Is it the Players or the Coaches?

[NC STEEL]

Have the past few weeks problems been a result of poor execution or piss poor game planing.

Defense: It should not have came as any surprise that the Pat's passed or that the Jag's ran the ball.

Offense: With the leading rusher in the NFL, why not pound the rock. Parker rushed for 100 yards in each of the past two games despite less than average # of touches. Davenport when given an chance picks up yards running or receiving. If pass blocking is a challenge why do we keep running such slow developing plays.

The purpose of a game plan I thought was to devise a method of creating mismatches and utilizing those to win a ball game.

I suspect that some of both is true. But, these are the players that they have to coach. Its there job to make them succesful. To put them in position to make plays.

I know Lebeau's rep. But, how do we go from #1 defense in the NFL to giving up 842 yards of offense in the past 2 games. To teams that did just what any casual fan would anticipate them to do.

Is as simple as the fundementals, block better, tackle better, know your assignment as Tomlin says?

[Coryea]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the players make the plays. I don't care what defense was called, we had Drew stuck in the backfield and no one could tackle him, nothing any of the coaches could do about that. Nothing the coaches can do about our guys dropping passes.
You can have the perfect play called but if the Oline misses a block or your defender can't make the tackle it goes for not.

[Doc]

we can't protect the QB and yesterday couldn't tackle. Players.

I sometimes scratch my head at the playcalling however..

[steelrazor]

Watching these games again I see little things that are happening.

For instance. On the fourth down conversion when Drew was stopped in the backfield- Ike Taylor was standing in the hole (in perfect position) he rotated tward the middle and Drew runs right thru the hole.

An old coach always said "There is s fine line between winnning and loosing"

Right now I do not feel that the Steelers are a very good team. But I think they are alot colser to being very good than most think.

[TDX27]

I agree with Coryea in the fact that the players are not executing.

Although, I have to say that the offensive play calling has been very erratic at best. It seems when the run is working, we don't run and when it isn't working, we got run, run pass. It just makes no sense. But maybe that is what Arians is shooting for.

[Stallworth]

The not so little things that I've seen in the losses:

1. Can't get off of the field, and no pressure on the QB.
2. Clark Haggans is missing in action. He's horrible. Play the rookie to see what you have. I couldn't believe that SI had him in there last week with a picture no less as a top FA to be.
3. The "vaunted" OL is no longer. Every loss has been a pass pro debacle.
4. Of course, Coach A does nothing to help it. Wherever Clark Haggans is, so are the pages in the play book for the swing pass or god forbid a screen to a RB.

This is unraveling on them very quickly. I expected that Mike would have them ready to play yesterday and yet again they came out flat. The super short week against a good runner scares the crap out of me.

[pourman]

Arians....no doubt about it. He is not playing to the players strengths. He's playing to their weaknesses because he wants to be Air Arians, while the players are built for a smashmouth running game...on both sides of the ball. As much as everyone wants to point fingers at the players, the coaches are supposed to maximize their players ability, especially when it's PROVEN on the field. That's their job and I don't see it. Every time I see the old "Steeler" football, it works but we abandon it.

So IMO, when the coaches perform but the players don't execute, then I'll blame the players. Right now, that ain't happening.

I hate to say it again because I like Tomlin, but we would have a much better record had we chosen Whisenhunt. He "got it". Instead, now we're going to revamp the entire team to cater to one man's ego. HUGE mistake.

[hamster]

I'm sure LeBeau told Anthony Smith to not let a receiver get behind him and catch the ball. Players got to make the plays.

[FAB802]

I'm sure LeBeau told Anthony Smith to not let a receiver get behind him and catch the ball. Players got to make the plays.

Maybe they should have his hearing checked. That's two weeks in a row.

[hamster]

Maybe they should have his hearing checked. That's two weeks in a row.

His mouth seems to work fine, though.

[pourman]

I'm sure LeBeau told Anthony Smith to not let a receiver get behind him and catch the ball. Players got to make the plays. We can pick out specific player mistakes on NE too....but they're being used properly so no one really cares.

[FistfullofRings]

You can't totally excuse Tomilin. Fair or not, it's a coaches responsibility to get his players focused and playing well. It seems like yesterday was the first time he was really concerned with how his team played. I think that was about a month late.

[NYSteel]

On Offense, it's more the coaching staff. We have an all-world QB that is making Arians look better (if you can really say that) than he is. But we have bona-fide talent on Offense. Scheme-wise, there's a lot to be desired. A new OC, and this Offense can be dominant. (regardless of the O-line to this point)

On Defense, we are old in the front 7. It is more of a players issue on Defense. The front 7 are not playing well outside of Harrison, and that's it. We have a young, fast secondary - but they are getting hung out to dry by the front 7. Our secondary has to play a lot of run support, in addition to having to cover a lot longer because we generate almost zero pressure in inder 4 secs. It's pathetic to watch. Our Defense is ranked #1? That's a knee slapper if I ever heard one. This defense is either last or second to last in INTs in the entire league. Why is that?? No pass pressure. QB's have time to set and make solid throws. And here's what makes the lack of INTs even more glaring: look at the roster of QBs we have faced. Outside of Brady and Palmer, it's a list of scrubs that makes you giggle. Yet, our Defense can't get INTs. Amazing, if you ask me.

Our front 7 is old and in declining skills.

[Steelr4evr]

Our Blitzes have become absolutely pointless with the guys we have in. We're getting zero pressure with way too many guys.

[Vader]

It is the coaches and players fault. Arians should never be allowed near an offense again. Gailey would do wonders for this offense. Any coach who throws out plays that work (3 step drops) against blitzes should be fired.

Tomlin doesn't get off either because the buck stops with him. Don't give me the "players play and coaches coach" crap either. IF you can't use the players to evulate the coach then NO coach should ever be fired. The players are always the ones playing and the coaches are always the ones coaching.

I still don't understand why Woodley (unless he is hurt) isn't taking some snaps from Haggans. How could he do worse? Haggans gets no pressure and runs himself out of plays. Even if Woodley doesn't get to the QB he is at least on par with Haggans.

[Sean]

Both..........

[warriors42]

as it has benn said a many of times here, it boils down to execution, and niether the players or the coaches are executing. players need to make plays, but coaches need to make adjustments, and niether is happening.

With less then 30 seconds in the first half Arains calls a slant to holmes, great play call if you have some timeouts or have at least 3 minutes in the half. thats just an example as to how backwords his thinking is.

Tackling. could anyone here imagine how Noll would be reacting to all the shoulder hitting going on, NO ONE wraps up anymore, instead of playing fundamental football, everyone is looking to make the highlite reel, and thats not just on our team thats on a lot of UNDISCIPLINED teams.

[NC STEEL]

I realize that when a safety lets a receiver get behind him on three occasions in two games that probably was not part of a game plan. But, when we talk about blitzes that are worthless, lack of pressure. Lack of time in the pocket, poor play selection. That in my mind is coaching.

When Haggans comes off the end and gets zero pressure repeatedly game after game. Why continue doing it? Either try another player in his position or a diffrent scheme. If Ben is running for his life everytime he takes a 5 step drop against team after team. Why continue to do it?

My whole point is it is the job of the coaches to play to our teams strengths and minimize our weaknesses. I'm just not sure thats being done.

[Steelerlyn1017]

It is both.

Big Ben had some key passes dropped yesterday. Passes that would have gotten them the yardage they needed to keep the drives alive.

Missed tackles. Can't blame the coaches for that.

Playcalling- SUCKED. Can't blame the players for that.

It is like we lost ALL fire after we beat the shit out of Baltimore.

[Stlrs4Life]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the players make the plays. I don't care what defense was called, we had Drew stuck in the backfield and no one could tackle him, nothing any of the coaches could do about that. Nothing the coaches can do about our guys dropping passes.
You can have the perfect play called but if the Oline misses a block or your defender can't make the tackle it goes for not.

I agree. Our OL is terrible, I blame the players, they still have to execute. This team started sucking after the Baltimore game.

[Sarge]

As someone mentioned, I think Arians is the biggest problem on offense, with OL play and execution tied for a very close second. I have never seen one coach make the same mistakes in the same situations running the same plays that haven't worked a single time all season. He is either stupid or incredibly stubborn, I can't tell which.

As far as defense, I got nothing. They are dominant when they don't need to be, and they are a sieve when they need to be dominant. I think here the problem is both players and coaches. I cannot understand giving a 12 yard cushion to a guy when the footing is terrible to begin with, it's has rained for days before the game and it is snowing the day of the game. That's schematic. Not tackling, that's players.

[Thorndike]

Tough to win football games without an offensive or defensive line. Right now we have neither.

[Sarge]

I realize that when a safety lets a receiver get behind him on three occasions in two games that probably was not part of a game plan. But, when we talk about blitzes that are worthless, lack of pressure. Lack of time in the pocket, poor play selection. That in my mind is coaching.

When Haggans comes off the end and gets zero pressure repeatedly game after game. Why continue doing it? Either try another player in his position or a diffrent scheme. If Ben is running for his life everytime he takes a 5 step drop against team after team. Why continue to do it?

My whole point is it is the job of the coaches to play to our teams strengths and minimize our weaknesses. I'm just not sure thats being done.

I agree. It's like ramming head first into a brick wall thinking that eventually it will fall down. Sometimes repitition is not your friend.