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

[StillMill Profile]

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

[Coke Oven Profile]

So, having said all of that, does this look like a championship quality team to you? I can't honestly say that it does to me.

[rifraff Profile]

What a barf-o-matic game. Very disturbing on some decisions by OC & HC as Mill stated?? Should have a poll on why the hell not take the penalty so cant try
a makeable FG? I swear the HC goes in too cheerleeding mode in the 4Q and tosses game management out the window? I'll start: 1) was afraid QB was going to run for first down? 2) He just made the last FG so no way he can make it 2 in a row, 3) The embarrassment of letting then make a first on 3rd & 27 would be to much to handle, then they score a TD and were behind

[2$TbleDnce Profile]

It hasn't looked 12-4 quality, but it is now.

In the playoffs anything can happen. Pittsburgh could just as easily if not more so make a run as anyone else.

Lawrence Timmons played well from what I saw. A sack, good coverage on a pass break up, and the tackle at the end of the game to keep the tight end in bounds and left the Browns out of scoring range. That tackle probably preserved the win.

[tourosteelersfan Profile]

Bill Simmons (ESPN) predicted on Friday that the Steelers would take a dive against the Browns. He was wrong but, with the benefit of hindsight, it would have been the right thing to do. (BS also predicted the Bengals would beat the Ravens. He was wrong about that as well.) Ben R needed this week off to rest the ankle and now he's not going to be able to have a full recovery - which is going to impair the offense. I feel bad for Mendenhall but honestly don't think his absence will make that much of a difference EXCEPT for the fact that he generally is a good receiver out of the backfield. The defense held yesterday, which was sufficient, but the weak pass rush is going to prove devastating if the Steelers beat Denver next Sunday.

The Steelers have been surprisingly consistent this year - only one resounding victory over a team seeded 4th or higher in the playoffs, generally disappointing play from the well-paid linebackers, and playing games too close far too often. Given the easy schedule, 12-4 was the floor for this team. Still, credit should be given where it is due: The Steelers have struggled with injuries but nevertheless won the games they were supposed to win. (Tomlin is better than Cowher in this regard.) After the weak 2-2 start, the team went 10-2; as has been noted before, with better defense on the last drive against the Ravens in the second meeting, the Steelers would probably be favored to go to the Super Bowl given the mediocrity of the AFC field. But it's hard to see that happening this year with such a banged-up team playing three in a row on the road.

[tourosteelersfan Profile]

Sorry for the double post.

[BGSUsteelers Profile]

Why play Ben? Um, why not? First off, you don't want Ben going into the playoffs not having played in 2, maybe 3 weeks if they ended up getting the #2 seed. The worst thing you can have going into the playoffs is rust, not bumps and bruises. Every player goes into the playoffs a little banged up. Second, there was still a chance to get the #2 seed, but the Steelers needed to win. Don't take any chances by playing Batch, who can do a nice job from time to time, but can also lay an egg too. And third, if you guys think a week or two is going to heal Ben's ankle, you're wrong. Even if they get bounced next week, his ankle won't be 100% till Spring. Him playing yesterday had little to no effect on the progression of his ankle.

[BGSUsteelers Profile]

Oh, and you're really going to put blame on Lebeau because they didn't shut out the Browns?!? HAhahahahahahahaha!!!!! I've been critical of him at times this year as well, but you're an absolute "fucktard" if you think he coached an awful game. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad by any means. They only gave up 9 points despite the offense turning the ball over 4 times between the the 40's! Wallace completed well under 50% of his passes, and the Browns for the most part were inept. You bitch at him for spying Wallace with Foote? Well who should have been on him? Timmons?!? Then Wallace would have completed a pass to whoever Foote was covering, and you would have been bitching about that like a 16 year old girl whose parents won't let her boyfriend spend the night. Oh, and bitching because the Browns completed a few passes? Really? Oh my God, stop the presses!!! The Browns completed a pass for 11 yards on the Steelers! What an "barf laden" coach. How dare he allow let that happen! How dare an NFL team get a first down or two on the Steelers. Fire them all! The sky is falling! You've turned into a joke along with this site Mill.

[StillDodger Profile]

The only gripe about Tomlin I agree with is not accepting the holding penalty. I would have rather seen an accepted penalty and then a 20 yard pass play than declining it and a long but makeable FG by Dawson.

Had the Stillers run the ball w 2 min left and gotten stopped, you would have accused Tomlin of "turtling"...... I personally had no problem with passing for the first down, even if it risked more time on the clock. I'd rather pass and possibly keep the "D" off the field. (Had Redman not fumbled twice, he might have run the ball in that situation.)

And Suisham is not reliable like Phil Dawson......... He is "Kris Miss" Brown reincarnate. The Stillers will need to get a new kicker for next season.

The reasons why this game was close were the fumbles and OC Arians calling too many long pass plays in wind conditions that made such plays very risque. Especially w Ben losing velocity on his throws due to the injury.

I also have to give kudos to my new favorite Steeler player, Antonio Brown. IMO he had made some plays that only a few elite receivers would have made. (He has some Larry Fitz in him.) Plays that were game changers, like the Cards game and the first Browns game. I think he's most responsible for why we won 12 games this season. (With Ben losing his velocity, Mike Wallace's deep threat has become non-existent.)

I've seen a lot of people write off the Broncos against the Steelers next week. But our speed on "D" scares me. I can also picture Tebow dragging Pola for 15 yards in which it would have otherwise been a great play on Pola's part with an just about any other QB. And a hampered Ben against the Broncs' "D" will be even less effective than against the Clowns' "D".

[StillMill Profile]

Thanks, BGSU, for exposing your complete ignorance here for all to see. Sometimes it's better to shut one's mouth and have others assume you're a fool, then to open it and remove all doubt.

The only joke around here is you. Now, run along .....I'm sure your momma is calling you for supper.

[ballhair Profile]

I agree with your take on this game. Tomlin should be embarrassed. One thing, when you said this about Mendy getting hurt. "Injured his knee at end of a wide 5-yard run late in the 1Q, when he tip-toed -- rather than powering with the 15+ yards worth of steam he had -- near the end of a run and then his cleat seemed to get caught in the grass turf"
I remember thinking at the time the same thing. Put your head down
and blast those defenders or go out of bounds. It looked like when he got right next to the sideline, he stopped for some reason and did his dance. He caused his own injury by dancing. What an ass hole. Our offense is anemic right now. We might get by Denver, but then the party's over.

[steelersfan051572 Profile]

I disagree Mill, BGSUsteelers is not the only joke around here. Although his delivery was poor, I agree with some of the points he tried to make. Some of the terminology such as "fucktard" and "barf laden" that are thrown around on this site make it hard to read and even harder to take your commentary seriously. It is unprofessional and juvenile. I also think the whole "sky is falling" thing is a fitting way to sum up at least part of your commentary.

[SteelTank Profile]

Dick has settled into a very passive defense that does not win games when they really count.

You'll see.

Besides, Mill quoted Abe Lincoln - that has to count for something.

[stillgrill Profile]

Dear BGSUSteelers - are you nuts re: playing Ben? He looked like a 3-legged dog vs SF & then proceeded to pitch 3 grossly underthrown INT's in a tight gm. Batch could've won that gm. Then, he hobbles out there vs Cleve & barely wins. Have you ever had an ankle injury? Believe me, it can improve greatly w/ time off & get you a little mobility. Ben could've had a month off now, & the Stillers would be so much better off now. Think Tomlin would've changed some things then from what he knows now???

[isfry Profile]

I couldn't agree more. I posted elsewhere on this site that I was at the SF game in person and couldnt believe they started Ben, given the way he hobbled onto the field. I thought for a second it was the old Jim Brown routine, where his ankle was really OK, and the limp would give the opposing team a false sense of confidence. No such luck. Ben should not have played that game, and our playoff hopes are SO MUCH slimmer with him not healthy. After Batch started the Saint Louey game I figured Tomlin had seen the light, accepted the likelihood of three road games in the PS, and wisely recognized that the Stillers' odds of doing that without a healthy BR7 were incredibly slim. Again, no such luck. Ben didn't need to start game 16 against the brownies, let alone throw 40 friggin passes. Dumb. We'll have to see how his ankle and mobility are now, without proper rest, against playoff caliber defenses. Nice work, Coach. Way to let your QB's competitive spirit grossly influence your decision making.

[2$TbleDnce Profile]

I'm with you BGSU, the Stillers had plenty to play for and needed to be playing to win in that situation.

Sure, other teams may have packed up their TPs and moved on given that a post season birth was already guaranteed. That just isn't Pittsburgh's style. I have to think Bradshaw would have forced his way into a rivalry game like that. If there is something to play for, competitors are going to emerge ready to play.

[isfry Profile]

Lets be honest. The Steelers-Brownies hasn't really been a rivalry since Bradshaw retired. We needed all sorts of help for our 5 seed to change, whether we won or not. This was a meaningless game with the realistic potential for only one thing: aggravating our star QB's already gimpy ankle and damaging our hopes of a playoff run, both of which happened. Don't get me wrong, I am a huge admirer of Ben's competitive spirit and his tough-guy attitude. I just think there is a point where the HC has to step in and overrule his players when they are making a decision based on emotion and drive that could deleteriously affect the team as a whole in the long run. This, to me, was one of those situations. I hope I'm wrong.

[2$TbleDnce Profile]

I can not, nor will I support the idea that Ben should have been out. Benji is one of the few tough guys alive in the PANSY, DAISY picking NFL. Sitting him for fear of injury doesn't set well with who or what I expect out of the Steelers quarterback.

Maybe it was a long shot to win the division, but I can't - in good conscience - say that I wanted to see Batch playing under any circumstances that didn't involve a 3 score Stillers lead.

Football measures physical and mental toughness. That's the nature of the game. Pittsburgh pulled out a tough win, and will be a better team rolling forward.

[isfry Profile]

Fair enough. Time will tell.

[pinpon Profile]

Thank you Mill for your work this year. I realize the dedication it takes to put something up every week. Keep up your work even though others disagree with it. I value an honest opinion and not some rehashed warmed over crap we get from the national and local media.

We probably win in Denver, but unless they all of a sudden start hitting on all cylinders that is probably the end of the line this year. I hope I am wrong!