A different week same story.

[Captain Lemming]

I think they believe as long as they merely hold onto the ball, they can grind out low scoring wins.

Or they looked at what has worked consistently, what teams of Ben's actually SCORED the most.
Teams that threw less than 500 times. EVERY YEAR without exception playoffs.

[Captain QB]

Simple truth is that when the Pats DID NOT gear their entire offense around Brady......they won 3 Superbowls.
Since Brady has been a top fantasy pick? ZERO.

Nor were offenses as wide open as they are now back then. Hell, Tampa Bay won a super bowl with that fatso at QB.

If the Patriots geared their offense around those no-name RBs they have, think they'd get to the super bowl in 2013?

[Captain QB]

Or they looked at what has worked consistently, what teams of Ben's actually SCORED the most.
Teams that threw less than 500 times. EVERY YEAR without exception playoffs.

So those years they play calling was "Run, run, BEN HELP!"?

Also, I'd say Ben's a better QB now than he was in 2007. The Steelers need to let him do more on the early downs and earlier in the game, then maybe he won't have to do as much in the fourth quarter.

[Captain Lemming]

Nor were offenses as wide open as they are now back then. Hell, Tampa Bay won a super bowl with that fatso at QB.

If the Patriots geared their offense around those no-name RBs they have, think they'd get to the super bowl in 2013?

I cannot speculate on that.
All I know is that an inferior QB who threw 100 FEWER passes than he did BEAT HIM last year 28-13.
Brady passed 54 times and the team scored 13 points.

Putting it ALL on the back of one man rarely works.

[Snatch98]

I recorded the game so I haven't had a chance to watch it. I'll likely watch it over the next couple days. What I don't understand is why everyone goes in to the preseason expecting the Steelers to throw it all on the table and light teams up. As someone else said somewhere on the board this evening. (It may be in this very thread) The Preseason is about putting players in live situations and evaluating. It's NOT about going out and doing everything in your power to win the football game. Therefore I don't understand why everyone is getting so bent out of shape about what seems to be everything. Outside of hoping that Bell is fine (I read he hurt his foot?) I don't really care what happens in these games. As long as the Coaches see what they want to see and we come out healthy all is well in the world. The thread title is a different week, the same story, well each preseason it's a different preseason and the same complaining. We aren't going to come out and start slinging stuff down field, maybe they run those screens to force the line to block a certain way. It's all for a reason. People need to chill.

[Captain Lemming]

So those years they play calling was "Run, run, BEN HELP!"?

Also, I'd say Ben's a better QB now than he was in 2007. The Steelers need to let him do more on the early downs and earlier in the game, then maybe he won't have to do as much in the fourth quarter.

What do you mean. We HAVE BEEN DOING THAT under BA since 2008 when he basically cut Ben loose. It has been up and down.
When we run well and often with Ben.....we win.

[Captain Lemming]

As someone else said somewhere on the board this evening. (It may be in this very thread) The Preseason is about putting players in live situations and evaluating. It's NOT about going out and doing everything in your power to win the football game.

I dont know who said that but that kind of clear unassailable logic is indeed impressive!!!!

Seriously, while I agree about the play calling, the actual play, especially of the O-Line was is scary.
That and not the play calling is reason for real concern.

[Captain QB]

What do you mean. We HAVE BEEN DOING THAT under BA since 2008 when he basically cut Ben loose. It has been up and down.
When we run well and often with Ben.....we win.

And in more recent seasons they've just been smacking their heads against a concrete wall, wasting downs, putting Ben in bad 3rd & long situations. They need to pass more often on first downs.

[fordfixer]

And in more recent seasons they've just been smacking their heads against a concrete wall, wasting downs, putting Ben in bad 3rd & long situations. They need to pass more often on first downs.

A different name same post

[Chadman]

It's just not a real pre-season without Chicken Little making an early appearance..

[DBR96A]

So this is what I'm gathering from what I've read here:


1. Todd Haley is supposed to tip his hand and use his entire playbook during the pre-season.

2. It takes no time at all to successfully install a blocking scheme that's fundamentally different than before.

3. The starting offensive line should look like they've been together for years despite all five of them being together for only the second time ever.


K.

[papillon]

THIS is a legit concern. I do not care about playcalling as they are calling plays to make evaluations, not to win at all cost.
However the mental mistakes are indeed troubling.

Mental mistakes have plagued the Steelers since they last won the Superbowl and that includes the two time Superbowl winning quarterback. I'm not sure what the problem is, but regardless of who the players are the Steelers seem to be unable to focus mentally for a complete game.

Pappy

[papillon]

I don't even know what to say other than our OTs are awful...

That's a good start at figuring out what to say.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

Mental mistakes have plagued the Steelers since they last won the Superbowl and that includes the two time Superbowl winning quarterback. I'm not sure what the problem is, but regardless of who the players are the Steelers seem to be unable to focus mentally for a complete game.

Pappy

Problems start and end with the OL. It causes everything else on the offense to fall apart.

[papillon]

Problems start and end with the OL. It causes everything else on the offense to fall apart.

I agree 100%, however, as a team, the Steelers are not good enough to overcome mental mistakes that should be avoided. Physical mistakes are one thing, sometimes the other guy makes plays, but mental mistakes kill drives or allow the other team to score points and they are the easiest to correct. Right now it's not about the football, it's the preseason, but if you're making mental mistakes and getting penalties or missing blocks or not securing the football this lack of focus will spill over into the regular season and we'll all wonder what the H3ll is going on.

This version of the Steelers has enough talent to compete in this league and win games, but they do not have the mental ability right now to compete. They will lose to teams they should beat because they allow them in games due to mental mistakes, add that to the teams that beat them even when they play their best and their average again, just like last year.

IMO, physically and talent wise the Steelers are a top team, mentally they are inferior by a long shot to the best teams, including the Ravens.

Pappy