Reading Labriola's chat transcript this morning and he became very defensive when readers asked him about the teams preparation and playing down to opponents which are obviously veiled criticisms of Tomlin. I want to make something very clear that Mr. Labriola fails to understand. Poor preparation isn't about not having your meetings, not practicing well, not putting in the time. Nor is playing down to your opponent about over bravado or disrespecting your opponents ability.
I have absolutely no doubt the Steelers prepared in the exact same manner they did for the past 14 weeks in terms of their practices, meetings, workoiuts etc.
The term preparation to me means how the weeks meetings, practices meet what actually happens on the field in terms of what the opponent does. And clearly that did not happen here. The Steelers defense was prepared to stop the big play and the run. They did not count on the Ravens patiently staying ahead of the sticks and completing short passes on third down. They took advantage of what the Steelers offered in their soft zones exactly as the Broncos did the week before. But unlike the week before the Steelers refused to come out of their shell and challenge. In terms of offense they did not seem to expect the coverage (two deep) that they saw, though I will admit that is taken mostly from game analysis of them talking about playing two deep. Ben got confused by what he expected to see and what was really there on a few plays that costed turnovers. Though the one to AB was actually a sight adjustment that AB didn't see where if he would have reacted as Ben expected to cross the defenders leverage and could have went for a big RAC.
As far as playing down to opponents it isn't about disresepecting the opponent or believing they will some how hand you the game. Its about playing too careful without enough abandon and all of a sudden it is end of the 3rd and you are down 7 and you are getting tight around the collar because you know you should win this game.
I have absolutely no doubt the Steelers prepared in the exact same manner they did for the past 14 weeks in terms of their practices, meetings, workoiuts etc.
The term preparation to me means how the weeks meetings, practices meet what actually happens on the field in terms of what the opponent does. And clearly that did not happen here. The Steelers defense was prepared to stop the big play and the run. They did not count on the Ravens patiently staying ahead of the sticks and completing short passes on third down. They took advantage of what the Steelers offered in their soft zones exactly as the Broncos did the week before. But unlike the week before the Steelers refused to come out of their shell and challenge. In terms of offense they did not seem to expect the coverage (two deep) that they saw, though I will admit that is taken mostly from game analysis of them talking about playing two deep. Ben got confused by what he expected to see and what was really there on a few plays that costed turnovers. Though the one to AB was actually a sight adjustment that AB didn't see where if he would have reacted as Ben expected to cross the defenders leverage and could have went for a big RAC.
As far as playing down to opponents it isn't about disresepecting the opponent or believing they will some how hand you the game. Its about playing too careful without enough abandon and all of a sudden it is end of the 3rd and you are down 7 and you are getting tight around the collar because you know you should win this game.
