There’s been plenty of rumors over the last 24 hours about what route the Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin will take with the coordinators as they head into the offseason. There’s two names that continue to pop up when it comes to guys that may not be around in 2010 – special teams coach Bob Ligashesky and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
The call to get rid of Arians has picked up a lot more steam since the end of the year, as 1250 ESPN is stating that Tomlin is ready to dump Arians. This is interesting since Ben Roethlisberger threw for a team record 4238 yards and 26 touchdowns, Rashard Mendenhall ran for 1108 yards and 7 scores, and two wide outs (Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward) each went over 1,000 yards receiving.
As far as Ligashesky, there’s a lot more evidence that he should be dumped. The special teams was awful, allowing four kickoff returns for touchdowns this season. They also were last in the NFL in opponents’ starting field position (31.3) following a kickoff.
A former Steeler name is out there, Bobby April, and he would be a great fit to take over the special teams. He was let go in the Bills coaching dismissal on Monday. The team also tried a bunch of moves roster wise to try and get the special teams better, but that failed as well.
So what will Tomlin do? He should for sure go out and get someone to replace Ligashesky. This unit was simply terrible, and it was almost a joke to see guys running through the Steelers special teams. As for Arians, I know a ton of the fan base wants him gone, but the teams numbers speak for themselves, and to me, it was more the defense’s fault for 7 losses than the offenses. They averaged 23 points per game, and he and Roethlisberger have a good relationship.
In the end though, it’s up to Tomlin, and it will be interesting to see what he decides to do.
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DrGeorge
January 6, 2010 at 10:43 am
I agree with you in part: Defense is the nominal reason the Steelers missed the playoffs (due to injuries and aging personnel), and Ligashesky clearly didn’t get the job done on special teams despite numerous adjustments. But you missed the boat on Arians and Zierlein.
Merely looking at statistics misses the point. The Steelers were one of the least productive teams in the red zone this season, squandering many opportunities for points. When they needed to control the ball late in games, they could not, forcing the defense to spend way too much time on the field and exacerbating an obvious weakness. In rushing, the blocking schemes are primitive, the play calling obvious, and the O-line doesn’t execute, especially in the red zone. If Arians is retained to keep Ben happy, Tomlin must get involved to the extent of improving the running game and hold Arians accountable on these two points. The Arians version of the spread lacks sustainable balance.
Moreover, the offense is entirely too dependent on Ben, who is often inconsistent and always one concussion away from the bench. Ben played consistently better football under the discipline of Wisenhutt when his many talents were more focused.
Arians and Ben are simply too pass-happy.
Worse, in disdaining the run, Arians actually worked against LeBeau and the ultimate success of the team. The media says there were ego and team unity issues in the lockerroom; if there were among the players, there certainly were within the coaching staff. The Steelers did not play as a team this year. Tomlin must bear full responsibility for that.
In the end, it is not up to Tomlin; it is up to management. They want to see fannies in the seats to service expenses and cover debt obligations. The coming year will be a financial challenge for the entire NFL, but it will be a particular challenge in this economy for small market teams and for the Rooneys, especially without a labor agreement. The Steelers Nation is knowledgable and will vote with their dollars; Pittsburgh is still a blue-collar, tight-budget town. The fans aren’t going to pay to see a repeat of the 2009 debacle. Our fans know that offensive statistics alone do not equal wins. Changes must be made, whether Arians and Zierlein stay or go.
On championship teams, offense, defense, and special teams complement one another and work together; one is not subordinate to the other. Team unity is essential. Arians doesn’t get it. Now we’ll see if Tomlin does. And merely plugging in better talent on defense and special teams will not be enough to make it happen. The Washington Redskins bought tons of talent and still haven’t got a clue. In 2009, the Steelers took a big step in that direction.
Avonte'
January 6, 2010 at 4:22 pm
The numbers have nothing 2 do with it!We didn’t score a single TD against THE BROWNS!!!! Ask the numbers 2 explain that! GO STEELERS!
mark
January 6, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Firing The offensive line coach and special teams coach are an absolute MUST! Even if the Steelers have embraced the current pass happy fad in the NFL our QB takes many more hits and is sacked many more times then other “pass happy” QB’s. For instance, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are not hit anywhere near as much as Ben. Sure, Ben causes much of that, but I think Brees and Manning have just as many “big plays” on their resume as Ben does. Our O-line is just not doing the job they need to do. Personnel wise or scheme wise. Its easier to fire 1 coach than 10 players. As for the special teams, they have been so bad that there is no argument that I can think of that should save that coaches job. Honestly. He must go! As for Arians, the personal production was high but the overall production (red-zone) was poor. The balance was never created and the situational running game was never a factor. Passing on 3rd and 1 or 2 indicates that.Firing Arians would not be the worse thing, but aggravating Ben would be. Ben has an ego and is very comfortable with Arians. I know, he will have to suck it up but that is the problem with the modern,spoiled, rich athlete. Maybe Ben is one of those? For the betterment of the team, I feel the entire offensive staff should be dismissed. There is talent on that offense that even a new coordinator can work around the growing pains.
jay
January 6, 2010 at 4:04 pm
I agree with both of you. I truly, after thinking about it, would take a corner in free agency in lieu of the draft. Mainly because hey, if Troy couldn’t get on the field his rookie year….I know a top tier corner would be expensive but it’s been since James Farrior since we’ve made any type of splash in free agency. I believe now is the time but, as Ed Bouchette not so eloquently outlines, it simply won’t happen. But, signing a top tier corner would kill two birds with one stone; it would relegate Ike Taylor to the number 2 corner position which would be an automatic upgrade and obviously upgrade the number one corner position. If I were the Steelers, I would seriously take the McClain Linebacker from ‘Bama in the first round. That takes care of Farrior’s aging ass. In round two I would take a tackle. This also does a couple of things. It is not far-fetched to think that a tackle chosen with the 18th overall pick in the second round could not start on the right side. Extend Colon and make him a LG and move Chris K to RG where he is more suited. The rookie second round tackle could (hopefully) eventually replace Starks down the road. Grab a safety in the third round and let him compete with Mundy. Let hampton walk and use the saved money on the top tier corner and a LOW PROFILE NG such as Johnny Jolly or someone. Then Hood and Jolly can be infused together as a sort of pass rushing/run stopping duo with a returning Aaron Smith and Keisel. That makes four D-Linemen; assuming Hoke and Kirschke walk, retain Eason and develop Ra’Shon Harris. I dunno, it makes sense to me but maybe that’s because I believe that someday, somehow the free agent fairy will actually visit Pittsburgh. I TOTALLY understand that it’s not practical (i.e., the Redskins) to make a living on that but once in a great while, c’mon, throw us a bone; something to get excited about in Feb/March.
DrGeorge
January 7, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Jay, I like your thoughts about reworking the O-line, but with the OT coming from free agency rather than the draft. Rookie OTs can rarely start, and we need immediate help in order to reignite the running game. Starks has slow feet for a left tackle and does not handle the speed rush well. I’d move Starks to RT, use Colon at guard, and find a franchise LT through FA. Left OT has been a screaming need for years, but with our many needs on defense, I don’t see the Steelers addressing it until 2011.
mark
January 6, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Zerlein Is gone!!! 1 down, at least 1 more to go. Ligashesky, are you listening?
DrGeorge
January 7, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Two days ago, I opined that if Arians is retained to keep Ben happy and the aerial circus intact, Tomlin would need to get involved to bolster the running game. Firing Zierlein tells me Tomlin got involved. With Arians retained (so it appears), and Zierlein now gone, it appears that Tomlin is indeed aware of the need for improved rushing. How much autonomy Arians lost we will never know, but firing his assistant takes the luster off his prior invincibility. Whether Arians can be effective directing a more balance offense, we won’t know until next season. Teams using the spread can and do run effectively. Arians future depends on learning how it’s done Our red zone and short yardage efficiency simply must improve.
The departure of Ligashesky was a foregone conclusion, but not in itself a solution. Now we’ll see who is hired to fix special teams, which has been a perennial Steelers weakness, dating from the Cowher era.
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