"Tomlin Needs To Be Applauded For Decision To Start Russell Wilson"

[NorthCoast]

So your argument is now that Wilson looks better than Fields because Wilson can audible at the line, which is something we didn't even let Ben do?

Also worth noting that we also saw Kenny making doing things at the line which looked much like things Russ was doing. I'd imagine that if we look through the tape, Fields was as well...but I don't specifically remember it being pointed out so I could be wrong.

It's hard for me to keep the narrative straight here...I just know that it's Tomlin's fault.

I actually believe the Batch claim that Roethlisberger was denied audibles. Haley's first season, they wanted Roethlisberger to change the way he was playing the game after BA was getting him sacked at career record rates. The only way to do that would be to get the HC and OC to agree that audibles would be banned. And the offense and the QB ended up better for it.

[WindyCitySteel]

I actually believe the Batch claim that Roethlisberger was denied audibles. Haley's first season, they wanted Roethlisberger to change the way he was playing the game after BA was getting him sacked at career record rates. The only way to do that would be to get the HC and OC to agree that audibles would be banned. And the offense and the QB ended up better for it.

Was it the lack of freedom that improved the offense or Bell and AB in their primes? No way of knowing if it would have been worse if Ben was allowed to change plays.

[Northern_Blitz]

I actually believe the Batch claim that Roethlisberger was denied audibles. Haley's first season, they wanted Roethlisberger to change the way he was playing the game after BA was getting him sacked at career record rates. The only way to do that would be to get the HC and OC to agree that audibles would be banned. And the offense and the QB ended up better for it.

I think they may have limited this, but I think it's a pretty big stretch to say that it was "denied" to him IMO.

I don't believe it every time Ben talks about how he just drew that one up in the dirt in the huddle. But it seems pretty clear to me that Ben "was allowed" to do this under ever OC he had (in part because I'm sure it was impossible to actually stop him from doing it).

But it makes a lot of sense to not have him do that early IMO.

Because despite how amazing Ben was, he is 100% a guy that can lose the game for you in the first half.

Because he never met a risk he didn't think was worth taking (I'll say "on the football field" here).

I think the way to manage a very high variance player like Ben is to try to limit the number of crazy risks he takes so that he's only taking them "when necessary".

[LPMAN]

Somebody failed history.

https://x.com/Brickwallblitz/status/1633516359509319689?lang=en

https://www.bleachernation.com/bears...s-report-card/

Fields throws long passes on a straight line with no touch like a missile. He missed 3 long TDS in one game to Pickens, Heyward & Washington. Wilson puts air under it & allows recievers to run under ball & make a play, just like Big Ben did. The sources you sited are garbage they don't watch games, they don' know football it's chart stuff that is meaningless. Probably both those missiles that went right over Heyward & Washington vs Colts were considered accurate passes by them. If fields was the most accurate long baller in the game he wouldn't have been traded for a six pack that wasn't even cold. So can you talk football, or are you gonna put meaningless links as rebuttals? If Fields was an accurate long baller & could stretch the field he wouldn't have been benched specifically for a qb that could stretch the field.

[hawaiiansteel]

If fields was the most accurate long baller in the game he wouldn't have been traded for a six pack that wasn't even cold.

Yeah, it's gotta be cold or I don't make the trade.

[feltdizz]

Was it the lack of freedom that improved the offense or Bell and AB in their primes? No way of knowing if it would have been worse if Ben was allowed to change plays.

Bell? pfft.. he was a bum, did you see his ypc??

[Northern_Blitz]

Bell? pfft.. he was a bum, did you see his ypc??

Bell was very good (when healthy) in his prime.

But the decline happens sharply (and early) for RBs.

Especially the ones that get as much work as Bell did.

Crazy how you can't see that people were right about him after how disastrous his performance was post-Steelers.

[LPMAN]

Yeah, it's gotta be cold or I don't make the trade.

LOL.....I hear ya nothing worse then drinking warm beer

[hawaiiansteel]

Will Russell Wilson Be With The Pittsburgh Steelers Beyond 2024?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I think the 50-50 moon ball talk is becoming a little overblown. It is not like the old baseball game "500" where a batter just knocked a pop fly into the air and whoever positioned himself and was the tallest and fought for it caught it. This is more like grade 10 math, and the parabolic arch. The greater the arc, the greater the window to catch the ball, however, a well thrown arcing ball like the Williams TD was not a 50-50 or contested ball. On the other hand, going back to the Ben/AB days, how often did we see the "back shoulder" throw? That was a throw behind the receiver, which makes it easier for the defender to play if he has position and eyes on the ball, but rarely happened because AB had such fantastic body control and the two of them had such a good connection so AB could anticipate, based on his position relative to the defender if Ben would lead him or go back shoulder.

Wilson just happens to throw a more catchable deep ball than Fields, and the Steelers also happen to have a WR with exceptional body control, and another who is also very good at adjusting and catching the deep ball.

BTW, there were a couple of throws, I think one to CA3 and one to Jefferson that were throw deep down the left sideline, and looked like uncacthable balls. As I saw them, both times I wondered if those are catches by Pickens.

[feltdizz]

I think the 50-50 moon ball talk is becoming a little overblown. It is not like the old baseball game "500" where a batter just knocked a pop fly into the air and whoever positioned himself and was the tallest and fought for it caught it. This is more like grade 10 math, and the parabolic arch. The greater the arc, the greater the window to catch the ball, however, a well thrown arcing ball like the Williams TD was not a 50-50 or contested ball. On the other hand, going back to the Ben/AB days, how often did we see the "back shoulder" throw? That was a throw behind the receiver, which makes it easier for the defender to play if he has position and eyes on the ball, but rarely happened because AB had such fantastic body control and the two of them had such a good connection so AB could anticipate, based on his position relative to the defender if Ben would lead him or go back shoulder.

Wilson just happens to throw a more catchable deep ball than Fields, and the Steelers also happen to have a WR with exceptional body control, and another who is also very good at adjusting and catching the deep ball.

BTW, there were a couple of throws, I think one to CA3 and one to Jefferson that were throw deep down the left sideline, and looked like uncacthable balls. As I saw them, both times I wondered if those are catches by Pickens.

Announcer kept saying it. The balls to Austin aren't his strength. If he is past the DB then yes, a deep pass will work in stride but Austin is not going to high point a football or use his body to shield a defender like Williams and Pickens. He isn't tall enough for those passes.

[hawaiiansteel]

Impressive