Haley deserves a ton of credit..... and some blame

[feltdizz]

I can admit I was a Bell fanatic and understood why he got all the touches but it was a huge mistake.

We put all our eggs in the Bell basket and we can't let that happen next year. We have to keep a legit 2nd RB and keep him involved in the O.

Haley also need to dial up some real plays for Archer. In chat people kept saying Dri sucks after a 6 yard gain. Just get him the ball 6 to 8 times a game in space, he gets positive yards damn near every time he touches the ball.

Not much of a fan of a top 5 offense who kicks fgs and cant get it done when a RB gors down.

[BowCatShot]

You gotta hand it to Tomlin, LeBeau, and Haley. They certainly do know how to lose a game when they're supposed to.

[feltdizz]

You gotta hand it to Tomlin, LeBeau, and Haley. They certainly do know how to lose a game when they're supposed to.

I knew the O would struggle without Bell...

DL and his 3rd and long D screwed us as well...

Tomlin shouldn't have let Troy start...

[Slapstick]

Dri scored a TD. Unfortunately, Beachum brought it back.

Some people have just decided that they don't like Archer.

[7 UP]

Cant blame Haley for the RB situation. Steelers needed to address RB depth as soon as they released Blount. At the very least they should have signed Tate 2 weeks ago when he was released by Min. They waited until Bell got hurt to make a move and it was too late. Thats on Tomlin / Colbert, not Haley. No way Harris was going to steal touches from Bell.

I hated the Dri Archer draft pick on draft day. I still hate the Dri Archer draft pick. I hate when hes in the game. I hate when he touches the ball. Maybe if they had drafted a legit back, and not a smurf last Spring we arent having this conversation.

[buccoray61]

Archer has a long,long way to go. He plays like he's scared to death.

[feltdizz]

Haley is partially to blame for this...

even when Peterson was in beast mode the #2 RB got 6 to 10 touches a game. Bell is a monster but you need 2 RB's in this league.

Not sure why everyone hates Archer.. that pick has Haley all over it.

[Slapstick]

Dri Archer made two mistakes: He's small and he was not immediately a superstar.

[Oviedo]

Dri scored a TD. Unfortunately, Beachum brought it back.

Some people have just decided that they don't like Archer.
Archer deserves one more year. He needs to get stronger...maybe he can push Jarvis Jones.

I think the problem is Haley never figured out exactly how to use him and I don't think Ben had confidence. If you watch the plays when Archer played, Archer was open tons for short dump offs but Ben felt better going other directions.

IMO Archer has to develop into a punt returner if he is to stay on the team. Too many kicks go out of the end zone so a kick returner specialist is almost a waste now.

[papillon]

Dri Archer made two mistakes: He's small and he was not immediately a superstar.

:Bow:Bow

Pappy

[Snatch98]

Dri scored a TD. Unfortunately, Beachum brought it back.

Some people have just decided that they don't like Archer.

Some people decide a lot of things out of either sheer emotions or flat out stupidity around here. I agree and also agree that when he touches the ball its usually for positive yardage, at least through the air.

[Snatch98]

Archer deserves one more year. He needs to get stronger...maybe he can push Jarvis Jones.

I think the problem is Haley never figured out exactly how to use him and I don't think Ben had confidence. If you watch the plays when Archer played, Archer was open tons for short dump offs but Ben felt better going other directions.

IMO Archer has to develop into a punt returner if he is to stay on the team. Too many kicks go out of the end zone so a kick returner specialist is almost a waste now.

He's a roooookiiieeeee. *sigh*

[Slapstick]

Some people decide a lot of things out of either sheer emotions or flat out stupidity around here. I agree and also agree that when he touches the ball its usually for positive yardage, at least through the air.

He only had 10 carries, but averaged 4.0 YpC...

[buccoray61]

Brown getting 4 touches in the first 3 quarters is mind boggling.

[hawaiiansteel]

Alex Kozora @Alex_Kozora -

Steelers red zone offense (scoring TDs) the last four weeks.

4/12 - 33%.

https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora

[NJ-STEELER]

its got to be a little disappointing that archer, drafted for his return abilities, couldnt take over one of the jobs.

that said, he isnt nearly as disappoiting as nsome of our high defensive picks in recent years

[MrGreeneJeans]

After last night and that game plan? Todd Haley deserves a kick in the teeth.

Then fired.

[hawaiiansteel]

After last night and that game plan? Todd Haley deserves a kick in the teeth.

Then fired.

what's up Crash? :Cheers

[Ghost]

I'm sure I'll get slammed but I don't understand the love for Archer. When he was drafted both Colbert and Tomlin specifically called out his special teams abilities (you can find it on Google) as the reason he was taken in the third. He was so terrible at kick returns that a 250 lb plodder was a better option. And he never did anything with punt returns.

And then he was adding so little value to the team he was deactivated on game day for the second half of the season, only returning when Bell went down. He may be fast, and yes, I understand he's a rookie and may "get it" next season, but he was not good this year and the team did not miss him at all when he didn't dress.

Maybe it's on the coaches to find a way to utilize him properly but if they can't (or won't) then he's taking up a needed roster spot.

[Oviedo]

I'm sure I'll get slammed but I don't understand the love for Archer. When he was drafted both Colbert and Tomlin specifically called out his special teams abilities (you can find it on Google) as the reason he was taken in the third. He was so terrible at kick returns that a 250 lb plodder was a better option. And he never did anything with punt returns.

And then he was adding so little value to the team he was deactivated on game day for the second half of the season, only returning when Bell went down. He may be fast, and yes, I understand he's a rookie and may "get it" next season, but he was not good this year and the team did not miss him at all when he didn't dress.

Maybe it's on the coaches to find a way to utilize him properly but if they can't (or won't) then he's taking up a needed roster spot.

I don't think he gets excessive love but we don't know what he is yet. I think he enters the off season on notice. If he can't develop into a good punt returner he has no value because being kick returner is almost meaningless now with so many kicks being touchbacks. IMO he needs to light up the 2015 preseason or cut him.

[Slapstick]

Or, perhaps if they threw to him more and didn't hold when he scored...

[feltdizz]

Or, perhaps if they threw to him more and didn't hold when he scored...

Archer has been open a lot in the flat when he isn't the first option...

[Ghost]

Archer has been open a lot in the flat when he isn't the first option...

He was also never covered when he was standing on the sidelines not active because the Steelers coaching staff didn't believe he was worth giving a helmet to for the bulk of the season.

Here's hoping he can figure out how to be a ST contributed in the offseason and the coaches can find ways to take advantage of his straight ahead speed.

[fezziwig]

I don't understand how Steeler fans always believe the next season, or season to come will be the answer to these draft picks and especially the high draft picks. I do understand practice makes perfect but Archer, he's a joke of a high draft pick or at any pick. Fast doesn't make spectacular just like big doesn't mean bad. This pick has Tomlin all over it. For some reason Tomlin thinks he can add some terrific return guy to special teams and he has not come through yet. I see guys like Archer and others on the field so the coaches can say to the Rooneys, " see, we knew what we were doing when singing him. " Archer can shake hands with our someday linebackers we have on this team. Someday after so many seasons, so many contract and dollars they, will have a decent game or half season and they'll show us. This staff does better by mistake than by design.

[NJ-STEELER]

I wouldnt call a comp pick in the end of the 3rd round a 'high pick'

[RuthlessBurgher]

Archer deserves one more year. He needs to get stronger.

Archer put up 225 lbs. 20 times at the combine. Keep in mind that he is lifting more than 50 lbs. greater than his own weight at the time (173 lbs.). For comparison's sake, the 6'7" 323 lbs. Mike Adams put up 225 lbs. 19 times at his combine.

[feltdizz]

He was also never covered when he was standing on the sidelines not active because the Steelers coaching staff didn't believe he was worth giving a helmet to for the bulk of the season.

Here's hoping he can figure out how to be a ST contributed in the offseason and the coaches can find ways to take advantage of his straight ahead speed.

I bet you thought it was cute when you wrote it but it makes no damn sense. When he is active and open in the flat, how about throwing him the ball?

[feltdizz]

I don't understand how Steeler fans always believe the next season, or season to come will be the answer to these draft picks and especially the high draft picks. I do understand practice makes perfect but Archer, he's a joke of a high draft pick or at any pick. Fast doesn't make spectacular just like big doesn't mean bad. This pick has Tomlin all over it. For some reason Tomlin thinks he can add some terrific return guy to special teams and he has not come through yet. I see guys like Archer and others on the field so the coaches can say to the Rooneys, " see, we knew what we were doing when singing him. " Archer can shake hands with our someday linebackers we have on this team. Someday after so many seasons, so many contract and dollars they, will have a decent game or half season and they'll show us. This staff does better by mistake than by design.

ehh, damn near everyone on here said the Archer pick was the perfect player for Haley's offense. We all waited for Haley to design a few plays for him but it seemed like the only time we put him in the game was for his little play and everyone knew he was getting the ball.

Even Ben said they needed to get Archer on the field more as a decoy so the D wouldn't T off on him.

[bostonsteeler]

I bet you thought it was cute when you wrote it but it makes no damn sense. When he is active and open in the flat, how about throwing him the ball?

I looked through some of the replays. The cameras tee in on the QB and the targeted WR, so I didn't manage to get a good idea of how frequently Dri was actually free and ignored.

Do we have numbers?

[Slapstick]

I looked through some of the replays. The cameras tee in on the QB and the targeted WR, so I didn't manage to get a good idea of how frequently Dri was actually free and ignored.

Do we have numbers?

No exact numbers, per se. Just an anecdotal account from a poster who attended the game in person:


You guys watching on TV wouldn't have seen it, but there were at least 3 occasions where Archer took off around the LT and was WIDE OPEN. Ben never saw him as he was looking the other way. 1 instance there was no Raven within 30 yards + of him. Almost like the Ravens decided not to play against him and put a 2nd defender on someone else. Baffling.. I was yelling every time I saw this....

[feltdizz]

I looked through some of the replays. The cameras tee in on the QB and the targeted WR, so I didn't manage to get a good idea of how frequently Dri was actually free and ignored.

Do we have numbers?

pfelix was at the game...

and Dri skated into the endzone with ease when he finally got the ball in space.

[Slapstick]

Incidentally, the observation that pfelix made was probably made by the Ravens as well...they might have figured out by observing Ben's tendencies that he wouldn't even look left in certain situations...or wouldn't look at Archer...

[Ghost]

Archer lost return duties to Blount and then Wheaton. He was never in contention to return punts. Was contributing nothing on ST starting early in the year. He's not a capable blocker. He's certainly not a #2 back in any sort of fashion and never will be. In fact the Steelers staff thought so little of him against the Bengals they only dressed 2 RBs and the second was an undrafted kid just of the practice squad - they thought that was a better option.

If you only bring him out on only trick/gimmick plays then the whole world knows its coming and it's a failure. He hasn't shown the hands to be a "go-to" down field guy. If given the choice on passing downs - would you rather Bell be out there or Archer. It's a no-brainer, you simply can't take snaps away from Bell for this kid. What role does he fill?

[feltdizz]

Archer lost return duties to Blount and then Wheaton. He was never in contention to return punts. Was contributing nothing on ST starting early in the year. He's not a capable blocker. He's certainly not a #2 back in any sort of fashion and never will be. In fact the Steelers staff thought so little of him against the Bengals they only dressed 2 RBs and the second was an undrafted kid just of the practice squad - they thought that was a better option.

If you only bring him out on only trick/gimmick plays then the whole world knows its coming and it's a failure. He hasn't shown the hands to be a "go-to" down field guy. If given the choice on passing downs - would you rather Bell be out there or Archer. It's a no-brainer, you simply can't take snaps away from Bell for this kid. What role does he fill?

Antonio Brown only played in 8 games his first year.

I think it's way too early to start talking about why the team has no faith in him.

[Ghost]

For the year he had 7 catches for 23 yards (3.3 average). One of those was for 15 yards. That means the other 6 catches went for 8 yards total (1.3 average). One could catch the ball at the line of scrimmage, immediately fall down, and have a better average than that.

What role do you see him filling? Would you pull Bell off the field to put him on? Or would you use him in 2 back sets with Bell? Do you think it's important for him to add to ST play?

Bryant is a good example - didn't dress at first. Rumored he was struggling with the playbook. But as the season wore on, he worked himself onto the roster and then became their rookie of the year and showed incredible progress and endless possibilities. Archer is the exact opposite. He regressed to the point of being replaced in ST situations to not even dressing after they cut one of the RBs.

[Slapstick]

He could fulfill the role of the guy who gets open AND get the ball thrown to him. That would be a change.

[feltdizz]

For the year he had 7 catches for 23 yards (3.3 average). One of those was for 15 yards. That means the other 6 catches went for 8 yards total (1.3 average). One could catch the ball at the line of scrimmage, immediately fall down, and have a better average than that.

What role do you see him filling? Would you pull Bell off the field to put him on? Or would you use him in 2 back sets with Bell? Do you think it's important for him to add to ST play?

Bryant is a good example - didn't dress at first. Rumored he was struggling with the playbook. But as the season wore on, he worked himself onto the roster and then became their rookie of the year and showed incredible progress and endless possibilities. Archer is the exact opposite. He regressed to the point of being replaced in ST situations to not even dressing after they cut one of the RBs.

I would definitely use Bell and Archer in a 2 back set and I would definitely pull Bell off the field to use him more often. Even Adrian Peterson had to rest for a few plays or a series.. I know Bell is a beast but it's a long season. I was one of those guys who didn't want Bell to come off the field and it bit us in the azz. I don't want to head into another postseason with Archer having limited touches.

I don't think Archer is a legit #2 but he is a hybrid who can be used in pass and 2 RB sets to keep the D on it's toes.

The reason a lot of Arhers passes went for no gain is because we all knew he was getting the ball and every pass was lateral.. how about splitting him out on a LB on a 7 yard out like Ray Rice used to do?

We didn't even try to create a mismatch with him... idiotic IMO. We just threw him in there and said "dazzle us with your speed"




you have to put him on the field as a decoy if you want to utilize his speed.

I think he gets another shot at returning kicks as well.