Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

IMO, this game boils down to how the players perform on the field.

But BA's job is to put the players in the best possible position to be successful. He ought to make their task easier, not more difficult.

The Steelers have struggled in the red zone this season. Do you honestly believe that play-calling has nothing to do with that? Do you honestly believe, as BA apparently believes, that he is always calling the perfect plays in those situations, but that the failure to come away with touchdowns is ALL on the players? Some will try to pin all the blame on BA; some will try to pin all the blame on the players; obviously, neither of those extremes is right. The truth lies somewhere inbetween. But if BA was doing such a great job as the article states he is, such a great job as BA thinks he is, then the Steelers most certainly would be putting up more points.

And who's to say that he isn't putting the players in the best position to be successful? We've witnessed plenty of plays that are designed to player's strengths. Do you suggest he's making player's task more difficult? I don't believe that to be the case. What coach would want to make tasks more difficult for his players?

At the time of the call, BA believes he calls the perfect play for the situation. You expect him to believe differently? I am certain all coaches feel they call the perfect play. I don't believe any of us would feel any differently if we were coaches. It's easy to suggest the play call was poor after the fact. We would probably feel differently if we had insight into why a certain play was called.

I am sure the play calling is a factor in the red zone struggles. I also believe execution is the larger issue in regard to red zone struggles. I believe the execution needs to be even better in the red zone where rush lanes and windows to throw into get tighter. IMO, most of the focus should fall onto the people that actually play the game.

The Chargers were 2nd in the league in ppg last season. This season they dropped down to 12 in ppg. I believe the Chargers have the same coaching staff. The biggest difference in that offense is Rivers is having an terrible season.

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

[SteelTorch]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

So what excuse do we have since our best players on offense have been healthy all/most of the season? None.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

So what excuse do we have since our best players on offense have been healthy all/most of the season? None.

Are you certain?

Steelers had to adjust to loss of players on the Oline due to injuries. As always, they've had to deal with inconsistent play from Ben at times. The Steelers ppg should improve if Ben can manage to play with more consistency over the last 6 games.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

Our most consistent offensive production has come against the titans, the pats, and the second half of the second Ravens game. All spread & quick passes to make our crap OL a non factor, getting the ball in our playmakers hands. You don't see GB & the Pats in their prime needing to establish the run, so why do we not open it up until the clock strikes zero? We can no longer get a 10 point lead & turtle up because Faneca & Hartings & Bettis have been replaced with a sloth moron in Kemo, a second year center that is having a worse year than his rookie campaign, & a RB that dances at the LOS & shys Dom contact. Bottom line! So get the most out of every damn drive using your best players & best schemes - Ben, the WR/TE, and a spread quick strike attack and not a spread attack when 1/3 of your passes are behind the LOS by the way. Just my two cents.

[SteelTorch]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

So what excuse do we have since our best players on offense have been healthy all/most of the season? None.

Are you certain?

Steelers had to adjust to loss of players on the Oline due to injuries. As always, they've had to deal with inconsistent play from Ben at times. The Steelers ppg should improve if Ben can manage to play with more consistency over the last 6 games.

Ben's play has been fine. Not perfect, but fine for the most part. This sounds like just more excuse-making.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

Things that make me go hmmm

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2011
posted by Dale Lolley


The Steelers have scored points on 60 percent of their opening possessions of the game. On all of their other possessions, they score 34 percent of the time.

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians scripts the first 15 plays of the game and - seemingly - they work well.

It makes me wonder why the team struggles so much after they're done with the script.

Part of it, I'm sure, are adjustments made by the other team. Another part of the blame could also fall on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's shoulders.

Roethlisberger calls audibles quite a bit and sometimes it just doesn't work.

Perhaps the best thing would be for the Steelers to run Arians' scripted plays and then go to a no-huddle, when Roethlisberger seems to be at his best.

[url="http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/"]http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/sidelines/[/url]

[Pahn711]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

Part of it, I'm sure, are adjustments made by the other team. Another part of the blame could also fall on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's shoulders.

Roethlisberger calls audibles quite a bit and sometimes it just doesn't work.

Perhaps the best thing would be for the Steelers to run Arians' scripted plays and then go to a no-huddle, when Roethlisberger seems to be at his best.

Umm, the no-huddle is pretty much like Roethlisberger calling a string of audibles...am I wrong? C'mon Lolley

His line of thought follows that, if Roethlisber is making poor calls, Arians should have more scripted plays.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

The no huddles audibles are basically a series of pass patterns/ assignments for wr/te where when Ben is under center it is more than that. Ben excels in the spread offense. He ran this type of offense at Miami of Ohio as well. The Steelers as a franchise have resisted fully opening it up though.
The franchise image was founded on power running, power defense, grass stains, spit & blood. They cling to the style of football that represented a city of hardcore steel workers & tough folks.
The league has evolved & their strengths are no longer power running & the rules have somewhat cut down the ability of a defense to intimidate the opposition. It's time they play to their strengths & forge a new identity. They have some of the fastest WR in the league right now. Hell they still play on a pasture!

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

So what excuse do we have since our best players on offense have been healthy all/most of the season? None.

Are you certain?

Steelers had to adjust to loss of players on the Oline due to injuries. As always, they've had to deal with inconsistent play from Ben at times. The Steelers ppg should improve if Ben can manage to play with more consistency over the last 6 games.

Ben's play has been fine. Not perfect, but fine for the most part. This sounds like just more excuse-making.

Ben's play has been fine? Guess you didn't watch the games. Like it or not, Ben is a big reason the offense struggled in the red zone. Ben is the main reason why they had success in the red zone.

It's not excuse making but issues the coaches had to deal with.

[feltdizz]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

So what excuse do we have since our best players on offense have been healthy all/most of the season? None.

Are you sure about this? When has Ben been healthy? A healthy Sanders makes our 3 WR's crazy potent but we have rarely had that combo this year...

What about OL injuries?

[feltdizz]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

We can make the same comparison with Packers. They were 10th in the league in ppg last season. This season they are number one in ppg. I believe that jump coincides with the play of Rodgers.

So what excuse do we have since our best players on offense have been healthy all/most of the season? None.

Are you certain?

Steelers had to adjust to loss of players on the Oline due to injuries. As always, they've had to deal with inconsistent play from Ben at times. The Steelers ppg should improve if Ben can manage to play with more consistency over the last 6 games.

Ben's play has been fine. Not perfect, but fine for the most part. This sounds like just more excuse-making.

Ben's play has been fine? Guess you didn't watch the games. Like it or not, Ben is a big reason the offense struggled in the red zone. Ben is the main reason why they had success in the red zone.

It's not excuse making but issues the coaches had to deal with.

Ben's play has been decent/fine this year but in the red zone? Not so much...

it's hard for some fans to admit our QB isn't perfect.

It's damn near impossible to have a discussion with fans who blame Arians for every bad play and give Ben credit for every good play.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

This is about as cocky as it gets and probably why the offense is so slow to adjust - dude is way too stubborn and full of himself...

"There's never a doubt when I call a play that it will be successful," Arians said. "It's just a matter of us executing against the defense."

Exactly. He runs into 9-man fronts and blames the six linemen for not executing against nine defenders.

Or he asks Jon Scott to block Terrell Suggs on a 7-step drop and blames execution when it fails.

He's a galloping turd.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

And stop me if you've seen this before. 3rd and 1 or 2, Ben in shotgun, empty set. What does that tell the defense?

Don't worry about the run, don't worry about a back chipping the pass rusher, don't worry about a back leaking out into the flat. They're passing all the way.

That makes the defense's job easier and the offense's job harder.

[WindyCitySteel]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

Finally, our assistants have been raided for years. That's the price you pay for having a successful franchise who almost always wins. Capers, LeBeau, Gailey, Whiz, etc.

Rain Man has been on three Super Bowl teams and perennial playoff teams.

No interviews.

That's not a coincidence.

[Slapstick]

Re: Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

You're right...

It probably has nothing to do with the fact that Arians is older than all but a handful of NFL head coaches...especially those hired within the last few years...

Chan Gailey is a few months older as is Bill Belichick (but Belichick was hired 11 seasons ago)...

Tom Coughlin, Norv Turner and Mike Shanahan are older...but, all are long time head coaches in the league...

Pete Carroll is a little older as well...

That's your reason more than anything else...