BTSC Steelers Daily Six Pack: Under Promise, Over-Deliver Edition

by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Apr 13, 2009 11:16 AM EDT

IX- Big things are expected of Limas Sweed next season from fans, coaches, and the media after a slow start to his NFL Career. The further along we get in the off season the more confidence the team seems to be showing in Limas; but Mike Tomlin is quick to point out that talk is cheap. Mike Tomlin stepped in when Limas was talking to the media, and told him:

"Don't talk too much, Under promise, over-deliver."

X- Bryon Leftwich earned a lot of respect from Steelers fans with his performance last season, when asked to step in he did so admirably and was a class act throughout the season and offseason. It's sad that he must move on, but I think most Steeler fans are glad he has been given an opportunity to compete for a starting job and has been given a decent contract as well. The contract is reportedly worth 7.5 million, which is a sizable increase from the contract the Steelers were able to offer him.

XIII- With Leftwich gone the Steelers front office is now tasked with deciding on what other quarterbacks will join the team to help with the back-up quarterback role. Mike Florio of profootballtalk has one controversial scenario; what if Pittsburgh drafts Pat White and decides to develop our own version of the wildcat with Pat White and Dennis Dixon both having opportunities to play a big role. Unfortunately Mike Florio must not understand that Bruce Arians' idea of offensive creativity is a QB sneak on 3rd and 6.

XIV- Scott Brown has a complete listing of the prospects that Pittsburgh has brought in to visit the team. One thing of note that Brown mentions is only three of the prospects are possible first round picks, Mack, Moala, and possibly Loadholt. To me this signifies Pittsburgh is keeping their options open in hopes that a prospect falls to them like Mendenhall did in last years draft.

XL- Has James Harrison already signed his contract? The Pittsburgh Sport Examiner has a confirmed from an unnamed source that he has and that details will emerge later this afternoon or tomorrow morning at the latest.

XLIII- The NFL schedule will be released tomorrow night at 7pm during an NFL Network prime-time special. This is the first year the schedule has been released live on television and my personal opinion is that this might be the start of the NFL over-exposing their brand and quite possibly jumping the shark.

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If the steelers draft pat white to run the wildcat I may shoot myself. A

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

Really...

If I remeber correctly (and by remember I mean remember what I heard, I wasn’t around then) the Steelers were the last team to run the single back offense, which I believe is the Wildcat. MaryRose? Not that it means a whole lot but it’s something, I guess.

Why so much disdain for the Wildcat? Or is it the idea of Pat White running it? I’m intrigued.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

opinion piece

It’s true that I do want my QBs to throw and my RBs to run. But, the wildcat is a clever way to put an “extra man on the field”. But, you are also using an extra roster spot to keep a gimmicky player. But, the steelers have to spend time working on the wildcat (which lolley reported they did towards the end of last season). But, the steelers standard offense doesn’t need the distraction, and working on our straight-up offense is more important than developing a standard gimmick.

I like the way the dolphins ran the wildcat. Ronnie Brown can run in straight-up situations as well as from the wildcat, and can also chuck the ball. I doubt the lanky Pat White’s ability to run the ball at the pro level without getting snapped in half. If the steelers want to run the wildcat, that’s their choice. If they want to draft Pat White to do so instead of ignoring their other needs when they have a “identical” QB already on the roster then it is clearly the end of times.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough

Good points made, all of them ring true.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

They were the last team to run the single wing formation....

…but that was in the early 50’s, in the days of the “Same old Steelers” and "Hey, diddle diddle, Rogel up the middle.

by Homer J. on Apr 13, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I thought so...

I wasn’t trying to argue it meant anything, just a fun tidbit.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 14, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 14, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Disdain for Wildcat Offense?

The reason why many Steeler Fans don’t like this is because they believe in the 3 yards and a cloud of dust mentality. Steeler Fans are stuck in their ways, and do not like fancy things or changes. They live in the Stone Age. All they think about is running the ball and having a Jerome Bettis type of back to do it. These fans want Mendenhall to be the next Bus ….Give Me a break

by Steeler Y360 Nation on Apr 14, 2009 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I congratulate you on your first comment being an indictment of steeler nation.

Good stereotyping, and bonus points for it not applying to anyone who posts on this site.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 14, 2009 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Good stereotyping

Thank You for your Comment

I lived in Pgh all my Life and listened to as many Sports Talk Shows and other Steeler Fans

I tell the Truth, whether people like it or not. But I love my Steelers. I just don’t like Steeler Fans who don’t think outside the box, and are afraid to open up Our Offense and Passing Game. I’m not about reliving Steeler Traditional ways, but winning more SuperBowls.

It’s my 1st time Here, and I hope to be here more often and meet new People and Talk Steeler Football. I hope to learn about this site and fix up my page. My Y360 page link is below if you want to take a look:

http://profiles.yahoo.com/steelery360nation

by Steeler Y360 Nation on Apr 15, 2009 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions

You can be all for opening up our offense without being for the wildcat. But you only speak the truth, so I guess you’re right.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 15, 2009 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm sorry for retyping comment

I’m new at this BTSC stuff

But I put the wrong link to my Y360 page. Below is the correct one

http://360.yahoo.com/steelery360nation

by Steeler Y360 Nation on Apr 15, 2009 2:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Disdain for Wildcat Offense?

by Steeler Y360 Nation on Apr 14, 2009 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions

If White is being looked at, I’m not sure its an overall bad thing. We have had luck in getting college QB’s to become solid WRs. Even if the Wildcat isn’t the goal, replacing Hines should be.

by StinkBomb on Apr 13, 2009 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Here's a real LONGSHOT

But I couldn’t help but think about it with the wildcat talk and the pic of Dennis Dixon.

In an article on ESPN magazine a while back the Steelers sat down and discussed an offensive formation used by a high school that used two QB’s. What if (BIG IF) we drafted Pat White. Then in the same sense as Miami just surprised the league with the Wildcat, we busted out a two QB look with Dixon and Pat White. The righty lefty combo could each roll out there most comfortable way, and each can throw the ball much more effectively than any running back ever could, and each is an odvious running threat. With the duel-duel threats in the back field how do you defend it? Teams would certainly waste time practicing against it each week eventually, or get burned by it repeatedly.

Now put Big Ben in a shotgun formation with duel “HB’s” as we would think of them now in a schematic sense, and have Pat Wite on his left and Dennis Dixon on his right. Now what do you defend? Ben’s pass, Dixon or White’s running option or their second option, the pass downfield?

Extremely hypothetical, extremely out of the box, but extremely interesting… I think.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions

It'll never, happen, but is interesting

With regards to defending dual-dual QBs, I don’t think I’d bother rushing at all. Go to a nickel or dime package and dare them to run. Like someone mentioned above, these skinny guys like Dixon and White will take a pounding, especially because they’re not as fast as they think they are at the NFL level.

by Desroko on Apr 13, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Good suggestion on defense. You’d basically be forcing the QBs unless they wanted to run between the tackles, which I sincerely doubt. If that’s not the answer, I know Lebeau has it.

The idea is very intriguing, but I think I’d rather some other team take a look at it. While perhaps too traditional, I think the steelers just need to work on the basics, which they clearly stink at. The steelers clearly worked on screen passes in the final few weeks of the season and because of that (and many other things) they won the superbowl. The steelers were a force last year with an offense that primarily relied on Ben’s elusiveness. If they concentrate on the simple things on offense they can be a very dominant force next year.

The other great thing about having another team use it is because it is fun to see offenses that rely on trickery to fail against good defenses. It was a pleasure to watch the ravens destroy the phins.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Most likely you would get a containment blitz from the Defense. Force the QB who gets the ball to start out going backwards or take it inside where they will get crushed. if they run back and go around the contain you have time for the LB’s to get there. Unless the QB’s have Micheal Vick speed the play would get busted as often as it would succeed.

by Phantaskippy on Apr 13, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

So throw...

You can always give the pass a shot, should the run not work. And both of the QB’s in question have the speed, not Mike Vick speed, but close.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

But in a Nickel or Dime

There’s not as many thumpers on the field, less punshment. And if it’s only 5 or so plays a game, the injury threat is even less. If they only run for 4 or 5 yards per attempt it might be worth it. Then once the D commits to stopping the run, bomb one to Santonio.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

I really doubt we'll ever see it

Just thought it would be an interesting conversation.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Definitely an amusing one.

I just can’t see White/Dixon/Ben getting 4-5 yards per attempt. I question a lanky “RBs” ability to run through the arms of either a 4-3 or 3-4 DL. The problem I have with evaluating any new offensive idea is that I’ll always pit it against the steelers defense, and that’s unfair. The wildcat may have failed against the ravens, but it got the dolphins to the playoffs to begin with. The thumpers never leave the field on the steelers defense because everyone is a thumper (even Sweed), but this isn’t true by and large. Even if this idea could work for the steelers, Arians would probably completely miss the point with it and it would fail horribly, eating up valuable practice time that could instead be used to teach our offense how to put up 250 yards a game.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Ariens

Would find a way to screw it up. No doubt. So that deflates my arguement a little, or a lot.

But as a contrarian, here’s my arguement against yours. In regards to the D-Linemen thing, both Dixon and White are fast enough to get outside of the tackle box, and neither would be asked to break tackles persay, it’s not a necesarily a between the tackles run option. It’s not a fake hand off to HB run up this gap type play. It would be all about extending the play until the best option makes itself available. If its a scramble for minimum yardage so be it, if the QB scrambles out and a receiver opens up downfiled, hit him, that type of thing. No forced throws from QB’s with below average accuracy, no guaranteed runs called, an NFL option, for lack of a better name.

Practice time is interesting. Never been to a practice or training camp environment, so my understanding of the way its done in the NFL is limited. I’m sure the first string QB takes a lot of reps, while the second teamers practice together and the 2nd QB gets a little work on the first team with the third QB seeing little. That’s the beauty of this offense using it’s second (maybe) and third QB’s. We don’t have to waste valuable time with our first string QB on the filed as a wide out, or have Ben learn to run it. Take the 2nd/3rd guys, pull them aside while Ben is slinging it around and work on it then. I understand that everyone has to be on the same page for it to work, but let Ben run the regular offenses practice, after that let the two younger guys in to have a little fun.

And when (note I said when and not if) LeBeau figures it out, so what, I’ve never seen our offense have to play our defense in the regular season, or pre or post for that matter. Our D can stop it 100% of the time, but if they go against it 0% of the time… wait now I’m doing a word problem in math class in high school again…oh god, I knew they were right when they told us we would use this knowledge somewhere down the line. Just use Pythagorien’s Theorum, you’ll figure it out.

I like defending a nonexistent offensive gamplan.

by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 13, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking in terms of the Steelers,

who want their DBs to be tacklers. Troy, Clark, Ike, DeShea…they can all deliver hits. But you’re right, other defenses wouldn’t necessarily have that.

by Desroko on Apr 13, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

We’re one in the same.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

No knock on Dixon or anything

but I’m kinda wishing we didn’t draft him. Him and Pat White are very similar except that White has made it very clear he wants to be a Steeler. Thats not to say that Dixon doesn’t want to be but White is very forward about it. I don’t see us drafting White, which is shame.

I like any player who wants to be a Steeler.

by shleeve on Apr 13, 2009 4:15 PM EDT reply actions

He may want to be a steeler, but I suspect that “We’d love to have you as a steeler for the #2 QB at league minimum for the next decade” wouldn’t fly so well.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Also, I’ll feel a lot better going into this year with Dixon having practiced for the last year than just a rookie and Batch.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Apr 13, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I really like what I’ve seen out of Dixon so far. He’s got a chance to play well in in spotty reps for the Steelers when Ben’s down for a week or two. He could work out to be a great #2 and even get us some trade bait in the future.

by Chicago Steeler on Apr 13, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

I think we would be fine with Dixon as the No. 2. He was drafted to be Ben’s backup, not his successor, so coach him up, give him No. 2 guy reps and get him on the field in preseason and see what he can do. He’s smart, can throw the ball and make plays with his legs. The only reason he wasn’t a higher pick in his draft year was the injury. Batch can start making the transition to being the Steelers next QB coach and be kept around as No. 3 for insurance.

by steeler.lifer on Apr 13, 2009 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions