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- stiller4ever
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Pittsburgh Writers Get It...Right?
by stiller4ever » Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:57 am
I am not a huge fan of the Pittsburgh sports writers although after reading today's articles, I would have to give them some kudos for some spot on analysis. Examples:
Ron Cook -
"It can't keep going like this for Roethlisberger. He might be able to keep playing with his foot injury, but he won't last the season taking this kind of beating. He has been sacked 14 times in four games. He has been hit hard at least a dozen other times. Certainly, he could sue his linemen for lack of support."
"We definitely have to do better," Pouncey said. "But we'll be fine. I believe in every one of these guys. It all comes down to execution."
Hold the jokes, please.
As much as you might be tempted, don't say that you're all for the offensive line's execution.
You know the harsh truth.
You saw the game.
You know there's nothing funny about the line and its problems.
Collier -
"The larger truth might be this: The Steelers aren't 2-2 because they're not playing to their capabilities; they're 2-2 because they are."
And probably the most candid with truth, Smizik -
"Ben Roethlisberger has not played up to expectations this year. That’s a fact. It could be argued, and correctly so, that he is hampered by a poor offensive line. The Steelers -- that's Mike Tomlin, Bruce Arians and his offensive staff -- have to find a way around this. The Steelers have won before with sub-par offensive lines." - THIS IS RIGHT ON
"They have an elite quarterback with one of the rising stars in the league at wide receiver in Mike Wallace and another burgeoning star in Antonio Brown. They have depth with Hines Ward and Emmanuel Sanders and a solid tight end in Heath Miller.
They have to find a way to give Roethlisberger some time or have him throw more quick release routes.
As constituted, the Steelers offense is not strong. But it has its strengths, as long as Roethlisberger is healthy, and the team needs to feed off those strengths. "
I know I am regurgitating what most readers of this forum already have read. It is interesting to me though that, even though the execution of the players is what ultimately determines success or failure, you have to give them a fighting chance with a game plan. Tomlin, Arians and LeBeau have failed miserable in this early season to adjust to meet the strengths and weaknesses of the team that is on the field.
If I had gone into a coma when Arians first started calling plays years ago and just woke up yesterday, I would realize I didn't miss a thing or see anything new. "We" the fans acknowledge that everybody better get their asses in gear, adjust accordingly, and play some football. I don;t know if it's the injuries or age, but I have not seen the Steelers play this tentatively in a long time.
It pains me to say this but, if you want to see a team that has it together and makes the appropriate adjustments, watch the Ravens. If things keep going as is, we will have plenty of time to do so as they march through the playoffs.
Ron Cook -
"It can't keep going like this for Roethlisberger. He might be able to keep playing with his foot injury, but he won't last the season taking this kind of beating. He has been sacked 14 times in four games. He has been hit hard at least a dozen other times. Certainly, he could sue his linemen for lack of support."
"We definitely have to do better," Pouncey said. "But we'll be fine. I believe in every one of these guys. It all comes down to execution."
Hold the jokes, please.
As much as you might be tempted, don't say that you're all for the offensive line's execution.
You know the harsh truth.
You saw the game.
You know there's nothing funny about the line and its problems.
Collier -
"The larger truth might be this: The Steelers aren't 2-2 because they're not playing to their capabilities; they're 2-2 because they are."
And probably the most candid with truth, Smizik -
"Ben Roethlisberger has not played up to expectations this year. That’s a fact. It could be argued, and correctly so, that he is hampered by a poor offensive line. The Steelers -- that's Mike Tomlin, Bruce Arians and his offensive staff -- have to find a way around this. The Steelers have won before with sub-par offensive lines." - THIS IS RIGHT ON
"They have an elite quarterback with one of the rising stars in the league at wide receiver in Mike Wallace and another burgeoning star in Antonio Brown. They have depth with Hines Ward and Emmanuel Sanders and a solid tight end in Heath Miller.
They have to find a way to give Roethlisberger some time or have him throw more quick release routes.
As constituted, the Steelers offense is not strong. But it has its strengths, as long as Roethlisberger is healthy, and the team needs to feed off those strengths. "
I know I am regurgitating what most readers of this forum already have read. It is interesting to me though that, even though the execution of the players is what ultimately determines success or failure, you have to give them a fighting chance with a game plan. Tomlin, Arians and LeBeau have failed miserable in this early season to adjust to meet the strengths and weaknesses of the team that is on the field.
If I had gone into a coma when Arians first started calling plays years ago and just woke up yesterday, I would realize I didn't miss a thing or see anything new. "We" the fans acknowledge that everybody better get their asses in gear, adjust accordingly, and play some football. I don;t know if it's the injuries or age, but I have not seen the Steelers play this tentatively in a long time.
It pains me to say this but, if you want to see a team that has it together and makes the appropriate adjustments, watch the Ravens. If things keep going as is, we will have plenty of time to do so as they march through the playoffs.
Re: Pittsburgh Writers Get It...Right?
by relictele » Mon Oct 03, 2011 11:36 am
It's not just the Ravens, it's any other organization that does not:
-starve the line of talent by ignoring attrition, age, and injury/injury risk, especially for players that have a history of same
-whistle past the graveyard by relying on a big, strong QB to improvise on almost every down and take an insane amount of punishment each season
-refuse to change scheme or gameplan during the season due to ego, stubbornness, lack of foresight or lack of alternatives
-rely exclusively on the draft or 'We got a steal' players that are free agents, undrafted and desperate for a contract
It's wonderful that the writers can see the same things we see but they always seem to stop short of directly criticizing the GM and owners.
-starve the line of talent by ignoring attrition, age, and injury/injury risk, especially for players that have a history of same
-whistle past the graveyard by relying on a big, strong QB to improvise on almost every down and take an insane amount of punishment each season
-refuse to change scheme or gameplan during the season due to ego, stubbornness, lack of foresight or lack of alternatives
-rely exclusively on the draft or 'We got a steal' players that are free agents, undrafted and desperate for a contract
It's wonderful that the writers can see the same things we see but they always seem to stop short of directly criticizing the GM and owners.
- Steel Holiday
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Re: Pittsburgh Writers Get It...Right?
by Steel Holiday » Mon Oct 03, 2011 2:33 pm
Great post stiller4ever.
I don't see issues with the coaches not making proper adjustments......yet. Whatever strategies and philosophies this team chooses to utilize are fine with me, provided none of them lead to Big Ben getting IRed. During Mike Tomlin's time with the organization Pittsburgh has persevered through all types of challenges to be arguably the NFL's most successful team.
We all marvel at Roethlisberger's UNIQUE skill to shake off pass rushers, and then deliver the ball down the field. THAT is ALWAYS what has made #7 special as a quarter back/football player. Time and again throughout his career Big Ben has carried the team in critical situations with that ELITE ability. At this point in the season, because the Stillers can't run the ball, this is a football team relying to much on the heroics of Big Ben.
Currently #7 is being called upon to concoct entire games full of magic. That is opposed to the past where only a handful of amazing plays were needed to produce a victory in a close contest. As incredible as he has been, NO quarterback can consistently create an impressive passing onslaught without some kind of a short area attack. A short area attack in the Pittsburgh Stillers offense means a running game.
I'm not buying that this team is too old. It's early in the season, if anything is old right now it is how to attack the Stillers vaunted run defense. For the past 15 years an effective zone blocking scheme has been the Stillers' kryptonite. This weakness has nothing to do with the player's ages, but rather has EVERYTHING to do with opponents having an outstanding game plan, and the exceptional talent necessary to execute it.
The offensive line has allowed pass rushers to come at Roeth nearly his entire career. Unless he is continually forced to make an excessive amount of 'Roethlisberger elite skill plays' to move the chains, that area of concern shouldn't be reaching a new level. Where the water is rising is that BOTH the offensive and defensive lines are getting physically whipped up front in the running game. Plain and simple, NFL teams who get out hit are doomed to lose games. You have to run and stop the run.....Pittsburgh must get back to controlling the line of scrimmage. The Stillers will dominate the scoreboard when that happens.
I don't see issues with the coaches not making proper adjustments......yet. Whatever strategies and philosophies this team chooses to utilize are fine with me, provided none of them lead to Big Ben getting IRed. During Mike Tomlin's time with the organization Pittsburgh has persevered through all types of challenges to be arguably the NFL's most successful team.
We all marvel at Roethlisberger's UNIQUE skill to shake off pass rushers, and then deliver the ball down the field. THAT is ALWAYS what has made #7 special as a quarter back/football player. Time and again throughout his career Big Ben has carried the team in critical situations with that ELITE ability. At this point in the season, because the Stillers can't run the ball, this is a football team relying to much on the heroics of Big Ben.
Currently #7 is being called upon to concoct entire games full of magic. That is opposed to the past where only a handful of amazing plays were needed to produce a victory in a close contest. As incredible as he has been, NO quarterback can consistently create an impressive passing onslaught without some kind of a short area attack. A short area attack in the Pittsburgh Stillers offense means a running game.I'm not buying that this team is too old. It's early in the season, if anything is old right now it is how to attack the Stillers vaunted run defense. For the past 15 years an effective zone blocking scheme has been the Stillers' kryptonite. This weakness has nothing to do with the player's ages, but rather has EVERYTHING to do with opponents having an outstanding game plan, and the exceptional talent necessary to execute it.
The offensive line has allowed pass rushers to come at Roeth nearly his entire career. Unless he is continually forced to make an excessive amount of 'Roethlisberger elite skill plays' to move the chains, that area of concern shouldn't be reaching a new level. Where the water is rising is that BOTH the offensive and defensive lines are getting physically whipped up front in the running game. Plain and simple, NFL teams who get out hit are doomed to lose games. You have to run and stop the run.....Pittsburgh must get back to controlling the line of scrimmage. The Stillers will dominate the scoreboard when that happens.
Re: Pittsburgh Writers Get It...Right?
by Pommah » Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:41 pm
The pro game has evolved, and the Steelers have not evolved with it. This has happened to this franchise before.
A few years ago I wrote in this site saying "why is anybody bothering to run the ball?" Now its obvious nobody really is. Running the ball is what you do only when the D is too keyed on the passing game.
Our defensive philosophy is to stop the running game and force teams to pass, where mistakes are made. With the rules changes, mistakes in passing aren't as common as they once were. We're lining up to stop something nobody is doing anymore. Last year teams with elite QB's could slice through us with ease. Now even mid-tier QB's can do it.
Our offensive philosophy is to establish the run game and impose our will. That requires a top-tier O-line. Which needless to say we do not have.
We are fighting this war with the last war's philosophy. We have been able to get where we have with excellent player selection and retention, compared to most teams. Time has run out on that edge.
A few years ago I wrote in this site saying "why is anybody bothering to run the ball?" Now its obvious nobody really is. Running the ball is what you do only when the D is too keyed on the passing game.
Our defensive philosophy is to stop the running game and force teams to pass, where mistakes are made. With the rules changes, mistakes in passing aren't as common as they once were. We're lining up to stop something nobody is doing anymore. Last year teams with elite QB's could slice through us with ease. Now even mid-tier QB's can do it.
Our offensive philosophy is to establish the run game and impose our will. That requires a top-tier O-line. Which needless to say we do not have.
We are fighting this war with the last war's philosophy. We have been able to get where we have with excellent player selection and retention, compared to most teams. Time has run out on that edge.
Re: Pittsburgh Writers Get It...Right?
by steelwest » Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:10 am
Pommah:
I would tend to agree more if we had not just been gashed for 150 yards and the winning TD on the ground last week and had the same thing occur in week one versus the Ravens. The fact is that teams that cannot stop the run still have huge issues on D even if they can stop the pass some. This has been the Colts problem which has kept them from winning it all every year but one. It is also the same problem myriad teams have had.
The fact is defenses need to do both. They need to generate consistent pressure on the QB, which we are not doing right now. And they need to be able to stop the run -- not every play but well enough to get off the field when needed. We are not doing that either now.
The strike shortened preseason seems to have hurt several players who somehow were not prepared. Woodley is simply invisible. I watched Tampa play the Colts last night and the same running plays that Woodley is getting mauled on now, the Colts outside personnel are getting off blocks and making plays. Timmons is generally MIA. I saw him make two plays at the beginning last week and then I thought maybe he had been traded to another club.
The secondary while not strong is not really the problem yet. They do not really even get a chance to be exposed -- as we are losing so badly up front. Schematically, we still do not cover the TE unless we take Troy out of the game and have him do it. And the too old card is not really accurate either -- we played Ziggy at DE most of last year and were still no. 1 in stopping the run. We have Heyward now; so we are younger generally than we were last year. The problem is our guys (no matter their age: woodley is not too old, nor is Timmons) are not making plays. It goes back to Tomlin's mantra: our playmakers need to make plays. For example, it is not a problem with the scheme if Woodley and Troy are unblocked on a running play, but neither can make a tackle and it goes for a 45 yard TD. That is just bad execution and is on the players. Maybe Woodley, Timmons, etc. spent their off-season worrying about their contracts instead of doing that little extra lifting and running that gives them that split second of burst to make plays. It may be that simple. 
I would tend to agree more if we had not just been gashed for 150 yards and the winning TD on the ground last week and had the same thing occur in week one versus the Ravens. The fact is that teams that cannot stop the run still have huge issues on D even if they can stop the pass some. This has been the Colts problem which has kept them from winning it all every year but one. It is also the same problem myriad teams have had.
The fact is defenses need to do both. They need to generate consistent pressure on the QB, which we are not doing right now. And they need to be able to stop the run -- not every play but well enough to get off the field when needed. We are not doing that either now.
The strike shortened preseason seems to have hurt several players who somehow were not prepared. Woodley is simply invisible. I watched Tampa play the Colts last night and the same running plays that Woodley is getting mauled on now, the Colts outside personnel are getting off blocks and making plays. Timmons is generally MIA. I saw him make two plays at the beginning last week and then I thought maybe he had been traded to another club.
The secondary while not strong is not really the problem yet. They do not really even get a chance to be exposed -- as we are losing so badly up front. Schematically, we still do not cover the TE unless we take Troy out of the game and have him do it. And the too old card is not really accurate either -- we played Ziggy at DE most of last year and were still no. 1 in stopping the run. We have Heyward now; so we are younger generally than we were last year. The problem is our guys (no matter their age: woodley is not too old, nor is Timmons) are not making plays. It goes back to Tomlin's mantra: our playmakers need to make plays. For example, it is not a problem with the scheme if Woodley and Troy are unblocked on a running play, but neither can make a tackle and it goes for a 45 yard TD. That is just bad execution and is on the players. Maybe Woodley, Timmons, etc. spent their off-season worrying about their contracts instead of doing that little extra lifting and running that gives them that split second of burst to make plays. It may be that simple.
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