Interesting Note on the Steelers Offense

[DP39]

Canada did not change the passing game. That was all Ben. Canada only added running plays. I hope to see a new passing game up in this season. No reason to save much from the tired old one.

Mostly agree. I assumed that was the plan all along. We let three WRs walk and replaced them with very different players. I assumed that was because they plan on having a new (somewhat different) passing game.

Chase and Pickens can also block very well; DJ not so much. I would not be surprised if they let DJ play out this year without a new contract and then figure it out from there. With the way the college game is going they are producing more and more talented WRs. I would spend my cap dollars on other positions for top/above average talent and keep cycling thru WRs every 3 to 4 years (unless I get a generational WR talent -- I might sign him to C2). Same with RBs.

[Jobu]

I would not be surprised if they let DJ play out this year without a new contract and then figure it out from there.

I think drafting two WRs with the first four picks screams “we aren’t paying a WR $20+ Million”!

[Steeldrama]

Instead of just letting players walk I’d take the Ravens and other teams approach of trading for draft capital as was the case with Hollywood Brown.

Can apply that to any position, but with wr so plentiful in recent drafts I think it’s smart not only not to overpay but to get draft capital in return.

The exception being the Eagles landing AJ Brown.
Liked that trade a lot

Howie taking advantage of Hurts being on rookie deal
AND if Hurts can’t win with all that talent around him the Eagles have two 1st round picks next year to procure a stud rookie qb
Shrewd

I applaud the roster building creativity
Put some thought into it rather than just sprint to the podium year after year

[ToddHaleysNineIron]

I would not be surprised if they let DJ play out this year without a new contract and then figure it out from there.

I think drafting two WRs with the first four picks screams “we aren’t paying a WR $20+ Million”!

Yep, and when you consider that taking a WR in rounds 3,4 every year pretty much keeps you stocked at that position, I think you see the plan - never overpay guys that you can get for cheap. WR is a position that I think guys can step right into from the draft and contribute as opposed to other positions that require cohesiveness, time, learning, etc... not to say some guys aren't more polished than others.. but still.

[Mick]

Ideally you draft enough WRs so that you can be trading them after 3 years for high picks. Right now, we can’t afford to trade Diontae. If we hit on both WRs this year, next year we could draft two more with high picks and could then afford to trade Claypool with a year left on his rookie deal.

[zeke5123]

I agree there are significant philosophical issues on offense. I think having a not terrible O line will help a lot.

[steelclan]

Instead of just letting players walk I’d take the Ravens and other teams approach of trading for draft capital as was the case with Hollywood Brown.

Can apply that to any position, but with wr so plentiful in recent drafts I think it’s smart not only not to overpay but to get draft capital in return.

The exception being the Eagles landing AJ Brown.
Liked that trade a lot

Howie taking advantage of Hurts being on rookie deal
AND if Hurts can’t win with all that talent around him the Eagles have two 1st round picks next year to procure a stud rookie qb
Shrewd

I applaud the roster building creativity
Put some thought into it rather than just sprint to the podium year after year

The problem with that approach? Ravens are always trying to restock at critical positions because they let players walk. Look at their WR corps right now, it is a mess.

Yet in past several drafts? They've drafted a boatload of WRs. They are almost exclusively reliant on Bateman making a huge leap in his 2nd year. Otherwise Mark Andrews is going to be seeing a ton of double teams and Ravens passing attack will be far worse than it has been in a while.

I don't think teams can run their way to a SB anymore. You have to have WRs that can open up the offense. Right now? Ravens don't have that.

[Jobu]

I still can’t believe the Rats got a first round pick out of Hollywood Brown.

[Steeldrama]

Instead of just letting players walk I’d take the Ravens and other teams approach of trading for draft capital as was the case with Hollywood Brown.

Can apply that to any position, but with wr so plentiful in recent drafts I think it’s smart not only not to overpay but to get draft capital in return.

The exception being the Eagles landing AJ Brown.
Liked that trade a lot

Howie taking advantage of Hurts being on rookie deal
AND if Hurts can’t win with all that talent around him the Eagles have two 1st round picks next year to procure a stud rookie qb
Shrewd

I applaud the roster building creativity
Put some thought into it rather than just sprint to the podium year after year

The problem with that approach? Ravens are always trying to restock at critical positions because they let players walk. Look at their WR corps right now, it is a mess.

Yet in past several drafts? They've drafted a boatload of WRs. They are almost exclusively reliant on Bateman making a huge leap in his 2nd year. Otherwise Mark Andrews is going to be seeing a ton of double teams and Ravens passing attack will be far worse than it has been in a while.

I don't think teams can run their way to a SB anymore. You have to have WRs that can open up the offense. Right now? Ravens don't have that.

As my dear Internet friend B2B likes to say, “Ravens are where wide receivers go to die” or “Lamar=WR killer.”

The Ravens current wide receiver group or their failure to draft and develop wide receivers wasn’t really the point.

Point is instead of choosing between overpaying or letting Hollywood walk (or worse being a distraction) the Ravens, wisely IMO, traded him for draft capital.

What the Ravens did after acquiring that capital is another discussion

[Mick]

They spent a 1st on brown, got three years out of him and then got the 1st rounder back. All of that was efficient resource utilization. Then they spent a 1st on a Hollywood Brown-sized offensive lineman.

Overall, it looks like they are planning to give Lamar the Big Contract, and are moving toward filling the entire roster with cheap C1 draft picks to make room.

[DP39]

They spent a 1st on brown, got three years out of him and then got the 1st rounder back. All of that was efficient resource utilization. Then they spent a 1st on a Hollywood Brown-sized offensive lineman.

Overall, it looks like they are planning to give Lamar the Big Contract, and are moving toward filling the entire roster with cheap C1 draft picks to make room.

God, I hope so! Not having to go against another talent close to Burrow's or Watson's twice a year is a blessing, imo.

[rooneytunes]

NHALSADA

[jebrick]

I still can’t believe the Rats got a first round pick out of Hollywood Brown.

Hollywood and a 3rd for a 1st

[Jobu]

I still can’t believe the Rats got a first round pick out of Hollywood Brown.

Hollywood and a 3rd for a 1st

Is that what it was? I thought it was straight up, but that makes a little more sense, I guess.

[steelclan]

Instead of just letting players walk I’d take the Ravens and other teams approach of trading for draft capital as was the case with Hollywood Brown.

Can apply that to any position, but with wr so plentiful in recent drafts I think it’s smart not only not to overpay but to get draft capital in return.

The exception being the Eagles landing AJ Brown.
Liked that trade a lot

Howie taking advantage of Hurts being on rookie deal
AND if Hurts can’t win with all that talent around him the Eagles have two 1st round picks next year to procure a stud rookie qb
Shrewd

I applaud the roster building creativity
Put some thought into it rather than just sprint to the podium year after year

The problem with that approach? Ravens are always trying to restock at critical positions because they let players walk. Look at their WR corps right now, it is a mess.

Yet in past several drafts? They've drafted a boatload of WRs. They are almost exclusively reliant on Bateman making a huge leap in his 2nd year. Otherwise Mark Andrews is going to be seeing a ton of double teams and Ravens passing attack will be far worse than it has been in a while.

I don't think teams can run their way to a SB anymore. You have to have WRs that can open up the offense. Right now? Ravens don't have that.

As my dear Internet friend B2B likes to say, “Ravens are where wide receivers go to die” or “Lamar=WR killer.”

The Ravens current wide receiver group or their failure to draft and develop wide receivers wasn’t really the point.

Point is instead of choosing between overpaying or letting Hollywood walk (or worse being a distraction) the Ravens, wisely IMO, traded him for draft capital.

What the Ravens did after acquiring that capital is another discussion

Fair.

[franco32]

I think Canada is a mediocre play caller and play designer at best. That said, the Oline was really bad last year. Ben was mostly playing scared and getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid hits. On running plays, the interior of the Oline (Turner and Green) were pushed around. However bad you think those two were, it was worse than you thought.

The rebirth of the O starts with Cole and Daniels. Huge upgrade. Could Green have put on 10 pounds of muscle and gotten stronger? Maybe. But, I'm not going to be convinced until I see him. For now, Cole is the starter. My buddy, a big Vikes fan, loved Cole and was pissed to lose him.

So, if the run game improves, then so does play action. That immediately becomes a major weapon with Pickett or Mitch at the helm.

I'm cautiously optimistic about offensive improvement this year. I'm not saying we avg 30 points a game or anything like that. But, I do think we'll be much better.

[jebrick]

I think Canada is a mediocre play caller and play designer at best. That said, the Oline was really bad last year. Ben was mostly playing scared and getting rid of the ball quickly to avoid hits. On running plays, the interior of the Oline (Turner and Green) were pushed around. However bad you think those two were, it was worse than you thought.

The rebirth of the O starts with Cole and Daniels. Huge upgrade. Could Green have put on 10 pounds of muscle and gotten stronger? Maybe. But, I'm not going to be convinced until I see him. For now, Cole is the starter. My buddy, a big Vikes fan, loved Cole and was pissed to lose him.

So, if the run game improves, then so does play action. That immediately becomes a major weapon with Pickett or Mitch at the helm.

I'm cautiously optimistic about offensive improvement this year. I'm not saying we avg 30 points a game or anything like that. But, I do think we'll be much better.

I would agree on the playcalling aspect. Perhaps he can delegate that. We have not seen enough of his plays to say they are mediocre. If it looks anything like SF they will be better off.

[VeritasSteel]

Canada’s offense depends on a mobile quarterback.

Thus…Trubisky and Pickett.

Ben and Mason were statues.

But even Ben on the wane had skills and smarts that could make a sandwich out of shit.

Trubisky or Pickett may make the SCHEME work better…they are going to lack Ben’s intangibles.

Tomlin is on record for saying he likes the system because it levels the talent by introducing doubt in the defense. He asked himself the question of how an undertalented Pitt beat NFL talented Clemson defense and was consistently getting people open and running the ball at will. Its because the Canada offense gave a defense filled with NFL level talent fits because it made them play their responsibilities and not overcommit to a play- on every play. The eye candy and motion and threats to run on both sides of the formation or get the ball deep on the weak side are things that KC offense does- with a diminutive- yet speedy WR as its engine. Seems to work for them.

What makes the scheme work is a mobile QB. This forces backside pursuit to stay home or the defense has to commit coverage resources to allow for the threat of the QB running . These are small things that add up to big plays. Harris having an extra second to make a move and get more yards or being able to hit the TE in the space where there used to be a LB/S over the top are the result of these small things being dealt with on a play or series of plays.

I am not demeaning Ben, ever. However he wasn't a fit for the offense because he was a 1% chance to take off and run. What I will miss is his ability to hack the defenses on the fly with playground audibles- that Ebron TD vs Baltimore being most notable.

[Gonzo]

Blame Canada