Fichtner Officially in as Offensive Coordinator

[Steeler Nation]

Today the Steelers officially introduced Randy Fichtner as the offensive coordinator. He will also retain his job as the QB Coach. Statement from Fichtner “I want to thank Coach (Mike) Tomlin and Art Rooney II for giving me this opportunity to be the offensive coordinator for this organization,” said Fichtner. “We have a tremendous roster, […]
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[mdk2]

Fire Fichtner!!


.. had to get it out of the way.

 

[Steelerfreak]

I tried that with Haley. apparently there was a long delay in my internet speed.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm okay with this, also Munch is staying for now.
Now if we could just get Mikey Regular Season to fire the defensive coaches because ain't nobody going to hire them away.

 

[AggieSteel]

Hope he's ready to be the most hated man west of Altoona

 

[fedderone]

Gee, the guy Ben wanted is the new OC.
I'm shocked!

So much for Tomlin not letting the inmates run the asylum.
Or Rooney or whomever.

NO WAY should any player be calling the shots on who the coaches are.
REE - DICK - YOU - LOUS!

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Fichtner is already proving himself to be smarter than Haley. Retaining the job as QB coach was a stroke of genius; insulating his relationship with the franchise QB.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Gee, the guy Ben wanted is the new OC.
I'm shocked!

So much for Tomlin not letting the inmates run the asylum.
Or Rooney or whomever.

NO WAY should any player be calling the shots on who the coaches are.
REE - DICK - YOU - LOUS!

You mean like when they let Kordell Stewart interview the next OC?

 

[SteelBuckeye]

You mean like when they let Kordell Stewart interview the next OC?

Nah, he meant it was ridiculous to promote the one guy who:
1. Knew the system that was already in place and that Ben has had his most productive years using.
2. Had a good working relationship with Ben, other offensive players and other offensive coaches
3. Has experience as an Offensive Coordinator. Albeit at the college level
Yep, the move makes no sense. They should have brought someone in from the outside who would have insisted on installing a new system that all the players would have had to learn. Especially during Ben's last two to three years with the team. smh

 

[bermudasteel]

One day ahead of my prediction...

 

[bigtwnvin]

I'm okay with this, also Munch is staying for now.
Now if we could just get Mikey Regular Season to fire the defensive coaches because ain't nobody going to hire them away.

Any (hopefully) prospective Defensive Coordinator and position coaches will have their work cut out for them. There's a few sleep walkers on that Steeler Defensive unit cashing some big game checks.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Any (hopefully) prospective Defensive Coordinator and position coaches will have their work cut out for them. There's a few sleep walkers on that Steeler Defensive unit cashing some big game checks.

Joey did that some durring his playing days and now is doing that durring his coaching days. I highly doubt we get a new HEAD coach and also HIGHLY doubt we get any defensive coaches changed. MUCH needed in both regards but probably set for this coming year as is......




Salute the nation

 

[fedderone]

Nah, he meant it was ridiculous to promote the one guy who:
1. Knew the system that was already in place and that Ben has had his most productive years using.
2. Had a good working relationship with Ben, other offensive players and other offensive coaches
3. Has experience as an Offensive Coordinator. Albeit at the college level
Yep, the move makes no sense. They should have brought someone in from the outside who would have insisted on installing a new system that all the players would have had to learn. Especially during Ben's last two to three years with the team. smh

No, I meant like Haley wasn’t / isn’t the problem. Our defense was the problem. Our HCs situational game Management is the problem. Last I saw, our offense hung 42 on the number 1 D this year. Oh, I know, it was ALL the players, zero to do with the system. Cause it was so much better when Ben was getting lit up like Jodie Foster on a pinball machine in his buddy Arians’ offense. So our Diva QB got his feelings hurt by our OC ripping into on the sideline. Our league has gone soft. sMh


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[Steeler Pride]

No, I meant like Haley wasn’t / isn’t the problem.

Offensive game plan vs. Jags, First Series - 3 empty backfield pass plays = Haley
4th and 1- toss sweep - Haley
4th and 1 - deep pass - Haley

Haley has a decent playbook, as evidenced when we go no huddle and Ben calls the plays. Haley just has no concept of how to call a game, set up a game plan to exploit a teams weaknesses, or make adjustments to his plan based on what the other team is doing.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

No, I meant like Haley wasn’t / isn’t the problem. Our defense was the problem. Our HCs situational game Management is the problem. Last I saw, our offense hung 42 on the number 1 D this year. Oh, I know, it was ALL the players, zero to do with the system. Cause it was so much better when Ben was getting lit up like Jodie Foster on a pinball machine in his buddy Arians’ offense. So our Diva QB got his feelings hurt by our OC ripping into on the sideline. Our league has gone soft. sMh


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Offensive game plan vs. Jags, First Series - 3 empty backfield pass plays = Haley
4th and 1- toss sweep - Haley
4th and 1 - deep pass - Haley

Haley has a decent playbook, as evidenced when we go no huddle and Ben calls the plays. Haley just has no concept of how to call a game, set up a game plan to exploit a teams weaknesses, or make adjustments to his plan based on what the other team is doing.

Exactly. Haley had a good system. Maybe he copied it off of someone else because when it came to actually game planning, making adjustments or just plain situational awareness, his understanding went out the ******* window and we were too often left with decisions/calls that made anyone with any sense of these things scratch their heads. Yep, Tomlin has faults, but the one I can't get over is how he never seemed to step in and override Haley's obviously ****** up decisions.

 

[slashsteel]

Exactly. Haley had a good system. Maybe he copied it off of someone else because when it came to actually game planning, making adjustments or just plain situational awareness, his understanding went out the ******* window and we were too often left with decisions/calls that made anyone with any sense of these things scratch their heads. Yep, Tomlin has faults, but the one I can't get over is how he never seemed to step in and override Haley's obviously ****** up decisions.

I read Randy is a X and O nerd. If that proves to be true, perhaps this O will attack the weaknesses on a more consistent basis.

 

[bigtwnvin]

No, I meant like Haley wasn’t / isn’t the problem. Our defense was the problem. Our HCs situational game Management is the problem. Last I saw, our offense hung 42 on the number 1 D this year. Oh, I know, it was ALL the players, zero to do with the system. Cause it was so much better when Ben was getting lit up like Jodie Foster on a pinball machine in his buddy Arians’ offense. So our Diva QB got his feelings hurt by our OC ripping into on the sideline. Our league has gone soft. sMh


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Haley's game is predictable but he had top playmakers executing his predictably. The Defensive game plan.....
I got nothing on that do you?
"Diva QB"? So it's the QB responsibility to maintain stability, discipline and when the game plan goes awry have to insist on an alternative?
What exactly do coaches do again?

 

[fedderone]

Phil Jackson sucks. He was only good because of Jordan and Pippen, and Shaq and Kobe.
Scotty Bowman was only good because Guy Lafleur, Serge Savard Ken Dryden and Steve Yzerman, Nicholas Lidstrom, Sergei Federov.
Etc. Etc.

It pains me to read when someone is so for or against someone that they completely dismiss them.
It's not one person, one coach, one player, one system.
It's always a combination of things. It's always the selected people working together.
And especially in football, it's not one person doing everything and the rest of the team is just riding the coattails.

My point is, as the coach, you're supposed to implement your gameplan, your leadership, your decisions.
I never liked hearing anyone say, "You've got this great QB, now you've got to build your offense around him."
That's not how that's suppose to work. The coach is supposed to dictate what is happening and plug players into that philosophy.
But what the coach does NOT do is let the players make the decisions for him. The coach doesn't let a player hold the team hostage. The coach shouldn't give into a player holding his breath and stomping his feet because he doesn't like something.
I'm not picking at Ben specifically. He's just the latest one to pop up. As I've said in previous posts, I was a HUGE Tomlin defender, but I've lost a lot of faith this year, even before the Jags game.
It's easy to point at a few plays and say "Haley sucks" or "Tomlin sucks" or "Ben sucks". You have to look at the body of work.
For everyone celebrating Haley's non-contract renewal as a great thing, but have zero problem with Butler and Tomlin returning, is clearly biased and wearing homer goggles for their boys. Ben has been the most successful of his career under Haley.
But I know, I know, it's ONLY because of Ben, Bell, and Brown. Haley was lucky to be there for the ride.

 

[Steeler Pride]

That's not how that's suppose to work. The coach is supposed to dictate what is happening and plug players into that philosophy.

That makes zero sense. You build your offense around the players you have available and their strengths and weaknesses. Sounds like a great way to plug square pegs into round holes and vice versa. Any coach that cannot adjust his gameplan based on who he has available should never be a coach. Knowing how to get the most out of your players is far more important than running "your" offense.

 

[Steeler Pride]

Phil Jackson sucks. He was only good because of Jordan and Pippen, and Shaq and Kobe.
Scotty Bowman was only good because Guy Lafleur, Serge Savard Ken Dryden and Steve Yzerman, Nicholas Lidstrom, Sergei Federov.
Etc. Etc.

It pains me to read when someone is so for or against someone that they completely dismiss them.
It's not one person, one coach, one player, one system.
It's always a combination of things. It's always the selected people working together.
And especially in football, it's not one person doing everything and the rest of the team is just riding the coattails.

My point is, as the coach, you're supposed to implement your gameplan, your leadership, your decisions.
I never liked hearing anyone say, "You've got this great QB, now you've got to build your offense around him."
That's not how that's suppose to work. The coach is supposed to dictate what is happening and plug players into that philosophy.
But what the coach does NOT do is let the players make the decisions for him. The coach doesn't let a player hold the team hostage. The coach shouldn't give into a player holding his breath and stomping his feet because he doesn't like something.
I'm not picking at Ben specifically. He's just the latest one to pop up. As I've said in previous posts, I was a HUGE Tomlin defender, but I've lost a lot of faith this year, even before the Jags game.
It's easy to point at a few plays and say "Haley sucks" or "Tomlin sucks" or "Ben sucks". You have to look at the body of work.
For everyone celebrating Haley's non-contract renewal as a great thing, but have zero problem with Butler and Tomlin returning, is clearly biased and wearing homer goggles for their boys. Ben has been the most successful of his career under Haley.
But I know, I know, it's ONLY because of Ben, Bell, and Brown. Haley was lucky to be there for the ride.

Also, if you couldn't see a difference in the effectiveness of the offense between the first quarter and when we went no huddle/hurry up and had Ben calling the plays then I don;t know what to tell you.

 

[insaniti]

For everyone celebrating Haley's non-contract renewal as a great thing, but have zero problem with Butler and Tomlin returning, is clearly biased and wearing homer goggles for their boys. Ben has been the most successful of his career under Haley.
But I know, I know, it's ONLY because of Ben, Bell, and Brown. Haley was lucky to be there for the ride.

And why is it that if we celebrate one move, it means we're ok with every other move? I'm not thrilled that Butler is coming back, but I'm happy that Haley isn't coming back. His play calling abd game planning have always been an issue. He has a great playbook, but as pointed out several times by several other members here, he can't call a game for ****.

We as Steeler fans, this organization doesn't make the knee jerk reactions, and rarely make major staff changes. So we'll take a win when we get one.

The defensive gamelan sucked, the execution was even worse. The worst defensive performance of the year, in the biggest game of the year. It stings, it sucks. But those two failed fourth down conversions, they were just as big, and just as in your face obvious of a glaring problem we've seen throughout the year and even since Haley got here.

We've got a lot of young talent on the defensive side, I can see where they are coming from in retaining the defensive staff, maybe it wasn't all scheme, maybe it was youthful mistakes, maybe it was 50/50. There are a lot more "excuses" if you will, on the defensive side where you can at least entertain the idea of keeping the staff intact.

Haley's relationship with Ben was at an all time worst, his play calling in big situations was lacking, promoting from within says you like the system as a whole, you saw the success and would like to keep it rolling, but you need to see a change in those big game situations.


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[Shane Falco]

I'm going out on a limb here to say Fichner probably knows what's going on inside Ben's offensive mind more than anybody. This makes perfect sense. He knows Ben's strength's/weakness, knows what Ben sees and understands him better than Haley would. He probably has a better sense of a game flow than Tequilla Todd. I like this move and it's the right move...

Now if they can end the Butler/Porter experiment and bring in someone else...

 

[fedderone]

That makes zero sense. You build your offense around the players you have available and their strengths and weaknesses. Sounds like a great way to plug square pegs into round holes and vice versa. Any coach that cannot adjust his gameplan based on who he has available should never be a coach. Knowing how to get the most out of your players is far more important than running "your" offense.

That philosophy worked awesome for Atlanta when they dumbed down the offense and built around Vick.
Great individual stats ( running only ) for Vick. ZERO team achievements to show for it.
Successful coaches does tweak their system a bit to fit players they have WHEN THEY FIRST TAKE OVER THE TEAM.
This is not the case right now with the Steelers as all the coaches have been here for some time. They've been here long enough where they've been drafting players they think will fit their system. They're not drafting players to find a new superstar so they can tear down what they have and start anew.

Sooooooo, is OC Randy going to instill a completely new system, his system, for the players to learn?
Doesn't sound like it.
Sounds like it's going to be Haley's system ( Ben's words about familiarity and already knowing the system and players ) but with someone else to coddle Ben and make him feel special and not hurt his feelings by yelling at him.
So the system wasn't broke. We just didn't like the personality of the OC.

 

[Steeler Pride]

That philosophy worked awesome for Atlanta when they dumbed down the offense and built around Vick.
Great individual stats ( running only ) for Vick. ZERO team achievements to show for it.

LMAO, Vick is who you use as an example? Let's look at the West Coast offense that Walsh designed around Joe Montana. I bet if the Falcons had tried to make Vick into a 7 step drop pocket passer they would have had much more success...LOL You can't make this **** up.

Sooooooo, is OC Randy going to instill a completely new system, his system, for the players to learn?

Why the **** would you want an all new system?

Sounds like it's going to be Haley's system ( Ben's words about familiarity and already knowing the system and players ) but with someone else to coddle Ben and make him feel special and not hurt his feelings by yelling at him.
So the system wasn't broke. We just didn't like the personality of the OC.

You know what, we should have kept Haley, told Ben to go piss up wind, and had Jones or Dobbs as the QB next year...Great ******* plan. Let's see, coddle Ben or coddle tequilla Todd...tough ******* choice there.

 

[fedderone]

Also, if you couldn't see a difference in the effectiveness of the offense between the first quarter and when we went no huddle/hurry up and had Ben calling the plays then I don;t know what to tell you.

So again, when we succeed, it's only because of Ben.
When we fail, it's only because of Haley.

And if what you're saying is true, then when isn't been calling an audible on these awful 4th down plays? He can run the offense EVERY OTHER SINGLE PLAY that you like, but the play that fails is not on Ben. Now it's on the coaching.
Stop. Please.
And gee, nobody in the history of football has ever looked awesome moving the football in a no huddle approach. Why is that?
Is it because the team in a no huddle is down by multiple scores and needs to conserve clock and try to get the defenses winded, although the defense is now playing big play prevent and keep the offense in bounds to keep the clock moving?
How about the defense making a stop or two so that the offense is actually gaining ground in the scoring?!
How about the defense not surrender 45 to BLAKE BORTLES, a bust RB in Yeldon, and a bunch of also ran receivers?!
This awful offense hung 42 on Jags #1 D. What else do you want?!?! Oh, yeah. A converted 4 & 1. THAT would have won the game. The Jags just wouldn't have marched down the field again? C'Mon. Be for real.