Game planning, in game coaching, or execution?

In my post-defeat depression/puzzlement, I am perplexed as to what is wrong. A friend of mine is a Jets fan, and at least the story for them is they have no talent. I think we have talent, so it must be something else.

Motivation? I find it hard to believe players aren't motivated. They love winning. Hate losing. Unless it is lack of motivation in practice, and then they can't turn it on on Sunday.

Game plan? I assume these coordinators know more about football that I ever will, but the plans don't seem to make sense. I liked Haley's plan with Ben, but these last two weeks have been ineffective plans. Shouldn't BU QBs be able to execute the same plan? It didn't seem that complicated. Why develop a whole new approach?

Play calling? This is also puzzling. I am sure the running game was a big part of the plan today, and that sort of self-destructed, but the power run for the TD was lucky, and other calls seemed stupid. I am not sure how much of that is on the QB's decision making, but even then it should be something that was worked on in practice. Where were the quick passes to our speedy receivers that were so effective with Ben? Screen passes? I was surprised to see Charlie have so much time to pass - where were the short routes?

Wallace? OK, partially kidding here, but his effort is annoying, and he often does not seem to be on same page as the QB.

I think most of this boils down to coaching and coordinating. I know it is tough with all the injuries, but I would still expect a better performance out of our offense. Haley and Tomlin are embarrassing us. So are the players, but when it is a team meltdown, the leadership has to take the heat AND FiX THINGS!!

 

I'll go with D - failure to hold on to the darn ball

 

When you fumble 4 times (last one was hokey) and commit momentum killing penalty after momentum killing penalty, its execution.

 

There's really no reason to look any further.

 

Yes.

 

Without the turnovers today, we end up getting a win....period. Even if you just punt the ball on every possession, the offense wasn't good enough to get any points.

 

Yes, but why so many turnovers? A fluke? Or is it a symptom? Penalties are another issue? Lack of discipline or lack of skill?

 

we didn't show much talent out there today on O besides maybe miller

 

execution? I dont think any of them should be executed.

 

Maybe flogged? Cat-o-nine tails?

 

I think they had game planned heavily on running the ball for a majority of the game. When it became obvious that the Browns weren't falling for any of the routes and were all playing their responsibilities that they had to switch up what they were doing. I was disappointed that they didn't use more short passes and screens but even if they had the Browns really weren't bringing a heavy blitz so there was LB's and Safeties in coverage. I think one thing that was once again obvious in this game is the lack of veteran leadership on the team. If Ward was still on teh team he would have been walking the sideline telling Mendy, Red and Dwer to have a short memory and to put it behind them. HE would challenge Wallace and back Charlie, there would be a vocal leader in the huddle. Unfortunately they just don't have that element this year

 

I'm still perplexed on the touchdown with Rainey, we got lucky there. Did anybody else think that was a strange call with running your speed back and the smallest back up the middle? The last couple of games had some strange offensive play calls!

 

at least strap them in the electric chair and make them think about it.

 

Got a feeling some Clowns fan stumbled onto a copy of Voodoo For Dummies or Alladin's Lamp because I don't believe it's possible to be that unlucky. Maybe Tomlin can get a priest to do something to counteract this.

 

Tomlin was PO'd that Mendenhall, Dwyer and Redman all fumbled, so he benched them. Rainey, since he hadn't fumbled yet, was the only RB left, so that's why he was running that play. Now, why that was the play to run when Rainey was your only back? That I can't ansywer.

 

It is even more perplexing when they are running it to Legs side when he is having trouble at the position.

 

Because 9 out of 10 times, we run it up the middle? OK, I don't have an actual stat for it, but I always feel like all we do is try to ram it up the center over and over with the running game. We also still don't do well with mid-game adjustments, so planning for a heavy run game then having to switch it up at the last second probably didn't help. I will say, fumbles or not, one fumble from a back who has been producing decent yards in other games wouldn't have necessarily had me bench them (except maybe Mendenhall, but at least he's let up a little on the dancing and spinning lately).

 

Yeah, Im not so sure I would have benched Dwyer...but Im sure it was a move out of frustration. But, when Rainey fumbled (although he got leveled), the plan to prove a point was, well, pointless.

 

Dwyer has been their best rb this year. i know he fumbled, but the defender made a nice play. it happens. the 2 fumbles by Mendy, the one by Redman and the 1st by Rainey were just pour ball handling. the 2nd Rainey fumble is hard to critisize because the kid was doing everything he could to make a play and was getting beat to crap doing it.

i think they need to let Dwyer start and just stick with him. he has shown that he can be that big back that they need and can also make something out of nothing.

whats the old saying about qbs? "if you have 2 starting qbs than you dont have one"

in the Steelers case "if you have 3 starting rbs than you dont have one"

pick one and lets go

 

It really boils down to poor coaching. Too many undiciplined penalties and a lack of focus to hold onto the ball.

 

Poor offensive execution. Even when Ben is in the game.

 

I agree, and poor offensive execution on Sunday is a result of poor preparation Tuesday through Friday. And who is responsible for those practices? The entire coaching staff. The players have responsibility for Sundays, but what the heck goes on during the week? It ain't workin'.

 

Coaches put players in position to be successful. After that, the players must execute. It's not all the coaches fault. That's why it's a team.

 

i can tell you if it was last year it would be BA's fault. nobody seems to want to say the H word.