If we try to "establish the run" tonight, we will lose.

So much for your philosophy!

 

Hey, quieten down there with your perfectly sensible suggestions.

 

But that just makes too much sense.

 

I am pretty confused by your comment that running doesn't lead to points. Basically both TD drives in the 2nd half were largely due to the run. Also did you see what the Patriots did to the Colts - they put up 42 largely by running the ball right from the get go. You run your offense based on what the defense's weakness is or what it dictates. If anything the screw ups in the 1st half where the Steelers only scored 2 FG were more due to the passing game where Ben missed a few throws and Bryant didn't fight for the ball - so it wasn't like they were running in the red zone much in the 1st half.

 

and it gave our tired D a nice rest, they caught their 2nd wind cus of the running game

Ben was floating the ball all game , if he put anything on those throws to Bryant they would've been easy TD's

 

Ben admitted he made a couple of bad throws, but he also said Bryant is going to be a top big body receiver and works hard to improve, but needs to learn how to attack the ball, which he will, and I agree because he doesn't attack the ball like he should, maybe AB can give him some pointers in being agressive on his catches.....

 

Ben gets blamed for his mistakes ... and the screw-ups of others too. That's the rule.

 

If our WRs remembered that the goal line is at the front of the endzone and not the back of the endzone, we'd score more TDs.

 

Ben always aims for the back of the endzone, the front of the endzone is more protected than the back

 

The O'Donnell Rule.

 

I don't think Bryant screwed up. The defender got a hand in there and batted the ball away. It was a good play by the defender. It's easy to say that Bryant needs to attack the ball better, but the DB gets paid to make plays too. Both were bad throws in my opinion, especially the first one. I don't blame Ben for Bryant's mistakes, I blame Bryant for them, I just don't think Bryant screwed up on those two plays. He simply had a DB get his hand in there due to the throw not being very good

 

The first one was a good play by the defender. The 2nd was a co-screw-up by Ben and Bryant. Ben lollipopped the throw too much, but Bryant could have adjusted and high pointed the ball and used his big body to ward off the defender. It was a nice play by the defender, but Bryant could have helped Ben out by fighting for the ball. He can't expect everything to be a perfect strike pass to him.

 

I think if you look it up over #7 career,
if he throws less than 35/gm. The winning percentage GOES WAY UP!

 

both of those passes were deflected by the DB. just good plays by the defense. bryant didn't do anything wrong. ben does have to make better throws at times. i don't know how you guys can just say we are picking on ben. when he screws up it hurts. when he plays well, well thats kinda why he gets the big bucks. he's not exempt from bad play critisizm nor should he be. he is in his 11th season. passes were coming up short in alot of instances that night. he has to make those throws. he's no different than any other player on this team. mistakes kill drives.

 

I remember when Ben was a rookie, Hines made a comment that he told Ben just put it up there in their vicinity and they'll come down with the ball. It took a lot of pressure off of Ben having WR's who attacked the ball.

Bryant needs to figure out how to own his space and catch the ball at it's highest point. What's the point of being that tall if you don't use it to your advantage? I'm confident he'll get it down soon enough though.

 

I'm just gonna leave this here. This actually happened. Monday night before the game I was standing by the tunnel getting stuff signed and Haley walked by me about 5 feet away and I said, very loudly, "RUN THE FOOTBALL!!!" He literally looked at me with almost disdain or something. BUT we DID hand it off over 30 times when it was all said and done. So, while I can't take full credit for Bell's big game, I pretty much can take most of it. LOL. Also, I will probably be the next OC of the Steelers. I mean what are the odds that Haley would have installed that gameplan if I hadn't told him to do that? Also I was actually HOLDING a sign in my hand that said "thesteelersfans.com". So my theory is that Haley heard my demand, saw the sign, walked to Tomlin and told him we were changing things us for that game. Prove me wrong people! LOL!

 

Pastor - that was divine intervention on your part - and we needed it!

 

Mac - it is not that Ben doesn't deserve criticism (he does), but at least on the 2nd one we are making it out like Ben underthrew him by 5 yards. It should have been a better pass, but Bryant did nothing to help his QB out by going for the ball. So it isn't like Bryant did anything wrong - but he also did the bare minimum on the play and sometimes it takes more than that.

 

A perfect example of going after the ball is the Tennesse touchdown caught by Chase Coffman. We had two DB's there watching as Coffman went up and grabbed the ball.

 

Personally I thought the plan they laid out for the Titans was perfect. Normally you would expect them to run to tire out the defense at the start of the game. Instead they wore out the defense and started to run the ball down their throat nearer the end of the game when TOP and burning up the clock mattered most. I like what the coaches did .. Keep running until they have an answer for it which clearly they did not.

Edit: Oh and thanks BFT for getting in Haleys face lol

 

From the scenario you describe, I'm wondering if he thought you were being an @$$hole.

 

it's hard to adjust at that point DC. the timing was just perfect by the DB on that play and the prior one too. i'm not sure bryant could have done alot more to fight for the ball that was nearly in his hands as the DB tipped at the perfect time. as i said two good defensive plays. i'd like to see our DB's in those positions more often.

 

Little late but, that didn't work out at all huh gang?

 

I really wasn't. I was just letting him know that I wanted to see some Bell. I've been close to him before. Honestly, he doesn't strike me as a very personable guy. I actually was talking to a guy that went to the team hotel the night before and pretty much got a pic with everybody. Troy wouldn't take his pic with him but Haley did. I asked if Haley was a nice guy and he hesitated and said "...he's nice enough". He said that he didn't want to talk or anything. Just said basic things like "I'm fine" and "thank you" and then just walked off after the picture. With the way this team has performed at times Haley should just be glad that ANYone wants to talk to him. LOL.