Big Ben Again Takes Home the AFC Offensive Player of the Week Award

7 Comments

1. 

   DrGeorge

   November 2, 2011 at 7:10 pm

   Congratulations to Ben! He certainly deserved the honor for his play against the Titans. His outing against the Pats was not of that same high caliber, but he did put up 365 passing yards against the Pats and we did win a game we were expected to lose. And who else was more deserving last week? So winning the award in games twice in one month speaks well for his adaptation to the new ball control passing game. His stats should improve considerably if Arians sticks with this dink & dunk attack, which is clearly more productive and consistent than the old scramble and throw deep philosophy.

   Notwithstanding Ben’s personal stats for the game, let’s reflect on the fact that the offense left a lot of points on the field against the Pats. We were in the red zone at least three times when we should have scored TDs; instead, we came away with FGs or (on one occasion) a whiff. This observation is not a criticism of Ben, but of our continued lack of a power running game. A championship caliber team inside the opponents’ ten yard line should be able to run the ball into the end zone. Arians did call running plays several times in this situation, and the O-line failed to move bodies. Either the blocking schemes need to be reviewed, or the personnel failed in their assignments, or the play calling was deficient. I suspect the latter. The running plays seemed to lack imagination or any element of surprise. A straight dive play against an 8 or 9 man front isn’t going to succeed very often. Running wide is even worse. The coaching staff needs to work on our red zone efficiency. This flaw in our offensive performance is now chronic, a carryover trend from last year. With the AFC player of the week at QB, the flaw must lie elsewhere. But where? Any ideas, Bruce?

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2. 

   Jay

   November 2, 2011 at 9:55 pm

   Hey, Peter, does this mean Dr. George is squatting on the, “Firemiketomlin” website or does he just have a better delivery than me? I find the one major flaw with this team has been Arians and his play calling, especially in the red zone. It’s basically what Doc has outlined here. I do see the Steelers as slightly deficient in the player personnel department when it comes to red zone offense (i.e., they have the players to move the ball between the 20’s but lack a big tall target for the seams inside the redzone). I don’t think it will ultimately do us in against about 80% of our remaining games; primarily because of BB’s escapability and our surging defense. But of the remaining 20% of our games (namely this one coming up) it slightly scares me. I KNOW we will be able to move the ball between the 20’s (Mr. Crowley!) but can we punch in touchdowns against Balt’s vaunted D once in the red zone? I hope the prospect of this obvious dilemna does not cause Arians to abandon the high percentage, VERY EFFICIENT offense and try to get the big play assuming that, “Oh well, we know we can’t score touchdowns once inside the red zone against the Ravens, might as well take our chances!” That type of mindset and play calling mentality will equal a loss and have me put my foot through a wall! Oh, maybe I’m now squatting on the “fireBrucearians” site, Peter!

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   • 

     DrGeorge

     November 3, 2011 at 10:18 am

     Lest others take your jest seriously, Jay, I must insert for the record that I am not down on Tomlin. I think he is responsible for making Arians and Ben change their style of attack to the present, more productive form, as we pleaded for him to do over a year ago.

     However, I still have reservations about Arians’ ability to develop a balanced attack. Our inability to run the ball effectively when needed remains worrisome, especially given the size of our line. Our red zone inefficiency is only one indicia of that. Sean Kugler seems to have the players ready when called upon, within the limits of their abilities. But Arians is the one who calls the plays and makes the ultimate decision about the blocking schemes.

     My only beef with Tomlin is that he has coddled Arians for too long, probably to mollify Ben, and the team has paid a price for that. The situation is eerily similar to Cowher’s over-long indulgence of Cordell Stewart’s phantom talent as a QB. Sometimes, a coach simply has to move on for the welfare of the entire team. (Exhibit B might be M. Lewis’s dilemma in Cincinnati with C. Palmer and 85. They are better off this season without either of them.)

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3. 

   The Tony

   November 3, 2011 at 9:17 am

   My biggest concern on this team is our kicking game. Suisham is awful. He can’t kick the ball for a touchback and he scares me to death attempting anything over 40 yards. Congrats to Ben for the honor.

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4. 

   The Tony

   November 3, 2011 at 10:40 am

   Also Congrats to Woodley for Defensive Player of the Month

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5. 

   Big Ben Takes New England

   November 3, 2011 at 12:42 pm

   Nice honor, but they usually give this to any player that beats New England. I am in full agreement on Suisham… new kicker STAT!

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6. 

   Peter

   November 3, 2011 at 6:13 pm

   i find it funny that you guys don’t like Arians or Tomlin yet all they have done for the Steelers is take them to a couple of Super Bowls winning one of them and almost winning a second. Jay, you should start a twitter page of @firebrucearians. You would have 250,000 followers by kickoff Sunday!!! I think if you go back and look at the comments of you guys over the years, specifically Mark and Jay, you guys are much more boisterous after a loss than a win. I guess that is natural, though. Armchair quater-backing and all. Letting out frustration is natural and i get it but i just don’t think we appreciate enough how good this team has been.

   Mark and Jay, i respect you as steeler fans i just disagree with your anger towards the team when we lose or don’t look good in a win.

   Steelers rule!!! Crowley sucks!!!!

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