We need to switch to passing attack

[NorthCoast]

Wrong. Ben was on pace for an MVP season because he was bailing out the offense on third & long all of the time, mostly because of atrocious play-calling on the first two downs.



We get it. You think the rest of the team is perfect and Ben is the only thing wrong with it. Ben is not the problem, no matter how badly you want him to be.

And so what happened to the 3rd down magic this season?? In the second half of the game, the Steelers averaged 3 yds to go on seven 3rd downs. The offense got how many first downs?? Zero!... Ben couldn't manage a single throw for a first down. That's the difference.

[birtikidis]

God i hate that bubble screen

[ikestops85]

God i hate that bubble screen

Me too ... I was hoping that play went away with Arians.

[Töm87]

Maybe we should at least play an offensive sheme that suits our quaterback. Spread offece out of the shotgun, that's how most snaps should look like.

[BlitzTo7]

And so what happened to the 3rd down magic this season?? In the second half of the game, the Steelers averaged 3 yds to go on seven 3rd downs. The offense got how many first downs?? Zero!... Ben couldn't manage a single throw for a first down. That's the difference.

Because no offense can live off its QB pulling a miracle out of his butt on every third & long.

[pfelix73]

"3rd down magic this season?" You make it sound like we're in week 14. We're only in week #1! Guys- lets give it a few more weeks before ya'll start jumping OFF the bandwagon.....

[phillyesq]

Maybe we should at least play an offensive sheme that suits our quaterback. Spread offece out of the shotgun, that's how most snaps should look like.

That may suit the QB, but not the WRs or the offensive line. Ben had little time, but couldn't get the ball out quickly. The Titans didn't particularly respect the WRs and the WRs did not make them pay. They need more separation more quickly.

[Chadman]

While the OL looked poor against the Titans, they looked no worse than last year or any of the previous 3-4 years. (Chadman secretly suspects that these guys might still turn out to be better than we expect). And the RB's were poor, no doubting that- but they were poor last year as well. They clearly miss a RB that can reliably hold the ball & get 3-4 yards most attempts. Maybe Bell is that guy? But for Chadman, the biggest deficiency in the Todd Haley offense/ Steelers roster combination is that they don't have a go-to WR. If you are going to play a dink-dunk, catch & run, short route, quick (quickish maybe) passing attack- you need a big, safe hands type WR that can get the ball in traffic, who isn't afraid to cross the middle, or get deep. They need a Larry Fitzgerald, or Dwayne Bowe... Plaxico Burress type WR. A guy Ben can do what Ben has always done- throw into coverage- and still be a strong chance of coming down with the ball. Antonio Brown is an overpaid slot WR, Sanders is yet to prove he's more than a back-up, Cotchery is a possession WR & Wheaton needs time, but looks to be a potential deep threat. Ben was always at his best (and sometimes worst) when he could lob it up & have a Burress, Ward or Wallace pluck it out of coverage & make a play. The current group don't offer him that luxury. The current group take 'the gambler' out of Ben. And then Ben holds the ball longer...waiting for WR's to get open...with an average at best OL...

[Keyplay1]

Truth be told, if the Arians offense would have been better in the redzone I don't think Art II could have fired him. Instead of changing everything, the offense should have just worked on its redzone play.

I am not so sure about that. Since 1992 TS have had 8 OC's. That is about a 2 1/2 yrs avg per OC. It was simply time for BA to go. The handling of it was not good [butchered] however. BA was here longer than any other OC [97-2011] since who knows when.

It seems folks are confusing TS presumed patience with HC's with all position coaches. That is not the case. Incidentally, TS had 4 different HC's in the 1960's.

[steelblood]

Yeah, Ben is awesome. One of the greatest Steelers of all time. But, he is not a master technician, and he is not a classic pocket passer. He doesn't always trust his first read. He likes to hold the ball and extend plays. It is what it is.