View topic - John Clayton's take on rebuilding Steelers O-line

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Going to take a few years.
Let's hope the rebuilding starts this weekend.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=4082772

Q: Am I the only one who feels that the Steelers' offense is in a bit of a conundrum when it comes to how to build their O-line? On one hand, they would like big mauler-types to control the clock with the running game, but to me they seem to need quick, nimble Colts-style linemen to protect Ben Roethlisberger due to his penchant for holding the ball.

Phillip in Detroit

A: It's not a conundrum. It's just the inevitable problems created by a long run for a great franchise. The problem started when Jeff Hartings retired and Alan Faneca was too old, in the Steelers' eyes, to make $8 million a year. Now it's a rebuilding process for the line, and that takes a few years. The Steelers won't go to the Indy-style offensive line because the Steelers still want to be more of a running team. Ben Roethlisberger is better carrying a passing offense -- he was 6-2 in games in which he threw 30 or more passes -- but the line needs to be bigger so the team can run the ball in November, December and January.

[gutofsteel Profile]

Will someone bitchslap Clayton please?!?

So now Ben is "better when carrying a passing offense" because he was 6-2 in games he threw 30+ times....So, wasn't he also 6-2 in games where he threw less than 30 times? And wasn't Clayton and the rest of the media idiots saying just about 6 months ago that the formula to winning was Ben throwing it less than 25 times a game? Man, these people are dense.

And Ben holds the ball BECAUSE HE HAS TO. That OL breaks down so quickly and so frequently that he has to move around to find a spot to step up into and a throwing lane to fire it in. And then the receivers sometimes take their time getting open. It did improve later in the year because Arians finally started implementing quicker developing routes and shorter passing plays. Yeah, Ben holds the ball and they win because of it. Other QB's in that situation are throwing it away or forcing passes with little chance of completion, which obviously yields less than positive results.

[indysteel Profile]

I have found it impossible to look and listen to John Clayton talk about football and take him serious.

We used to beat kids up regularly like him. Does anyone know if he even played high school football?

[stillcello Profile]

I think what Clayton meant is that Ben 'has become better' at carrying (and winning) with a "passing offense".... not that he's better "compared to" carrying a running offense. ... and he's right... Ben is able to shoulder more of the responsibility when he has to compared to a few years ago.....

I think the formula to win with Ben used to be to run a bit more, but he's certainly matured as a QB and just had the type of year in 08 to convince many that he can carry the load when needed.

Not a huge fan of clayton, but agree with him here....