Steelers sign Chris Boswell; release Scobee

[stillwright]

How is it you put this on coaching period when the kicker ****** up. TWICE ? You don't get it Vader. Youre channel minded and you've missed it on this one. Coaches cut kickers when they witness what we saw with Scobee. Are those situations symptomatic of bad coaching ? Gimme a ****** break.

That 35 yr old QB picked up nice yardage on two plays earlier in the game getting the edge, but you seem to somehow mis-remember. And what makes you think hes out of shape ? (hes been in camp 2 weeks less than the others. Vick made an attempt to connect with the leagues top WR on the last 4th down attempt. Why do you find fault with that ? Had it been Coats or Spaeth he targeted, I too would question it. But when you have Balt stacking the box expecting run, theres nothing wrong with a playcall to Antonio. It didn't work but theres no guarantee that Bell between the tackles in a stacked box was gonna work. Vick did enough to salvage the win. He played within the offense and never turned it over which is what many here hoped. The defense played well enough to earn a victory. Scobee ****** this up--if he makes just one of those two kicks its ballgame. HE DIDNT DO HIS JOB.... and THATS why he's no longer on this roster. This is ON SCOBEE. Why you cant seem to process and acknowledge that im not sure

Do you EVER put responsibility on the player ? Do you.....?

You can't tell me you don't think the play calling in this game wasn't some of the worse you have ever witnessed? I agree with you that players need to make plays but the coaching was just putrid at times.

 

[Lunar]

He had a gut feeling about Scooby.

The have pills for nausea.

 

[JMM]

The have pills for nausea.

He might consider being the spokesman for Gravol

 

[Vader]

How is it you put this on coaching period when the kicker ****** up. TWICE ? You don't get it Vader. Youre channel minded and you've missed it on this one. Coaches cut kickers when they witness what we saw with Scobee. Are those situations symptomatic of bad coaching ? Gimme a ****** break.

That 35 yr old QB picked up nice yardage on two plays earlier in the game getting the edge, but you seem to somehow mis-remember. And what makes you think hes out of shape ? (hes been in camp 2 weeks less than the others. Vick made an attempt to connect with the leagues top WR on the last 4th down attempt. Why do you find fault with that ? Had it been Coats or Spaeth he targeted, I too would question it. But when you have Balt stacking the box expecting run, theres nothing wrong with a playcall to Antonio. It didn't work but theres no guarantee that Bell between the tackles in a stacked box was gonna work. Vick did enough to salvage the win. He played within the offense and never turned it over which is what many here hoped. The defense played well enough to earn a victory. Scobee ****** this up--if he makes just one of those two kicks its ballgame. HE DIDNT DO HIS JOB.... and THATS why he's no longer on this roster. This is ON SCOBEE. Why you cant seem to process and acknowledge that im not sure

Do you EVER put responsibility on the player ? Do you.....?

You don't get it at all. You will never blame Tomlin for anything. It's always the player, OC, DC, Colbert.. anybody but your boy.

The game was lost by the coach running a 35 year old 15 year vet instead of his all world RB. I understand you can't handle that. I get it. Ben has ran for long yardage in a game as well. But I don't put him in an empty backfield and try to get the edge. It's ******* stupid. It's about putting your best players in position to win. The HC didn't do that did he? Scobee blew but that doesn't change the HC's stupid decision to not use his best offensive weapon.

FACT is that they were winning the game with over a minute left. Scobee had NOTHING to do with what happened after that. The game was won until coach jackass decides to go for it instead of punting or giving Bell the ball.

Also how ignorant are you? You don't think I ever blame the players? Are you deft? I've blasted Jones, Timmons, the entire secondary, Adams, Gilbert et el. Only somebody wanting to stir **** would accuse me of never putting the responsibility on the players. Absolutely ******* unreal.

 

[steelermania]

Punting from inside the 35 is always stupid unless you have one of those punters who can consistently pinpoint his punts to pin teams deep. We don't have that. People who advocate punting inside the 35 are like the people who still believe that bunting with a non pitcher is a good play, even after analytics has shown it to be a dumb play.

 

[Vader]

Punting from inside the 35 is always stupid unless you have one of those punters who can consistently pinpoint his punts to pin teams deep. We don't have that. People who advocate punting inside the 35 are like the people who still believe that bunting with a non pitcher is a good play, even after analytics has shown it to be a dumb play.

People who know what type of punter you have when he is a rookie are like people that blame a kicker for losing a game when they weren't on the field and the HC thinks it's 2006 again.

 

[JMM]

True, for the standard punt but the ol pooch punt option would have been a good choice for that situation. I assume Vick could muster a few yards. If it did sail into the end zone, having them start at the 20 likely would have generated better results for us. We're all just armchair QBs and HCs at this point but its something I wonder was even on the play list.

 

[topseed]

Punting from inside the 35 is always stupid unless you have one of those punters who can consistently pinpoint his punts to pin teams deep. We don't have that. People who advocate punting inside the 35 are like the people who still believe that bunting with a non pitcher is a good play, even after analytics has shown it to be a dumb play.

The Steelers weren't inside the 35 on the first possession in OT, they were on the 39. Analytically speaking.

 

[steel dino]

Since we released him...do we still have to give up a 6th rounder for him?

 

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Hope Boswell helps the Steelers get their kicking act together.

He has to be pretty bright to have gone to Rice. But not a fan of the Skinhead 'Do.

 

[steelermania]

The Steelers weren't inside the 35 on the first possession in OT, they were on the 39. Analytically speaking.

The Rats didn't score after that possession, so it's not that important. When deciding whether to punt when in the other team's territory, you have to obviously look at risks vs rewards. When you reach the 40 yard line, possession will always trump field position. Possession of the ball with a first down inside the opponents 40 is always more desirable than pinning the other team back at the one, which is the most you can hope for when punting. On fourth down, the determining factors will be, how likely you are to get the first down (this will depend on yardage needed, and how likely you are to get that yardage against the team you're playing), vs the likelihood of the other team taking advantage of the good field position, and driving for a score, should you fail to get the first down. Of course the argument against punting will only grow stronger, the farther inside the 40 you are. Obviously, if it's 4th down and 20, and out of fg range, you punt. I didn't mention fgs because once you get into the range where your kicker is reliable, you should never punt.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Since we released him...do we still have to give up a 6th rounder for him?

As far as I know, yes. I think it was a straight trade and not a conditional pick. Of course sometimes Tombert's 6th round picks turn out to be better than their 1st rounders.

 

[topseed]

The Rats didn't score after that possession, so it's not that important. When deciding whether to punt when in the other team's territory, you have to obviously look at risks vs rewards. When you reach the 40 yard line, possession will always trump field position. Possession of the ball with a first down inside the opponents 40 is always more desirable than pinning the other team back at the one, which is the most you can hope for when punting. On fourth down, the determining factors will be, how likely you are to get the first down (this will depend on yardage needed, and how likely you are to get that yardage against the team you're playing), vs the likelihood of the other team taking advantage of the good field position, and driving for a score, should you fail to get the first down. Of course the argument against punting will only grow stronger, the farther inside the 40 you are. Obviously, if it's 4th down and 20, and out of fg range, you punt. I didn't mention fgs because once you get into the range where your kicker is reliable, you should never punt.

It was actually extremely important, in this case, for several reasons:

1) It wasn't 4th-and-inches, or a half yard, or a yard. It was fourth down and a FULL two yards.
2) Then they take Bell out of the backfield on top of it, further diminishing their chances of success.
3) This was sudden-death overtime, and turning the ball over on downs at the 39 to the Ravens and one of the best kickers in the league, needing only a field goal to win, was incredibly risky.
4) Yes, the Ravens didn't score. They also failed to get a first down, gaining only three yards. So, had the Steelers punted them deep, the resulting field position (even conceding a poor punt -- a touchback) puts Scobee on the field to kick a 31- or 32-yard field goal to win the game.

Punting in that instance was the clear choice. Unfortunately, it wasn't made.

 

[blitzburghv5]

You can't tell me you don't think the play calling in this game wasn't some of the worse you have ever witnessed? I agree with you that players need to make plays but the coaching was just putrid at times.

I just watched the replay of the game...at what junction in the game was the playcalling atrocious ? There was a healthy mix and running and passing. The plays on fourth down ??we say theyre horrible because they didn't work. The pass attempt Vick threw to Antonio was a similar play he had connected with Heyward-Bey earlier in the quarter (it netted 3 yards). Had Vick executed the sweep or the pass, no one would have taken issue with either call. Instead its easy to judge AFTER the fact in hindsight and say it was horrible. Could we have gone to LeVeon on either play ? Of course, but had he gotten stuffed, we'd be saying the same thing..."Tomlins an idiot...he cant coach !!" Had we punted, pinned them and they drove the length of the field or kicked the tying field goal, "Tomlin is dumb, he didn't use his timeouts effectively to save time for the offense....". Its always something with some of the fans around here. If we win the players played well in spite of coaching...if we lose, "blow it up, fire the coach"...after a single loss (not a losing streak).

But im curious as to which calls were absolutely horrible because after replaying the game I didn't see it.

 

[MTC]

Scobee Scobee doo. Where are you?
The Steelers cut your *** now

 

[MTC]

Now we can call Scobee a Jagoff

 

[Steelerfan81]

Least if any other teams kicker gets hurt they won't have anyone to sign

 

[steelermania]

It was actually extremely important, in this case, for several reasons:

1) It wasn't 4th-and-inches, or a half yard, or a yard. It was fourth down and a FULL two yards.
2) Then they take Bell out of the backfield on top of it, further diminishing their chances of success.
3) This was sudden-death overtime, and turning the ball over on downs at the 39 to the Ravens and one of the best kickers in the league, needing only a field goal to win, was incredibly risky.
4) Yes, the Ravens didn't score. They also failed to get a first down, gaining only three yards. So, had the Steelers punted them deep, the resulting field position (even conceding a poor punt -- a touchback) puts Scobee on the field to kick a 31- or 32-yard field goal to win the game.

Punting in that instance was the clear choice. Unfortunately, it wasn't made.

You're assuming everything would have gone the same way, which usually never happens. Let's say the Rats get the ball at the 10 and only gain 3 yards. You don't know what type of punt their kicker would have made. Sure, he might have shanked it out of bounds at the 35. Then again, he may have boomed a 50 yarder. A lot of ifs. If the Steelers make the first down, they have the ball inside the Rats 40. That is better than pinning the Rats deep. 4th and 2 is hardly an impossible task. They just didn't make the play. People are always talking about being aggressive, and playing to win. Then, when teams do that, and it doesn't work, everyone is mad that they didn't go the conservative route. Yet, all over this board, people are complaining that the offense was too vanilla during the game. I guess the wrong call is the one that fails, even though sometimes all of your choices would have come up short.

 

[blitzburghv5]

You don't get it at all. You will never blame Tomlin for anything. It's always the player, OC, DC, Colbert.. anybody but your boy.

The game was lost by the coach running a 35 year old 15 year vet instead of his all world RB. I understand you can't handle that. I get it. Ben has ran for long yardage in a game as well. But I don't put him in an empty backfield and try to get the edge. It's ******* stupid. It's about putting your best players in position to win. The HC didn't do that did he? Scobee blew but that doesn't change the HC's stupid decision to not use his best offensive weapon.

FACT is that they were winning the game with over a minute left. Scobee had NOTHING to do with what happened after that. The game was won until coach jackass decides to go for it instead of punting or giving Bell the ball.

Also how ignorant are you? You don't think I ever blame the players? Are you deft? I've blasted Jones, Timmons, the entire secondary, Adams, Gilbert et el. Only somebody wanting to stir **** would accuse me of never putting the responsibility on the players. Absolutely ******* unreal.

Oh I get it ..I understand it very well. If players practice, practice, practice and in game situations they are given plays that we practice repeatedly and if they don't execute (ie kicking makeable FG or dropping passes missing assignments or fumbling) in your mind ITS ON THE COACH. Im saying hold players accountable. You don't believe in players being held accountable or taking responsibility and you sure as hell don't blame them for miscues or mistakes.....nooooooooooo that's only reserved for the head coach. Scobees gone because he's of no use to this team anymore. Hes not reliable. Anyone else on this roster that's inconsistent will take a seat or be released. Youre looking at one segment of the game...the post-Scobee choke. Im tellin YOU that had he done his job, we wouldn't have had to RELY on a critical 4th down play.

Go back and review the game footage. Vick had some success running the ball on called QB runs and plays that broke down and he scrambled for the first down. If a sweep was called for Ben or Landry, **** yeah its a horrible call option. For Vick, who's DEMONSTRATED this game he could earn the yardage to gain, I don't think was a bad call (hindsight yeah it looks bad). Vick even at 35 is still the 4th most athletic QB in the game behind Kaepernick, Wilson and RG3.

You will dog on players, ill give you that, but you will ALWAYS, ALWAYS place the outcome of a game at the feet of Tomlin. Brown fumbles/muffs a punt vs Jets last year, youre blaming Tomlin. Ben throws a redzone INT, youre passing blame over to guess who ? Has he EVER done anything good in your eyes or is he just the worse goddamn head coach you've seen ? Honestly I like the guy....hes not perfect, but he sure as hell aint the worse coach in the league as some here make him out to be. Most bad coaches in this league aren't averaging 10.5 wins per season, now are they ? And don't forget, hes still the second youngest HC in the league....he aint a finished product.

 

[keslerclan]

The problem I have w it that IS ALL on the HC is that Scobee, while disappointing, was a career 75% FG kicker over 40 yards and made 66% last year from 40 to 50+. Sure, he could have missed again BUT...what are the odds? That's the difference with making decisions w your gut vs making them w the odds. Most prefer the latter.

 

[Confluence]

The problem I have w it that IS ALL on the HC is that Scobee, while disappointing, was a career 75% FG kicker over 40 yards and made 66% last year from 40 to 50+. Sure, he could have missed again BUT...what are the odds? That's the difference with making decisions w your gut vs making them w the odds. Most prefer the latter.

exactly. What are the chances Scooby misses all four 40+ attempts? If he makes one, Steelers win. So the last two 4th and 2s should have been a FG attempt, especially if the same situation earlier in the game led to the FG attempt decision. Bad logic, bad coaching.....loss.

 

[TDX27]

We lose the pick for Scoobee and still have to pay the portion of his multi-million dollar contract we agreed to.

 

[diver]

Oh I get it ..I understand it very well. If players practice, practice, practice and in game situations they are given plays that we practice repeatedly and if they don't execute (ie kicking makeable FG or dropping passes missing assignments or fumbling) in your mind ITS ON THE COACH. Im saying hold players accountable. You don't believe in players being held accountable or taking responsibility and you sure as hell don't blame them for miscues or mistakes.....nooooooooooo that's only reserved for the head coach. Scobees gone because he's of no use to this team anymore. Hes not reliable. Anyone else on this roster that's inconsistent will take a seat or be released. Youre looking at one segment of the game...the post-Scobee choke. Im tellin YOU that had he done his job, we wouldn't have had to RELY on a critical 4th down play.

Go back and review the game footage. Vick had some success running the ball on called QB runs and plays that broke down and he scrambled for the first down. If a sweep was called for Ben or Landry, **** yeah its a horrible call option. For Vick, who's DEMONSTRATED this game he could earn the yardage to gain, I don't think was a bad call (hindsight yeah it looks bad). Vick even at 35 is still the 4th most athletic QB in the game behind Kaepernick, Wilson and RG3.

You will dog on players, ill give you that, but you will ALWAYS, ALWAYS place the outcome of a game at the feet of Tomlin. Brown fumbles/muffs a punt vs Jets last year, youre blaming Tomlin. Ben throws a redzone INT, youre passing blame over to guess who ? Has he EVER done anything good in your eyes or is he just the worse goddamn head coach you've seen ? Honestly I like the guy....hes not perfect, but he sure as hell aint the worse coach in the league as some here make him out to be. Most bad coaches in this league aren't averaging 10.5 wins per season, now are they ? And don't forget, hes still the second youngest HC in the league....he aint a finished product.

The truth, like many things, is somewhere in between your argument and Vaders. You are correct with your position on the players and Scobee. Players need to be held accountable and this discussion ain't happening if Scobee does his job. BUT...the play call to Vick on the sweep on 4th sucked. Jeez, if you are gung ho on doing that, at least put Bell in the backfield, fake a handoff and go misdirection. Or direct snap it to Bell in the Wildcat, being he has more *** to break tackles.

What heightens the frustration of this game is if you told any of us in July they would play the Ravens in week 4 without Ben, Pouncey, Bryant and Shazier, their kicker would be a guy from Jacksonville and Mike Vick would be the QB, we all would have said ****, they have no chance. The game was won, and they gave it away. They coulda buried the Ravens with half their guys out (I exaggerate to clarify).

 

[antdrewjosh]

The truth, like many things, is somewhere in between your argument and Vaders. You are correct with your position on the players and Scobee. Players need to be held accountable and this discussion ain't happening if Scobee does his job. BUT...the play call to Vick on the sweep on 4th sucked. Jeez, if you are gung ho on doing that, at least put Bell in the backfield, fake a handoff and go misdirection. Or direct snap it to Bell in the Wildcat, being he has more *** to break tackles.

What heightens the frustration of this game is if you told any of us in July they would play the Ravens in week 4 without Ben, Pouncey, Bryant and Shazier, their kicker would be a guy from Jacksonville and Mike Vick would be the QB, we all would have said ****, they have no chance. The game was won, and they gave it away. They coulda buried the Ravens with half their guys out (I exaggerate to clarify).

That just it if you watch the play again..Vick has a good chance to get the yardage needed if he turns it up sooner and doesn't keep going towards the sideline. I myself would of preferred a stretch play with a fake handoff bootleg the other way. Said so in the game thread. But it is what it is. On to San Diego. Every team has a character moment hopefully this is ours. Time to pull together.

 

[skline00]

We better be ready for San Diego! Physically AND mentally. Big Ben probably won't be back for 3 more games so we have to scratch, claw and scrap out wins. Period. AND when he comes back he will be limited so our mentality needs to be every player on both sides of the ball has to play tougher and smarter.