Rust!!!

If Ben sits vs the Browns then 1st rd bye that puts him having been off for three full weeks by the time he plays 1st game in the playoffs..

He doesn't deal with rust well.... Nor does the coaching staff following a bye.....

Ugg..... I'm getting nervous

Cajun

 

I would play him first half, just in case NE lays an egg against the Jets.

 

Then why strive to get a 1st round bye? Might as well just play 10 win ball and play the wild card round.

 

I look forward to Sunday and think this is what the Steelers will do. I imagine Tomlin will have one eye on the game and the other on the scoreboard.

I do not think this way but some of my Steeler friends think the patriots will make sure they keep game close up to the 4th quarter so the Steelers will keep their starters in thus increasing chances of an injury to one of them.

 

One would hope the Vets have learned how to shake off rust. Have they proved it yet ?Nope but we can hope.

 

The Patriots should be able to defeat the Jets without Brady, yet the 40-year-old quarterback is starting. Rob Gronkowksi, who has an injury history every bit as bad as Bell's, is playing. Maybe, just maybe, the Steelers should learn from the team that keeps kicking their collective asses.

If the Steelers sit a bunch of starters, does that mean Roethlisberger and Bell will be inactive? You have to have enough guys for the game.

The alternative is to have Roethlisberger and Bell active, but not play. Now imagine the game is close at halftime and the Jets are leading the Patriots. Do they then insert the full lineup? Now you've got Roethlisberger and Bell coming in, but not on their normal routine, which just increases the potential for injury. Sure, Roethlisberger has come off the bench and played great before, but that isn't the issue. The issue is what circumstances are more likely to lead to injury.

Mort importantly, after going this route, the Steelers are going to be rusty for the divisional round game. With a defense prone to communication issues and an offense that took half the season to get its collective act together, that is a huge problem.

Sitting healthy starters against the Browns is a terrible idea, one that is far more likely to ruin this season than the opposite approach.

 

never sleeps...

Laundry is starting.

 

Don't be shocked if we are struggling to beat the browns and the Jets have the lead...Ben is coming in.

 

If they are struggling? With a couple of scrubs off the street at running back and Landry Jones at quarterback, they will be struggling.

 

I am worried about injury in this game, I remember a couple years ago a Brown rolled up on Ben's knees

 

But, if someone hurt him and he was out a month you be really angry at Tomlin.
At this point at 36, I think the rest benefits him more.
I don't think he will be rusty.

 

Couple of things here:

With a Bye locked up it would be foolish to start Ben, Leveon, Pouncey and a few others BUT ESPECIALLY BEN. You don't risk your playoff and Superbowl run for no reason and all it would take is for Myles Garrett to roll up on Ben's leg to hear all the Tomlin bashers come out lol

I would be worried about rust EXCEPT the 1st Steelers playoff game will be at home against a non rested team (Ben plays better at home

There is no way in hell the Jets beat the Patriots with their 3rd string QB playing and their best offensive weapon (Austin-Seferian) probably out.

Even if they do the Steelers should be able to beat an 0 - 15 team with their 2nd and 3rd string QB if necessary

 

Funny how the Patriots, the team that keeps winning Super Bowls, are taking exactly that risk with their 40-year-old quarterback. They remember blowing the top seed two years ago and are smart enough to ensure that they avoid a repeat.

The rust gives that unrested team in the division round an advantage, an opportunity to take charge of the game early. If that is the Jaguars, we've seen what happens when the Steelers try to rally against them. It gets very ugly.

Also, I'd take your post more seriously if you knew anything about the Jets. Petty is their second-string quarterback, not their third, and Seferian-Jenkins isn't even close to their best offensive weapon. He's just the one you know because the crappy reversal took a touchdown away from him in the first meeting with the Jets. They have decent wideouts in Robbie Anderson and Jermaine Kearse and a good running back in Bilal Powell, all far better weapons than Seferian-Jenkins.

 

Here's my problem with your assessment you don't take into consideration that Brady gets rid of the ball under pressure and Ben does not. If you remember it was Ben not getting rid of the ball against Cincy in a wildcard playoff game that let to him being sacked by Burflict and him exiting the game. That play gave Cincy momentum and they almost won the game. When Ben did return he overthrew a zinger to AB which led to the hit that concussed AB and forced him to miss the next playoff game against the Broncos WHICH WE LOST.
I can give you other examples of when Ben gets hurt holding the ball but you get the idea. I don't care what the Patriots do, the smart play here is to sit Ben.

Let me ask:Would you rather a rusty Ben at Home or a injured Ben on the bench for our playoff game

And btw who are you Fireman ED, get off the Steelersfan message board lol

 

Hah. No Fireman Ed, but nice reference. I do know License Plate Guy, who lives not far from me. I'm a Pittsburgh native and Steelers fan, but I live in New York. I hear enough about the Jets to know your appraisal of their situation was not accurate, though they are a very long shot.

Brady hangs in and takes shots, too. He's fie years older and has been battling a sore Achilles tendon for weeks, yet they are playing him. My point stands. The Patriots are smarter about this than the Steelers. They understand Brady and the offense need to stay sharp and they understand that they need to take every step possible to ensure the top seed.

The Steelers are messing this one up. Maybe they will get away with it. Maybe the Jets won't even come close. Maybe the Steelers will be fine in the divisional round. But they are clearly living in their fears and it could cost them dearly.

 

Ben is usually rusty after the bye week. Having the bye game will be the same. I’m not sure having another week will make it any worse.

 

Not worried.


Ben historically is not well when coming off a bye. Within the same vein, getting Ben hurt is equally dangerous.


Rather sit him.

 

Rust has an upper body injury and was characterized as day to day by Coach Sullivan. Wait you did mean Bryan Rust of the Penguins right? No?ok well then moving on.

 

Twice as much time off isn't worse? Where is the logic in that?

 

Nah. I’m normally on the same page with you guys, but I’m more than fine with Ben and Bell resting. I’ve seen enough playoff games where either Ben, Bell or Brown are injured. No more. Rest and come back ready.

If anything, Bell will be fresh and ready to be run into the ground.

 

If you have a quart of prune juice, and you don’t like prune juice, having two quarts isn’t any worse.

 

In that same vain, if they come out in the Divisional and lay an egg because they are rusty - are *you* going to be mad at Tomlin?

 

It’s absolutely the right move to sit the key guys. The Jets have .0001% odds of winning this game. Come on be serious. If Ben or bell get rolled up on its over.

 

We need the rest but man we look awful when rusty. Too bad we are banged up.

I’m totally afraid of being one and doned