The Noodle Arm That Would Never Play Again
That seems to be the commencement question that people are asking near Sunday's Steelers-Broncos game.
In my opinion, Pittsburgh volition demand to be capable of scoring at to the lowest degree 24, more likely 28, to pull out a win. As they are currently composed, tin they exercise that? That is the question.
I thought it was going to be tough running the brawl against Denver with DeAngelo Williams. Toussaint and Todman doing that against a Cincy D that is playing off the ball to prevent the big gain is ane thing, doing information technology against Denver, which really plays defense force with the same ferocity and efficiency that Pittsburgh used to, is another altogether.
The larger issue here is that with no Antonio Chocolate-brown, Denver'due south defensive game plan but dramatically changed. Setting aside the obvious relief that Chris Harris must exist feeling, the Broncos played two high safeties nearly of the game last time, opening the middle. That won't be the case Sunday in Denver. AB not playing simply freed up TJ Ward and now leaves Darian Stewart free to play center field. If Ben tin can't drive the brawl because of that shoulder injury, those safeties are going to wait for him to put as well much air under a ball and pick information technology off.
The Denver D is going to crowd the line of scrimmage and dare Ben to throw deep. Count on it. The question is, can he exercise it? Ben will doubtless be under the influence of pain masking drugs and you lot know he has no problem putting his body on the line to get a win, even if it means he'll be very sore for a couple of days. The real question hither is what kind of range of motion he'll have. Hopefully betwixt handling, therapy and pharmaceuticals, he is well enough on Dominicus to play like the Ben nosotros know.
My guess is that Ben plays, but not that well. That Denver D is tough though. I don't think a 75% Ben playing a less than stellar game versus Denver is annihilation to be ashamed of. I'one thousand non sure if the Steelers could score 28 on them in Denver even with a healthy Ben, AB and DeAngelo. So, we are likely left to depend on the Steelers defense which has been inconsistent.
If the defense tin can't tackle, something they've done with varying degrees of success, they'll have to force turnovers. In all simply one of the games the Steelers have lost this season, they finished the game behind in the turnover cavalcade.
The Steelers were 10-1 in games when they came out alee or even on turnover margin in 2015, 0-v in games where they came out on the brusk end of that ratio. That'southward as telling a stat about this team every bit there is.
Tackling has been poor all year. Only, in the ane game where the Steelers lost after finishing plus 2 in the turnover column, the October Baltimore game, the team did not tackle well. If they can't practice 1, they must do the other. If the D steps up and has a pick-six, the odds of winning go style upwardly, merely that'south a lot to put our hopes on.
Steelers fans keep bringing up Peyton Manning's noodle arm and history of playoff chokes, blah, blah, blah…. I think his greatest contribution Sunday will be picking apart our defense force pre snap, changing the play at the line and opening up the run game against the states. If Manning can apply his football game smarts to lead his team to a dominant time of possession functioning, information technology will be very hard to shell them. The Broncos averaged a little over 4 yards per carry on ist down this season. If they can practise the same against Pittsburgh on Dominicus, it's going to be a long day for the Steelers.
At present a point for the "kitchen sink" strategists. Trying something just for the sake of trying information technology or considering "you lot have nothing to lose", when you are playing a game that could terminate your season, is foolhardy. You do the things that you lot take done well all season and ask the guys who wil be stepping in for injured players to play a role in that. That's all though.
Some fans feel strongly that Mike Vick should play over Landry Jones if the #2 coming in becomes a necessity. The basic line of thought for the kitchen sink strategist seems to be:
"This didn't work terminal week. Try anything else. Even if that matter has never worked, it might work now. Effort it and see."
"Not gonna try it? You lot know nothing about coaching strategy and should be fired. Me and all of my 'knowledgeable fan buddies' agree that we run across more than yous do."
Information technology's a position to rival the Bengals fan who truly believes that Burfict and Adam Jones did aught wrong. Don't be that guy.
Mike Vick was not successful equally a starter in 2022 because he either could not read the D fast plenty to deliver the ball in a timely manner or knows he doesn't take the arm to put information technology where it needs to exist and held it as a effect. Either way, Vick is a liability we cannot accept in a win or go home game. Landry Jones takes more risks considering he has a ameliorate arm. He'southward likewise less afraid to sling information technology, frankly, because he's immature and dumb. Neither are ideal, just if I am forced to cull, I go with Jones. I never thought I would exist writing that.
Again, the Steelers are going to have to exist capable of scoring 28 to win this game, in my opinion. With Vick in there, they get 17 tops. He's done. Phone call information technology a career, Mike. With Jones, at least they accept a chance to score plenty points.
In games started by Vick this season, the Steelers did hang 20 on Baltimore and 24 on San Diego. Those are 2 of the worst defenses in the league. A Mike Vick led offense scored only vi points on Arizona'south defence force over 34 minutes. Jones will likely never be an NFL starter, but he has played better than Vick and so has the residue of the offensive unit when Jones has been in there.
Sammie Coates will play, but not a major role. He has merely expert at the Z WR spot this twelvemonth, which is Bryant's position, and has had some ups and downs in practice consistency. He'south not a guy you would desire to count on to catechumen a 3rd down. Coates will play a part, merely it will be that of #iv WR as information technology should be.
To ask "what have the Steelers got to lose?" is silly. They accept everything to lose. If they lose they go home until next fall.
If the Broncos get a atomic number 82 and play go along away, it'll exist old school Pittsburgh football tactics, correct downwardly to the dominant defense. Some people are going to be apoplectic watching a team exercise to Pittsburgh what the Steelers did to opponents for years. Ridiculous calls for Tomlin and staff's firing, a burn down sale of certain personnel, etc… volition be dismissed by yours truly.
I may be becoming that old curmudgeon who takes the long view on everything. It even annoys me sometimes. It'south just that fans can be so ridiculously knee jerk.
As long as the guys who play, from the Steelers short handed team, get out there and bust their asses, I'll be proud of them. Win or lose.
Steelers go to Denver for a playoff game without enough healthy bodies over again. The good news is that the outlook side by side year is pretty darn good.
The offensive line looks skilful. Ben will exist dorsum to being Ben. The running backs corps looks to be 4 deep with good to competent players. The wide receiver corps is the all-time in the NFL.
On defense the Steelers need to do some retooling, simply the unit as a whole is on the rise and volition just become amend.
There is a slap-up deal to look forward to in 2016.
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger With Half An Arm Or Denver'due south Peyton Manning's Noodle Arm? was last modified: January 18th, 2016 past
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