For those that are not big supporters of offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, the news out of the Steel City Friday night is not going to sit well with you.
Reports say that Arians is set to re-sign with Steelers for one more year, keeping his position as the guy that calls the plays for the Steelers offense.
Arians has an expiring contract. He had been mulling retirement, but now it looks like he, just like defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, will give it one more run as the team looks for their 7th Super Bowl title.
The Steelers still need a secondary coach after Ray Horton left to become offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals. The team has been taking their time with the hire, and one name that continues to pop up is that of former Titans defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil.
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DrGeorge
February 26, 2011 at 10:42 am
I am admittedly not a big fan of Mr. Arians. I have been critical of his play calling and his disdain of the running game. However, giving credit where it is due, he did try to run the ball more consistently late last season. If the O-line is improved this year (finally), Arians may begin to trust the running game enough to make the offense more balanced. At present, our power running game is a joke.
Then there are the political considerations behind this re-signing. Arians and Ben R. are joined at the hip. I regard the re-signing of Arians for one year as a necessary concession to keeping Ben happy. The prospect of making one more Super Bowl run must have also loomed large in the making of this decision. In other words, the Steelers don’t want to rock the boat if there is a chance of winning another Lombardy. The rumor that all four QBs are coming back is consistent with this theme. I can’t fault that logic. While I personally would have cut bait with Arians long ago, I understand why the Steelers are reluctant to make a move.
Having said all that, the offense is not the reason the Steelers are struggling against top teams. The offense scored enough points in most games in 2010; the defense simply gave away TDs too often against the better QBs. We’ve analyzed the needs of the defense to death on this site. They are obvious. The key to making the Steelers (or any team) dominant begins with the D. For the Steelers, that means finding better defensive talent, retooling the defensive scheme to counter the 5-wide attack, and sacrificing brawn in key positions for more speed. If the Steelers defense can be made dominant again, the Steelers will win consistently and become an NFL power, with or without Arians or Ben R. Unfortunately, that’s a lot easier to say than do. We have an aging defense that is good, but not great. Against the top passing QBs, it proved very porous in 2010. If that doesn’t change, we will continue to be a good team that plays very hard and just misses the brass ring.
mark
February 26, 2011 at 2:03 pm
I have to agree with DrGeorge. Admittedly I am no BIG fan of B.A either. That being said, DrGeorge is correct that the Steeler offense is plenty good enough to win games. It is the aging and pass-porous defense that kills this team. Start with the secondary and then stop. That is the biggest hole on this team. A depleted,and unfamiliar Offensive line held its own throughout the season and was actually a force at times. None more apparent then in the Super Bowl. Which leads me to pointing out that B.A has nothing to do with the Steelers not being able to stop top-tier Q.B’s and 5 WR sets. There is no question that the relationship between Arians and Big Ben is very important to the offense doing what it does. No Way the Steelers front office rocks that boat with a talented team and a 7th Lombardi oh-so-close.Im sure during next season I will gripe about Arians play calling (not running enough, not establishing a power game,not being able to pick up the 3rd and 2,red-zone anemia, etc..) but I will say that this offense will keep the team in games again. Its fixing the defense that should have Steeler fans more up in arms than the re-signing of Arians.
Jay
February 26, 2011 at 3:25 pm
We won two super bowl with “shaky” pass defense. As a matter of fact, the pass defense has been relatively porous for the better part of this decade. Remember in 2005 when we came out and smoked Indy but then they came back and made it a game passing down the field..Yeah it was Manning but…My point is is that we have not had a shut down pass defense in YEARS! Until this team invests in CB’s and S’s, it will not change (troy and Ike were 2003, quite a while ago!) I just don’t like Arians from a micro level. From a macro level, he’s fine…he compiles stats, scores points,,,,From a micro level, there’s always 2-3 plays per game that a stinkin’ chimp wouldn’t even call…like the 9 route from inside your ten in the SB that resulted in the int for 6, or those reverses in the redzone throughout the season that get stuffed after a successful drive was looming, calling a guard to pull from your own goal line which results in a safety. Those are my problems with him; admittedly, from a panoramic POV, BA does a decent job I suppose.
Jon L.
February 26, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Smart move by the Steelers. Keep that offense rolling.
Ben Dover
February 26, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Bruce Arians should have been fired the day he took over as offensive coordinator, what kind of moron goes to his subordinate, Ben Roethlisberger, and says, “you pick the plays, whatever plays you don’t like I’ll take them out of the playbook”?
His offense is a joke. Don’t re-sign the bum.
mike
February 26, 2011 at 7:43 pm
the steelers won a couple of super bowls with basically the same secondary. they were close to winning a 3rd with the current group as well. the problem with drafting a CB in the first round is that he won’t see the field for a year except special teams. They are trying to develop players faster i guess but a CB in the first round will not have an impact on the secondary next year, if there is a next year. i think you will largely see the same group next year. This group has proven they can get to the super bowl and win it. will be fun to watch either way.
Mike
February 27, 2011 at 3:59 pm
What’s this new found love fest (or at the very least, a more forgiving outlook) with B.A.?!?! Aren’t you the same cast that has called for his head on several different occasions? Now, you turn your attention on our defense? Yes, the great corner is not there. Yes, some draft picks have not developed quite the way we may have hoped. Yes, a shut down corner should be high on every Steeler fan’s wish list this off season. But, show me how many teams in this league that can go 5 deep on their roster with DBs and not be vulnerable from a pure talent stand point? Maybe, instead, the quality of the talent is not the problem alone. Maybe, dare I say it, it is the defense employed that doesn’t match up well to a 5 receiver/spread system. Those type of offenses appear to give our defense fits. Maybe, that is as much as the problem as the assumed lack of talent. Who do we fault, then? The Steelers have been going into these games with the Pats, Saints, and any other team that stresses a 5 receiver/spread with the attitude of “this is what we do on defense, try and beat us”. And guess what, we get torched!! So much for adjusting or tweaking. No, I don’t believe Lebeau should be fired. Let’s not get carried away. All I am saying is that usually the problem is not specific to one fix. It is usually more complicated than that. Remember, we as fans only see the tip of the iceberg.
mike b.
February 28, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Ike Taylor cant do it all. People know this and come out and spread us. 4 and 5 wide has been opponents’ m.o. since a game vs. New England in 2002 when Brady threw 30 times in a row. What are we waiting for….?
mike
February 28, 2011 at 5:34 pm
I think Arians has abandoned the trademark of the Steeler offense- punishing power running. You had to know as soon as there was no attempt to hold onto quality blocking backs like Dan Krieder and Frank Summers…..