View topic - New Article: Follow-on Thoughts of the Raven loss

[StillersAdmin]

Follow-on Thoughts of the Raven loss has been posted by Guest at Stillers.com.

[steelhitter Profile]

Good points here.

On number 1: I too saw Miller in the flat after his chip block with a lot of room to run (if he would have run that is instead of taking a knee as he inexplicably did on the flat pass he caught earlier in the game). That would have been a key play if it indeed had gone for a first down at that point on the clock and field.

On number 2: I think the third and 22 might have been even more critical, but the fourth and 5 play was certainly key. With 3rd and 22 you got them right where you want them. With that down and distance you could rush many, hurry a throw and let them have something underneath for no more than ten yards. Giving up 17 is egregious there. After the second down penalty Al Michaels wondered out loud if the Steelers should have taken the penalty; I wondered too with a 3rd and 10 or so coming up. But after Keisel stopped an attempted screen for a loss, they showed they made the right choice. A great defense has you dead in the water with a 3rd and 22 with only four minutes to go. The fourth down play was a good play by Baltimore, putting Rice in motion and seeing Farrior having man coverage on him. The play shouldn't have gone for 40+ yards, but it was going to be good for the first down. Farrior just cannot cover anymore.

The coaching staff has to be experiencing a dilemma with Farrior. They have to see him flailing trying to cover backs out of the backfield (especially in crical situations--last night and the two Cincy games); you couldn't miss that on film. But he's the defensive captain, calls the plays, is a veteran and they are stuck.

The field goal at the end of the game is another dilemma. A coach cannot challenge under two minutes, so Tomlin would have had to stop the clock in order to make his point. I am not sure they want to do that and allow Baltimore to get a clean play off, even if it is a 5-7 yard longer field goal or a hail mary pass. Refs missed that badly.

I think you are on to something with your final point -- the leagues recent attention to concussions had to have factored in to both the Steelers and the Cards situations. The timing of the decision to not play Ben was what bothered me the most. Hines probably should not have said it publicly but as he alluded to at that point in the week if you felt fine up to then, then quit dramatizing your injury and prepare for battle. But with a defensive stop with 3-4 minutes to go in regulation, it wouldn't have mattered who was playing QB.

[mckeesrockstheburg Profile]

Count me OFF the LeBeau hoop-dee-doo backslap hallelujah wagon. 3rd and 22, with a rival, fighting for division, and you go soft? We ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS give up 1 long drive at a critical stage of the game. Ratbird opening drive was pitiful. I had high hopes for Wm Gay but, holy cow, he is 12 yds off his man. No wonder they complete key plays to his side way too much. Ike plays with his back to the ball way too much.

Farrior covering a back? What is THAT all about? I am shocked at Miller taking a dive. That killed me.

DD deserves a game ball. His talent could have won that game. MT and Arians contained him, NOT Balt. 2nd & 6 in OT and he doesn't get a rollout option? With his speed? With his athleticism? With his proof of ability from earlier runs? In case we forget, that pass didn't work so we tried ANOTHER downfield, damn the 1st down! Anyone remember any "out" patterns other than the 1 to Wallace that was misssed? A flat to Moore and Mendy worked earlier as well. Surely a rollout with a pass-run option with DD's ability is worth 6 yds. Arians is such a problem. Surely Rooney's and MT have to see this.

Mendy, bless him, ran hard. Found some room outside a few times but boy, we sure stopped that nonsense. Can't be having too much success so let's just run him right into the phone booth 20 times or so just because we can. I say play for draft position now. Need linemen, kicker, and a safety to replace Clark.

[steelhitter Profile]

Yes, Mendy played hard. Especially impressive as everyone on the planet knew he was getting the ball on first and second down.

Ugh, I can't think of the draft yet. I'm frustrated as hell, but I love Steeler football too much to quit until the bitter end. I'll go to the sports bar in Titanstown here to watch the Steelers-Raiders Sunday and take it from these f-ckers here who actually think their team is going to win out and make the playoffs. I hope to come home for Xmas and get some tickets for what better be WWIII with the Ravens. All hands on deck for that show--that means you Roth and Pola!

[StillDodger Profile]

I agree, the killer play was more the 3rd and 22 than the 4th and 5....... We hold this to under 15 yards, and the Ratbirds probably punt.......... (They actually set up to punt initially on 4th and 5.)

This leads to the next question- Was Tomlin's success last season more a product of the previous (Cowher) regime?? Next season will be the answer to that question.....................

[rifraff Profile]

Yep all key points in the loss. Tomlin looks pissed now, lets see if he can right the ship in Dec. DEF needs a swift kick in the ass. He's got a real easy start next 2 games.

[mckeesrockstheburg Profile]

WE HAVE ARIANS. NOTHING WILL BE EASY FROM HERE ON OUT. THERE IS BLOOD IN THE WATER AND WE HAVE ARIANS.

MT NEEDS TO GET THE CLIPBOARD OUT HIS HANDS. There is too much potential for ball control offense and clutch players in this offense and ARIANS is the killer.

Gosh, I couldn't stand him as QB coach and then when Wiz left and he got the gig, I told anyone who would listen, this guy is a college, at best, level coach. What did he do at Temple or anywhere he went? Other than Kelly Holcomb's 60 minutes of fame (400+ passing yds) against US, no less!

Broncos game, great. But he learns NOTHING from success or failure. He has no interest in moving the chains. If he did, we wouldn't see MeMo running wide (KC), we would have had DD using his God-given gifts to create options for the O to move the ball. No, we make him a statue and have him throw deep in his 1st game. Remember when Ben came in for Maddox? Slow, methodical, high % stuff was his diet. DD should have been allowed to move and create. What I saw, I loved the guy. Do you think Bruce would use him in a "wildcat" formation. QB draws, reverses with a pass option?

Yeah, right, me neither. Gosh, such a waste of talented people.

[kurtostill Profile]

WE HAVE ARIANS. NOTHING WILL BE EASY FROM HERE ON OUT. THERE IS BLOOD IN THE WATER AND WE HAVE ARIANS.

MT NEEDS TO GET THE CLIPBOARD OUT HIS HANDS. There is too much potential for ball control offense and clutch players in this offense and ARIANS is the killer.

Gosh, I couldn't stand him as QB coach and then when Wiz left and he got the gig, I told anyone who would listen, this guy is a college, at best, level coach. What did he do at Temple or anywhere he went? Other than Kelly Holcomb's 60 minutes of fame (400+ passing yds) against US, no less!

Broncos game, great. But he learns NOTHING from success or failure. He has no interest in moving the chains. If he did, we wouldn't see MeMo running wide (KC), we would have had DD using his God-given gifts to create options for the O to move the ball. No, we make him a statue and have him throw deep in his 1st game. Remember when Ben came in for Maddox? Slow, methodical, high % stuff was his diet. DD should have been allowed to move and create. What I saw, I loved the guy. Do you think Bruce would use him in a "wildcat" formation. QB draws, reverses with a pass option?

Yeah, right, me neither. Gosh, such a waste of talented people.

McKeesrocks, I couldn't agree more with everything you said. Bunghole Arians is a witless moron and he will waste every bit of talent on this team before he is through. Sometimes I think his motto is "if it works, we better fix it, right away". He makes Whisenhunt look like a damn mensa high master. I mean for god sakes, what's wrong with utilizing the individual player's talents. I'm sure there are no NFL rules against it, really.

[JimPgh1 Profile]

Well, if there's a problem with the OC and even the DC now, it's on Tomlin to deal with it.

How many abortions in critical play-calling is Arians allowed to make before he gets fired?

[mckeesrockstheburg Profile]

Thanks for the support, kurtostill. Read my post at "dixon can't hit receivers" as well. You're right, if it works, we must stop it. If there's a weakness in opposing "D", we can't exploit it. Just wouldn't be right.

Gosh, I'd love to see DD get more PT. I truly believe he could make some DC's cringe having to prepare for Ben and him. I know, 1 game is no resume, but criminy, we all saw some of his raw ability. He is a rough cut now but with some gametime and quality practice reps, he would learn to hit the guys down field (Wallace streaking), find open check downs (Miller in flat), sense when to run, etc. Truthfully, they had no sacks on him that I recall. Once game 'slows down" for him, he'll find 2nd & 3rd options quicker and O-Line won't need to hold blocks as long as with Ben. The man is quick and, I believe, elusive.

I still feel the same with Sweed. There is talent there, it needs honed and developed, NOT forgotten about.

Defense? Timmons needs to be on the backs, not Farrior but then we lose LT's rush. I am shocked we haven't lost much if anything in Run-D with Smith out. Keisel & Co have stepped up big time. Anyone not agree?

[stillgrill Profile]

3 things drove me nutz about the Crows game: Why very few plays to utilize Dixon's legs. WTF was Farrior picked to defend Rice (would it have been Troy?). WTF was Ike Taylor doing all nite? He seemed so distracted.

[ballhair Profile]

Agree, Arians is incompetent. Why is he still with the team? Who's fault is that?