• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

Can anybody offer an explanation for the absolute refusal to pass over the middle of the field?

Steeltime

Steeltime

I miss Apache
Forefather
Contributor
Joined
Apr 9, 2014
Messages
19,334
Reaction score
31,932
Points
113
Location
The middle of a forest
Serious question. I just DO. NOT. GET. IT.

Throw the slant to Pickens on play-action and the defense would not tackle Pickens since all 11 defenders would have fallen over in a faint.

Throw to the TE over the middle, not that ****** little roll-out 3-yard specialty.

Throw an in-cut to DJ and let him run.

So does anybody have a genuine explanation for the utter refusal to throw to receivers over the middle of the field?? Watch two garbage teams play SNF and you will see the great and mighty Aiden O'Connell complete passes over the middle of the field.
 
Steeltime said:
Serious question. I just DO. NOT. GET. IT.

Throw the slant to Pickens on play-action and the defense would not tackle Pickens since all 11 defenders would have fallen over in a faint.

Throw to the TE over the middle, not that ****** little roll-out 3-yard specialty.

Throw an in-cut to DJ and let him run.

So does anybody have a genuine explanation for the utter refusal to throw to receivers over the middle of the field?? Watch two garbage teams play SNF and you will see the great and mighty Aiden O'Connell complete passes over the middle of the field.
Click to expand...



FHkiCpwVEAMfGp0.png
 
Steeltime said:
Serious question. I just DO. NOT. GET. IT.

Throw the slant to Pickens on play-action and the defense would not tackle Pickens since all 11 defenders would have fallen over in a faint.

Throw to the TE over the middle, not that ****** little roll-out 3-yard specialty.

Throw an in-cut to DJ and let him run.

So does anybody have a genuine explanation for the utter refusal to throw to receivers over the middle of the field?? Watch two garbage teams play SNF and you will see the great and mighty Aiden O'Connell complete passes over the middle of the field.
Click to expand...
The fact we didn’t do any (none I recall) after running it down their throats blows my mind. We hit a couple of these, with the solid runs, the deep ball would be wide open for either 18 or 14.
 
Last edited:
Matt Canada is a completely incompetent Offensive Coordinator! No throws to the middle of the field, no slants, no screen passes, no play action passing game to speak of. It's all roll outs, sideline throws and dump offs to the RB. If I'm a DC I'd be able to hold the Steelers Offense to under 100 yds for the entire game. They are predictible and Kenny Pickett's play at QB is just plain bad!
 
SteelerFan448 said:
They don't want to risk turnovers.
Click to expand...

That may be the true answer, which is depressing. The fact is that passes over the middle of the field are easier to complete since CB's favor outside coverage, a lot of the pass coverage belongs to LB'ers, and the risk of interception throwing over the middle of the field cannot be more than 1% higher than passes to the sideline.

It is just insane. It really is.
 
Steeltime said:
That may be the true answer, which is depressing. The fact is that passes over the middle of the field are easier to complete since CB's favor outside coverage, a lot of the pass coverage belongs to LB'ers, and the risk of interception throwing over the middle of the field cannot be more than 1% higher than passes to the sideline.

It is just insane. It really is.
Click to expand...

What is insane is the success they have when they utilize it, yet they steadfastly refuse to for much of the game
 
Ironcitysteelers said:
The fact we didn’t do any (none I recall) after running it down their throats blows my mind. We hit a couple of these, we the solid runs, the deep would be wide open for either 18 or 14.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY! Running the ball down their throat, get under center, play-action, the LBers are going to play run. The middle of the field is WIDE FREAKING OPEN.

Pickens on a slant now in open field against smaller, slower safeties. Game on.
 
Steeltime said:
EXACTLY! Running the ball down their throat, get under center, play-action, the LBers are going to play run. The middle of the field is WIDE FREAKING OPEN.

Pickens on a slant now in open field against smaller, slower safeties. Game on.
Click to expand...
Batch stated in the post-game show that GB's second-half adjustments that they made were to crowd the LOS looking for run. And take away the short passing game. Luckily our run game was still rolling thru out the game. It did hurt our short passing game though.
 
Enough of ***** play calling get it to dj Calvin on crossers esp that deep cross dj or so good on
 
While in theory it is possible the Steelers throw over the middle, that is just not consonant with the Matt Canada's offensive strategy. The Steelers offense runs the outside passing game.

If there is, or even ever was another team with players that were less suited to execute an outside passing game, i am not aware of it. If Matt Canada were a player, he would be Caleb Johnson.

Ergo Matt Canada's strategy is the single greatest obstacle to this team.
Truly, anything else the offense would be forced into running - even with just 24 hours notice - would be much better than running the plays that are called week in and week out.
 
The Simple answer is: MIKE TOMLIN does not want to. His philosophy is to completely remove any and all plays with a possibility of allowing for a turn over. Throwing across the middle brings MULTIPLE defenders into the possibility of a turnover. Throwing outside of the numbers means that at best 2-3 defenders have the chance to create a turnover.

It is simply a numbers thing, and playing the odds. Unfortunately, this limits useable areas of the field and means you have to be almost perfect every time. We only see the Offense open up, when they are down.

While it looks like absolute horseshit, it is producing wins, albeit ugly ones. Their 13-5 record is rather impressive since the bye last year. This tends to lend some credibility to this type of philosophy. I just don’t believe that it is sustainable, nor will it win playoff games, let alone Championships.
 
Last edited:
Hand up. The route concepts rarely take anyone over the middle or on crosses. The HC is playing a strategy of low risk offense and trying to force long drives defensively. Frankly it wasn't totally different when the HOF qb ran the show in terms of exploiting the middle. Tomlin's strategy will win these types of games but would be hopeless against a contender. Worse it stunts your qb growth and will paint them in corner when they have to decide whether to pay KP or not.
 
MT~Forged said:
The Simple answer is: MIKE TOMLIN does not want to. His philosophy is to completely remove any and all plays with a possibility of allowing for a turn over. Throwing across the middle brings MULTIPLE defenders into the possibility of a turnover. Throwing outside of the numbers means that at best 2-3 defenders have the chance to create a turnover.

It is simply a numbers thing, and playing the odds. Unfortunately, this limits useable areas of the field and means you have to be almost perfect every time. We only see the Offense open up, when they are down.

While it looks like absolute horseshit, it is producing wins, albeit ugly ones. Their 13-5 record is rather impressive since the bye last year. This tends to lend some credibility to this type of philosophy. I just don’t believe that it is sustainable, nor will it win playoff games, let alone Championships.
Click to expand...
.500
 
MT~Forged said:
The Simple answer is: MIKE TOMLIN does not want to. His philosophy is to completely remove any and all plays with a possibility of allowing for a turn over. Throwing across the middle brings MULTIPLE defenders into the possibility of a turnover. Throwing outside of the numbers means that at best 2-3 defenders have the chance to create a turnover.

It is simply a numbers thing, and playing the odds. Unfortunately, this limits useable areas of the field and means you have to be almost perfect every time. We only see the Offense open up, when they are down.

While it looks like absolute horseshit, it is producing wins, albeit ugly ones. Their 13-5 record is rather impressive since the bye last year. This tends to lend some credibility to this type of philosophy. I just don’t believe that it is sustainable, nor will it win playoff games, let alone Championships.
Click to expand...
I should not have typed my post. This is it. Worded perfectly.
 
steelreeling said:
While in theory it is possible the Steelers throw over the middle, that is just not consonant with the Matt Canada's offensive strategy. The Steelers offense runs the outside passing game.

If there is, or even ever was another team with players that were less suited to execute an outside passing game, i am not aware of it. If Matt Canada were a player, he would be Caleb Johnson.

Ergo Matt Canada's strategy is the single greatest obstacle to this team.
Truly, anything else the offense would be forced into running - even with just 24 hours notice - would be much better than running the plays that are called week in and week out.
Click to expand...
That is more of a Mike Tomlin offense than Matt Canada offense, IMO.
 
They had one real x and o guy at OC since Tomlin took over the team. He was a proven *******. Tomlin will continue coaching Pickett will do what he can with what he gets and they will have a tough decision to make in two years or less.
 
SteelerSask2 said:
They had one real x and o guy at OC since Tomlin took over the team. He was a proven *******. Tomlin will continue coaching Pickett will do what he can with what he gets and they will have a tough decision to make in two years or less.
Click to expand...
This......
 
MT~Forged said:
The Simple answer is: MIKE TOMLIN does not want to. His philosophy is to completely remove any and all plays with a possibility of allowing for a turn over. Throwing across the middle brings MULTIPLE defenders into the possibility of a turnover. Throwing outside of the numbers means that at best 2-3 defenders have the chance to create a turnover.

It is simply a numbers thing, and playing the odds. Unfortunately, this limits useable areas of the field and means you have to be almost perfect every time. We only see the Offense open up, when they are down.

While it looks like absolute horseshit, it is producing wins, albeit ugly ones. Their 13-5 record is rather impressive since the bye last year. This tends to lend some credibility to this type of philosophy. I just don’t believe that it is sustainable, nor will it win playoff games, let alone Championships.
Click to expand...
Yep. Bingo. Tomlin isn't trying to build a championship team. He is just trying to win football games. Big big difference.

Awesome post by the way MT Forged
 
diver said:
I keep reading Pickett is not seeing open receivers. Perhaps they are in the middle of the field?
Click to expand...
To bad our routes don't venture into that area for the most part of the game.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top