Offensive line

Looks terrible.

also why didn't they use samuels at all?

 

looked out muscled on run plays and pushed around and backed into the QB on pass plays. Munchak please come back..

 

Perhaps the intensity that Munchak had when he was here had vanished?! I am not seeing that same intensity. It is very concerning.



Regarding Samuels?! Glad I am not the only one who asked this as well. Not too sure myself. Honestly and, at this point, given the fact that Moncrief has been benched for his poor performance, I expect Conner's snap count to decline next week.

 

I don't think Munchak psyched these guys out to the point they rose their game. Maybe his game planning was better?

The Killer B's made this line look better than it actually was. We lost Gilbert, and at one time he was actually good. Ramon Foster, might be over the hill at this point?

 

Maybe Samuels is just not that good at RB. We have a lot of money tied up in a few players. He might be the best of the cheapest. I look at his collegiate history and it lists him as a TE with around 180 carries in 4 years.

 

I have thought this Oline is better in space when they are pulling DD or Pouncey, they are more athletic than being the roadgrader type. Maybe it is the scheme that is flawed if its not then we really are in for a long long season.

 

The offensive line is offensive. Literally.

 

http://thesteelersfans.com/forums/t...-this-ol-is-one-of-the-best-in-the-nfl.22806/

 

I refuse to believe a coach made these guys forget how to block. The problem like I addressed in my draft analysis is we needed a DEEP threat. Without a deep threat and no AB. Teams are stacking the box, single man high. That's why the o-line can't block anymore they aren't use to this. Conner looks average. It was the same problem with Ben. When teams play like that you need to win your one on ones, Juju and DJ did for two plays and they were touchdowns. Moncrief was never going to be a deep threat, he doesn't get enough separation and come to find out he can't catch. Washington has proven his college game doesn't translate to pros, he would be better in a Juju role. Look at ABs stats when we had Martavis Bryant. That's when he had his best years because teams had to double MB for his homerun ability. Then it trickles down and opens everything up for everybody else.

 

Don't we have to believe it's play calling? The phrase "lack of identity" has been thrown around since last year and more prominent through the first three games.

The game plan, if there really is one (?), is so fundamentally flawed that we continue to start at a disadvantage. Due to losing talent and being more exposed, this was evident last year and this year is plain as day.

E.G.
49ers stack the box. They put QB in shotgun.....but you throw NOTHING down the field. We never altered the 'plan'.

Zero creativity. Zero understanding of how to utilize talent. Zero ability to change during the game.

 

IMO this team struggles with accountability. Could it be that Munch forced guys to be accountable. To me it’s just like the substitute teacher scenario.....
Man these guys talked so much about focus and motivation. Am I missing something because I just don’t see it. Whether you like Tomlin or not...blame Tomlin or not. Sometimes the message doesn’t carry any weight anymore. The players don’t seem to respond to what he’s selling anymore. They talk a excellent game though.

 

It's like the vets (sans TJ & Tuitt) are waiting for Ben to be back.

 

I feel this too. They collectively gave up

 

While our OL clearly played poorly SF does deserve some credit. I don’t follow them but reading other articles I’ve found out how heavily invested they are on their DL. I guess my point is they are getting bang for the buck and we have 8 first rounders and it’s not paying any real dividends. So either we failed miserably in our scouting and drafting or our DC is really this bad. I’m going with the latter.....

 

Our DC is bad but they also have better talent

 

Maybe but with Butler as DC we will never know for sure.

 

Yes.

 

With the svelte zack banner sitting there at 340 why not use him if we are going to telegraph our run plays anyway. Put a big body out there as an extra blocker.

Samuels is quicker with more wiggle and a better pass catcher. We keep hearing about this long backfield but have yet to see it. 3 wides, two backs, should pull eight out of the box.

 

@mac daddyo, Mac I saw this last night, I didn't get to watch the game so someone will have to tell me if this was happening all game but it looks like Bosa is the guy in a wide 9 alignment, the Steelers arch nemesis, . What kills me is that the could destroy the niners on it if the coaching staff would identify it and make adjustments. On that play 3rd and 3, with a huge gap. The inside backer moves left before identifying Samuels as a potential threat so he is off balance, run a draw through that gap and Samuels has an angle to the sticks. Or they could have Foster forget the dbl team slide forward to engage the ILB and have Samuels on his hip following the block to pay dirt. Or have the TE motion to the backfield and lead the run through the gap sealing that inside backer. Bosa is a rookie and he is over zealous in his blitz just like Jared Allen used to be they shold have let him come and just exploited the hole he was leaving.

 

If Samuels is gonna waste that much time in the backfield he needs to do a better job of chipping Bosa. That was half ass. Either get out in the pattern quick or stay in and help. They only needed 3 yards.

 

It seems the Steelers are trying to save pennies while they spend millions!
LeBeau > Bulter
Arians > Fichtner
Munchak > Sarrett

I have always loved the Steelers "promote from within" strategy but Butler and Fichtner look like recovering crack addicts who live in a trailer, our defense and offense have both declined, our O-line has gone to ****, we have guys dogging it all over national TV, we groomed a few of the NFL's biggest distractions, WTF is going on behind closed doors?

 

I thought he was watching the inside backer. I've seen RB's in that position go to help chip on the edge rusher and expose that gap to a delayed blitz. Either way the best play there should have been designed to exploit thathe gap with Samuels. Heck Rudolph could have scampered behind Samuels on that play for 3 yards.

 

They are overated and always have been.