My 3 Cents on Loss to Denver

[wig]

I've been all over the map on Tomlin this year, but yesterday the coaches really weren't the problem.

The Steelers needed a kick-*** game plan that gave them a chance to win and what do you know - they had a game plan that gave them a chance to win. The players ended up not making some really huge game-changing plays. That's about it.

Wheaton makes that early TD catch - Huge deal. Toussaint doesn't get unlucky with the fumble - Huge deal. Gay manages to get that int instead of Sanders poking it out - Huge deal.

Every one of those plays would have been individually TOUGH for those players to make. You can't necessarily fault them because all but Gay are not "1st String Guys". And Gay probably would have had that ball if Sanders doesn't make a great play on it to knock it out. In the end, the players played a good game, but not a GREAT game. And that's where it's at. The coaches gave them a shot. You can't ask for more than that. You really can't. The #1 defense in the league at full strength STILL gave up over 300 yards to our backups. Consider THAT before you go ripping Haley or Tomlin up.

Denver had at least 3 or 4 drives start near the 50 yard line, some on Pittsburgh's side of the field and they only scored 1 TD. Our D held them better then their #1 D held US, consider THAT before you ***** too hard at Butler or Tomlin.

For the last time this year,

Love em when they win, love em when they lose.

 

[steelerscotty]

I would have tried for FG's on both the 4th and 2 and the one where we punted from like the 30 or what ever. I think Ben's shoulder did bother him some. The first play he overthrew Wheaton and on the 4th and 2 Wheaton is open but the ball was under thrown. Ben's deep ball wasn't as accurate as it normally is. Heath had two uncharacteristic drops. Defense played well enough. It hard to be down on anyone, including Tousianntt, this team never quit and it was quite a run we had this year in spite of all the injury's and suspension issues. Berry picked a hell of a time to have his worst game. Denver dropped something like 7 passes, they left the door open for us but it just wasnt our day.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I would have tried for FG's on both the 4th and 2 and the one where we punted from like the 30 or what ever. I think Ben's shoulder did bother him some. The first play he overthrew Wheaton and on the 4th and 2 Wheaton is open but the ball was under thrown. Ben's deep ball wasn't as accurate as it normally is. Heath had two uncharacteristic drops. Defense played well enough. It hard to be down on anyone, including Tousianntt, this team never quit and it was quite a run we had this year in spite of all the injury's and suspension issues. Berry picked a hell of a time to have his worst game. Denver dropped something like 7 passes, they left the door open for us but it just want our day.

Neither team is good enough to beat the Pats**** next week anyway. I'd rather get beat by a class act like Manning than The Cheating Bastiges From New England.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Neither team is good enough to beat the Pats**** next week anyway. I'd rather get beat by a class act like Manning than The Cheating Bastiges From New England.

I'm the opposite. Don't care what anyone thinks of the Pats, would have rather have had the chance at a trip to the Super Bowl than be sitting at home next weekend.

 

[Jeffro]

Please, Dear Being in the Sky, please let us draft a cover corner who is at least 6 foot tall.

 

[Steelerfan]

It is easy to pick out our errors, but the Broncos had their fair share as well, including a TON of dropped passes. Bad plays and questionable decisions go both ways.

When Denver had the dropped passes, the receivers were wide open. Our secondary sucks so bad. If Denver makes those catches the game isn't even close.

 

[Clete]

We gave up double digit points in both 4th quarters of each playoff game, Brady would have hung 40 points on this mediocre defense. Saved Tomlin getting badly schooled again by the cheats.

 

[DBS1970]

Please, Dear Being in the Sky, please let us draft a cover corner who is at least 6 foot tall.

You speaketh the truth.

 

[Steel G]

Denver had at least 3 or 4 drives start near the 50 yard line, some on Pittsburgh's side of the field and they only scored 1 TD. Our D held them better then their #1 D held US, consider THAT before you ***** too hard at Butler or Tomlin.

To further illustrate the point and be totally accurate, they had 3 possessions that started on the Steelers 30, 31, and 30 yard line, two of which were in the first quarter alone. All 3 resulted in just FGs, though the third one was the Broncs last real possession and all they were trying to do was score 3 for a 10 point lead and have the Steelers burn all their timeouts. They had four other drives that started on the Denver 32, 41, 47, and 35. They scored a TD and a FG on those last two. Yes, given that, the D did an admirable job. A couple more sacks and a turnover would've been nice, but also having your offense score more than 13 through 59 minutes would be even nicer. And while the injuries were a factor, there is this reality. With Brown and Williams for most of two games in the lineup, after averaging over 30 points for a six game stretch, the Steelers only put up 17, 28, and 18 points before Sunday's game. And 11 of the 28 against the Browns didn't come until the middle of the 4th when the Browns started to fumble deep in their end, one on a kick return. And we all know about the gifted 3 from the Bungholes. So the production from the O for their last 4 games for most of the key play time was 17, 17, 15 and 16 points. Not nearly good enough.

 

[wig]

Can't argue with that, the offense got seriously 1 dimensional after Williams was hurt. Although they still "ran" the ball, nobody was really fooled into thinking the Steelers were going to "run" the ball.

 

[obxsteeler]

We gave up double digit points in both 4th quarters of each playoff game, Brady would have hung 40 points on this mediocre defense. Saved Tomlin getting badly schooled again by the cheats.

Why didn't he do it in the first game?

 

[Turd Ferguson]

The Steelers running game was neutered when Williams went down but the Pats don't have an RB either....if Antonio was able to play this week I would like the Steelers chances. Especially with Bryant and Coats playing this time.

 

[Coach]

I didn't mind the throw on 4th and 1. Ben saw the match up and Wheaton get behind Talib. If it was AB, that pass is more than likely caught. Hell, if Wheaton catches it, it's a brilliant play. Oh well, moving on.

Throwing it on 4th and one is not the problem. Going for the bomb, which isn't an easy pass to complete to Wheaton is.

 

[Hines57]

There's a lot of plays I'd want back right now. All wishful thinking, we know this song and dance well.

Tomlin bypassing two chances to kick long FGs. He's trusted Boswell all season, not the time to stop trusting the kicker, wind be damned.

The PI on Bryant not called in the end zone gives us a first and goal with a chance to make it 17-9 instead of 13-9. To me besides the Fitz fumble, this is the biggest play of the game and its unbelievable that on the previous drive they got Gay for DPI and right in front of an official in the end zone they let this one go. Its painful because it was 100% interference and its in the end zone. Its not like its 30-40 yards downfield and the ref didn't have an angle. Going up 17-9 at that point could have been back breaking given the way the game was trending.

The facemask PF on Gilbert took us out of FG range and essentially ended the drive. (edit), felt this one was kind of on Ben. Play clock got down too tight and with the late snap the defense got a better jump. Would have rather us killed a timeout here.

Not the fact that he fumbled, but cutting outside instead of falling forward and just picking up the first down on the Fitz fumble run. Too many times in football we see RBs going for extra yardage and get the ball punched out. All he needed to do was fall down. We were killing them on this drive with crossing patterns and mixing the run well.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Not the fact that he fumbled, but cutting outside instead of falling forward and just picking up the first down on the Fitz fumble run. Too many times in football we see RBs going for extra yardage and get the ball punched out. All he needed to do was fall down. We were killing them on this drive with crossing patterns and mixing the run well.

This. I sat with my son and said here comes the kill shot if the Steelers can get a first down and get points here. As soon as I saw Fitz turn outside....

 

[antdrewjosh]

There's a lot of plays I'd want back right now. All wishful thinking, we know this song and dance well.

Tomlin bypassing two chances to kick long FGs. He's trusted Boswell all season, not the time to stop trusting the kicker, wind be damned.

The PI on Bryant not called in the end zone gives us a first and goal with a chance to make it 17-9 instead of 13-9. To me besides the Fitz fumble, this is the biggest play of the game and its unbelievable that on the previous drive they got Gay for DPI and right in front of an official in the end zone they let this one go. Its painful because it was 100% interference and its in the end zone. Its not like its 30-40 yards downfield and the ref didn't have an angle. Going up 17-9 at that point could have been back breaking given the way the game was trending.

The facemask PF on Gilbert took us out of FG range and essentially ended the drive. (edit), felt this one was kind of on Ben. Play clock got down too tight and with the late snap the defense got a better jump. Would have rather us killed a timeout here.

Not the fact that he fumbled, but cutting outside instead of falling forward and just picking up the first down on the Fitz fumble run. Too many times in football we see RBs going for extra yardage and get the ball punched out. All he needed to do was fall down. We were killing them on this drive with crossing patterns and mixing the run well.

 

[wig]

Nothin' to see here.

Moooove along folks. (I did send that to my Bronco friend though.)

 

[Hines57]

View attachment 2090

Yeah my twitter blew up on that one. Got retweeted by Evil Mike Tomlin