Smart move by Redman and Coach Haley

May have put him up to it......By calling out the run D of the Eagles maybe they will bring the SS down in the box.....If the Game Plan is the one it should be this helps all around.....If Redman is the runner then it is better for him to have the SS closer to him so he can use his Power to gain extra yards....If Mendenhall is the runner it is better to get the SS in the box because Mendenhall can make him miss and have 1 less guy to run him down with a angle...

As for the passing game this would be huge as the Eagles play a lot of Man coverage and take away most of the quick stuff...The FS and the SS bite hard on PA this could give Wallace and Brown the space they need over the top....It could also open up a nice seam for Miller if our run fakes are up the middle...Against the Wide 9 Ben will not have very long so we need to be able to see the open spot early and throw to it fairly quickly.....IMO that spot will not be on the side lines so anything that can help open up the middle is a huge gain....

Redman has been scolded for talking out of school about his Injury earlier this year,,,,I can't see him making such a Statement with the starting RB job on the line,,unless he got the Green Light to do so.....Hat's off to Haley because IMO he is using his RB to try and force the way the Eagles approach this game....If Redman did it on his own then Hats off to him as well,,a nice subtle ,but not so subtle jab that should work to our advantage...
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2012 ... ut-the-run

 

PWP, did you read the whole article? The Eagles run defense has been good this year. The Steelers must prove that they have a run game. I'm betting against that. Show me, what have you done lately?

With our line, I see Ben getting sacked and the run game stopped.

Also, the Eagles play a up in your face bump and run defense with their corners, something I wish the Steelers would do.

I guess we will see on Sunday. If you are right, hats off to you. If you are wrong, then the Steelers are done!

 

Yes I did read the entire article....But I also read one on Steelers Depot and even though they are tough against the run they are soft up the middle...They are giving up 6.5 YPC up the middle.....

Redman is like 4 out of 6 on 3rd. and shorts and 2 for 2 on 4th downs...I think all have been up the middle...I think Redmans longest run is 13 yards it was also up the middle and then he broke it out....

We also have a wild card coming back in Mendenhall and I am sure they don't want him to come out Hot....Couple that with the fact we have had 2 weeks to change blocking schemes and plays....IMO the Eagles must expect us to Attack their weakest point which is up the middle...Coach T has talked about play selection and blocking and he is exactly correct.....To much pulling and trapping inside from guys who simply can't do it....To much 1 on 1 blocking at the POA with guys trying to go get the 2nd. level.....I think that is what will change more Hat on a Hat style like they have been talking....

You are correct though ,,if we can't run it up the middle or at least make them adjust to the run then Ben will have a long and hard day....So my hopes are we are running to the right place and we are blocking it the right way,I still have faith in our RB'S if we can just seal the LOS more often...As to date most of our runs have been getting hit in our own backfield,,,it is Football 101 time with this OL ,,just get a Hat on a Hat .....

 

"p", I'm sorry, I don't have any faith in the RB's or the line. They are gonna have to prove it to Steeler Nation that they can run the ball. They haven't done it so far. Mendenhall is coming back at a very tough time against the Eagles. I doubt that he is gonna come out and get 100 yards. He's been on the shelf to long. The line needs to come together and Redman and Dwyer need to MAN UP!

Now if they don't get it done in this game at home in front of our fans, its all over. The defense is so bad and they can't run the ball. This is the perfect game to prove themselves, and I don't see Harrison, Polumala, and Mendenhall making a difference!

Can't wait to see what happens.

 

Really you don't see Harrison, Polumala and Mendenhall making a difference? Wow, that might be the biggest understatement of the year! I agree with PWP, we have been asking some of our players, linemen especially, to do some things they simply can't do. I have not given up on this team yet, as some have, but if the coaches can't find something that works for the talent they have, then, we could possibly be in trouble. I think we make the necessary adjustments and see some improvement this game. Wow, 3 of the best players on the team not making a difference???

 

Maybe he should stop running his yap and try running the ball for more than two and a half yards a carry?

 

I have no faith in our "run game" opening it up for the play action pass. If the defense doesn't have to worry about your run game, they don't bite on play action.

 

Wow you are a really pip edog.. I cannot believe the negativity you are displaying in this thread and sometimes on the forum. I get we have to be realists and not drinking the kool aid but there is such as thing as going the opposite way as well. If you dont think having Mendy , Taz back and Silverback then I cant help you. Lets just say I would rather have them back then not. We all get Taz is not the impact player he was and Silverback is taking his first snaps since Jan but OMG your just so one sided and usually its the negative side. WOW

 

If we can get the running game going to set up the play action that will mean a great day for AB and Wallace because I think they can both get behind Nnamdi and Cromartie. I just hope our line can open up enough of a hole to give them some running room. As far as having Troy and James back I think even if they are not 100% their mere presence will have an effect on the psyche of a qb. If James is out there it might make Vick think twice before leaving the pocket or holding the ball too long. If Troy is out there it might make Vick think twice before letting it fly just to try and make a play. He has been extremely turnover prone this year and you gotta think the presence of Troy on the field could get in his head. We REALLY need Troy and James to be "back" ya know? I just hope they can do some good for this embarrassment of a defense.

 

i'd like to chime in guys. hat on hat is fine but if we can't get to the 2nd level, their LB'ers will be filling those lanes up the middle. our guys are beat off the snap and usually are trying to catch up during the play and that is the reason for the one on one blocking that MT is talking about. it's not that it's by design, it's by getting beat initially. of course they can't run traps and counter blocking schemes for the same reason i discribed. we can't run outside because they can't get there before the back to make the blocks.

people seem to play off my thoughts about changing players or changing players by position. if we are going to try and run that ball against philly, we may have to give up some in the passing game to do it. i would start adams at LT. i would use the quicker legursky and beachum at guard and maybe go ahead and put colon back out at RT. i think we could then run up the middle and not handcuff ourselves into only one way to run it. we could still run counters and traps. our passing game against this defense has to be out of the backfield to set up some quicker downfield passing. we have to be able to move their LB'ers where we want them. that will be key to the whole offense in this one.

 

Mac I see what you are saying and I do agree that we have guys getting beat 1 on 1 right off the snap...This is why I expect more combo blocks to help control the LOS...With such a design you hope to catch the LB/FS up behind the pile,allow the RB to either push the pile or make a cut off of it.....1 thing is for sure it is the kiss of death to the running game if the RB makes his first move in the backfield,,,it is also the kiss of death if you ask a power back to move the pile from his own backfield....

Looking at the tape I think we would be better served if some of our better Run blocking OL were inserted,with that said I don't think we will do that so the next best thing is to forget about the 2nd. level and at least control the LOS....Let the RB'S have a chance to gain positive yards,,,as stated if they do this I think our average will double....

The bottom line is against the Eagles use Pouncey to combo block as he is uncovered and put the RB right behind him....This is the best place to run against the Wide 9 scheme and Pouncey is our best run blocking OL,plus Foster and Colon are big and slow so the combo block should allow them to use their Power more.....The tape shows the Eagles D likes to try and slant across the face of the Guards the is perfect as they will be slanting right into combo blocks,and is exactly why they are poor at stopping the inside run....This does however give their LB'S room to fill the B and C gaps and of course their DE'S are attacking everything wide....This is the design of the Wide 9 ,to Attack the Gaps on the way to the QB and collect RB'S on the way....

 

the trouble with that is our tackles can't contol their men in the run game. our slow guards coming off the ball late play right into the defenders hands coming across their face. it lessons our ability to make a combo block because once initially beaten it creates a clog, and if the tackle can't seal off his inside lane to the backfield, it cut's off the cutback lane for our RB. i still think our best bet would be to line up in the I formation, cut down our splits and use will j as the lead blocker. our line as it is can power straight forward much better than anything else. at least with a change at guard , we wouldn't make ourselves be one dimensional.

i would like to line rainey up behind will j in that I and also flair both out of the backfield in different directions at least making their LB'ers have to run to cover it and it will suck that safety away from coverage downfield. get them moving away and it could be a great time to start rainey one way and bring him back through the middle with a shovel pass up behind pouncey. it's going to come down to haley having a plan of attack to beat them using one thing to set up something else. rainey may be the only back to run this stuff because of his quickness. we have to use the weapons we have to help our other weapons succeed. we need 5-6-7 yards on first downs. we have to stop all the 3rd down situations his offense has been putting itself in so far. we have been very lucky with our 3rd down conversions lately and we can't rely on that all year. it ties our hands to much.

 

I will be happy if we can get 3 or 4 yards on 1st. down...I think we have a great shot to win if we can average 3.5 YPC...So if we get 3 on 1st. and 3 on second that leaves 3rd. and 4 still a possible run down and we would have a lot more passing routes to choose from....You are correct again esp this week if we get into 3rd. and long a bunch only bad things can happen.....
I do disgaree about it being harder to combo block,, that pile inside is exactly what we need...As long as that pile is on their side of the LOS it should allow Redman to push it for 3 or 4 yards or allow Mendenhall to use his speed to bounce around it...

It is very hard to defend the middle of the field in a Wide 9,,,we need our running game going right there,we need the PA game to the TE going right there,and we need our WR passing game going right there...The key is the Wide 9 asks the SS to do a lot....He is the extra run stopper,he has the TE if he comes into his area and he is also the deep help if on a 2 WR side....So we need to run a lot of 11 personnel with the TE,and 2 WR'S to the right side,use 1 WR to pin the CB to the side line,use the TE and the other WR to force the SS to make a choice....I would put Wallace out to the left by himself and see if he could beat his man and the FS...IMO this will spread them out and give us running room up the middle and open up Miller up the middle,,then if they adjust we may be able to hit some deep stuff over the top...

1 more note the Tackle won't have to worry about cutting off the inside lane ,because the DE will hardly ever try and loop inside...His main job is to loop 8 yards deep outside to the QB...

 

they killed us with the inside move in preseason. they started outside and cut right into the middle. we never stopped it. equally effective pass or run if we try to pound it staight up the gut. he'll catch our RB backside. if we get to 3rd and 4 it could be a running down but if we are only getting 3 yards a pop we will be punting alot or going for it on 4th and that's living dangerously.

 

I am really nervous about this game.....I hope Ben makes it out of this one in one piece. Having said that, if bringing back Troy, Harrison, and Mendy does not help our team, nothing will! GO STEELERS!

 

Redman is banged up they should have Dwyer as the #2 guy

 

The eagles wide 9 us what killed adams in the preseason..and you want to throw him to the wolves again?


Hack

 

Hey Hack is McClain paying you? LOL. I really think we should trade for John McClain. THAT'S something we all could agree on.

 

he's the better run blocker. don't think that outside in move doesn't work against max either, so why not have the better run blocker if we are going to line it up and try to run against them.

 

I agree that Adams looked good at run blocking during the preseason, and Starks' strength is pass protection. Frankly, I haven't seen enough of the rookie to call him even a good run blocker yet, let alone better than Starks, but it's definitely possible. We just haven't seen enough quality reps to say that in my opinion. But for the sake of argument, let's just "skip ahead" and say that Adams is currently a better run blocker than Starks.

You think the 10 or 20% possible improvement in our running game is worth taking a hatchet to the knees of our passing game? I know you love to bash Starks any chance you get, and "He wouldn't do well either" is nice and vague, but I don't understand how you can realistically equate his pass blocking (even a potentially bad performance against Cole/Babin/Graham) with Adams' performance in the preseason. Dude had more sack/fumbles allowed than he had good blocks. Even if he's improved a lot since then, which he probably has, there is absolutely no reason to expect him to perform half as well as Starks, let alone as well, let alone better. If Starks plays as bad as Adams (which we should know by 5 minutes into the game), we can always bench him.

Beachum/Legursky for Gilbert though, now that's a good substitution.

 

well first snack, pwp was talking about lining up and just pounding the run up the middle against philly. no traps and no counters because our guards are to slow. thats when i said put our most mobile guards and better run blockers in the game then and if we are going to commit to the run to win this game, why take away part of the run game?

starks is not a good LT i don't care what you say. i see it with my own eyes and have seen alot of good tackles in my days. do you even remember any tackles beyond marvel smith , really? colon is not a good guard because he can't move fast enough to be effective. my GOD look at our run game. it's pitiful. gilbert has played well below his expectations. what should we do just keep doing the same thing that has not worked since the season started because we don't want to hurt anyones feelings? please.

we've been over this and you can say it's just me not liking starks. well whatever gets you through the night, i expect more from this team. just because a rookie has a bad game in preseason doesn't mean they won't improve. adams is a good run blocker. starks is not by your own admission. starks is an 8 year vet. he should be at the top of his game and i do believe he is. thats as good as he's ever going to be and that ain't much. we can't say well he really only struggled against this player or that one because they are really good pass rushers , so that's OK. bull. i give max credit for his comeback so quick to be able to play. we shouldn't have to settle for him being just a little better in the passing game because of a preseason game that adams struggled in, and give max a break because he played just as bad in a couple games. what the heck is the difference? they have both stunk, but max is an 8 year vet, he's got no excuse. we need to be able to run our whole offense when we need to, not just half of it.


the line is hindering this offense and i don't want to sit and hope it might be OK at some point if we just keep letting them play. something has to change. this staff, won't even try something different to see if it would get better, so again we are spinning our wheels. thank goodness ben is taking a beating like usual and making plays on sheer will to keep it going. beachum has played 3 different positions since he got here. everyone just remembers his first pro game at LT where he struggled, so now he just plain stinks and can't play anywhere i guess.

whewwwww. have a good day my friend, i enjoy the banter. :hello:

 

McClain not paying me...but I bet he would love the change of scenery.....I do think that "losing" mentality as seeped into him as a player....why sell out on every play...when your team mates are not....and you are going to go 4-12 again.

HACK

 

Its amazing what a difference having Mendy back has made. One game and he looks very good.. Not great but heck its early ..

 

Mendenhall looked great....after just 10 months on the ACL.....and rust everywhere....he goes over 100 easy if Mike Wallace understands how to line up.


HACK