Stop forcing the ball downfield every first down!

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 11-22-2009, 04:44 PM

You can blame Ben, Arians, or Tomlin, or all 3 but watching this team try to heave it 40 yds downfield every first down is just getting so old. What happened to the being patient, move the chains, eat the clock, work the ball down the field, mentality this offense used to have? Everytime you see Ben with 1st and Ben he's looking down field and trying to fire it for a big play. That's all well and good, there's nothing wrong with stretching the defense, giving them something to think about, keeping them honest, and all that but seriously!

If this team would just methodically eat up the clock, use the offensive weapons we have, and occasionally fire it down field, one would tend to think we'd have a much higher success rate with the big play. As it stands every offense knows on 1st down we're gonna look downfield so they are ready for it. Yes it works sometimes, and it's great when it doesn, but we go to the well way too often because we're greedy instead of patient.

Am I wrong here, seriously?

**steelersbabex25** · 11-22-2009, 05:10 PM

No, I said the exact same thing. I don't remember what drive it was in the Bengals game last week, but I know it was an important one and Ben tried to get the ball down the field on first down..and you especially can't do that when your recievers aren't hauling them in consistantly. All that is is a waste of down. The only reciever I trust maybe with one of those passes is Mike Wallace..anyone else..there's just noo point.

**Mike Tomlin** · 11-22-2009, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by TOP GUN

You can blame Ben, Arians, or Tomlin, or all 3 but watching this team try to heave it 40 yds downfield every first down is just getting so old. What happened to the being patient, move the chains, eat the clock, work the ball down the field, mentality this offense used to have? Everytime you see Ben with 1st and Ben he's looking down field and trying to fire it for a big play. That's all well and good, there's nothing wrong with stretching the defense, giving them something to think about, keeping them honest, and all that but seriously!

If this team would just methodically eat up the clock, use the offensive weapons we have, and occasionally fire it down field, one would tend to think we'd have a much higher success rate with the big play. As it stands every offense knows on 1st down we're gonna look downfield so they are ready for it. Yes it works sometimes, and it's great when it doesn, but we go to the well way too often because we're greedy instead of patient.

Am I wrong here, seriously?

That's exactly what I've seen since the bears lost. It's like they forgot that all year our offense was on point only because Ben used every option on the field Heath, Hines,Moore., and now it's who evers deepest. Even with the "not" so special teams we would still win

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 11-22-2009, 05:21 PM

Ive never seen Ben be so ansy in the pocket to have to hit the big play everytime. It's like he goes into some panic mode and has to hit it or we die or something. I just don't get it.

**steelersbabex25** · 11-22-2009, 05:34 PM

I think a lot of his ego is factored into that..I think he thinks he needs to be the one to make the big plays..and he'll take any chance he can to do that. Sometimes you want a quarterback like that..but it gets to a certain point where you just want him to complete some passes..which he has troubles doing at times.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 11-23-2009, 12:11 AM

We didn't see this from him last year; he was patient, the offense was patient. They took what the defense gave them and they moved the ball. We weren't perfect on offense but we did enough to keep drives going and win games when we had too. This years offensive philosophy is so pass happy that nobody sticks with the run, being content to have those 15 play, 8 minute drives where u run it down their throats and break their will.

Until this team gets balance and learns to take what they get, and along with that use the running game and impose their will when they need too; we're going to have more of the same like the last 2 weeks.

**Goodfrom55** · 11-23-2009, 09:23 PM

I agree. He has to learn to take what the defense gives, and that's an 8 yard pass, so be it. Sometimes his ego does get the best of him and that's usually when he makes a mistake. He is on the cusp of being an elite QB, but needs to eliminate those mental mistakes.

That being said, I'd still take Ben over any QB in the league, even over pumpkinhead Manning.

**BradtheGreat** · 11-29-2009, 03:27 PM

I agree!! The Steelers are known for a solid defense that does nothing but bust people in the mouth along with a heavy dose of running the ball. Pittsburgh has always had success running the ball, but this year they havent done this as much. Ben Roethlisberger is a good passer, but he's not a superstar QB IMO. They need to get back to Steelers football with a smash mouth running attack. That opens up the entire playbook when you run the football.

**steel-tex** · 11-29-2009, 04:02 PM

i agree with run first pass when ya need to- when you run the ball down a defences throat it demoralizes them - then the passing game will open up. running the ball at will - that is steeler football - our offence has no identity because we don't establish the running game. B.C. is a cluster f... and so is our offence.