Smith handcuffed Wilson

[Troglodyte]

In this morning’s PPG, according to multiple sources, Smith ordered Wilson to stick to the script and not call audibles after Wilson’s 400 yard, 3 TD game vs the Bengals. 104 QBR before change, 89 QBR after. What a mess of a franchise!

 

[slashsteel]

In this morning’s PPG, according to multiple sources, Smith ordered Wilson to stick to the script and not call audibles after Wilson’s 400 yard, 3 TD game vs the Bengals. 104 QBR before change, 89 QBR after. What a mess of a franchise!

Interesting if accurate. Curious during that losing streak if he had audible capability…

 

[Litos]

In this morning’s PPG, according to multiple sources, Smith ordered Wilson to stick to the script and not call audibles after Wilson’s 400 yard, 3 TD game vs the Bengals. 104 QBR before change, 89 QBR after. What a mess of a franchise!

If true I don't understand WTF are they doing. Whats the point of bringing a vet, fringe HoF QB, if you are not going to trust him why are you playing him ahead of the young talented player?

 

[Badcat]

Not surprising. Tomlin --> Smith --> Russ. Absolute **** show.

 

[insaniti]

The way I read it wasn't that he was just audibling out of calls, it was completely going away from the gameplan. Which I can understand to a point, but our gameplans usually suck. You can't limit your QB from an audible if the team is stacking the box, but if you're just taking plays you don't like, and changing them that's another story. I felt like there was a lot of times that we were 3rd and short and Wilson would air it out on a low risk deep ball instead of just getting the first down.

 

[Sarge]

The way I read it wasn't that he was just audibling out of calls, it was completely going away from the gameplan. Which I can understand to a point, but our gameplans usually suck. You can't limit your QB from an audible if the team is stacking the box, but if you're just taking plays you don't like, and changing them that's another story. I felt like there was a lot of times that we were 3rd and short and Wilson would air it out on a low risk deep ball instead of just getting the first down.

I would blame Wilson for that if it wasn't something the Steelers have been doing for about a decade now. Even going back to Big Ben they did that stuff. Made about as much sense then as it does now.

 

[TDX27]

I saw this yesterday and am still smacking my head. How did Tomlin not do something? Smith wanted to run all the time. Wilson called audibles at the line and Smith threw a hissy fit because he wanted to stick to the running game. Wilson apparently was given some ultimatum to make him give in after we scored a ton of points on the Bungholes by Wilson calling audibles. We all saw how the rest of the season went from that point. Most of the shiznit show is on Smith and Tomlin's shoulders for trying to keep playing the run, run, pass, punt game. Just terrible. How can you not let your QB call audibles at the line? This is crazy. Canaduh did the same thing. Tomlin apparently has no problem not adapting to the league and to each opponent. Play to win! Don't play not to lose!

 

[TDX27]

Oh, about 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1, I commented on this weeks ago during the season. We are the only team in the league that just can't figure out how to get 1 or 2 yards on 3rd or 4th down. Heck, we could have 4 or 5 cracks at 3, 2, or 1 yard and not get it. Other teams make those plays in every game against us but we never seem able to figure it out. This has been happening since Ben was here. It rests on Tomlin's shoulders once again. He's still the common denominator. Do the dang tush push or something else that works well. Do the Beagles ever not get the yard or two they need when they do the tush push they created? Very, very, rarely do they not make it. In fact, I can't remember seeing them not make it.

 

[Gildong Sack]

I would blame Wilson for that if it wasn't something the Steelers have been doing for about a decade now. Even going back to Big Ben they did that stuff. Made about as much sense then as it does now.

Yep. Ben did that so much it drove me nuts. It worked like 1 out of every 5 tries seemed like. Drive killers.

 

[insaniti]

I saw this yesterday and am still smacking my head. How did Tomlin not do something? Smith wanted to run all the time. Wilson called audibles at the line and Smith threw a hissy fit because he wanted to stick to the running game. Wilson apparently was given some ultimatum to make him give in after we scored a ton of points on the Bungholes by Wilson calling audibles. We all saw how the rest of the season went from that point. Most of the shiznit show is on Smith and Tomlin's shoulders for trying to keep playing the run, run, pass, punt game. Just terrible. How can you not let your QB call audibles at the line? This is crazy. Canaduh did the same thing. Tomlin apparently has no problem not adapting to the league and to each opponent. Play to win! Don't play not to lose!

I just went back and rewatched that Bengals game, I didn't see a whole lot of audibles in the first half. We were well balanced, moved the ball well, scored 27 points. The second half, there were a couple of questionable plays, a 3rd and 6, we went no huddle and Wilson takes a deep shot to Pickens that's not even close and he's doubled. 3rd and goal and Wilson has a clean pocket, steps up for no reason and gets sacked. We scored 17 points in the second half with 7 of them coming on a defensive score.

But again, I didn't see a lot of audibles. I saw a lot of spread formations, a lot of four WR/TE out in routes. So if there's truth to the story, I don't think it was the first Bengals game. The gameplan from the start was to throw the ball, that was the pick 6 game after Pickens was pulled down by his helmet.

Edit: Wilson only threw the ball 7 more times in the first meeting compared to the second. I think it's the second Bengals game that caused the riff.

 

[xjx]

Tomlin wants full control. Nobody else can deviate from his plan.

 

[fedderone]

Doesn't this also line up with the rumors Smith favored Fields over Wilson and found Wilson difficult to work with?

 

[steelhurt]

Walks like a Tomlin, sounds like a Tomlin, then it is a Tomlin.
Against one of the worst defenses in the league, one that you lite up weeks earlier and you go snail ball.

 

[Coryea]

Like this is any kind of breaking news, this has been going on for awhile, it's not Smith handcuffing Wilson, it's Tomlin handcuffing the O.

 

[stillwright]

In this morning’s PPG, according to multiple sources, Smith ordered Wilson to stick to the script and not call audibles after Wilson’s 400 yard, 3 TD game vs the Bengals. 104 QBR before change, 89 QBR after. What a mess of a franchise!

Mind boggling.

 

[slashsteel]

Like this is any kind of breaking news, this has been going on for awhile, it's not Smith handcuffing Wilson, it's Tomlin handcuffing the O.

I believe this to be accurate.

 

[stillwright]

Interesting if accurate. Curious during that losing streak if he had audible capability…

I thought it was very odd the first game vs Cinn we threw all over the field all game long. Second game we threw the ball something like 7 times in the 1st half. Came out after half time and Cinn loaded the box up on 1st down. I remember thinking this would a nice time to go play action. Then I saw what looked to me Russ changing the play. We ran a dive to the right side for no gain. I then remembered Fields stating he could not audible out of a run play to a pass play. He only could switch which side we ran to.

You have high school teams audile out of plays but here in Pittsburgh .....not so much. Crazy.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The way I read it wasn't that he was just audibling out of calls, it was completely going away from the gameplan. Which I can understand to a point, but our gameplans usually suck. You can't limit your QB from an audible if the team is stacking the box, but if you're just taking plays you don't like, and changing them that's another story. I felt like there was a lot of times that we were 3rd and short and Wilson would air it out on a low risk deep ball instead of just getting the first down.

BEN got away with changing the script and actually won doing that. I know both coordinator and coach didn't like it but Ben was to big for them to subdue him.

You probably hit the nail on the head with some of the Russ assessment of changing plays. A few times I though Bruce Ariens was calling plays again.


Salute the nation

 

[Coryea]

BEN got away with changing the script and actually won doing that. I know both coordinator and coach didn't like it but Ben was to big for them to subdue him.

You probably hit the nail on the head with some of the Russ assessment of changing plays. A few times I though Bruce Ariens was calling plays again.


Salute the nation

Tomlin handcuffed Ben alot too, that's why he had so many 4th Qtr comebacks and GWD's, playing from behind alot and Ben getting to run the 2 minute offense.

 

[slashsteel]

I also want to add that Wilson had some head to head in Denver. So maybe there is an element of him being difficult .

 

[TDX27]

BEN got away with changing the script and actually won doing that. I know both coordinator and coach didn't like it but Ben was to big for them to subdue him.

You probably hit the nail on the head with some of the Russ assessment of changing plays. A few times I though Bruce Ariens was calling plays again.


Salute the nation

Loved when Ben drew up the plays in the huddle. Been seeing a lot of Ben highlights recently. Boy, do I miss BB. Truly one of the greatest to ever play. I can't think of anyone that had a better pump fake and used it to perfection.

 

[Coryea]

Loved when Ben drew up the plays in the huddle. Been seeing a lot of Ben highlights recently. Boy, do I miss BB. Truly one of the greatest to ever play. I can't think of anyone that had a better pump fake and used it to perfection.

Agreed, truly one of a kind, remember the "he's holding Canada back" crowd? LOL

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

Not surprising. Tomlin --> Smith --> Russ. Absolute **** show.

Bingo, Tomlin is the common denominator.

What's more likely Arthur Smith pulled the reigns back on Russ or Tomlin?? Smith has a history of throwing down the field. Tomlin has the history of coaching like its 1985

 

[topseed]

At the very least, it gives me added confidence that Russ will decide he doesn't want to come back to Pittsburgh to endure more of this. And that's a good thing.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Tomlin handcuffed Ben alot too, that's why he had so many 4th Qtr comebacks and GWD's, playing from behind alot and Ben getting to run the 2 minute offense.

Yes SIR, it was like 3 quarters Tomlin rule, then BEN said **** this and unleashed sensible hellA…….

Ben’s last season he had 7 come from behind wins.


Salute the nation