Canada's Offense

[Northern_Blitz]

Speculating, but I think there was a good chance Roethlisberger would not be back if he didn't take a salary reduction. His salary this season is 29th in the league. This is good value for the play they may get from him. (although cap hit makes him top 10).

I think it's true that he may not have been back without the pay cut.

But I think that it's important to remember that the $5M pay cut is mostly about saving money on next year's cap ($4M) vs. this year's cap ($1M).

So I think the pay cut was more about the future than the present.

[hawaiiansteel]

Pittsburgh Steelers
2020 record: 12-4

Situation: It's Ben Roethlisberger and everyone else, which normally wouldn't be a concern -- except that Roethlisberger is 39 years old and coming off a season in which his yards per attempt were down almost a full yard from his previous career low for a full campaign, and 10 of his 14 interceptions (playoffs included) came over his final seven games, four of them losses.

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada: "I think in football, it is 11 men doing their job, but the quarterback is their focal point. We are going to do what Ben wants to do and how Ben wants to do it. Our job is putting every player in a position to make plays."

Translation: "We know Ben is not the player he once was, and he's extremely sensitive to criticism that his game and his arm strength have slipped since the 2019 elbow surgery, so we have to keep him engaged by consistently stressing that he's the fuel that makes the offense go, even though rookie running back Najee Harris will be the focal point." There is a reason Canada also told the media he had a directive from ownership, the front office and coach Mike Tomlin to run the football, and that's because Roethlisberger can no longer carry an offense by himself. He has enjoyed an exceptional career that figures to land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but if the veteran QB isn't real with himself that the offense no longer runs through him, it will be a long year for Canada and the Steelers.

https://www.nfl.com/news/quarterback-translator-is-justin-fields-truly-the-backup-could-derek-carr-premat

[Steel Maniac]

Offense was practicing a ton of two TE formation with motion before the snap. Factoring in the drafting of PF, and our new commitment to run the ball, you gotta feel like we are definitely going to use a lot more of two TE formations. DJ is going to be set at the “Y” position but I’m wondering who is the starter at the “ X”? Juju is lobbying to be out there but I can’t see them moving CC from there because he’s such a mismatch.

Not to say we’ll never go 3 wide but it doesn’t appear we will be nearly going 3 wide as much as we used to.

[NorthCoast]

Pittsburgh Steelers
2020 record: 12-4

Situation: It's Ben Roethlisberger and everyone else, which normally wouldn't be a concern -- except that Roethlisberger is 39 years old and coming off a season in which his yards per attempt were down almost a full yard from his previous career low for a full campaign, and 10 of his 14 interceptions (playoffs included) came over his final seven games, four of them losses.

Offensive coordinator Matt Canada: "I think in football, it is 11 men doing their job, but the quarterback is their focal point. We are going to do what Ben wants to do and how Ben wants to do it. Our job is putting every player in a position to make plays."

Translation: "We know Ben is not the player he once was, and he's extremely sensitive to criticism that his game and his arm strength have slipped since the 2019 elbow surgery, so we have to keep him engaged by consistently stressing that he's the fuel that makes the offense go, even though rookie running back Najee Harris will be the focal point." There is a reason Canada also told the media he had a directive from ownership, the front office and coach Mike Tomlin to run the football, and that's because Roethlisberger can no longer carry an offense by himself. He has enjoyed an exceptional career that figures to land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but if the veteran QB isn't real with himself that the offense no longer runs through him, it will be a long year for Canada and the Steelers.

https://www.nfl.com/news/quarterback...ek-carr-premat

Disagree with "Translation". I didn't see any evidence that Roethlisberger's arm strength was fading. In fact, he had at least a few overthrows on long passes. The other part isn't news either. Roethlisberger has always been at his best when he had a good ground game to go with the passing.

[feltdizz]

Offense was practicing a ton of two TE formation with motion before the snap. Factoring in the drafting of PF, and our new commitment to run the ball, you gotta feel like we are definitely going to use a lot more of two TE formations. DJ is going to be set at the “Y” position but I’m wondering who is the starter at the “ X”? Juju is lobbying to be out there but I can’t see them moving CC from there because he’s such a mismatch.

Not to say we’ll never go 3 wide but it doesn’t appear we will be nearly going 3 wide as much as we used to.

I think we will have JuJu in the slot as a blocker more often this year.

I also don’t think Pat will get a ton if snaps this year. I think RZ is where he will be utilized.

One thing we don’t want is to tip our hand with Pat on the field strictly on running plays.

[hawaiiansteel]

Offense was practicing a ton of two TE formation with motion before the snap. Factoring in the drafting of PF, and our new commitment to run the ball, you gotta feel like we are definitely going to use a lot more of two TE formations.

but but but we should have drafted an OL earlier instead of PF...

it's a good thing you know more than Kevin Colbert

[Northern_Blitz]

Offense was practicing a ton of two TE formation with motion before the snap. Factoring in the drafting of PF, and our new commitment to run the ball, you gotta feel like we are definitely going to use a lot more of two TE formations. DJ is going to be set at the “Y” position but I’m wondering who is the starter at the “ X”? Juju is lobbying to be out there but I can’t see them moving CC from there because he’s such a mismatch.

Not to say we’ll never go 3 wide but it doesn’t appear we will be nearly going 3 wide as much as we used to.

I hope we don't do too much 2 TE.

Our WRs are too good 3 deep. Claypool will take a seat in this formation, and I think he's our best bet for explosive plays so I'd prefer he gets lots of snaps.

Hopefully that keeps the thread alive if teams want to crowd the box against us.

[Steel Maniac]

I hope we don't do too much 2 TE.

Our WRs are too good 3 deep. Claypool will take a seat in this formation, and I think he's our best bet for explosive plays so I'd prefer he gets lots of snaps.

Hopefully that keeps the thread alive if teams want to crowd the box against us.

You really think CC takes a seat? Juju on the outside is not particularly that effective. He's effective out of the slot. CC on the outside can't be jammed at the line and is a physical mismatch for any second cornerback in the league.

[hawaiiansteel]

I hope we don't do too much 2 TE.

it's a good wrinkle to have and will give other teams something to think about especially since Ebron and Freiermuth are good receivers also.

[Northern_Blitz]

You really think CC takes a seat? Juju on the outside is not particularly that effective. He's effective out of the slot. CC on the outside can't be jammed at the line and is a physical mismatch for any second cornerback in the league.

Yes.

I think that CC is the 3rd best WR even though I think he's the most explosive player.

I think we'd use 2TEs in situations where we probably want the guy who gets the most separation (DJ) and the guy who's the most reliable receiver (JJSS).

I think 11 is going to be our best personnel grouping in general.

There will be a place for 2TEs, but I hope we don't overuse it because it sits one of the WRs down (I think CC). And I think all 3 of the WRs are likely "better" than both TEs.

[NJ-STEELER]

Pittsburgh Steelers
2020 record: 12-4


https://www.nfl.com/news/quarterback...ek-carr-premat

I'm confused by some of these national writers. are their memories really that bad?

we had a RB here a few years ago where most people and analysts said we ran the wheels off him.

how does that happen if the QB is reluctant to run the ball and only focus on his passing?


maybe now that they have a better talent at the position they will utilize the running game more. that actually sounds like a good plan.
if successful, maybe the FO gets crazzzzzy and tries to address the offense with high picks for 2 years in a Row.
that would be Mind boggling. LOLOLOL

do these writers think if we
showcased the likes of james connor, J smaules, benny snell footbal. we would have taken the league by storm and challenged that 70's miami team for undefeated season/s?

[NJ-STEELER]

I hope we don't do too much 2 TE.

Our WRs are too good 3 deep. Claypool will take a seat in this formation, and I think he's our best bet for explosive plays so I'd prefer he gets lots of snaps.

Hopefully that keeps the thread alive if teams want to crowd the box against us.

i don't see CC coming off the field in those formation. haven't keyed in on him but with his size,
i'm assuming he's a much better blocker then DJ

[Steel Maniac]

Yes.

I think that CC is the 3rd best WR even though I think he's the most explosive player.

I think we'd use 2TEs in situations where we probably want the guy who gets the most separation (DJ) and the guy who's the most reliable receiver (JJSS).

I think 11 is going to be our best personnel grouping in general.

There will be a place for 2TEs, but I hope we don't overuse it because it sits one of the WRs down (I think CC). And I think all 3 of the WRs are likely "better" than both TEs.

With the commitment to run the ball and the need to not expose Ben as much, I could see us using the two TE formation more than anyone thinks. But I see the point your trying to make. Especially since we’re paying Juju 8 mil this year.

[Captain Lemming]

With the commitment to run the ball and the need to not expose Ben as much, I could see us using the two TE formation more than anyone thinks. But I see the point your trying to make. Especially since we’re paying Juju 8 mil this year.

I'd rather have Juju OR Claypool blocking than Ebron.

[Captain Lemming]

I'm confused by some of these national writers. are their memories really that bad?

we had a RB here a few years ago where most people and analysts said we ran the wheels off him.

how does that happen if the QB is reluctant to run the ball and only focus on his passing?

Bell had only one season with over 300 rush attempts, 329 in 2017 to lead the league.

During that season we were 20th in rushing and 3rd in passing as a team.

Bell ran a ton individually. But as a team we ran less that most teams. Our offense was DEFINITELY pass centric.

They say we "run the wheels" of Bell not because WE ran alot. Fact is ONLY Bell did most all the running when we did run. At to that his 85 catches and we definitely ran the wheels off...but not just "running".