View topic - Bruce Spikeface Arians

[SteelLloyd95 Profile]

Hello, I have been an avid stiller.com reader, but never posted. I hope my first post is received well...

An issue which has bothered me, but has no been sufficiently covered here (other than by Still Mill) is the new offensive scheme to use the SPIKE as an "organizational tool".

Let us chronicle the use of the spike in recent games (to the best of my recollection):
1. Ben first uses the spike in the Ravens game to stop the clock following a 1st down catch (bringing the Steelers within striking distance) with about a minute left in the game.
COMMENT: I was upset but figured Ben had made a mental error, not realizing the time left on the clock to organize the next play. The ensuing Holmes TD catch also lessened my anger.
2. Ben spikes the ball in Titans game at the end of 1st half following a Ward catch/fumble, ALTHOUGH A TIMEOUT WAS LEFT ON THE BOARD. Results in a missed Reed FG.
COMMENT: At first was outraged, but then heard a plausible explanation. Maybe it was done to avoid a review of the Ward catch, thereby forcing a longer field goal. Nevertheless, it seemed unlikely that Ben could have realized this in the heat of moment. I am nevertheless perturbed. Ben is deserving of new nickname "SPIKE".
3. Against Browns, LEFTWICH (NOT BEN!!!) spikes ball following 1st down and clock running with more than 1 min left around the 20 yard line!!! AND WE HAD ONE (TWO?) TIMEOUTS LEFT! Again, this idiocy is coverup by the following Leftwich TD scramble.
COMMENTS: This shows the pure idiocy of Bruce Arians. It had not ben Big Ben (who is only a victim of the spike) who instigated the spike fest. This was all part of an Arians "STRATEGY". Arians defenders have claimed that this is good because: A) it "calms" things down B) it gets new personnel on the field.

There are many reasons why this strategy is no such thing, but merely a way that Arians can conceal his inability to manage an offense without having time to ponder. I question whether Arians possibly is dyslexic or has a learning disability and thus cannot call a play on the spot. In response to defense of spiking A) Calming things down is the last thing you want when you have a team backing up to their own endzone. By spiking, they can regroup and get their new personnel on the field. B) By spiking the ball, you lose A DOWN. A DOWN=AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THE FOOTBALL. Thus, it does not matter what "personnel" you have available. Run a QB sneak for all I care. It gains more yards than a SPIKE. Futhermore, you only lose at most 15 seconds in running out new personnel with the clock running. And also if you are concerned about losing time, YOU CALL A TIMEOUT!

I am sorry, but the new spike strategy is so pathetically stupid that I cannot believe it has gone unscrutinized by the media.

Although I like Tomlin, I have lost respect for him in that he has not told Arians how foolish the use of the spike is. This may not have hurt us in the regular season, but in the playoffs, we deserve to lose the spike fest continues.

[Coke Oven Profile]

"Although I like Tomlin, I have lost respect for him in that he has not told Arians how foolish the use of the spike is. This may not have hurt us in the regular season, but in the playoffs, we deserve to lose the spike fest continues."

Is it possible that Tomlin cannot get rid of the sob and is giving him enough rope to hang himself? I hope that's what we're seeing.

[SteelLloyd95 Profile]

Possibly, but that would be foolish for a head coach to endanger the team's season for the purpose of making the OC "hang himself". Thanks for the response though.

[GodfatherofSoul Profile]

"Although I like Tomlin, I have lost respect for him in that he has not told Arians how foolish the use of the spike is. This may not have hurt us in the regular season, but in the playoffs, we deserve to lose the spike fest continues."

Is it possible that Tomlin cannot get rid of the sob and is giving him enough rope to hang himself? I hope that's what we're seeing.

No one is going to dump a coordinator in the middle of a season so stop bitching about it! The OC does more than send in plays during the game. A team couldn't handle the titanic shift of a new OC coming in and changing the practice regime. Maybe he'd lose play calling duties, but Tomlin wasn't an OC so that won't happen either.

NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO ARIANS UNTIL THE OFF SEASON!

[BigE Profile]

I have to agree with the Godfather on this one. If you look back at 2007, Ben had his finest season stat wise, 32 td's and only 11 picks. Also, if Parker would not have broken his leg he would have led the NFL in rushing. To add to that, the Steelers started strong yet again this season, so in no way can you fire an OC midway through the season, but there are reports that Tomlin is very frustrated with the offensive play calling and like Godfather said, you can't fire him now. But, I believe that Arians will be gone after the season.

[Hagerstown Steelman Profile]

I agree Arians has not shown any imagination this year on offense and has way under utilized the talent that we have.

What does everyone think of some of these questions because I don't know how many of them play a role in the offensive decline.

1. Is Ben still calling the protections? If so how often is he calling the wrong protection?

2. How often does Ben audible out of what has been called.

3. How much do we blame the QB coach and OL coach?


This is not to let Arians off the hook or to be too hard on Ben. We will probably never know since the Steelers deal with these types of items internally and not in the median (aka Dallas).

Let me know your thoughts.

[SteelLloyd95 Profile]

Godfather, nowhere did I suggest that we fire Arians mid-season. At the same time this does not mean that he is somehow above criticism and control from his head coach. Tomlin does not need to fire Arians to end the spike fest. He merely has to assert his authority.

[WoodsonOfSteel Profile]

Welcome Sir Lloyd.

I appreciate your enthusiasm although I'm not really sure if the choice of spiking the ball in aforementioned situations is really a big deal. I say this as I wasn't at all bothered by it.

I'd go as far to say that I'd be spiking the ball too.

I'uno. That's why they play the game... So we have something to bitch about.

[prowlin Profile]

This is the first season I have noticed at least 2 spikes by the Steelers that made absolutely no sense at all. At least in a "common sense" sort of way. I'm sure they were two of the three aforementioned above. I have also not seen worse play calling since the late 80's on the Steelers sideline. This shit is ridiculous. I have no idea why Arians is still a member of this immaculate team. I will not hold my breath he will get canned but I sure as hell hope so.

[jstallworth82 Profile]

"Although I like Tomlin, I have lost respect for him in that he has not told Arians how foolish the use of the spike is. This may not have hurt us in the regular season, but in the playoffs, we deserve to lose the spike fest continues."

Is it possible that Tomlin cannot get rid of the sob and is giving him enough rope to hang himself? I hope that's what we're seeing.

No one is going to dump a coordinator in the middle of a season so stop bitching about it! The OC does more than send in plays during the game. A team couldn't handle the titanic shift of a new OC coming in and changing the practice regime. Maybe he'd lose play calling duties, but Tomlin wasn't an OC so that won't happen either.

NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO ARIANS UNTIL THE OFF SEASON!

Nothing will happen after the season unless we loose to San Diego. If we beat San Diego and then win the AFCCG Arians will stay as long as he wants. Tomlin has no balls It is what it is.He takes no responsbility for the offensive blunders. It was Tomlin and Arians that allowed Ben to pick the plays he wanted. It was Tomlin and Arians that gave him more control of what plays he ran. It is Tomlin and Arians who tie Andersons hands because they know that Ben is too stupid to listen to anyone and thinks he knows it all. The only ways Arians is gone after this year are 1 If Benji says to fire him That aint happening, 2. If Tomlin wakes up and realizes Arians is as dumb as he is , 3 We loose horribly against the Bolts, or if Arians gets a HC job hopefully in Cleveland. So get used to him He is what he ises says Popeye Tomlin

[shawnlucas Profile]

if Arians gets a HC job hopefully in Cleveland

Sorry, Mangina beat him to that one.