Big Changes Ahead

[Beast]

The Pittsburgh Steelers, as you might be well aware, did not shine in the playoffs for the 2011-2012 NFL season. They lost a close one to a team that, in years past, they would have steamrolled over. During the season, they finished 21st in the NFL for points scored, and a better yet still not Super Bowl worthy 12th in total yardage. It is a Testament perhaps to the still-present atmosphere of defense = offense in Pittsburgh that they ended up with a 12-4 record playing in a close division (give or take the Cleveland Browns). And so the Pittsburgh Steelers must face the ages: Two extremely pass oriented offenses in the Super Bowl, and the stingiest defense of all time aging rapidly. Bruce Arians, a running man, was "not renewed for his contract", and it is likely that a pass-heavy play caller will be the next OC (At the moment, looking like former Cardinals OC and Chiefs HC Todd Haley). It means a period of growing pains in Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger's already prominent role will be magnified. Of course, there are inherent problems a pass heavy offense must face:


Not Indianapolis


*Very little room for error. If Mike Wallace goes down to a serious injury mid-year, the effects could be devastating. You're looking at a major playbook reconfiguration and rarely does a SB team have to deal with that.
*Predictability. New Orleans, New England, New York Giants, Green Bay, Detroit, and San Francisco seemed to find a healthy balance, but Carolina, San Diego, and Atlanta failed. Plus, an aging O-line will find it hard to protect Ben while receivers get open (they already do).
*Adjustment. The Steelers' transition from their nitty gritty old school style of to a shiny West Coast unit will take time, and several drafts to stock the line and the receiving corps.
*More pressure to score. If the Steelers become devoted to offense, it's only natural that their defense should falter, so instead of Ben stepping up while the defense holds up the fort, the defense will have to step up while Ben holds down the fort. 30+ points from the opponents will become the norm.

So should Pittsburgh give up its defensive mantle? Or should it stick to the tried and true? Please tell me your thoughts.

Beast

[exNCite]

I'm not sure that we can't do both. Maybe it doesn't happen overnight, but it's not like we're devastated on defense. We need some upgrades, sure, but that happens every single season. To me, a complete revamping of the offense is more of a concern. A West Coast style offense needs a different athlete on the O-line than we now have. That takes time to build so if a new OC expects that to happen, we might be in trouble.

A passing game may be fun to watch, but building an offense that does just that is a big mistake IMO.

[steel0710]

I'm not sure that we can't do both. Maybe it doesn't happen overnight, but it's not like we're devastated on defense. We need some upgrades, sure, but that happens every single season. To me, a complete revamping of the offense is more of a concern. A West Coast style offense needs a different athlete on the O-line than we now have. That takes time to build so if a new OC expects that to happen, we might be in trouble.

A passing game may be fun to watch, but building an offense that does just that is a big mistake IMO.

The offensive' ability to control the ball on time consuming drives is the key to succeeding in the NFL. It tires
out the opposing defense and gives our defense time to rest. We need to establish the run and do short passes
and block!

[Hambert5958]

So should Pittsburgh give up its defensive mantle? Or should it stick to the tried and true? Please tell me your thoughts.

What a pile of horse ****........we need a nose tackle (I love snack but gonna need the next guy) and at least one IOL, but the defense will be OK..........I dont know who the OC will be, but we just need better play calling, and balance in the offense and we'll be OK.....

I think our future looks bright, lookin' forward to 2012 season.........

[bdeff]

I think our future looks bright, lookin' forward to 2012 season.........

I agree...I have written before this is the year we are going to see some changes but the base is solid.....

[Steelreign]

the 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense is outdated, but the ability to run out the clock is as relavent today as it ever has been and this is, imo, what Art II is talking about when he addressed the issues he has with the running game. He wants the offense to be able to run the ball when needed and at will at the end of games to close them out. the inability to do this cost the Steelers home field advantage in the playoffs.

[Hambert5958]

Here’s the last possession in the week 9 game against the ratbirds. 6 plays, 2 run plays for -2 yds, and burned 1:53 off the clock……. Not a good sequence……

Pittsburgh Steelers at 04:30

1-10-PIT 46 (4:30) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to 85-D.Johnson.

2-10-PIT 46 (4:24) 33-I.Redman up the middle to PIT 47 for 1 yard (95-J.Johnson, 92-H.Ngata).

3-9-PIT 47 (3:38) (Shotgun) PENALTY on BAL-93-C.Redding, Encroachment, 5 yards, enforced at PIT 47 - No Play.

3-4-BAL 48 (3:38) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 89-J.Cotchery to BAL 34 for 14 yards (25-C.Carr).

1-10-BAL 34 (2:54) 33-I.Redman left tackle to BAL 37 for -3 yards (50-A.McClellan, 53-J.McClain).

Timeout #1 by BAL at 02:47.

2-13-BAL 37 (2:46) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 33-I.Redman to BAL 29 for 8 yards (92-H.Ngata).

Timeout #2 by BAL at 02:37.

3-5-BAL 29 (2:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to 21-M.Moore. Coverage by #53 McClain.

4-5-BAL 29 (2:37) (Field Goal formation) PENALTY on PIT-6-S.Suisham, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at BAL 29 - No Play.

4-10-BAL 34 (2:34) (Punt formation) 13-J.Kapinos punts 26 yards to BAL 8, Center-60-G.Warren, fair catch by 21-L.Webb.

[bdeff]

Here’s the last possession in the week 9 game against the ratbirds. 6 plays, 2 run plays for -2 yds, and burned 1:53 off the clock……. Not a good sequence……

Pittsburgh Steelers at 04:30

1-10-PIT 46 (4:30) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short right to 85-D.Johnson.

2-10-PIT 46 (4:24) 33-I.Redman up the middle to PIT 47 for 1 yard (95-J.Johnson, 92-H.Ngata).

3-9-PIT 47 (3:38) (Shotgun) PENALTY on BAL-93-C.Redding, Encroachment, 5 yards, enforced at PIT 47 - No Play.

3-4-BAL 48 (3:38) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 89-J.Cotchery to BAL 34 for 14 yards (25-C.Carr).

1-10-BAL 34 (2:54) 33-I.Redman left tackle to BAL 37 for -3 yards (50-A.McClellan, 53-J.McClain).

Timeout #1 by BAL at 02:47.

2-13-BAL 37 (2:46) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short left to 33-I.Redman to BAL 29 for 8 yards (92-H.Ngata).

Timeout #2 by BAL at 02:37.

3-5-BAL 29 (2:37) (Shotgun) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to 21-M.Moore. Coverage by #53 McClain.

4-5-BAL 29 (2:37) (Field Goal formation) PENALTY on PIT-6-S.Suisham, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at BAL 29 - No Play.

4-10-BAL 34 (2:34) (Punt formation) 13-J.Kapinos punts 26 yards to BAL 8, Center-60-G.Warren, fair catch by 21-L.Webb.

GREAT Example!!!!!!!!! In a nutshell, could have put the Ravens away but didn't....its the closing factor that is lacking!

[Hittman]

GREAT Example!!!!!!!!! In a nutshell, could have put the Ravens away but didn't....its the closing factor that is lacking!

dont give me that crap. A Sb calliber defense dont let Ravens lead by Joe Flacco and there 1 wr Offense to drive the ball 90 plus yards.

Ben bails out the Defense and they didnt return the favor. Broncos game was all on the defense.

[Steelreign]

dont give me that crap. A Sb calliber defense dont let Ravens lead by Joe Flacco and there 1 wr Offense to drive the ball 90 plus yards.

Ben bails out the Defense and they didnt return the favor. Broncos game was all on the defense.

Again...........REALLY? Yeah, the defense let both teams go down and score, but prior to that happening, in both occasions, the offense failed to put those teams away on their final possession. Against Baltimore, they failed to convert a third down that would have ran the clock out. In the Denver game, Ben failing to protect the ball along with a bad sequence of play calling cost the Steelers a win in Denver.

In both games, the offense failed to put the game away by not being able to run the ball when it mattered most. All season long, the offense traded too many touchdowns for field goals. I know that at least twice, the Steelers had 1st and goal from the two and couldn't get in on for rushing attempts on either possession. That is a serious problem. Field goals instead touchdowns helps keep the opposition in games putting more pressure on a defense that is ravaged by injuries. That is not a recipe to win Lombardi's.

[bdeff]

dont give me that crap. A Sb calliber defense dont let Ravens lead by Joe Flacco and there 1 wr Offense to drive the ball 90 plus yards.

Ben bails out the Defense and they didnt return the favor. Broncos game was all on the defense.

No doubt the defense choked...but one first down effectively ends the thing.......or forces the Rats to burn timeouts.
I still feel its a good point and one I agree with 100%

[Hittman]

Again...........REALLY? Yeah, the defense let both teams go down and score, but prior to that happening, in both occasions, the offense failed to put those teams away on their final possession. Against Baltimore, they failed to convert a third down that would have ran the clock out. In the Denver game, Ben failing to protect the ball along with a bad sequence of play calling cost the Steelers a win in Denver.

In both games, the offense failed to put the game away by not being able to run the ball when it mattered most. All season long, the offense traded too many touchdowns for field goals. I know that at least twice, the Steelers had 1st and goal from the two and couldn't get in on for rushing attempts on either possession. That is a serious problem. Field goals instead touchdowns helps keep the opposition in games putting more pressure on a defense that is ravaged by injuries. That is not a recipe to win Lombardi's.

I cant believe your blaming the offense for our loss to Tebow. They played the most idoitic game on def, allowing tebow to shread them all game and never once adjusted.

Ben had one bad play in the 2nd ravs game and that was hs pick. he still wored his magic and ot us the lead. In any other year the D makes that one game sealing play but case of Woodley injury harrison was doubled team.

The SB was just won by a tean had 2 tds.

In Our 2 best games we played as an O this year we barely ran the ball. Ne and Tenn was 3 step dros quit reads and ben will have to do that more to open up the deep ball.

[Steelreign]

I cant believe your blaming the offense for our loss to Tebow. They played the most idoitic game on def, allowing tebow to shread them all game and never once adjusted.

Ben had one bad play in the 2nd ravs game and that was hs pick. he still wored his magic and ot us the lead. In any other year the D makes that one game sealing play but case of Woodley injury harrison was doubled team.

The SB was just won by a tean had 2 tds.

In Our 2 best games we played as an O this year we barely ran the ball. Ne and Tenn was 3 step dros quit reads and ben will have to do that more to open up the deep ball.

no doubt the defense blew big chunks against Denver, and an injured Ben played well enough for the steelers to win that game, but in the most crucial point of the game, the offense couldn't carry the moment and close it out. The whole point is that early in the game, the offense could easily have been up 14-0 but instead settled for a 6-0 lead which helped keep Denver in the game. Field goals instead of touchdowns from the red zone was the difference in the game as well a problem all season and has to be fixed.

[Kipper]

dont give me that crap. A Sb calliber defense dont let Ravens lead by Joe Flacco and there 1 wr Offense to drive the ball 90 plus yards.

Ben bails out the Defense and they didnt return the favor. Broncos game was all on the defense.

I completely agree. I saw joe Greene (a defenseman and Defensive coordinator mind you) say that same things. He tried to pass the buck on the Defenses inability to stop ****ty offenses from scoring on 2 minutes drives on the Offense.

The Steelers beat the Ravens and beat the Broncos if the defense steps up and plays "great" when it needs to be. nobody mistakens the Steelers offense for being great, but everyone touts the Steelers Defense as being great and when they aren't great, the finger pointing goes somewhere else.

A great defense , the #1 defense in the NFL doesn't let a scrub like Tim Tebow and a no name Wide Receiver burn you for over 300 yards in the air and beat you in the playoffs. That same defense doesn't let Joe Flacco beat you with a Touchdown in 2 minutes

[Kipper]

no doubt the defense blew big chunks against Denver, and an injured Ben played well enough for the steelers to win that game, but in the most crucial point of the game, the offense couldn't carry the moment and close it out. The whole point is that early in the game, the offense could easily have been up 14-0 but instead settled for a 6-0 lead which helped keep Denver in the game. Field goals instead of touchdowns from the red zone was the difference in the game as well a problem all season and has to be fixed.

I disagree. the most important moments of the Denver game had a Defense completely blow it. The Offense helped overcome both their own issues and the Defense placing them in a ridiculous 20-6 hole at half time by scoring 10 points in the 4th quarter to tie the game up. Here coems OT and the Broncos score a TD to end the game in 11 seconds. The Offense was never given a chance. The most crucial moment of the game, the Defense couldn't close it out. Couldn't stop a 3rd rate WR and mediocre QB. The Steelers defense made a sensation out of Tim Tebowe for 1 week before a cruddy defense like New England's got a job done that a supposed superior Steelers defense failed to do a week earlier.

If you score 23 points you should win nearly every time. If you're defense, a top rated, "great" defense can't hold a team like Denver and that offense below 23 points, you can't blame the Offense