Has Tomlin lost this team?

[Ernie]

Did Fichnter teach Canada about the slow starts? Cause it was a problem last season as well.

Are you making the case that RF should have been retained? That Canada should be retained?

[Ernie]

I attribute it to the QB who is a slow starter his entire career. Over the years different OCs attempted to get Ben out of his funk early. Remember the WR screens some fans hated? Give Ben easy throws to warm him up.

How about putting the offense in manageable down and distances only for Ben to over look a wide open WR for a 1st down and throw the low % pass down field.

Look this was Ben's offense. Ultimately, the QB/defense dictates where the ball goes. OCs give experienced QBs options.

IMO Ben short changed the Steelers and fans to an extent. Ben never lived up to his full potential as a player. Why? 1st to leave the building and the last to enter the building attitude. Ben did it his way and won a lot of games and will be in the HOF. I think he probably cheated us fans out of another Superbowl or two based on his talent and teams that were built around him.

In a game where split second decisions matter...

I wont argue with most of that. Ben certainly put us at a disadvantage in the latter part of his career... frequently skipping out on practices... and seldom seeing the field during the pre season. With that being said... Canada is not an NFL caliber OC... and RF was rightfully fired last year for a reason.
In my mind...Canada earned his final paycheck last night on last night's performance alone.. you know as well as I do.. that the early playcalling was scripted.. the Chiefs knew it was coming also... and as a result.. we had 50 yards of total offense (when it mattered).

[whatever]

I wont argue with most of that. Ben certainly put us at a disadvantage in the latter part of his career... frequently skipping out on practices... and seldom seeing the field during the pre season. With that being said... Canada is not an NFL caliber OC... and RF was rightfully fired last year for a reason.
In my mind...Canada earned his final paycheck last night on last night's performance alone.. you know as well as I do.. that the early playcalling was scripted.. the Chiefs knew it was coming also... and as a result.. we had 50 yards of total offense (when it mattered).

It sure seems like we would have heard about Ben refusing to practice or play in those preseason games when he was told to do so by his HC.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I give you an example of how I believe the coaches attempted to adapt to the limitations of their players on offense.

The Steelers coaches attempted to place the Steelers offense in 3rd and managable distance. They had some degree off success vs the Chiefs. Unfortunately, poor player execution failed the offense. Missed blocks, dropped passes, poor QB decision making, poorly thrown balls, ect limited the offenses ability to extend drives.

Extend drives and keep the Chiefs potent offense off the field. Don't extend drives and the Chiefs will eventually take advantage of any defense. We knew this going into the game. Steelers defense kept it close for as long as they could with little offensive support.

The limitations of this offense began with the Oline so the play calling reflected that. Ben was the quickest release in the league this season, and was even quicker yesterday. Even with the quick release, there was pressure given up on almost every throw.

How did they adjust to that? Quick slants against a D that had almost every man close to the LOS. When they tried to go deep, instead of waiting to see the coverage, and allowing time to get separation, Ben dropped back and lofted the ball in the air trying to get it to where he hoped his receiver would be in 5 seconds, well before the receiver could even determine how to adjust his route to coverage. So what did we see? receivers that stopped running while the ball sailed to nowhere. Receivers going one way, the ball going the other. Ben throwing into double coverage because he threw before knowing where the safety was going.

Awful line + QB afraid to take a hit = the garbage we have watched all season.