View topic - New Article: Stillers-Ravens Postgame Analysis and Grades

[StillMill Profile]

Stillers-Ravens Postgame Analysis and Grades has been posted by Still Mill at Stillers.com.

[ideasfarm Profile]

Just jumping out of lurk mode to say an excellent (and entertaining) read as usual. Dixon has real promise and he's one of the few who can hold their heads up after this game, even despite the INT.

Someone please post what Hines said about Ben, I missed it at this distance.

[tourosteelersfan Profile]

Mill, thanks for the quick post. Let me try glass half full here: Dixon played well enough to put the Steelers in a position to win - that verges on heroic under the circumstances (first start ever in Sunday night in Baltimore under must-win pressure). Give the kid a B. Mendenhall was tough - you are right that everyone knew what was coming when he got the ball, especially in the first half, but he had almost 100 yards and gave 100 percent. (By the way, he had a nice run after a reception in the second half.) I thought Timmons and even Woodley played well and the pass rush was strong at times. Still, this doesn't put the glass at half full. What should have been an inspiring win went down the tubes. There is no way that the defense should have allowed Flacco to pass his way out of a 3rd and 22 or a 4th and 5. Perhaps Lebeau is Benjamin Button and now is making the defensive calls with the intelligence of a six-year old. What had been comic - Farrior getting targeted on critical pass plays and failing to defend, leading to a beatdown in Mill's analysis - has become tragic. Arians insured the loss with poor playcalling in overtime; a roll out pass or a QB draw or an end around (or a fake end around, which resulted in the second TD) would have played to Dixon's strengths and perhaps avoided the interception that was due. 18 points - four field goals and a kick return TD - are the difference between 11-0 (fine, I'll split the difference, 9-2 or even 8-3) and a certain playoff spot and 6-5 and the rest of the season checking scores to see if the Steelers get the last wild-card spot. As was said last week, when a team makes the same mistakes week after week, the head coach gets the blame. What is needed after this week is not necessarily more intensity but better coaching - put Lebeau, Arians, and Tomlin in pads and see if that lifts their games.

[napnewman Profile]

Good analysis. Dixon did a good enough job for the Steelers to win.

I've never totally hated BA before - always felt Ben takes over enough in no huddle situations to give us a chance to win - BUT, in a game where BA was doing all the play calling, he totally sucked. I don't understand how Arians could have been so ignorant of the options he had with Dixon - especially in OT (Collinsworth was even calling for a designed rollout with a run option).

The defense continues to allow games to slip away - they couldn't even prevent the Raven's from converting on the last 3rd and 2 when the entire world new a run was coming. I agree with Mill regarding the need for a FS as a high draft pick - is there any hope for either of the 2 CB's drafted this year (Burnet and Lewis). Is anyone missing McFadden?

[ballhair Profile]

Great read as usual. Are the steelers losing games on purpose?

[acewhiplash Profile]

Excellent article, but you should dock Timmons a grade for his craptastic attempt at bringing Ray Rice down on that 4th down play. He launched his shoulder at Rice's back and deflected off of him when he easily could have wrapped him up from behind, limiting the gain to maybe 12 yards or so.

Clark displayed some crappy tackling in the game, actually retracting his arms on an open field hit.

I don't know why Miller is considered one of the best TEs in the game, all i've been struck by this year is how slow he is running after the catch. it was proably for the best for him to fall down in that situation.

[oldschoolhunkie Profile]

I can not even bring myself to read it right now. I already lost a night's sleep over that damn game.

[SteelPower Profile]

Damn, Mill that certainly excellent analysis and not any shorter than ususal when you got started. I am sure the anger over the loss kicks in and it becomes easy to keep writing. Too bad the coaches and players do not seem to get angry over a loss. Tomlin sould be embarassed my the abortion he is running.

[crusader Profile]

Well, i was impressed with Dixon. I truly thought we would get steam rolled, like we did a few years ago, by the ravens. I felt they would be like sharks with blood in the water. But it seams it was when they did not blitz that is when they got up at the END. So once again hats off to DIXON.

I know you gave timmons high marks, for the few plays he made, but i feel he is like kendrell bell. Fast, and strong. But i feel he hurts us against the pass and against the run. I still feel that Foote would have made a hell of a difference with this team with his solid play. He was not a pro bowl player, but just solid. And with that other people do not have to make up for timmons mistakes. And trust me i am sure "Taunto" misses him also.

Mr. Gay. This guy trys but he is no mcfadden. Every week teams are going after him. We truly need to up grade at his position. He is an okay back up. But not ready to start on this team. Know i don't know if it was his fault or Clarks fault. But that sh*t must stop. And yes i know when TROY gets back it will, but what was that RYAN. You said you want to punch the denver coach in the mouth. How about not worrying about what some other coach says about another team, and worry about loosing your JOB.

And the one play that i thought you missed. Which i thought was the turning point of the game. That was when our sorry excuse for a OC, calls that one roll our play to the right. On first down when we had the ball on the ravens 35. we would have been up by 3, if you just run the ball 3 times and kick the field goal. That would have been huge, for our green Qb. And it would have given us a 10 to 7 lead. But you call that roll out which was incomplete, then we get a 10 yard penalty. Which pushes us out of field goal range. And we end up punting.

Just think of how important that 3 points would have been at the end of the game.
I am starting to lose faith. We have to many stupid people on our team for us to win.

[Stillerfield Profile]

Great Analysis Mill

William Gay really lives up to his name through his play. He could be one of the worst CB's we have had in years.

If Tomlin wants to remain in Pittsburgh for the long haul he has to fire Bruce Arians immediately.

I think my favorite Mill term is titty jousting.

[deltadweller Profile]

I'm a little dissapointed with one comment. "Here are the 1st 3 Stiller picks in the ’10 draft -- FS, CB, CB. What no MLB??? lol

[Field General Ben Profile]

LEBEAU is the goat of this game. Should have been a 17-14 win.

[rifraff Profile]

Mill hits it home. The OC fails to call anymore plays that worked well prior, why? Its a problem of epic proportions and Tomlin doesnt seem to care. Ok, I understand Ben and him get along. But u have to ask yourself if the negatives are just too much! We have chance to actually win this game 4thQ, 3rd about 22, 2-3 mins left, if we stop em here. Ok sigh, it goes to 4th and 5 and we call for the keystone cops/3 stooges defense? Hollywood couldnt have scripted a more comedic act by defense on that play. Point made, defense lost this game. I didnt think we would have a snowballs chance in hell with Dixon in there, wrong we should have won!
The game in KC was a total disaster, slopfest and it took out QBs #1 and #2 as well, in final 3 mins of play.

[Uhh Profile]

Just jumping out of lurk mode to say an excellent (and entertaining) read as usual. Dixon has real promise and he's one of the few who can hold their heads up after this game, even despite the INT.

Someone please post what Hines said about Ben, I missed it at this distance.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-ron-cook1129,0,7245766.story

[SteelFanRob Profile]

Mill,

As usual, totally agree! BA is a joke. No Miller or Moore. I saw both open on plays that would have picked up good yardage if Dixon had just dumped the pass off to them. Where were the run-pass options or zone-reads from the shot-gun? DL is over-rated and has lost his touch. On the 4th down play at the end of the game, what is JF doing covering anyone 1 on 1? Why not zone blitz there to give JF some help underneath and make Joe Faggo have a harder throw to make? The Ratbirds DC seems to know the zone blitz better than its inventor! I'm growing sick of MT's press conferences. He's beginning to sound like Charlie Weis. All talk, no performance. I love his latest "unleash hell!" spin. Really?! The Stillers can unleash hell on command?! If so, why wait til now, when the team is 6-5 and desperate as hell, looking at the playoffs from the outside? This is BS from MT. It's the tough talk of a desperate coach of a desperate team. Period!

[Lambertville Profile]

Great Job as always Mill. First time I have been ticked off enough to post. Probably an indictment on me because there have been far too many similar games this season. Obviously, BA needs to go. I'm guessing he has some naked photos of Tomlin somewhere because his ineptitude is epic. The failure to use Dixon's most dangerous asset - his legs was utterly preposterous. How this guy still has a job amazes me. Too much good will still floating from the SB I guess. As for Dick, while I agree that the scheme was flawed but the players need to take the brunt of the criticism. Farrior is horrible, Gay belongs in the UFL and Clark is just not very talented. Those three alone have lost 2 games this season. I also agree that Ike played poorly, but he is what he is, a good 2nd corner not a lock-down guy. Unfortunately, I don't see any hope on the horizon. Taunto, Clark and Gay will be in there every week from here on out and probably cost the team another game unless BA beats them to it. This season had a chance to be something special and now it is an utter disappointment...

[dracula in cleats Profile]

Arians must go. There were moments I thought he put together a good game plan for Dixon and the offense...but he goes away from plays that work, or avoids plays that might work, like the plague as games progress...he is as responsible for our late game collapses as the D by getting them out onto the field too often. Our defensive cornerbacks looked really, really bad and the safetys and Farrier looked just about as bad (farrier looked worse maybe). We had some pressure, but overall our defense is not competing as hard or well as we should be. The tackling is so inept at times I just want to stop watching.

I was disapointed in Heath's flop on the screen pass...he just fell. Usually he runs better after catches.

Why not some designed running plays for Dixon? The Steelers have really wasted the talent they do have so far this year and the coaches have to take the blame. I really encourage Tomlin to get rid of Arians. Ben will be able to adjust to someone new and it may even add a couple years to his career.

[zapunto Profile]

Driven to post here after reading some of this stuff.

Personally, I would have blitzed Farrior on 4th and 5 and have Timmons cover Rice when he motioned out of the backfield. Instead, LeBeau thought that the reverse would have been a better assignment. It was sad watching Timmons pick up Heap on a faggot decoy drag route designed to isolate Farrior on Rice. Farrior had no chance. Thanks for the memories, kid.

If LeBeau truly feels Farrior can still execrably cover backs out of the backfield, then he needs to find new work

-c-

[Still CA Still Profile]

I watched Dixon torch teams w/regularity while playing in the Pac 10 and was thrilled when we picked him up for nothing. Last night showed America what this young guy can do if he gets some reps. Now, with Batch out, what are the odds that our village idiot OC will do nothing-abso-freakin'-loutly nothing-to put in a package featuring these skills? I'm watching the game at a Stiller bar in Orange County, CA and people are screaming-actually screaming-to run a play to get this kid out in space. This guy seems totally incapable of making any adjustments, exploting any advantage or doing anything to maxi,ize the talents of this team. He is horrible and Tomlin is worse for allowing it to go on.

[SoCal Stiller Profile]

My freakin throat is killing me week after week, not due to cheering on my beloved Stillers, but because of screaming "Fucking Arians" at my TV set! How is it that all of us can blatantly see all of this shit every single week but that assfuck keeps doing the same shit like a bad sequel to Groundhog Day??? Tomlin needs to seriously grow a pair and wrench this guys mellon in a vice.

On the other hand, Dixon played an outstanding game given the circumstances. Tomlin blew this one like a 10 cent whore by not announcing Dixon as a starter until the 11th hour, thus depriving him of valuable snaps with the 1st unit all week long and creating locker room controversy - total bullshit!

The saddest part of the game is the absolute wretched tackling by the defense. WTF happened to the team that was always known as the best tackling team in the league? Again, this is on Tomlin. At least Cowher had the sack to get in these guys faces and I can't remember a more piss poor season of missed tackles under his tenure! I don't necessarily blame Dick for the problems other than the fact that he has Taunto in there and he hasn't figured out a way to provide help to Gay. Farrior should be relegated to ST's or back-up at this point. When Troy returns, serious consideration needs to be given to Carter taking over for Flamin Gay. He has been utterly useless. I'm not sure if my stomach can handle watching this team anymore. For that matter, my liver can't hang either as I try to drink away my miseries.

P.S. I would bet my next paycheck that A-hole Arians will abandon the run when Ben returns. Those of you still living in the Burgh need to start marching around the facility with "Fire Arians" signs or something because while I enjoy ranting on this site - the Steeler's brass ain't hearing shit except for what they read in the watered down newspapers!