Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Q: Dave (Wannstedt) keeps the offense bottled up for too long in games that he deems too important to lose with an ultra-conservative game plan and it lets the other team hang around and remain in striking distance and gives them a chance at the end to beat us. That was the case against North Carolina State and almost in the Notre Dame game. He let the offense loose too late at the end of the game (against West Virginia) and it performed. He has the weapons, use them the whole game! His approach consistently leads to a football team that struggles all year to gain momentum and respectability, only to falter in the big games at the end.
Gregg Murawsky
Bob Smizik: This is the classic case of the fan who does not recognize there’s another team on the field. Wannstedt didn’t bottle up the Pitt offense, West Virginia did. Wannstedt did use his weapons -- Jonathan Baldwin and Dion Lewis -- extensively. Lewis carried 25 times, which was MORE than his season average. 
Baldwin caught eight passes, which was MORE than his season average. Pitt threw deep to Baldwin on several occasions, not just late in the game.
The so-called ``ultra conservative’’ game plan you cited vs. NC State produced 31 points in the first three quarters.
What some fans can never understand or are unwilling to acknowledge is the other team plays a role in how well their team plays. Yes, Pitt lost the game, but West Virginia also won it.
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Q: First and 10 from the Kansas City 11-yard line. What do the Steelers do? Empty backfield and Ben Roethlisberger throws an interception. There can be no denial: The Steelers throw the ball too much. When you throw the ball that much, bad things can and will happen. (Offensive coordinator) Bruce Arians needs to be reeled in.
Did you see Studebaker ( a linebacker) outrun Santonio Holmes after the interception? What the heck was that?
Mike Long
Bob Smizik: If the throw from Roethlisberger had been good for a touchdown, no one would have said a word. I have no problem with them passing on first down from the 11, empty backfield or not. All teams do it. Roethlsiberger also threw for three touchdowns in the red zone in that game.
There’s a saying in football that when you throw the ball, three things can happen and two of them are bad -- completion, incompletion and interception. Well, when you run the ball, three things can happen and two of them are bad: gain, loss, fumble.
Thanks for pointing out that Holmes, a wide receiver from Ohio State, could not catch or gain ground on Studebaker, a linebacker from Division III Wheaton. It looked like Holmes’ heart wasn’t in it
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Q: Why doesn't Mike Tomlin get rid of Bob Ligashesky and Amos Jones (the special teams coaches)? It’s not always the coaches fault and comes down to the players executing, but someone needs to take responsibility on the failure of the special teams.
Rob Pastorius
Bob Smizik: I’m not so sure it’s a good idea to fire coaches in the middle of the season. There’d be a steep learning curve for the new coach in terms of knowing the personnel. I think Tomlin needs to get more hands-on and the personnel needs adjusted. I would be surprised if at least one of the special teams coaches was not fired after the season.
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Q: Whatever happened to the coffin-corner kick? Not only the Steelers but other teams ostensibly shun this when punting from inside the 50. The coffin corner would seem to be a tactic employed with greater frequency given the cost of missing one is not as substantial as the cost of a kick finding its way into the end zone. Am I missing something?
Tom Pandolfo
Bob Smizik: I’m not sure kicking the ball out of bounds inside the 20 is as easy as it seems. And you can miss. Sometimes the ball will sail out of bounds at the 22 or 25. I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, but usually when you don’t see a play -- and the coffin-corner kick happens rarely in the NFL and college football -- there’s a good reason.
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Q: Two questions: Is Mike Tomlin more involved in planning and calling the defense this season? Reading between the lines – a sentence here and there, I get the impression he is.
Also, what is the cause of the Steelers poor special teams play? Is it lack of talent? Poor coaching? Poor technique? Being out game-planned? I haven’t seen an in-depth analysis of the problem, and I wonder if you had heard anything.
George Black
Bob Smizik: I’ve seen no evidence that Tomlin’s role with the defense has changed. I believe Dick LeBeau calls the defenses. Tomlin can overrule. I’m sure Tomlin is involved in the weekly planning but I doubt any more than in the past.
As far as problems with the special teams, what about all of the above as the reason for the problem? The matters seems to have received more attention this week, which should have happened about a month ago. It should get better. But it should have got better in October.
Some fans want to blame the special teams coaches. I put them third, behind the players and Tomlin.
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Q: Great post! Where there is smoke, there is fire. My question to you is when will the local politicians get involved? Plan B cost a lot of taxpayer money and even more political clout. Maybe we should start hammering them to open an investigation? Think there is any merit to that angle?
Stephen Marx
Bob Smizik: Andy Chomos, the guy who initiated the stadium walkout in 2008, is encouraging everyone to write their state legislator. It can’t hurt.
Here’s what Chomos wrote: ``It only takes a couple of State Reps to get some action to shake things up. It’s great to post comments to your blog, but that won’t get action, working through your State Rep will.’’
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Q: How can I, or we as fans, help? With Jason Stark’s article, I feel there is an opportunity to create a wave and pressure on Mr. Nutting. But to be successful in garnering information any requests must be brought forth in a professional unified manner.
Maybe I'm crazy but I do still hold out hope that some day a sense of honesty and commitment will come from the Pirates. Maybe establishing trust with the city and the fans is the rebuilding process that they should be considering.
Dan DeLeo
Bob Smizik: As I mentioned above, write you legislator. It probably won’t help, but it can’t hurt.
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Q: I wanted to thank you for the updated analysis of the Pitt men's basketball team. I try to follow the team, but (living in California) don't get to see many of their games on national television. Now that I have a meaningful breakdown of the individual players, I know I will be able to enjoy the games more.
Eric Schenk
Bob Smizik: I thought the player-by-player rundown by Chris Dokish was excellent and certainly gives fans a better understanding of what’s going on with the Pitt basketball team.
Posted
Nov 29 2009, 10:30 AM
by
Bob Smizik