If they win the coin toss... Tomlin better defer

Rookie quarterback in 1st playoff game at home. Make him feel the pressure and it would be nice to get the ball to start the 2nd half. I'm tired of this we are going to put up points and scare them? I don't get it and they have put up 7 on first drive how many times this season?

 

it don't matter to me. they are just as likely to get the ball and give aj confidence on first drive. this game will be won in the 4th. a couple of possessions wont decide it. I am not opposed to letting ben get off to a hot start if he can

 

It depends on the weather to me. It's supposed to be raining hard at the beginning of the game and then tapering off. If that's the case then defer.

 

I think more recently the steelers have been coming out of halftime looking much better. I would defer if given the option, and aside from weather concerns.

 

Tomlin takes the ball always. It might not be a bad idea. Weather looks nicer to start the game as oppose to the 2nd half.

 

Weather forecast isn't too bad at the start of the game and gets worse as it goes on. Take the ball and try to get points early. Make them play catch up later when it is harder to do so.

That's my logic.

 

Defer against Rookie QB and put the pressure on him. We have the veteran QB, and want the ball in the second halve. A veteran QB would see how they have been playing him and be able to make better decisions. With heavy rains and wind conditions at the starting time changes everything.

 

He may be a rookie in an NFL playoff game, but he has played in a lot of big games at alabama, he won two national championships so I dont think this playoff game is to big for him, dont count on him being nervous in this game, just bring the heat and make him uncomfortable in the pocket and force him into bad throws, that will be the ticket to getting a win in this game.....

 

I agree with this. Put your best unit on the field first, and that's the offense by far. No reason to change what we've done all year.

 

TOMLIN CALLS A TIMEOUT

 

who's their 3rd string?
he won two champs?
I agree get his head jacked up like we will do to PAY A TON NEXT WEEK!!!
HAPPY FEET!!

 

I'm almost always in the "defer" camp, but I would like them to start off the game with a TD. The pressure would be on the bengirls from the start. No trick plays on the first drive, unless they work of course!!

 

If we had a good Defense then yes we should defer . With the guys we have on D why would you want to give it to the Rookie QB ?The result would probably be bad and just build his confidence ... Take the ball and make him set ,sort off like icing a kicker.. He been through warm ups , went through all the protections, went over all the hot reads now make him sit over there and toil with that while we drive the Field...

 

Yeah the punk won 2 championships in college,, that was college ball vs a lot players who didn't get drafted..This is different, even tho our secondary plays like a bunch of undrafted turds, he's still going up against pros. Have to get to him early and break his confidence, make him think he has 0 time to look for open receivers. The playoffs is a quicker pace, lets see if he can handle the speed.

 

No better way to shake a guy's confidence than putting 7 on the board and making him feel the need to score on their first possession.

That is realistically the biggest pressure we can put on him.

 

There's two schools of thought on this. Either:
1 - Give AJ McCarron the ball and let him feel the pressure of starting a playoff game early
2 - Let us have the ball, pray to score first, then see how McCarron can play BEHIND in a playoff game

Personally, I don't think either matters because it's not as if this guy hasn't played big games before. Two national title games at Alabama, plus in the 'Kick Six' game, he was absolutely incredible (that 99 yard bomb to Amari Cooper in particular), I think he'll do just fine (just not fine enough, obviously)

 

Agree.

Having said that, I would still go for option 2 over 1 - I just don't trust our secondary to not give up an 80 yard bomb on the first play, giving McCarron confidence beyond his years to decimate us for the rest of the game.

 

If I win I would kickoff and pick the field. 8mph direct wind at my back in second half. especially impactful if contending with rain.

 

Well that is a good point , but they switch each quarter so to have the wind in the 4th. you have to give it up in the 1st....Not sure I want their QB throwing with the wind to settle his nerves early in the game .

 

I thought the direction you have in 1st qtr is what you have in 4th qtr

 

He's not a rookie. He's in his second Year in the NFL.

 

Well after reading a article about how little we blitzed him last time and how Butler said he knows he has to be more aggressive I'm sure we will. He also said some head scratching things about now he realizes he has to mix things up and disguise coverages more.......really? I like having Tuitt coming off the edge with Harrison stunting up the middle and into the QBs face....that's the last thing a young QB wants to see.