I have so many questions about how our offense is managed

This might be a key observation. The OC sends in the players for each down, which then limits the options the QB has. I wonder how often they are on the same page of what they want to do. Depending on the personnel, the plays sure look too predictable, at least on TV to this observer. All the motion doesn’t seem to confuse anyone.

 

You’re ignoring the fact a fair number of those passes came at the end of both halves. This notion we abandoned the run isn’t supported by facts

 

We didn't commit to the run as much as we should have. Everyone marvels at Henry rushing the ball 36 times for six yards a carry against Green Bay, and they rightly credit that for winning the game for the Ravens. Our running backs were having similar levels of success. Yet they only ran the ball 23 times (with Warren and Gainwell, our best offensive players, only getting nineteen carries combined). Committing more to the run would have given us a better chance to win.

Speaking of Gainwell, who might actually be our best receiver with DK out, he only had four targets. Freirmuth had five. Miller and MVS combined for 16 targets. So our pass attempts weren't even going to our most productive players. The game plan was flawed, and it cost the team. Those are the facts.

 

And didnt convert on. 3rd downs which limits your opportunities. We had 3rd and 1 and gainwell broke off a 14 yarder that was negated by a false start. YOU’re looking at stats trying to paint a picture. It doesnt hold up to scrutiny

 

You're right. Third down was a problem all game, but it was largely a problem because of how we were attacking the Browns. If you want to cherry pick specific plays, why would we go empty set on fourth and one from the twenty and remove the threat of a run when we had been running the ball effectively? Why wouldn't we use the middle of the field more when it was necessary to pass? Why weren't we getting the ball into the hands of our more productive players rather than challenging good cornerbacks with our backup receivers?

The entire plan stunk, and the results speak for themselves. I don't know if that mainly falls on Rodgers, Smith, or Tomlin, but those guys better get on the same page and put together a competent game plan for Sunday night. Otherwise, the Ravens will roll over us.

 

Oh goood lord not the mof crap again. There’s a great video out there of that exact play. Smith had a perfect man beating play callled which resulted in Rodgers staring down miller. Thielen is wide open, but Rodgers never took his eyes off miller

 

There needs to be a website that tracks where the routes were run. Then compare those charts to those NexGen passing charts.

Be fascinating to see what is being called versus what is being executed.

 

I read that. You were wrong in July, and you are wrong now. I am far from the only one who realizes it. Any discussion of the offense this season starts there. The Steelers made a huge mistake tying their fate to Metcalf, and he let them down at the worst possible time. The worst part is that they will probably have to keep him.

Pickens is a better receiver. They are comparable in running routes and running after the catch, but Pickens has much better hands. Those hands and far better timing are why he is so much better on 50-50 balls. Metcalf is easier to like and a better blocker, but catching the ball has to come first.

The argument that Pickens had to go because he is childish, selfish, and immature doesn't hold up. Metcalf is all of those things, too. It manifests differently, primarily in Metcalf losing his cool during games, but losing it with that idiot Lions fan did more damage to the Steelers than any of Pickens' antics ever did to the team. He cost them a game that would have locked up the AFC North. He crippled their offense going into Sunday's win-or-go-home game against the Ravens. Even if the Steelers somehow pull that off, they will have missed an opportunity to rest many of their key starters going into the playoffs.

Mind you, I never argued for Pickens instead of Metcalf. They should have kept both and adapted the offense to their talent. That is what good teams do. That is what Tomlin did when he first took over the team, which is a big part of why they won a Super Bowl in his second season. With both of them in an AFC without a great team, the Steelers would have been legitimately dangerous. Instead, their season will likely be over Sunday night.

That will be the mic drop moment on this argument. That is if it didn't already happen the moment Metcalf got himself suspended.