Let's Not Panic People...
Forgive my lack of posting, it's been a very busy football season.
I know everyone in the Steeler Nation is scratching their head and wondering what the hell has happened to our beloved Steelers. Believe me, I was doing more than scratching my head around 4:00 pm Eastern time last Sunday when the Steelers fell to a clearly inferior team. Let's just say I have a very good wife who understands my passion for Steeler football and understands why I get so upset when we do something as stupid as muff a punt, or fumble on a well executed screen pass.
After calming down and going over the game in my head, I realized that it was some very silly mistakes that gave Cinci the biggest give they'll receive all year; a win in Pittsburgh. And I seriously believe it was coaching mistakes that have us starting the season at 1-2. Allow me to explain.
Jacksonville and play calling. When you have 3rd and 2 and your offense has sputtered through 3 quarters, you never, ever throw a timing pattern to the sideline. What you do is send Heath Miller, arguably a premier tight end in this league, on a 5 yard out pattern, have been roll out in that same direction and dump it to him. It's practically a guaranteed first down. The running game: I recognize the importance of up the gut running. I do. I'm a fan of that. But when the defensive line you're playing against has a combined weight of 480,000 lbs, you may want to consider some sweeps with your running back that is known as FAST WILLY! I know, they want to make a statement that Willy can run between the tackles. But against the Jacksonville D-Line, there is no between. You have to let him get to the corner and work his magic.
Cincinnati and discipline. It goes without saying that the yardage we lost on TWO un-sportsman like conduct penalties were crucial in this game. Our last drive for the endzone, that we ended up starting on our own 10 yard line was severely damaged by Mike Logan's taunting penalty. Instead of starting on the 20, we start on the 10, and if all other things are equal, we're on the 7 yard line needing a touchdown to tie the game instead of the 17. I don't half to tell you, because you are the greatest football fans on the planet, how many more options you have when you only need 7 yards. That penalty is the result of a complete loss of discipline which is never expected out of the Pittsburgh Steelers. We're not Oakland for crying loud. Coach Cohwer has stated it will never happen again and he was very serious when he said it. So, let's hope this issue will not be revisited this season.
Cincinnati and special teams. We are far too specialized in out punt return scheme. Coclough routinely has trouble fielding punts, even in practice. But they've stated they put him in when they have a shot at a return and they put in Santonio Holmes when it will be a deep punt and they just need a catch. Well, first and foremost, they always need a catch. That's rule number one in punt returns, catch the freakin ball. Pick one guy and let him roll. This is a coaching decision. And it's a bad coaching decision. There is so much at risk on a punt return, you never, ever put a guy back there with questionable hands. There's a reason Coclough is a defensive back and not a wide receiver. That reason is he can't catch. The muffed punt completely changed the complexion of that game and took the wind right out of the defense.
That being said, we must not panic. I know Ben doesn't look good right now. 5 interceptions and zero TD passes, 3 fewer TD passes than his back up QB Charlie Batch. He has two weeks in a row with a passer rating in the 30's, and that is worse than Kerry Collins right now. But, I'll tell you this, Ben didn't lose this game on Sunday. The coaches did. Ben played good enough to win, though his stats didn't reflect it. Ben will get it back. I'm not worried about Ben. Willy is running well. Our line is blocking well for the most part. And our defense is playing some outstanding football, despite Troy's obvious shoulder problems.
When Ben gets his stride back, which will get Hines smiling again, we get Davenport some touches to allow Willy some rest, we get Troy healthy, we're going to win some football games. This team has been here before. Down and out with their back against he wall. If you'll recall, we were 1 game over 500 in December of last year and we won the Super Bowl. We're in familiar territory. And we'll find our way.
As always, go Steelers!
I know everyone in the Steeler Nation is scratching their head and wondering what the hell has happened to our beloved Steelers. Believe me, I was doing more than scratching my head around 4:00 pm Eastern time last Sunday when the Steelers fell to a clearly inferior team. Let's just say I have a very good wife who understands my passion for Steeler football and understands why I get so upset when we do something as stupid as muff a punt, or fumble on a well executed screen pass.
After calming down and going over the game in my head, I realized that it was some very silly mistakes that gave Cinci the biggest give they'll receive all year; a win in Pittsburgh. And I seriously believe it was coaching mistakes that have us starting the season at 1-2. Allow me to explain.
Jacksonville and play calling. When you have 3rd and 2 and your offense has sputtered through 3 quarters, you never, ever throw a timing pattern to the sideline. What you do is send Heath Miller, arguably a premier tight end in this league, on a 5 yard out pattern, have been roll out in that same direction and dump it to him. It's practically a guaranteed first down. The running game: I recognize the importance of up the gut running. I do. I'm a fan of that. But when the defensive line you're playing against has a combined weight of 480,000 lbs, you may want to consider some sweeps with your running back that is known as FAST WILLY! I know, they want to make a statement that Willy can run between the tackles. But against the Jacksonville D-Line, there is no between. You have to let him get to the corner and work his magic.
Cincinnati and discipline. It goes without saying that the yardage we lost on TWO un-sportsman like conduct penalties were crucial in this game. Our last drive for the endzone, that we ended up starting on our own 10 yard line was severely damaged by Mike Logan's taunting penalty. Instead of starting on the 20, we start on the 10, and if all other things are equal, we're on the 7 yard line needing a touchdown to tie the game instead of the 17. I don't half to tell you, because you are the greatest football fans on the planet, how many more options you have when you only need 7 yards. That penalty is the result of a complete loss of discipline which is never expected out of the Pittsburgh Steelers. We're not Oakland for crying loud. Coach Cohwer has stated it will never happen again and he was very serious when he said it. So, let's hope this issue will not be revisited this season.
Cincinnati and special teams. We are far too specialized in out punt return scheme. Coclough routinely has trouble fielding punts, even in practice. But they've stated they put him in when they have a shot at a return and they put in Santonio Holmes when it will be a deep punt and they just need a catch. Well, first and foremost, they always need a catch. That's rule number one in punt returns, catch the freakin ball. Pick one guy and let him roll. This is a coaching decision. And it's a bad coaching decision. There is so much at risk on a punt return, you never, ever put a guy back there with questionable hands. There's a reason Coclough is a defensive back and not a wide receiver. That reason is he can't catch. The muffed punt completely changed the complexion of that game and took the wind right out of the defense.
That being said, we must not panic. I know Ben doesn't look good right now. 5 interceptions and zero TD passes, 3 fewer TD passes than his back up QB Charlie Batch. He has two weeks in a row with a passer rating in the 30's, and that is worse than Kerry Collins right now. But, I'll tell you this, Ben didn't lose this game on Sunday. The coaches did. Ben played good enough to win, though his stats didn't reflect it. Ben will get it back. I'm not worried about Ben. Willy is running well. Our line is blocking well for the most part. And our defense is playing some outstanding football, despite Troy's obvious shoulder problems.
When Ben gets his stride back, which will get Hines smiling again, we get Davenport some touches to allow Willy some rest, we get Troy healthy, we're going to win some football games. This team has been here before. Down and out with their back against he wall. If you'll recall, we were 1 game over 500 in December of last year and we won the Super Bowl. We're in familiar territory. And we'll find our way.
As always, go Steelers!
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