Arians Reality Not Real

[Steeler Shades]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

Where were all of these complaints last year?

What board were you reading last year? The Trib was full of complaints about Airens and the play calling.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

Where were all of these complaints last year? Roethlisberger lit it up with 31 or 32 TD passes and Parker was leading the league in rushing before his injury. It's been said before - the problems are many - no continuity in the line, no continuity in the RB position, playing tougher defenses, and just out-and-out poor execution. The play calling has not been much different than last year.

The games the Steelers lost were not lost because of the plays being called. The Steelers lost because the quarterback failed to perform up to his ability. What was Ben's QB rating in the 4 games that the Steelers lost?

This sort of says it all about the four losses:

Philly: 1 INT+8 sacks+2 fumbles+QB rating of 50.6
Giants: 4 INTs+5 sacks+1 fumble+QB rating of 38.5
Indy: 3 INTs+2 sacks+1 fumble+QB rating of 59.0
Titans: 2 INTs+5 sacks+4 fumbles+QB rating of 86.4

I think that 10 INTs and 20 sacks in those 4 losses are a much bigger factor than a play call.

Protect the QB and secure the ball is the key. That has nothing to do with the playcalling. That is about a weak OL and a QB making bad throws.

Overall, it is hard to attack the OC when the players make too many mistakes. It is very clear that has been the case this season. Several times, the plays were there to be made. IMO, the execution is the biggest problem with this offense, not the play calling.

I believe the offense will continue to struggle when 1. Ben plays poorly 2. without better players on the Oline. The Oline is what it is right now. It is not going to change. It will be up to the Ben (see Peyton Manning and the Colt's Oline and run game) and the rest of the players on offense to step up in the playoffs. If the team gives the ball away, good chance we lose again this year.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

Where were all of these complaints last year?

What board were you reading last year? The Trib was full of complaints about Airens and the play calling.

People complained about the play calling under Cowher. People will always complain about the play calling.

[Steeler Shades]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

... It will be up to the Ben (see Peyton Manning and the Colt's Oline and run game) and the rest of the players on offense to step up in the playoffs. If the team gives the ball away, good chance we lose again this year.

Yes it will be up to "the Ben" and the offense he and Airens developed. I am personally not worried about "the team" giving the ball away.

[Chemsteel]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

I think we may be missing the point on this entire issue of the running game vs passing. I think Willie is misunderstood also. We are talking about the predictability of the Steelers Offense.

Right now the Steelers run 46% of the time and pass 54% of their plays. OK, that is approximately 50%-%50%.

Don't forget that it was Bruce Arians who said (not Coach Tomlin) he scrapped the FB in favor of another TE to make the offense more versitlie and less predictable.

When The Steelers are at the LOS, I can predict most all plays every time.

1. Two TE's or more play the run
2. Two WR's or less play the run
3. With a FB absolutely a run
4. Three WR's or more play the pass
5. Shotgun play the pass

Most all NFL teams now use the Pinnacle System in coaching. I don't know all the details but the emphasis is on the coach or teacher. Coach Noll was an advocate of emphasizing the coaches responsibility.

Mike Mularkey (remember him) instituted it this year in Atlanta with Ryan and you see the results.

The Steelers do not use any type of instructional system except Coach LeBeau who emphasises his responsibilites as a coach not just a DC. He works constantly with his players and keeps them together as a Family.

We can only hope that Coach Tomlin and Coach Arians use this against our opposition and do the opposite during the playoffs.

[Steeler Mafia]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

There were plenty of complaints about Arians last year too.

Amen, brother! BA needs to hit the door.....PERIOD!

[dirt]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

The games the Steelers lost were not lost because of the plays being called. The Steelers lost because the quarterback failed to perform up to his ability. What was Ben's QB rating in the 4 games that the Steelers lost?

This sort of says it all about the four losses:

Philly: 1 INT+8 sacks+2 fumbles+QB rating of 50.6
Giants: 4 INTs+5 sacks+1 fumble+QB rating of 38.5
Indy: 3 INTs+2 sacks+1 fumble+QB rating of 59.0
Titans: 2 INTs+5 sacks+4 fumbles+QB rating of 86.4

I think that 10 INTs and 20 sacks in those 4 losses are a much bigger factor than a play call.

Protect the QB and secure the ball is the key. That has nothing to do with the playcalling. That is about a weak OL and a QB making bad throws.

not necessarily true. play calling can lead to sacks/fumbles. when you face constant blitzes and pressure and yet stubbornly refuse to give tackles help with speed rushers, or keep a back in the backfield or call quick passes you're asking for trouble. better playcalling can help reduce the number of sacks. i don't blame all of ben's sacks on arians, i admit sometimes he holds onto the ball too long, but many times he simply has not time to get rid of the ball.

[Steeler Mafia]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

I think BA is well aware of what is reality. People seem to forget that Ben had 32 TD passes and just 11 interceptions last year. Willie Parker had rushed for 1300 yards before being injured. What changed? Obviously the OL changed. The best starter from last year left via free agency. Two other starters got injured and were basically lost for the year.

The biggest problem facing this team is a dearth of talent along the OL. The steelers are trying to win with mid round draft choices along the OL. Check out other teams who have good OL. They all have invested either first day draft picks or FA money to support their OL.

Placing all the blame on Arians for the offense's failures means that you ignore the negligence of the front office over a 10 year period. One first round pick on an OL since Faneca is not good enough.

I am not a fan of Arians non fullback offense, but the problems on offense are not all scheme/playcalling related.

Coaches are measured by performance resulting in a Super Bowl win and Lombardi Trophy. The stats are nice, but it is not the primary goal of this organization. To steal a line from the movie Good Fellas "Short on the rent this month? F*** You, Pay me! Got hit by lightning? F*** You, Pay Me!"

Ben had 32 TD passes and just 11 interceptions last year.....F*** You, Where's my Lombardi Trophy?

Willie Parker had rushed for 1300 yards before being injured.....F*** You, Where's my Lombardi Trophy?

It is time to have BA swim with the fishes.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

The games the Steelers lost were not lost because of the plays being called. The Steelers lost because the quarterback failed to perform up to his ability. What was Ben's QB rating in the 4 games that the Steelers lost?

This sort of says it all about the four losses:

Philly: 1 INT+8 sacks+2 fumbles+QB rating of 50.6
Giants: 4 INTs+5 sacks+1 fumble+QB rating of 38.5
Indy: 3 INTs+2 sacks+1 fumble+QB rating of 59.0
Titans: 2 INTs+5 sacks+4 fumbles+QB rating of 86.4

I think that 10 INTs and 20 sacks in those 4 losses are a much bigger factor than a play call.

Protect the QB and secure the ball is the key. That has nothing to do with the playcalling. That is about a weak OL and a QB making bad throws.

not necessarily true. play calling can lead to sacks/fumbles. when you face constant blitzes and pressure and yet stubbornly refuse to give tackles help with speed rushers, or keep a back in the backfield or call quick passes you're asking for trouble. better playcalling can help reduce the number of sacks. i don't blame all of ben's sacks on arians, i admit sometimes he holds onto the ball too long, but many times he simply has not time to get rid of the ball.

There is truth in what he wrote. You really backed him up. Ben's had a problem holding the ball too long since he was a rookie, issues with the Oline/protection (this is mostly a function of not having good enough players up front. It includes the TEs. I am not sure about Spaeth but Miller is an inconsistent blocker), and there are other issues.

They have given the tackles help in pass protection. There are things to consider with this too. How many rushers come from a particular side? What if the defense schemes to have the tackles block one on one (this goes for any player up front responsible for blocking)? What if the defensive players line up as though they are going to blitz and then drop into coverage? There are things that defenses can do to single up players to create one on one match ups upfront. Sometimes our defense uses these same principles to get pressure on QBs. All these things happen in seconds. It is not always as simple as giving the tackles or other players help.

They can only call quick passes so many times in a game. There are questions that need to be asked here also. Can Ben process the information quick enough on a consistent basis to have success with quick passing game? How many quick passes should they throw a game? They have tried often. There are times when Ben is a good timing and rhythm passer and times when he is not. He is inconsistent in that regard and sometimes he holds the ball too long in those situations. Do you think that has something to do with it? Defenses will eventually take those quick passes away. The better DC will tell Dlinemen to swat the ball or have defensive backs and LBs to play those passing lanes.
Overall, I think the offense has tried to mix it up with short, intermediate, and long passing plays.

There is only so much an OC can do with injuries (RBs & OL) & inconsistent play from the QB & OL. Mix those things in with penalties, dropped balls, and some other issues and we get an offense that does not play up to its potential. Be very hard pressed to come up with one OC that could over come these issues on an offense.

[NorthCoast]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

Great discussion here!

My sense on the difference between this year and last are two things. First we have played better defenses this year. Better defenses ALWAYS cause problems for any team but BA seems to struggle with adjustments or makes no adjustments at all. Second, with a season of game tape I am wondering whether opponents have already figured out this O. We have had very few 'blowout' wins this season and those that were 'comfortable' wins I would attribute more to the D than the O.
I don't disagree the line is a problem, but I am not convinced that this style of O is best for a struggling OL. Two and three TE sets with TEs that are not good blockers....what does that accomplish?

[AngryAsian]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

Everybody's vantage point on this particular subject has a level of validity. I think it is the culmination of all these things that make our offense as dismal as it has been in years. Some make the argument that this offense is the same as last year, so why did we have more success. I think the success of last year's campaign can be attributed more to the players' individual execution as opposed to the brilliance of the plays being called. We had the same OL problems, Ben had better numbers only because we had the threat of the run in Willie's big contributions last year. We don't have that element this year, and even though the play calling is about 50/50 with regards to run/pass selection, the execution is not there. We can't run on people so Ben is trying way too hard to shoulder the entire burden. Here's the crux and why I think that Arians needs to go....

A good coordinator plays to the strengths of his players and if those strengths become weaknesses because of injury or poor execution, the OC has to have enough creativity to be able to overcome the failing of his current game plan and call something different. He also has to have the ability to change up the plan of attack dependent on what the opposing defense is willing to give him... something our current OC does not do. I have yet to see us address the threat of a very stout defense with any real consistency on offense and it has been our defense that has won our games in the end. The playoffs will really shine the spotlight and will reveal if this team has the gumption on offense worthy to hoist a Lombardi. I'm hoping we are like the 2000 Ravens, because our Defense needs to be rewarded for their tireless efforts this year.

Please note that I'm not being a negative-nelly on this and this isn't to start a witch hunt, but when your team is so good that it attains a first round bye in the playoffs,in the toughest conference, only on the merits of the defensive unit... while your team was rated 24th on the offensive side of the ball. Imagine if your offense was say 9th or 10th in the league in offense... one word comes to mind.... DYNASTY!!!!

[hellbanger]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

I think his bunch formation works pretty well. One of the biggest things ive noticed this year is all the dropped balls on 3rd down that would've been a 1st down. Also on replays where Ben gets scked and the view is from behind the Steelers i can see all the backs of the WR's and none of them are looking back, thats a problem.

I have a theory that Arians doesnt work well with the other offensive coaches, Wr dont run the right routes or pick up the blitzes and run their hot routes. If anything the WR coach or Arians should be saying "hey start looking for the ball a few seconds into your routes!" that would help but i dont seem to see it.

Zeirlen must not know how to zone block himself. IDK wtf is goin on there.Considering our offensive line is new, Hartwig, Stapelton, Kemo, Starks on the left theres alot to take in with this O. Ben aint havin his best year either. All thosse hits have taken there toll in the last three years, Poor bastard.

anyway i think my point might be that theres alot more goin on then BA, change isnt always goood. Whos to say that next year his O might just work. It does take time to rebuild and im not to sure about Ben trying to learn a new offense. He still wears his cheat sheet on his wrist. This O has found a way to win all year long so whos to say they wont find a way to make BA O work.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

It isn't a must that a team run. If it is there, good, use it, if not, then the short passing game can be an extension of the run and then open up draws and pitches and such. Willie Parker sucks right now. Bottom line. Mewelde Moore is a much better option. Willie can't freaking catch. What that means is we only run on first and second down and then will throw to the RB on 3rd when Moore is in the game. You start Moore and you can dump it to the RB on any down.

Arians needs to get away from the long developing pass plays. The bunch formation can be covered by 2 defenders until the WR seperate out and get far into their routes. They also need to get away from the five step drops. Use the short game and if CB get jumpy then pump fake on a short route & go deep.

I think one overlooked aspect as to why our offense isn't moving like it should is the inability of our WR to get open when one on one. And if he does happen to throw it deep one on one, 7 out of 8 times our WR don't even get a hand on it. Other than Hines they are totally afraid of going up against a defender and catching the pass at its highest point. You hear all these stories about how athletic Nate is and how great he can leap, but I can't recall one time him going up for a pass and catching it, unless nobody is within 5 yards of him.

We haven't tried one fade pass to our 6'6" WR in Sweed? Does he really need to know the offense to run the fade? Come on. You would think a team struggling in the red zone would try that at least a few times.

[TallyStiller]

Re: Arians Reality Not Real

The point, to me, though is this... I don't see Arians going anywhere, regardless. The only way he gets run after a 12 - 4 season is if, God forbid, we turn it over 6 or 7 times and lose 47 - 3 to San Diego on Sunday. Since I don't see that happening, we re - tool the O line a little, and he stays.