Mike Tomlin: Steelers are prepared to go for two more often

[antdrewjosh]

Mike Tomlin: Steelers are prepared to go for two more often
Posted by Michael David Smith on July 20, 2016, 9:47 AM EDT
SEATTLE, WA - NOVEMBER 29: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks at the scorebaord during the first half of a football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at CenturyLink Field on November 29, 2015 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks won the game 39-30. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
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The Steelers set an NFL record last season by scoring eight two-point conversions, and coach Mike Tomlin says they may go for two even more this year.

Although Tomlin wasn’t willing to tip his hand completely, he said this morning on Mike & Mike that he’s on the same page with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who wants to go for two every time.

“Our comfort with pursuing it is steeped in our preparation — it’s part of our practice plan,” Tomlin said. “Having Ben at the quarterback position increased our level of comfort.”

Tomlin indicated that he would have gone for two even more often last year had it not been for injuries to Ben Roethlisberger that forced Michael Vick to start three games and Landry Jones to start two. Tomlin said the Steelers practice two-point conversions a lot on both sides of the ball.

“Because we spend a lot of time working on it, we feel comfortable on offense and defense in that situation,” Tomlin said.

Last year the Steelers went 8-for-11 on two-point conversions, meaning they scored about 1.4 points per attempt, and they went 32-for-34 on extra point kicks, meaning they scored about 0.9 points per attempt. Every time they kicked an extra point, they were leaving half a point on the board. If Tomlin goes for two more often this year, he’s doing the smart thing.

 

[Steelerfan]

Tomlin sucks!

 

[Stryker]

The numbers don't lie. Go for 2!

 

[Drink IRON City]

Announce it to the world, STEELERS will go for two.........you best practice defending that against us...............................
Reminds me of the 70s steelers sometimes coming out of the huddle and telling opponents what the play is and making them stop them, but they couldn't.



Salute the nation

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

If teams really do start going for 2 more often, they may not like the results. They are hanging their hat on the steelers going 8 for 11 on conversions which is about 73%. It's easy to look at that and say it justifies going for it every time but that ignores some pretty big NFL realities.

Here's what's missing from the equation. NFL teams install a set 2 point play each week and they practice it. It's prepared and ready to go.

We have even heard Tomlin say multiple times over the years when questioned why he did NOT go for 2 in a certain situation, that he did not want to waste one of his prepared 2 point plays in what he thought was a no win situation. That tells you the work involved in making a 2 pointer look easy.

So what happens when you start going for 2 multiple times per game, or even just once per week. That's a lot more prep time to get a play right. And do you end up 'saving" that special play when it's 3rd and goal from the 2 so you actually end up going with a weaker play on 3rd and end up with a FG?

The steelers have some elite weapons. Right now, Bell and Brown are pretty much the consensus #1 and #2 overall picks in fantasy football this season along with Big Ben as a franchise QB.

Even with such weapons, it is still hard to score. So many people talk about it as a 50/50 proposition, but it's really not. How many times do teams settle for FGs when they get a 1st and goal. You fight all the way downfield for every inch and finally punch it for a TD, then you set it back up at the 2 for 1 play and it's supposed to be easy.

As i mentioned that steelers have weapons, so they will fare better than most, but even the steelers could see those conversions drop as they have more attempts and start running plays other than their special 2 point play. I'd expect less talented teams to have even less success if they try going for it more themselves.

 

[t-man]

If teams really do start going for 2 more often, they may not like the results. They are hanging their hat on the steelers going 8 for 11 on conversions which is about 73%. It's easy to look at that and say it justifies going for it every time but that ignores some pretty big NFL realities.

Here's what's missing from the equation. NFL teams install a set 2 point play each week and they practice it. It's prepared and ready to go.

We have even heard Tomlin say multiple times over the years when questioned why he did NOT go for 2 in a certain situation, that he did not want to waste one of his prepared 2 point plays in what he thought was a no win situation. That tells you the work involved in making a 2 pointer look easy.

So what happens when you start going for 2 multiple times per game, or even just once per week. That's a lot more prep time to get a play right. And do you end up 'saving" that special play when it's 3rd and goal from the 2 so you actually end up going with a weaker play on 3rd and end up with a FG?

The steelers have some elite weapons. Right now, Bell and Brown are pretty much the consensus #1 and #2 overall picks in fantasy football this season along with Big Ben as a franchise QB.

Even with such weapons, it is still hard to score. So many people talk about it as a 50/50 proposition, but it's really not. How many times do teams settle for FGs when they get a 1st and goal. You fight all the way downfield for every inch and finally punch it for a TD, then you set it back up at the 2 for 1 play and it's supposed to be easy.

As i mentioned that steelers have weapons, so they will fare better than most, but even the steelers could see those conversions drop as they have more attempts and start running plays other than their special 2 point play. I'd expect less talented teams to have even less success if they try going for it more themselves.

Regardless, untill the percentage of success drops to 49.9, you keep running the 2 point play. Pretty simple math.

Joe