Throwing Deep on 3rd and 1

He's dealing with professional level coaches who have seen the ineffectiveness despite the favorable matchups. Where are the checks and balances? Someone (Fichtner who is worthless) or Haley keeps giving him the green light despite the massive car wreck that blocks the way. It is the textbook definition of insanity.

 

According to this Bleacher Report article, Ben was the 5th most efficient deep passer last season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2713730-nfl-1000-ranking-the-best-deep-throwers

Though it notes he declined in the second half of the season. I can’t imagine he’d be top 25 this season.

 

OK I had to do some checking before I keep spouting off un-informed . So I went through each of the first 7 games and looked at the 3rd down plays, focusing on 3rd and short (4 yards or less). A few surprises to me actually...here is what I got.

Clev
3&1 (will mean 3rd and 1 for short) - Bell rush no gain
3&4 - Inc to JuJu short pass attempt
3&4 - TD to JuJu 4yds
3&2 - TD to JuJu 2yds
3&3 - AB for 9yds
3&4 - AB for 12 yds
2 deep pass attempts, but both were 3rd and long 10+

Min
3&3 - Grimble for 5 yds
3&2 - TD to JuJu 4 yds
3&3 - AB for 8 yds
3&2 - Inc to AB, short pass attempt
3&4 - Bell for 2 yds
2 deep pass attempts, but both were 3rd and 8 or more, 1 to AB, 1 to MB

Chi
3&2 - AB for 5 yds
3&1 - Watson for 3 yds
3&2 - AB for 10 yds
3&1 - Inc to AB short pass attempt
3&3 - Ben sacked
3&3 - Inc to MB, short pass attempt
1 deep pass attempt on 3rd and 6 to AB

Bal
3&3 - Bell for 5 yds, pass
3&1 - Watson for 1 yd
3&4 - Inc to Bell, short pass attempt
3&2 - Bell for 6 yds, rush
3&4 - Inc to AB, short pass attempt
3&3 - Inc to MB, deep pass attempt, up by 10 points, 4th qrtr
3&4 - Bell for 6 yds, rush
2 other deep pass attempts, 3rd&29 Inc to Hunter, 3&10 to JuJu for 17yds

Jax
3&4 - Bell for 6 yds, pass
3&3 - Bell for 9 yds, pass
3&2 - AB for 4 yds
3&2 - Inc to AB, short pass attempt
3&2 - JJ for 4 yds
3&1 - Bell for 1 yd, rush
3&4 - Conner for 3 yds
3 deep pass attempts, 3&12 to AB for 18yds, 3&17 INT, 3&10 INT

K.C.
3&1 - Watson for 3 yds
3&3 - Ben sacked
3&2 - Inc to Bell, short pass attempt
3&2 - AB for 51 yds, TD, up by 2 in 4th qrtr

Cin
3&4 - Inc to AB, short pass attempt
3&1 - Bell minus 4 yds, rush
3&1 - Inc to AB, deep pass attempt, up by 9 in 3rd qrtr
3&1 - Inc to AB, deep pass attempt, up by 12 in 4th qrtr
3&4 - Bell for 3 yds, rush
2 other deep pass attempts, 3&6 Inc to Eli up by 7 in 1st qrtr, 3&7 Inc to JuJu

So really there were only 4 deep pass attempts on 3rd and short over 7 games, and we were leading on the scoreboard for all of them. All the other deep passes on 3rd down were when down and distance played a part. So I may have to curtail my criticism a bit . 2 in the last game vs Cincy, so maybe that would lead you to believe they do it more often.

 

We are 24th in the league in 3rd down efficiency, just as an added note. 34% or close to it.

 

Ugh that's awful.

I wish Ben or Haley or both would realize that sustaining drives helps the defense and improves our pass rush and focus on converting third and manageables. We should use all those cute plays we developed for 2-point tries.

 

The coaches give Ben options. Ben makes the decision where to go with the football.

 

Sort of, sometimes. If third down or red zone goes bad, Ben is quick to say he doesn’t call the plays, the coaches do.

If it goes well he takes the credit, if it goes poorly he quickly passes the blame.

 

I'm a firm believer in playing to get the 1st down. If you can keep doing that, you'll get an opportunity to score. If there's an opportunity for a big play, sure take it, but I agree that on 3rd and 1, the priority should be getting the 1st down, not getting a pretty pass play.

 

Absolute crap.

 

Two thoughts:

You don’t do your homework before responding.

You haven’t listened to Ben’s interviews this year.[/QUOTE]

 

Just watched the NFL's hottest qb, Carson Wentz, through a 53 yard TD pass to Alshon Jeffrey. It was severely underthrown and Jeffrey was tightly covered. Both Jeffrey and the db tracked the ball and adjusted to it. Jeffrey went up and took the ball from the db. He fought off the bad pass and the defender to make the catch AND keep his balance to YAC 20 yards for the end zone.

That score was because of a receiver simply wanting it more and making something out of nothing. If he didn't work so hard for it, it would have fallen incomplete or even been picked. Guess who would have been blamed? If it were the Steelers, Big Ben.

It's not ALWAYS the qb. It's not ONLY the qb. Sometimes someone just has to make a play.

 

The organization has invested a lot in the players around Ben. Ben's job is simple. Get the ball into the hands of play makers.

 

I hate the call to throw bombs on third and short, whoever is making them. There are other downs to do that crap when we need a first down to keep a drive alive. I don't care if they have to shovel more. Drives need to be extended with the way the O is playing to keep the D fresh.

 

Wow, I didn't realize we were that poor. Thanks Turtle.

 

I`m good with a deep ball on 1st down here and there. That sends a message to the other team to keep them honest and not just look run on 1st down. Also, you have two downs left to get the 1st if bomb does not complete. That`s smart play calling IMO.

 

in my rapidly fading memory, I seem to recall the late 70's Steelers (as opposed to the first 2 Super Bowl teams which ran most of the time), throwing deep with play action passes on 3rd and short with good success. My memory may not be correct though.

 

I found a statistic somewhere showing the Steelers were good at it in 2015 but poor in 2016. I was hoping Bryant was part of the solution but that didn’t happen so far.

 

Yeah Bradshaw had 2 Hall Of Fame WRs to throw to.

 

That seems right from the eyeball test.

Teams know Ben is looking for that adjustment. Bryant doesn’t seem to have got back to far full speed (yet?) and Ben’s deep accuracy has been what it’s been. So it all adds up.

For me, they need another option or two on those plays to keep the D honest. Or throw in some FB dives or something.

 

WVU vs. Iowa State this past weekend. We (WVU) kept throwing bombs unsuccessfully on 3rd and short instead of trying to move the chains and sustaining drives even though our running game was working.

By the end of the game our defense, through minimal time of possession and attrition, was visibly gassed. There were times they were slow getting out of their stances. Almost cost them the game.

Tommy Tuberville was color commentary for the game and was beside himself. Kept scratching his head and questioning why WVU was doing that. He had quite a few reasons for them NOT to do it, but was hard pressed to come up with any reasons for.

I know it's a different game on Sundays, but it's not THAT different. Moving the chains and keeping drives going has merit. Keeps your D off the field. Allows the O to get in synch. T.O.P. Keeps the other O off the field and shortens the game. Unless you have the qb, receivers, and favorable matchups to do it, there's just no reason to.

 

The Inc passes short or long are making the missed bombs seem worse.. there are quite a few inc's in those 3rd and short stats..