View topic - Rest 'em?

[stiller4ever Profile]

OK - I know the ideal is to win the division, be number 1 seed and play at home for the playoffs BUT in light of the current health issues of many of the Steelers, would it be better to rest those players who are nursing significant injuries the next couple of games? The opponents are somewhat soft and the Steelers would still stand a good chance of winning both. If they rested, Big Ben, et al, it would be like having a two week bye and have them better ready for the first playoff game, even if on the road as a wild card.

Probably won't happen but just curious what other Stiller fans think.

[SteelPower Profile]

You might as well rest them all. It the wild card slot no matter what and it looks like Denver where headhunter Clark can't play.

[Steelers76 Profile]

I heard on "The Fan" radio show the other day that at worse case scenario,(I.E.- The Steelers lose both of their remaining 2 games), they can finish no better or no worse than The 5th Seed. However, I would say it's no foregone conclusion that The Ratbirds win at Cinci in their final game for a myriad of reasons, so you might be better served trying to win both and let the chips fall where they may....

[Nashsteeler Profile]

I'm all for resting Ben next week vs. the Rams. Should still be able to gut out a win at home against a team that bad with Batch or Dixon at the helm. Ben is nowhere near 100% and he'll have to be come playoff time for the Steelers to have a shot at another Super Bowl. Then re-evaluate and see where he is for the Browns game. Winning both games should, of course, continue to be a priority, but I think you have to rest Woodley too - he usually has his best games during the playoffs anyway.

...and i definitely wouldn't count the Bengals out of that last game vs. the Ratbirds. Chances are, the Bengals will be playing for their playoff lives and a shot at the 6 seed.

[isfry Profile]

I had the distinct misfortune of being present at Candle-dick for the debacle monday night, and I walked out saying to my buddy, "Rest EVERYBODY from here on out." We obviously have to go on the road for three games now to even get back to the SB, and there is NO WAY we do that without Ben being 110%. His lack of mobility was disgusting, and the main reason for the number of sacks he took, which included a fumble at our own 20 or so. Moreover, the two first half picks he threw (the third one was a desperation pass in the 4Q so I'll let him somewhat off the hook) were a direct result of his not being able to follow through properly on his left foot so the ball sailed high (in my opinion). One was tipped and the other was just off line. The touch passes he had no problem with. When he had to fire it into a tight window (which he will most definitely have to do in the playoffs) the ball sailed and resulted in tipped balls, incompletes and INT's. Rest him. Rest Pouncey. Rest Pola. Rest the whole goddamn O-line. We looked old and injured and inept Monday and that ain't gonna cut it on the road in the playoffs.

[Pommah Profile]

I am in the camp of resting. a 16-game regular season is too long and the NFL has become a war of attrition. It's become, who has how many decent players standing at the end of the season. Not who has the best team. It's become totally random, luck.

With 8 divisions, go back to a 12-game schedule, drop all the wild card crap, if you can't win your division you don't deserve the tournament. Have a 7-game total playoff round. That way we can start the season after labor day, be done before Christmas, let the colleges have New Years like it was supposed to be, and quit spending so much time watching grown men play a kids game and wasting all the time we do. Christ, football in places like Green Bay and Pittsburgh and New England in January? It's fooling with the natural order of things.

[2$TbleDnce Profile]

If I'm Tomlin I don't rest players till the game is won, and live under the premise that I did what was best for the future of my football team.

The Cleveland Fecious Goblicrons are not very good right now, but the little $hit demons were nearly unflushable less than a month ago @ Heinz Field. Taking Pittsburgh's shot at the division title rather than circling the toilet one last time for the year would literally make their season. Health is VERY important, and winning this game just might prove critical as far getting this team healthy for a playoff surge. I'm sure LaMarr Woodley could use the extra week off. It's very likely he has lots of money to spend.

[Pommah Profile]

We should have rested the banged up Roethlisberger. Hurt his ankle again in what proved to be a meaningless game

[isfry Profile]

We should have rested the banged up Roethlisberger. Hurt his ankle again in what proved to be a meaningless game

nuff said.