Also, let Ben call the damn plays, because Arians doesn't know how to do it.

The offense seems to simultaneously overachieve and contribute to the defense's underachieving in the playoffs.

The 29-23 Denver game — defense was an utter disaster. But 23 points by the offense WAS underachieving in that game, although statistically they put up a whopping three more points (there's those total points again!) than their average this year.

When the rumors started up again about Arians retiring or being forced out after the season, it seemed almost certain that Norv Turner would be fired. I hoped the rumors were true so that the Steelers could pursue Turner.

The Steelers made this decision AFTER it was public that the Chargers were retaining Turner. Now that no clear upgrade is available, it was a bad move for the Steelers to oust Arians.

You make an interesting point about our offense in the playoffs. I have never been a fan of Arians but I try really hard not to be a "basher" and to look at everything from a well informed perspective.

What frustrated me about Arians late this season was that it was obvious that Ben was not 100% and Bruce was not able to adjust. I like to see coordinators get creative, and even if it fails miserably, at least they were trying… I've hated for years that Lebeau sticks with his usual formula to play the Patriots and we get picked apart every time… I LOVED his gameplan against the Pats this season. We bumped receivers at the line all day and didn't give up the underneath stuff that kills us. Was it risky? Hell yes! Had we seen NE again you can be they would've tested us deep the same way the Broncos did, to counter the bump and run coverage… But I loved that Lebeau saw an opportunity and tried something different, and it worked.

In that same game, Ben played a lot of "take what they give you" hitting check downs and quick hits, and it worked great! That's what I would've liked to have seen because Wallace and Brown are more than capable of running slants and crosses, not just bombs. Now, I realize the Pats pass D is abysmal, but I liked the gameplan.

I realize that Ben's biggest weapon is his ability to extend the play and find a man for a big play… but I think he's also very good at sitting in the pocket, going through his reads, and finding the open man… When Ben has time he's a very good passer, not just a gunslinger.

We've been playing with fire for years by not building the OL and calling plays that get the ball out quickly, and we finally got burned late this season… If we don't adjust soon, it might be a more serious injury. If we continue like this Ben will have 2-3 years left of effective football, tops.

If you all don't already know, Steeler's Depot is pretty good with regular news and in-depth game break-downs each week. I've been filling my time with that site since this one mysteriously became quiet.

Hopefully this site gets up and running again..? Dutch, Dagger…anyone?

link:cashfarmbusiness.com

You are right – LTs are much more valuable than WRs…so why would Wallace command an elite LT in return for a trade? At best, you'll get an average LT. No good. If ES and AB were better, wouldn't they be starting ahead of Wallace?

The only reason this team dont win the SB everyyear is the below average OL, drives me crazy.. But Im sure we will have a good OL when Troy n Silverback are old n Woodley turns to a NT.. Lol

There is no need to do anything drastic like trade 88 or AB. Trading Wallace would be the height of stupidity at this point. I'd worry about execution rather than personnel and adding/subtracting players. The squad is set.

The Steelers have not won the turnover battle once this year, and they are 2-1. They sky is not falling.

He looks fatter than last year. His feet used to be better.

About Lamaar Woodley, I tell u whats happening, he is never gonna get slimmer, and faster and agile as he once was because he does not have the genetics for that to happen, on the contrary, he has a perpetual tendency to get heavier n less agile, its so clear from watching him around, he should be a DE or play for another scheme, in our scheme we need someone faster like Greg Lloyd and James Harrison, thats why I always wanted to see Timmons on the other side of Harrison, that would be the most serious pass rushing tandem in the century. Lamar was good as a rookie but time will do no good for his body and the staff should know it, but it seems like they dont and they are to conservative and stubborn to make "unorthodox" modifications so, we wil have to watch Woodley struggle as he get less n less agile.. : /

Baltimore – @ Tenn and St. Louis, home for the Jets
Steelers – Seattle, @ Colts, @ Houston

Jets will be tough, and going to Tennessee is never a cake walk…especially after such an emotional high of a game for Baltimore. Can they be bug-eyed again this week? Might be a trap game.

The Steelers should handle Seattle and the Colts. Houston is going to be interesting. Either team could wind up 2-2 or 3-1. I wonder if the sky would still be falling if the Ravens went 2-2 and the Steelers went 3-1.

The second match up @ Pitt is a Sunday night game. No better stage than that (except for the playoffs) to correct something.

Ike didn't. Nobody works harder than that dude.

Point number 11 is what irks me the most. You couldn't have said it better though. The Ravens had had enough of getting their asses whooped and they prepared all offseason for this "Super Bowl" game. I had to turn the game off at half time. I definitely did not see this game getting any better. But you know what? I am glad the Ravens romped the Steelers, hopefully it gave the Steelers a quick glimpse of reality. This Steelers team needed a swift kick to the pants the first game of the season. And I hope it did them good. I think a lot of Steelers players took some time off with their contract extensions.

But, let's put this into perspective now. It was the first game of the season (although, in my opinion an important one). I'd rather see the Steelers lose the first game of the season against the Ravens than see them lose to the Ravens in a playoff game. Did we really think we were going to bludgeon the Ravens every game until the end of the world?

I hate to see us getting beat by guys we could have had. It was great that we could lock up some of our guys but we had some holes that we could have filled. I also worry that we might have overpaid Woodley.

Im afraid everyone in our team was in a bizarre pedestal of grandure coming in today..

Well hopefully they fell from it hard and it is hurting pretty bad because our performance today was the most pathetic for any team today (by the expectations), we played as the worst team in the league and everyone else is virtually laughing on us!