Beyond Haley, How Do the Steelers Fix the Offense?? (Per DukieBoy's request)

[hawaiiansteel]

receivers top notch??

what a joke.

they would be lucky to rank in the top 20

how did our #1 WR who wants to be paid $11 million/year do today?

oh, he had 1 catch for 13 yards?

[jj28west]

Just to put in perspective look at Seahawks, 49ers, Redskins, Colts did on offense with Rook QB's.

What happened to Game management offenses for rook QB's?

Now these teams are putting 40+ points against good defenses.

[SDSteel1]

receivers top notch??

what a joke.

they would be lucky to rank in the top 20

You have to be able to throw it to them for them to catch it. The joke is the QB and the way he called it in.

[jj28west]

Does anyone know if the reporters asked Big Ben why he did not audible when the Bengals loaded the box and dared him to throw? He seemed frustrated when Dwyer ran down the middle and was being met in the backfield without being able to make a break.

Its just strange he did not audible out of these plays. Maybe the OL was limited?

[eniparadoxgma]

So you don't think Batch could have hit an open Mike Wallace today and wouldn't have avoided throwing 2 pick sixs in consecutive weeks? Then why is Batch even on the roster? The problem we have is Ben is the only QB on the roster. No one is his competition. He isn't competing for his job. He looks complacent, and complacent doesn't win championships, complacent makes excuses. Before we fall into the Terry Bradshaw curse, get a good young guy in here to push Ben or to take over for him. Our line should be pretty good next year, our receivers and TE are top notch, and our defense is always strong...we need an MLB and maybe a safety in the draft, but get someone in that is hungry to play and win, and see how that affects Big Ben...until that happens Ben will do what Ben wants to do....which hasn't been good for the Steelers of late.

So, you're saying that Batch should have played the last two games and would have won them? That's very easy to do...in hindsight. I don't recall you starting any "BENCH BEN, START BATCH" threads any time in the past two weeks. Why is that?

No, I don't think Batch would have won those games. I agree that we should bring in a young QB. The rest of the "Ben will do what Ben will do", "Ben is throwing games" etc I only see as attempts at armchair psychoanalysis.

[SDSteel1]

So, you're saying that Batch should have played the last two games and would have won them? That's very easy to do...in hindsight. I don't recall you starting any "BENCH BEN, START BATCH" threads any time in the past two weeks. Why is that?

No, I don't think Batch would have won those games. I agree that we should bring in a young QB. The rest of the "Ben will do what Ben will do", "Ben is throwing games" etc I only see as attempts at armchair psychoanalysis.

I never said we should start Batch, but Ben has to get back to "managing the game". I like the fact that he has the ability to singlehandedly change the game at anytime, but when that turns to him singlehandedly losing games and doing things that hurt the team then it's time for him to start playing within himself. He is missing open receivers and open reads. If the team is in the position to win with a final drive he can't lose the game an expect people to consider him elite and untouchable just because he has 2 rings. You are only as good as your last game, so in my opinion that means Ben isn't very good right now. If Ben isn't playing to the standard and at least not losing games by himself, the discussion about the teams future has to start with him.

[NJ-STEELER]

how did our #1 WR who wants to be paid $11 million/year do today?

oh, he had 1 catch for 13 yards?

not too good

when you draft raw 3 rd WRs to be the center of ur receiving corps..you're gonna have warts.

i'd hate to see this offense without him without adequately replacing him.
crap, 99% of this board is complaining how bad the offense is. whats it going to look like without one of its more dangerous weapons. do you think the FO is going out there and spending big $$ to to bring in someone and fix the problem of the lack of big time play makers

BYW, did wallace tell you himself thats what he wanted. i havent seen it in print

[NJ-STEELER]

You have to be able to throw it to them for them to catch it. The joke is the QB and the way he called it in.

no the joke is you SD with some of the dumbest BS i've seen on the interent in the last month (not an easy task)

you're close to 43's level...congrats

[eniparadoxgma]

I never said we should start Batch, but Ben has to get back to "managing the game". I like the fact that he has the ability to singlehandedly change the game at anytime, but when that turns to him singlehandedly losing games and doing things that hurt the team then it's time for him to start playing within himself. He is missing open receivers and open reads. If the team is in the position to win with a final drive he can't lose the game an expect people to consider him elite and untouchable just because he has 2 rings. You are only as good as your last game, so in my opinion that means Ben isn't very good right now. If Ben isn't playing to the standard and at least not losing games by himself, the discussion about the teams future has to start with him.

My apologies then. When you said:

Have you watched the last 2 weeks of Steeler football? Charlie Batch could have won both games. Ben was the problem, and whether it was due to lack of preparation or due to trying to make Hailey look bad is inmaterial. Ben surly didn't play to his contract numbers, and he showed attitude by blaming the OC. The message was received by this longtime Steeler fan.

...it seemed to me your point was that Batch would have given us the better chance to win. IMO Ben has always had the ability to win or lose games for us because of his style of play. This debate has been going on for years and I think that it's impossible to have it both ways. I agree that he hasn't been playing well since he came back but think that has more to do with injury than him being head-strong or unwilling to work with the OC.

[DBR96A]

I swear whenever the Steelers lose, some Steeler fans just go out of their minds.

What minds?

[lloydroid]

That is all speculation on your part....and IMO, nonsense....

I do however, feel we need to draft a QB and begin the grooming process...

Only a late draft pick or free agent would make sense

[hawaiiansteel]

Only a late draft pick or free agent would make sense

I completely agree, Ben is our QB that we are going to live and die with. what's the point in using a high draft pick to sit on the bench behind Ben when we have so many other holes to fill?

[grotonsteel]

I completely agree, Ben is our QB that we are going to live and die with. what's the point in using a high draft pick to sit on the bench behind Ben when we have so many other holes to fill?

I might go as high as 3rd Rd if there is a QB which Steelers can develop in 3-4 years or maybe a FA Backup QB. Time to let Lefty and Batch go.

I don't want Steelers to waste any draft picks on a token QB in late rounds. Steelers are better of drafting some ST stud in late rounds.

[grotonsteel]

Have you watched the last 2 weeks of Steeler football? Charlie Batch could have won both games. Ben was the problem, and whether it was due to lack of preparation or due to trying to make Hailey look bad is inmaterial. Ben surly didn't play to his contract numbers, and he showed attitude by blaming the OC. The message was received by this longtime Steeler fan.

Wow what stupid allegations. Ben played bad to to make Hailey look bad??? Ben did nothing. Hailey is one stupid OC. Yes he is worse than BA. His stupid run-run-pass-punt offense is outright pathetic. If Ben was not having a great 3rd down percentage Hailey might have looked worse. Haley never utilized the strength of his offensive players properly. Hailey's offense is predictable. Opponents knew Hailey's tendency.

Ben was the problem in Dallas game??? Did we watch the same game???Ben was the reason Steelers were still in the game. Antonio Brown screwed up Dallas game. Dallas game should have never gone into OT if AB84 had kept up his end. Blame AB84 not only for Dallas game but Oakland game too.

Bengals game was all on Ben. He had his worst game against Bengals.

[papillon]

So you don't think Batch could have hit an open Mike Wallace today and wouldn't have avoided throwing 2 pick sixs in consecutive weeks? Then why is Batch even on the roster? The problem we have is Ben is the only QB on the roster. No one is his competition. He isn't competing for his job. He looks complacent, and complacent doesn't win championships, complacent makes excuses. Before we fall into the Terry Bradshaw curse, get a good young guy in here to push Ben or to take over for him. Our line should be pretty good next year, our receivers and TE are top notch, and our defense is always strong...we need an MLB and maybe a safety in the draft, but get someone in that is hungry to play and win, and see how that affects Big Ben...until that happens Ben will do what Ben wants to do....which hasn't been good for the Steelers of late.

I'm almost certain that Batch couldn't have hit a wide open Mike Wallace on Sunday, because the first thing he would have had to do was scramble out of a collapsing pocket. He may or may not have thrown the INT in Dallas, chances are he wouldn't have, because he realizes that he doesn't have the arm strength to get the ball out wide and into a tiny window. Ben[s problem on that throw was accuracy, he threw it too far to the inside and it was picked. His accuracy has been at issue since his return in my opinion. Throws in which he didn't have to turn his body left or right were being made in fine fashion, but the moment he had to reset his feet to the right or left and didn't get his body square to the target his throws were inaccurate and weakened. He bounced 3 or 4 WR screens and quick outs in the last three games that he rarely bounces.

Just my take, we all get an opinion, Ben played poorly to be sure, but I certainly believe injuries played a part in that bad play. Ben's combination of unorthodox style and injury is a bad combination, because to make some of the throws Ben makes he needs his arm and shoulder to be at 100%. He tried to make throws that he makes when he's 100% healthy and was unable to make them at something less than 100% and it cost the Steelers dearly, IMO.

Pappy