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Steelers OC Bruce Arians Retires (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter The Hank
- Start date
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Huh...I know Big Ben went out of his way to suggest he didn't want to see any changes to the offensive coaching staff this offseason. I wonder if he saw this one coming?
Godsbrother
Footballguy
So did Tomlin. I think this decision is coming from Art Rooney II.
The Hank
Footballguy
Let the OC Speculation begin:
Internal Candidates:
QB Coach Randy Fichtner
RB Coach Kirby Wilson
Top External Candidates:
Todd Haley (Former AZ OC, KC HC; Pittsburgh ties)
Jim Caldwell (Former IND QB Coach/HC)
Tom Clements (Former PIT QB Coach)
Guys making the OC Rounds right now:
Hue Jackson
Brian Schottenheimer
Any other speculative options that werent mentioned?
Internal Candidates:
QB Coach Randy Fichtner
RB Coach Kirby Wilson
Top External Candidates:
Todd Haley (Former AZ OC, KC HC; Pittsburgh ties)
Jim Caldwell (Former IND QB Coach/HC)
Tom Clements (Former PIT QB Coach)
Guys making the OC Rounds right now:
Hue Jackson
Brian Schottenheimer
Any other speculative options that werent mentioned?
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Whoa. I guess they want to get back to old school Steeler football?
BeTheMatch
Footballguy
Best thing to happen to Mendenhall in a long time.
Ghost Rider
Footballguy
That would be a mistake. With the game-breaking wide receivers they now have, you have to play to your strengths, and going back to being a team that runs the football all day, just because that is classically referred to as "Steeler football," would be a huge mistake, IMO.
Grahamburn
Footballguy
I agree. Their personnel is catered to being pass oriented.
The Hank
Footballguy
Yeah I see a QB centric OC being brought in, most of the candidates mentioned in local media have been/currently are QB Coaches.
Dinsy Ejotuz
Footballguy
Amen, brother Match. IMO Mendy is basically a small back in a big back's body, but the Steelers insist on running between the tackles almost exclusively. Get him wide and get him involved in the passing game to put him in space some and I think he's a blue chip back.
The Hank
Footballguy
RB Screens have been nearly non-existent in the Arians era.
I think it is coming from Arians. I don't think whomever comes in will be any more inclined to line up and use a 3 yards and a cloud of dust O. This team is set up to be a spread passing attack and I think Art gets that. If he doesn't, I hope Dan comes back and takes charge soon.That kind of meddling from an owner gets you the Washington Redskins, not the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I agree with this and I won't lose sleep over Arians departure. But what is interesting is that it is the first real test Tomlin will have in replacing a key coach. Personally I think he'll do fine. But it is a test.
Tackling Dummies
Footballguy
As a (NE) fan from afar, I have the utmost trust and respect for the entire Steelers franchise from the ownership down to the interns, and especially Tomlin.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Bruce Arians is only 57 which is very young for an NFL coach to retire. The Rooney's have been known to force personnel changes in their coaching staff before. They did it with staffs under both Chuck Noll and Bill Cowher.I don't think Rooney wants to return to 3 yards and a cloud of dust but I don't think he believes the running game should be an afterthought either. He specifically said "we need to take fewer sacks" and that just wasn't happening under Bruce Arians.
Idiot Boxer
Footballguy
I agree that they'll find someone who will take advantage of their young QB/WR talent. But I hope to hell that the WR screen is taken out of the playbook for a long time.
NJDawgPound
Footballguy
Wish it was **** LeBeau.
Why wouldn't you want Tom Clements? Beyond even the local ties (which are strong variables in Steeler hires for assistant level positions), when you consider his work with Rogers at Green Bay and the Bills offense before that he seems awfully attractive. I wonder if GB quickly bumps him up to fill their own O-coordinator spot.
He is my choice.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
I'd be down with Clements....but I'd hope that the familiarity he has with Ben wouldn't turn this into another "Ben/Arians" situation(e.g. Arians was on record saying "I won't call plays Ben doesn't like." Umm, okay.)
My opinion is that Ben needs a "boss," not a golfing buddy, if he wants to develop any further. He's great now...but he could be even better if someone could get through to him that trying for 80-yard, 12-pt TDs every time you drop back isn't always the right answer.
As to the Art II stuff: If this was, indeed, a "directive from on high" and not Arians' choice(there are/were rumors about health issues a year ago, so it could just be that) I don't think this has anything to do with "getting back to Steelers' football." Art's a bright guy. He knows what kind of a league this is and he realizes what talent is on his team on the offensive side of the ball. I think he merely is tired of the fact that this offense under Arians has settled for FGs far, far too often.
Regardless of who they bring in, I hope that person realizes how criminally underused ALL of the Steelers runing backs have been in the passing game and rectifies it.
My opinion is that Ben needs a "boss," not a golfing buddy, if he wants to develop any further. He's great now...but he could be even better if someone could get through to him that trying for 80-yard, 12-pt TDs every time you drop back isn't always the right answer.
As to the Art II stuff: If this was, indeed, a "directive from on high" and not Arians' choice(there are/were rumors about health issues a year ago, so it could just be that) I don't think this has anything to do with "getting back to Steelers' football." Art's a bright guy. He knows what kind of a league this is and he realizes what talent is on his team on the offensive side of the ball. I think he merely is tired of the fact that this offense under Arians has settled for FGs far, far too often.
Regardless of who they bring in, I hope that person realizes how criminally underused ALL of the Steelers runing backs have been in the passing game and rectifies it.
monessen
Footballguy
We are spoiled as Steeler fans. For a 12-4 season and a road playoff loss in OT, there had to be a scapegoat? Arians was a convenient one, thanks to fans (and perhaps higher-ups) who believe they could do better at calling plays and utilizing Roethlisberger. Arians did the best he could with what he had, and here is what he had:
A quarterback whose M.O. is throwing on the run, trying to play on 1 leg
A Pro Bowl calibre Center who seems to get injured when the stakes are highest
A patchwork offensive line
A supposedly top-tier running back who is, quite honestly, soft
No third down back who can catch and run with true elusiveness. Mewelde Moore is ancient when compared to a Sproules-type.
A team's defense whose inability to pressure the opposing QB and increase takeaways never materialized, and that means the offense isn't in great field position. You can be #1 in total defense statistically, but where are the takeaways that lead to an offense taking advantage?
Granted, Wallace and Brown are extremely good and super fast. Both are already stars, and Miller is a good TE.
For some reason, Steeler fans as are slow (as is the current defense) to figure out "Steeler football" can no longer be Jerome Bettis or Willie Parker or 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Want to go back to Ray Sherman? Do you remember Ray and how lousy the offense was? As someone suggested, this crew will have to build around their explosive WRs. That is where the league is right now. Big Ben's physical limitations at the end of the season did not enable him to take full advantage.
I realize there is a high standard of expectations for this team, and my points are open to debate. But I hate to see guys like Arians villified.
Arians was far from perfect, but he often excelled at compensating for the scoring problems with whatever he could improvise given the constraints.
No one ever mentions Brian Billick as a new OC, but he'd be a fine one.
A quarterback whose M.O. is throwing on the run, trying to play on 1 leg
A Pro Bowl calibre Center who seems to get injured when the stakes are highest
A patchwork offensive line
A supposedly top-tier running back who is, quite honestly, soft
No third down back who can catch and run with true elusiveness. Mewelde Moore is ancient when compared to a Sproules-type.
A team's defense whose inability to pressure the opposing QB and increase takeaways never materialized, and that means the offense isn't in great field position. You can be #1 in total defense statistically, but where are the takeaways that lead to an offense taking advantage?
Granted, Wallace and Brown are extremely good and super fast. Both are already stars, and Miller is a good TE.
For some reason, Steeler fans as are slow (as is the current defense) to figure out "Steeler football" can no longer be Jerome Bettis or Willie Parker or 3 yards and a cloud of dust. Want to go back to Ray Sherman? Do you remember Ray and how lousy the offense was? As someone suggested, this crew will have to build around their explosive WRs. That is where the league is right now. Big Ben's physical limitations at the end of the season did not enable him to take full advantage.
I realize there is a high standard of expectations for this team, and my points are open to debate. But I hate to see guys like Arians villified.
Arians was far from perfect, but he often excelled at compensating for the scoring problems with whatever he could improvise given the constraints.
No one ever mentions Brian Billick as a new OC, but he'd be a fine one.
Wasn't the Raiders OC, ****'s former boy in KC...oh I can't remember his name now(seems you either) but he's probably interviewing with plenty now too
Cookiemonster
Footballguy
I'd love to see Hue Jackson as well, but the Rooneys seem to make better football choices than me and always go the more obscure route rather than the big names. Hue does do some pretty good things with an offense, and his style seems to be a perfect match for what the Steelers have, personnel wise. He proved that he's not ready to be a head coach, but he's also proven that he's a respectable coordinator.
ETA - From the same staff, I haven't heard if Al Saunders is being retained as Oakland's O coordinator, but he's a stud of a coordinator.
ETA - From the same staff, I haven't heard if Al Saunders is being retained as Oakland's O coordinator, but he's a stud of a coordinator.
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Kenny Powers
Footballguy
I realize he got fired, but OAK sucked last year and despite losing their starting QB, pro caliber RB for half the year, and a rash of WR injuries week to week, OAK was still 8-8 thig year.
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
I doubt he leaves the booth for anything but a HC job for a good organization/promising team.
5-ish Finkle
Footballguy
Which Steelers fans in this neck of the woods are citing a desire to return to that? They don't have the personnel for it and have clearly become a passing team. I don't think that is being/can be disputed. That doesn't mean that the Arians offense is above reproach.
Completely subjective(as is the other side of the argument, I realize).
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Cookiemonster
Footballguy
Despite all that, their offense was not too bad, and I'd be willing to bet that another offseason with Palmer not being injected mid-year, 1st & 2nd year WRs maturing and a healthy McFadden that offense would have easily ranked top 10 (finished 9th in total yards - 11th passing & 9th rushing - and IIRC 6th in scoring over the last 1/2 of 2010). The defense let that team down badly, and Hue proved that his GM skills were sub-par and that he wasn't a head coach, but ask the fans in the Raiders thread about what Saunders and Hue did for a pathetic offense. If he could turn that pile of garbage into a pretty good offense, he could turn our group into a juggernaut.
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
I still dont understand how it was proven he wasnt ready to be a HCDespite all that, their offense was not too bad, and I'd be willing to bet that another offseason with Palmer not being injected mid-year, 1st & 2nd year WRs maturing and a healthy McFadden that offense would have easily ranked top 10 (finished 9th in total yards - 11th passing & 9th rushing - and IIRC 6th in scoring over the last 1/2 of 2010). The defense let that team down badly, and Hue proved that his GM skills were sub-par and that he wasn't a head coach, but ask the fans in the Raiders thread about what Saunders and Hue did for a pathetic offense. If he could turn that pile of garbage into a pretty good offense, he could turn our group into a juggernaut.
I totally agree. Who wasn't surprised the Raiders were in the playoff hunt? That's something and finally some of the younger guys were producing and not just wasted potential too.I still dont understand how it was proven he wasnt ready to be a HCDespite all that, their offense was not too bad, and I'd be willing to bet that another offseason with Palmer not being injected mid-year, 1st & 2nd year WRs maturing and a healthy McFadden that offense would have easily ranked top 10 (finished 9th in total yards - 11th passing & 9th rushing - and IIRC 6th in scoring over the last 1/2 of 2010). The defense let that team down badly, and Hue proved that his GM skills were sub-par and that he wasn't a head coach, but ask the fans in the Raiders thread about what Saunders and Hue did for a pathetic offense. If he could turn that pile of garbage into a pretty good offense, he could turn our group into a juggernaut.
Basically I think this is the essential point. I too believe that Arians did the best that he could do with what he had. But perhaps someone else could do better with what Arians had.What could have been better? To start with I would suggest the game-planning and the play calling. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone else even call a better game with Arians system. That said, I think a better system would include more balance in the attack. Yes, it is true that the NFL seems to promote passing games, but you can't win without balance. Take the Pats who have a prolific passing game, but balance that with runs (from a very average group of RBs) on way to a top offense.
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Cookiemonster
Footballguy
Ah, missed that you bolded the HC statement. It seemed pretty obvious to those of us on the west coast, but I guess they don't cover Bay Area news quite so much on the East Side.'Kenny Powers said:I still dont understand how it was proven he wasnt ready to be a HC'Cookiemonster said:Despite all that, their offense was not too bad, and I'd be willing to bet that another offseason with Palmer not being injected mid-year, 1st & 2nd year WRs maturing and a healthy McFadden that offense would have easily ranked top 10 (finished 9th in total yards - 11th passing & 9th rushing - and IIRC 6th in scoring over the last 1/2 of 2010). The defense let that team down badly, and Hue proved that his GM skills were sub-par and that he wasn't a head coach, but ask the fans in the Raiders thread about what Saunders and Hue did for a pathetic offense. If he could turn that pile of garbage into a pretty good offense, he could turn our group into a juggernaut.'Kenny Powers said:'Cookiemonster said:
He had pretty well split the locker room and ostracized many of his players. His personnel moves were questionable at best and by all accounts got too big for his britches. He was entirely focused on his offense and neglected his defense (to the detriment of his offense, in hindsight). It sounds like the extra power he assumed in the vacuum after Al's passing went entirely to his head and he needed to be taken down a peg, hence his being fired the minute a new GM was hired.
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
That makes more sense then....Then again, how good was their D supposed to be really? I dont think I can name anyone on it besides Seymour, Branch, Rolando and Huff; and the only reason I know the latter 2 is because they were top 10 or so picks, only reason I know Branch is because he's a FF stud.Ah, missed that you bolded the HC statement. It seemed pretty obvious to those of us on the west coast, but I guess they don't cover Bay Area news quite so much on the East Side.'Kenny Powers said:I still dont understand how it was proven he wasnt ready to be a HC'Cookiemonster said:Despite all that, their offense was not too bad, and I'd be willing to bet that another offseason with Palmer not being injected mid-year, 1st & 2nd year WRs maturing and a healthy McFadden that offense would have easily ranked top 10 (finished 9th in total yards - 11th passing & 9th rushing - and IIRC 6th in scoring over the last 1/2 of 2010). The defense let that team down badly, and Hue proved that his GM skills were sub-par and that he wasn't a head coach, but ask the fans in the Raiders thread about what Saunders and Hue did for a pathetic offense. If he could turn that pile of garbage into a pretty good offense, he could turn our group into a juggernaut.'Kenny Powers said:'Cookiemonster said:
monessen
Footballguy
There is an article on how Art Rooney II, against Ben R's wishes, made the decision to can Arians in order to return to the old "run first" Steeler offense. The story is on ESPN.com today. I don't have the link, but the story must be true since Chris Mortensen contributed to it, and he has never been wrong about anything in his entire life. LOL
Evidently, Mr. Rooney wants to keep his expensive QB healthy by using the run game more. Of course, their personnel, as has been pointed out here, is better suited to a pass first style. So, it seems paradoxical to have Ben handing off a lot, since his forte' is improvisational passing, just so he steers clear of injury. Such a strategy is fine if a team has a Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson, which the Steelers don't. It is a huge blunder not to take advantage of the skills of the explosive wideouts.
So, that's who is eager for a return to traditional Steeler offensive football, since someone asked about that earlier. The person with the most clout in the company is your culprit.
Evidently, Mr. Rooney wants to keep his expensive QB healthy by using the run game more. Of course, their personnel, as has been pointed out here, is better suited to a pass first style. So, it seems paradoxical to have Ben handing off a lot, since his forte' is improvisational passing, just so he steers clear of injury. Such a strategy is fine if a team has a Ray Rice or Adrian Peterson, which the Steelers don't. It is a huge blunder not to take advantage of the skills of the explosive wideouts.
So, that's who is eager for a return to traditional Steeler offensive football, since someone asked about that earlier. The person with the most clout in the company is your culprit.
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
Not surprised by this, but even if they hire a "run-heavy" guy (are there any of those besides Norv and Marty anyway???), its not like Art the Deuce is going to be in the booth calling run-run-pass
Bojang0301
Omar4Heisman
Mendenhall is not going I be the answer if they go this route. You have to wonder with rookie salaries going down if they'd be willing to make a move for Trent Richardson. That also being said, OLine must be the main priority this offseason.
Steeler
Footballguy
Getting younger on D is priority 1 as I see it or getting under the cap, but they really mean the same thing.'Steeler said:
I really don't think Art is this dumb.
Kenny Powers
Footballguy
With all the holes/age problems we have on this team, there are actual Steeler fans wanting Trent in the 1st round?!! (sidenote: I think Trent is the bees knees)'Bojang0301 said:
Not me even at pick 24
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Neither do I. I do think that he thinks his team should be more balanced and they should be able to rush for one lousy yard when they're at the goal line.
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Godsbrother
Footballguy
He would be tough to pass up if he fell that far especially considering Mendenhall is in the last year of his contract and will likely start the 2012 season on the PUP list. But the Steelers need help on the both lines, at inside linebacker and defensive backfield.
Idiot Boxer
Footballguy
Call me crazy, but I don't think they need to spend a high pick on DL or DB. They have tons of young talent waiting to step in. Hood and Haywood look very solid. KLewis and Cortez Allen are making moves. DT is the only real position of need among those. I'd still rather see OL (shocker!) or ILB. And even I would not pass up Trent Richardson if he fell to #24.
The Hank
Footballguy
They need a DT pretty bad, Hampton is long in the tooth and McClendon (while filling in decent for Hampton) does not create as big as distraction as needed in a 3-4.1st rd pick should be top DT or OG; knowing the Steelers, it'll be an ILB or RB.
Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
Fewest turnovers created (15) in the NFL this year, that didn't help Arians offense. Saw it somewhere that the Steelers were the only AFC team to have all 11 starters on O under 30. I'd target playmakers on D early and often in the draft.
The Hank
Footballguy
and offensive guards too, because it is a need and we dont need to have IB on Suicide watch.
Godsbrother
Footballguy
Emphasis should be on G, DT and ILB. Of course you should also be looking at FA to see if you can get some help there.
monessen
Footballguy
Of course, Art II is not dumb. But the Steelers do well when the pass sets up the run. Didn't they average 4.4 yds per carry in 2011? My hope is that he doesn't think that can be sustained without relying on the home run ball that Arians helped initiate with the young talent. In any event, they must have a plan; they always appear to. But it is tough to locate and hang onto the Mularkeys, Whisenhunts, Gaileys, Gilbrides, etc., because they get prime positions elsewhere.
Idiot Boxer
Footballguy
