated earlier, nobody seems to be able to have figured out how to get around, the Canadian, German, or Japanese credit card.

I can’t wait for the day the NFL says screw it and just goes with the HBOGo model. They must spend a ton of money, time and people on managing all these contracts, caveats, exclusivity deals and blackouts. I would gladly pay per game or season. A Steeler game is better than most movies and 99% of the crap that is on TV. The enjoyment factor is about equal to Game of Thrones, Sopranos, The Wire etc.; that is why the HBOGo model would kill and the pricing should match.

[Legacy User]

If you think Art II didn't pass down an edict that:

1) The Steelers need to run the ball at all costs, and
2) Ben needs to get rid of the ball and stay upright

...then you're delusional. There is no other explanation.

[LakecrestSteeler]

I still can’t believe no Tight End threat has emerged. Jesse James is serviceable and nothing more. He is vulture player that picks up scrap opportunities left in the wake of Ben, Brown, Bell and probably Bryant’s presence. They set up all the opportunities for the TE, and what we need is a TE that sets up the opportunities for the aforementioned players. It creates another dynamic to the offense; the running game, the WR game and then TE game. Jesse James puts the fear in nobody and every defensive player can tackle him solo. Gronk on the other hand has about 50% of the opposing defense can tackle him solo. I want to see Watt on a few TE screens. I guarantee he could go both ways and be better than all the TEs we have, at least minus the blocking.

[Steelafan77]

Thank you for posting steelwood. That was truly a delight to read. Finally some media representative writes it as it is instead of blindly towing the company line. Refreshing to read.

So, going forward we all know and now know they all agree that this shit is repetitive stupidity on Haley's behalf. This is not the first time Haley has play called stupid shit like that. This is not his first season doing this. What do they plan to do about it is my question? This is why I believe Ben had thoughts of retirement in the off season. When you're paired to dimwit coach you want to get out quick. Haley has to be shown the door. Fichtner should be given his shot at OC. JMO

[steelmann58]

thanks steelwood

[jeemie]

Haley’s obvious thought was that he could bypass the Browns’ heavy box by flicking left and right. And it’s obvious because he’s reacted that way every time John Harbaugh and the Ravens have tried it on him, too

TRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTHTRUTH

[Legacy User]

This is what is so maddening and I just don't understand: if you've got no creativity or balls, at least let your guys do what they're best at.

It's not a fucking intrasquad scrimmage, Todd.

That article is dead on accurate.. I mean again it's a chess game and Haley is getting out maneuvered by pawns - and his own players know it.

I think the Steelers, with all the offensive talent they have, all the possible mismatches they present... are one of the easiest offenses to prepare for and that's a shame.

I want to see the Steelers offense dictate, I don't want to see them react poorly to an opponent who takes something away from them. I think Haley easily falls into traps defensive coordinators set for him... making their life easier, until Ben blows up on the sideline or until a no-huddle situation late in the half arises.

[Donnie Brasco]

Could it be that Dejan is a sack of shit?

What exactly in that article did you disagree with?

[Havoc]

It's funny, I was just thinking about this earlier this morning before I had even read the article...

If I'm the FRANCHISE and a VETERAN but still "have it"... I'm saying fuck management. I'm doing what I know needs to be done.

It's time for Ben to do what Favre did during the 2009 season with the Vikings when he had a tug of war with the conservative dumbfuck Childress over control of the offense. When the conservative dumbfuck Childress had control of the offense... the offense bogged down. When Favre took control, the offense was dynamic high powered and flourished.

I have no use for either Haley or Tomlin at this point.

[Legacy User]

Nice recap Clan.
Thanks for the work and summary.

The offensive, offensive game plan, strategy and in game play calling will almost always put this team at a disadvantage long before kickoff.

Combine that with the 2 series and 7 total preseason passes for Ben and the first team offense and it's no surprise that the offense was outscired 14 points to 18 by a rookie led offense.

When Ben said it's gonna be a "wait and see offense".....that tells me they did not do enough in preseason to get ready for this season.

"Wait and see" is he kidding me.
Unacceptable comments and thought process for a team with a HOF qb. All pro RB. HOF wr. Top 5 OL.... and many other very good parts .

Wait and see how rusty my throws are?

I thought I read or heard Tomlin or Ben say.... that Ben had every third day off during the preseason.
That knowing he and Bryant needed to get extra work. New kid in JJSS. Working in new backs in
Connors and Watson.

That statement tells me Ben is also ok with using the the first quarter of the season to get the offense in Gear. I beleive this has been Tomlins thought process over the years as well.

Yesterday was par for the course as we have seen this offensive performance 4-5 times a year. We are lucky we got the blocked punt TD.

We know we don't script plays.
No one in their right mind would start a season / game like that....not to mention counting on a rookie WR and new to team TE to be asked to execute these difficult blocking assignments in wide open spaces.
But 4 in a row?

Then of course the 2nd and 1 empty sets.
Madness. Madness that has become the staple of stupidity for team Tomlin.
It eliminates any possibility of run.
Takes ALL of the run / pass guessing out of the defenders head. Eliminates a great PA down and distance possibility. Eliminates a 2 yard first down run By Bell to move the chains and keep momentum. He almost always gains a yard...especially in those spots.

2nd and 15 draws...nothing new.

Then the following 3rd and 1 heavy set with 9 i. Box. Ben pauses. Scans the field. Audibles and hands off into 9 men in the box. Stupit is that stupit does. This team plays dumb football top to bottom.

And again....empty sets from the 5 yard line.
Bailed out with a nice but dangerous play...short of the goal line pass to JJ.

Short of the sticks is a staple of this offensive passing game.

Again. No PA passing. No misdirection.
No element of surprise. No roll out passes. There is no fooling defenses. Not real football I guess.

I don't recall one counter left with TE and Decastro pulling and leading...along with Rosie here and there. My son's favorite run play. Called for it all day.

Anyway. This team has to outscore opposing offenses . This team can't count on getting quick defensive points.

I've been saying for years...this team loses more games Wednesday thru Saturday than any top team in football. Long before kickoff.

I expect a much better game plan. Play calling and execution on Sunday.

Hammered down that nail pretty effectively Stosh. Correct all around.

Agree. I will add that teams are rarely even respecting the little PA we do. This tells me that we have obvious run/pass tells on tape and quite frankly I don't think the players or coaches care. Honestly I worry this comes from Ben and Tomlin.

[Legacy User]

Right. Haley traps himself. Williams is far from the first DC to key on bell but it's usually the same.

Haley is thinking OK they're taking away leveon how do I get him free?

The right question to ask is OK they're taking away leveon I have a long list of others ways to kick their asses. Which do I go to first?

Willie Parker used to joke that he ran into 11 man fronts. Same deal today. Browns did it and vikingna prolly will too. Pass to set up the run. Pass also to score points. Needs to be said when talking steelers.

No justifiable reason when you have AB and MB to be dicking around with passes behind the LOS

[Scunge]

Yeah, I get Jesse James had two TDs, and he seems to play his best when the Steelers bring in a Green or McDonald to take his #1 spot. But make no mistake, McDonald's time is coming, it is just that he is going to take some time with him joining the team so late. Also wish Hunter had been active, it would have been interesting to have Hunter on one side, Bryant on the other and move Brown to the slot and let him work the middle of the field. If Ben had two imposing deep threats on the outside, it might have been so much easier to light up that secondary.

I don't like Haley either which goes without saying. I so wish that Randy Fitchner was the OC or that they would at least give him more input.

Also, for those that think Ben is going to play the next 5 seasons, when I watch him get pissed like that in the first half, and is obviously frustrated with the game plan, with the plays called, it just hammers the point home for me. His retirement talk is serious. Doesn't matter with the talent surrounding him if they are not motivated and if you have an offensive coordinator who is clueless.

Remember when Bryant had 2 catches for 6 yards to end the 2015 season as we were heading into the playoffs? Remember when Ben had to challenge his manhood, called him out on 93.7 the Fan (radio)? Bryant had 2 catches for 14 yards on Sunday. Does Ben need to do that again?

Eli Rogers had two catches for 11 yards on 5 targets. 40% catch rate is not going to get it done as the 3rd WR. On one of his catches he was real demonstrative and moving 10 yards down the field and carrying on like he made a TD! How about acting like it was a routine catch? How about getting back to the huddle so that we don't get a delay of game penalty?

These two players are your 2nd and 3rd WRs and much is being counted upon them and yet they combine for 4 catches for 25 yards? And Hunter was inactive. Seems to me maybe they SHOULD have Hunter active each game, maybe Bryant needs some competition for some of those deep routes. Maybe JuJu needs to be brought into the offense as that 3rd WR and have Rogers watch him from the sidelines.

None of that would be necessary if Bryant and Rogers were doing their jobs, were so productive that Hunter and JuJu had no option but to just watch from the sidelines. But that is not happening, is it?

People may say, hey relax Scunge, just the first game!! No, it is real important that we OWN and DOMINATE this first half of the season because the second half is much harder, more difficult. Also, I want a first round bye and I want the first overall seed. Losers slowly ease into the season, piss on that.

[bradshaw2ben]

If you think Art II didn't pass down an edict that:

1) The Steelers need to run the ball at all costs, and
2) Ben needs to get rid of the ball and stay upright

...then you're delusional. There is no other explanation.

Thank you, Wood-- I'm glad I'm not the only one.

These horizontal plays and the throws 1 yard downfield are running plays that protect Ben. They just use a cast of thousands to spread out the hits. If you take out the runs and the "extension of the run game" plays, what is left to this offense?

Sam Bradford and Trevor Siemian threw downfield more in the first half of the 1st quarter than we did for an entire game. Do we not see anything wrong with that?