Thanks, Ben.He's never struck me as being very smart, or very football smart.
Thanks, Ben.He's never struck me as being very smart, or very football smart.
Ben Roethlisberger, on his radio show, swears of QB sneak (which he has not run in years), "I truly have never said I don’t want to run it." Says he does not have freedom to check to it, and that from 2yds, he's even asked Mike Tomlin to go empty, run QB draw. "He laughs at me"
And does it make a lot of sense to let the world know that audibling a QB sneak isn't even an option?EEI was just talking about this item from Roethlisberger's radio show where Ben says they don't have an audible for a QB sneak. He does a nice job throwing the coaches under the bus saying he's asked for that play to be in there as an option but it's been overruled by Tomlin.
Regardless of how smart your QB may or may not be, doesn't it make sense to at least have an audible signal for that play?
Edit - another quote:
Well it was following a sentence containing "Super Bowl". Descriptive without redundancy in the writing. I'll give him a pass:Is Florio always that careless with his writing? Two errors*, plus he says "But the last appearance in the NFL title game came seven years ago." Who calls it the NFL title game?
Yes, Tomlin has won a Super Bowl and taken the team to another one. But the last appearance in the NFL title game came seven years ago
Yeah, OK on that one. I could swear there was a third actual "English" or spelling error first time through, but can't find a third on rereading.Well it was following a sentence containing "Super Bowl". Descriptive without redundancy in the writing. I'll give him a pass:
It was at least Timothy and Patrick who sold out. So, yeah, plural is warranted.Yeah, OK on that one. I could swear there was a third actual "English" or spelling error first time through, but can't find a third on rereading.
Oh, here it is, start of third paragraph: "The limited partners, who became involved nearly a decade ago as member of the Rooney family sold their interest in the team..." I think that needs to be members.
At least he has learned to get consent first.EEI was just talking about this item from Roethlisberger's radio show where Ben says they don't have an audible for a QB sneak. He does a nice job throwing the coaches under the bus saying he's asked for that play to be in there as an option but it's been overruled by Tomlin.
Regardless of how smart your QB may or may not be, doesn't it make sense to at least have an audible signal for that play?
Edit - another quote:
You have won the Internet for today.At least he has learned to get consent first.
Actually, and I thought this was strange, but he starts out talking about a sneak, but here he mentions asking for a QB draw and Tomlin says 'maybe when you were younger'--someone with more knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong--but a qb draw requires a lot more quickness than a sneak, right? But he conflates the two.. He does a nice job throwing the coaches under the bus saying he's asked for that play to be in there as an option but it's been overruled by Tomlin.
Edit - another quote:
Must be a thing with Steeler QBs.Ben is mostly classy. He just seems to get confused about what he is talking about... like all the time. Kind of amazing someone who seems relatively dumb by QB standards has had such a great career
Not you; the reference to Bradshaw.I certainly didn’t mean my post in any sort of trolling manner. I am just kind of stating a fact that Ben seems to contradict himself a ton.
I already did. It was a joke. Sorry if you think it's going to prevent further analysis. I'll refrain from further levity. I keep forgetting the new rules.Please don’t. I’d like Steeler fans to continue to weigh in on a bunch of recent stuff, including Tomlin.
Honestly, I thought it was a Bradshaw dig from a non-Steeler fan.I already did. It was a joke. Sorry if you think it's going to prevent further analysis. I'll refrain from further levity. I keep forgetting the new rules.
It was a Bradshaw JOKE. I'm not the first or last to make one. In fact, it's kind of a national thing. No need to further derail. Proceeeeed.Honestly, I thought it was a Bradshaw dig from a non-Steeler fan.
I don’t know that there are new rules. Just a discussion kicked off by an Atlanta fan who is a very good poster but a bit butthurt by the game threading. In that discussion, someone mentioned that Steeler fans are reluctant to hit this thread because of the clowning.
Not sure I agree with that. The OL is one of the best in the league. JuJu is a budding star. And there are a number of defensive talents like Heyward, Tuitt, Watt, Shazier and Haden.Tomlin isn’t a top-5 coach, but he has gotten good results the past few years with the talent on hand — which, aside from the three stars, isn’t all that great.
I think he kind of misses the point. The problem isn't social media. The problem is that players like Antonio Brown go on Facebook Live during sacred locker room time, or Le'Veon Bell talks trash on Twitter the night before the game. Facebook and Twitter aren't the problem here; it is how and when the players used them. I agree with Tomlin that things are a lot different than 10-15 years ago. But you simply have to know better than to do that kind of stuff."The norms are changing. And we’ve got to change with it," Tomlin said. "I’m less resistant to old norms and I’m not worried about those types of things because they are really irrelevant. The amount of attention we all get is tenfold what it was 10-15 years ago. To try to keep that Jell-O in the box is a waste of time, and really kind of fruitless. We don’t spend a lot of time worrying about what’s said about us or misinterpretations of what we say. We simply go about our work and what’s important is what we say to one another. If it doesn’t come from one man to another, we don’t give it much thought or attention.
"We realize oftentimes it may create a storm around us, but that’s not us. We don’t care. We can’t care. We can’t control it anyway. It’s an impossibility in today’s sports climate. That’s my soapbox.”
If the Steelers are the most talented team in the league but often disappoint, we are left with the logical conclusion that either a) we are defining "talent" wrong or b) talent is not that important (and probably both).The Steelers are arguably the most talented team in the league and are almost certainly more talented than the Patriots. But it's a team sport, the right players not the best players, etc... Oh, and coaching. That may have some effect.
Can Belichick coach the way he does with the players Pittsburgh has, though? There's a reason he drafts guys like Duron Harmon who aren't Combine stars but they can trust to do what they want when they want. Belichick builds the roster the way he does for a reason: because those are the players he thinks he can win with.You can make the case that the Steelers have more talent than the Patriots. Flip the coaches of New England and Pittsburgh and Steelers probably go 14-2 or 15-1 with that talent and probably easily win the Super Bowl. Tomlin holds that team back significantly.
This is very well said.I think in general we overrate a) skill position players b) top-end talent c) physical talent. Like, people go ga-ga over Martavis Bryant, but it is not clear based on his statistical record that he is better than Chris Hogan or Danny Amendola. I would imagine Pittsburgh's roster is better 1-15 or 1-20 (well, 2-15 or 2-20), but the Patriots probably have a significant edge 16-50 or 21-50. The Steelers would win easily in a track meet but how quickly do these guys assimilate a playbook? How much hard coaching can they take?
If this story has legs, I won't be surprised to start hearing Cowher rumors swirling, particularly with that crazy Gruden money getting tossed around.I suppose something crazy like a Parcells for one season is possible but highly unlikely.
So you're saying that, given equal talent to work with, he's one or two games worse than the greatest coach in the history of football?You can make the case that the Steelers have more talent than the Patriots. Flip the coaches of New England and Pittsburgh and Steelers probably go 14-2 or 15-1 with that talent and probably easily win the Super Bowl. Tomlin holds that team back significantly.
Those are worrisome comments. He doesn't seem to be grasping that the problem isn't the way the public or opponents view the comments that are coming from players. The problem is that the comments themselves indicate a lack of focus on the task at hand. This team needs to be told to STFU not because of how others might react but because it will help them do their job.Tomlin addressed some of the non-coaching aspects of this yesterday:
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If the Steelers are the most talented team in the league but often disappoint, we are left with the logical conclusion that either a) we are defining "talent" wrong or b) talent is not that important (and probably both).
I think in general we overrate a) skill position players b) top-end talent c) physical talent. Like, people go ga-ga over Martavis Bryant, but it is not clear based on his statistical record that he is better than Chris Hogan or Danny Amendola. I would imagine Pittsburgh's roster is better 1-15 or 1-20 (well, 2-15 or 2-20), but the Patriots probably have a significant edge 16-50 or 21-50. The Steelers would win easily in a track meet but how quickly do these guys assimilate a playbook? How much hard coaching can they take?
(I'm not a Madden guy so this is going to sound get-off-my-lawny, but I think while those games have taught people a lot about coverage shells and passing concepts, you never quite get to the level of "your middle linebacker read his key wrong because you tried to put a new play in this week and he didn't study it that hard and because of the CBA you only get to run it twice in practice." The hard part of coaching is the teaching, the stuff you never see)
Can Belichick coach the way he does with the players Pittsburgh has, though? There's a reason he drafts guys like Duron Harmon who aren't Combine stars but they can trust to do what they want when they want. Belichick builds the roster the way he does for a reason: because those are the players he thinks he can win with.
This is kind of where I am as well. If you plunked Tomlin or BB onto equal Jordan all-star rosters and played a game the next week... I think the game is close. Tomlin maybe gets an emotional edge, BB loses his preparation edge, BB loses his roster construction edge, BB retains his time management and strategy edges. But that's not the NFL they coach in.This is very well said.
It’s unclear how much of this is on the Steelers’ personnel guys vs. Tomlin (who arguably should’ve done a better job developing the players the personnel guys drafted), but this is what I mean when I say the Steelers aren’t as talented as we commonly suppose. It’s not clear to me that BB, one of the Harbaugh brothers, or [insert name of coach we all agree is better than Tomlin] could step in and instantly generate better results than Tomlin has gotten. And since it doesn’t seem like a coach of that caliber is available right now anyway, I expect Tomlin will be back next season.
I don’t think they are parting ways with Tomlin, but that’s interesting.If this story has legs, I won't be surprised to start hearing Cowher rumors swirling, particularly with that crazy Gruden money getting tossed around.
Kind of like MLB managers and bullpen usage or whateverThe end of half, end of game “strategery” deficiencies — they are the norm, not the exception. It’s astounding coaches don’t do better and that owners do not demand better.
But arguably worse because everything in the NFL is tilted to parity, and overall the difference in talent among teams, especially playoff teams, is paper thin.Kind of like MLB managers and bullpen usage or whatever
I think he kind of misses the point. The problem isn't social media. The problem is that players like Antonio Brown go on Facebook Live during sacred locker room time, or Le'Veon Bell talks trash on Twitter the night before the game. Facebook and Twitter aren't the problem here; it is how and when the players used them. I agree with Tomlin that things are a lot different than 10-15 years ago. But you simply have to know better than to do that kind of stuff.
Also, his comments are kind of a 180 from last year, when he admonished Brown for the Facebook Live thing. Now he embraces it? I dunno.
I find myself in agreement with Tomlin. Pittsburgh wins that game, and it was very winnable, than we are spared the second-guessing based on results. Anyone actually thinking that Brown or Bell were playing with a lack of focus wasn't watching the game.Those are worrisome comments. He doesn't seem to be grasping that the problem isn't the way the public or opponents view the comments that are coming from players. The problem is that the comments themselves indicate a lack of focus on the task at hand. This team needs to be told to STFU not because of how others might react but because it will help them do their job.
But that is where it matters most. When the talented player who typically underperforms is sharppened due to anger you've lost an advantage. If that anger drives better practice or more reps or a more attentive film study you've diminished an advantage. The size of the advantage is debatable - but in games with razor thin margins BB likes ti stack all those advantages on his side.The only area where that type of stuff matters is whether it motivates an opponent. But if you have to get outside motivation for a playoff game, then there's something wrong with you in the first place.
Haley’s firing and Fichtner’s promotion is 100% Ben influenced, which makes me very nervous about what is happening there.Randy Fichtner?
Insights?
Who was that player? Bortles? The Jaguars stellar defense gave up 42 points.But that is where it matters most. When the talented player who typically underperforms is sharppened due to anger you've lost an advantage. If that anger drives better practice or more reps or a more attentive film study you've diminished an advantage. The size of the advantage is debatable - but in games with razor thin margins BB likes ti stack all those advantages on his side.
Good post. Its really impossible to tell as an outsider whether Pittsburgh's players might or might not diagnose plays better or do other football IQ-related tasks with better coaching. But we shouldn't just assume that to be the case.If the Steelers are the most talented team in the league but often disappoint, we are left with the logical conclusion that either a) we are defining "talent" wrong or b) talent is not that important (and probably both).
I think in general we overrate a) skill position players b) top-end talent c) physical talent. Like, people go ga-ga over Martavis Bryant, but it is not clear based on his statistical record that he is better than Chris Hogan or Danny Amendola. I would imagine Pittsburgh's roster is better 1-15 or 1-20 (well, 2-15 or 2-20), but the Patriots probably have a significant edge 16-50 or 21-50. The Steelers would win easily in a track meet but how quickly do these guys assimilate a playbook? How much hard coaching can they take?
(I'm not a Madden guy so this is going to sound get-off-my-lawny, but I think while those games have taught people a lot about coverage shells and passing concepts, you never quite get to the level of "your middle linebacker read his key wrong because you tried to put a new play in this week and he didn't study it that hard and because of the CBA you only get to run it twice in practice." The hard part of coaching is the teaching, the stuff you never see)
Can Belichick coach the way he does with the players Pittsburgh has, though? There's a reason he drafts guys like Duron Harmon who aren't Combine stars but they can trust to do what they want when they want. Belichick builds the roster the way he does for a reason: because those are the players he thinks he can win with.
Why nervous? I ask mainly because Haley's never blown me away as a great coordinator, so a new one who is (1) better and (2) gets along with the QB seems like a step forward for Pitt.Haley’s firing and Fichtner’s promotion is 100% Ben influenced, which makes me very nervous about what is happening there.
No word yet on Butler or his staff.
Was brought up on the Sports Hub today but Mike Vrabel could change the culture in Pittsburgh big time. That's one guy if I were the Rooney's I'd fire Mike Tomlin for.I don’t think they are parting ways with Tomlin, but that’s interesting.
Interesting because Cowher has been out of coaching for 12 years — the same length of time Joe Gibbs was out when he returned to Washington for Part II. Cowher is 61; Gibbs was 64 when he returned.
Cowher has stayed much closer to the game; Gibbs was running his race car team. On the other hand, as good as Cowher was (and I think he was very good), Gibbs was legitimately great.
But he wasn’t as good the second time around. More than respectable, but he did not sniff a SB during Part II.
The big problem with replacing Tomlin — who is available who is likely materially better? I can’t think of anyone.
The end of half, end of game “strategery” deficiencies — they are the norm, not the exception. It’s astounding coaches don’t do better and that owners do not demand better.