Tomlin had it covered...

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Does anyone really believe that Mike Tomlin is that poor at preparing this team for games that he doesn't have a backup plan for nearly every situation that may occur during a season? game?

If you do believe this, I would love to hear your reasons and read what facts you believe prove this out.

Pappy

I do. A 1 year defensive coordinator doesn't have a backup plan for the long snapper going down. It showed when Harrison drew straws with the rest of the team and was forced to try the snap. Tomlin is clearly trying to hide he doesn't have a clue.

As the article at the beginning of this thread indicated, Tomlin did have a backup plan for a long snapper and they practice it once a week. James Harrison simlpy air mailed the snap and was disgusted with himself for doing so. The look on his face said it all. Farrior is also part of the backup plan and that's why you believe they drew straws and Harrison lost. My guess is that Harrison stepped up to the plate and requested that he make the snap.

It didn't work out, that doesn't meant that there wasn't a plan in place.

Pappy

It's all flubber and a way for the team to protect their coach and the coach to protect his ass from the media. If you practice the snap don't tell me the first time you try it for real you "airmail" it over the punters head. That's why you practice it. Seems like a bit of a stretch for me.

Did he have a backup plan for an obviously injured punter? I don't think so. How many times do we have to watch Bulger make a punt and grab his hamstring before we realize he is a liability out there? Nobody on the team can make a measly 40 yard punt because that is all Bulger was getting into them anyway. Also, do we have a backup plan for a kick returner or do we not care about field position? If I have to watch the "dump truck" lumber to the 22 yard line waiting to be hit again I am going to scream. Let's dump his a s s and get a guy who is a threat to break it at anytime or at least get to the 40. Big difference between starting drives at the 40 then it is at your own 20. With this horrendous offensive line and a quarterback that doesn't understand the meaning of the word throw away we are asking alot to go 80 yards to score. But I am sure Tomlin has it all covered. (insert sarcasm)

The punter issue was addressed in the article as well: Jeff Reed is the backup punter and Hines Ward is the backup holder if Berger can't go. Berger's punts with the pulled hammy or quad were as good or better than the ones he punted healthy during the game, there's no reason to complain about that.

Airmailing the first long snap not done in practice isn't a stretch, crucial situation, prime time game, amped to begin with and he airmailed it, it happens. No reason to believe that Harrison isn't the emergency snapper.

Now, Davenport, that's a different story, I have to believe that Holmes will give this a shot again. I wish the Steelers had a better answer, but, they don't. Maybe, it's poor planning or maybe, it's not performing, not sure, but, you have to agree that the punts and kickoffs have been fielded without any problems and that's an upgrade from last year.Pappy

Agree 100%. This is the third year in a row that our return game has improved. We started with an inability to keep from fumbling, causing us (IIRC) to lose some games. Last year we had Rossum who was a HUGE stepup in that he at least held on to the ball. Trouble was it seemed he got nailed, or went laterally too often, and we got no yards. This year we have a guy (Dumptruck) who can catch the ball, and give us a pretty reliable 5-15 yards without fumbling.

Next year maybe we'll get a guy who's a threat to break the big one. But IMHO this part of our game is the least thing we should worry about now ...

[Ghost]

No team in the NFL carries multiple long snappers. It’s absurd to think other teams are doing anything different than what the Steelers did when forced into this unusual situation. They didn’t draw straws or flip coins. They used the player that had been practicing since camp opened in summer in case of an emergency. THE PLAYER screwed up – NOT THE COACH. Please, find one f@cking team in the entire NFL holding 2 spots for long snappers?

And while you’re at it please list all the teams that carry 2 punters? Actually don’t bother – its f@cking zero. Every team either uses their kicker who may have some punting experience or a position player that may have punted some time in his football career. To say Tomlin doesn’t have a plan is saying NO coach in the NFL has a plan. You make it through the game and go out and sign a new guy – huh…just as the Steelers did.

And the return game – there’s just so many guys sitting at home capable of taking it to the house. I mean all the Steelers coaches, front office, player personnel guys, scouts just purposely overlooked all of them and decided to bring Davenport back because they like how he gives then less of a chance to win.

I may not always love every decision the coaches makes (what fan does) but trying to blame things like not having a back up long snapper on the head coach shows an inability to be reasonable in your analysis as well as just looking stupid.

[stlrz d]

No team in the NFL carries multiple long snappers. It’s absurd to think other teams are doing anything different than what the Steelers did when forced into this unusual situation. They didn’t draw straws or flip coins. They used the player that had been practicing since camp opened in summer in case of an emergency. THE PLAYER screwed up – NOT THE COACH. Please, find one f@cking team in the entire NFL holding 2 spots for long snappers?

And while you’re at it please list all the teams that carry 2 punters? Actually don’t bother – its f@cking zero. Every team either uses their kicker who may have some punting experience or a position player that may have punted some time in his football career. To say Tomlin doesn’t have a plan is saying NO coach in the NFL has a plan. You make it through the game and go out and sign a new guy – huh…just as the Steelers did.

And the return game – there’s just so many guys sitting at home capable of taking it to the house. I mean all the Steelers coaches, front office, player personnel guys, scouts just purposely overlooked all of them and decided to bring Davenport back because they like how he gives then less of a chance to win.

I may not always love every decision the coaches makes (what fan does) but trying to blame things like not having a back up long snapper on the head coach shows an inability to be reasonable in your analysis as well as just looking stupid.

QFT!

[MeetJoeGreene]

No team in the NFL carries multiple long snappers. It’s absurd to think other teams are doing anything different than what the Steelers did when forced into this unusual situation. They didn’t draw straws or flip coins. They used the player that had been practicing since camp opened in summer in case of an emergency. THE PLAYER screwed up – NOT THE COACH. Please, find one f@cking team in the entire NFL holding 2 spots for long snappers?

And while you’re at it please list all the teams that carry 2 punters? Actually don’t bother – its f@cking zero. Every team either uses their kicker who may have some punting experience or a position player that may have punted some time in his football career. To say Tomlin doesn’t have a plan is saying NO coach in the NFL has a plan. You make it through the game and go out and sign a new guy – huh…just as the Steelers did.

And the return game – there’s just so many guys sitting at home capable of taking it to the house. I mean all the Steelers coaches, front office, player personnel guys, scouts just purposely overlooked all of them and decided to bring Davenport back because they like how he gives then less of a chance to win.

I may not always love every decision the coaches makes (what fan does) but trying to blame things like not having a back up long snapper on the head coach shows an inability to be reasonable in your analysis as well as just looking stupid.

You are missing the point. It has moved on from a matter of not being prepared to an accusation that Tomlin is outright lying about Harrison's preparation/etc.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

No team in the NFL carries multiple long snappers. It’s absurd to think other teams are doing anything different than what the Steelers did when forced into this unusual situation. They didn’t draw straws or flip coins. They used the player that had been practicing since camp opened in summer in case of an emergency. THE PLAYER screwed up – NOT THE COACH. Please, find one f@cking team in the entire NFL holding 2 spots for long snappers?

And while you’re at it please list all the teams that carry 2 punters? Actually don’t bother – its f@cking zero. Every team either uses their kicker who may have some punting experience or a position player that may have punted some time in his football career. To say Tomlin doesn’t have a plan is saying NO coach in the NFL has a plan. You make it through the game and go out and sign a new guy – huh…just as the Steelers did.

And the return game – there’s just so many guys sitting at home capable of taking it to the house. I mean all the Steelers coaches, front office, player personnel guys, scouts just purposely overlooked all of them and decided to bring Davenport back because they like how he gives then less of a chance to win.

I may not always love every decision the coaches makes (what fan does) but trying to blame things like not having a back up long snapper on the head coach shows an inability to be reasonable in your analysis as well as just looking stupid.

You are missing the point. It has moved on from a matter of not being prepared to an accusation that Tomlin is outright lying about Harrison's preparation/etc.

I didn't know that ... on what basis/for what reason (excluding wild-eyed fan speculation)?

[Jigawatts]

Harrison and Farrior are the backup long snappers. They practiced this, maybe not
enough, but they practiced this. Harrison snapped the ball out of the end zone, not
Tomlin.

[papillon]

Harrison and Farrior are the backup long snappers. They practiced this, maybe not
enough, but they practiced this. Harrison snapped the ball out of the end zone, not
Tomlin.

The only issue I have with the whole scenario is that maybe, the back up long snapper should be a backup at some other position. This would afford him more time to practice just for a such a moment. Using Harrison and Farrior as the backup long snapper limits the amount of time that they will be able to work on this technique, simply, because, they are starters.

Oh well, I really have no issues with what happened; it was unfortunate, but, wasn't the sole reason for loding the game. That was only one play out of 75 or so. There were offensive possessions after that one.

Pappy

[MeetJoeGreene]

No team in the NFL carries multiple long snappers. It’s absurd to think other teams are doing anything different than what the Steelers did when forced into this unusual situation. They didn’t draw straws or flip coins. They used the player that had been practicing since camp opened in summer in case of an emergency. THE PLAYER screwed up – NOT THE COACH. Please, find one f@cking team in the entire NFL holding 2 spots for long snappers?

And while you’re at it please list all the teams that carry 2 punters? Actually don’t bother – its f@cking zero. Every team either uses their kicker who may have some punting experience or a position player that may have punted some time in his football career. To say Tomlin doesn’t have a plan is saying NO coach in the NFL has a plan. You make it through the game and go out and sign a new guy – huh…just as the Steelers did.

And the return game – there’s just so many guys sitting at home capable of taking it to the house. I mean all the Steelers coaches, front office, player personnel guys, scouts just purposely overlooked all of them and decided to bring Davenport back because they like how he gives then less of a chance to win.

I may not always love every decision the coaches makes (what fan does) but trying to blame things like not having a back up long snapper on the head coach shows an inability to be reasonable in your analysis as well as just looking stupid.

You are missing the point. It has moved on from a matter of not being prepared to an accusation that Tomlin is outright lying about Harrison's preparation/etc.

I didn't know that ... on what basis/for what reason (excluding wild-eyed fan speculation)?

I have no friggin idea. But here is the line that makes me say that:

It's all flubber and a way for the team to protect their coach and the coach to protect his ass from the media. If you practice the snap don't tell me the first time you try it for real you "airmail" it over the punters head.

[Jigawatts]

Harrison and Farrior are the backup long snappers. They practiced this, maybe not
enough, but they practiced this. Harrison snapped the ball out of the end zone, not
Tomlin.

The only issue I have with the whole scenario is that maybe, the back up long snapper should be a backup at some other position.

Pappy

Exactly. A back up should be snapping some balls after EVERY practice. Not Harrison
or Farrior snapping every now and then.

[papillon]

Harrison and Farrior are the backup long snappers. They practiced this, maybe not
enough, but they practiced this. Harrison snapped the ball out of the end zone, not
Tomlin.

The only issue I have with the whole scenario is that maybe, the back up long snapper should be a backup at some other position.

Pappy

Exactly. A back up should be snapping some balls after EVERY practice. Not Harrison
or Farrior snapping every now and then.

Jig, I'm starting to think we share a brain, backup long snappers, Constitution party, etc. :P

Pappy