By CK Stiller
Tomlin came in as the Steelers head coach and immediately talked about open competition for every single spot on the team. No one was safe because of what they had done in the past. In spite of that, Tomlin came into the season with only one significant change to the starting line-up from the end of last year. That was RT Willie Colon stepping in for Max Starks. The only other 'starter' to sit (you can barely even call a FB a starter in this offense right now) was Dan Kreider. Anthony Smith and Bryant McFadden sat while vets like Townsend and Clark kept their spots. Kendall Simmons was never even really challenged, and the only thing coming out about him in the media was how impressed the staff was on him. He moved well and was in great shape, they said.
Offensive Changes
Well, here we are 10 games into the season and the Steelers have dropped three winnable games. Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise, has been sacked 30 times. In case some of you don't realize how bad this really is, forum member G55875 made a point to compare this to other potential playoff QB's:
- Brady- 10
- Anderson- 10
- Manning- 12
- Cutler- 13 (plays tonight)
- Rivers- 13
- Young- 14 (plays tonight)
- Garrard- 16
Well, what's he going to do about this? Will we get more of the same? Will Kendall Simmons, the man who has stunk it up since 05, continue to start? Or will Chris Kemoeatu get a legitimate chance to win the job?
Let me make it clear here. No one on this line is playing at a Pro Bowl level. I have issues with each and every member. But no one is as consistently as bad as Simmons. This man was in on two sacks in yesterday's game. This is a RG, not a RT. When I counted up Steelers OL sacks/hurries three weeks ago, what I found was that Simmons had 20 sacks/hurries (6 sacks, 14 hurries). This was more than Marvel Smith or Willie Colon at either tackle spot logged. Simmons likely has not improved since.
We all see Simmons as the weak point in this OL, but yet no changes are made. That is truly pathetic, and hard for me to swallow as a Steelers fan. They have two guys on this roster who I'm confident could not play any worse (and most likely upgrade the spot) - Max Starks and Chris Kemoeatu.
Kemo showed an inability to pick up stunts and blitzes last year. He didn't seem to know who to block all the time. He didn't live up his hype as a great run blocker, either. However, he wasn't walked into the backfield or abused man-up in pass pro, either. Simmons continues to suck it up in both areas of the game.
Max Starks was never given a chance to play at RG. The only logical argument against the move is the inability of Max Starks to pull. Again, though...what's worse - a guard who can't pull, or a guard who can pull (and does nothing when he gets where he needs to be) but gets abused heads up? The answer is obvious to me.
I have issues with the interior of this OL allowing anywhere near as much pressure as they do. Mahan has been almost as guilty of it as Simmons in the past few weeks. That needs to change, but unfortunately there isn't anyone to take his spot at center. Willie Colon has allowed too much pressure because he can't identify who to block. The left side has been steady, if unspectacular. I'll take that at this point.
Bruce Arians isn't off the hook here, either. Yes, the OL failed yesterday against the Jets. But it has been made clear by every writer on this site that Arians did not help matters any with his playcalling. There's two things Arians can do to help this OL:
1. Start planning for quick developing pass plays for a change.
2. Stop putting this team into third and forever by stubbornly running the ball on first and second down.
The team has been unbelievably good at converting third downs prior to this Jets game. The Patriots defense is currently first in the league on third down (30%). Mangini coached his players up to deal with Roethlisberger moving out of the pocket, and there was no other option as the Steelers were trapped on third and forever and running vertical routes 15 yards down field. The pressure was going to land home before anyone came open, and the coverage wasn't breaking down enough when Ben got out of the pocket.
We've seen some slants this year. A few more then last year. There haven't been enough. One play stands out in particular. Denver, on a third and long, called an all out blitz (7 man rush on the play). Roethlisberger delivered a strike to Cedric Wilson, who picked up the necessary yardage after the catch to gain a first.
Maybe if we get a few plays like this on first and second down (and even third, for that matter), the OL won't have time to fuck up.
For the record, here is who allowed the sacks yesterday:
1 - Untouched
2 - Colon/Faneca (delayed blitz is the reason Faneca missed him). Smith is also beaten inside. Ellis loops around Colon. This is a coverage sack. All three guys are in on sack, only Faneca and Colon's men are credited.
3 - Simmons is the first man beat. Roethlisberger rolls out. Mahan loses his block and Colon's man comes off and three Jets defenders converge on Roethlisberger. This is pretty much all Simmons. 5 men in blocking.
4 - Simmons/Miller are the ones who let up on their blocks. Roethlisberger pumps. Miller is really driven back into Roethlisberger, but Simmons man is the first to make contact. I would say this is another coverage sack. The Steelers have 7 guys in blocking on this play
5 - Colon gets beat around the edge. This is the fumble.
6 - Spaeth. Beat around the edge on the play-action 3-2. No chance on this play because Spaeth is beaten cleanly.
7 - Mahan. Beaten cleanly off the snap.
Defense
We heard a lot about the Steelers subbing in LB's to give Haggans and Harrison a breather this year. After all, the team spent two high picks on Timmons and Woodley. It would be nice if they could get on the field in some packages. Haggans currently has 4 sacks. He's on pace for 6.5. Woodley, in very limited action, currently has three. He hasn't even seen the field on defense since Denver. He's currently hurt, but with a showdown with the Pats looming on the horizon, applying pressure with four men is an obvious need. James Harrison is having a monster of a season (7.5 sacks so far). The team needs a book-end across from him on third downs to apply some heat.
Deshea Townsend continues to be the 'weak link' in the secondary as the second corner. Yesterday, he nearly cost the team the game in regulation with his soft coverage in the endzone. If Jets WR Brad Smith doesn't drop a pass in the corner of the endzone, he may have been the goat of the game with the OL (in spite of his INT). I like Townsend as a player. I like him better as a nickel back where he would be protected more and facing up against teams third receivers. It would also leave him in a position to blitz more frequently.
Teams come out and attack Townsend every week.
Currently, Bryant McFadden gives the team more at the second corner spot. This hasn't been made clear so far this year, as the team has yet to face a great passing attack. However, I beieve this will be more obvious after the game against New England.
Both changes are ones I hope the team will make at some point this season. As long as they happen before the playoffs, I'm happy.
I'm still a firm believer in what this team is capable of. They are not a mediocre team, and they can play with anyone. I do believe, however, that if they are to do so...the coaching needs to improve significantly before the playoffs. Tomlin needs to be bold. Did he need to make great changes when he took over? The answer is no. However, at this point in time, it's clear that something needs to change if this team truly wants to be elite this year. If they want to contend with the best, Tomlin needs to be bold.