Five switches Tomlin should consider.

[Coach]

1 ) Limit Blake, promote Boykin. The trio of Gay, Boykin, and Cockrell puts the best three coverage corners on the field.

2 ) Remove Archer from kickoffs. I'm thinking Byrant, with his size and speed would be a much better option, and Wheaton last year was the better option. I'll take the extra yardage and the better chance at a long return.

3 ) Give some of Jarvis Jones snaps to other players, which can include Chickillo. In six games played, Jones has but one sack, and 9 solo tackles.

4 ) Keep Bell on the field for important 3rd and 4th downs. Not doing this are reasons why the Steelers were upset by a bad Baltimore and Kanas City team.

5 ) Hire a time outs coach. Tomlin has someone telling him when to throw a red flag. Why not someone focused on clock management telling him when to call a timeout?

 

[Steel G]

1. Mostly agree. Blake sucks, but who knows what they really have in Boykin. But we won't know till they play him, so I have no problem with trying him as a starter.
2. Doesn't matter. Kick off returns have become pretty much pointless. Besides, Wheaton averaged 24.7 yards a return last year, Archer is averaging 26.7. They don't really have anybody all that impressive at doing the job. I'm more concerned with punt returns. They haven't done **** this year except make stupid penalties and Brown is only averaging 8.9 a return. They need drastic improvement on punt returns.
3. I agree, Jones sucks. He was a big mistake of a draft pick but they are going to try like hell to make it seem like he wasn't.
4. Yes. There is absolutely no reason on God's green Earth that he shouldn't be on the field for key 3rd and 4th down situations. I don't give a **** what Tomlin's weekly game plan says.
5. Agree, but it's not going to happen because Coach Shades is a stubborn *** and unable to admit his own coaching shortcomings.

 

[Coach]

SteelG,

Archer is #22 in the league by KR average

if you go by those returners with 5 or more returns he is #12 in the league. So he is slightly above average.

Archer's his long return of the year is 38 yards.

I wish the NFL would move kickoffs back 5 yards. I used to love watching a kickoff.

 

[Harry_BZAC]

I think Todman would be an upgrade over Archer on kick offs.

 

[MT~Forged]

1 ) Limit Blake, promote Boykin. The trio of Gay, Boykin, and Cockrell puts the best three coverage corners on the field.
Since I do not get to see practice, I am going to assume they are putting the players on the field that they believe give them the best chances, But I am not discounting the possibility Coach Cool Shades refuses to admit when he is wrong.

2 ) Remove Archer from kickoffs. I'm thinking Byrant, with his size and speed would be a much better option, and Wheaton last year was the better option. I'll take the extra yardage and the better chance at a long return.
Archer is taking up a spot solely as a KR, when that position has been done away with by the NFL. I would much rather have the spot used to improve depth or future potential. Use someone else to take the touchbacks mandated by the NFL.

3 ) Give some of Jarvis Jones snaps to other players, which can include Chickillo. In six games played, Jones has but one sack, and 9 solo tackles.

4 ) Keep Bell on the field for important 3rd and 4th downs. Not doing this are reasons why the Steelers were upset by a bad Baltimore and Kanas City team.

5 ) Hire a time outs coach. Tomlin has someone telling him when to throw a red flag. Why not someone focused on clock management telling him when to call a timeout?

 

[ZACKB]

I agree with these changes. I would also promote Grant to the roster and see what he has. Todman is indeed better than Archer, but the FO loves him. And yes, Blake does stink...

 

[Litos]

I find this Coach's thread above the line. The arrow is pointing up.

Now to the topic, I'd keep Archer on kick offs just because there's not much else who could really better, maybe todman?
For the rest I agree, though the T.O. stuff is out of the realm of possibilities, Tomlin just has to learn to use them properly ...

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

1.) Ok: However, none of us know what Boykin looks like in practice. The guy had a solid year in 2014 (and only in 2014), but some of you are pretending like we are benching Revis.

2.) Dumb: Archer has done well in this regard. Why change?

3.) Dumb: Jarvis Hasnt been stellar but far from poor. Who would you replace him with? Chickillo? That guy struggled against 3rd stringers- in fact we shouldve cut him instead of HoJo.

4.) OK but dumb reasoning: This was NOT the reason we lost to the Ravens (Scobee) and KC (too many Injuries)

5.) Dumb: Timeouts are far more subjective than challenges. Sometimes timeouts need to be taken when situations that only players and the HC/OC/DC are aware of. Honestly- how many games have we lost b/c of time management issues? Just something else for fans to whine about imo.

2 of 5 = 40%... Another F level post

uke2:

 

[wig]

With Boykin, I'm wondering when contractually the Steelers get out of extra compensation in terms of snaps played etc. for Boykin playing. I still wonder if they're purposefully limiting his time in order to keep from giving Philly compensation picks.

I'm sad about Archer. Lots of promise - very little (bad pun) return. I don't know what the heck the guy has to do to demonstrate some ability but he's obviously not getting the opportunities or capitalizing on them when they arise.

I have to believe that Tomlin has some kind of clock management strategy. I just don't think anybody else understands it. Perhaps he needs to dial back the quantum physics of it and just do what other coaches do.

Jarvis is simply not quite there. He's a failed experiment. (I'm sorry Jarvis. I'm an independent, objective observer here.) For whatever reason, you simply are not demonstrating impressive talent. That makes you unimpressive. A guy doesn't need to be a talent scout to see that you lack either the tangible or intangible assets to be a significant factor. I'm sorry. I really am. I have no ill will. I don't wish you poor fortune or bad circumstance. Perhaps you'd have a renaissance with another team and another defensive scheme.

 

[Tibs]

2 ) Remove Archer from kickoffs. I'm thinking Byrant, with his size and speed would be a much better option, and Wheaton last year was the better option. I'll take the extra yardage and the better chance at a long return.

Not sure this is a problem. Archer currently ranks 6th in the NFL in KO yards, and is 4th in the leauge in 20+ yrd returns with ten. Sure, he's yet to break a big one, but is probably doing better here than most realize.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I really don't like the idea of Bryant on any return duty. Too big of a target to take a hard hit and doesn't have the quickness to avoid a guy flying down the field like Brown does. Not to sound harsh, but if Archer takes a hard knock on a kick off, it won't hurt the team all too much.

 

[swal75]

There's potential that Archer might become more valuable once the season progresses and weather gets worse. I guess they figure that as long as he's not fumbling that it's reasonable to keep him back there. Wouldn't want to risk hurting an actually important player just for the chance of getting the ball out to the 30 or 35 on occassion.

I believe that the fan who complains about timeouts and clock usage most likely has had his experiences colored by playing video games(Madden, etc) at some point in his life. I imagine clock management is way more difficult than it appears.

 

[slashsteel]

Bryant earned his way onto the field,

I think until Boykin and Chickillo show something that forces a hand to play them, they won't.

I think Boykin still has potential but I think he shares his best spot on D with Gay.

 

[Vader]

Not sure this is a problem. Archer currently ranks 6th in the NFL in KO yards, and is 4th in the leauge in 20+ yrd returns with ten. Sure, he's yet to break a big one, but is probably doing better here than most realize.

Way to skew some stats. 6th in KO yards? Ok.... yes because he brings them out. There are only 8 with double digit returns. Very small sample size. And ALL but 2 of them are ahead of Archer.

4th in 20+ yard returns? Big ****. If he doesn't bring it out you get 20 yards. The only reason he is 4th is because almost everybody behind him has fewer returns. Again only 8 have double digit returns. His average isn't great. Which is what is important. Especially since he can't do anything else. He can't even field punts even though almost everybody on here swore by heaven and earth that he could be taught to do it.

 

[Litos]

Way to skew some stats. 6th in KO yards? Ok.... yes because he brings them out. There are only 8 with double digit returns. Very small sample size. And ALL but 2 of them are ahead of Archer.

4th in 20+ yard returns? Big ****. If he doesn't bring it out you get 20 yards. The only reason he is 4th is because almost everybody behind him has fewer returns. Again only 8 have double digit returns. His average isn't great. Which is what is important. Especially since he can't do anything else. He can't even field punts even though almost everybody on here swore by heaven and earth that he could be taught to do it.

you are painting with a broad brush, aren't you?

 

[Vader]

you are painting with a broad brush, aren't you?

You can go pull the thread. Many of those who liked the draft pick said that he'd be a good PR even though he didn't do it in college. They said he could be taught and that his college coach was didn't want him hurt on PRs.

 

[Litos]

You can go pull the thread. Many of those who liked the draft pick said that he'd be a good PR even though he didn't do it in college. They said he could be taught and that his college coach was didn't want him hurt on PRs.

yeap exactly, Those who liked the draft pick, not almost everybody on here

 

[stillwright]

I am not going to say no one liked the pick, but I think most either hated the pick or they hoped he would work out. Pretty simple.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Hard to argue with any of your points Coach. As said, we don't know what Boykin brings to the table. Get him some playing time, find out, then play accordingly. As for little bitty Dri, what else can he do?? Until cool shades owns up,keep him there to keep other player(s) from injury.



Salute the nation

 

[Stryker]

It's tough to return punts when you have a sure-handed, talented player in front of him on the depth chart.

 

[Stainless]

He needs to switch from the establishment(white people) friendly baby 'fro to the establishment(white people) will crap their pants shaved head.

 

[ark steel]

He needs to switch from the establishment(white people) friendly baby 'fro to the establishment(white people) will crap their pants shaved head.

Grow a goatee, get a tear tattoo under one eye? You know, make it fun for the players...

 

[ark steel]

yeap exactly, Those who liked the draft pick, not almost everybody on here

I am not going to say no one liked the pick, but I think most either hated the pick or they hoped he would work out. Pretty simple.

There were only a couple who, really, liked the pick. Most just want the best for the pick and spent time trying to find good things about it rather than run it down, incessantly. If it wasn't the 97th pick or we had missed out on a player I really wanted, I'd have cared more. I'd have rather taken a CB, any one of them that was left, but wouldn't have expected a lot out of them either. If there were 5 picks made right after that who were making an impact, I'd be more pissed. They are not and I am not. I think one of the CB's had some decent playing time in Washington and two were on practice squads (one of those taken by the Steelers, eventually)

We got the player I would have picked (Bryant) later in the draft and one of the random CB's I would have picked instead (Cockrell) for free.

 

[Coach]

yeap exactly, Those who liked the draft pick, not almost everybody on here

The pick sucked. It was a deep draft and this is what was selected in round three?!. We can get a rookie free agent Reggie Dunn type to do the same job, or wait until the later rounds to pick a Rainey type. Furthermore, Archer was terrible at returning punts in college and played against weaker compettion.

There are quite a few players who returned 5-10 kick offs this year that are rated that have a higher average than Archer does.

 

[papillon]

SteelG,

Archer is #22 in the league by KR average

if you go by those returners with 5 or more returns he is #12 in the league. So he is slightly above average.

Archer's his long return of the year is 38 yards.

I wish the NFL would move kickoffs back 5 yards. I used to love watching a kickoff.

I'm surprised that teams haven't tried to use the kickoff to their advantage more. Me, personally, I would instruct the kicker to kick it high and anywhere from 2 or three yard line to about 5 or 6 yards deep in the end zone. Here's the reasoning, the KRs are so used to having the ball kicked out of the end zone that when they get even a remote opportunity to return the kickoff they will. In that case you're giving your team a chance to pin them deep or create a turnover, of course, you are also exposing yourself to a big return; hence the kicking the ball "high" part to ensure that your cover team gets down the field and cover the KO.

Maybe not every time like this, but I'd give it a shot once or twice a game if the situation arises.

Papillon