View topic - New Article: Follow-on Thoughts on the Raiders Loss

[StillersAdmin]

Follow-on Thoughts on the Raiders Loss has been posted by Guest at Stillers.com.

[steelhitter Profile]

You know I really like Ben. But, I liken him to what I call “a spoiled brat QB”. He’s been immensely successful as a young QB, and therefore, I believe he feels a bit invincible. I actually think Arians is a puppet to Ben, kept there only to keep the star QB pacified, while he plays and thinks he can pass any team into submission. This kid QB, at 27 with 2 SB rings, needs a stiff dose of discipline. As talented as he is, he is not invincible. And you can’t pass teams into submission. It’s all very frustrating, folks.

I'm still shocked myself. One of the worst losses I can remember, too. Reminds me a bit of the 2006 loss in Oakland; collapsed on the other side of the ball that day.

But to Ben. I like him, too. However, he does act spoiled by his early success. He does not seem to work on his technical skills year after year. The same old duck and run moves, playground style. Hasn't learned yet the subtle slide in the pocket and get rid of the ball to where you know from practice and pre-snap reads you can go if the rush is quickly on you. And he needs to step up in leadership, especially what he says publicly. The interview I heard after Sunday's game Ben said he thought the offense played great. Dulac in today's PG gave him the game ball. What?! If anyone on offense contributed to the loss it was BR. 3 drives into the redzone and only 3 points! An interception in the endzone on first down! There were three fucking Raiders between Ben and Hines on that throw; that's inexcusable. The Steelers should have been up at least 21 - 6 in the 1st half. And the worst mistake was holding the ball and taking a sack on the 3rd and 6 from the 25 pushing them effectively out of FG range late in the 3rd quarter. Not excusing the defense, but Ben and your "great" offense lost the game in the first half as much as the D in the 4th quarter. Take a lesson from Peyton Manning and work hard on being a great quarterback every season.

[sgt stiller Profile]

at least I got hammered in my own house....

I see you are taking your keys from the Steelers...

[ballhair Profile]

Bedwetter or not, Big Ben has choked in a lot of games this season. He can't get it done in the red zone most of the time. He's not playing like a $100 million QB. Its because of him we won two SB's? Really. Why does he keep taking on tacklers head first when he scrambles? Does he want to get taken out of the game? Has he ever thrown a 50 yard bomb that the receiver didn't have to slow down and come back for? Half the time ben looks like the reincarnation of john elway in his prime. The other half of the time Ben looks like an embarrassing big lump of shit. I drank the cool-aid about "big ben" for a number of years, but no more. He's too inconsistent to be considered a elite QB in this league. Good but not great. Thats my 2 cents.

[Rushmore Profile]

lotsa frustrations: while the 4th quarter defensive collapse is a trend easily criticized, the offensive clock-management probably aided it. Two - 2 play TD drives? Yes: exciting. But the defense is probably still winded from the latest OAK TD drive. This, to me, shows OC impatience. I keep saying, w/ 8 minutes left in the game, the D had held OAK to 6 points. Hey fans: the D did its job. WHERE IS THE OFFENSIVE SUPPORT??? To say "60 minute Men": what season are you referring to? The 2009 ain't that defensively, so again, WHERE'S THE OFFENSEIVE SUPPORT?

More curious play calling: End of the first half, PS driving, with all three timeouts: All they did was throw, throw, throw (w/BB pic in the endzone). where is the patience? RM running well, too.

I echo others observations: this game should have been over at half-time. So much offensive opportunity squandered.

-Rushmore

[ballhair Profile]

Its different when you're playing real good teams or in the playoffs, but when your playing scrap teams (kc,oak), Blaming the defense the most just don't fly. Against these scrap teams, Ben and the offense should of put up 30 points by halftime and put the game away. Our offense is supposed to be so talented. If you have to score 50 points. This mentality of just scoring enough points to win close is monkey shit. Put to much pressure on the defense. Don't let teams hang around. What sucks the most about this season was the easy schedule we had and getting 12-13 wins shouldn't of been a problem. Lazy, lethargic play, players running their mouth (ward), franchise QB scrambling out of the pocket tacking on tacklers head first all the time. This team is in disarray. Don't mind me, I'm just pissed off at what seems like a no give a fuck attitude this team has.

[SojuMaster Profile]

you want to throw stones at him? you have no brain. ben has stated he follows arians play calling. even in no huddle those are all arians plays....its all arians.

While I agree with you in regards to this article being off base, but I do disagree with this comment. How is Arians calling the plays during a no-huddle when the play calling and the flow of the drive is radically different from when you see the plays being called in from the sideline when they go back to huddle play???

I have said it once, I have said it a million times, where is the no-huddle? ... We went 4 games without implementing it and we lost all 4 games. Of course that is only ONE problem in a growing list of problems with our Stillers.

Fire Bruce Arians !!!

[Jeemie Profile]

More curious play calling: End of the first half, PS driving, with all three timeouts: All they did was throw, throw, throw (w/BB pic in the endzone). where is the patience? RM running well, too.

Got news for you.

Mendenhall was NOT "running well".

He had a Willie Parker-type day- one 60-yard run, and lots of 1-yard plunges.

As for the two TD drives in the 4th Quarter. I suppose Holmes should have fallen down right after he caught the ball, or Mendy should have gone down on contact at the 5, so we could take some more time to get into the EZ?

And the second TD drive took 3:22 and featured 2 runs by Mendenhall and a designed QB draw by Ben.

If anything, the second drive took TOO LONG, and left the Steelers with no time on the clock to come back after the inevitable Raiders' third TD.

Shortning the game is something you do when you do when you TRUST your defense.

The Steelers' defense can't be trusted.

Therefore, you actually have be counterintuitive and make the game LONGER.

[Rushmore Profile]

more ramblings:

McFadden
Foote
Troy
A. Smith

Defensive drop-off had to be expected.

-Rushmore

[Jeemie Profile]

more ramblings:

McFadden
Foote
Troy
A. Smith

Defensive drop-off had to be expected.

-Rushmore

This I agree with...especially McFadden. I don't care that he hasn't been that great in Arizona...he was a perfect fit here.

But honestly I have to say...I don't think even Gay's detractors thought he would regress this badly (although I think he would be better if only LeBeau would shrink those 10-yard cushions to 5-yard cushions).

And Foote wanted to start, and he wasn't going to here (although that goes back to the Gildon-esque mistake of re-signing James Farrior, who might have the brains to wear the helmet with the dot, but who is CLEARLY past his prime).

Smith? The run defense has shown some cracks, but it hasn't suffered all that much- unless you think D-line play wavers at the end because of no ability to do wave substitutions.

Finally...Troy. I guess we now know the multitude of sins Polamalu was covering for in the secondary.

[steelandblood Profile]

Even if the Steelers passed as much as they do now under a different coordinator, I don't see the gross ineptitude coming out of this O if Arians isn't playcalling. Usually with any no-huddle package, it may be the coordinator's plays the QB has to draw from, but its still the QB making the calls. The fact the Steelers can suddenly move the ball when they go no-huddle seems to indicate that's so. Don't forget that defenses generally do better with a good offense keeping them off the field the entire game. Our "O" hasn't done that. That's not to say that LeBeau is beyond any of the warranted criticism he's recieved for being slow to adjust and calling coverages that give opposing receivers too much cushion. We have physical corners who can beat up receivers, not cover guys. We've had success when this has been played to in the defensive schemes LeBeau has served up--and that Tomlin has approved. Speaking of the head coach, just as with Cowher, the buck stops with Mike Tomlin, no matter how good or horrible his coordinators are.

1)He's shown tolerance for inferior output from his offense and his special teams. I figure LeBeau is probably in the Dick Hoak position and may be unfireable, but that doesn't stop Tomlin from demanding problems get fixed, i.e. all the bullshit that made Bruce Gradkowski look good on Sunday, and the flaccid playcalling that has plagued this team for three seasons.

Just as with Cowher, I follow the five year rule of thumb in terms of whether I should call for a coach's head or not. Tomlin is in the first of that five year stretch following a superbowl win where, however critical I am of him, I won't demand he resign or be terminated. I'm just trying to figure out how he lost a motivational grip on his team. Is he placing too much faith in his lockerroom leadership? That could be...

[No l Gravity l Profile]

Anyone notice Ziggy Hood on the Raiders game winning pass? The assclown just stood there with no push watching Gardogshit find his man in the endzone. What the hell was he doing? Was this one of LeBeau's genius plans? Have a huge fatass DT cover a RB in case of a quick dumpoff. What's worse is that Ike Taylor came in on what looks like a 4 man rush up the middle. Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?

[Jeemie Profile]

Anyone notice Ziggy Hood on the Raiders game winning pass? The assclown just stood there with no push watching Gardogshit find his man in the endzone. What the hell was he doing? Was this one of LeBeau's genius plans? Have a huge fatass DT cover a RB in case of a quick dumpoff. What's worse is that Ike Taylor came in on what looks like a 4 man rush up the middle. Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?

A couple of the players have said they didn't get the defensive playcall (second time we've heard this) and thus were playing a different defense than the rest of the team.

I thought Taylor was one of the ones who said he didn't get the call.

[PGHeaven Profile]

Anyone notice Ziggy Hood on the Raiders game winning pass? The assclown just stood there with no push watching Gardogshit find his man in the endzone. What the hell was he doing? Was this one of LeBeau's genius plans? Have a huge fatass DT cover a RB in case of a quick dumpoff. What's worse is that Ike Taylor came in on what looks like a 4 man rush up the middle. Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?

The players ran a double blitz. The call from Uncle Dick was to be a one sided blitz. Forget where I heard that, but on the replay Burnett blitzed which left Mundy holding the bag. I do NOT like what I am seeing out of Burnett so far. Or Mundy. Or Gay. Or Carter. Or Taylor. Or Farrior. Or Clark. Or Hood

Wonder what Keenan Lewis brings

[SteelPower Profile]

Even if the Steelers passed as much as they do now under a different coordinator, I don't see the gross ineptitude coming out of this O if Arians isn't playcalling. Usually with any no-huddle package, it may be the coordinator's plays the QB has to draw from, but its still the QB making the calls. The fact the Steelers can suddenly move the ball when they go no-huddle seems to indicate that's so. Don't forget that defenses generally do better with a good offense keeping them off the field the entire game. Our "O" hasn't done that. That's not to say that LeBeau is beyond any of the warranted criticism he's recieved for being slow to adjust and calling coverages that give opposing receivers too much cushion. We have physical corners who can beat up receivers, not cover guys. We've had success when this has been played to in the defensive schemes LeBeau has served up--and that Tomlin has approved. Speaking of the head coach, just as with Cowher, the buck stops with Mike Tomlin, no matter how good or horrible his coordinators are.

1)He's shown tolerance for inferior output from his offense and his special teams. I figure LeBeau is probably in the Dick Hoak position and may be unfireable, but that doesn't stop Tomlin from demanding problems get fixed, i.e. all the bullshit that made Bruce Gradkowski look good on Sunday, and the flaccid playcalling that has plagued this team for three seasons.

Just as with Cowher, I follow the five year rule of thumb in terms of whether I should call for a coach's head or not. Tomlin is in the first of that five year stretch following a superbowl win where, however critical I am of him, I won't demand he resign or be terminated. I'm just trying to figure out how he lost a motivational grip on his team. Is he placing too much faith in his lockerroom leadership? That could be...

So per your five year plan Cowher should have been kept for another four years after his mail in season defending the Super Bowl? The five year rule sounds noble but when you come back with the same team and Fuck it up this bad and there is all this talk about Tomlin only being 37 and he will learn from his mistakes (as posted by many on this board) it is total BS. His head needs to be on the chopping block, He should get next season to fix it (hire new coaches) or there will be no contract extension Hit the Road MT.

[SteelFanRob Profile]

SteelPower,

I agree. Now, I'm in no way calling for MT's head. At least not yet. But a few more seasons like this and you bet. He should feel the axe close to his neck! However, the Rooney's are loyal often to a fault. You know this. I knew that when we won the SB that MT had purchased an open-ended contract with the Stillers. Let's hope that MT grows up as a coach and gets some fire in his belly!

[Jeemie Profile]

So per your five year plan Cowher should have been kept for another four years after his mail in season defending the Super Bowl? The five year rule sounds noble but when you come back with the same team and Fuck it up this bad and there is all this talk about Tomlin only being 37 and he will learn from his mistakes (as posted by many on this board) it is total BS. His head needs to be on the chopping block, He should get next season to fix it (hire new coaches) or there will be no contract extension Hit the Road MT.

Yet another post that makes me thank God competent individuals run this team.

You guys would turn us into the Redskins.

[SteelFanRob Profile]

SteelPower and Jeemie,

We need not go to either extreme. No one should be talking about firing MT. It's just one bad season. On the other hand, mediocrity shouldn't be rewarded either. Would anyone put up with this crap for 3 or 4 consecutive seasons? If so, then you're a Cubs fan, you know, that team that never wins but whose fans are eternally optimistic even as they endure one mediocre season after another after another. A coach always needs to feel he's expected to win and win it all. Owners should make sure the coach never gets complacent. At the same time, like Jeemie says, a Stillers coach shouldn't feel like they're one loss (even a bad one) away from losing their job either.

[Jeemie Profile]

SteelPower and Jeemie,

We need not go to either extreme. No one should be talking about firing MT. It's just one bad season. On the other hand, mediocrity shouldn't be rewarded either. Would anyone put up with this crap for 3 or 4 consecutive seasons? If so, then you're a Cubs fan, you know, that team that never wins but whose fans are eternally optimistic even as they endure one mediocre season after another after another. A coach always needs to feel he's expected to win and win it all. Owners should make sure the coach never gets complacent. At the same time, like Jeemie says, a Stillers coach shouldn't feel like they're one loss (even a bad one) away from losing their job either.

On this I totally agree.

By not calling for Tomlin's head, I am in no ways absolving him of his prime role in the mess that has become our season.

But the big flaw of stillers.com is its philosophy that EVERYTHING that goes wrong is the fault of the coach(es), and that if heads roll, things will automatically get better.

And this is LUDICROUS.

[steelandblood Profile]

Even if the Steelers passed as much as they do now under a different coordinator, I don't see the gross ineptitude coming out of this O if Arians isn't playcalling. Usually with any no-huddle package, it may be the coordinator's plays the QB has to draw from, but its still the QB making the calls. The fact the Steelers can suddenly move the ball when they go no-huddle seems to indicate that's so. Don't forget that defenses generally do better with a good offense keeping them off the field the entire game. Our "O" hasn't done that. That's not to say that LeBeau is beyond any of the warranted criticism he's recieved for being slow to adjust and calling coverages that give opposing receivers too much cushion. We have physical corners who can beat up receivers, not cover guys. We've had success when this has been played to in the defensive schemes LeBeau has served up--and that Tomlin has approved. Speaking of the head coach, just as with Cowher, the buck stops with Mike Tomlin, no matter how good or horrible his coordinators are.

1)He's shown tolerance for inferior output from his offense and his special teams. I figure LeBeau is probably in the Dick Hoak position and may be unfireable, but that doesn't stop Tomlin from demanding problems get fixed, i.e. all the bullshit that made Bruce Gradkowski look good on Sunday, and the flaccid playcalling that has plagued this team for three seasons.

Just as with Cowher, I follow the five year rule of thumb in terms of whether I should call for a coach's head or not. Tomlin is in the first of that five year stretch following a superbowl win where, however critical I am of him, I won't demand he resign or be terminated. I'm just trying to figure out how he lost a motivational grip on his team. Is he placing too much faith in his lockerroom leadership? That could be...

Cowher resigned of his own accord, and I wasn't exactly one for begging him to stay either. I'm just saying if a coach wins the big one I won't call for his head no matter how critical I am of what he's doing for five seasons afterward. Four seasons from now if this crap's still going on, I'll want Tomlin out on the first bus.

So per your five year plan Cowher should have been kept for another four years after his mail in season defending the Super Bowl? The five year rule sounds noble but when you come back with the same team and Fuck it up this bad and there is all this talk about Tomlin only being 37 and he will learn from his mistakes (as posted by many on this board) it is total BS. His head needs to be on the chopping block, He should get next season to fix it (hire new coaches) or there will be no contract extension Hit the Road MT.