Randy Fichtner

[Ernie]

I'll have to say this guy is the most improved member of this team from week 1 to present... with the Steelers Defense coming in a close 2nd.

He is spreading the ball around... very good situational awareness... excellent play calling.

Looks like he and the offense are coming together nicely for the home stretch. No question at this point he's a heck of an upgrade over Todd Haley.

[Eich]

I'm not sure if Fichtner has improved all that much since the start of the season or if the offense is just starting to gel with each other. But clearly they are playing better and better as time goes on. That was a special performance on Thursday night. One for the ages.

[Ernie]

I'm not sure if Fichtner has improved all that much since the start of the season or if the offense is just starting to gel with each other. But clearly they are playing better and better as time goes on. That was a special performance on Thursday night. One for the ages.

I'd agree that the offense is starting to gel...and add that it takes execution from all parties to make that happen. From what I have seen, clearly RF's situational play calling has gotten better..

His finding balance with Conner has been the key... and sort of working off of that to feed his other weapons. That's something he struggled with early on (35+ touches v Cleveland in game one, but only 9 in their first Baltimore game).

[Steelhere10]

Fitner will be the reason why we beat NE this year, write it down as long as we don't have act key injuries. I just hate that it took so long for Haley to get the boot, several years wasted!

[Starlifter]

fichtner is ben's guy. Haley wasn't. I said at the beginning of the season, ben wanted this - and he got it. Ben owns this offense right down to the OC. I don't mean to suggest Randy didn't call a great game or have a great gameplan - he did. But those two are (in my opinion) defacto co-coordinators. I think it's important and relevant to acknowledge their successes and failures are linked. ben and haley succeeded in spite of each other, ben and randy will succeed or fail because of each other. so far, the change has worked out amazingly well. These last several weeks have produced the offense we expected on week 1.

[Steel Maniac]

No.. we got to give credit where credit is due. From day one, Fichtner has spread the ball around and made it a point to include the TE in a significant way. I pointed that out from week one. I like that because that allows Ben to get the ball out of his hands faster and take less hits.

[SidSmythe]

Fichtner's first play call was GOLDEN
After coming out all season on the 1st series and throwing WR screens he went downfield.
The CB let JuJu run by him in anticipation of a short pass.
This is what happens when teams scout themselves.

[Northern_Blitz]

I'll have to say this guy is the most improved member of this team from week 1 to present... with the Steelers Defense coming in a close 2nd.

He is spreading the ball around... very good situational awareness... excellent play calling.

Looks like he and the offense are coming together nicely for the home stretch. No question at this point he's a heck of an upgrade over Todd Haley.

I was among those who thought that this would be a mostly lateral move.

I now assume that Fichtner (and Conner) are big parts of why we've been so much better in the red zone this year.

[Buzz]

Fitner will be the reason why we beat NE this year, write it down as long as we don't have act key injuries. I just hate that it took so long for Haley to get the boot, several years wasted!

I'm really starting to like it when you make predictions. How about forecasting a Super Bowl win?

[pittpete]

1st in the NFL in Red Zone Scoring(TD's)

Thats a big difference from Haley

[Buzz]

1st in the NFL in Red Zone Scoring(TD's)

Thats a big difference from Haley

Partly because he doesn't try to get cute in red zone situations, and calls plays according to our strengths.

[Steelhere10]

I'm really starting to like it when you make predictions. How about forecasting a Super Bowl win?

Not yet, not yet.

[NorthCoast]

Missing the most important part of Fichtner's offense; last night he gave opponents' DCs an eyeful to prepare for. Imagine, who will Belichick try to neutralize in the offense? Take away AB, Conner will shine. Take away AB and Conner, JuJu and McDonald will dominate. If they can avoid turnovers, this offense will be very hard to defense.