Surprise, Surprise; Big Ben Warns against BA firing

A new OC won't do diddly squat if the Oline continues to suffer from an injury stand point.

 

this might be blasphemous but . . . i think it's ben. again, i don't think he has the arm strength, quick release, or all-around skill sets to do what guys like brees and rodgers do. and i don't think he ever will.

and that's fine.

ben plays his best when we run no-huddle and he calls the plays. it is what it is. he is at his best when he evades a pass rush, steps up in the pocket, improvises, and makes plays. he's a sandlot qb. and it works for him. a change in coordinator isn't going to help our offense improve. we're winning now with what we've got. our offense is competent. we barely lost the super bowl last year to the best offense in the game. if it wasn't for ben's pick-six and mendy's fumble, who knows . . . our OC can't control turnovers. it is what it is. we're winning. embrace it. hell, enjoy it!!

 

I disagree. Chicago has a worse Oline than us, and Cutler was getting killed the first month of the season. Their OC made adjustments and the Bears started getting better Oline play because Cutler was dropping back 3-5 steps instead of 7 steps and he was getting rid of the ball quicker. An OC has a big influence in how the Oline plays.

 

Yes, I see your point. Very good observation.

 

A decent OC would replace those injury prone candy assed guys on the oline with some tough guys.

We're seeing what Brucey is really good at, though. Namely getting inside Ben's head. He tells Benji how good he is and that he'll be the greatest Steeler ever, a shew in for the hof. Then Ben goes to the management and warns them about letting BA go. Brilliant!

 

Agreed, Arians can't do anything for the O line. However, he can adjust his game plan and play calling to adapt and overcome the weaknesses of this O line and exploit the weaknesses of the opposing D. He has admitted to the fact that he does not game plan for specific teams and their weaknesses.

 

I didn't see all of the Bear's games. So I can't comment on what happened in Chicago. However, it is a completely different issue. A new OC isn't going to fix the Oline if the top talent on that Oline continues to suffer from injuries. There is usually a drop of from most starters to backups in the NFL. It's been so bad, the Steelers had Trai Essex playing center this season. Seems they've been shuffling players in and out because of injuries all season. Injuries also hurt an offensive line from a continuity stand point.

 

That is a BS argument since they haven't radically changed the playbook or philosophy in forever. I remember when BA got the job and there were concerns about changes but he said He and Ben were working on streamlining the playbook because it had so much in it from the years and years of different OC's and what Cowher liked to run. The added some and got rid of others. In no way shape or form do I think Tomlin and the Rooney's bring a new OC who will scrap the entire offense and try and establish a new system. It just won't happen the Rooneys believe in the formula of solid run game and tough defense, they wont look at someone who wants a west coast offense.

In my opinion the plays that some of us want to see, the I formation, strong I, power running formations, ones that utilizes a Fb as lead blocker, those plays and formations are probably at the back of the playbook in pristine condition since they haven't gotten much use in the last five years.

 

All I can say is...wow.

 

So you think a new OC is going to come in here and run BA's offense except for those few differences? You are kidding yourself if you think a new OC is going to come in here and not implement his own system. Like I said, the only way that happens if is they promote someone already on the staff.[/quote:1kcdl5u6]

No I think just as every OC they have had in the last 30 years has, a new OC will put his own stamp on it but it will not fundamentally change. Arians runs many of the same plays that Wiz and Mularky did. The 5 WR set isn't new they ran it with NOD in 95 with Thigpen, Slash, Mills, and the rest. Arains personal stamp has been to focus on the pass and utilize 3 TE sets and more single back instead of the more limiting power run formations. He also favored the zone blocking scheme since by all accounts it requires less talented and smart players unfortunately the Oline still has trouble with it.

 

Of course he feels this way. BA enables BB. If we had a real OC, he might make Ben play within the system instead of just making the stuff up.

 

I was watching ESPN last night and they seemed to think that Ryan had regressed as the year went on. Plenty of wide open receivers and he just wasn't getting the ball to them with minimal pressure. I don't know what their gameplan was like but that does fall on the OC and HC to work with Matt Ryan on it. They had to know that the Giants were going to stuff the run and make Matt Ryan beat them. Very similar to what the Steelers are planning. You are right can't please everyone.

 

Agreed, Arians can't do anything for the O line. However, he can adjust his game plan and play calling to adapt and overcome the weaknesses of this O line and exploit the weaknesses of the opposing D. He has admitted to the fact that he does not game plan for specific teams and their weaknesses.[/quote:2n133j0e]

I believe it is Arians job to offer input on the players they draft a long the Oline. Ultimately, it seems Colbert has the final say on the players drafted.
It would depend upon the kind of adjustments one expects. I am not a big believer that simply making adjustments overcomes weaknesses. If it were that simple, every team would have players that play at a high level every week. Coaches don't usually make that much of a difference unless their players are good enough. IMO, most of this offenses struggles go directly back to the inconsistencies from the QB position. We've seen what happened in this offense when Ben played at a high level.

 

to imply bruce arians has majority input on what o-linemen we draft is absurd.

 

Bruce is that you? Don't you have better things to do so close to game time?

 

Exactly. All week long I've heard how if the Falcons can't run the ball, they will lose. All the analysts were saying it. The fact that it came true says the coaches had a terrible game plan. They gave up a ton to get Julio Jones and they haven't changed their game plan one bit to use all the offensive weapons they have. They continue to rely entirely on Turner, who is getting up there in age, and has always struggled in the playoffs. It reminds me a lot about BA, he has his gameplan and he's going to try to execute it no matter what the defence does and he's not going to change it no matter what the defence does. Being stubborn is a bad thing when you're a coach.

 

^^^

 

I'd like to see some of the genius coaches on this message board coach an NFL team.

 

Hopefully he's online booking a ticket to go interview for one of the open head coaching positions. I can offer a letter of recommendation

 

Having read the entire thread this is about the best explanation of how the system fails and the wrongful accusations about our horrid Oline. They are not great but they are not as bad as some make them out to be.

Thank you RobVos for bringing the truth and basically reiterating how I feel

Bman