Great read on being an OC

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12029/1206761-66-0.stm

 

Wonder why the oc is the most hated person on the team when stuff goes bad

 

The article explained it perfectly. Because the 63000 people in the stands think they can do a better job. Arians replacement will be criticized just as much. It might take a little while but it will happen. It's the nature of the job.

 

Not super impressed with the article. He basically said the same thing about 7 different times in the article "63,000 fans think they can do a better job". The whole thing kind of took a lot of digs at fans who think Ariens should have been fired. I'm not sure why there is all the backlash from Pittsburgh writers all of the sudden. Obviously Ariens wasn't the worst in the world if you look at the numbers and how well the team did overall during his time (although obviously some can argue they had the success despite him). But at the same time, even if someone is doing an OK job you still have to move on sometimes. Everyone talks about the potential the offense has had, but for whatever reason they weren't reaching it. I for one feel that Ariens was a large reason why. He was a solid offensive coordinator, I can admit, but he also wasn't taking the offense to the next level. So are we suppose to hang onto a guy who is solid and is what he is, or do we pull out all of the stops and try to be the best that we can be?

 

Well, it's really pretty simple. If a fan watching TV or sitting in the stands can predict the play watching the game... what do you think opposing teams defenses can do?

Big deal, they get criticized, that's part of the high profile job they have.

Ooh, look, it's the bubble screen...pick 6.

I'm not calling for some wild and crazy play designer, but don't pull out the empty backfield, QB in a shotgun 3rd and short call ever again, at least keep a RB in the backfield for a possible running play or blocker to keep the defense honest.

A lot of times I hated how Cowher ran things, he seemed to say "hey, this is our game, this is our play, we're gonna run it down your throat until you stop up... then we'll keep doing it after you stop us too".

I understand that some formations and play calls are made to setup plays later in the game, but under BA, he wasn't changing the plays or making those adjustments.

 

BA wasn't a bad coordinator but you have to evolve with the game and be innovative. He wasn't able to do either. I mean 5 years of watching the bubble screen... I could never figure out how the other teams figure this play out and shut it down. I thought that play would stand the test of time...who knew!

 

Definitely a tough job to have.You can't please everyone.Plays are going to work,not work and basically the OC gets the blame.It comes with the job I guess.