What's wrong with our offense?

We havn't looked right since the Denver game. Ben's passes have lost their accuracy and zip. We've abandoned the running game. Ben is looking for Brown on most plays and forcing it when he shouldn't.

These last two games should have been an offensive clinic. Instead it's been turnovers and Ben looks lost. Did he further injure his foot? Bad shoulder? Bad game plans ? Play calling?

 

Not sure what it is. He definitely hasn't looked comfortable the past few weeks. And today the Browns were jumping on his reads all day long. Glad we won, but it could have been ugly with as many "near picks" that he had.

 

Ben is the reason the offense has been uneven his entire career. When Ben plays well he's as good as any QB. It's the inconsistency that is the issue. Always has been and it appears it always will be.

 

What happen is he plays with the most elite athletes in the world. It's a called the NFL, give the guys a break. They ain't always going to play at a high level, in the NFL you have to find ways to win! and come on top no matter how you play in other words it's all about how you finish because of the simple fact that your playing among the best athletes in the world.

 

I think this sums it up. All of us know Ben's strengths and weaknesses. Steelers staff should be honest about Ben's traits and put him in an offense that helps him out. I feel like the Steelers are trying to be the Patriots or Saints and Ben isn't that 40+ passes a game guy (though neither is Brees without throwing a bunch of picks too haha).

 

I guess his knee isn't fully healed yet.
He hardly can run..

 

Marty is the issue currently I think. I posted a bunch of numbers in another thread, but when Bryant goes for more than 50 yards we average 32.8 PPG and went 4-1. When he gets less than 50, we average 23.1 PPG and went 3-3.

When Marty is stretching the field and making big plays our offense is unstoppable. When he isn't, we are very average.

 

Do you think maybe Ben is just f*cking up?

 

When Arians was here there was talk that the offense was inconsistent and lacked strategy/organization/planning.

When Haley arrived, we saw Ben in a tight, planned offense that entailed a lot of short passing options and his QB numbers improved over night... This lasted about half a season. There was talk of Ben and Haley clashing.

Now, Haley appears to be providing plays with some underneath options and one or two deep options (depending on offensive set).

Ben was consistently requesting a taller WR. Sweed didn't work out... now they have Martavis Bryant.

So... exactly what else do you need to provide for a HOF, franchise QB to lead an offense stacked with weapons?

 

I think that the short passing game includes Bell to such a great degree that Haley has gone away from it in his absence. The short passing game will return.

Honestly, without Bell, Haley is right to focus on Ben's strength which is intermediate to deep passing.

I think you are implying that the offense has catered to Ben and that he has been stubborn in ensuring that. I agree with you there.

I feel like Ben wants to air it out all the time and Tomlin wants to let him and that they are their own worst enemies.

Ben being allowed to throw on 4th downs instead of fake FGs would help him, no trick plays on the first drive of games, no going for 4ths in FG range too, and someone to tell him there has to be some semblance of power football for situational use would be really helpful to Ben.

 

I disagree. In game 2 against the Ravens there were several plays that Ben threw an INT while having a couple receivers open on shorter routes. Ben ignored them for a deep play to an double-covered receiver.

I believe both Tomlin and Haley want to provide Ben the options to make plays (short, intermediate and deep). Ben has to chose from those options when the plays develop. What has developed is about 21 TDs and 16 INTs.

 

Third and one third and two so let's throw a bomb is getting old and could be costly

 

That is true. Ben does force throws quite often. Ben definitely looks for deeper options first but he also seems comfortable with Bell.

RB receptions are down by half with Bell out. That's huge. He had 83 REC last year.

 

ben being ben.

 

Not sure either but I agree with your assessment. Bens throws do not look like they are coming in hot and in fact a few throws had a wobble to them. Of course the ints are never good and Ben does look a bit like he is nervous. He needs to settle in and get back into rhythm . His timing seems to be off

 

Ben doesn't dump off to the RB any longer. Maybe only Bell is capable out of the backfield, as he had over 80 receptions last year, but Ben is just slinging it too much.

 

I think with the drop off of Bryant's Production, has been the #1 thing. He has had 3-4 bad games in a row.
He needs to bring it, and provide more than just being able to run GO routes. Plus he is dropping the ball.
Since this has happened, Ben is telegraphing his throws to much to Brown or forcing the throws more.
This offense is much better with the ball being spread around.When Ben has throws to 7-8 different receivers.
He almost becomes a surgeon and picks them apart.

If we go any distance in these playoffs, it will have to be throwing the ball and not turning it over.

If we do that we could make some noise.

 

Worked yesterday on the one to DHB, but man I was screaming at my TV as they lined up with an empty set on 3rd and 2.

 

Mac said it right, Ben being Ben. Good news it seemed he got out of his funk the 2nd half of the clowns game. Lets hope we see elite Ben on Saturday. I don't think we will see D Will unfortunately. Hopefully Toussaint with a week to prepare can contribute.
I do feel he is targeting Brown to much, but with a playmaker like him it's easy to see why.
This team will live or die on the arm of Big Ben.
All bets are off, it's the POST SEASON! Let's see them keep that Bungles streak intact!

 

Are you referring to the check down?

 

Le'Veon Bell being out, Martavis Bryant's struggles, etc. have nothing to do with Ben's TD/INT ratio and passing selection during play development.

I'm all for holding other players accountable for what they need to do, but the same goes for Ben.

The offense has been struggling to consistently drive the field from their own 20 yard line and punch into the end zone for years. This has been going on since Bruce Arians was the OC. The offense stalls when they have to drive the field. Sometimes, Ben makes a good throw into tight coverage and the receiver(s) miss the catch(es). Other times, receivers will be wide open or clearing on top of the defense, and Ben commits a mis-throw. They out of sync moreso than in sync. When they are out of sync, they are hard to watch. When they are in sync, they are scary good.

The defense needs to be good enough to both get turnovers and help in the battle for field position (3-and-outs and stops in opposing territory help here, as well as turnovers). Special teams is important here, too. This offense needs short fields to be consistent at scoring TDs.

 

I think Ben has lost trust in Bryant and teams are also scheming to take Wheaton away, forcing Ben to throw to AB. Forcing throws to AB is fine but in doing so passes get intercepted. My hope is Heath becomes a bigger threat again in the playoffs. That should help Wheaton and AB get open. Lately it seems Heath has been staying in to block a lot.

Ben has looked off the past two weeks but so have other teams. I am not giving Ben a complete pass but to advance we need Bryant to step up and provide that big play ability.

 

They're relying too much on the big play. It's no way to win consistently. They need to get back to using high percentage passes and keep moving the chains. It opens up holes for the running game and keeps our defense off the field.