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

[StillMill Profile]

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

[tourosteelersfan Profile]

Mill,

Sometimes you are too critical in victory, but it's hard to take issue with your view of this game. Here was a chance to show some character (playing without Polamalu and Miller), step on the Jets' throat, and beat Rex Ryan, a loud-mouthed jagoff, if I may. Instead special teams surrenders the lead and momentum in the first 15 seconds, Ben R takes his usual time to get into the groove, and the defense can't hold the lead. Note that Ryan - a former Ravens coach - used the same playbook (short passes on first down, ball control) as the Ravens did in the first game of the year to move the ball effectively in the second half. The linebackers are critical to stopping this strategy, and for once your unrelenting assessment of Woodley seems valid. The most frustrating aspect of this year's team is that it plays up to two-thirds of the game effectively (the offense did move the ball, even without Miller and despite Spaeth's many drops; the defense only gave up 13 points, which should have been good enough for a win) but can't close. Last week I saw reason to be optimistic about the playoffs because of how the defense stepped up against the Bengals; this week, the glass is half empty because the Steelers still have too many flaws to be considered a truly elite team, even with so many other flawed team in the mix.

[Nashsteeler Profile]

As far as the wedge comment, it is legal for 2 players to form a wedge, just no more than 2. I kept trying to figure out what the fuck was going on with the refs' flags in the first quarter. I think there were 3 picked up? Just seemed like this crew was doing its first game or something. Weird officiating.

Fuck Rex Ryan.

[steelhitter Profile]

I think a D+ for Tomlin is being gracious. After the opening ST failure, he had to be the one to order the subsequent short kicks and I imagine telling the punt returner to stay away from the punt before their last drive, which--without indecision--the PR could have called a fair catch and saved them 20 yards. Tomlin gets an F-. The only player I heard afterward speaking regrettably after the game was Hines Ward. Can you believe Mundy and Spaeth said they though they had solid games. They both missed making what would have been game changing plays. What kind of "standard" does Tomlin promote to his players.

I'm not so hard on Lebeau, though maybe he could have designed something more to harrass Sanchez. There are plenty of defenders not executing: Woodley (at least get your hands up if you are going to just stick to the blocker), and there's no excuse for Timmons getting sucked and buried inside twice, and first rounder Ziggy, what does he do well? The defense did have to make a big play and they failed to do so, so Lebeau is partial responsible, but the players too.

Somebody please step up and demand excellence on this team (I hate Brady, but listen to what he says after the game).

[Pommah Profile]

I know why special teams on the Steelers always swoon in December.

Put yourself in the special teams player's shoes. You've been busting your hump all season, trying to prove your worth, trying to show the coaching staff you deserve some playing time, and it never fukkin' comes. You watch while linebackers whiff, DB's get tooled, D-lineman get blocked out, Tight ends miss blocks and drop passes, and you say to yourself, "WTF?" That guy never leaves the field? I'm calling my agent tomorrow."

And then you play not to get hurt, because clearly you can't play to get noticed and into the action.

[IronCity__Man Profile]

There is not a single o-coord in league that calls a handoff in the endzone except that idiot Arians. Why must we get called for illegal formation every game. This dude needs to go - we all know that.

Mill wakes up on Sunday morning and writes his Lebeau strikes before even watching the game - we all know that as well. When it mattered most the D stopped the Jets for 3 plays and out and gave BB over 2 minutes to score. Perhaps if three WRs were not being held on the last play we win with a TD reception.

[copeforpope Profile]

"Despite losing, the Steelers (10-4) were told by the NFL nearly an hour after the game ended that they secured a playoff spot via a series of complicated strength-of-schedule tiebreakers."

From ESPN. At least we're in and we play one of the worst NFL teams Thursday.

[rifraff Profile]

Special teams spots em 7 to start the game. Jets play hard. Spaeth is Spaeth. Mundy misses the easy sack, he needs to gather hisself more, haha, what u doing that after the play? Arians gets to call the play on our own 2yd line in the 4th, yep thats the one. BA thoughts: they will never guess I'll call this play because its utterly too dangerous, so thats how will fool-em, BA dec 2010. He tends to do this alot and as someone pointed out thats also the definition of insanity!

[rifraff Profile]

Oh and lets not forget the refs, thats about 5-6 weeks in row now were getting screwed.

[Tonydesal Profile]

The safety single-handedly ruined my weekend. Not only did it cost the Steelers the game, but it cost me the superbowl in my FFL.

Fuk you BA.

Fuk you and the horse you rode in on.

[jaybaileys Profile]

Guys I agree we could have gotten some calls, their db's were holding our guys on every friggin play the 2nd half it seemed. And Mendy on the out of bounds if that's Harrison its definitely a flag. But nobody is gonna feel bad for us, Ben is gonna get roughed and we are not gonna get those calls, it may not be fair but that's the way it is.
I agree Mendy should have gotten more touches, and the safety play call was idiotic. I also don't understand why we tried ONE long pass to Wallace the entire game. Why not take a shot or two late, maybe get a flag at worst or overthrow him. And at the end by the goal line,
Spaeth gets both passes? I heard Ben say he was throwing the first one to Sanders. Why not line the bunch formation to the left and let Ben lob one to Wallace on the right and see if he can make a play. Or look for 86. He was practically invisible that second half.
Special teams was wretched. What was the Jets worst field position maybe their 20 when this moron boomed one into the end zone? Field position for us was horrible most of the day. I know we are 10-4 but I dont get the warm and fuzzies, especially if we have to play a good team at home. Who's the best team we've beat at home this year besides Atlanta. That was a fluke, no way we hold them to 3 field goals if we play them again at this stage of the game. Not with how our defense is in their late season swoon again it seems.

[zapunto Profile]

I didn't even bother reading Mill's comments on the *players* -- I was satisfied about the level of hustle and effort that the Steelers' offense and defensive units -- played as a team. Could I nitpick about a play here and there? Sure. But shit happens...

That game can be squarely hung on the coaching staff:

• Offense -- hey Bruce, don't pull your guards on the goal line (who does that?) -- one play that cost us the game.
• Defense -- on the 4th and 1 play, always have a player assigned to the QB on a naked bootleg -- why did Harrison bite? He wouldn't have been able to make a play anyway...sad.
• Special Teams -- we're trotting out a new kicker and punter and you'd figure there'd a renewed focus on attention to detail here. But nooooo...the Steelers continually GAVE yards to the Jets in all four phases of kick and kick coverage.

Throw in the spearing hit by Clark, and the personal foul on Flozell, and you have a gigantic L on the back of Tomlin. If your units are undisciplined, your coordinators not held to a higher standard, your lack of attention to detail continually giving away cheap yards to the other team, and you're not rolling out any special packages to defeat quality opponents like the Jets did, what exactly are you doing during the week? Since the loss didn't affect our seeding, I'd like to call it a good loss. I know better. It's not like we'll take what we've learned from the game and make adjustments, or anything...

On the refs: If the NFL refuses to call jersey tugging and grabbing on a wide receiver, yet is quick to flag big, bone jarring hits in the secondary, here's a memo to Dick LeBeau: why bother playing zone anymore? The league has in essence, made a rule change that has made it EASIER to play man-to-man, and HARDER to play zone. Just my $0.02.

[StillMill Profile]

i update my article with rulebook info on KO wedges.

- On the opening KO, 2 NY blockers very clearly were holding hands and another blocker was (give or take a foot) 2 yards away, forming a WEDGE, which is supposed to be illegal this season. On kickoffs, a blocking wedge cannot consist of more than two players. If a third player (or more) is used, he needs to be a minimum of 2 yards away from the 2 man wedge. They blasted Key Fox and the massive hole was created. This was extremely close; no flag.

Zapunto makes a terrific point. If you cannot PUNISH WRs with your zone DBs, but you CAN clutch n' grab in man defense, then why play zone...??

[PGHeaven Profile]

As far as the wedge comment, it is legal for 2 players to form a wedge, just no more than 2. I kept trying to figure out what the fuck was going on with the refs' flags in the first quarter. I think there were 3 picked up? Just seemed like this crew was doing its first game or something. Weird officiating.

Fuck Rex Ryan.

here is the drill. If a Steeler opponent makes a big play, you pick up any flags thrown against them. When the Steeler receivers get raped, when Harrison gets mugges, when Ben gets clubbed in the head, you look the other way.

FUCK GOODELL FUCK ANDERSON!!!

[StillDodger Profile]

i update my article with rulebook info on KO wedges.

- On the opening KO, 2 NY blockers very clearly were holding hands and another blocker was (give or take a foot) 2 yards away, forming a WEDGE, which is supposed to be illegal this season. On kickoffs, a blocking wedge cannot consist of more than two players. If a third player (or more) is used, he needs to be a minimum of 2 yards away from the 2 man wedge. They blasted Key Fox and the massive hole was created. This was extremely close; no flag.

So based on the image below, this was an illegal wedge?

http://www.iabmed.com/images/JetsReturnWedge.jpg

Maybe so, but if you look at the second image, this looked like a return for touchdown from the get-go........ The coverage was so back up the field, it enabled the Jets to set up their blocks. Generally when the coverage is good, they already have run past the up line, which often results in penalties against the return team. It's as if the coverage was playing for the returner to come to them, instead of attacking the returner. This is in my opinion a result of putrid coaching.

http://www.iabmed.com/images/SteelersCoverageGap.jpg

Zapunto makes a terrific point. If you cannot PUNISH WRs with your zone DBs, but you CAN clutch n' grab in man defense, then why play zone...??

I agree too...... If the NFL wants to bar real football hits (I disagree about the Clark hit being a penalty), it should ban zone defenses.............

[tourosteelersfan Profile]

Two last thoughts: Steelers don't have the speed to play man to man, and I wouldn't want to rely on the refs to allow the secondary to bump and cover or whatever. Stay deep, Ryan Clark! Second thought: Hard Hat goes to Mike Wallace. Offensive line should merit consideration - seriously. Safety was on Arians, and coverage for Ben was better than it had been for a while.

[Rushmore Profile]

"Not with how our defense is in their late season swoon again it seems."?!??!?!

All evidence to the contrary, especially the past 5 games. Are you a sportswriter??

You expect the PS D responsible for every win? How about the offense winning one game, which they had the opportunity to w/ the JETS.

Can't spot a good play-off caliber team 9 points and ask the D to pitch a shut-out not matter your homer love & expectations.

-Rushmore