Steelers must emphasize the run

Not convinced it was (Arians) lack of confidence in the Steelers running game - or just more confidence in the passing game.

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Mendenhall has been fairly impressive - more 'brilliant' than 'dim'.  His stats will prove this.

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And the OL appears to show they can/will run block.

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I wish they would run more also.  But if teams stack the box - play the run - can't be too eager to criticize Ariens when he has Ben, Ward, Holmes, and Wallace on the field

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Well put Bob.  But if they end up with more runs than passes then I will feel better heading into the colder months.

With the Ravens up next, this is the perfect opponent to get the run game moving.  I feel our O Line is more than capable of opening up the holes for Mendenhall, and yes FWP needs to carry the rock as does Moore.  A 150 to 200 yard run day is just what the doctor ordered.  But with the talent we have at wideout you can't blame Bruce & Ben for wanting to throw it, just please do not abandon the run.

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Reminds me of Walt Harris at Pitt. Pass...pass..then pass some more. And like Arians, Walt often had very good backs who were more than capable of carrying the ball.

You gotta use every weapon in the arsenal to beat a good team.

Can't argue with going to work on the ground game when the opportunity presents itself. But I fearlessly predict the passing game will remain our forte and that we will pass more than run, in any games not in hand.  

"Can't be too eager to criticize Ariens when he has Ben, Ward, Holmes, and Wallace on the field" -t2pyah

"But with the talent we have at wideout you can't blame Bruce & Ben for wanting to throw it." -San Antonio Steeler Fan

Amen, gentlemen. Nobody wants us to be one-dimensional. But you do what you have to do to win. And if that means going to the air, so be it. But again, I agree that we can go to work with the ground game, this week.

That may be the first comment from JL that I agree with this week.  You do what you have to do to win.

great article ....Captain obvious.....

Let's see Legursky as a blocking back a few more times. Even put him in for a decoy once.

Superb blog post, Bob.   You are dead on the money.  

Here's the problem -- Arians has no interest in the RUN.   Never has, dating back to his days in Cleveland as the OC.  (You'll recall he was FIRED there, after a mere 3 seasons).    Arians has been an abject failure at EVERY stop in his coaching career, and once again this season the cracks are being exposed everywhere.  

While he's at it today, perhaps Arians can reintroduce the DRAW PLAY and the SCREEN PASS.  You know, the 2 types of plays that can be run against a pell-mell defense rushing 6 guys at the QB?   The 2 plays that weren't run AT ALL in last week's horrific stinker??

The imbeciles out there will claim "we have to do what we have to do" as some kind of excuse for going pass happy against the Bengals.  The astute football follower recognizes that --

a.   We were never down more than 3 (THREE) points the entire game, and were mostly TIED (aside from the late FG that boosted Cin's lead to 6)

b.   Running production tends to get better late in the game, when the defense has been pounded on and the O finds its groove.   Of course, this can't occur if the OC doesn't give the running game a chance to find the groove

c.   A good ground game keeps the OTHER offense off the field.    

By the way, with 4 catches in 9 games, can ANYONE explain exactly what purpose Matt Spaeth serves as a partial-starter in this offense?

Steelers-Chiefs?  Sounds like an excuse to do some early Christmas shopping.

steelva-

Spot on...NAILED it bro!

"By the way, with 4 catches in 9 games, can ANYONE explain exactly what purpose Matt Spaeth serves as a partial-starter in this offense?"

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a turnstile, to opposing members of the defensive front seven, in their path to our QB & RB's???

Boo- Rah Bob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We're free at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steelva - Ditto me on that post bro.  Points are all spot on.  Bengals had no run game at all last week.  29 carries for 62 yards but they kept running anyway.   It paid off on their last drive when they ate 5 minutes of clock and started banging out some positive runs.  

Blitz and Retire,

Guys, the back and forth repartee between us this past week is all in good fun -like guys sitting on the porch chewing the fat. But be careful about the new company you start keeping. TRUST ME on that.

And now the game is over. If only we had passed on that final 3rd-and-2 instead of trying to run for the first down? Unlike the rest of you, I won't second guess Bruce Arians' every last play-call. But we pass better than we run. Get used to it, fellas. I've always been for a balanced attack as much as the next guy. But you can't force a square peg into a round hole, just because you want to believe you know more than the offensive coordinator does.

The Whis wouldn't have lost to the KC Chiefs.

JL, not sure what you mean by that comment about the company I keep, but suffice it to say, my computer and the keyboard are fairly non threatening to me.

I don't have a problem with running on 3rd and 2 but I do take issue with the actual run play that they chose.  Running a pitch to Moore makes little sense.  He does not have the speed to get the edge.  Besides, Ben was getting killed on those blitzes in the 4th quarter.  The interception in the end zone was a pass if I recall my facts correctly.

I emphasize that I don't have a problem with the forward pass, but you can't live long on 45-50 pass attempts per game.  Interceptions, sacks, hits on the QB and eventually injuries from all of those hits to the QB follow pass happy offenses.  

That said, I thought the offensive mix was actually pretty good today with 31 runs called.  They all had a hand in blowing this most embarrassing loss.  Offense with 3 turnovers including the INT in the end zone.  Special teams with the opening kick and then the Sepulveda punt into the end zone in OT,  Lebeau's defense gave up a 90 yard drive to allow the Chiefs to tie it in the 4th and a 77 yard drive to lose it in OT.

Playoffs is no longer the issue right now.  Saving any further embarrassements is now the task at hand.  Once and if they figure that part out, then maybe they can think playoffs again.

"If only we had passed on that final 3rd-and-2 instead of trying to run for the first down?"

Not so fast, Bozo.    Arians is the idiot who got pass happy on 1st & goal at the TEN, in the 4th quarter, and the resulting INT & return enabled KC to crawl back from the dead.  

As for OT --    First, we were ALREADY IN Reed's FG range, at the 35 yard line, on that 3rd & 2.   ANY run should have been a power dive play.....you know, the ones that MENDENHALL had converted NUMEROUS times today.    Instead, Ariabns, the idiot, calls for a PITCHOUT, which has a huge chance of losing yards AND moving us out of FG range.....which is exactly what happened.

Second, let's look at the idiot playcalling during that drive --

1-10-PIT 20 (15:00) 34-R.Mendenhall up the middle to PIT 27 for 7 yards.  SEVEN YARDS.  No need to get pass happy, but we did.

2-3-PIT 27 (14:21) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 86-H.Ward to PIT 44 for 17 yards.  Nice gain.

1-10-PIT 44 (13:39) 34-R.Mendenhall up the middle to KC 49 for 7 yards. Again, SEVEN YARDS.   No need to get pass happy, but we did.  

2-3-KC 49 (12:53) 7-B.Roethlisberger sacked at PIT 50 for -1 yards (sack split by 56-D.Johnson and 96-A.Studebaker). PIT-7-B.Roethlisberger was injured during the play. PENALTY on PIT-62-J.Hartwig, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at PIT 50.    Instead of a plunge that may have netted the 1st down, Arians totally ABANDONS the running game and in the process, picks up a holding flag and has his starting QB injured.  

2-14-PIT 40 (12:21) (Shotgun) 16-C.Batch pass short middle to 10-S.Holmes to KC 43 for 17 yards.  A must passing down; nice pass by Batch.

1-10-KC 43 (11:35) 16-C.Batch pass incomplete short right to 34-R.Mendenhall.   Pass happy again.

2-10-KC 43 (11:30) 34-R.Mendenhall left end to KC 35 for 8 yards.   EIGHT YARDS !!!!    

3-2-KC 35 (10:43) 21-M.Moore right end to KC 38 for -3 yards.  

Notice a trend here?    Mendhall is SHREDDING the KC defense, but never gets more than 1 carry at a time; never successive carries.   This is what is known in football terms as an ABORTION, all led by the "mastermind" (sic), Bruce Arians.  

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Blitz,

The "company you are keeping" remark is a long story. I'll tell you guys about it another time.

As for the game today, I'll start with our final offensive play. Moore had run end-rounds with success this year. He may not have FWP speed, but he is adequate. As for the actual play-call, since running the ball is not a strength of ours, it's all about trying to out-think your counterpart across the way. We now know the Chiefs guessed correctly and had players in position to stop us. But we don't ordinarily run a lot of pitches to the outside, and Arians probably calculated that the Chiefs would be looking for the pass or trying and stuff the middle. Anyway, I wasn't there on the sidelines, but Arian's just can't please you guys who are determined to second-guess him after the fact.

If we don't give up yet another kickoff return for a TD, we win. If the defense doesn't fold at the end of regulation, we win. Even then, if the TWO defenders hit Chambers solidly had even bothered to execute a fundamental tackle, we still might win. But as I just told Retire#21 on the other thread, the passing game is here to stay for us. All our TD's came from Ben's arm. I would like to have "balance" as much as the next guy. But if we rush more and pass less today, we don't even need to go to overtime to lose. Nobody gets it right 100% of the time. But Arians is calling the plays just about right. Blame for today's loss can be spread around fairly widely, this week. But Arians is not the villain.

Steelva,

Don't even talk to me. In your mind, you think calling somebody an "imbecile" or a "bozo," or using much trashier language as you do elsewhere, -and then lying, as I have previously proven you do-  is some kind of substitute for having anything intelligent to say. I have zero respect for you and zero interest in what you have to say. For months, why do you continue trying to start up with me?? I don't need your attention. Why do you need mine?  Everybody else around here can playfully spar and I enjoy debating with them. As for you, reread the part above where I state I have zero respect and zero interest in anything about you.

Arians is a vilain.  He's an idiot, as stupid as he is arrogant.   He has no brains, and as evidenced by the play selection in OT, he had a VERY HOT HAND in Mendenhall, but kept going PASS HAPPY in OT and never gave Mendy successive carries.

And how 'bout that clever pass play to Mendy in OT, on 1st & 10 at the KC 43??   A HIGH RISK, LOW reward out pass to Mendenhall by a COLD, BACKUP quarterback, which would have gained, at most, 2 yards, was nearly picked off by the Chiefs.  A very stupid, brainless play that served no purpose.

Let me again elaborate on how stupid the PITCHOUT was on 3d & 2.   We were ALREADY in Reed's FG range, albeit at the CUSP of his range.    We were on the 35, meaning a 52-yard FG.    That's about the end of his range.   A simple dive play may have gained only 1 yard on 3rd & 2.  That's OKAY !!!    It's still a manageable 51-yard FG.   Instead, Arians, the human idiot, runs another HIGH RISK play that takes us out of FG range.    Wow, what an offensive mastermind!!   What a genius !!    

Defend the idiot all ya want.   Just don't let FACTS stand in the way.

JL, i could care less if you have any respect for me.    i could care if you impaled yourself on a piece of rebar tomorow.   I ain't here to appease or gratify you.   i ain't here to impress you.   Don't let your own arrogance and self importance cloud your judgment about if other posters here have "earned your respect".    Ha ha, that's laughable and absurd, although not surprising.   You're here defending a sorry, sad sack Offensive Coordinator who couldn't manage a ONE CAR FUNERAL.    

Crawl back into your hole please.  

I direct everyone's attention to Gen Collier superb article today in the PG, entitled: "Steelers forgot about Mendenhall late"

www.post-gazette.com/.../1015677-66.stm

I rest my case.   thanks to Blitz and 21 for seeing the light and realizing the same as I.

JL,

Guess it's now just "two of those games"?  

FACT: The Steeler offensive line CANNOT pass block, hopefully you can see that after yesterday...the mighty Chefs D came into the game yesterday having recorded 22 sacks in their past 25 games & not only got 3 yesterday, but also got an additional 7 QB hurries & who knows how many QB hits...UNACCEPTABLE!

Spin it how you want, but it's obvious that when a QB is sacked a league leading 169 times in the past 3-1/2 seasons (feel better?), the o-line is inadequate...he's also been hit more than any other as well.  As for the sacks that he takes for holding onto the ball, he makes more plays after/during contact and eludes more would-be sacks than most, far outweighing those that he takes for holding it too long.

OPINION:  Listen and/or read about what the informed analysts around the country are saying & it's obvious that this o-line is W-E-A-K!

BlitzburghDUDE!,

I can see your virus is getting the best of you. There, there. Relaaax, get back under the covers. The fever and the hallucinations will dissipate. Actually, maybe they're beginning dissipate for you, already. Because I see that you're now trying to morph your "the offensive line CANNOT pass block" into "the o-line is inadequate." That would be a significant downgrade in criticism. But I'm calling you on it. However, you know what? "Inadequate" I could agree with.  I have NEVER argued that these guys are doing an *elite* job. If pressed, I'd say they are "average." Of course, not good enough for a team that still hopes to play post-season ball. Then again though, they were even worse last year. But while no offensive line is perfect, these guys didn't give up any sacks almost the whole game long, even while many of their teammates were mailing it in. The sacks came in obvious passing situations at the tail end of the game. Would an "elite" group have let that happen. NO. But that is not my claim. It has been YOUR claim that these boys are simply incapable of ANY pass-blocking. That is false. They blocked well enough for Ben to pass for two yards shy of 400. He threw for 3 TD passes. If you're going cite facts, don't leave out the biggest ones. Yes, it was one of those "hits" on Ben's arm that led to an interception. $#!% happens. But if the rest of the team plays with at least the same adequacy that the O-line did, we win the game.

Again, I don't argue that any of these guys are the second coming of Forrest Gregg. But I never have. You're the one who went way out on a limb, and is now trying to inch your way back. Hard to do when you're feeling ill and have a thermometer in your mouth. But in lieu of two aspirin, I offer you this: both the Bengals and the Ravens lost, too. As poorly as the Steelers played, nobody gained on anybody in the division. Don't bash the O-line so much. I still believe their best is yet to come, this year. It's the chunks of yards the D gives up when the game is on the line that scares me more. That, and of course, the kickoff return team.

Kickoff return COVERAGE, I mean.

"But if the rest of the team plays with at least the same adequacy that the O-line did, we win the game."

comfortably numb, JL???

the common thread that I've heard from various analysts the past 24 hrs. is...the Steeler o-line is the WEAK link of the defending Champs...correct-a-mundo!  just as they were last year & the year before that & the year before that...

Bob,

     This group reminds me a lot of the 2006 team.  Lacking in leadership and desire.  The special teams is just the tip of the iceberg.  How they could let a lowly team like the Chiefs even be close is the Red Flag.  As much as I dislike the Ravens as a fan, that is one team that will smack the Steelers in the mush and won't blink an eye about it.  I don't think this group has the backbone to respond.  How much do we miss a lineman of Alan Faneca's quality now?  This bunch made their own mess, and have ample opportunity to clean it up, but I seriously question whether they can.  They have shown little up to this point.