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It was Fichtner not Ben who gave up on the running game

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by steelersrule6, May 14, 2021.

  1. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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  2. thorn058

    thorn058 Well-Known Member

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    I started the article but hit the point where they push for a subscription. Did it actually say Randy felt that abandoning the run for the explosive air attack was the way to go?
     
  3. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Same thing here.
     
  4. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Duh. Ben doesn’t make the game plan. The OC does. Ben has made this very clear every time the offense has a bad game.
     
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  5. Lizard72

    Lizard72

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    He also called his own plays apparently. Didn't see too many of those successful runs though.
     
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  6. Steel Hog

    Steel Hog Well-Known Member

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    Another case of no one really knows who did what. What was the HC doing during all of this? Never mind.
     
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  7. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    Same for me, I wasn't able to read the whole thing.
     
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  8. Seven4Steel

    Seven4Steel Well-Known Member

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    This.

    Sounds like the OC somehow "ran" (see what I did there?) a fairly balanced offense into the ground and never looked back. So apparently, the OC for the Steelers tells the HC what he's doing and the HC shrugs his shoulders. There is no excuse for this. If Tomlin wants to call himself the HC, he needs to act like it. This is on him more than Ben or Fichtner.
     
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  9. Marvology

    Marvology Well-Known Member

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    Wasn't Ben bragging about all the winging it he was doing last season? :rolleyes:
     
  10. Seven4Steel

    Seven4Steel Well-Known Member

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    He didn't come back from his injury to be a game manager. He's not wired that way.
     
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  11. biggbunch68

    biggbunch68

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    So there you go, Haters ... lol
     
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  12. biggbunch68

    biggbunch68

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    Well when the coaches abandon the run whats left to do? but throw it
     
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  13. Marvology

    Marvology Well-Known Member

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    I'm saying how are we so convinced the pass heavy offense was Fitchner's choosing if Ben is saying he was calling his own plays?
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2021
  14. The Sodfather

    The Sodfather Well-Known Member

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    Tomlin deserves most of the blame, then Fichtner, then Ben AFAIC. I think what really happened was Ben wanted to throw, and Fichnter tried to work around it. And like someone else said, Tomlin shrugged his shoulders.
     
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  15. thorn058

    thorn058 Well-Known Member

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    This is another of Tomlin's quirks that drives me nuts. We don't concern ourselves with what other teams do. We'll coach if the other team is focusing on making your team one dimensional than you better be concerned. If would be fine if they said sure take away the one and then spread it out and just pick the secondary apart with guys hopefully holding on to the ball but Ben wasn't do that last season.
     
  16. DukeDukeDaDaDa

    DukeDukeDaDaDa Well-Known Member

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    It's a bit of an enigma how Tomlin has been successful given how simplistic his game planning is if any and not being the greatest at making adjustments. Quite bizarre actually.
     
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  17. The Sodfather

    The Sodfather Well-Known Member

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    It's interesting. I came in after doing yard work and switched on the tube while I ate my lunch, and lo and behold, the Eagles at Steeler game is on the NFL Network. Claypool's coming out party. Ben was running for his life early in the game. But, they ran some creative reverse's, quick hitters and toss back's to slow the Eagle's fierce pass rush. What happened to that stuff later on? Or, was it easily defensed because there was little to no threat in the run game? OR, was it that Ben wanted to chuck the rock? I think a more of the latter than the former. But eitherway, that o-line looked like crap, even in pass protection. Villanueva looked like a Matador.

    To your point Thorny, this is where Tomlin is too similar to Cowher. Offensively, the Steeler's are going to do what they do regardless of what the defense is doing. Or, it at least appears that way. They were poor last year at changing tactics the longer the season went. Too many times, they got bogged down at 3rd and 8, 3rd and 10. Drive killers. They have to be able to at least give their defense a blow by getting a couple of first downs. I honestly feel the Steelers could have still beat Cleveland if the defense hadn't been so tired in the second half.
     
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  18. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    Ben is allowed to check out of plays, and I'm sure he has a lot of input into the game plan.
     
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  19. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    It's combination of laziness and arrogance. "Want it more" and "Beat your man" aren't a game plan, they're a cop out. Sometime the other team wants it more or has better guys. Or more guys. 5 linemen and a TE can't block 8 guys, no matter how much you encourage them to.
     
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  20. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Oh absolutely.
     
  21. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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  22. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    My friend...what tired out the Defense??? Giving up TDs every drive???
    LoL
     
  23. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    This is essentially known circa 2019 where Randy Fichtner did not even give the running game a chance. Given the fact that Mason was still inexperienced at the time, getting more creative in the Running Game would have helped for certain; greatly even. That said, plenty of blame to go around regarding the failures of the running game.



    Randy Fichtner was a part of the problem. Big Ben was as well as he is permitted to check out of plays. Now, the focus is going to be on him as Matt Canada has already shown he is committed to running the football more.


    Whether or not Big Ben is willing to commit though is something that remains to be seen.
     
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  24. BURGH43STEL

    BURGH43STEL Well-Known Member

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    They gave the run game a chance in 2019. The offense wasn't very good from a consistency stand point in 2019 for several reasons. Musical chair at QB. Best RB couldn't stay healthy. Injury and inexperienced at the WR position. Coaching the Steelers offense in 2019 was a real challenge.

    They gave the run game a chance in 2020. Had some success early in the season. I don't know what happened to change the approach? Ben asserting his power? Best RB couldn't stay healthy? Injuries on the Oline? Coaching? Combination of factors.

    The organization made changes so we'll see what happens. I believe it's going to be Ben's offense as long as he is here.
     
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  25. Maddog78

    Maddog78 Well-Known Member

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    In 2018 James Conner had 973 yards rushing (on only 215 carries) and 497 yards on 55 catches.

    Same ballpark.

    Bell's 2nd season was his best - 1361 rushing, 83 catches for 854 yards.

    Harris is reportedly in excellent condition, hoping he's closer to Bell than Conner. I mean, that's why they spent a first round pick on him, right?
     
    Last edited: May 17, 2021

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