Pittsburgh Steelers: Proving Plan B's Sometimes Work

Jopa-n wrote:

I don't get the knee jerk response that comes so often as if to say if the Steelers win by throwing first or more, it is utter blasphamy! It's like some believe it does not matter who the players are, it's the god given right of the Steelers to be a run heavy football team and be successful as well.
To say that passing the ball in today's game simply can't eat up clock is just plain wrong. Check out the time elapsed on the clock in the SB on the first two drives when the Steelers put up 10 pts.
I'll say it again- If they can run effectively and consistantly against run heavy defenses- fantastic. If they can't, Plan B needs to become plan A. Winning the games banking on interception returns for TD's and last minute heroics does not sound like it should simply be accepted as the norm.
Just go out there- move the ball, make 1st downs and score points how ever you can. That is the ultimate factor in tilting the field in favor of the defense.

Rex J Steelman wrote:

<quoted text>
I don't really disagree with much of what you're saying. I admit I'm one of those people who gets a lot more excited by a power back flattening people than I do by a finesse passing game, but mostly I'm just sick of the running game being a joke. If it's just supplementing a great passing attack, then so be it--I don't think that last year we were able to really do that. True, last year we were never made to pay for not being able to sit on a lead, but that doesn't mean we'll never be made to pay. Personally, I would like to have seen much less passing in the second half of the SB, especially against the most suspect run D in the playoffs. With anything approaching an effective power-running game, we wouldn't have needed last-minute heroics.

Jopa-n wrote:

<quoted text>I too, as a long time fan, got a rise out of hearing the announcer say things like "They simply can't stop the Steelers when they run", or "The Steelers are simply smashing it down there throats". I also remember the playoff history maybe a little too well.
While the power running game helped to win a lot of regular season games over the years, it also was a major reason why some teams, less talented but aided by knowing the Steelers gameplan so to speak, were able to upset them. The conference championship losses against the Chargers, Broncos, Patriots, and Patriots again come to mind. While the successes of 05 and last year, remind me where the bread is buttered when it comes to playoff caliber football teams.
So instead of the offense sputtering through the coming season: stop, start, good, bad. How about striving for consistency based on the strengths of the team rather than trying to push the weaknesses until there is a break through.
This is all academic if the running game becomes a strength, but I'm not going to expect the team to piggy back on it right through the playoffs. In my opinion, the only team that won a SB- run heavy- was the 74 Steelers. That's a looooong time ago.

steelahs n lobstahs wrote:

<quoted text>
don't forget the denver broncos behind terrel davis. granted they had elway but it was davis that smashed them to victory if I remember correctly. but you are right, the key is to play to your strength and the other teams weakness. it is very important to be able to pass or run. watch out nfc if favre goes with the vikings. peterson is the best back in football and with a good quarterback they may go all the way.

Rex J Steelman wrote:

I'm certainly not arguing that we ought to dismantle the offense that won the SB last year and pretend we're a pure power-running team--you're correct that that would be folly. But the running game must be a viable threat (to someone other than Cleveland and San Diego). Sure, teams used to put eight in the box and throttle some of Cowher's teams, but we don't have to worry about that anymore--now it's going to be the team that can get consistent pressure on Roethlisberger or blanket Holmes and Ward that's going to be the threat.

Jopa-n wrote:

<quoted text>The running game can become a threat again, maybe just not in the same way. Indy for example, has a good running game because of how much attention is paid to Peyton Manning and the rec.s. They have a good per carry average and are scoring more rushing TD's than ever, because defenses simply can't cheat up to stop the run for fear of getting burned by the pass.
It can work the same way for the Steelers. Get teams to pay more attention to stopping the pass, and the box opens up more often to create better running lanes. Many times we see teams so hell bent on stopping the Steelers from being able to run, they play very soft on the corners and go run blitz, which can be pure charity to a quick out to Holmes or a short pass across the middle to Miller. Safe plays, moderate gains eating up the clock and turf which could lead to better running later in the game.

Jopa-n wrote:

<quoted text>Your right about the Elway/Davis Bronco team. I was only referring to the Steeler SB champions of 1 thru 6.
Defenses repected the Broncos as much by the run as by the air, which is the perfect scenerio for offensive success. Good point about playing to strengths and others weaknesses. I would like to see the Steelers work more this year on refining their strengths as much as making weak areas stronger.
If Favre doesn't come back, it will be a big let down for the whole league. Everyone wants to see if he swims or sinks at this point.

Rex J Steelman wrote:

<quoted text>
I'm sure you'll get your wish. That's exactly the way they're going to play it this year: using the pass to free up some running room. Fine with me, as long as they use some tools other than Parker before deciding they're unable to run. I think what has frustrated fans like Bob and me is that they always preferred to run Parker (even a half-injured Parker) over Mewelde Moore, who usually proved to be more effective. Now that Mendenhall is healthy and they have a really intriguing power back in Frank the Tank, are those tools going to be wasted? Sacrificed on the altar of Fast Willie's feelings? Our overall suckiness in the run game last season was NOT entirely due to poor line play.

steelahs n lobstahs wrote:

<quoted text>
whole heartedly agree with you. willie parker has his strengths but this gets to the root of the comment from our fellow fan above, play to your own strengths too. within the running game some backs have strengths that others don't. mendenhall is still a question mark but hopefully he will get his chance.

steelahs n lobstahs wrote:

<quoted text>
whole heartedly agree with you. willie parker has his strengths but this gets to the root of the comment from our fellow fan above, play to your own strengths too. within the running game some backs have strengths that others don't. mendenhall is still a question mark but hopefully he will get his chance.

Rex J Steelman wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes. Willie is not an every down back, and never has been--a fact proven by the fact that he's completely physically broken down when they've tried to make him one. He would have been the most brilliant change-of-pace back in the league, and if they'd really worked on his receiving skills, he would have been a great third-down back (he's an amazing blocker for a back his size).

LZ-Steel wrote:

Arians.*shakes head*. Lets just leave it at that.

Jopa-n wrote:

<quoted text>When we look at it in it's totallity, I think it comes down to 3 things:
1.Talent level on the line has decreased-
2. Not adjusting blocking schemes and or using audibles at the line enough-
3. Trying to live off the past and not evolving offensively inspite of the first 2.
Simple solution: Evaluate the entire offensive team as a whole, start attacking the weakness of the defensive formations more, and don't feel obligated to performing according to a concrete script.