The OL isn't the biggest problem on offense. The OL isn't playing up to par yet and hopefully as the chemistry develops it will improve. If the 5 that took the field last night stay healthy and develop they will be fine. The ONLY tweek I would do right now is cut Wallace and bring in Starks. I don't believe Wallace's salary is guaranteed. Adams & Gilbert need a PUSH and I would find the best combination at OT out of the Adams, Gilbert, & Starks. The loser is active with Beachum and put Whimper in street clothes where he belongs.
The biggest problem on offense is play calling, TE play, and Cotchery being the #3. A LB or S on Cotchery??? Are you kidding me? Nobody could recognize that on the sideline that the Bengals had ZERO fear of covering Cotchery & Paulson with LBs or a S. How do you expect to thin on the box when 11 personnel doesn't draw nickel. If Paulson is on the field, it has to be Wheaton as the #3. When Miller gets back healthy, MAYBE Cotchery can see some #3 but the personnel groupings are making things easy on the DCs.
The OL has to get better but they aren't the save all or blame all. Bicknell & his scheme hasn't made them better. The OL isn't generating the DC's gameplans...It's Haley's system and two guys named Paulson & Cotchery that are making life easy on the DCs. When 11 personnel doesn't draw at nickel...There is a problem. Both the Bengals & Titans attacked it. The Steelers can't run against it because Paulson draws a LB in coverage and he can't block the run blitz. So trotting a 3rd WR on the field that doesn't get rid of a LB is counter productive. Paulson inline is walking up the S and the run blitz is coming.
The Steelers have NO outs right now. They have an OT as their #2 TE and their #1 TE can't set the edge. There is a reason they didn't run an outside zone run. When BB went hurry up to keep them in base...You look for the TE and #3 mismatch. How did the Bengals counter it? They blitzed because the could cover behind with a LB & S on Paulson & Cotchery and took away BB's quick reads off the blitz. Man up single high. When Wallace & Miller were "those guys" they drew at least nickel & sometimes dime with Cover 2 over the Top. Miller needs to get healthy ASAP and Wheaton needs to get on the field to walk off a LB. If Wheaton draws nickel they may have a shot with Paulson until Miller gets back. I expect to see much improvement which will trickle to the run game just when Miller gets healthy & Wheaton is the #3. No need to argue the point. It will be answered on the field once it happens.
Last edited by JUST-PLAIN-NASTY; 09-17-2013 at 10:44 AM.
If Ben doesn't overthrow some of those passes (especially the long 3rd down to a wide open Cotchery), the same result could have been obtained...
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