Bryant has been a disappointment this year

[SteelerFan448]

I'm too old school for the new NFL, I would have been trying to gain 15 yards to extend the game, not win the game on one throw, just me though.

Papillon

You know that's not how Ben plays the game and it's one of the reasons they've been so successful. But heck, I may be even more old school as I would have played it for four downs and tried to pick up 7 or 8 on third down to set up a fourth and manageable.

 

[papillon]

I understand what you are saying but if AB is triple covered and Bryant singled....... Maybe do as you said and run an entire different play designed to get AB open period. I think they ran that play for it to go to Bryant. And Bryant just hasn't been reliable of late. To bad really.

AB may or may not have been double or triple covered, but there were two Ravens near Bryant as well, he isn't reliable right now, I agree 100%, that's exactly why I'm trying to gain 15 yards by any means necessary to extend the drive and game. Missing that pass basically sealed the deal. Don't forget too that Ben then went to Wheaton on 4th down trying to pick up 15 yards. Maybe Brown was doubled again, but Ben was going to Wheaton before the ball was snapped, he dropped back took a look and let it go. Wheaton had separation, the DB made a nice play to get back and break up the pass. In the end, the two most critical throws of the game and AB wasn't targeted, that's tough.

Papillon

 

[Stainless]

Chris Carter was talking about how a lot of young receivers drop too many passes. Drives him nuts and he doesn't understand it.

The weed is a lot stronger now than when Chris was playing. He needs to stfu.

 

[papillon]

You know that's not how Ben plays the game and it's one of the reasons they've been so successful. But heck, I may be even more old school as I would have played it for four downs and tried to pick up 7 or 8 on third down to set up a fourth and manageable.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, use two plays to get 15 yards, then you're back ahead of the chains. I didn't mean to try and get 15 on one play. DW was having a big day rushing and receiving, he would have been involved if I were the coach. This offense is ahead of the sticks at 1st and 10, that should have been the goal, IMO starting on the 3rd down play.

Ben may not play that way and Ben has made watching Steeler games crazy fun, today I would have loved to have seen old school football, for just two plays.

Papillon

 

[SteelerFan448]

That's exactly what I'm talking about, use two plays to get 15 yards, then you're back ahead of the chains. I didn't mean to try and get 15 on one play. DW was having a big day rushing and receiving, he would have been involved if I were the coach. This offense is ahead of the sticks at 1st and 10, that should have been the goal, IMO starting on the 3rd down play.

Ben may not play that way and Ben has made watching Steeler games crazy fun, today I would have loved to have seen old school football, for just two plays.

Papillon

DW got nothing on the reception and you basically can't run because of the time and lack of time outs. But even with what they called, Ben put a great ball to Bryant and Wheaton was hit in the arm. At some point you'd like to see them make the tough catch in these moments.

 

[black and gold apex]

you would think the receivers coach would coach Bryant as well as Brown to break off the patterns. It seems more than not it is run full bore and throw down the sidelines to both wide outs. Neither seem to come back to the ball that well or break up the interceptions. Yea they get the yards and make the big splash play when all is well but lets see different attitude when plays are needed.

 

[Steelerfan]

Say what you will, but Martavis Bryant wasn't the biggest problem today, he wasn't even the 2nd, 3rd or 4th biggest problem today. He's a young player learning what it takes to be a good professional receiver in the NFL, Ben on the other hand, is an 11 year veteran and wasted two TOs and threw two INTs that shouldn't have happened. He was also gifted not having a game ending 3rd INT returned 100 yards for a TD because a Raven pulled an early season Steeler and lined up offside. Bryant wasn't great today, but piling on him for this loss is like having **** on a boar, useless. If the players the Steelers rely on can't do the things that you need them to do and then ask a 2nd year receiver to bail them out by making what would have been a great catch on 3rd and 15 late in the game, it's not the young guys fault.

3rd and 15 for the game why not a couple simple completion plays that hopefully get the team a 1st down, then take your shot. Why take a shot to a guy that had a drop in the game, at least go to AB. Bryant is going to be a fine receiver in this league, right now the Steelers need better from Ben, AB, Miller, Haley, Tomlin, Butler the guys that have been there and are veterans.

Papillon

Awesome post. Ben had several horrible throws today that would have gone for first downs or even more. I wish he didn't pick this game to have a bad one.

 

[Stoney]

Ben played like hot garbage today, and the defense was even worse. Nothing else really matters.

This defense wouldn't allow us to outscore the *pats even if Ben was on his game. Playoffs would've been pointless.

 

[slashsteel]

Ben played like hot garbage today, and the defense was even worse. Nothing else really matters.

This defense wouldn't allow us to outscore the *pats even if Ben was on his game. Playoffs would've been pointless.

so a change is need so this doesn't happen again...

 

[POP]

There are a lot of high hopes for Bryant, but he is a specialty receiver and I don't see him developing into the well-rounded guy that many want him to be. I'm fine with that as long as he is really good at what he does, but his ball awareness and hands have been way too hot and cold. He has missed some huge passes that either would have been touchdowns or converted third downs for us.

There is a reason why he was there in the 4th round: His hands are crap. That hasn't changed nor will it all that much.

 

[keslerclan]

Ben is predictable...and Hairball knows it. Ben has a penchant for NOT taking the underneath passes EVEN WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN TO HIM. His second problem is that he will TARGET a favorite receiver (in this case AB), REGARDLESS of coverage.

He targeted AB 11 times. 3 of which resulted in INTS! (one called back)

He targeted Bryant 3 times, Wheaton 5 times, DHB 1 time, James 1 time and Johnson 1 time.

He was a perfect 6/6 targeting Williams underneath who had a slightly higher avg per catch than AB.

The Ravens gave him the underneath KNOWING he would still try to throw into 2-deep coverage...he obliged.

The Ravens doubled AB for most of the game KNOWING he would still throw to him...he obliged.

We lost. Ben, while better than anything we've seen at the position STILL plays favorites. We lost the SB to GB because he forced throws to Wallace while others were open. We had several WIDE OPEN players NOT NAMED AB today that he didn't even look at. THIS is why we lost and why Hairball has his number, IMO.

 

[keslerclan]

Further evidence of BB targeting and making All-Pro (read unaffordable) WRs out of above average WRs is that AB is 3rd in the league in TARGETS with 167. Bryant is second on the team in targets w 86 targets (ranking him tied at 48th in the league). Other Coaches see this too. It would be MUCH worse IF BB hadn't been injured.