Comments on: On Second Thought: Steelers at Dolphins

By: No Longer a Scenario: Dolphins @ Steelers | Going Deep:

No Longer a Scenario: Dolphins @ Steelers | Going Deep: — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 11:13:10 +0000

[…] Suffice it to say that the stars were dimmed that day. Part of that could have been the scheme, of course. As Ivan Cole wrote after the game: […]

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By: fanofgd

fanofgd — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 08:51:03 +0000

Yea that makes sense.

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By: Ivan

Ivan — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:44:46 +0000

I didn’t mention this in the article, but when I interviewed the late Bill Nunn he spoke to just this issue. He said in essence that the coordinators are being paid so much money that they have to feel they are doing something, making things far more complicated than they have to be. Getting the ball into Bell’s hands? Too simple.

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By: fanofgd

fanofgd — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 21:09:16 +0000

I know the final decision always rests with the head coach but I have always wondered how many actual plays Ben calls during a game on average. Looks like he audibles a good bit. He likes to take big play shots on 3rd and 1. Those are the low percentage long bombs Ivan talks about that often end a long drive and let the other team rest their D. I am left saying to the TV, damn it was 3rd and 1 man:/
So I wonder, does the coach let future HOF QB Big Ben sling it all day when he really shouldn’t? How much control does a head coach have over a Roethlisberger, a Brady, or a Arron Rodgers? Is it just ego getting in the way of team? I see lots of people complaining about the defense but I agree with mtsnot.
I don’t know a lot about the X’s and O’s but I really miss a well managed and balanced game. I think our special teams are doing pretty well and our defense certainly has plenty to improve upon but they are not going to hold teams to 9 points in this modern game. Is it just ego we are seeing when the QB is having an off day but the game plan does not change and he just keeps slinging it everywhere?
I really liked this article. Best back in the league VS one of the worst run defenses in the league. Geeeze even I can figure that one out.

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By: mtsnot

mtsnot — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 18:19:23 +0000

Something to remember though is that the “next man up” could be very close in skill level to the “first man up” or is somewhat of an unknown that may or may not prove themselves. Really, this is the entire reason we have backups, right? I do agree though, it would be nice just to be able to stay with the “first man up”.

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By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 16:29:48 +0000

So true. If only we could use the First Man Up in the first place…

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By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 16:29:20 +0000

I was watching the game at the house of a hard-bitten former Pittsburgh woman living in the heart of Broncos country. About the time the Dolphins got the first touchdown she threw up her hands and said “Now they think they can play.” Prophetic words.

To be fair, both the balls that were returned were short, or almost short, of the end zone. Can’t take the chance that the ball is spotted at the 1. It’s surely possible to get more than one yard… IIRC. I’ll go back and watch, but I remember thinking at the time that the ball had to be run back, unfortunately.

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By: Bill S

Bill S — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 14:44:06 +0000

Next man up is getting old to me. If he was as good or better than the man in front of him, he wouldn’t be next man up. He would be first man up.

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By: roxannafirehall

roxannafirehall — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:34:53 +0000

I agree with your take on this. Especially the part about early domination. Not only do you show the inferior team who’s boss, you refuse to feed any notion that they are going to be in the game. Too many times, we let them hang around and then start to question ourselves.

Side note – Why the hell are we running the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs? Have the return men not heard we get the ball on the 25 if we take a knee. I don’t remember any returns beyond the 25. Usually we are woefully short of the 25. Particularly egregious is the return late in the game last week when we still had a ghost of a chance and returned it to the 12 yard line. Seriously? Just piss away 12 yards for nothing. Sheer idiocy. Geeeeez, take a damn knee.

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By: mtsnot

mtsnot — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:09:13 +0000

Can’t put blame on the defense this game. The last rushing TD was demoralizing, but they were a battered and tired group. The offense did their best to keep the defense ON the field today. We hung in there the best we could but our offense just refused to be helpful to the cause.

I agree completely Ivan. Some of the decisions Haley (and Arians) have made in the face of a lesser foe is to get cute. It almost seemed like they went into the game with no game plan at all.

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