View topic - Worst offensive coaching job in the history of the NFL?

[madtowndrunkard Profile]

I seriously wonder? I can't recall an offense as talented as ours this bad.

How many offenses w/ a QB as good as Ben have ever ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL? It can't be many.

Then consider we have Ward, Holmes, Miller, Parker, Moore, etc.

What's even worse is they have the best defense in the league helping them stay on the field, yet they still stink.

I have to think this ranks in the top 10 worst coaching jobs by an OC in NFL history. Tomlin has to take much of the blame for this, as he is the HC. Lebeau is running the same defense he always has. Tomlin is learning it from him. Arians is failing miserably. Tomlin has to bring in a new OC next year...if he has any balls at all, he'll make the change.

[madtowndrunkard Profile]

BTW - hi, I'm from <content deleted by moderator, no links to or names of other sites are allowed here> ...so I thought I'd pop in and check you this board out.

[Pommah Profile]

Funny story -

Ya know how kids when playing pickup games will make a move while saying the name of their favorite player?

Like how when you make a good move toward the hoop, you'd say out loud, "Dr. J!" Or a great catch in baseball, "Roberto Clemente!"

Well, when I was a kid, for a couple of years I lived in Blacksburg Virginia. Home of Virginia Tech. We'd play pickup football games alla time.

When the QB would throw a wounded duck, we'd all yell "Bruce Arians!" and bust up laffin'

I think they lost nearly every game (save VMI, or William and Mary) and Bruce threw something like 3 TD's all year.

Never did I dream that guy would come back and haunt my football team again.

[StillMill Profile]

I seriously wonder? I can't recall an offense as talented as ours this bad.

How many offenses w/ a QB as good as Ben have ever ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL? It can't be many.

Then consider we have Ward, Holmes, Miller, Parker, Moore, etc.

What's even worse is they have the best defense in the league helping them stay on the field, yet they still stink.

I have to think this ranks in the top 10 worst coaching jobs by an OC in NFL history. Tomlin has to take much of the blame for this, as he is the HC. Lebeau is running the same defense he always has. Tomlin is learning it from him. Arians is failing miserably. Tomlin has to bring in a new OC next year...if he has any balls at all, he'll make the change.

Well done....You spilled the beans on a thesis I've been kicking around for an article.....thanks!

Valid points you made.....and rest assured -- NO ONE, anywhere, has been more vocal for a longer period of time against Assfuk Arians than has Stillers.com

[El Nino Profile]

I feel our offense's biggest problems is inability to convert 3rd/4th and short. if we can fix this, we'd have a pretty good offense. There's games we've could have totally blown out the other team if we were just able to get those tough yards when it counts. Arians needs to realize we don't have bettis/faneca/kreider anymore, and our current personnel will not give us that power running game. Maybe it's time to embrace the fact we're a finesse offense.

[indysteel Profile]

Uh....I'll agree Arian's might have a screw lose and his play calls, at times, can be poor...

However, more than Arians (IMO) is the inability to execute. While it is hard to accept, the possibility that we simply don't have a great deal of TALENT needs to be considered. I'm not saying they are bad players, merely pointing out that we might not be as skilled as we think.
The degree of difference in professional sports is very small. Everyone is big, fast, strong, and talented.

Not everyone needs to be a "Prime Time" type player. On the other hand, you cannot argue the "O" has consistently and regularly struggled.

We've won despite the offense, not because of it. We've won despite the STs, not because of it. How much more and longer can we put the burden on the defense? I don't know.

Everyone will rush to BR7s defense; however, you have put him under the same level of scrutiny as the O-line. He really has not played that well this year but we keep making excuses for him because we simply do not want to admit / accept that he might not be playing that well (for whatever reason).

[Hagerstown Steelman Profile]

Don't misunderstand this post.

I am as hopeful as anyone that we have a new OC next year. Even with the injuries and line issues we have too much talent to be 25th-26th or whatever we are in the NFL on offense. Arians in my opinion is a flamming bag and needs to go.

However, a few things to consider:

1. The teams we play. Baltimore twice, philly, NYG, Wash, Cowgirls, JAX, Tenn (no played yet), SD, NE. None of these are slouches on D. Some better than others but none are Seattle or St. Louis either.

2. Weather comes into play a little. The cold and wind had an effect against Dallas and the rain against NE. In NE the defense made the offense look better with several short fields.

I do not expect us to be a 5-8 offense. We don't need to with our defense as we will sit on leads. However, there is no reason why we are not in the top half. Especially with the way Moore has filled in for Willie and Mendenhall.

I hope Arians get his head out of his Keister this weekend so he does not get Ben killed.

[madtowndrunkard Profile]

"execution" ....you can use that same excuse in Detroit and Cinci. But if it were just a matter of the players not executing then why do certain coaches always seen to find players that can execute...while others always seem to find players that can't? Those bad teams consistently get premium draft picks yet year after year they consistently suck.


This isn't just an issue of "execution" If it were one player that was causing the problem I could buy that....but everyone is in on the act. When players (plural) are consistently not executing the game plan then it's a failure of the coaching staff. It's the job of the coaching staff to get his players prepared so they can execute the plays. Our offense is clearly not prepared. We are making mental errors that you usually see in weeks 1 and 2.....not in week 14. How can players be running the wrong routes and QB's making the wrong reads at this point of the season?

Then there is the issue of playcalling. I've never seen playcalling this bad. As soon as we have success running the ball we start passing.....as soon as we have success passing we start running the ball. It's as if the OC is trying to keep our offense out of sync. Last week we started moving the ball on the ground w/ Moore...we get to about the 30 and start passing.

Yea Ben has not been good. I think his issues are mental. He's just not prepared. Your decision making is slower if you aren't sure about your reads...or you aren't sure of the play being called. Who's fault is that? I'd say Ben and the coaching staff. I'd say this has been Ben's worst year of his career. Maybe after signing that fat contract he put in less preparation?

As for suggesting we just don't have the talent... these guys have done it before. They aren't old and declining in most cases. Ben, Holmes, Miller, Parker, Moore, etc are in their primes. Ward is older but he's still playing at a high level. He's dropping balls on occasion - which he's never done before - but he's still playing at a high level. I have no doubt that this group of players is capable of more then what we are seeing. I can't believe anyone would think otherwise. At the very least we should be an offense ranked in the middle of the pack....not in the bottom 5 of the league. I mean think about that for a minute! It's absurd.

[mikeyg Profile]

MTD - you are spot on (BTW, I am a cast off also of 'that site' that was shut down)

There is PLENTY of talent / weapons on this offense - just no creativity or GAMEPLANNING.

If you were to go to war (which is what every Sunday is in the NFL), then you would map out a strategy to beat your opponent - find their weakness's and try to establish a strength of your own and exploit that. I am not sure WHAT BA does all week long.

Just practices the same failures, failured game plans each week? We started to adjust some for the Dolt's and Chargers, but fell over backwards last week.

Thank God this year for our great DEFENSE!

[isfry Profile]

I agree, MTD. I do think we have talent, and it's not being utilized, let alone maximized, which falls on the coaching staff. As for Ben, let's remember that his shoulder injury has made him miss alot of practice, which upsets timing. I, like many, am not quite ready to throw him under the bus, tho. Maybe I'm still starry-eyed from 15-1 rookie year and a sophomore SB ring, but I'm still a fan of Ben. It's Arians that has to go. period. In addition, as to Hagerstown's comment that...

"2. Weather comes into play a little. The cold and wind had an effect against Dallas and the rain against NE. In NE the defense made the offense look better with several short fields."

...you gotta be fucking kidding me. That's an excuse for a friggin dome team. NEVER FOR A TEAM FROM PITTSBURGH.

[Lake37 Profile]

Funny story -

Ya know how kids when playing pickup games will make a move while saying the name of their favorite player?

Like how when you make a good move toward the hoop, you'd say out loud, "Dr. J!" Or a great catch in baseball, "Roberto Clemente!"

Well, when I was a kid, for a couple of years I lived in Blacksburg Virginia. Home of Virginia Tech. We'd play pickup football games alla time.

When the QB would throw a wounded duck, we'd all yell "Bruce Arians!" and bust up laffin'

I think they lost nearly every game (save VMI, or William and Mary) and Bruce threw something like 3 TD's all year.

Never did I dream that guy would come back and haunt my football team again.

That is absolutely hilarious!!

[Jeemie Profile]

I seriously wonder? I can't recall an offense as talented as ours this bad.

How many offenses w/ a QB as good as Ben have ever ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL? It can't be many.

Then consider we have Ward, Holmes, Miller, Parker, Moore, etc.

What's even worse is they have the best defense in the league helping them stay on the field, yet they still stink.

I have to think this ranks in the top 10 worst coaching jobs by an OC in NFL history. Tomlin has to take much of the blame for this, as he is the HC. Lebeau is running the same defense he always has. Tomlin is learning it from him. Arians is failing miserably. Tomlin has to bring in a new OC next year...if he has any balls at all, he'll make the change.

Our offense is not as talented as you think it is.

Ben is...no question about that...but even he has his warts.

But the OL is shit.

Ward, bless his heart, can no longer get open except in soft zones. And did you know that he has more drops this year than Holmes and Washington COMBINED?

Holmes has regressed.

Washington has played well, and is the only one that can beat a jam, but he is still a number three.

Miller is not as good a TE as you think- he IS being used improperly still, but his blocking is for shit, and he's not as great a route-runner as everyone seems to think.

Spaeth has shown flashes, but HIS blocking, which was supposed to be his strength, has also sucked.

Sweed and Baker have been useless.

Parker is hurt.

Moore has been money, but even he is not an every down backer.

So the talent is not there.

That said, Arians has done little, if anything, to really help.

[Jeemie Profile]

Oh...and BTW...by the time the season is over, it is possible that we will have played the other 9 of the top 10 defenses in the league.

Every one of them.

As of now, we've played 6 of the other 9, as well as the Colts (12th) and the Jags (14th).

Steelers have faced a lot of good defenses this year.

[mikeyg Profile]

I seriously wonder? I can't recall an offense as talented as ours this bad.

How many offenses w/ a QB as good as Ben have ever ranked in the bottom 5 in the NFL? It can't be many.

Then consider we have Ward, Holmes, Miller, Parker, Moore, etc.

What's even worse is they have the best defense in the league helping them stay on the field, yet they still stink.

I have to think this ranks in the top 10 worst coaching jobs by an OC in NFL history. Tomlin has to take much of the blame for this, as he is the HC. Lebeau is running the same defense he always has. Tomlin is learning it from him. Arians is failing miserably. Tomlin has to bring in a new OC next year...if he has any balls at all, he'll make the change.

Our offense is not as talented as you think it is.

Ben is...no question about that...but even he has his warts.

But the OL is shit.

Ward, bless his heart, can no longer get open except in soft zones. And did you know that he has more drops this year than Holmes and Washington COMBINED?

Holmes has regressed.

Washington has played well, and is the only one that can beat a jam, but he is still a number three.

Miller is not as good a TE as you think- he IS being used improperly still, but his blocking is for shit, and he's not as great a route-runner as everyone seems to think.

Spaeth has shown flashes, but HIS blocking, which was supposed to be his strength, has also sucked.

Sweed and Baker have been useless.

Parker is hurt.

Moore has been money, but even he is not an every down backer.

So the talent is not there.

That said, Arians has done little, if anything, to really help.

I would agree with a couple of points: Holmes has regressed it appears, and Ward is slipping fast (bless his heart, as you say - one of my all time favorites, if not #1) I have stated many times that Sweed better not be a bust or we are in deep crapolla in the very near future at WR. The line - what to do about the OLINE??!?!

[Jeemie Profile]

I would agree with a couple of points: Holmes has regressed it appears, and Ward is slipping fast (bless his heart, as you say - one of my all time favorites, if not #1) I have stated many times that Sweed better not be a bust or we are in deep crapolla in the very near future at WR. The line - what to do about the OLINE??!?!

Yes- who would've thought signing Nate next year would become a PRIORITY?

Let me tell you, it broke my heart on the game-tying drive, when on one play Nate and Santonio went out on routes, and Hines stayed in to pass-block.

That told you everything you needed to know about Hines right there.

[catesinator Profile]

The Steelers don't have nearly the offensive talent many on this board think they have. Ben Roethlisberger is as good as any QB in the league but beyond that you have:

- an injured Willie Parker
- Mewelde Moore, who while he is a solid player, is NOT a feature running back in this league and not even the 2nd coming off Kevin Faulk
- a past his prime Hines Ward
- a receiver with a reputation of the dropsies in Nate Washington
- a receiver that to this point in his career has been all hype in Santonio Holmes
- a tight end in Heath Miller that is the most overrated blocking tight end in the league and who struggles to get open in the passing game
- an offensive line that has ZERO special players. At best you have Hartwig and Starks who could be considered average and the other 3 are below average

I'm sorry you don't lose 3 pro bowl caliber players in Hartings, Faneca and Marvel Smith and replace them with career backups and late round draft picks and get an equally talented offensive line. You don't lose you pro bowl running back to injuries and replace him with a career 3rd stringer and expect the same result. You don't expect your HOF wide receiver to continue to take the kind of punishment he does this late in his career and still produce the same numbers he was putting up in his prime.

The offense isn't going to be fixed this season. An infusion of good, young talent is needed all over the offensive line from next year's draft.

[indysteel Profile]

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying they don't have talent. What I am saying is that it is not likely as good as we think it is.

I agree with some of the other posts regarding the talent level.

And it IS ALL ABOUT EXECUTION. Coaches coach, and players play. Anyone who has ever managed a group of people can understand that.

Here is execution in action for you from Sunday:

1. Ben overthrowing / underthrowing his WRs or clanging the ball of of someone.

2. Miller constantly getting his ass moved about three yards into the backfield on running plays. The next time we go wide and it get's crushed (it has all season), look and see which dipshit is picking himself up off the ground.

3. The O-line falling down on all fours attempting to block (pick a lineman)

4. The missed tackles on the long run by the Dallas RB.

I could go on. It is about executing. An average team executing is likely a better team than a star studded team not executing. That explains why, in some years, the "better" team loses in the SB to a "weaker team." This explains why Al Davis / Dan Snyder cannot buy a SB ring.

I'll agree the coaches need to get them ready. However, on the other hand, THIS IS PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL. For crying out loud, if we have to have someone hold their dick to get them ready, we are all in trouble.

[Hoppy Profile]

I pray, it's not Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In the weekly poll question, there is no "yesterday" selection. C'mon Mill

[Steel Keeper Profile]

overreact/hyperbole much?

[DashRipRock Profile]

9-3 with a crap O line, average QB and no star WRs or RBs. Our offense is frustrating to watch, but we're doing ok. No way Arians is discussed as one of the worst coaches ever. I have no idea how bad he is.