Tomlin: Our business is winning and we haven't been

I hope you're right! And I hope someone soon realizes that you have to have a balance of offensive play structure for any style to work.

 

I'm not ready to paint with that kinda brush at this juncture.

 

So why did they not put another oline player to block and help improve the awful running game? I dont get it

 

It’s not like Nix was used often for the run game.

Unless this Summer they changed that?

 

Why would they give up on the season 3 games in? (or at any point).
That's how head coaches get fired.
Wins is what matters, this is no time to experiment.

 

We tip our caps to the 49ers. The standard is the standard. Next man up, we're thinking about the Bengals.

 

Putting in an additional lineman is like flashing a sign we are running the ball, leave a single safety high and put 9 guys in the box. Even if you mix it up and throw a pass, your wr's have to get through a tight defense in the 5 yrd chuck zone and hope a speed rusher doesn't put AV on his backside.

 

My biggest problem with this trade is that in the offseason we knew TE was a need and a issue and we did nothing about it when it could have cost us less or at least provided a stronger result.

 

Mike Tomlin: "Our business is winning, therefore, I have immediately fired myself." He also said, "the standard is the standard and I am just not standard enough"

 

True but if you dont run it then I guess you have them on their heels.. If you go two rb set you are showing the defense your hand as well.. no?

 

Not necessarily. When Vance went down they had to use Grimble to block and he failed so miserably they had to trade for a TE today and sign another to the PS. Putting in a extra lineman could of afforded Rudolph more time to pass. Way more than Grimble was providing. Being successful running with the extra OL would of also opened up play action. Yes ideally having one or two TEs gives you more options but when McDonald went down a extra OL should of been considered IMO especially seeing Grimble getting owned. I’ve seen it plenty of times when teams knew the run was coming and still couldn’t stop it. It comes down to execution as well, not just being unpredictable.

They couldn’t run and they didn’t afford Rudolph much time. Grimble wasn’t the answer. Not necessarily every play but maybe a extra OL could of helped once in a while....IMO

 

^^^^^ This.....They said they dressed a extra OL because they said it was so hot...Then they use FIVE! Why wouldn't you dress and extra DL, If that was the case!

 

Late in the game ....... maybe. But when the first pass longer than 10 yards didn't come till our 4th possession mid way through the 2nd quarter it didn't do anyone any favors other than the 9ers.

 

Their business is winning. Winning what? Games? Division titles? SB Championships?

It's why I asked the question in the other thread. There are times when you do things in pursuit of championships at the expense of a game or vice versa.

Right now, the front office is doing things so out of character I question whether there's any actual strategic decision making going on. All of this looks completely reactionary. The FO didn't do anything about TE in the off season but all of sudden sign one onto the PS and trade for another after McDonald gets dinged? Oh boy.

(Not even going to wade into "What does this all say about Gentry?" territory.)

 

I like using a group that has a te, fb, 2 wr, and a rb. It has a lot of variety and you can build off plays. I said before the dual rb look is good but you have to build off of the plays for it to be really effective. They aren't so it's predictable.

 

Yeah but McCullers needs two uniforms....

 

.....or varsity

 

If it wasn't the Steelers and another team was making these moves how would you feel? Or if their record was 2-2? You are right though it is completely reactionary as it should be. They tried something and it didn't work the reaction for a change was to make changes. How many times have we seen them continue to do the same thing all season when it isn't working just because it's what they do and then wait until the offseason to make a change

 

I'd be laughing my butt off and mocking them unmercilessly.

Instead I'm highly concerned.

 

I agree with this. Clearly Grimble wasnt getting it done. Tipping your hand that you are going to run isnt necessarily a bad thing. If we had been able to rip off a couple of runs, play action would have opened up, and things may have gotten a little easier for Rudolph. If they were going to be content running the ball every first down, I dont see how playing an extra lineman would have hurt.

 

He basically just said , fire me!

 

Yes and I still feel a change of pace back is a needed weapon in this offense. I know it’s too late this year but they need to consider one seriously in the draft. Our RBs are too similar and don’t require any extra attention when game planning for them.