Last night was proof...

Now goal line I can get behind I am all for that, bigger back hitting the hole hard but that is it until Bell gets going then I want to see his carries going down so he is fresh.

 

Totally disagree, Ben has played like crap so he isn't in game shape so do you suggest putting in Landry or Dobbs? Again I will point out last year Bell missed the first 3 games came in on the 4th game had like 140 something yards then 5 straight games under 100 and most of them way under 100. The difference is he sat out this year and it pissed most off. Now Connor who we draft with a great story, fan favorite and having a decent spring is getting the call from people.......sorry no way!!!!!! We will win and lose with Bell Ben and AB, we will go as far as these 3 take us. Like I just said in my prior post I am all for Connor/Watson to see more time as we get more into the season but Bell is our starter. The whole hesitant thing is garbage, that is his style nobody bitched about it when he gets tons of yards....... As long as Bell is healthy he is our ONLY option. jmo

 

I think it falls on both. Need players who can do their job and not try and make the big splash plays, and a coach who does not defer the ball first in overtime because of a hunch.

 

Implying I have not blamed the likes of Big Ben or others?


I have already been on record stating that Ben's decision making needs to improve. Nevermind Ben and the offense, I have also been on record to state that someone else not named Antonio Brown has to do better.


Same can be said for the defense. I already pointed out that Sean Davis' lack of diagnosis is concerning. I have also stated that players like Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree need to stop going for the "hit" and instead opt for the tackle.



To say that it is all on the players would be quite far sighted. I have questioned Haley myself; namely his offensive playcalling from the AFC Divisional game from last season to now. Keith Butler's gameplan against Philidelphia was quite unusual as I thought he would increase pressure.



At the end of the day, you are correct. Both do share the blame for losses like this one. Be it last Sunday or in the near future, I am sure that such occurances need be applied.


However, there are some instances in games where it can lead towards leaning on which side should shoulder more blame should that event or plays leading up to it will change the outcome.

 

Bell is taking away the run/pass option that a lot of Teams are using for success. His style doesn't allow the OL to block it at full tilt . His style also doesn't force the D to commit a DB pre snap . Rodgers was able to come to the line with run/pass options because his RB'S had the ability to run down hill and take guys on 1 on 1 . This forces Coaches and Players to play that option if the style of the RB allows the D to show pass D and still be able to fill a gap because they have time it takes away those run/pass options .

The healthy Bell could still work as he could make those jump cuts to avoid the gap filler on a regular basis . His yards per carry are not down because of rust or in game shape . They are down because his ability to make that jump cut on a constant basis has changed a bit.

Maybe his style has been a problem all along in the Redzone ? The field is shorter and players can thus play tighter on the outside anyway. Now if they can use 1 more player who can play the run and the pass the execution of the play must be more precise..

I contend a down hill style would not allow that to happen as much . This can be used all over the field , but has even greater value as the field shrinks .

 

Bell can still run and Bell can still catch . Bell is still a solid RB. What he can't do as good as he used to is elude contact . What he has never done is press the hole . With a Team full of run after the catch WR'S why not use a down hill type RB more ?

Anyone who really knows Football knows that the more the RB presses the hole and the faster and harder he hits it means the Defenders must react more quickly . 1 extra step towards the hole from a defender is more than enough to open up another passing window.

Teams don't use PA to look cute they use it because it works . Having a Team full of open field runners at WR and not using the middle of the field is criminal . If the style of the RB doesn't help that then you cut into his snaps who cares the name of that RB .

 

I think/hope Bell will be fine....the thing that is bothering me though is his reluctance to bounce the run outside and it seems he's had his share of chances to run to daylight. That would do wonders for his rush average and not allow the LB s to sit in the holes waiting for him to pop through. Anyone know if maybe he's playing a little heavy, he's at his best when he is lighter.
We need Bell to get going because that's when this O is at its best.....but at the same time a couple of carries for JC and Watson wouldn't hurt and could help to keep the D off guard.....

 

The one thing I have learned about the NFL is you have to be patient. Usually (if not for a age cliff like over 30) players who have traditionally performed, even with a slow start, will get it in gear and perform again. You know what other team is having trouble rushing the ball that was better than anyone a year ago at it? The Dallas Cowboys. The vaunted OL looks like crap, as does Zeke. Odds are, they will bounce into form, as will Bell and our OL. I am more worried about play calling and a head coach who does not provide the team with leadership on the focus and discipline front.

 

Not pressing the hole has worked pretty darn good for him his career, and you were ready to bench him after game 2 maybe even game 1 in favor of Connor. I can give you 12 million reasons why not to use a down hill type, and yeah Bell has earned all 12 million of them!

 

Bell will be fine, but I sure wish he'd caught the pass late in the game that hit him right in the hands (right after Wilcox INT). We would have won that ugly game and we'd all be saying that he's rounding into shape nicely.

 

Then hitting the snooze alarm...

 

Yeah I'm shocked at how bad Glennon looks this season. There was no excuse losing that game last week with the Bears running a 1930s military academy offense. Glennon looks absolutely lost and terrible out there. Mitch T will get a start before the midpoint of the season.

 

Second that...I have been watching my Steelers for over fifty years now and don't get too excited any more over the ups and downs during the season. The team has let me down soooo many times over the years, I have learned to deal with it. The game has changed greatly over the years, and the players along with it. In my mind, coaching is the Achilles heel of this team, and it's not gonna change anytime soon. Team as it stands will never be on a par with the Patriots....all the wishful thinking in the world won't change that.

 

The 1979 Steelers Super Bowl team lost to the 4-12 Bengals. It happens sometimes.

 

Tomlin acknowledges and accepts that