Here We Go Steelers!

Seriously? That was a flat out joke. This was a game that feeds conspiracy theorists who believe sports are rigged for gambling and ratings.

Oh it is not a surprise that Denver can beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you recall I was concerned about the game being in Denver and the pile of injuries to the Steelers. I also pointed out the problem I saw if the Steelers held on the ball and moved the ball but limped their way to field goals and not touchdowns. The first 6 points were LAME and shameful!

In fact this game had the feeling of last years New Orleans trip to Seattle where a putrid Seattle team beat a beleaguered Saints team.

But here is the absurd part of yesterday’s game. I am just a hack blogger and life time sports enthusiast. Okay I do know more than the average person based on my years of actually playing also. But I am not supposed to know more than an NFL coaching staff.

The entire game plan for the Pittsburgh defense was useless. Thankfully Tebow and the Denver offense suck or else they would have scored 40 points with ease.

Dick LeBeau who normally is a genius totally gakked this one. Okay I understand that half the defense was hurt and you were getting no pressure from your front line or linebackers for that matter. Ironically against Tebow that would not matter because he is as accurate as an Iraqi scud missile.

Here are the classic mistakes made yesterday.

1 – YOU DON’T PLAY ZONE AGAINST A STIFF. The guy is praying you do this. Because even and idiot at this level can hit open receivers who find a soft spot in the zone. Especially when he has an hour and a half to stand their and load up to throw.

Now you will read that the Steelers were playing man to man but eyes don’t lie. Or that was the worst man to man coverage I have ever seen. The cushions and the space allowed was very troublesome. Then again nowadays unless your name is Derrell Revis that seems to be what man to man means. I CALL IT A ZONE if you are not stride for stride because that is what it is. ROLL THE TAPE and tell me the wide open receivers running in space are covered.

2 – YOU DON’T LET A COLLEGE QB STYLE DICTATE WHAT YOU DO. Credit the Broncos for designing and offense that favors the strengths of Tebow and hides his incompetence as much as the other team allows. Which is what the Steelers did. They allowed Denver the freedom of what Tebow can do!

It is very simple what he does. They basically run a Wildcat all the time. Which means on paper your concern is 1- Tebow

2 – an option type run or conventional run and 3 – a pass.

Normally you would just have run or pass. Of course when you play against say a Michael Vick you have a similar problem except you don’t have the college type look that the Broncos use. Meaning the option type play is always in the mix.

The shame of it all is the confusion that this is something new. Who hasn’t played against this crap in their college years? True no one does this in the big boy league but aren’t the LeBeau’s of the world supposed to be prepared for anything? Embarrassing.

Solving Tebow at least at this point is as easy as eating ice cream. Go after him, contain the option, and cover the receivers man to man. Oh and tackle!

It is this easy. He won’t throw to guys with men near them, at least not accurately. You saw that in Sunday’s disgrace. The passes he completed, all 10 of them were lay ups for crying out loud.

And what happened to the #1 secondary in the league? It goes to show that the game starts up front.

On offense I am totally confused as to what the plan was. I usually am. Arians has some very clever designs but never seems to have a feel for what to do or when to do it.

40 passes vs 23 rushes? Really?

You were running the ball at a 6 yard per carry clip why not smash it down there throat? Yes I know you got behind 20 to 6 at half. But this is the Broncos not the Patriots. How prolific do you think their offense is? Besides any offense if it is on the sidelines cannot hurt you.

Why is this the norm? If a team is scoring on you so easily why would you want their offense on the field so quickly? Hey if you’re losing 30 to 3 at some point you need to pick up the pace a little. But 14 points in the 1st half is not the time to abandon the run. You’re averaging 6 yards a carry and throwing the ball at 7 yards an attempt so what is the difference as far as yards gained? 1 more yard in this scenario is meaningless. You’re moving the chains by mixing it up.

And I am so sick of the shot gun with no hint of running when you are in the red zone. That is so stupid and gives your opponent’s defense the upper hand.

The offensive line was very good at times and putrid at times. I mean when 3 guys are rushing at the end and getting penetration that is about as bad as it gets.

The bottom line however is regardless of all things considered this game was in your hands with just over a minute in regulation and you did nothing with the ball. A simple field goal was all you needed and you went backwards against a very pedestrian defense.

Don’t even get me started about OT!

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