Art Rooney II

Just posted on ESPN, sources say that BA was let go in order shift the offense back toward its blue-collar identity of years past, in line with the desires of Steelers president Art Rooney II. I sure hope this is a smoke screen. Wow, what a waste of all the skill position talent we have, if its true. We were successful with a blue collar offense becasuse we had a good offensive line. The o-line needs to be updgraded. We have to shave nearmy $25 mil just to get under the projected cap. We are not living in the Cowher era any more. The NFL has turned the league into one where teams need to score to win. Why pay a QB over $100 mil to merely hand the ball off!

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/74899 ... er-not-fan

 

i don't think it's meant for us to become georgia tech. it could actually help that 100 million dollar guy be more efficient when he does throw it to our skill people.

 

This is the same thing that was told to Tomlin 2 seasons ago but they refused to buy into it. Now it has cost a coordinator his job. Think MT will take him seriously now? Ben might not like it but it will benefit his game greatly if he buys into the run game to set up the pass.

 

Agreed. Why pay him $100 million to get murdered in the backfield throwing 50 balls a game?

It's not like "running more and passing less" will make us Georgia Tech, as mac said. If we had a better running game, our passing game would improve as well. It's a wide spectrum, and on the Pass Happy scale of 1-10, we could dial it back from an 8 to a 7 and be just fine. The main point is we need to be more efficient, and use the talent we have better.

 

We need to get better lineman and a true fullback to get better at running the ball.

The one thing we could do is be a little more creative with run game and not tip of what the play is all the time.

 

You hit the nail on the head Mac. If we have a more effective running game it will make our skill position guys that much more dangerous!

 

seriously, if you wern't around in the 70's, we really could walk on the field every week and dictate the game, by running, throwing and solid defense. we had a high paid qb then too. we had good RB's. we had a good defense. we had good wr's. we had good TE's. we just need a FB and some better linemen. we could play any style we needed to against the other team then. we are not that far from being able to do it again. we haven't been using our weapons or qb to their fullest extent. we are a couple of players and a will to do it away from that.

 

I was there in the 70s. Our running game was so effective that even when the other team knew what was coming they still couldn't stop it. The Steelers would run that trap play with Franco, which we had perfected, 25 times a game it seemed. That would open up the passing lanes and Bradshaw hitting Swann and Stallworth made us a very effective offense. Our offense now has no identity. Hopefully our new OC will give us one.

HIRE TODD HALEY IMMEDIATELY!!!

 

You have me dreaming of a true return to the dynasty years... we've reached for it but it keeps slipping through our grasp... is it time for football again yet!?!?!?

 

Good move. Hopefully they hire Brian Billick and he remembers how to run an explosive 1999 Vikings offense but also has enough sense from coaching the Defensive 2000 Ravens to choose smart offensive situations to help out our defense

 

I was there in the 70s. Our running game was so effective that even when the other team knew what was coming they still couldn't stop it. The Steelers would run that trap play with Franco, which we had perfected, 25 times a game it seemed. That would open up the passing lanes and Bradshaw hitting Swann and Stallworth made us a very effective offense. Our offense now has no identity. Hopefully our new OC will give us one.

HIRE TODD HALEY IMMEDIATELY!!![/quote:2zd23ogk]

I can't remember the last time we ran a trap play. Looking forward to getting back to some creative play calling.

 

If the Steelers want to be a run-heavy team, they should get rid of Wallace and spend his salary on o-linemen. There is no way they are going to run the ball like the Steelers of old with the line they have right now unless every starter can stay healthy for the entire season... which isn't going to happen.

That said, there is a big difference between running the ball more effectively and running the ball more often.

 

At the rate we've been going Ben won't survive more than a few years unless we make some changes. I've lost track of how many injuries he's had but he can't continue to take a beating and just shake it off. How long before he gets a major injury that knocks him out for good? A balanced offense will make the Steelers a better team and ultimately improve and lengthen Ben's career.

I don't know any free agent QB's or prospects that we can get in the next few years that can give us the results that Ben does. By all means lets pass the ball...but let's keep our $100 million dollar investment healthy.

 

I don't understand the negative connotation when they say they didn't bring BA back against Ben. BA was Ben's boss. You have to believe in your people. So Ben supported BA. I get that. I was put in that situation a few years ago, when I publically supported my boss. My boss still got canned, but I felt I did the right thing. I didn't hold that against the new one who came on board. Just as I worked as a professional with my new boss, I expect Ben to do the same.

 

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/74899 ... er-not-fan[/quote]

Just noticed the lunacy of the ESPN writer's quote:

"Pittsburgh ranked in the top half of the NFL in offense over the past three seasons but finished a disappointing 12th this past season."

Uhmmm, 32 teams, top half would be anything better than 16th in the league. But this year we "finished a disappointing 12th". Would it be asking too much to read your article before putting it out there Mr. ESPN writer?

 

I was there in the 70s. Our running game was so effective that even when the other team knew what was coming they still couldn't stop it. The Steelers would run that trap play with Franco, which we had perfected, 25 times a game it seemed. That would open up the passing lanes and Bradshaw hitting Swann and Stallworth made us a very effective offense. Our offense now has no identity. Hopefully our new OC will give us one.

HIRE TODD HALEY IMMEDIATELY!!![/quote:1r4mp49e]

It would help Ben alot. If you compare the stats on the Ben and Bradshaw, Bradshaw passed a lot too, he just used ALL of his weapons instead of trying to be the main one.

 

A good plan and running game could lengthen Ben's career and win championships...move the chains...stay healthy

 

How about the talent that was being wasted under Bruce Arians. We have a Pro Bowl TE who was under used all the time. How about his refusel to run the ball especially using Redman. How about him getting rid of all the full backs on the roster and starter using TE's as lead blockers. When Ben used Miller against the Patriots, he killed them. They never went back to it the rest of the year. Our skills will not be wasted because we will have a balanced attack.

I think the Rooneys have done the right thing by getting rid of Arians. They gave him an opportunity when they told him in 2010 to work on running the ball better. However, Arians went right back to his old ways in 2011 by throwing the ball all over the yard. The Steelers struggle on offense this year with Arians scheme, hence, he did not get re-signed. BA BALL was not for the Steelers. The Rooneys will make it known with the hiring of the new OC that they want them to be able to develop a running game and be able to run the football.

Quite frankly, I'm glad they pulled the trigger on Arians!!

 

"Quite frankly, I'm glad they pulled the trigger on Arians!!"

Press conference with Tomlin said that BA was retiring. I haven't found anything that says he was not retained.

 

There have been a lot of "reports" from "sources" that say he was not going to be brought back. The Rooneys let him know that he could retire or be fired. It's also what a lot of people assumed anyway, without the reports.

 

Art II knows exactly what he is doing, he knows his customers,
ke knows what they want to see. This is why the Rooney's are so successful,
THEY KNOW THERE CUSTOMERS.

 

To all those who can't understand being a running team in today's NFL. (fantasy leagues is more accurate) Remember the game against the Chokers a few years ago at Heinz? We had the ball for all but 1 play in the 3rd quarter (thanks to a fumble by aforementioned chokers but, still) Ball control, clock control, defense keeps getting 3 and outs on a prolific, passing offense= W. Do you really care if we win 42-35 or 6-0 and control the ball for 50 mins.

 

Truly, I think that Rooney hoped to accomplish two things by making a change at OC. 1. To score more points and 2. To win more convincingly. The weapons this offense has make even a 12th place finish this year a real disappointment. However, on top of that, they were pathetic in the red zone. Honestly, the Steelers would get inside the 20, and it got to the point where I didn't even EXPECT them to score. I honestly think what Rooney wants is a reliable offense that can get it in the endzone from inside the 20. Hopefully the next guy can hand us a dominant season. My fingernails won't even grow anymore I've bitten them so much the past season.