The New England dink and dunk works...

It seems what we're trying to do this year is to replicate the Patriots' dink and dunk strategy that served them so well with Brady at the helm.

Success under this scheme requires:

1. An accurate QB who can get rid of the ball quickly. Ben is getting rid of it quickly but his accuracy has been pretty sub-par the last month or so.

2. Sure-handed receivers who have RAC ability. The Steelers have 10+ drops over the past two games. Worst offenders are Johnson and Ebron who both lead the league in drops this year. Ebron, when he does catch it, seems to lack much RAC ability. Juju has power but also lacks breakaway speed. Claypool has seemingly disappeared recently.

3. Running backs who can run it effectively when called upon and can catch the ball out of the backfield. With Connor out we have the worst RB group in the NFL. With Connor in we're still probably a bottom 5 team for running backs. Snell and McFarland are practice squad players. They can't catch and they have no power. How many times did we run it from the 1 yard line and gain 0 yards? And they can't catch.

To me, this offense has taken us as far as it can. As the weather gets colder and teams key more on the fact that the offense is no threat to run and the staple play is a 2 yard pass things will only get worse.

I see a blowout by the Bills coming up this Sunday.

 

Once Pouncey comes back you would think we could run the ball better.

Pouncey and Decastro used to be great run blockers ... are they washed up?

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Pouncey has only missed two games. Pretty sure our run game still sucked in the previous 10 games in which he started.

 

Pretty profound statement I'm about to make, but...it ain't looking good. Too many good players down especially defensive side. Someone mentioned yesterday Zach Banner going down was a huge hit. You wouldn't think one or two people on the offensive line could be that great of a hit, but it's hard to figure out what's going on with this offense.

I think Ebron is a good YAC receiver...the problem is consistency with him in catching the ball period. This throwing the ball so many yards before the sticks is not working anymore and it's really being exposed on third and shorts. The YAC is being relied upon entirely too much from all the receivers. At least let these guys get beyond the sticks going forward gwhiz. I understand you don't want Ben taking hits and essentially if you lose him the season is over, but can't you hold a block for a extra 2-3 seconds??

...and you're most certainly right in that this is definitely the worst backfield in football and possibly Steeler history in a long time. Name me one worse in the last 30 years?....I'll say this and I probably won't address this anymore. Put feelings and idiocracy aside. They should have given Bell 33 fully guaranteed and given him insentive to make up the difference of the 52 he wanted. HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT!!!! you're giving 3 million to a fullback that you don't even use. What was the purpose of picking him up?? Was this in the hopes of drawing JJ here down the road??? (Hint: hint: why in the world is Thanos Giankoupollos on the Lakers??) because I see no other reason. The OC doesn't even know how to use him. Copycat San Diegos playbook for the Messiah's sake.

 

No, I agree.... I'm just saying these guys may be done. Pounce has lost a step, and always struggled against big NT's. I think DeCastro is still hurt, the way they were so hush hush on his injury in preseason was highly curious. He may need some kind of surgery in the offseason?

Big Al is getting older too. Hasn't really given us a whole lot in the run game either.


Anyways those Patriots-like Dink-and-Dunk RB flares that WFT were running were working against our D. That is for sure.