The Steelers play scared

[harrison'samonster]

Originally Posted by Blonde Bomber

Yes, get rid of that stupid bubble pass, and mix in a few of Haley's dink and dunk plays and he just may have scored them. Maybe a "Halians" or "Arieys" mixture of offense. Although, that means we would need a RB that defenses felt was a threat. We start scoring points and the Defense can come out of prevent.

One good thing about Arians, or was it Whiz, was they were not afraid to go deep on a 1st and the rest of the game.

Absolutely! It doesn't matter if your RB is getting 100 yards a game. The opposing D needs to be forced to respect your running game. I'd like a back who defenses have to worry about even if it isn't a running play.

[TRH]

i get tired of games in the 4th quarter when we go into the DREADED prevent defensive scheme. Any and all quarterbacks, probably hot dog vendors too if they would let them come out on the field and play, lead the opposing team right down the field to score - almost without fail.
We get burned on this more than anybody. I hate it.

And i agree - on offense - how many times do we have a 3 or 7 point lead - only to go 3 and out? Or similar to punt when it doesn't even appear we're trying to get first downs.
So what happens? The other teams get the ball back quickly - and do just what i wrote in the above paragraph. It happens SO much it feels like its nearly every single game.

[teegre]

Originally Posted by desertsteel

You do realize that Cowher's all-time record when leading by more than 10 points at anytime during the game was 102-1-1 don't you?

102-1-1

Yea... but... uh... there was that one loss. So... obviously, it doesn't work.

[steelfury02]

Originally Posted by Blonde Bomber

Yes, get rid of that stupid bubble pass, and mix in a few of Haley's dink and dunk plays and he just may have scored them. Maybe a "Halians" or "Arieys" mixture of offense. Although, that means we would need a RB that defenses felt was a threat. We start scoring points and the Defense can come out of prevent.

One good thing about Arians, or was it Whiz, was they were not afraid to go deep on a 1st and the rest of the game.

Truce Halians to the rescue! We need a bit of the dink and dunk, and some aggressive stuff thrown in there as well!

[torpedoshell31]

I completely agree with the original post. I hate to always use the Patriots as an example, but if their up 28-0 in the second quarter, they don't call off the dogs. They usually go on to win by a score of something like 56-3 and Bilechek is pissed the other team got 3.

[maddog78]

Originally Posted by desertsteel

You do realize that Cowher's all-time record when leading by more than 10 points at anytime during the game was 102-1-1 don't you?

102-1-1

That is a good point about Cowher, and maybe it was unfair to include him since he was usually trying to hide the QB. This current team, however, should be attacking more than it does.

[teegre]

Originally Posted by maddog78

That is a good point about Cowher, and maybe it was unfair to include him since he was usually trying to hide the QB. This current team, however, should be attacking more than it does.

Actually, I think that mentioning Cowher actually points to two huge factors (that are currently missing):

1) No running game. Cowher had The Bus. The Steelers could close out games better than anyone... via killing the clock.

I remember a game against the Browns, where Bam Morris ran the ball like 13 straight times, taking 6 minutes off of the clock... and the Steelers knelt down on the 6 yard line in victory formation.

Likewise, I rememebr a game agains the Titans, where FWP ran the ball 22 straight times in the fourth quarter, to kill the clock.

This O-line was far too injured to accomlish such feats.

2) No pressure. I remember being up 10 points, and when the prevent defense was put into affect, LeBeau would also unleash Greg Lloyd (or Joey Porter)... and the OLB would always (ALWAYS) get a crucial sack (making it third and looong) or get the strip-sack.

Alas, Harrison was not "Harrison" for the first half of the season (i.e. in the Tennessee & Oakland games). And, Woodley is nearly 320 pounds. In turn, no pressure.

[BlacksburgSteeler13]

I hate the prevent defense. All it does is prevent the Steelers from winning as the defense watches has-beens, never-weres, never-will-bes, and other no-name quarterbacks effortlessly complete passes, march right down the field, and eventually score points that have caused the Steelers to lose games. Not only does it make average to downright awful quarterbacks look like future hall of famers, but it also all but guarantees that pressure on the quarterback and turnovers will be exceptionally rare, which allows the average Joe to look like a good quarterback.

[torpedoshell31]

Originally Posted by maddog78

That is a good point about Cowher, and maybe it was unfair to include him since he was usually trying to hide the QB. This current team, however, should be attacking more than it does.

Indeed Cowher did have to hide our QB's in those situations. Cowher greatest legacy is what QB's he had that went to the playoffs. Brister, O'Donnell, Tomczak, Stewart and Maddox. All of these guys started a playoff game for Cowher. What other coach could take a collection of QB's like this and still go to the playoffs almost every year?

[GoFor7]

I think bringing up Cowher's accomplishments playing close to the vest is irrelevant because a) Cowher isn't here anymore, and b) offenses have opened up more since then. When this team does it, bad things happen too often.