On Two Huge Plays, the Giants Took Their Time(out), the Steelers Did Not
by Michael Bean on Oct 28, 2008 7:11 AM EDT
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PrintWhen the 4th quarter commenced, the score was still 14-9. The Steelers had just gotten the ball back after blowing a golden opportunity the previous possesion to deliver a potential knockout punch to the Giants. That previous drive, for those of you who either intentionally or unintentionally erased it from your memory, was the one that featured 3 penalties, including Chris K's Unnecessary Roughness call and Willie Colon's TD nullifying holding call.
You knew the team had to be deflated when they were forced to punt it away after coming so close to giving the defense the extra cushion needed to most likely hold off the Giants. But the defense showed its resolve once more, holding the Giants to a mere 1 yard on 3 plays. Their drive had started on their own 6 yard line, and we began our next drive late in the 3rd quarter on their side of the field at the 49 yard line. Moore then ran the ball three straight times for 5, 5, and 4 yards, before the third quarter expired. (Now's not a bad place to remind you that the running game was humming along quite nicely. Moore was WELL on pace to secure his 2nd straight 100+ yard game)
On 2nd and 6, we lost -2 yards. On 3rd and 8, Willie Colon jumped, and we were faced with 3rd and 13. A completion to Mewelde Moore for 8 yards set up 4th and 5 from the NYG 34 yard line.
Now, we can debate whether Tomlin should have opted for a FG, punted away (perhaps taking a 5 yard penalty to give Berger a bit more space?) or rolled the dice and gone for it like he did. Furthermore, without Greg Warren to snap, the decision was made a lot easier. His decision to go for it is not what I'm questioning. I personally agree with the call at the time, because we had not yet began our implosion in pass protection by that point. We were moving the ball fairly effectively on both that drive and in the previous drive. Tomlin sensed we had some momentum and the opportunity to close the door right there with a TD drive. But even if I did not agree with the decision, I would not be banging on it, simply because playing armchair QB about individual decisions isn't something I tend to do.
Anyway, what I'm questioning is the decision not to call a timeout there! We had all three in our backpocket, and you could tell that there was just a moment or two when Tomlin had to make that call. Well, he made the decision decisiively but every last second counts when you're trying to get a play off in time in this league. And we all know that when opposing defenses can tee off on us as the play clock expires, we're at our worst. When we're in the no-huddle and at the line of scrimmage quicker, we fare better. Pretty simple, and though we couldn't go to the no-huddle in that scenario obviously, we still should have made sure that we weren't rushing to get a play off at the last second when the Giants could really bring the heat and bring their safetys up near the first down marker. Which is what the Giants did and we were forced to throw quickly to Hines (well in front of the first down marker) on an uninspiring and hurried play.
Just not a smart move, if you ask me.
The Giants on the other hand, opted to take a timeout when they faced 4th and 1 on the ensuing drive from our 29 yard line. Now, granted, they ultimately had to settle for a FG there after converting, which they likely would have made from that distance anyway. But it still goes to show you the importance of picking the best play in your book for that moment, and that means taking your time to go through the options. They identified Amani Toomer being 1-on1 with rookie William Gay, and they knew we were probably expecting something short in the flat or a run up the middle. They took the time to call for the unpredictable, something that would have been largely impossible to pull off without the extra time to talk it over on the sideline.
This was but one individual moment in a football game filled with dozens others. But it was a pivotal one, and hopefully one that both Ben Roethlisberger and our coaching staff wil learn from. Mike Tomlin is the man for the job in my mind. His players play unbelievably hard for him, and he wants to win so badly. You can just tell. Drive, passion and leadership ability are all things you have to see out of your head coach from Day 1 through the final day of his tenure. No days off. Game management principles, choosing the correct coordinators, and in-game tactics are all things that can evolve and adapt over time. I still have faith that they will in Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin.
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Tomlin
has done an admirable job but still has a ways to go to get to the pinnacle of the profession like Denver’s Shanahan or the Pats* Belicheat*. He has made some amateur mistakes in his two years that experience will hopefully fix.
I keep remembering the boneheaded things Cowher did year after year in playoff games (playing not to lose) until he learned to go for it in 2005. I for one am hoping Tomlin gets there long before Cowher who took about 14 years to reach the destination.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
"Playing not to lose"
I think Tomlin has already learned this lesson. Look how we killed the Bengals with the deep pass to Nate, when we could have tried to run out the clock. Even in this game, we clearly weren’t sitting back with our 5 point lead. We tried another deep pass that would have all but sealed the game, plus the 4th down that we tried to get, etc. It didn’t work, but at least we tried.
charity standing orders
Open options.
The OC must open up options for the QB to make him grow, in the 3º INT of Ben, he should have been in long shotgun position with the possibility to kick, if he send the TE or a RB there, and it happends that it is alone great, if it is covered then kick. BA must try more movement inside the OL, include more of Nixon with some reversibles and reversible passes, just like Reggie Bush plays, obviously without sending BB to catch them, maybe include him in a play with two passes. Must try to cut the OLB with TE in motion to the inside to block them out and at least runings by the off-tackle, then passing aroung 6-15 yards passes, once the OLB start looking around. If BA doesn´t know how to handle the NYG then he has to be at least copycatting their gameplan of the Browns, and adjusting to our players. This is the copycat league, or at least see NFL Playbooks!!!. Also to me the team need to train and play in the same weather conditions, lots of those incomplete passes where because Ben don´t throw in short range “lines”, and then get lost in the wind, bad for us that is the place in wich Tone excells, the same for th kicking teams, if you kick around the 45º degree you can get the longest distance, lower if you got the wind against you, and better if you choose not the most hurted kicker that you have to do it. Inside of that final 5 minutes Ben have to all the time in shotgun, an d lots of the sacs were direct consecuences of non-blocked players, that take us to that Colon penalty, if you are going to take the long shot, try one short the do it, but blocking toward the center of the line and with our TE in motion covering the weak side. If Ben doesn´t have enough time then try 3 to 5 or even 7 steps back, then decide, dont take the sac or worst, the INT. We all remember that extra two point against the Jags, last year, a reversible with a bullet pass to Ward, result in making it, that was the last time We all see our team alive. We need a more efficient O and OC, with runs, short passes to RB´s and TE and when We open a little bit the D, then bring some exotic big time play, any dagger.
by YeOldeMexFan on Oct 30, 2008 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions
yea
I’m about ready to give up on him.
by Michael Bean on Oct 28, 2008 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve defended Arians in the past, but it may be that he just isn’t suited to be the OC. He seems to lack the creativity that Whiz brought to the post.
The only thing is, supposedly Ben and Bruce have a very good relationship. We may look back on his tenure as the bridge between the run heavy offense and the Ben led offenses of the future.
BA no teacher
BA is not making Ben a better QB. A mark of a great coach is not only the relationship he has with his players but what he gets out of them every day.
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
Arians has no identity
In fairness to Arians he’s been working with a motley crew of backup players and a 2nd rate offensive line. That said, in 2 seasons he hasn’t really defined the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Particularly this year where his play calling has been scattered and incoherent.
The biggest flaw I see in our offense is the way the opposing team’s defense dictates which type of offense we will be. Now obviously an offense has to adapt somewhat to what a defense is attempting to prevent (like 8 in the box), but quite frankly that wasn’t a problem under the old regime. We might not have been clever and you knew what was coming but we were going to impose our will on you or at least put forth an effort to do so.
At the end of this season I think Tomlin needs to re-evaluate his offensive coordinator. Tomlin is a tough, passionate guy and his team should reflect that. They certainly do on defense, I’m just not so sure we are setting that tone on offense.
yeah
Usually decent offenses find one thing they can do against any defense and build their game around that. In the past, we’ve been able to hold onto the ball by running on every single play, and using that to set up play action. We don’t have the OL or the right RB’s for that type of offense, but we do have most of the parts to build a spread out but balanced attack. We need a new OC who knows how to run such an offense and can stand up to Ben and make him better. We also need some more athletic pass blocking, zone run blocking type of OL’s who can give Ben time when he needs it and open holes for a diverse rushing attack. If that’s where we’re going, Stapleton is a big piece for the future, Colon (as usual) needs to play at guard, and I wouldn’t mind letting Kemo walk.
charity standing orders
Kemo
Interesting point. This is something I have been been wondering about. They said Kemo was a run blocking beast, and would need to work on his pass blocking. Ok but it appears to me we hardly ever run left or pull him to the right. Anytime we need a short yardage run, we always go right, and we have been getting stuffed. Simmons is out, so you can get rid of the dumb loyalty to the vet player. Why not switch Stapleton and Kemo? I would add in Starks for Colon for guard if Smith was healthy, but we know that won’t happen.
by SteelBuckeye on Oct 28, 2008 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Well said. The only thing I will disagree with is giving arians the slightest bit of slack :)
Everyone knows that talent counts for a lot. A team can do okay with bad coaching and very talented players. On the flip side, a team can do okay with good coaching and not very talented players. The only “untalented” players on the offense are the line, and a good coach should have a way around that. Arians rarely does, and thus he is not a good coach.
Some teams don’t even have the benefit of more than a few talented players. On the offense we are loaded with at the very least average to spectacular players and consistently look mediocre. In a lot of ways, “we are what we are”. But what we are is definitely enough to make a deep playoff run, and I blame our inability to consistently look like a good offense on all of the coaches associated with the offense and Tomlin.
Take a look at what new coaching staffs have done this year. The Rams? The RAMS? I think it is clear we need new coaching on the offensive side of the ball – Z does not get a pass for the lack of talent. He needs to compensate to the best he can. Ken Anderson does not get a pass for not teaching a QB who holds it to let it go. Fischner (wr coach) does not get a pass for not having his WRs be more open more often. And lastly, Arians certainly does not get a pass for any lack of talent that his underling coaches cannot teach their players. It is his job to compensate for any perceived or blatantly obvious holes in our offense, and he has consistently failed to do so.
as a corolary
Maybe our O-line is okay, maybe it sucks, maybe it sucks real bad. It is clear to everyone, absolutely everyone besides some people on the steelers staff, that they will not play at a much higher level than they have so far this year.
It seems like every game there is hoping and praying that the O-line will suddenly perform like a star unit. Look, it is not going to happen. They will not improve significantly by the end of the year. We can blame them all we want but the simple fact is that they will not improve much – they just are not that good.
Accept this fact and adapt to it. I’m looking at you A-Z.
O Line Coach
It boils down to discipline in my opinion. Something that is lacking in our offensive line and it shows up huge with the multiple false starts/holding penalties. Have to look right at the o-line coach for this. Why dont we have discipline in our line?
I posted this yesterday on this very subject.
Coaching
I think this all comes down to coaching. Who are these guys on our defense? Are any of them highly touted college players? Aaron Smith? Brett Kiesel? Ryan Clark? James Harrison? Had any of you heard of these guys before the were drafted (In some cases, not drafted or F.A.s) by the Steelers? No. But draft them, or sign them, we did and Dick LeBeau coached them into improtant parts of the best defense in the NFL.
Now to the other side of the ball. Do any of you feel that Bruce Arians is doing the same with the talent that he has? I say no. The pieces are there, but it is going to take coaching to bring it to fruition. Coaching that is missing. He can not adjust the game plan when adjustments are needed. Did he really think that Spagnolo was just going to do the same thing that failed the Giant’s D on the first drive. Spagnolo adjusted, Arians didn’t.
Our great defense needs help. Any great defense still needs the offense to have some sustained drives so the D can rest and recharge. What would have happened if our offense had controlled the ball for just five more minutes during the game? Our defense would not have gotten beaten in the fourth quarter because they were tired. Maybe Ryan Clark doesn’t get hurt because he is not on the field. Our D having to be on the field so long is going to lead to scores by the opponent and an increased likelyhood of injury.
The offensive coordinator has to do much better for the Steelers. After the Eagles game I thought, "Okay, now we know what we have to work on", but did Bruce learn the lesson, or did he still fail to insert an effective quick passing game to negate the blitz? Did he fail to coach up Limas Sweed in the event that we would have to count on him? Yes , Bruce Arians failed. And, because we know he saw the same thing against the Eagles and still refused to address the weaknesses of the offense, or worse yet is unqualified to do so, he will continue to fail and under-coach a great team out of the Superbowl.
I understand that we as fans have a duty to support our team through the bad times as well as the good. If Bruce showed any signes of progress, we would be honor bound to stick with him, say encouraging things and be patient. But for God sakes, this guy coached under "The Bear" and he still doesn’t get it! We need a stronger leader to run our offense. We need someone with some drive, creativity, ability, ability to diagnose and adjust, and above all else, some leadership. With the proper leadership will come the proper identity and a good and talented offense will be able to thrive and grow.
We can keep bloging about the small things, but none of them matter until the Steelers solve the biggest crises for the Steeler offense and that is the leadership from a seriously flawed O.C.
We all agree, We need a more efficient OL, O, OC, but...
We all think that Tomlin needs more support from the OC, but there are things that you as Head Coach must put in the table, mostly coming from a D coach point of view, like changing every two downs or every four downs your RB´s to “soften” the D, we don´t have 250+ pounder, we must try something different but with what we have at hand, but We have to decide to not to expose our No. 1 RB all day long, ´cause We all see what happened. But also with the kind of D that We have. And I don´t see that, If all the time our O and OC are exposed to the No. 1 Total D, What are We waiting for to have a better test than everyday training? Really I just don´t see any easier position to connect the dots. And if We have the ball for more than 33 min. , I suposse We all agree, that even against anybody, even the NYG, We almost sure have t´W. We all the time hear about that We bring Kevin Green, We have Mean Joe, blablabla, Have We bring at least one day someone like Bill Walsh, Joe Montana, or better speak to Dick LeBeau, and ask him: What do you think that “stinks” in this O, this OL, this OC?, and then act as a team accordingly. Then between all together then decide: What do We all really need? As a sour as it sounds, as a medicine. And planning with that in Mind, the Rams did that, with a less talented team, and them improve. If even in that circumstances we don´t fix it, and as bitter as it sounds: We all know what to do, and that is send back BA to TE´s coach or else.
by YeOldeMexFan on Oct 30, 2008 3:22 AM EDT up reply actions
interesting thoughts
glad you joined us.
not being critical, but make that two paragraphs and it will be lots easier to read visually. good stuff in there just hard to get thru it all.
by Michael Bean on Oct 30, 2008 4:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Also, it seems as though the run game is productive, and Arians gets away from it. I know the game situation may dictate to use more passes, but even when it doesn’t it seem he gets away from it too quick. Maybe the outcome is different if he stuck with the run a little longer. I know it is second guessing after the fact, but you have to wonder why.
I'm with WyoFan
Tomlin is basically a defensive coach (as have been all of our head coaches for the last forty years) That aspect of the game (LeBeau and Tomlin) is on point as I think all but the lunatic fringe of the Nation will agree. Special teams is improving and while it hasn’t provided any advantages, until this week it hadn’t hurt us either. Offiense is the area from an experiencial perspective where Tomlin is at his weakest at this point in his career. He needs more help from Arians than he’s getting thus far.
I agree that the offense has all of the talent it needs but is underperforming. The most damning evidence in this regard was that Moore was not utilized at all until THE ENTIRE RUNNING BACK CORPS WENT DOWN!! Now we’ve ‘discovered’ what a good back he is. Lesson learned? Gary Russell came in for one play, on Sunday ran for nine yards and was not seen again. Against Cincy they go with the same running play in short yardage situations and it fails miserably all three times. Ben is six foot five and built like a tank. Why not a qb sneak or a naked bootleg on one of those plays? If I can predict what they do you can be certain that the DC can too. To be fair Ben has to shoulder some responsibility as well. Between him and the OC some roll outs could be figured into the plan in order to buy time or put pressure on the defense. The O line isn’t great, but this isn’t really their fault.
Here’s reality; the defense is playing at a level that a 24-28 point game by the offense is pretty much a guaranteed win against all but one or two opponents. Arians should be tasked every game to produce 24 pts; 120 yards rushing offense; 38 minutes time of possession. as minimum standards. He does that we are likely to go to the SB.
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Oct 28, 2008 5:19 PM EDT reply actions
How about mixing up the calls a little?
In the sequence Blitzburgh noted above, Moore runs three consecutive times for 5, 5, and 4 yards. How about a play action pass instead of a third or fourth straight run? After that, not a single running play called in the fourth quarter. Even with 3 minutes on the clock, we have time to mix in a draw or even a straight run. I hate the empty backfield because it totally removes even the possibility of a run. (Although like RickVa, I’d like to see a QB draw or naked bootleg once in a while.) Arians needs to be a little more creative.
whatever happened to the screen pass or draw?
The Eagles were relentless with pressure. The Giants were relentless with pressure. Yet in both games, nothing was done to even try and slow down the rush. Against the Giants, one screen play was called, and granted it was unsuccessful. But how many screen passes have been called this year? Certainly not many. Two years ago, the Steelers were one of the best screen pass teams in the league. Now, we rarely see the Steelers run one. And how about a draw ocassionally, as Steelin just mentioned. I suppose you could call that “stretch run” a draw where Ben sprints out and the RB cuts back the opposite way, but what about a straight draw to keep the defense honest.
by VA Steelers fan on Oct 28, 2008 5:35 PM EDT reply actions
screens
To me it is the type of screens called. Our outside screens are to the WR or FB, and our inside screens are to the RB in very predictable times. I think you are talking about the middle screen at the end of the game. It looked like the Giants was going for an all out blitz, but it was a zone blitz where they sent 4 and dropped 3 right in the middle where we were going. Once again back to Arians and his play calling.
I am really beginning to believe he is Martz’s brother. He believes so much in his system, he can’t bring himself to adjust it to the talent he has.
by SteelBuckeye on Oct 28, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
I vaguely remember
A screen pass being called early but Ben overthrowing the guy, I could have it confused with another game though to be honest. I wanna say something similar happened in the Eagles game. It seems like they try a screen or so a game just to say they tried it and if it doesn’t work out they ignore them the rest of the way.
Recall
I remember someone saying we don’t screen very often because our O-line does’nt block well in space.
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