Paul Zeise: Steelers' standard under Mike Tomlin has been lowered

[Northern_Blitz]

To be fair, Cowher kinda did turtle up in the actual SB, he reverted back but it ended up working out. Ben had a terrible game overall so probably it was the right gameplan but at the same time I've always kind of wondered if the gameplan itself (play it safe, be conservative, don't make a mistake) made Ben more prone to making mistakes, like a mental thing idk. It definitely was a different approach to previous games in that playoff run.

It's not in the same ballpark, but hopefully this was the case for Mason when he was starting 2 years ago too. We certainly seemed to be in the "just don't make a mistake and hopefully the D will score" mode on offense that year.

If so, maybe he can be somewhere around average (or at least not in the lowest tier of starting QBs)?

[feltdizz]

To be fair, Cowher kinda did turtle up in the actual SB, he reverted back but it ended up working out. Ben had a terrible game overall so probably it was the right gameplan but at the same time I've always kind of wondered if the gameplan itself (play it safe, be conservative, don't make a mistake) made Ben more prone to making mistakes, like a mental thing idk. It definitely was a different approach to previous games in that playoff run.

Ben didn’t have a good game. Remember the pick in the end zone?

Cowher gave Ben chances but it was obvious he wasn’t the same player as the one we saw in the 3 games prior.

[Captain Lemming]

Ben didn’t have a good game. Remember the pick in the end zone?

Cowher gave Ben chances but it was obvious he wasn’t the same player as the one we saw in the 3 games prior.

Frank truth is that Bens 1st SB was no better than NODs.

If we had record breaking TD runs and a receiver throwing the best pass of the day for a touchdown, and our defense controlled the other team like they did in 2005, NODs legacy as a Steeler would be VERY different despite having a terrible game.

[crushedspirit]

Ben threw 21 passes vs. the Seahawks in the SB. We ran 33 times. If we take out ARE's pass we ran on 39% of plays. Not exactly run, run, pass (33%), but pretty close.

Matt Hasselbeck threw 49 passes and they ran 25 times. So they ran 66% of the time (run, pass, pass).

The AFCC was different. There we passed on 46% of plays. <-- I thought that this was his best game, but the Indy game was good too.

Divisional round: 57%

Wild Card: 36%

These aren't the be all end all stats, especially since they don't take into account game flow or opponent weaknesses. But I'm not sure there's a trend of him trusting Ben more and more. Particularly in the SB.

If you remember, Cowher tended to have a short leash in terms of trust for his QB. Up to the point Ben threw his first pick, they were passing more than running in that SB, but it was apparent at that point Ben wasn't on his game, so he relied on the run game and D to take over. In the previous games leading up to the SB, I haven't checked, but I'm positive the pass ratio was higher in the first half in all of them, then the run game took over in the second half to close things out. That was the strategy in each game, but it almost backfired vs Manning in that 4th quarter. His trust for Ben early on was visibly apparent during that run. Cowher rarely, if ever, approached games that aggressively in any playoff run throughout his career.

[T.Ferguson]

It's not in the same ballpark, but hopefully this was the case for Mason when he was starting 2 years ago too. We certainly seemed to be in the "just don't make a mistake and hopefully the D will score" mode on offense that year.

If so, maybe he can be somewhere around average (or at least not in the lowest tier of starting QBs)?

Maybe, we can hope, MR just seems to be missing some intangibles to me idk, we'll see.

[crushedspirit]

That SB loss still hurts, honestly. Cowher had that team ready for a colossal upset as a 13.5 pt underdog against a team with 6 HOF players out of their 22 starters. They held that offense to a measly 254 yards. O'Donnell started his second half trash on that first drive that stalled at the Dallas 33. That game was won, and only O'Donnell snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The Dallas Offense was dead in the water that second half, and were going nowhere.

O'Donnell gave Dallas the ball at the Steelers own 18 and 6, which was deadly for 2 TDs against. He also stalled drives at the Dallas 33 and 19 that could have went for more points. Ben was bad for sure, but O'Donnell was downright brutal at crucial times in a close game.

[crushedspirit]

Yes it was about something else. You jumped in on a point I was making to Steel Maniac.

He always discredits Tomlins early years. It is a long standing argument we have had.

You and I mostly agree.

I don't dispute Tomlins recent playoff struggles.

To be honest in those early years, it appeared Tomlin was a continuation of Cowher in many ways, as he carried much of the same passion and motivational influence.

[Northern_Blitz]

If you remember, Cowher tended to have a short leash in terms of trust for his QB. Up to the point Ben threw his first pick, they were passing more than running in that SB, but it was apparent at that point Ben wasn't on his game, so he relied on the run game and D to take over. In the previous games leading up to the SB, I haven't checked, but I'm positive the pass ratio was higher in the first half in all of them, then the run game took over in the second half to close things out. That was the strategy in each game, but it almost backfired vs Manning in that 4th quarter. His trust for Ben early on was visibly apparent during that run. Cowher rarely, if ever, approached games that aggressively in any playoff run throughout his career.

I do remember being pleasantly surprised with the strategy of throwing early. And with the results we got.

It's like Cowher slow-played most of his career with run-run-pass for the games against the Colts and Broncos. And being able to get early leads in those two games was really important IMO (vs. more recent playoff games where we dig big holes early).

[Chucktownsteeler]

That SB loss still hurts, honestly. Cowher had that team ready for a colossal upset as a 13.5 pt underdog against a team with 6 HOF players out of their 22 starters. They held that offense to a measly 254 yards. O'Donnell started his second half trash on that first drive that stalled at the Dallas 33. That game was won, and only O'Donnell snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The Dallas Offense was dead in the water that second half, and were going nowhere.

O'Donnell gave Dallas the ball at the Steelers own 18 and 6, which was deadly for 2 TDs against. He also stalled drives at the Dallas 33 and 19 that could have went for more points. Ben was bad for sure, but O'Donnell was downright brutal at crucial times in a close game.

Yes and I agree coaching was part of this. I re-watched the SB not too long ago and the Steelers were imposing their will on the Cowbaoys and Bam Morris was running the ball down their throats (before the last pick). Dallas' defense was gassed and we had no reason at that time to throw the ball. Not sure if it was Cowher or Moore that called the pass play but it was entirely rediculous to do so. We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

[T.Ferguson]

If you remember, Cowher tended to have a short leash in terms of trust for his QB. Up to the point Ben threw his first pick, they were passing more than running in that SB, but it was apparent at that point Ben wasn't on his game, so he relied on the run game and D to take over. In the previous games leading up to the SB, I haven't checked, but I'm positive the pass ratio was higher in the first half in all of them, then the run game took over in the second half to close things out. That was the strategy in each game, but it almost backfired vs Manning in that 4th quarter. His trust for Ben early on was visibly apparent during that run. Cowher rarely, if ever, approached games that aggressively in any playoff run throughout his career.

The only playoff game pre-Ben where I thought Cowher and the offense came out aggressively throwing the ball was in the AFCCG in 97 against the Broncos and it's still baffling to me. Kordell Stewart finished the game 18/36 for 201 yards, 1 TD 3 INTs, one of which was when the offense was at the Denver 5 yard line. In the first half, Stewart was 6/17 for 69 yards, 2 INTs, Bettis 11 carries 49 yards, this was a game where the run game was working and the team elected to go away from it at key times throughout the game. Very frustrating, I always felt Cowher had more faith in Kordell than he probably should have.

[crushedspirit]

The only playoff game pre-Ben where I thought Cowher and the offense came out aggressively throwing the ball was in the AFCCG in 97 against the Broncos and it's still baffling to me. Kordell Stewart finished the game 18/36 for 201 yards, 1 TD 3 INTs, one of which was when the offense was at the Denver 5 yard line. In the first half, Stewart was 6/17 for 69 yards, 2 INTs, Bettis 11 carries 49 yards, this was a game where the run game was working and the team elected to go away from it at key times throughout the game. Very frustrating, I always felt Cowher had more faith in Kordell than he probably should have.

Didn't he do the same the week before that game against NE?, but thankfully Bledsoe handed them the win. He trusted Korky way more than I ever would have, and he was burnt by it more than once.

[crushedspirit]

Yes and I agree coaching was part of this. I re-watched the SB not too long ago and the Steelers were imposing their will on the Cowbaoys and Bam Morris was running the ball down their throats (before the last pick). Dallas' defense was gassed and we had no reason at that time to throw the ball. Not sure if it was Cowher or Moore that called the pass play but it was entirely rediculous to do so. We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

I can't watch that game anymore, it just hurts every time. There was over 4 mins left with a chance to win or tie, even after his first disastrous INT. Long drive kills the game there, as they were moving the ball at will the entire half. Passing on first and second down was questionable, but it did work on the previous two drives. No matter the call, O'Donnell should have been tarred and feathered after that. Probably two of the worst passes in SB history. That D poured their heart and souls on the field, and this bum gave the game away.

[Steel Maniac]

It does hurt and I too can’t watch it because of that.

[hawaiiansteel]

I can't watch that game anymore, it just hurts every time. There was over 4 mins left with a chance to win or tie, even after his first disastrous INT. Long drive kills the game there, as they were moving the ball at will the entire half. Passing on first and second down was questionable, but it did work on the previous two drives. No matter the call, O'Donnell should have been tarred and feathered after that. Probably two of the worst passes in SB history. That D poured their heart and souls on the field, and this bum gave the game away.

the first interception by NOD was a poorly thrown ball to Ernie Mills, but didn't Andre Hastings run the wrong route on the second one?

[T.Ferguson]

the first interception by NOD was a poorly thrown ball to Ernie Mills, but didn't Andre Hastings run the wrong route on the second one?

I thought it was Corey Holliday that ran the wrong route, I think he misread the coverage and didn't break out? Holliday had a very brief NFL career. From what I remember from the game is Dallas was struggling against the 5 wide as the game went on but NOD was clearly nervous as hell, if he had settled down I don't think they are stopping the Steelers. I also find it hard to watch anything from that game today.