Bruce Arians "is having one heck of a year"

[feltdizz]

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

well, I'd by lying to myself if I didn't admit I think he's having a pretty good year. I thought the steelers started off very slow and it was very frustrating to watch - but young money has really made a difference and opened things up. his script to open the game has been terrific all year. we need to address two things however. scoring TD's in the red zone and finding a better script when you get up by 10 that doesn't allow the other team to get off the mat.

there are times when it's still very predictable and I still believe if BA was considered top tier by the league he'd at least get interviews - but the offense is performing well, he's a big part of it and you have to share the credit.

Not on this board

Any good we do is all Ben... any bad is all BA.

The best script once we are up by 10 would be getting Jerome Bettis out of retirement. It amazes me sometimes with how creative we are at keeping teams in games once we are up by 10.

I knew we would find a way to keep Cinci in it and Heath did an amazing job this time around. We get real sloppy once we are up by double digits and part of me wonders if it's all about the ratings because we are great at it. Troy and Carter have AJ bracketed and neither play the ball.. just awesome.

Anyways, my knock on BA is his love for Mendenhall... dude sucks right now. I hope he returns to playoff form once we get there but right now I have zero faith in that guy.

[steelblood]

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

Run-run-sack isn't a good formula for the red zone. Some day Bruce will get that.

Geez, I don't love our red zone play calling, but this is just simply not true.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

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

I think we are the only team in the NFL that have the total, and I mean TOTAL, inability to run a normal screen pass to a RB. I think it has been at least 4 years since I have seen the Steelers run a screen that actually worked and didn't end up where Ben tries to throw it to the RB as he is being tackled by someone or throws it through 3 defenders to try and even get it to the RB.

[WindyCitySteel]

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

I think we are the only team in the NFL that have the total, and I mean TOTAL, inability to run a normal screen pass to a RB. I think it has been at least 4 years since I have seen the Steelers run a screen that actually worked and didn't end up where Ben tries to throw it to the RB as he is being tackled by someone or throws it through 3 defenders to try and even get it to the RB.

I'm pretty sure he said at one point they don't practice them because they're not part of his offense. Kind of like the fullback.

[feltdizz]

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

I think we are the only team in the NFL that have the total, and I mean TOTAL, inability to run a normal screen pass to a RB. I think it has been at least 4 years since I have seen the Steelers run a screen that actually worked and didn't end up where Ben tries to throw it to the RB as he is being tackled by someone or throws it through 3 defenders to try and even get it to the RB.

we've run screens.. well, we tried but our OL sucks at getting out in space. Faneca was a beast at it but since he left we have been horrible at it.

[feltdizz]

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

There's a couple problems we're just not going to ever resolve.

BA is good enough to sometimes be brilliant. I'd guess he's a high IQ guy that adds a lot between games. He clearly does well on the script. Ben likes him.

But when you get into the flow of the game, that's when he starts struggling with his play calling.

$$$$
I think BA has difficulty making adjustments to counter the in-game adjustments made by the opposing D. He can't watch what's going on and figure out what to change.

Let BA script the first series of each half, and let Ben run the no-huddle the rest of the time. I think we'd be more successful scoring points than we currently are.

I wonder what the break down is for successful no huddle drives that end with a TD.

I know it seems like Ben is more successful in the no huddle but I think I read a stat that said it wasn't as successful as fans believe.

[Pahn711]

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

Quite an entertaining thread we got here. I seem to recall a topic on this board at the beginning of the season: it wasn't enough that Arians had a hand in three super bowl appearances, many people pointed out that they would be happy with nothing less than a top ten offense. Well guess what, they cracked the top ten, and Arians is still being called a "galloping turd."

Whatever dudes

Steelers are in the bottom half of the league in scoring & redzone conversion. Tied with the Miami Dolphins.

Red zone offense has been an issue with this team (and a lot of teams) for years. But as far as scoring goes, they are in there with a number of teams where a few points here or there and they'd be in the top ten. Not very telling imo.

My point was, there are good and bad things with every offense in this league. And it could be much worse. Some people are on the fence about Arians, they should be. Every fan thinks they could call plays and do it better. Doesn't mean they are right.

[Pahn711]

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

I wonder what the break down is for successful no huddle drives that end with a TD.

I know it seems like Ben is more successful in the no huddle but I think I read a stat that said it wasn't as successful as fans believe.

I can recall three interceptions from Ben while running the no-huddle this year that he had no business throwing-two against the Ravens and one against Tennessee (and I'm sure theres more). He needs to be reined in every so often before he gets carried away. Whisenhut understood that, thats why Ben didn't like him.

[hawaiiansteel]

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

Arians tells Steelers to focus on team goals

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, November 24, 2011



Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians told the players Wednesday that they need to stay focused on team goals if they want to return to the Super Bowl.

The significance of Arians' message: It marked the first time this season he's addressed the subject in a group setting.

"Coach said, 'If you're a team that's not doing very good record-wise, then you're fighting for Pro Bowls. For teams that are Super Bowl contenders you really shouldn't care about Pro Bowls,' " quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "I think it was a good message for all of us, for some guys just to re-remember those things and for some young guys to think about it."

Mike Wallace leads the Steelers with 922 receiving yards and six touchdown catches.

Antonio Brown has been Roethlisberger's primary target in recent weeks, as teams have double-covered Wallace more frequently. Brown also has replaced Hines Ward as the starter opposite Wallace.

Ward hasn't complained about the demotion, saying that nobody is bigger than the team.

"He's still a great contributor to this team and helps out in a big way," Roethlisberger said of Ward, "but I think he knows, and we all know, that our ultimate goal is the Super Bowl.

>> Doug Legursky likely will be in at left guard and Chris Kemoeatu out when the Steelers visit Kansas City on Sunday night. Legursky said he "got a lot of time" with the starters Wednesday at practice despite Kemoeatu starting the past four games at left guard. Legursky started two games at left guard before dislocating his toe Oct. 16 against Jacksonville. Legursky suited up two weeks ago in Cincinnati, but he said the Steelers wanted to ease him back into action.

"There was still some pain there with my foot, and my injury and with bye week the next week, it is probably smarter just to go ahead and sit me and get an extra two weeks instead of forcing it early," Legursky said. "That was the thought process."

>> Roethlisberger was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, again throwing with a glove on his right hand and a splint protecting his broken right thumb. The splint, Roethlisberger said, affects his ability to grip the ball as well as the touch he puts on passes. He said the Steelers' training staff has been "tweaking" the splint this week to make it less of a hindrance.

"We've done a good job of getting to where we think we're OK," Roethlisberger said. "We're happy with it now."

>> Receiver Emmanuel Sanders was a full participant in practice Wednesday, saying "things are looking good" for Sunday. Sanders has missed the past two games because of a knee injury. Safety Troy Polamalu (ribs) was a full participant yesterday. Outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley and receiver Arnaz Battle were listed as limited in practice.

[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_768900.html#ixzz1ebOUOQ66"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1ebOUOQ66[/url]

[NorthCoast]

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

The red zone offense should not be that much of a mystery. Bottom line is that Ben is not that great in red zone passing. He has hovered around 50% completion percentage his entire career. Compare that to Rodgers who is hovering around 65%.
You can blame BA playcalling if you want, but Ben is free to change plays at the line anytime he wishes. and you cant say it is lack of a run game, because GB doesnt have one either. Both Steelers and Packers average 26 rushes per game, but Steelers actually average about 10 more rush yds per game than the Pack.

[hawaiiansteel]

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

Wednesday news and notes

NOVEMBER 23, 2011
posted by Dale Lolley


Roethlisberger said today that offensive coordinator Bruce Arians talked to the offensive unit about forgoing personal goals in order for the team to win.

That could have been aimed at Hines Ward - though Ward has handled his demotion well. It also could have been aimed at Mike Wallace - who has been getting frustrated regarding his lack of looks of late due to opponents doubling him.

In the last month, Antonio Brown has 26 receptions, Wallace 20 and Heath Miller 19.

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