Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

[Starlifter]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

I don't even have much of a problem with the second half of the Jets game. He called plays that worked in the 1st half but the Jets adjusted and stopped those running plays in the 2nd half. Kudos to them. We also never had the ball that much in the second half. The Jets pretty much dominated TOP for that half.

The offense has certainly changed it's MO the last 3rd of the season and during the playoffs. I think they have done much better in that timeframe.

yes, that's true. It was pretty obvious we were going to run to kill the clock. They stacked the box and had some success - but not enough. I do think however the drive that most impacted the outcome was the 9 minute drive the jets mounted that came up with zero points. now THAT'S how the turtle is supposed to work!....

[flippy]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

Maybe it's possible that Arians knows what he is doing.

I've always defended Arians on his formations.

But his problem tends to be predictable play calling out of particular player groupings. He has been adjusting down the stretch. So has Lebeau for that matter. I wonder if Tomlin has been forcing adjustments on both sides of the ball. Someone has been emphasizing it.

In addition to BA's formations, his biggest asset is his relationship with Ben.

But he's still got some work to do.

I think there is a reasonable possibility that Arians is an offensive genius. But, often times with genius comes arrogance. Sometimes it seems like he gets something in his head and when it doesn't play out in a game he has a hard time letting it go.

Maybe some of the criticism has done him some good.

That's almost exactly where my thinking on him lies. He's brilliant in concepts, but sometimes lacks for common sense in execution.

I liked when Whiz was here to balance him out. He needs a supporting position coach to balance him a bit. I'd almost prefer to see someone else call the plays but use BA to hammer out the game plan.

[pick6]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

One of the best football articles I have ever read. I wish there was more like this on the net. It's cool to actually see the "science" behind the plays.

Yeah this is real football talk. Espn and NFL Network try to do this but it is rearly to this depth and all too often use ridiculous generalizations that really don't apply. Like the Steelers are a run heavy team and the key to stopping the Steelers is stopping the run. Too simplistic. I prefer this kind of breakdown. Also to note: if we pass to Mendy on the weak side, especially if they blitz from that side, There is nothing Capers can do. He'll be caught between a rock and a hard place. if you pick up Mendy out of the backfield then ben will have too much time to find the open man out of the bunch. That's the wrinkle that I would add to this for the Superbowl. Don't block the blitz, attack it.

[pick6]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

Maybe it's possible that Arians knows what he is doing.

I've always defended Arians on his formations.

But his problem tends to be predictable play calling out of particular player groupings. He has been adjusting down the stretch. So has Lebeau for that matter. I wonder if Tomlin has been forcing adjustments on both sides of the ball. Someone has been emphasizing it.

In addition to BA's formations, his biggest asset is his relationship with Ben.

But he's still got some work to do.

I think there is a reasonable possibility that Arians is an offensive genius. But, often times with genius comes arrogance. Sometimes it seems like he gets something in his head and when it doesn't play out in a game he has a hard time letting it go.

Maybe some of the criticism has done him some good.

That's almost exactly where my thinking on him lies. He's brilliant in concepts, but sometimes lacks for common sense in execution.

I liked when Whiz was here to balance him out. He needs a supporting position coach to balance him a bit. I'd almost prefer to see someone else call the plays but use BA to hammer out the game plan.

I think your on to something. Remember when BA created the game plan against us in the playoff game years ago when he worked for the Browns. He found a weakness and went after us. We came back and somehow won the game, but it was a good game plan against us. But when we adjusted to it at halftime Im not sure if he had any answers.

[Slapstick]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

Whisenhunt brought the bunch formation to Pittsburgh. You didn't see it in their offensive arsenal until 2001 when he became the TE coach. Also, IIRC, the Cardinals were in a bunch formation when James Harrison produced his 100 yard pick 6 in XLIII.

Oh, and Arians game plan would have worked in the 2nd half of that playoff game had Dennis Northcutt held onto a 3rd down pass...

[grotonsteel]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

Just run the ball at Clay Matthews and away from Woodson. Heavy dose of Mendy+Redman.

Packers are giving 4.6 YPA on ground. I would exploit it. Steelers normally play well against 3-4 defense.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers



[url="http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/115081504.html"]http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/115081504.html[/url]

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Steelers' bunch formation complicates matters for Packers

Just run the ball at Clay Matthews and away from Woodson. Heavy dose of Mendy+Redman.

Packers are giving 4.6 YPA on ground. I would exploit it. Steelers normally play well against 3-4 defense.

Posted Feb. 02, 2011
By Dan Arkush

Here’s a look at a key matchup heading into the Super Bowl XLV showdown between the Packers and the Steelers Sunday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall vs. Packers LB corps

The Packers’ run defense, which has allowed only 3.6 yards per carry in the postseason after allowing almost a full yard more in the regular season (4.7), must do a much better job handling Mendenhall than the Jets’ third-ranked run defense did in the AFC title game. The 5-10, 225-pound former first-round draft pick cranked out 121 yards and a one-yard TD on 27 carries against the Jets, despite the fact that Steelers rookie Pro Bowl C Maurkice Pouncey suffered a game-ending ankle injury on the contest’s first drive.

In the regular season, Mendenhall was the AFC’s fifth-leading rusher with 1,273 yards on 324 carries (3.9 ypc) and 13 TDs, which tied him for second in the league with New England’s BenJarvus Green-Ellis in rushing scores behind Houston’s Arian Foster (16). The third-year pro has seven rushing TDs in his last five games (counting the playoffs) and is the favorite to score the first TD in Super Bowl XLV at 5-1 odds, according to Lucky’s Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas.

A powerful runner who has become much more patient than he was a year ago, when he tried to bounce outside too much, Mendenhall has a wicked spin move that could cause big problems for Green Bay’s LB corps if it’s not careful. His 27 carries against the Jets were preceded by six games (counting Pittsburgh’s postseason opener vs. the Ravens) in which he averaged 17.6 carries per game. Mendenhall had three 100-yard rushing performances during the regular season and one 99-yard effort, but he did not make a major impact as a receiver out of the backfield (23 catches for 167 yards and zero TDs).

The Packers allowed only six rushing TDs during the regular season (third-best in the league) and have given up only 69.7 rushing yards per game in the postseason. Mendenhall must make sure he hangs on to the ball up against the likes of Green Bay LBs Clay Matthews (two forced fumbles during the regular season), Desmond Bishop (two forced fumbles during the regular season; one in the postseason) and Erik Walden (one in the postseason) or Frank Zombo (two in the regular season).

Bishop, who was Green Bay’s second-leading tackler during the regular season with 121 behind fellow ILB A.J. Hawk, is the Packers’ leading tackler in the postseason with 21. The unselfish Hawk, who had five games with double-digit tackles during the regular season, has done a solid job this season calling signals for the defense. Check the status of Walden, who left the NFC title game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Even if Walden is able to suit up on Super Sunday, it’s quite possible he could end up sharing the load at right outside linebacker with Zombo, who figures to be feeling pretty frisky after missing the last six games (counting playoffs) with a knee injury.

[url="http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/02/02/packers-steelers-matchup-of-the-day-wednesday"]http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/0 ... -wednesday[/url]