The Silver Lining...

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Sorry to keep going back to the radio post game show yesterday.Charlie Batch was one of the guys on there,and he said the coaching staff needs to drill into Vicks head,stay in the pocket,and don't be afraid to throw the ball away.In other words,don't get hurt and manage the game.

to a point, he's right. last thing we need is Vick to get hurt. However, staying healthy at the expense of not doing what you do best is only useful if you're actually winning games. Looking at this year's schedule, I'm not sure a game manager is good enough. I guess time will tell

[RuthlessBurgher]

Sorry to keep going back to the radio post game show yesterday.Charlie Batch was one of the guys on there,and he said the coaching staff needs to drill into Vicks head,stay in the pocket,and don't be afraid to throw the ball away.In other words,don't get hurt and manage the game.

Mike Tomlin: We’re going to work in Michael Vick’s comfort zone


Posted by Josh Alper on September 28, 2015, 1:13 PM EDT


The Steelers lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a knee injury on Sunday and that means they’ll be playing without him in the coming weeks as he recovers.


On Monday, coach Mike Tomlin said he didn’t know how long the sprained MCL would keep Roethlisberger out of the lineup but estimates have targeted 4-6 weeks as the amount of time it will take for the quarterback to recover. With Roethlisberger sidelined, the Steelers will be starting Michael Vick at quarterback and that’s a very different look for the team.


As a result, Tomlin said that the offense is going to look different.


“We’re not going to assume certain things because Mike is a veteran player, and he’s up to speed on a large body of work,” Tomlin said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We’re going to work in his comfort zone and bring the game to him, to allow him to put us in the best position to win the football game.


Early in his career, that would have meant putting the ball and offense in Vick’s hands (and feet) as often as possible. That hasn’t been a great plan in recent years, however, and Vick’s shaky work on Sunday against the Rams offered a reminder that the 35-year-old Vick is a more limited player.


That’s likely to mean more work for Le’Veon Bell and DeAngelo Williams on the ground and more creativity when it comes to getting the ball to wide receiver Antonio Brown. And it’s certain to mean that the Steelers defense will need more outings like Sunday’s if the team is going to keep winning until Roethlisberger returns to action.

[URL]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/28/mike-tomlin-were-going-to-work-in-michael-vicks-comfort-zone/[/URL]

[buccoray61]

to a point, he's right. last thing we need is Vick to get hurt. However, staying healthy at the expense of not doing what you do best is only useful if you're actually winning games. Looking at this year's schedule, I'm not sure a game manager is good enough. I guess time will tell

It's funny,they were just talking about this on NFL insider on ESPN. They said Vick needs to manage the game.He's 35 years old,if he trys running,it's not a matter of he gets hurt,but when. He has 97 or 98 career fumbles,the most of any active QB in the league.Vick is going to have to be a different QB than he's ever been. I hope he's up to it.

[WindyCitySteel]

Hand the ball off, play action. Keep it simple. If they stack the box, use that cannon arm to throw over the top of it.

We still have a good OL and the best back and WR in football. When we're down to Landry Jones, I'll panic.

[Snatch98]

It's funny,they were just talking about this on NFL insider on ESPN. They said Vick needs to manage the game.He's 35 years old,if he trys running,it's not a matter of he gets hurt,but when. He has 97 or 98 career fumbles,the most of any active QB in the league.Vick is going to have to be a different QB than he's ever been. I hope he's up to it.

His first terrific season with the eagles be pocket passed more then he's ever pocket passed. He still ran plenty but he stayed in the pocket too. II think Vick has all the tools to excel in our system. He just may need a game (unfortunately the ravens) to work out some kinks.

[RuthlessBurgher]

His first terrific season with the eagles be pocket passed more then he's ever pocket passed. He still ran plenty but he stayed in the pocket too. II think Vick has all the tools to excel in our system. He just may need a game (unfortunately the ravens) to work out some kinks.

Vick did seem to develop a rapport with Martavis Bryant during the preseason, but he's also unfortunately not available until after the Ravens game.

[Starlifter]

I don't know.

could vick be a disaster? perhaps.

but i tend to think this will be just fine. we might not be as explosive with ben - but dang do we have a bunch of playmakers. hand it to LB. hand it to D'angelo. quick hits to AB. long bombs to Martavais. look for heath in the zone. when all else fails, take off. I think as long as he safely delivers the ball into the hands of these guys - we will continue to score big.

[NorthCoast]

It's funny,they were just talking about this on NFL insider on ESPN. They said Vick needs to manage the game.He's 35 years old,if he trys running,it's not a matter of he gets hurt,but when. He has 97 or 98 career fumbles,the most of any active QB in the league.Vick is going to have to be a different QB than he's ever been. I hope he's up to it.

So you are basically asking if a tiger can change his stripes?.... hmmmm.....

[Flasteel]

I don't know.

could vick be a disaster? perhaps.

but i tend to think this will be just fine. we might not be as explosive with ben - but dang do we have a bunch of playmakers. hand it to LB. hand it to D'angelo. quick hits to AB. long bombs to Martavais. look for heath in the zone. when all else fails, take off. I think as long as he safely delivers the ball into the hands of these guys - we will continue to score big.

I agree with this. There's no way you can erase the stink from the situation, but we still have a very dynamic offense around Vick. He has the ability to make all of the throws and can make positive plays with his legs. If he can simply not turn the ball over and stay healthy our offense should still be tough to defend.

Aside from Vick not becoming a turnover machine, the other key is the defense. Maybe it's as simple as the difference between playing against Tom Brady or the likes of Colin Kaepernick and Nick Foles?

Okay...it's definitely got something to do with that.

But I also believe the defense has shown signs of improvement. Improvement over each week of the season and improvement over what we saw last year. There seems to be more consistent pressure on the quarterback and more stout play in the front seven overall. The back end of the defense has even shown some signs that it is not a total dumpster fire.

To me, it seems they are all of the sudden trending up, after 3 or 4 seasons of trending down.

If this defense can continue to improve...even slightly, then not only does this team still have a chance to weather the storm, they will be a force to rekon with when Super 7 gets back.

[SS Laser]

I agree with flip and think no Ben could help this team in the long run this season! Sharpen the O and D for when what I think will still be a gimpy Ben! Ben will still need some real help when he returns! There can be no breather just because Ben is back! Vick needs to play lights out IMO. Show he is still a special player! Will see he true colors come Thursday!
GO STEELERS!

[Slapstick]

All Vick has to do is pretend that he is playing against the Steelers, and he will be great...

[Ernie]

The Ravens stink. I think we're 3-1 after Thursday night, but then things get dicey.

Bottom line, we have to hope the Chiefs, Chargers, Jets, and Bills don't stack wins - that's who we're fighting for a wild card.

The Rats' record would indicate that... but I think we struggle on Thursday night. Baltimore will bring their A game...with their rival rolling in to town...and not wanting to start out 0-4. I've seen it happen too many times with this bunch over the years. Hope I'm wrong though...and we get the W

[WindyCitySteel]

The Rats' record would indicate that... but I think we struggle on Thursday night. Baltimore will bring their A game...with their rival rolling in to town...and not wanting to start out 0-4. I've seen it happen too many times with this bunch over the years. Hope I'm wrong though...and we get the W

That was the story last Sunday, when there was no way Baltimore would lose at home to a division rival and drop to 0-3. Cincy let them back in that game and they still found a way to lose.

The 2015 Ravens are a lot like the 2013 Steelers. Too many good players missing from a Super Bowl three years removed.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Rats' record would indicate that... but I think we struggle on Thursday night. Baltimore will bring their A game...with their rival rolling in to town...and not wanting to start out 0-4. I've seen it happen too many times with this bunch over the years. Hope I'm wrong though...and we get the W

They are rolling into our town on Thursday...we are not rolling into theirs...

[WindyCitySteel]

They are rolling into our town on Thursday...we are not rolling into theirs...

They're more or less oozing in, but yeah, this one is in Pittsburgh.