View topic - New Article: Loose Slag from The Still Mill

[StillMill Profile]

Loose Slag from The Still Mill has been posted by Still Mill at Stillers.com.

[StillCanadian Profile YIM]

It seems that everytime Still posts I happen to be online. The analysis is spot on (like always). Arians please run the ball and Dick get mad, hungry, aggressive.....remember those days?

[smheart78 Profile]

- I wrote this after the Cinci loss in Week 3, and I believe it holds even truer today: What really disturbs me beyond the loss itself is the fact they are losing to mediocre teams. Further, you beat divisional rivals like the Browns & Bungals and you send them into a tailspin of second-guessing, finger-pointing, coach-firings and rebuilding. I have a feeling that if the Steelers had beaten Cinci, Lewis would be gone by season's end and the housecleaning would begin, setting them back by another 5 years. The truth is that every team in the league has real talent -- even Detroit! -- but learning to win is difficult and some teams never figure it out. By letting Cinci win the Stillers are letting the Bengals learn how to be men and progress as a team.

[BigE Profile]

What Arians said about the last drive was the biggest bullshit I have ever heard. Did he not watch the Sup Bowl last year, the Stillers had pretty far to go to score there as well. The no-huddle should have been used, which keeps Bruce the dumbass away from any playcalling.

[deltadweller Profile]

The 2-TE offense -- which is essentially the base offense of Airhead Arians -- is built upon the premise that the 2nd TE will created matchup problems in both the passing and running games. And therein lies the problem. Spaeth is a wretched, horrific, weak-kneed, pile o’ shit blocker at the POA (point of attack). Slow as he is, he has some redeeming value as a pass catcher, but Arians, in a paradox only he could create, rarely ever involves Spaeth in the passing game unless Heath Miller is out due to injury. Big Matthew has 4 grabs in 9 games this season; 17 in 16 games last season; and 5 in 14 games in ’07. In essence, then, he’s good for, at most, 1 catch per game. In this latest debacle, he caught 1 ball for 1 yard. So alas, you have a 2nd TE who can’t block and is rarely ever used in the passing game.

I totally agree. I love the concept of the 2 TE set, but you have to use the 2nd TE. If they're not capable of threatening a defense then what's the use? Line up in an unbalanced line like teams have used against us or use a fullback.

[kurtostill Profile]

The 2-TE offense -- which is essentially the base offense of Airhead Arians -- is built upon the premise that the 2nd TE will created matchup problems in both the passing and running games. And therein lies the problem. Spaeth is a wretched, horrific, weak-kneed, pile o’ shit blocker at the POA (point of attack). Slow as he is, he has some redeeming value as a pass catcher, but Arians, in a paradox only he could create, rarely ever involves Spaeth in the passing game unless Heath Miller is out due to injury. Big Matthew has 4 grabs in 9 games this season; 17 in 16 games last season; and 5 in 14 games in ’07. In essence, then, he’s good for, at most, 1 catch per game. In this latest debacle, he caught 1 ball for 1 yard. So alas, you have a 2nd TE who can’t block and is rarely ever used in the passing game.

I totally agree. I love the concept of the 2 TE set, but you have to use the 2nd TE. If they're not capable of threatening a defense then what's the use? Line up in an unbalanced line like teams have used against us or use a fullback.

I have said this before but it comes down to the unfortunate fact that Bruce Arians has no clue how to utilize the talent he has. Examples:
Spaeth is a receiving tight end, not a blocking tight end, so why does Arians use him like a lineman?
FWP is a tailback known for his speed, not his power, so why did Arians send him up the middle against 300+ pound linemen 20 times a game? (Astoundingly, FWP ends up with injury problems)
The answer to these questions is that Arians is an absolute idiot that has no business being an offensive coordinator for Mon Valley high school let alone the Stillers. He doesn’t have an innovative bone in his body and when something is working, count on Bruce abandoning it altogether. When will we ever see the end of this imbecile?

[kurtostill Profile]

This is completely off the subject but why is Ed Bouchette such a douche bag - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09321/1014190-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml. I have to say that I am incredibly grateful that Stillers.com exists and provides meaningful, interesting, intelligent, and insightful commentary.
Why do you all even have a link to Ed Douchette’s chat on your sight?
Just felt the need to point this out, sorry for the tangent.

[oldschoolhunkie Profile]

Mill, I love ragging on you, but I can not disagree with a single point you made. This is right on.

[SamoanFury Profile]

This is completely off the subject but why is Ed Bouchette such a douche bag - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09321/1014190-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml.

I have to say that I am incredibly grateful that Stillers.com exists and provides meaningful, interesting, intelligent, and insightful commentary.

When the hell did that start?!?!

[StillMill Profile]

This is completely off the subject but why is Ed Bouchette such a douche bag - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09321/1014190-66.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml.

I have to say that I am incredibly grateful that Stillers.com exists and provides meaningful, interesting, intelligent, and insightful commentary.

When the hell did that start?!?!

March, 1999. Over 10 years ago.

[Wooderson Profile]

Nail on the head, Mill. I don't want to be too reactionary, but at this point I don't think I am. We lost 3 games to 2 inferior teams. The fawning over the Bungals this week is driving me crazy (Peter King, you are a colossal idiot-if you heard him on Sirius NFL radio this week you know what I'm talking about). I am very concerned about our head coach. He has not gotten this team ready to play on a consistent basis during his tenure. I understand the game this past weekend was after an emotional Monday night game out west, but please, we see the Bungals twice a year, played them just a few weeks ago. The team came out flat and without hunger. Given our schedule and the schedule of our opponent, this was in no exaggeration for the the division title, for cripes sake.

Mill hit it, the play calling on the last drive was pathetic - you take what the defense gives you, and you only call low percentage plays when you absolutely have to. We had LOADS of time and a time out. Anyway, the point is that it is ultimately Tomlin's responsibility to get the guys fired up and make sure we are employing the correct strategy, at all times, in all three phases of the game.

I am wondering if Tomlin has what it takes to lead a roster, where almost all of the players have at least one ring, to the next level of greatness. Or is he simply0 a decent coach that inherited a SB caliber roster, with a pretty good DC?