Offensive Struggles

Never said it was just Russ in general. I was only referring to not throwing in the middle of the field. I don't think that was because Smith didn't design any plays to go there.

 

The offense simply have to put more practice work in. And, the defense has to play lights out. All the pressure is on the ravens. It's about getting our respect back. This is not the team of old, but we will see if they have any pride left.

 

Re-sign him to backup Fautanu. Moore is not starting caliber

 

Pickens has always been selfish and immature, so this notion that he isn't getting good leadership does not hold up. These are young adults, but adults. Hold the guy accountable for his flaws.

 

I don't buy this at all. Pickens is a better player than Higgins, and it is pretty obvious. Tee averages 11 YPG more than Pickens on a team with the best passing QB in the league and the best WR in the league lined up across from him. Tee Higgins, who never gets double teamed, and has Burrow as his QB BARELY out produces GP, who gets double teamed or safety help on every play (because we have no other viable WR's), and has the 17th best passing QB (by ypg) in a past-prime Wilson...

Pickens only regressed statistically due to missing games to injury. He's down like 2.5 ypg total from last year.

I get that he gets extra hate on his abilities due to how he acts... but he is a #1 WR, and a pretty darn good one. There really isn't an argument that can be taken seriously that suggests otherwise.

 

I'd love to have Higgins here, though his propensity to miss multiple games a season is definitely worrying. I believe he would be a GREAT #2 to Pickens in a great 1-2 punch. I also think his addition would cause GP's statistics to explode.

Brown would be a fine rotational player to be a #3 option... Your list would be a really good WR room honestly. Pickens would be the best player in that room, but it is a great room nonetheless. A room of GP/Higgins/Brown/Austin/Wilson/Skowronek would certainly make a weakness one of our strengths. I definitely think this is something we can do if we really wanted to. Higgins probably costs 25 million-ish. GP could be extended at a slightly higher amount and would be a year deferred before his cost against cap goes up drastically (meaning we would be able to keep his and Higgins contract increases staggered). Brown wouldn't cost a lot, Austin still offers a good/different option, and we would have Wilson in there to compete with Brown and Austin for targets (he could still develop into a quality player).

If we do this at WR and draft Treyveon Henderson in the second round this year, I think it would matter a whole lot less who is playing QB. We could have either Russ or Fields and I think our offense would be pretty solid. My personal preference would be Fields, but I could get behind Russ for another 2 years IF AND ONLY IF we go all in on surrounding him with stud weapons.

 

It isn't a definite list but an example of a decent WR squad. Even Russ could find these guys and maybe even that helps open up our TE who has 65 rec for 653yds... I'd like to get him closer to 1,000yds since there is 17 games now (that is ~60yd/gm for 1000, if he gets 800 that would be great.)

 

I think this would be a top 5 WR room in the league. I really like your list, and would love to have it come to fruition. Add a explosive RB who is capable of hitting that homerun, and I think the offense is primed for even mediocre QB play to yield a lot of yards and points.

 

Well our defense needs to play like someone set them on fire.they need to----chase Jackson all around--sack him. Beat on Henry make him a peasant not the King.bruise all their players--get really mad----but if they play all cold and play like---it's going to be a ------------kind of night and our season will beSOOOOOOOOO lets go lets goand most of all

 

This post is 1000% more animated and effective than the Steelers O much of this season.

 

“No, no, no. That makes too much sense. Instead, let’s outsmart everyone and TOSS the ball to our 240lb back and see if he can lumber back to the line of scrimmage” - Arthur Smith (probably)

 

@james weyandt for OC!!!!!!!

 

Pull the trigger cut your losses.

 

I watched the all 22 last night and it's not good. There were so many times someone was wide open in the middle of the field and Russ didn't go to them. Even on that beautiful Mike Williams catch, there were numerous options open in the middle. Calvin Austin beat his guy so cleanly he may have scored a TD. He was open immediately, yet Russ went to Mike Williams who at the time of the throw, was covered. Mike Williams made an amazing catch, but you can't rely on those types of plays very often. Our Oline is trash and Russ isn't seeing guys open in the middle of the field. That's a really bad combination.

I know why Arthur Smith is so desperate to establish the run game. Part of that is a mandate from Tomlin, but I'm sure part of it is that Russ is a good QB to compliment a strong running game. He's never going to carry a team with his arm. Without a running game, we're going to be limited offensively. The coaches, OL and RB's all need to do better to establish it though.

 

can Russ see the middle of the field ,or is he afraid the other team will bat the ball down

 

Tomlin has banned Russ from even trying to look at the middle of the field. Too risky.

"For us, it's about playing to a personality that we prescribe to engineer victory, to posses the ball and a component of possessing the ball is not only time, but, managing risk. Obviously, there's less risk with running the football than throwing it and sometimes that's a component of the discussion as well."

 

I miss Myron Cope--- we could him and his YOI right about now

 

He hit some throws over the middle in the victory over the Ravens. He is going to have to go there some Saturday night. The Ravens are going to dare him to throw something other than a moon ball or a check-down.

 

More likely to see Najee tripping over his feet and stumbling like he does every other run lol. Warren has better stats and would be the best choice for quick throws but they don't seem to use him like they should.

 

I'm watching some old Steelers/Ravens match ups with Ben and man we had some offense with Bell, Brown, Heath, etc. It just shows you that you have to have a o line and a QB and receivers that can get open. Our receivers back then could get open, Bell could get open, even some no names like Wheaton could gt open but today our guys are covered like Teflon. I remember guys on here saying we will all miss Ben badly and we do. I will to my grave blame Tomlin for allowing those players to turn into a circus and self destruct!! Love Shannon Sharpe's line, "Coach the behavior or condone it" and Tomlin condoned it and it blew up in our face. Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Oh no we can't use Warren on those quick throws, not when we have Patterson to pitch the ball to.

 

Our guys are getting open, Wilson just isn't seeing them or doesn't have time due to our crappy Oline. I've watched the All 22 the last few games and guys are definitely open.