Arians vs. Ben (A Tale of Two Offenses)

by Steelin on Sep 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT

Assuming that Ben calls the plays when we go to the no-huddle offense, here is a quick summary of the Steelers' drives from last night, broken down by play caller. Note that we ran the no-huddle for the last two drives of each half, plus overtime.

Arians: 8 drives, 35 plays, 62 yards (1.8 yards per play), 0 points

Ben: 5 drives, 37 plays, 270 yards (7.3 yards per play), 13 points

7.3 yards per play! That's just sick. And 1.8 yards per play, that is, well, sick in a bad way.

Here is the outcome of each drive:

Arians: punt, punt, punt, interception, punt, punt, punt, punt

Ben: TD, end of half, FG, fumble on opponents 5-yard line, FG

The only things that stopped the "Ben" drives from scoring every time was running out of time at the end of the first half (officially, an interception on the Hail Mary, but only because there wasn't time for anything else) and Hines' fumble. In fact, the third drive was well on its way to being a touchdown, with a 2nd-and-2 from the Tennessee 10, when the team suddenly stopped passing and failed to convert the third down. (I wonder who called those two running plays?) The final drive could also have generated a touchdown, but the Steelers opted for a game-winning FG on first down from the Tennessee 15.

So the two obvious questions are (1) Why don't we run the no-huddle all the time? (2) Why is Arians still calling any plays?

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Comments

No Huddle

Is a change of pace, that’s why it works. Running it all the time teams would game plan for it even more, and it wouldn’t be as valuable.

they seem to use it when Ben is getting in a rhythm and the stadium is in a bit of a lull. Ben isn’t the most consistent QB in the world, he goes through highs and lows every game. Bringing in the No Huddle when it’s the right time is one of Arians strengths, the rest of the game is just setting up the No huddle. It’s like Cowher used to get a lead and sit on the defense, we sit on the defense from the start, and set Ben loose when we need a big drive.

Ben isn’t a Peyton or a Brady, I don’t think he could do that all game. But when he needs to, he does it better than them. If he could do it all game he’d be the greatest athlete in the history of this or any other galaxy. His passer rating for the year would be 200.

by Phantaskippy on Sep 11, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions

I’m starting to disagree about Ben “not being a Peyton or Brady”. Obviously his game is much different, but if we had a decent OC, I think he’d be in the conversation for more than just Super Bowl wins. I mean he just put up 300+ yards against a good defense. What would happen if he did do it all game?

I cite the 2006 season as the last time Ben had a good OC. Sure, there were all sorts of issues that season, but when Ben was healthy, he was leading the offense up and down the field. If Whis had stayed on as OC or been replaced by someone competant, I think he’d be regularly talked about as possibly the #1 QB in the league instead of possibly the #3.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Sep 11, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions

No Huddle

I agree that Ben isn’t Peyton or Brady but only to the extent that they all play very different styles. Peyton is a master of the no huddle and can run an offense like very few can. Brady is a classic drop back and pick you apart because I have all day behind my great O line. They are all good but what I think separates Ben is that he thrives off of pressure, Peyton and Brady are a little to use to not having a lot of pressure so when they do get knocked around they get a little unraveled. I did a little study and Brady’s rating when he is sacked more than 21times/year is 81.9 Ben’s is 90.9 under the same situation only he gets sacked substanially more than 21 times/yr. Other than that they are almost too different to compare other than W’s and L’s IMO

by DarinS on Sep 11, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions

The point I’m trying to make is Ben is better in pressure, and in clutch situations. That’s when we set him loose with the no huddle that our boring offense has been setting up all game. He stretches the plays and then doesn’t let the defense have time to recover, it’s too hard when the plays go that long and he just doesn’t go down, then you jog up the field and do it again with almost no break.

Brady and Peyton are consistent throughout the game, when he’s on Ben is better than either of them, most of the game he’s slightly less.

by Phantaskippy on Sep 12, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions

No Huddle

The other major factor that has made our no huddle so effective is that when we are running it(as you stated above the last two minutes primarily) the other teams D has been playing most of a half already. The no huddle is designed to keep the D on the field and wear them out. When you run the no huddle to early in the game that is not as much of a factor and henceforth is not as effective. IE Buffalo.

by BlkNGold on Sep 11, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions

Very true but...

…the disparity between the two situations is too great for it to be largely the result of fatigue. I think Big Ben calls more appropriate plays and the team knows it, they become more confident, enthused and purposeful.

Additionally, they know they only have to sustain for for a short period which for me hints at the true problem. The offense isn’t really well coordinated, we have a very good WR coach whose been promoted beyond his abilities and QB who devise and improvise to find the open receiver and compensate, but that of course leaves the O-line and running backs in the shit and by extension our QB.

by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Sep 11, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions