View topic - Who gets the credit for the Bunch formation on offense?

[smheart78 Profile]

I guess that would have to be Bruce Arians. I love this set everytime it shows up on the line because I have no clue what the play is going to be! They usually are positive for the team, and, if not, at least the play is exciting.
This is where we line up 3 WRs, or 2 WRs & a TE or FB or a combination thereof packed together near the line of scrimmage. Often there is a back in the back field and a single wideout on the opposite side. The defense, almost automatically, needs to play off of this set-up in space.

Rothlisberger is smart enough to make one of a many choices in this formation. Seeing the defensive package he can audible for the run using the bunch as blockers or even the opposite way using the bunch as a decoy, see if they are playing off the single wideout for a quick pitch to the flats (usually Santonio) or wait and have the RB provide blocking assignments while the bunch opens up (it is great to have BR7 exercise this control on the line). A play action also works for this as does the screen pass.
This is such a good formation that I think it should be used more often, as it can be used in most situations anywhere on the field.
Bruce deserves a good amount of positive reviews for this work.

Also, for a team having lossed a great OC Ken Wisenhunt and Line Coach Russ Grimm (who did end up taking the famously horrible Cardnals team to the SB, there was a HC loss in there as well I believe but I don't remember), 2 years ago and make it back to win the SB is great.
He is working well with the team he has...they are still committed to the run as they need to be. If we can figure out a way to get positive yardage on the run (4,3 even 2 yards), the offense will be top tier. If that happens this year, that would be a huge credit to Bruce after losing so many coaches.

[smheart78 Profile]

The run is what needs to be fixed, per the Trib today.

Bettis was highly critical of the Steelers in his debut column on SI.com called Bus Stops.
Bettis called out his protege, Willie Parker, along with running backs Rashard Mendenhall and Frank Summers. He also didn't have many nice things to say about the offensive line he once ran behind and the Steelers coaching staff for not trying to improve the unit in the offseason.
"This problem isn't anything new, and I blame the coaching staff for not addressing the line in the offseason," Bettis wrote. "How did they rationalize not doing anything about it? Well, they won a Super Bowl. They won't be so lucky twice in a row."
Word of Bettis' criticism spread around the Steelers locker room Wednesday when the team reconvened in preparation for Sunday's game in Chicago. A large sample of players actually agreed with the future Hall of Famer's assessment on the issue of the offensive line play.
"To a certain degree, he's not lying," right tackle Willie Colon said. "We only rushed for 1.6 (yards per carry), and we weren't as good as we expected to be, so you're going to take knocks like that. I'm not mad at J.B. for what he said."

Left tackle Max Starks is the only offensive lineman who blocked for Bettis in 2005, his final season when the Steelers won Super Bowl XL. Starks played right tackle that season.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... rss&feed=9

[drosales Profile]

Bettis isnt telling us something we already dont knnow but at least the lineman are seeing what is being printed and they have to be accountable to one another for the mishaps and blatant foul ups. In the video I posted today Hartwig mentions how he moved over and Starks was then shifting a different direction and his man blew by untouched because of miscommunication!

Isnt this something that should be solved say in training camp or during the first year together? If continuation is something they are hyping up for us as fans to buy into then they need to show that its what really works on that line. I hope we find a running game against the bears and take advantage of there secondary with some play action we can really maul these guys and our D will TCB thewir off. with ease

[lloydgreene Profile]

It's good to see someone who actually backs Arians.

You're wrong. But it's still good to see.

Arians basically has two plays. 1) Hand off to RB and let him fight for yards, or 2) let Big Ben scramble for his life and make something happen.

Just because he uses different formations, does not mean that the plays are different.

It is Arians who, in his 3rd season, can not seem to coach the line how to block for the run game. THat is because Arians has no love for the run game. It is coach Arians that can not develope a balance that is so critical in the NFL. I fear that BB is going to get hurt this year because teams know what's coming and that is Arians fault.