Late Game Play Selection/Clock Management

[BradshawsHairdresser]

OK, after almost a day to savor the win, I want to ask, what did y'all think about the Steelers' play calling and clock management near the end of the game (Steelers' next-to-last possession)?

Seems to me they could have burned a bit more time, and left the Texans with a lot less time to do anything.

Of course, the Steelers ended up winning, so it all turned out good...but once again, I have to wonder about the ability of our coaching staff in this regard.

Discuss.

[Slapstick]

As always, damned if they do and damned if they don't.

If they run, they are accused of not playing to win or not putting the ball in the hands of their $100 million QB...

If they pass, they are accused of calling stupid plays and mismanaging the clock...

So, they won, which is the only truly important thing.

[SidSmythe]

You run the clock .... Tomlin didn't look very happy after that 2nd down call

[hawaiiansteel]

You run the clock .... Tomlin didn't look very happy after that 2nd down call

of course you run the ball and take another 45 seconds off the clock, the Texans had no timeouts. stupid play call that almost came back to bite the Steelers in the arse...

[BradshawsHairdresser]

of course you run the ball and take another 45 seconds off the clock, the Texans had no timeouts. stupid play call that almost came back to bite the Steelers in the arse...

The Steelers started the drive in question with 4:55 on the clock, up 27-16...they went 6 plays, 17 yards, and kicked a 40-yard field goal, using 1:51 of clock. During that possession, at the 4:00 mark, on a 2nd and 9 from the Houston 27, they threw deep to Bryant (incomplete). The Texans had no timeouts at the time. Why would you not want to keep the clock moving in that situation?

30-45 seconds can be huge in a late game situation like that.

Again, I have to wonder if it would behoove the Steelers to hire a clock management assistant? Clearly, it's an area our coaching staff struggles with.

[fordfixer]

I question the time out on the on side kick......

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I question the time out on the on side kick......

Yeah, me too. At the time, I told my son, "I hope they (Steelers) don't muff this thing on the re-do."

Got my heart palpitating--it was a little too close for comfort, but thankfully, Palmer came away with the ball.

[fordfixer]

Yeah, me too. At the time, I told my son, "I hope they (Steelers) don't muff this thing on the re-do."

Got my heart palpitating--it was a little too close for comfort, but thankfully, Palmer came away with the ball.

I was right there with you with the heart palpitations.

[pittpete]

You run the ball 3 times burn the clock and kick the FG.
Also imagine if Suisham misses the FG after the delay of game penalty they took because Tomlin "wanted to see where the spot was"
Sure, like he was going to go for it on 4th down.

[Mr.wizard]

I don't have a huge problem with it from that spot on the field:

If you miss on the pass to the end zone you stay in field goal range go up by 2 td's and they get 44 seconds.

If you connect you go up by 3 scores and ice the game.

I don't think it was that outrageous of call. If it was me I probably run it, but Im not going nuts about the call.

[WindyCitySteel]

So, they won, which is the only truly important thing.

I'm glad the coaches don't feel that way. Tomlin said he was thankful to win, but there was a lot of work to do. He's right, of course.

The only time you don't say that is when they drop confetti on you after you win.

[bostonsteeler]

I didn't find any of the end-of-game calls egregious. The overturned TD on AB was egregious!

[Slapstick]

I'm glad the coaches don't feel that way. Tomlin said he was thankful to win, but there was a lot of work to do. He's right, of course.

The only time you don't say that is when they drop confetti on you after you win.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that the coaches think winning is important.

[WindyCitySteel]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that the coaches think winning is important.

Right, but unlike your childlike view of the team, they don't think "We won, everyone played great!" while eating a chipped ham sammich in a Keisel jersey.

[AxnJxn]

Again, I have to wonder if it would behoove the Steelers to hire a clock management assistant? Clearly, it's an area our coaching staff struggles with.

It's definitely needed. There are way too many clock management mistakes made by this team to not look for some help. They got away with another one on Monday when they didn't take the TOs on defense before the 2 minute warning. That whole flurry of scoring happened, so it got lost in the mix, but they wasted a lot of time by not taking the TOs before the warning.

John Harbaugh does this right, and it's frustrating to watch our main rivals having it together in this aspect of the game, while we fumble away time in close games. In a league with this much parity and close games, bad clock management is huge.