View topic - conspiracy theory???

[1fourdathumb Profile]

I think the locker room is divided after the Ben not playing issue. think about it....how can our line give up 8 sacks to a second string clown team?? i really think the line wanted to teach Ben a lesson...maybe they're trying to teach him a lesson for not playing and holding the ball too long, no sacks for Dennis dixon..remember. I remember watching one replay where our tackle blatantly double teamed the nose guard when he had a man over him, letting him have a direct path at Ben on 3rd down...just didn't make sense. I don't know maybe it's a stretch but if next week there are no sacks it's going to make you wonder. I guess I'm running out of things to complain about but this will be it for me.

[kabbage Profile]

hate to burst your bubble, but plain and simple we suck ba11s right now.

[Coke Oven Profile]

I've always maintained that our ol, any ol for that matter, just won't block for someone that they don't respect.

[steelandblood Profile]

It's interesting that prior to the Dixon game, the line was showing more cohesion and, while far from the Redskins "Hogs" line that won some superbowls, they were improved as a unit. Hell, I found myself going entire halves without cursing Willie Colon. It's wild! Anyway, from that, to Ben sitting out to last week, maybe there is enough unrest that its the major factor in the players just not coming together enough to overcome adversity, whether self-generated or otherwise this season.

[Heartbreaker Profile]

Why didn't they let him get sacked last week against the Raiders?

What locker room issue/conspiracy theory was there last year when the Eagles sacked Ben 9 times?

Hasn't Ben been sacked more times than any QB in the last 3 years?

Face it, he holds onto the ball too long to make plays and there isn't one lineman on this team who could start on the really good offensive lines from the 1990's.

[steelhitter Profile]

Face it, he holds onto the ball too long to make plays and there isn't one lineman on this team who could start on the really good offensive lines from the 1990's.

There may be some discontent among players, but half or more of the sacks are on Ben. He should have been in the practice facility Friday and not come out to until next Saturday, practicing how to drop back with the ball at his ear ready to throw the ball, away or to a hot receiver. Have a few of his receivers there practicing with him and Tomlin there throwing blocking pads at him, like so many ferocious Cleveland Brown's defenders and Arians there blowing an air horn into BR's ear after two-three seconds (because BA blows) indicating when to get rid of the ball.

From all the reports and tv footage of Steelers practices I have seen, I have never heard or seen that Ben and the Steelers have ever emphasized practicing these QB skills. Very hard to believe considering 1) the number of sacks over the past 5 years of BR and 2) BR's history of injuries, especially head injuries. BR played under PTSD the 2006 season, clearly gun shy. He looked a bit that way against Cleveland Thursday night.

The coaches are to blame as much as Ben's complacency. Arians letting Ben have too much control over the offense--but Arians is pass happy, too. Tomlin, mainly, who when he came on in 2007 promised to be "blue collar" and win by attrition. But the Steelers started losing that identity that season. They cannot run the ball when they need to. Their big offensive lineman go backwards to pass protect instead of forward. They got rid of two back sets and the FB for the most part. Mostly they got rid of the mindset that we will smash you through attrition. Maybe in favor of accomodating a QB who wants to throw more.

If he wants to throw more, then he needs to practice the skills that Manning, Brady, Brees, Rivers demonstrate on a regular basis. Maybe Tomlin lost pursuing the identity of the Pittsburgh Steelers the day he met BR for dinner and was told boldly by BR that he would have to earn the respect of the players. Tomlin now has to turn that demand around on BR and tell him that if you want to be a good QB and pass more then you better start working harder on your skills.

[LambertoCincoOcho Profile]

Ben is a drama queen an he's playing under the big money contract. Hines is a veteran team leader and he stepped forward and spoke out. Was he speaking for others as well?
I strongly believe there is some animosity towards him in the locker room. The rape claims have obviously been a distraction. This rumor was also going around at the start of the season. I think I read it at Pro Football Weekly.