Steelers Zeirlein fired, Arians demoted sources say

[mesaSteeler]

Steelers Zeirlein fired, Arians demoted sources say
January 6, 3:44 PMPittsburgh Sports Examiner
Matt Pawlikowski
http://www.examiner.com/x-2703-Pitts...d-sources-says

The Steelers are apparently keeping Bruce Arians, but in what role?


PITTSBURGH - While multiple sources have indicated that Bruce Arians has been fired as the Steelers offensive coordinator, the Steelers have yet to confirm this.

One source has told Examiner.com however, he will be retained by the Steelers, but possibly demoted and asked to take over Ken Anderson's slot as quarterbacks coach.

The source has also told Examiner.com that offensive line coach Larry Zierlein has been the first coach to be fired by the team.

On Tuesday, Anderson retired leaving that slot open. Tomlin is an Arians supporter and seems to want him back with the team. The question now, if offered the slot will he take it.

An interesting synopsis of Arians comes from a Cleveland writer who is familiar with him from his days as a Browns offensive coordinator before he was fired there.

He said that said everywhere Arians goes it appears all he is doing is looking to pad his resume by sticking to his ideas and not looking out for the general interest of the team.

Ari ans was fired by Browns coach Butch Davis in 2003 after ironically a three year run. The team dropped to a 5-11 slate a year after appearing in the playoffs the year before. Under Arians that season, the Browns offense, which was supposed to be its strong point, averaged just 15.9 points per game when he abandoned the run game.

He has done the same in Pittsburgh under Tomlin, with the first step to becoming more pass happy. The writing on the wall that he was ridding the Steelers of its traditional playbook came in not re-signing fullback Dan Kreider, who is now enjoying success in Arizona under former Steeler offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhut. Kreider's play as lead blocker is a big reason the Cardinals are back in the playoffs.

Arians offense this season finished behind dismal Tampa Bay in Red Zone offense, and were just 15th last season despite winning the Super Bowl.

While Ben Roethlisberger had a career season passing for more than 4,000 yards and a case can be made that Rashard Mendenhall went over 1,000 yards rushing, the offense was too predictable and the name of the game is putting points on the board, which is something the Steelers did not do.

[Shoes]

Interesting, I had some feelings that if they kept Arians, he might be demoted....but the PG article said he was staying on as OC. Wonder if Russ G. will come back

[SteelerEmpire]

Thank goodness.... Amen....

[LamarrWoodleysFade]

*wipes sweat off brow*

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by Shoes

Interesting, I had some feelings that if they kept Arians, he might be demoted....but the PG article said he was staying on as OC.

Pawlikowski is a retard. I would take the PG's word for it over this.

He has done the same in Pittsburgh under Tomlin, with the first step to becoming more pass happy. The writing on the wall that he was ridding the Steelers of its traditional playbook came in not re-signing fullback Dan Kreider, who is now enjoying success in Arizona under former Steeler offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhut. Kreider's play as lead blocker is a big reason the Cardinals are back in the playoffs.

Case in point - the Cards are ranked below the Steelers in the run game at 28th in the league.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by fansince'76

Case in point - the Cards are ranked below the Steelers in the run game at 28th in the league.

thats a HUGE improvement from where they were last year.

but i called it in the middle of our skid that it seemed arians was just coaching to pad his resume and get ben into the pro bowl.

[stillers4me]

This sure would be a great scenario but I trust the PG over this source. Then again, nothing about any of this has been posted on the team website yet.

[Killer]

"sources say" = more rumor bullshit

[BlastFurnace]

I don't believe this story.

Why would Arians stay and take a lesser position. Someone would probably hire him as an OC somewhere else.

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by BlastFurnace

I don't believe this story.

Why would Arians stay and take a lesser position. Someone would probably hire him as an OC somewhere else.

in canada.

(i notice mike martz is still unemployed)