tony hipchest
12-22-2010, 11:13 PM
i always like to cool down after a loss and re-watch the game with a clear head. what seemed like a horrible loss isnt so bad the 2nd time. it was real close and a matt spaeth reception away from being like sb 43.
that jason taylor safety in the endzone completely sucked but didnt really cost us the game. does anyone really remember or dwell on the safety in sb 43? holmes catch erased that. a spaeth reception coulda turned a horrible loss into another great big ben comeback.
if warner-fitzgerald woulda won the sb, james harrisons 100 yd int would be a blip on the radar as opposed to one of the greatest plays in sb history. if spaeth makes the catch, brad smiths return is all for naught.
it was a good game and for the most part played well. the similarities of the ebb and flow of our last sb helped me realize that.
with that being said there is alot to learn after a 2nd viewing.
that shotgun draw was a bread and butter play for the steelers all day. mendenhall had gains of atleast 6, 8, and even longer, three seperate times. moore had a descent gain as well. we just went to the well one too many times, and at the most inopportune position on the field.
pretty easy to guess the steelers would go conservative and try to run it out of the endzone on a play that had burnt the jets so many times before.
now onto the offensive participation chart-
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2010/12/steelers-week-15-offensive-participation-chart-versus-jets/
ben played 72 of 72 offensive snaps.
mendenhall played 29 of 72.
i understand preserving him and extending his longevity, but there is something wrong there. then again he got his 100 yds and we almost won.
mendenhall was killing with the shotgun draws. he was also bouncing it outside as well as he has ever done. he made the o-line look really good. ben was passing reall good as well. hard to keep pounding the rock when he is throwing like he was (wr's were getting open on those long developing plays).
on his td run d johnson and b. keisel were the TE's and he followed the lead block of legursky and walked in. would have been a nice play on our goal line. sometimes the same play will work on both sides of the field. i expect to see this formation at a later date with keisel slipping out for a reception. if not, the coaches are morons.
soemtimes it is amazing how all wr's will be open on a single play and ben can take is pick. as much as arians is damned, these plays are a credit to him.
now on to the offensive participation chart- http://www.steelersdepot.com/2010/12/steelers-week-15-offensive-participation-chart-versus-jets/ (thanks to steelerdepot for the film breakdown)
sanders played on 54 of 72 snaps. he was in on all 25 straight offensive snaps to end the game. during that span, mendenhall was on the field 5 times.
during that span they went 5 wide on 8 seperate occasions (only having used that formation once prior in the game).
if heath miller is healthy, you will never see the likes of a. brown or randle el (or even sanders) push him to the bench 8 times in a single game.
mendenhall and heath are 2 of our greatest weapons as is hines ward. we see what happens when ward and heath are knocked out with concussions. i can almost see why they are being so cautious with mendenhall.
ben is our greatest weapon. mendenhall sould be his best friend.
spaeth played 61 of 72 snaps. he was given his time in the spotlight and failed. it is rare that heath has 2 TD's in a game and spaeth blew it. he coulda been a hero (in a contract year no less).
meanwhile in colts land, jacob tamme is outpacing dallas clark. talk about grabbing the bull by the horns.
what is a shame is spaeth has been blocking better and better. that shouldnt come at the expense of his receiving skills.
david johnson lined up at fullback 4 times... legursky once.
johnson and spaeth were on the field together 17 times.
that jason taylor safety in the endzone completely sucked but didnt really cost us the game. does anyone really remember or dwell on the safety in sb 43? holmes catch erased that. a spaeth reception coulda turned a horrible loss into another great big ben comeback.
if warner-fitzgerald woulda won the sb, james harrisons 100 yd int would be a blip on the radar as opposed to one of the greatest plays in sb history. if spaeth makes the catch, brad smiths return is all for naught.
it was a good game and for the most part played well. the similarities of the ebb and flow of our last sb helped me realize that.
with that being said there is alot to learn after a 2nd viewing.
that shotgun draw was a bread and butter play for the steelers all day. mendenhall had gains of atleast 6, 8, and even longer, three seperate times. moore had a descent gain as well. we just went to the well one too many times, and at the most inopportune position on the field.
pretty easy to guess the steelers would go conservative and try to run it out of the endzone on a play that had burnt the jets so many times before.
now onto the offensive participation chart-
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2010/12/steelers-week-15-offensive-participation-chart-versus-jets/
ben played 72 of 72 offensive snaps.
mendenhall played 29 of 72.
i understand preserving him and extending his longevity, but there is something wrong there. then again he got his 100 yds and we almost won.
mendenhall was killing with the shotgun draws. he was also bouncing it outside as well as he has ever done. he made the o-line look really good. ben was passing reall good as well. hard to keep pounding the rock when he is throwing like he was (wr's were getting open on those long developing plays).
on his td run d johnson and b. keisel were the TE's and he followed the lead block of legursky and walked in. would have been a nice play on our goal line. sometimes the same play will work on both sides of the field. i expect to see this formation at a later date with keisel slipping out for a reception. if not, the coaches are morons.
soemtimes it is amazing how all wr's will be open on a single play and ben can take is pick. as much as arians is damned, these plays are a credit to him.
now on to the offensive participation chart- http://www.steelersdepot.com/2010/12/steelers-week-15-offensive-participation-chart-versus-jets/ (thanks to steelerdepot for the film breakdown)
sanders played on 54 of 72 snaps. he was in on all 25 straight offensive snaps to end the game. during that span, mendenhall was on the field 5 times.
during that span they went 5 wide on 8 seperate occasions (only having used that formation once prior in the game).
if heath miller is healthy, you will never see the likes of a. brown or randle el (or even sanders) push him to the bench 8 times in a single game.
mendenhall and heath are 2 of our greatest weapons as is hines ward. we see what happens when ward and heath are knocked out with concussions. i can almost see why they are being so cautious with mendenhall.
ben is our greatest weapon. mendenhall sould be his best friend.
spaeth played 61 of 72 snaps. he was given his time in the spotlight and failed. it is rare that heath has 2 TD's in a game and spaeth blew it. he coulda been a hero (in a contract year no less).
meanwhile in colts land, jacob tamme is outpacing dallas clark. talk about grabbing the bull by the horns.
what is a shame is spaeth has been blocking better and better. that shouldnt come at the expense of his receiving skills.
david johnson lined up at fullback 4 times... legursky once.
johnson and spaeth were on the field together 17 times.