Tomlin has

[BuffetParrothead]

the Steelers tuned up and ready for a superbowl run!
For all the criticism I've leveled toward Tomlin he now
seems to have the Steelers tuned up and ready to play!
He actually looks interested and animated on the sidelines
pumping his guys up like other winning coaches do.
They showed clips of the Patriots yesterday as they reviewed
the playoff teams noting Belecik going player to player trying to
get the D fired up!
Finally the Steelers D has come alive/flying around the field with help
from some players coming off injury and an improved D gameplan!
I believe the backups benefited a lot from playing a entire game
last week.
Roll on Steelers!

 

[HailtoPitt]

Maybe. It is concerning that he had Ben in there when the team was up be three scores when the game was easily in hand. If Antionio is going to get criticized for dancing and costing the team, then Ben/Tomlin need to be criticized as well for potentially costing the team.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

The D was flying around hitting everyone! We already know the O can hang pts on anyone.

Here we go....

 

[Swervin27]

team is hitting on all cylinders. the formula for a super bowl run is to take your lumps early, look like crap in sept and October, get healthy and "gel" late in the season....

 

[UPitt '89]

Maybe. It is concerning that he had Ben in there when the team was up be three scores when the game was easily in hand. If Antionio is going to get criticized for dancing and costing the team, then Ben/Tomlin need to be criticized as well for potentially costing the team.

Not just that... but having Antonio Brown return punts in the 4th quarter of a game in which the Steelers lead by three scores is asinine. If he must be back there, he should be told that he is to do NOTHING but fair catch. Do not even ATTEMPT to run it back.

Seeing Ajayi leave with an injury caused the coaching staff to at least wise up and get Bell the hell out of the game. Too bad they weren't smart enough to get Brown and Ben out.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

The D was flying around hitting everyone! We already know the O can hang pts on anyone.

Here we go....

The Killer B's are ready to go. Bell and Brown are unstoppable!
Harrison looks like he's 25 yrs old, Tuitt impressed, when Dupree # 48 hits you its a truck accident /speed/strength, Shazier and Burns the other LB's look good!
All three Steelers LB's are fast and strong which is what the PITT D needs!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Not just that... but having Antonio Brown return punts in the 4th quarter of a game in which the Steelers lead by three scores is asinine. If he must be back there, he should be told that he is to do NOTHING but fair catch. Do not even ATTEMPT to run it back.

Seeing Ajayi leave with an injury caused the coaching staff to at least wise up and get Bell the hell out of the game. Too bad they weren't smart enough to get Brown and Ben out.

I cringed when they sent Ben in to get chased around like he just stole a car and throw the interception. I could have done that! You're correct Bell and others should have be out earlier but no harm no foul no one got hurt.

 

[Swervin27]

Not just that... but having Antonio Brown return punts in the 4th quarter of a game in which the Steelers lead by three scores is asinine. If he must be back there, he should be told that he is to do NOTHING but fair catch. Do not even ATTEMPT to run it back.

Seeing Ajayi leave with an injury caused the coaching staff to at least wise up and get Bell the hell out of the game. Too bad they weren't smart enough to get Brown and Ben out.

I like Tomlin but this is a bad mistake on his part.. like most nfl coaches, he wont change his ways to do being hard headed.. Changing it now and taking ben or Bell out on a lead will mean he was wrong and admitting the media and fans were right and you just cant have that..

I like tomlin but this is common sense.. That game was over, take Ben the heck out of the game.. Brown returning punts is beyond foolish, same with bell running the ball. I don't even want d'angelo in there, but that clown troussant in, who cares if he gets hurt..

 

[UPitt '89]

I cringed when they sent Ben in to get chased around like he just stole a car and throw the interception. I could have done that! You're correct Bell and others should have be out earlier but no harm no foul no one got hurt.

Ben got hurt. He was in a boot at the post-game press conference.

 

[UPitt '89]

I like Tomlin but this is a bad mistake on his part.. like most nfl coaches, he wont change his ways to do being hard headed.. Changing it now and taking ben or Bell out on a lead will mean he was wrong and admitting the media and fans were right and you just cant have that..

I like tomlin but this is common sense.. That game was over, take Ben the heck out of the game.. Brown returning punts is beyond foolish, same with bell running the ball. I don't even want d'angelo in there, but that clown troussant in, who cares if he gets hurt..

I'm ok with D'Angelo Williams getting reps. But have Ayers or Hamilton returning punts. And let Landry Jones hand off to Williams instead of Ben.... and if Ben *MUST* be in, for godsakes, just run the ball three times with 4 minutes left and up by 18. No reason to pass at all.

 

[Pitt1995]

Ben got hurt. He was in a boot at the post-game press conference.

He ran off the field. He's fine.

If you dont recognize the tried and true pattern that is the Ben Roethlisberger Injury, then you haven't been watching the past 12 years.

If this was a real injury, he wouldn't have come out for the kneel down.

Tomlin said there were no injuries in his post game. I think the head coach would know if his QB was injured enough to warrant mentioning.

 

[UPitt '89]

He ran off the field. He's fine.

If you dont recognize the tried and true pattern that is the Ben Roethlisberger Injury, then you haven't been watching the past 12 years.

If this was a real injury, he wouldn't have come out for the kneel down.

His ankle was probably too numb from the cold for him to realize he was injured at that point.

And even if he is not injured..... the point still stands. Tomlin made a huge mistake having him stay in the game, a bigger mistake having him drop back to pass. He also made a mistake having Antonio Brown returning punts in the 4th quarter. He also made a mistake waiting until 5:45 to go in the game to get Bell out.

95% of what Tomlin does, I like. He's one of the best 5 coaches in the NFL right now... and one of the best 3 in Steelers history. But he f-ed up by keeping the three Bs in the game as late as he did yesterday, and he flirted with disaster by doing so. If all three are 100% and ready to go this week, then he got extremely lucky. He drove on the interstate without his seatbelt on, left town without locking his front doors, or made his credit card password "12345". Pick whatever metaphor you want... he was stupid and got lucky it didn't burn him.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

This edition of this Steeler's has yet to have Chris peaked. My god, imagine next year. They have Martavis Bryant coming back. They should have Ladarious Green for a full year. Ben is back, AB is back, Bell is back. Their entire OL is back. Slot receivers like Ayers and Rogers will be a year wiser.

On defense, Heyward will be back. Heyward/Truitt/Hargrave is easily the most athletic DL in the league. Shazier will be better. Dupree is essentially a rookie and looks like a killer. They likely will draft another LB high.

The DBackfield finally is looking up. The two rookie starters should only get better. Senquez Golden might even be healthy.

Pending a smooth offseason of drug tests and injuries, the Steelers will be absolutely loaded next year.

 

[Pitt1995]

I think you risk the relatively minor chance at injury to ensure nothing crazy happens and you somehow lose a one-and-done playoff game. Easy for someone looking on from the couch to say to take them out, but when you are in the position to make that decision, it's not so cut and dry.

 

[prez41]

Chiefs by 17

 

[Pitt1995]

This edition of this Steeler's has yet to have Chris peaked. My god, imagine next year. They have Martavis Bryant coming back. They should have Ladarious Green for a full year. Ben is back, AB is back, Bell is back. Their entire OL is back. Slot receivers like Ayers and Rogers will be a year wiser.

On defense, Heyward will be back. Heyward/Truitt/Hargrave is easily the most athletic DL in the league. Shazier will be better. Dupree is essentially a rookie and looks like a killer. They likely will draft another LB high.

The DBackfield finally is looking up. The two rookie starters should only get better. Senquez Golden might even be healthy.

Pending a smooth offseason of drug tests and injuries, the Steelers will be absolutely loaded next year.

If they can add another playmaker on defense (CB or OLB) and stay healthy/unsuspended, next year's team has a chance to be as good of a Steelers team as there has been in a long time. At least as good as the 2004, 2005, 2008, & 2010 teams, and those teams were all really really good.

 

[JD1976]

Two things:

1. It's not Roethlisberger being in the game that should be the issue, it's the fact that they ran a 7-step drop instead of something quick or even a draw play with the lead at 18. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have been on the field with their teams up by 20-25+ numerous times. They never left the field, but they also were protected by the play calling.

2. Ben in a boot isn't a big deal. I mean how many times in his career has he left the stadium in a boot, sling or stretcher and played just fine the next week. I've always thought he's a bit of an attention-seeker in that regard, but I do have respect for the fact that no QB has been hit like he has during his career. A good majority of it self-inflicted.

 

[Delpanther]

His ankle was probably too numb from the cold for him to realize he was injured at that point.

And even if he is not injured..... the point still stands. Tomlin made a huge mistake having him stay in the game, a bigger mistake having him drop back to pass. He also made a mistake having Antonio Brown returning punts in the 4th quarter. He also made a mistake waiting until 5:45 to go in the game to get Bell out.

95% of what Tomlin does, I like. He's one of the best 5 coaches in the NFL right now... and one of the best 3 in Steelers history. But he f-ed up by keeping the three Bs in the game as late as he did yesterday, and he flirted with disaster by doing so. If all three are 100% and ready to go this week, then he got extremely lucky. He drove on the interstate without his seatbelt on, left town without locking his front doors, or made his credit card password "12345". Pick whatever metaphor you want... he was stupid and got lucky it didn't burn him.

Fathead should have thrown the ball away...looked like a dumb rookie on that play. It was s bigger mistake keeping Bell in the game than Fathead. If Fathead had any common sense, keeping him in the game should have been low risk.

 

[Pitt79]

Maybe. It is concerning that he had Ben in there when the team was up be three scores when the game was easily in hand. If Antionio is going to get criticized for dancing and costing the team, then Ben/Tomlin need to be criticized as well for potentially costing the team.

Noll NEVER took Bradshaw out, FOR YEARS! Even 78-79 when they where kicking everyone's ass. Cliff Stoudt earned his pension before he played in a regular season game, GB had Rodgers in up big, same with Seattle they had their #1 guy in too, it's not that unusual.

 

[Pitt79]

Fathead should have thrown the ball away...looked like a dumb rookie on that play. It was s bigger mistake keeping Bell in the game than Fathead. If Fathead had any common sense, keeping him in the game should have been low risk.

So I guess another horrible performance and season for FATHEAD! I can't wait until he's gone so the Steelers can be good again!

 

[UPitt '89]

Fathead should have thrown the ball away...looked like a dumb rookie on that play. It was s bigger mistake keeping Bell in the game than Fathead. If Fathead had any common sense, keeping him in the game should have been low risk.

Any time a QB is in the game and drops back to pass, there is a danger of being injured.

Same reason AB shouldn't have been returning punts in the 4th quarter.

And Bell should have DEFINITELY come out of the game as soon as he passed Franco's record. Not one more carry after that was worth it.

 

[Delpanther]

So I guess another horrible performance and season for FATHEAD! I can't wait until he's gone so the Steelers can be good again!

He played reasonably well yesterday.. not a stellar second half by any stretch. As the Steelers move forward in the playoffs there will be less margin for error including dumb interceptions for which Fathead is famous. Two pics per game normally results in an L! The last interception was classic Fathead, just a terrible decision.

 

[UPitt '89]

Noll NEVER took Bradshaw out, FOR YEARS! Even 78-79 when they where kicking everyone's ass. Cliff Stoudt earned his pension before he played in a regular season game, GB had Rodgers in up big, same with Seattle they had their #1 guy in too, it's not that unusual.

He also didn't have Bradshaw drop back to pass with a 3-score lead and 4 minutes to go.

He also didn't have Lynn Swann returning punts with a 3-score lead in the 4th quarter.

 

[Pitt79]

He also didn't have Bradshaw drop back to pass with a 3-score lead and 4 minutes to go.

He also didn't have Lynn Swann returning punts with a 3-score lead in the 4th quarter.

Are you sure? Did you check all the game logs from the entire '70s?

Not taking players out with a big lead is not unusual.

 

[UPitt '89]

Are you sure? Did you check all the game logs from the entire '70s?

Not taking players out with a big lead is not unusual.

The mere fact that Tomlin did *NOT* play them against the Brown the week before indicates that he knows the injury risks of them being on the field and how important they are to the team's success.

Therefore... the fact that all three were in the game late in the fourth quarter is... by Tomlin's own reasoning for not playing them against the Browns.... a dumb move.

There are mitigating circumstances here:

1. Bell was playing in his first playoff game ever PRECISELY because he got injured late in the previous two seasons. With a 30-12 lead and less than half a quarter to go, he shouldn't have been touching the field again.

2. Brown being in the game is fine, especially since the Steelers shouldn't have been throwing the ball at all at that point (sidenote: what's the point of having him in there in that case?). But there are NO circumstances where it is ok for him to be returning punts and having opposing team's gunners coming at him at 20 MPH waiting to level him as his receives a punt. If he is going to be in there, he has to be told 100% to fair catch - no matter what.

3. Ben has a history of injury. And his backup is not capable. As we saw with the Raiders and Dolphins... playing a playoff game with your backup QB in the game is recipe for your season to end very quickly and unceremoniously. The Steelers simply CANNOT make a Super Bowl run with Landry Jones at QB. And that asset must be protected in playoff games that are already decided. If he *MUST* be in, he should be handing off and doing NOTHING else.

 

[pitt-girl]

He ran off the field. He's fine.

If you dont recognize the tried and true pattern that is the Ben Roethlisberger Injury, then you haven't been watching the past 12 years.

If this was a real injury, he wouldn't have come out for the kneel down.

Tomlin said there were no injuries in his post game. I think the head coach would know if his QB was injured enough to warrant mentioning.

^^This^^.

Not saying he wasn't faking, but I thought the same as you. Ben is a bit of a drama queen but definitely a HOF QB.

 

[UPitt '89]

^^This^^.

Not saying he wasn't faking, but I thought the same as you. Ben is a bit of a drama queen but definitely a HOF QB.

Trainers aren't going to be putting a boot on his foot for ZERO reason.

It might be very minor... but the mere fact that he was on the field for an injury to possibly occur at that point... and the fact that he took a 7-step drop to pass at that point... is stupid.

 

[pitt-girl]

Trainers aren't going to be putting a boot on his foot for ZERO reason.

It might be very minor... but the mere fact that he was on the field for an injury to possibly occur at that point... and the fact that he took a 7-step drop to pass at that point... is stupid.

I 1000% agree with you. We were screaming the same thing yesterday.

 

[chethejet]

Ben hasn't played as well as a HOF QB should on the road. Some of it is the lack of WR either health (Coats) or drugs (Bryant). Bell and Brown can be very hard to contain with Ben playing well. Ol is good enough and clearly Tomlin has to take advantage of this opportunity. I think the Steelers are close with another good draft and add depth to DL and return of Coats and Bryant. But for me, Tomlin will be measured by beating the Pats with Brady. He has to beat a top team with his roster and win a super bowl to be one of the greats.

 

[wbrpanther]

the Steelers tuned up and ready for a superbowl run!
For all the criticism I've leveled toward Tomlin he now
seems to have the Steelers tuned up and ready to play!
He actually looks interested and animated on the sidelines
pumping his guys up like other winning coaches do.
They showed clips of the Patriots yesterday as they reviewed
the playoff teams noting Belecik going player to player trying to
get the D fired up!
Finally the Steelers D has come alive/flying around the field with help
from some players coming off injury and an improved D gameplan!
I believe the backups benefited a lot from playing a entire game
last week.
Roll on Steelers!

The Steelers dominated their first playoff game and have a big one coming up in Kansas City. They are finally healthy and are a team absolutely no one wants to play. And what is everyone talking about today? A walking boot and a coach getting arrested.

That's a shame. Our stars should have been out of that game mid 4th quarter at the latest. Joey Porter should have been home in bed at 2 AM. And that's that.

It will be a lot tougher to beat KC this time around but I like how the O and the D are playing and I see a 3 point Steeler victory.

 

[Pitt1995]

The Steelers dominated their first playoff game and have a big one coming up in Kansas City. They are finally healthy and are a team absolutely no one wants to play. And what is everyone talking about today? A walking boot and a coach getting arrested.

That's a shame. Our stars should have been out of that game mid 4th quarter at the latest. Joey Porter should have been home in bed at 2 AM. And that's that.

It will be a lot tougher to beat KC this time around but I like how the O and the D are playing and I see a 3 point Steeler victory.

It was 9:30pm, not 2:00am.

 

[wbrpanther]

It was 9:30pm, not 2:00am.

Yes, I saw that. Peezy shouldn't be confronting doormen at 9:30pm either.

 

[NCanton Panther]

Defense looks a whole lot better now compared to early season. It was good having Davis and Burns get their experience over the course of the season. They look to be playing well now although there were a couple hiccups yesterday. Defense also improved once the got rid of the Jones/Harrison rotation, Harrison still has it regardless how old he is.

Obvious recent improvement is getting Tuitt back.

And the biggest impact of all - Bud Dupree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!