Arians vs Belicheck

by rushthequarterback on Nov 24, 2008 2:20 PM EST Comment 40 comments

The whole early season Jim Johnson/Eagles fiasco should scare the hell out of all Steelers fans this week. Personally, I don't buy the entire Belicheck mythology, but his NE defenses play some ball. In my view, he outschemed Arians at about 9 this morning. The Steelers can win, of course, but I think Ben will be put in a very difficult position this week. Hopefully, FWP will find better footing on the road.

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What’s interesting about this matchup is that I don’t know of a single player on their team that is more talented than one of ours. (okay, ignoring randy moss). RB, QB, D-line, LB, safety, CB? You can make an argument maybe for TE. Hell, even our O-line stacks up. Care to guess a quarterback that has been sacked more than Ben?

Unfortunately, there’s that whole issue of coaching. Last year all of our coaches (sorry Lebeau!) were completely outcoached. This year we are much healthier (hiya Bmac!) and there is no excuse talent wise for the players. The coaches, besides maybe Lebeau, are going to be outmatched.

Arians needs to score and Lebeau needs to stop the pats from scoring. Can they do it?

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

O-line

Not sure the O-line matches up well. I think their O-Line is much better than ours and this might be the difference: Cassell might have more time than Ben. I wouldn’t be surprised from another Philly type game from our O-line facing Belichik’s schemes. I just hope the defense can dominate enough to overcome the O-line disparity (story of the season).

by CarlWeathersMustache on Nov 24, 2008 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t actually think there’s an O-line worse than ours, but it’s pretty sad when one of them gives up more sacks than ours, don’t you think? Besides, ~~our O-line is way more dominating in the run game.~~

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea

their O Line is vastly superior to ours.

by Blitzburgh on Nov 25, 2008 3:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is B-Mac

back vs. the Pats?

by Cdsumm on Nov 25, 2008 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

According to press conference he’s questionable. Given that he was in full practices last week, I have money on him playing.

Deshea is doubtful though, and it’d be really nice to have him.

by steelguy99 on Nov 25, 2008 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tomlin's Biggest Test

IMO, this is a HUGE test for Tomlin. NE has regularly owned the Steelers throughout this decade. Granted they had tape and were cheating but they won the big games in 01 AND 04. Many think that the Steelers 05 title run was directly related to NE being eliminated and the Steelers avoiding the Pats* in the playoffs. A friend even compares Steelers/Pats* games to “Groundhog Day” because of Belicheat*s penchant for owning Cowher, LeBeau and our beloved Steelers.

Well, this time it could be different. Matt Cassel and not Tom Brady is the QB. Tomlin is a different man than Cowher and hopefully will make different (better) decisions in the X&O game to thwart Belicheat*s brain. Last season Tomlin did not fair well down the stretch. The play calling during the late 4th quarter non drive of the Jax playoff game was atrocious. This is Tomlin’s time to shine and brush away the stigma of losing 4 of 5 down the stretch including a home playoff game. Win this game and Coach T will instill much confidence in me that the Steelers are a capable bunch and will cement many’s belief that the Steelers can make the playoffs and excel. Here We Go…

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 24, 2008 2:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=29394&displayPage=tab_gamecenter&season=2007&week=REG14

Just to remind everyone…does anyone remember how many consecutive passes the patriots made while making our entire defense look foolish? I think it might have been close to 20…

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 2:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If you really want to feel bad, look at the time of possession…

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 2:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hines Rush

may have been the worst play call in Steelers history. 4th and goal from the 2 maybe? Give it to Hines instead of your RB that had 6 yards a carry.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 24, 2008 6:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i don't think anything will beat the QB draw call in the JAX playoff game

by schnifin on Nov 25, 2008 9:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

~~Totally fooled them on that one.~~

by steelguy99 on Nov 25, 2008 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So Many

Arians play calls to choose from!

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Nov 25, 2008 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a good matchup

Unfortunately the we do not match up with the Pats from a schematic standpoint. They will be able to line up with a base defense and their front 7 should shut down our soft running game. That leaves the game in Ben’s hand and that is not his strong suit.

Our D is playing better than last year and covering better than ever. The Pats have an extensive screen game however and their O-Line is incredibly coached up (they have the equivalent of LeBeau in Scharnechia coaching them) to pick up pressure. They are also not afraid to throw all day if need be and have 5 excellent targets.

Hope I am wrong, and if I am it would be a HUGE win for the Steelers.

by Steelers fan in Boston on Nov 24, 2008 2:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

If their O-line is such a godsend, why exactly is Brady injured and Cassel has been sacked 34 times?

Lets just take for granted that our D will get it done. It’s not a given, but if they don’t this game is lost to us anyhow. I don’t know that we match up unfavorably on that front. The run game should be obliterated, so that leaves cassel throwing a quick game all day to avoid pressure, which we’ve had a lot of practice against recently. I’ll take the quick passes vs. our healthy secondary. Not to mention our D flows to the ball (screens) very well. No, I refuse to get too worried on the defensive side. They could hose us like last year, sure, but I don’t believe it.

It’s the other side of the ball that we need to be worried about. We know the pats will score, the question is can we?

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 3:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They are averaging 4.2/attempt rushing vs. our 3.6. Given up same amount of sacks that is true but have attempted 41 more passes. All with late round picks and FA’s.

You are right however, it is all about our O and their ability to be productive.

by Steelers fan in Boston on Nov 24, 2008 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty confident that it doesn’t really matter what a team’s rushing average is going into a game against us. Again, can’t take anything for granted, but statistically speaking their offense isn’t going to run for dick. Unless they can manage to gouge us through the air a few hundred times.

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and lets not pretend that our O-line/RBs aren’t made up of late round picks and FAs. ;)

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Speaking of, any chance the Pats O-line coach wants a change of scenery? Pittsburgh is lovely in the spring…

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 3:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL, throw Arians into the ring with Belichik..

..what happened to that short fat scowling guy who was the Steeler’s head coach last week? He missing the game for “personal reasons” or something?

by robert ethan on Nov 24, 2008 3:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The thought of arians as our head coach gives me a heart attack.

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 3:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Responsibilities?

I don’t know. It seems that BA gets the flak and the credit(??) for the offense. I may be very wrong, but Tomlin seems to be a coordinator of coordinators and I wouldn’t expect that the schemes would be largely his. I get your point, but if its true, then I certainly think that the short fat scowling guy needs to hit the books more often (he did go to William and Mary, so he can do that) and get the offense revved up. I fail to see how his presence has steadied the offense to-date.

by rushthequarterback on Nov 24, 2008 3:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

please recall

our safeties this season vs. NE>our safeties last season vs. NE

I still wouldn’t guarantee a win, tho…

by 36chambers on Nov 24, 2008 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

healthy troy p and healthy ryan clark=

big difference… no picking on anthony smith’s dumbass, while he bites on a play action on the worst running team in the league! this difference alone will lift our defense big time, the offense, that is a different story. belicheat was always great at shutting down whisenhut, but maybe BA can throw something new his way. but on the other hand, belicheat has tom moore’s number also!

I HATE THE RAVENS!! ESPECIALLY BART SCOTT!!

by dwatts5000watts on Nov 24, 2008 10:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

we’re a whole different secondary with those two.

by Blitzburgh on Nov 25, 2008 3:58 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The good news is the Pats’ defense is average in almost every statistic. If Ben can move the ball and kick field goals (NE is 29th in YPA on defense), we’ll have a great shot at winning this one.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Nov 24, 2008 5:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Were gonna beat em!

36Chambers made a good point. Can you guess which safety was told to shut his mouth for this years game?

Anyway, their Defense hasnt been very dominating, unlike ours. We can beat this team. They have 4 losses and we can exploit their weaknesses.

I dont think Matty C has seen a crazy defense like this one, and I expect him to falter.

The league was crowning Joe Flacco before his game against us where he found life much more difficult. The league had a no INT passer in Jason Campbell before the Steelers came to town. Even in a losing effort, McNabb had a lousy game after throwing tons of TD’s in the first two weeks.

Cassel wont be repeating 400 yards this week. He should be happy if he gets half that.

by Mechem on Nov 24, 2008 6:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The best defense the patriots have played is the jets, ranked 13th.

I’m still worried about the coaching thing…

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 6:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2nd best defense they played? The dolphins ranked 20th.

They have not been tested at all this year defensively.

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ok soooo

So the pats LOST to both the 13th and 20th ranked defenses…. Although they split with both teams.
Lets consider some wins shall we?

Chiefs, 49ers, Broncos, Rams, Bills…

They LOST to the chargers who dont have a very good defense either.

I truly think Matty C will be rattled hard. He just simply hasnt faced a team that is arguably one of the best Defenses in 10 years.

by Mechem on Nov 24, 2008 7:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yes

good point here. I have been wondering about the gap from Brady to Cassel, and we get to find out in this game, I think.

by tkired on Nov 25, 2008 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Worth noting...

From Peter King’s “Monday Morning Quarterback” (which I read primarily because it averages like 7 pages long, so I have my first cup of coffee, some spreadsheets in the background, and ease my way into the workweek…)

Brady’s record after 11 games: 8-3. Cassel’s: 7-4 — and if the Pats had won the overtime coin flip a week ago Thursday, I bet those records would be the same. Brady’s rating: 91.6. Cassel’s: 90.5. Cassel leads Brady by 377 passing yards, thanks to Cassel’s back-to-back 400-yard passing games. (Been on Mars? That’s no misprint.) As for touchdowns, Brady leads Cassel by three.

It’s hard to fathom what we’re seeing. Brady, the 199th pick in the 2000 draft, has won three Super Bowls and will be a Hall of Famer on the first ballot. Cassel, the 230th pick in 2005, hasn’t won anything big yet, but he has thrown for more yards than Brett Favre this season (2,615 to 2,461) and for a higher passer rating than Peyton Manning (90.5 to 87.2) and for more yards per pass attempt than Eli Manning. The Patriots’ system works, and it works wonders.

I’ve got to say, I noticed that Cassel was doing well, but the numbers kinda clinch it. Surprising, at least. Personally, I completely enjoy Belichecks’s approach to press conferences, interviews, etc. They’re really not too different from Cowher’s early press conferences, before he got a feel for the media and how to handle the form as a whole.

I think the Pats do a great job of game planning, and I think they have a pretty good idea on how to beat Pittsburgh … take away the run, get after Ben. Of course, everyone knows that and the Black & Gold has still walked away with 8 Ws. Pittsburgh’s approach should be the same, to completely disrupt Cassel … but New England has always countered the rush with a really solid screen pass game, and you can’t deny the hands the Pats have out there running routes.

Of the remaining five games, it’d be great to see the Steelers go at least 3-2 … two wins over divisional opponents, and at least 1 win (almost as a pre-postseason statement) over NE, Dallas, or TN.

Belicheck loves his linebackers, and loves the 3-4 D. Expect him to have some good plans to disrupt Pgh’s linebacking corps. Hopefully the D outplays his plans and schemes. It might just take a couple of well-timed sacks and picks from Pittsburgh’s D to swing it all in the Steelers’ favor; as far as the O, to paraphrase every single quarterback in every single pregame warmup interview “we can’t make mistakes”.

by Fahey on Nov 24, 2008 6:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not to take away from a backup quarterback doing all of this and certainly the pats are 7-4, but I want to mention something called strength of schedule. While the tides have certainly shifted this year in who is a winning team.

Patriots have played the easiest strength of schedule by a whole 10 wins based on 2007 rankings. (http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d809fbfa9&template=with-video&confirm=true)

But what the crowd says about 2008 rankings since the tides have shifted so incredibly?
Record of teams they’ve beaten: 32-45
Record of teams they’ve lost to: 25-19

I am just saying that Matt’s accomplishments don’t exactly impress me.

Does that mean the steelers can beat them? I don’t know, we’ve beaten up on some pretty awful teams ourselves…but I’m not going to be intimidated by the patriots, and I hope we expose them as paper tigers, if indeed that’s what they are. The only real accomplishment out of the whole AFC east thus far is the jets over the titans. The rest of their wins are padded by playing lousy teams and beating up on each other, who might indeed also be lousy. Time will tell.

by steelguy99 on Nov 24, 2008 7:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

good points were raised

and I agree that coaching will be the key to this match-up. I just hope the super human exploits of Woodley and the Silverback and can overcome the mental edge that billy and ernie may have

By now, after years of evolution, Adams sees film differently. Not just as random actions, but a genealogy of the game of football. When a defender moves, he recalls watching or having read about the first time a defender moved like that, even if it was 50 years ago, and he knows why, which tells him how to counteract the move. He has a photographic memory. Perkins tells a story of Adams’ memorizing the Giants’ thick playbook. In one night.
So, every week, the Patriots get the kind of analysis that only high-powered hedge funds or, say, NASA can afford. “Nine times out of 10,” Bissinger says, “Ernie sees something nobody else sees.”
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=adams

This should be an interesting game.

"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."

by showtime on Nov 24, 2008 7:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs