[Sighs in Relief]

by BadMaafala on Dec 18, 2009 3:00 PM EST Comment 44 comments

Yet, he’s predicting those changes will be sweeping in the off-season, and primary among those to leave will be offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Link

It's a paid article, so I didn't want to post any more of it, but I'll at least give you the best sentence. "He" in the quote is Jim Wexell's Steelers insider "The Answer Man" who probably knows what he's talking about.

Okay, one more sentence, regarding Arians' potential replacement:

“You go out and you find someone Ben has never met. In my opinion, he needs an entirely new dynamic. And after you do that, you call Ben into your office and remind him that he’s not in charge of this organization; you remind him who signs those big checks; you remind him to buy in completely; and you make sure that it’s understood.”

Om...

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Thanks for that

I agree. Ben needs a coach not a friend. He probably has enough friends and is lacking in the coach department. This off season sure will be a humdinger.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 3:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

There is a Santa Claus

Come to think of it, with his goatee, BA kind of looks like Burl Ives. (For all you youngsters, he’s the singing snowman in the old animated Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Or was that Bruce the Red Zone Failure?)

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

by MelBlunt on Dec 18, 2009 3:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actually, I'm moved to the point of song...

Bruce the red zone failure
Had his play sheets under his nose.
And if you saw the ‘09 Steelers
You’d ask why so many throws.

Then one depressing Christmas Eve
Tomlin came to say:
Brucie, your calls aren’t so bright,
Won’t you pack your bags tonight?

Oh, how the Steeler Nation loved it,
As they shouted out with glee,
Bruce, the red zone failure,
You’ll go down in ignominy!

by MelBlunt on Dec 18, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 22 recs

Haha

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 18, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha!

Rec’d!

by PonchoBrew on Dec 18, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That can't be green enough

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by Johnny_S on Dec 18, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ahaha

Love it. Rec’d all day long.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Glad you guys enjoyed it.

What can I say? Bruce inspires me.

If I knew how to edit, I’d insert this after the first part:

All of the BTSC bloggers
Used to think he had no knack
For creating a decent game plan
That included a real fullback!

by MelBlunt on Dec 18, 2009 6:30 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Bruce Arians:

“there are no fullbacks in my system”

Me:
Booooooooooooooo!!!!!

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Brilliant!

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Dec 18, 2009 8:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

excellent

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 18, 2009 10:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Is there any way to get that on the front page

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame
DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Chris Carter and Kevin Greene
2009 Pittsburgh Steelers the Perefect Storm of Suck
Chris Henry 1983-2009 RIP

by WVPiratesfan on Dec 18, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

More recs might help it get "pushed" there.

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 18, 2009 11:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not a bad idea

Blitz should throw it up on the front page as a fanshot

Optimism. Positivity. Win.

by Johnny_S on Dec 19, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 20, 2009 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice to see those blunts aren't being wasted

by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 19, 2009 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Here is an option to go between the first and second verse.

All opposing defenses loved him,
Happy Bruce was calling our game.
Third and one, with the empty backfield,
Steeler Nation, was full of shame!

"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 19, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotta love Burl Ives.

by grapes on Dec 18, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

See, we will get something positive out of this season. :)

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 18, 2009 3:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, why wasn’t this included in the “10 positives” post?

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 18, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Serenity now

He does need someone to bust his ass and deconstruct his tendencies in an objective, clinical way. Rather than give him bubble baths and foot rubs, which is I guess what we have collectively decided is the apparent state of things.

But is he “coachable” anymore? I mean, I assume he was once, but…

When my dog was about 10 months old she blossomed into an unbelievable natural born athlete. Explosive speed and quick directional changes, great leaps and coordination, you name it. She also became extraordinarily submissive, and would literally pee all over herself if she felt she was disappointing me. A friend of mine who competed in the pole vault at the collegiate D1 level once commented that this combination of traits was really desirable in world class track athletes because it made them “coachable.”

I’ve often wondered about the competitive mind, ego, drive, coaching, etc., and thought Ben was an interesting case. Obviously he has no shortage of confidence/ego, and we surely reap the rewards- no way he throws the Tone TD to win XLIII if he is plagued by doubt. But arrogance isn’t usually productive and the distinction gets blurry very quickly.

Anyway, I bring it up only to suppose that it will require a very, very specific person to fill this role. I hope Tomlin has someone just perfect in his rolodex. For now I think I’ll just daydream on the possibilities.

by thedonger on Dec 18, 2009 3:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ben strikes me less as someone who isn’t coachable and more of someone who doesn’t know what he needs. I think he wants to be great – I truly do, and I think he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there, including taking a smaller role in places. He’s not going to volunteer to that, though.

Ben is like a senior in high school trying to pick a college and major. There’s an overwhelming number of options and he doesn’t know much about any of them, so he sticks with the easiest, least risky option. Or again Ben is like a naturally talented musician with no instruction – he can do amazing things, but he has limits and inconsistencies that professionally trained musicians can overcome.

What the team needs is a strong personality to run the offense and let Ben be the QB. Roethlisberger-Arians isn’t a Manning-Moore combination. He’s a lot more like Elway or Favre. He can draw outside the lines like few others, but that spontaneity would be much more effective if the intial plan isn’t a pile of fecalized underwear.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 18, 2009 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I think that comparison with Elway/Favre is good. While Ben’s numbers have really been great this season, some of his decisions seem to be a regression to always going for the homerun rather than checking down or throwing it away when necessary.

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 18, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Quarter backs can throw it away!?

Learn something new everyday.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah!

Ben even did it once or twice last year! :)

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 18, 2009 7:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dang I must have missed it

Is this a newly implemented rule? How come nobody told me? I thought the QB’s only options were to scramble and get sacked.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL

For ideas on statistical analyses, email me at wolfpacksteelersfan@gmail.com.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Dec 18, 2009 10:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know why

But I when I read that last sentence my mind drew a picture of Bruce holding a soiled pair of whitey tighties under his nose where the play sheet should be. Haha, ah I need to get back into the photo shop and help you people see what I see.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Ben is over Ariens.

Not within 2000 miles of the Steelers, and am no expert on anything, but that’s the feel I get watching the games.

If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made produdt that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.

by SNW on Dec 18, 2009 4:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Really?

I don’t. I think Arians gets by on being buddy buddy with his QB’s. Tomlin needs to let Ben know that this is his team and if Ben wants to win he needs to acknowledge what’s best for the team. Send Bruce packing and get Ben a coach that will come down on his ass when he needs it. Work with his strengths and shore up his weaknesses.

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!

Xbox Live Gamertag- Alf Ardanyu

by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 18, 2009 5:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I just think Ben

has started to see that Bruce is holding the team back. I agree that’s what Arians plan is but it’s like a marrage someone is trying and someone is beginning to realize it’s not right.
Tomlin gets to be the Judge and devorce them.
I hope I’m right so Ben will be happy or at least understand the situation.

If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made produdt that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.

by SNW on Dec 18, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ben is already great, but a good coach can make him even better.

It’s scary to think what Ben could do with a true innovator as his OC.

by Billy52 on Dec 18, 2009 10:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

LETS GO BEARS!!!

by Steelchamps !! on Dec 19, 2009 2:33 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wish Chi Balt was the saturday game

"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.

by kick him in the head on Dec 19, 2009 12:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ben is such an interesting enigma

Strong-willed, tough as nails, exceptionally talented, fearless and cool…

And yet overly-impulsive, melodramatic, deflective and sometimes self-destructive.

Are these traits somehow compatible? He’s not the meticulous, calculating Peyton Manning/Drew Brees type. Those guys are surgeons, and if you believe the national media’s portrayal of them, choir boys as well. Ben is neither. Ben’s a gunslinger. And all gunslingers seem to have their dark side. So whomever we bring in to replace BA, I don’t think we can expect him to “break” Ben of his dark side.

However, I am optimistic that, like many of you have said, we find someone who can reign it in better than BA did. I still want Ben to be his gunslinging self. That’s who he is and that’s what he does best. I just want him to choose his duels more wisely.

by cliff harris is still a punk! on Dec 19, 2009 10:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

+1

Well put. With just a little more discretion Ben can be great. Checking down and/or throwing it away just a few times a game could make all the difference. I saw Dixon throw the ball away more in one game against the Ravens than Ben has done all season.

by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 19, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's a tough call, IMO

Is the problem really the way that Arians managed Ben, or is the problem how much Arians neglected the rest of the offense?

by Varmint on Dec 19, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Can it be both?

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Dec 19, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, an enigma..

and thus doesn’t need a coach, but more like some Wotan Kung Fu Master. I hope the new OC is someone that none of us have ever heard of. If he should happen to have cold, penetrating eyes, and Dick Dale riffs waft on the breeze whenever he appears from the tunnel, well, so much the better.

by thedonger on Dec 19, 2009 8:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs