Bruce Arians

[SteelCrazy]

Arians sucked and aside from this one year, Haley sucked too. The advantage Arians had was a #1 D or at least a top 5. feltdizz has a good point with Bell and the improved O-Line. Mendy however was a good RB in 09 and 10, but my real problem is we finally get an Offense that can put points on the board and our D is ranked 19th! All those years we had a D that could change games and an Offense that couldn't get out of its own way.

[fezziwig]

Haley is having this team do well even without the benifit of the good defenses Lebeau had in Arians day.

[fezziwig]

Arians sucked and aside from this one year, Haley sucked too. The advantage Arians had was a #1 D or at least a top 5. feltdizz has a good point with Bell and the improved O-Line. Mendy however was a good RB in 09 and 10, but my real problem is we finally get an Offense that can put points on the board and our D is ranked 19th! All those years we had a D that could change games and an Offense that couldn't get out of its own way.

I think it was Mendenhall that complained or Parker complained, they only had 3 or 4 running plays and Arians put no emphasis on the run game. Rooneys knew Arian was the problem. Glad he's doing good in Arizona and until he gets robo cop as a quarterback, he might as well get used to banged up quarterbacks. What, our old offensive line coaches weren't capable enough with Colon, the best right tackle in the NFL so said Arian.

[feltdizz]

Arians sucked and aside from this one year, Haley sucked too. The advantage Arians had was a #1 D or at least a top 5. feltdizz has a good point with Bell and the improved O-Line. Mendy however was a good RB in 09 and 10, but my real problem is we finally get an Offense that can put points on the board and our D is ranked 19th! All those years we had a D that could change games and an Offense that couldn't get out of its own way.

how many times does a team have a top 5 offense AND defense? It doesn't work that way. I expect this offense to "carry" this D just like the D "carried" the offense under BA.

Our O under BA put up 23+ points in all of our playoff runs...

This D is starting to gel and I expect them to show up if we are going to make a playoff run.

[feltdizz]

Haley is having this team do well even without the benifit of the good defenses Lebeau had in Arians day.

you mean he FINALLY has this team doing well... I think we could dig up a few post where we all whined about how bad this O looked during our last 2 seasons.

in every one of our horrible losses this year the O didn't save us. We look much better on offense this year when our D gets pressure and forces TO's.

[winwithd]

how many times does a team have a top 5 offense AND defense? It doesn't work that way.


This D is starting to gel and I expect them to show up if we are going to make a playoff run.

Next year when we get a couple top corners in the draft, Shamarko and Shazier adding some speed, and Big Dan cloggin' up the middle, this will be a top 5 D to go along with our #1 O and it will be back2back titles, #7 and #8. It all adds up.

[papillon]

Except for the past few weeks. And he probably is going to back his team into the playoffs this weekend and one and done... No thanks!

That may be true, however here's the question:

Where would the Steelers be with Landry Jones playing quarterback? Patriots with a QB not even on their PS? Broncos with Zac Dysert? Bengals with a QB not even listed on their PS? Colts with a QB not on their PS? You get the idea, now, the reason the Cards are in the position they are in could be because of Arians, but regardless they are now trying to win games with a 3rd strng/PS quarterback. Arians is doing a great job in the Desert and did a great job as a stand in for Pagano while he recovered from cancer.

Pappy

[fezziwig]

Next year when we get a couple top corners in the draft, Shamarko and Shazier adding some speed, and Big Dan cloggin' up the middle, this will be a top 5 D to go along with our #1 O and it will be back2back titles, #7 and #8. It all adds up.

I agree, this team is at least one or two good corners away from making a name for itself. I realize Gay is doing a pretty good job but, I hope the coaches are not satisfied with this. No disrespect to Gay but, allow Gay to do what he is best at and bring in two corners that can play man to man, ball hawk and the rest of the D will shine even brighter. Lot easier said than done but, why not wish for the best. I hope they are through with the Cortez Allen idea of him being a starter. I also hope they don't allow his big contract to force him into playing as starter. I wonder if he make it as a safety ? Maybe they can train him by having him run up and down the field with his arms up in the air ? Like they make fumblers carry footballs ha ha ha.

[Flasteel]

Do you remember all the long pass plays to Wallace? All the scripted plays to start a game that resulted in TD's? Making the most out of a horrible OL?

Making the most out of a horrible offensive line? This is where he fell on his face.

The line was indeed horrible for most of BA's time as the OC. But he continued to call long-developing plays with 5 and 7 step drops and exposing Ben to a never-ending onslaught of pass rushers. No screen game, draws, roll-outs, no-huddle, 3-step drops or anything to compensate for the poor line play. At one point BA even stated that there were no 3-step drops in his offense and wasn't going to change that. He eventually did, but that stance and comment is indicative of his mindset and why he needed to go.

[fezziwig]

Making the most out of a horrible offensive line? This is where he fell on his face.

The line was indeed horrible for most of BA's time as the OC. But he continued to call long-developing plays with 5 and 7 step drops and exposing Ben to a never-ending onslaught of pass rushers. No screen game, draws, roll-outs, no-huddle, 3-step drops or anything to compensate for the poor line play. At one point BA even stated that there were no 3-step drops in his offense and wasn't going to change that. He eventually did, but that stance and comment is indicative of his mindset and why he needed to go.

Yes, Arians was going to pound a square peg into a round hole and that was it. Haley might not be God's gift to our team but, he sure is a lot better at playing to his teams strengths and helping with their weaknesses.

[Mr.wizard]

Have you noticed how many QBs BA has gone through in a season? Do you think Ben would be healthy right now if he were still the OC?

He has gone through 2 QB's but one was Palmer, who is always hurt and Stanton who is a young QB that holds the ball. Also I think its worth noting that palmer was looking great until he got hurt.

[NorthCoast]

Roethlisberger is about to complete back to back 30+ passing TD seasons. The last time he did that was umm.... never.

Posted elsewhere, the scoring this season has been overwhelmingly 2nd and 3rd quarters. The frustration with BA was inability to make in-game adjustments. His best run design was RUTFM. Note that AZ's run game is virtually non-existent just like he failed to develop it in the 'burgh.

[fezziwig]

You could have Walter Peyton on his team and Arians would not see the value of running the ball in need be situations. I wonder if the Arizona quarterbacks are snapping the ball each play on the last second of the clock ?

[feltdizz]

Making the most out of a horrible offensive line? This is where he fell on his face.

The line was indeed horrible for most of BA's time as the OC. But he continued to call long-developing plays with 5 and 7 step drops and exposing Ben to a never-ending onslaught of pass rushers. No screen game, draws, roll-outs, no-huddle, 3-step drops or anything to compensate for the poor line play. At one point BA even stated that there were no 3-step drops in his offense and wasn't going to change that. He eventually did, but that stance and comment is indicative of his mindset and why he needed to go.

we moved the pocket around while BA was here and we tried to run screens but any screen attempt was a wasted play because our OL sucked.

Anyway you flip it we went to 2 SB's with BA and while it was ugly at times our O was feared because the RUTM set up the most deadly PA in the game.

[feltdizz]

That may be true, however here's the question:

Where would the Steelers be with Landry Jones playing quarterback? Patriots with a QB not even on their PS? Broncos with Zac Dysert? Bengals with a QB not even listed on their PS? Colts with a QB not on their PS? You get the idea, now, the reason the Cards are in the position they are in could be because of Arians, but regardless they are now trying to win games with a 3rd strng/PS quarterback. Arians is doing a great job in the Desert and did a great job as a stand in for Pagano while he recovered from cancer.

Pappy

I love it when people use logic.

Excellent post and I think a lot of people are angry because BA didn't fail like they predicted.