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Coaching Do's and Don't for the playoff game with Cincinnati

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Mike Tomlin coaching choices going into the Bengals playoff game. I hope for the following


1 ) Do you fear a Tim McKyer moment with Blake? I do. Matching Blake on Green with far away safety help cost us a touchdown in the last game. Coaching must prevent this type of scenario at all costs.

Play Cockrell on the outside, offer more safety help toward's Green's side and let Boykin play the slot.


2 ) The use of timeouts must be sound. Do not let many's second run off the clock instead of using a timeout that costs the offense a snap. Do not call early timeouts either. Save them if needed.


3 ) Don't be a gambler on 4th down. No trick plays! You've tried the pass to Villanueva once in the regular season ( it was a disaster ) that cost us a Feild Goal, and once in the pre-season. It's not working. Just don't... Boswell is very good. Let him take the points.


4 ) Make sure it makes sense to go for 2.


Having said all of the above, I do believe the Steelers have the coaching advantage in this game. While Tomlin is 0-3 is his last playoff games he's up against Marvin Lewis who is 0-6 in playoff games facing his back up QB.
 
1) Blake on any WR and especially Green is a bad matchup that favors the other team

2) I think this will always be an issue with this team unfortunately. Ben is at fault just as much as Tomlin and neither really grasp the concept of proper time management and preventing the other team from getting an extra possession.

3) It's a genius play if it works and horrible if it doesn't. Just like #4, I would think it would have to make sense. I'm fine with going for it on 4th and less than 4 if the FG is 50+ yards. But by all means put the first team offense out there and not some stupid trick play like you mention. 2 trick plays potentially cost us 2 games this season already.

4) Statistically speaking, it makes sense for us to go for 2 every time.
 
Going for 2 on the road is a great way to lose momentum and chase points. There is a time in the game to do it.

If you lead by 1, 4 or 5 points, THEN I'm okay with going for two and it moves the lead to 3, 6, or 7!
 
1) Blake not see the field unless in situations with 7, maybe 6 DBs
2) Get Heath going early

I would ask for Ben to limit the 3rd and short deep bombs if there is something underneath to be taken, but I don't know if he's capable of taking what the defense gives him at this point
 
Sometimes the deep throw is what the defense is giving him

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN ...-not-bad-when-throwing-deep-on-3rd-and-short/
 
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antdrewjosh said:
Sometimes the deep throw is what the defense is giving him
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Yeah I know that's true sometimes, but that's why I qualified with "if there is something underneath to be taken" . Road playoff games are not the time to get fast and loose taking risks if moving the chains is the easier option. As much fun as hitting a deep bomb is, it's low percentage. Go for it when it's there
 
AggieSteel said:
Yeah I know that's true sometimes, but that's why I qualified with "if there is something underneath to be taken" . Road playoff games are not the time to get fast and loose taking risks if moving the chains is the easier option. As much fun as hitting a deep bomb is, it's low percentage. Go for it when it's there
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So what you're saying is "if it works then it was a good call, if it doesn't work it was a bad call". What if Ben throws a pick by forcing the ball into Heath over the middle (like very nearly happened a couple of times on Sunday)?
 
SteelerAl said:
So what you're saying is "if it works then it was a good call, if it doesn't work it was a bad call". What if Ben throws a pick by forcing the ball into Heath over the middle (like very nearly happened a couple of times on Sunday)?
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No dude, it's not about seeing the results and making hindsight judgments. It's about Ben settling the **** down. He has been forcing throws for the past month. Of course not every play will end in a completion. I am just concerned that he has tried to do too much lately - we've seen lots of tape lately showing open receivers that he overlooked for bigger plays that didn't work.
 
SteelerAl said:
How about missing an extra point?
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Boswell is 26-27 on extra points. 96.3% The odds of a missed extra point are very low.

He's also 90.6% accurate on field goals. Take the points unless you are down by a certain number in the 2nd half OR it its 4th down is very short on a 53+ yard kick against the wind.

The Steelers on 4th down are just 4 out of 12. Not very good Al

-Coach
 
Coach said:
Boswell is 26-27 on extra points. 96.3% The odds of a missed extra point are very low.

He's also 90.6% accurate on field goals. Take the points unless you are down by a certain number in the 2nd half OR it its 4th down is very short on a 53+ yard kick against the wind.

The Steelers on 4th down are just 4 out of 12. Not very good Al

-Coach
Click to expand...

You do not understand math or probabilities well, Coach. And you have no understanding of the potential folly of drawing conclusions based on a small sample size. Do you think the odds that we convert a 4th down and 2 are low just because we are only 4 of 12 this year? Does it matter that some of those attempts occurred with Mike Vick at QB? Does that affect your thinking?

Also, Boswell has been very good but I think the chances that he misses any given extra point this Saturday night (in poor weather, with playoff pressure) are greater than 3.7%.
 
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AggieSteel said:
No dude, it's not about seeing the results and making hindsight judgments. It's about Ben settling the **** down. He has been forcing throws for the past month. Of course not every play will end in a completion. I am just concerned that he has tried to do too much lately - we've seen lots of tape lately showing open receivers that he overlooked for bigger plays that didn't work.
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He needs to be smart with the football, but that doesn't mean he needs to turn into Alex Smith / Checkdown Charlie. He has thrown picks on checkdown-like passes these past couple weeks. His problem is that he doesn't seem to be seeing the defense with much clarity. I'm fine with taking deep shots (even on 3rd and 3) if he really sees the defense and looks off the safety.
 
Boswell is 26-27 on extra points. 96.3% The odds of a missed extra point are very low.

He's also 90.6% accurate on field goals. Take the points unless you are down by a certain number in the 2nd half OR it its 4th down is very short on a 53+ yard kick against the wind.

The Steelers on 4th down are just 4 out of 12. Not very good Al

-Coach

SteelerAl said:
You do not understand math or probabilities well, Coach. And you have no understanding of the potential folly of drawing conclusions based on a small sample size. Do you think the odds that we convert a 4th down and 2 are low just because we are only 4 of 12 this year? Does it matter that some of those attempts occurred with Mike Vick at QB? Does that affect your thinking?

Also, Boswell has been very good but I think the chances that he misses any given extra point this Saturday night (in poor weather, with playoff pressure) are greater than 3.7%.
Click to expand...


Geez Al, I gave you the data. How did 4th down work out for the Steelers this season? 4 out of 12! Now quickly see how money Boswell was and do the maths. Yes-- I think with Vick the calls by Tomlin on 4th down sucked! Do you really want to see all 12 4th down attempts, then watch me rip them and show you how it did not help the team overall.

Maybe the weather might slightly increase the odds of a missed extra point. I'll give you that, but that also means its tougher to pass too. And Ben hasn't bene playing great lately. How might he play in bad weather on the road in the playoffs? You can't have it both ways. Also, instead of questioning my math, the onus is on you to show us why its not so! The data presented is pretty easy to read, Not sure why you're having an issue with it.
 
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For the record, THAT play designed to go to Villanueva on the fake kick WOULD have worked flawlessly (despite all of the flaws which tipped our hand) IF Landry just threw it higher/further down the field. Villy was ALONE and BEHIND the defender...naturally, Landry lobbed it short and it was easily picked off.

The KEY to winning this game in Cincy is BEN. He had 3 picks in the first game and 1 in the second. The other is to bring pressure on Katherine Webb's husband. Similar to what they did with Austin Davis but we MUST stop the run first.
 
I just would like to see the Steelers offense sustain more 8-10 min drives (resulting in TD's obviously) and keeping Jarvis, Blake, and the defense on the side lines longer.
 
I would defer if we win the toss, and put the defense on the field first. And get the ball in the second half.
On my first play of my first offensive series, throw it deep to Martavis. If you connect, great start. If you don't, it keeps them honest, keeps the safeties back, and hopefully opens the running lanes.
Don't abandon the run game, but use it effectively. Run from spread formations, use play action, roll Ben out on some bootlegs. Run outside (is it just me, or do we run WAY TOO MUCH inside)?
Get the ball to Miller early and often. Take the dump passes when they are there. Move the chains.
Don't take any "unnecessary" gambles / take the points when you can get them.
If you are going to run a trick play, use your skill players (not your backup qb and OT), and don't do it when you have momentum. Do it when you need momentum (or not at all).
Protect the ball on offense and try to strip the ball when you can, but make sure you get the tackle.
TACKLE, TACKLE, TACKLE. I'm sick of seeing missed tackles.
COVER Eifert!!! And not with Blake. In fact, Blake needs to be the #4 CB.
On special teams, on kickoffs, kick the ******* ball out of the back of the end zone. I'm tired of seeing the short kickoffs. Make them drive 80 yards.

Man I can't wait for Saturday night. GO STEELERS!!!
 
The success in this game will be on the Steelers D Line & Linebackers. Put McCarron's face in the dirt and keep him there and control the LOS. If the BenGals don't have the ball they can't score. If Ben and the Offensive playmakers are in sync, it will be a great day for the Black & Gold!
 
We need the WR's and Ben to be on the same page, we've all heard about the Bryant route, but Wheaton ran the wrong route later that could've been a TD, he ran an out and was supposed to run to the back corner of the end zone. We can't leave points on the field.

We can't line up with our bigs and think we are going to accomplish anything, we won't have much success and it just slows our passing game down, we need to come out in spread formations and run the ball from those formations.

The defense has to tackle, and not go for the knock out shot every time. I can't remember if it was 4th and 1 in the browns game and they threw it in the flat to Duke, we had him behind the marker, but I think it was mitchell went for the kill shot and whiffed and he ended up picking up like 15 yards.

Also quit with the ******* 2-4-5 defense when the game is close and it's not a throwing down, we get shoved all over the field in that formation in the running game.

We can't play the rush 4 guys and cover with 7, I don't care if that's what good defenses do and as per Tomlin, that's what we strive to be. We aren't that good of a defense, we are at our best when we are bringing blitzes from anywhere and everywhere. We all saw how not blitzing worked vs the Ravens.
 
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bigtwnvin said:
The success in this game will be on the Steelers D Line & Linebackers. Put McCarron's face in the dirt and keep him there and control the LOS. If the BenGals don't have the ball they can't score. If Ben and the Offensive playmakers are in sync, it will be a great day for the Black & Gold!
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Great point. Pressure his *** all day. Bring the heat.
 
Agreed we need to make McCarron uncomfortable

I think ever since the "Tebow game" when we overdid it, had 7-8-9 guys in the box all game and left our DBs all alone to get torched, they've tried to play more conservative D against backup QBs to try to get them to make mistakes. But our secondary isn't good enough to force mistakes.

I want to see our level aggressiveness BETWEEN week 16/Ravens/Mallett and Tebow game, but much closer to Tebow game. Get after him
 
Take every last point you can get. Bring pressure first drop off when they expect pressure. Take shots from the 15 or 20 at the endzone. Stay out of the 39- 44 yard bind of kicking or not kicking. Get into Sure FG range then think TD. If Williams isn't at 100% or he isn't playing use the back as an extra receiver. He won't get F'all anyway. Go Pistol and muddle huddle the whole game best chance to pop the back on a good run here or there and can utilize him as a receiver.
ABOVE ALL ELSE. Don't play Blake and don't play Tampa 2 unless strategy really shows it will work.
 
Coach said:
Mike Tomlin coaching choices going into the Bengals playoff game. I hope for the following


1 ) Do you fear a Tim McKyer moment with Blake? I do. Matching Blake on Green with far away safety help cost us a touchdown in the last game. Coaching must prevent this type of scenario at all costs.

Play Cockrell on the outside, offer more safety help toward's Green's side and let Boykin play the slot.


2 ) The use of timeouts must be sound. Do not let many's second run off the clock instead of using a timeout that costs the offense a snap. Do not call early timeouts either. Save them if needed.


3 ) Don't be a gambler on 4th down. No trick plays! You've tried the pass to Villanueva once in the regular season ( it was a disaster ) that cost us a Feild Goal, and once in the pre-season. It's not working. Just don't... Boswell is very good. Let him take the points.


4 ) Make sure it makes sense to go for 2.


Having said all of the above, I do believe the Steelers have the coaching advantage in this game. While Tomlin is 0-3 is his last playoff games he's up against Marvin Lewis who is 0-6 in playoff games facing his back up QB.
Click to expand...

Do

1. Play extremely physical, especially at the line of scrimmage.

Don't

1. Lose any eyelids!
 
Don't put the lime green MD 20/20 in the gatorade coolers.
Do put the orange MD 20/20 in the gatorade coolers.
 
Coach said:
Geez Al, I gave you the data. How did 4th down work out for the Steelers this season? 4 out of 12! Now quickly see how money Boswell was and do the maths. Yes-- I think with Vick the calls by Tomlin on 4th down sucked! Do you really want to see all 12 4th down attempts, then watch me rip them and show you how it did not help the team overall.

Maybe the weather might slightly increase the odds of a missed extra point. I'll give you that, but that also means its tougher to pass too. And Ben hasn't bene playing great lately. How might he play in bad weather on the road in the playoffs? You can't have it both ways. Also, instead of questioning my math, the onus is on you to show us why its not so! The data presented is pretty easy to read, Not sure why you're having an issue with it.
Click to expand...

You understand nothing. If you believe the past (even a tiny sample size and regardless of the past circumstances) is a perfect indicator of the future, then you should be telling Tomlin to go for 2 EVERY TIME. 8 out of 11 on 2-point conversions. By your own faulty logic, we should always go for 2.
 
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