Coaches 2nd Bad Game in a Row?

[NorthCoast]

Didn't get to see the game today but have been reading some game summaries and it seems there were at least several coaching decisions that were highly questionable. A 54 yd FG attempt on 4 and 3 at Heinz field?? Coaches really need to start looking at themselves as part of the problem.

[SS Laser]

Fans and media give Tomlin a hard time when he "goes for it". I like when he lets his balls hang out and does questionable calls when there aggressive! But that field goal was a crap call for me. No reason to play this game close to the vest! Go balls out and if you get blown out oh well! There was no "respectable" loss here. Go out guns blazing!

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Fans and media give Tomlin a hard time when he "goes for it". I like when he lets his balls hang out and does questionable calls when there aggressive! But that field goal was a crap call for me. No reason to play this game close to the vest! Go balls out and if you get blown out oh well! There was no "respectable" loss here. Go out guns blazing!

This guy agrees with you:


Blame Tomlin: Steelers Had Chances to Beat Patriots Without Big Ben, Cam Heyward

by Eric Edholm
Oct 23, 2016, 5:59 PM


The Pittsburgh Steelers faced an early 14-point deficit to the prohibitive Super Bowl favorites, and they were attempting to come back without arguably their most indispensable players on either side of the ball. So you can understand how they’d lose at home to the New England Patriots, 27-16.


But those are mere facts, and as the Talking Heads told us all those years ago, facts are never what they seem to be. The Steelers had ample chances to win this game, and they’ve potentially cost themselves a key conference tiebreaker come playoff time. The doubter might read this statement and scoff. Did you see how many interceptable passes Landry Jones got away with? Point taken. But the Steelers shifted momentum in this game in the first half and had the Patriots on the ropes — more than once.


And what’s most stunning was how it happened: Noted risk taker Mike Tomlin, who often defies convention with his daring risks, went into the fetal position more than once in this game. He refused to do anything close to that in this game, which, um, was pretty important.


After LeGarrette Blount’s revenge-game score put the Patriots up two TDs, the Steelers struck back quickly with a 119-second TD drive of their own. And it almost was a tie game with five minutes left in the second quarter, but a holding call on guard Chris Hubbard wiped out what would have been a Darrius Heyward-Bey score. The ensuing missed field goal was a killer, too.


Even so, the Steelers’ defense tightened against Tom Brady again and got a bit of luck, too, with Brandon Bolden and Julian Edelman dropping easy passes (even if the latter also included a hold). Jones then flipped the field effectively with another drive. This time the field goal was good, but the Steelers had a shot or two at the end zone but couldn’t get the six.


Still, it was clear the drops had affected the Patriots mentally — a rare crack in their typically steely will. They moved backward on their first possession of the third quarter, and the Steelers cut the lead to 14-13 on their next series. But why was Tomlin trying to beat the Patriots with field goals? Even on a day when Brady was good but not great, the strategy was flawed.


The Steelers made it inside the Patriots’ 30-yard line six times in the first 45-plus minutes of the game but could score only 16 points. Then Tomlin completely brain-cramped: He called on Chris Boswell to attempt a 54-yard field goal on fourth and 3 from the New England 36, which predictably missed badly.


After the game, Tomlin said he did not even consider sending the offense back out there.


“I did not,” Tomlin said. “He made a similar kick over a year ago right there in that same spot and [on] the same field when we tried him out, and the weather conditions were worse than they were tonight. We were down there and had an opportunity to make it one-score game, I took that chance.”


But there were maybe only about a thousand reasons to go for it there, take your pick:


• Heinz Field is historically terrible for long attempts.
• Boswell had never made a kick longer than 51.
• He already had missed a 42-yard try with late in the first half.
• The Patriots’ defense had been on the field almost 12 of the previous 16 game minutes.
• The Steelers were down four points, so they would have still been trailing.
• They had two of the premier playmakers in the NFL in Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, who was back after missing a few plays with a hip injury.
• Most importantly: You don’t play for field goals against Bill Belichick and Brady, not with a defense that clearly missed Cam Heyward in this game.


So, so bad. That’s playing to lose. Stunning to no one, the Patriots drove 75 yards in six plays to put the game away at 27-16, which would hold up as the final score. The Steelers had nothing to lose in this game. Jones showed composure most of the game, even if he ran out of steam down the stretch. But what’s the harm in going for it?


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/blame-tomlin-steelers-had-chances-to-beat-patriots-without-big-ben-cam-heyward-235910417.html

[NJ-STEELER]

Not sure what game the guy who
wrote that was watching.
They were down by 11 not 4 when they missed the FG.

[bostonsteeler]

Fans and media give Tomlin a hard time when he "goes for it". I like when he lets his balls hang out and does questionable calls when there aggressive! But that field goal was a crap call for me. No reason to play this game close to the vest! Go balls out and if you get blown out oh well! There was no "respectable" loss here. Go out guns blazing!

Tomlin called a good game for the most part, given what we had. But that right there -- he crapped out. That may have been the game changer.

[Iron City Inc.]

No picks no sacks and only 2 tackles for losses tells a lot. Boswell has been money so I have no problem giving him a shot down 11 on 4th n 2. Wasn't his best day but it happens. AB and Coates being in n out of lineup didn't help. Jones was fair at best and against the Pats that ain't cutting it.
We need to get Cam n Bud back into this front 7 n 7 back at Q and Gilbert back at T. Week off comes at a good time.

[Keyplay1]

Not sure what game the guy who
wrote that was watching.
They were down by 11 not 4 when they missed the FG.

Yeah, 11. But a few of his points were sort of okay.

NE 27 PIT 16, 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:00 drive, 3:16 elapsed
S.Gostkowski kicks 65 yards from NE 35 to end zone, Touchback.

Pittsburgh Steelers at 11:44
1-10-PIT 25 (11:44) (Shotgun) L.Jones pass incomplete deep left to C.Hamilton (P.Chung).
2-10-PIT 25 (11:36) (Shotgun) L.Bell right tackle to PIT 28 for 3 yards (M.Brown).
3-7-PIT 28 (10:55) (Shotgun) L.Jones pass incomplete short left to D.Heyward-Bey (J.Coleman).
(10:50) (Punt formation) J.Berry punts 43 yards to NE 29, Center-G.Warren. J.Edelman to NE 41 for 12 yards (S.Johnson). FUMBLES
(S.Johnson), RECOVERED by PIT-G.Warren at NE 43. G.Warren to NE 43 for no gain (J.Edelman).
4-7-PIT 28
Pittsburgh Steelers at 10:37
1-10-NE 43 (10:37) L.Bell left guard to NE 44 for -1 yards (A.Branch).
2-11-NE 44 (10:05) (No Huddle) L.Jones pass short left to J.James to NE 36 for 8 yards (J.Collins).
3-3-NE 36 (9:14) (Shotgun) L.Jones pass incomplete short left to L.Bell [A.Johnson].
4-3-NE 36 (9:05) (Field Goal formation) C.Boswell 54 yard field goal is No Good, Wide Right, Center-G.Warren, Holder-J.Berry.

Still 27-16. But a FG there it's 27-19 so Tomlin was correct in his explanation. However considering that NE blew right thru them on their previous 2 possessions 14-13- 20-13[missed EP then quickly 27-16 like it was a piece of cake. [Incidentally much of that onslaught was done by blowing out the Steelers right side.] Dreaming that NE was done at 27 was a longshot. 16, 23, 30 possibly forcing a tie[somehow force a NE FG] was also a fantasy, none the less I would have gone for it. Even though I felt positive he would hit it .

My take. I'm buying some of the positives being tossed around. Heyward out. No doubt he is one of the best. Landry was decent. He even moved around a bit. Too bad he was not accurate on the move. That seems to be the difference maker in these QB's nowadays. He should work on that. There are a number of other positives too, but are there enough to overcome a number of suspect areas. We'll see! Ehh! Like someone said " They're still in 1st place"

[Steelerphile]

I was really surprised when he attempted 54-yard FG instead of going for it on 4th and 2. I almost thought that was no-brainer call at that point. But in terms of several bad coaching calls? I don't know. The challenge of the Gronkowski catch, I thought had no chance, but other than that I thought it was a well coached game. The Steelers were competitive with Landry Jones at QB and a defense that gets little pressure.

[feltdizz]

I was really surprised when he attempted 54-yard FG instead of going for it on 4th and 2. I almost thought that was no-brainer call at that point. But in terms of several bad coaching calls? I don't know. The challenge of the Gronkowski catch, I thought had no chance, but other than that I thought it was a well coached game. The Steelers were competitive with Landry Jones at QB and a defense that gets little pressure.

the fg attempt was the ball game.

They played much better than I expected.

No no real complaints from me.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I was really surprised when he attempted 54-yard FG instead of going for it on 4th and 2. I almost thought that was no-brainer call at that point. But in terms of several bad coaching calls? I don't know. The challenge of the Gronkowski catch, I thought had no chance, but other than that I thought it was a well coached game. The Steelers were competitive with Landry Jones at QB and a defense that gets little pressure.

I agree with you. I didn't like the 54-yard FG attempt, but otherwise, not a bad job by the coaches.

[Steelhere10]

I understand the logic, just not the call leading up to that. Hand it to bell and make it more manageable. Then you have two plays to pick it up. A made fg makes it a one score game. My problem is why didn't Gilbert get some playing time instead of Timmons on obvious pass downs.

[pittpete]

Tomlin probably started Edelman in his fantasy league

[feltdizz]

Tomlin probably started Edelman in his fantasy league

I did... lol