Art Rooney II on Bruce Arians: 'It was time for a change'

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Suitanim ( rifle above head) and Chidi ( kneeling with rifle) protecting Ft. Arians against the onrushing "braintrust".

That is some good stuff there. Can you do one of Mr and Mrs Lincoln at the play.

"other than the lack of points and the loss....did you like that we had over 300 yards passing this week??"

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Passing on 3rd and short is what I was referencing.

Fair enough. I was just thinking that if we had any kind of running game, that is something you can lean on when your QB should not be playing with a high ankle sprain.

[Chidi29]

Fair enough. I was just thinking that if we had any kind of running game, that is something you can lean on when your QB should not be playing with a high ankle sprain.

We did run it 18 times. Not sure exactly what the splits were. For a game where we were trailing and had to pass late, that isn't too bad.

[GBMelBlount]

Coming to Steelers Universe the past few days reminds of the movie "Ground Hog Day" with Bill Murray.

It is actually getting to the point where it is humorous (At least to me - lol).

Bottom line, we can argue for months but the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

These discussions are becoming counterproductive and polarizing.

[Chidi29]

Coming to Steelers Universe the past few days reminds of the movie "Ground Hog Day" with Bill Murray.

It is actually getting to the point where it is humorous.

Bottom line, we can argue for months but the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

These discussions are becoming counterproductive and polarizing.

At least this will be the last Arians debate.

Until the next OC is hired.

[GBMelBlount]

At least this will be the last Arians debate.

Until the next OC is hired.

I can hardly wait.

[suitanim]

That's really what my point is now.

Arians is gone. The countdown until all the people who think THEY know how to REALLY run an NFL offense start in with the ludicrous hindsight is on. 6 months and counting...

This will never change. But I'll definitely continue to support the OC, whoever he may be, even if he DOES revert us back to a simple run-first offense.

The simpler the offense, though, the closer to the point of comprehension it will move towards the pitchfork and torches crowd...so their critiques will fall a little more in-line with reality.

[tube517]

Coming to Steelers Universe the past few days reminds of the movie "Ground Hog Day" with Bill Murray.

It is actually getting to the point where it is humorous (At least to me - lol).

Bottom line, we can argue for months but the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

These discussions are becoming counterproductive and polarizing.

I agree. I can't wait for the draft. Really tired of the whole Arians debate.

[suitanim]

I agree. I can't wait for the draft. Really tired of the whole Arians debate.

Passions run deep. It's a 5-year-old argument, so there are entrenched views. Arians was basically screwed from the start because he was a guy with a pass-first mentality (which is obviously where the league was headed) and change scares people. It's not something that can just be "let go of" overnight.

[Count Steeler]

Wait till the new OC is hired. Round 2, or is that Round 15 of the ongoing Arians Saga.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

We did run it 18 times. Not sure exactly what the splits were. For a game where we were trailing and had to pass late, that isn't too bad.

Chidi, it wasnt that long ago and we can remember the game cant we. Ben was not able to mechanically throw the ball well with his injury and the Steelers have not had a decent run game for a few years. Blame the O line, Blame the Front office, Blame the OC, Blame Mendenhall. I dont care.

I just think if the Steelers had a better run game offensively, that it creates mismatches in the passing game. We lost to Denver on that final play with 9 men in the box to defend the run. I honestly cant remember the last time a team put 8 in the box against the Steelers Offense.

You can cite stats or run/pass ratios all you want, but the simple fact remains that the Steelers have not had a run game because their offensive identity has changed. Art Rooney obviously felt that needed to change, so he is the chief hater and what is done is done.

I look forward to moving forward, despite being amused by all the gnashing of teeth and exploding heads of the defenders of Fort Arians. The draft is almost upon us. Peace, out.

[Chidi29]

Chidi, it wasnt that long ago and we can remember the game cant we. Ben was not able to mechanically throw the ball well with his injury and the Steelers have not had a decent run game for a few years. Blame the O line, Blame the Front office, Blame the OC, Blame Mendenhall. I dont care.

I just think if the Steelers had a better run game offensively, that it creates mismatches in the passing game. We lost to Denver on that final play with 9 men in the box to defend the run. I honestly cant remember the last time a team put 8 in the box against the Steelers Offense.

You can cite stats or run/pass ratios all you want, but the simple fact remains that the Steelers have not had a run game because their offensive identity has changed. Art Rooney obviously felt that needed to change, so he is the chief hater and what is done is done.

I look forward to moving forward, despite being amused by all the gnashing of teeth and exploding heads of the defenders of Fort Arians. The draft is almost upon us. Peace, out.

Sure, the running game can improve. It always can improve. And it does create mismatches, especially with the speed we have at WR. Of course, there's other ways to do it too and the league is evolving to the point where you can create mismatches without a running game. Go 5 WR and pit your slot WR against their nickelback or linebacker if they're in man, or have so many players out there that someone will find a hole in zone.

I do think we ran the ball more effectively this year than in past seasons. And a lot of credit goes to the backs and the line for doing what they could in a bad situation (it doesn't automatically go to Arians, that would be hypocritical of me). You can disagree, but Arians responded to Rooney's request to run the ball better. And to do it in a year with a ton of turmoil along the line.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Then Chidi, as the title of this thread reads, its just time for a change and Art decided that on a whim. Later Bruce, cant wait to see you head coach a team to greatness, as it is your destiny.

[NCSteeler]

They were 7th overall on 3rd downs last season, which isn't too bad at all: http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/te...irdDownConvPct

We were quite good in short yardage, just not goal to go short yardage.

[ALLD]

BA was not as good as Whiz as an OC. End of argument.

[zulater]

BA was not as good as Whiz as an OC. End of argument.

Agreed. And as I've said about 50 times before, while I didn't post with most of the people on this board during Whisenhunt's time in Pittsburgh, I did post on several Steelers message board's. And to the best of my recall he was generally viewed favorably, and I remember people worrying that he would be poached for a head coaching job every offseason.

Obviously there was an occasional dissenting voice. But in all honesty even when the Steelers had a sub par season in 2006 I don't remember any great plurality of outrage over the job Whisenhunt did.

I'll tell you this much, anyone who thinks Arians advanced this offense leaps and bounds should go to the Steelers website and purshase the DVD set, "Road to XL". The offensive game plans that were put into place and executed for that 4 game playoff run haven't been approximated since for any stretch of games against quality opposition.

Bottom line, Whiz was better, and Steeler fans didn't often bitch about the sort of job he did. That wasn't coincidental either.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Bottom line, Whiz was better, and Steeler fans didn't often bitch about the sort of job he did. That wasn't coincidental either.

Where did Mularkey fit in that scale? Was he better or worse than either of the last 2 OC's in your opinion?

[GBMelBlount]

I'm sorry, but there is no "spin" or mental gymnastics the haters can bring to bear that will refute the FACT, the stone-cold, iron-clad lock of a FACT that Rooney LIED ABOUT THIS!

He said it was Tomlin's call. It clearly and obviously wasn't. Now he's trying to pooh-pooh it and claim that "the process isn't relevant".

This is dangerous ground for the Steelers. You can scare away talent if what you say isn't really what you say.

It's a slippery slope to start obfuscating your position, or placing the blame on others instead of manning up and taking responsibility.

He SHOULD have just said it was his call all the way.

Agreed. If this becomes a pattern then I completely understand your point.

Otherwise, at this point I simply look at it as a business owner who felt strongly enough about this matter that they exercised their right to make the final decision.

[zulater]

Where did Mularkey fit in that scale? Was he better or worse than either of the last 2 OC's in your opinion?

I'd put Mularkey even with Arains. Both behind Whisenhunt.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I'd put Mularkey even with Arains. Both behind Whisenhunt.

Yeah, I just dont remember Mularkey being as polarizing a figure as Arians with the fan base.

[zulater]

Just to touch a little more on the Arains- Whisenhunt comparison. Look at the comparative talent between the 2005 offense and either of the last 2 seasons, and the 2005 offense comes out on the short end of the stick way more often than not talent wise.

Here's a quick breakdown.

QB. 2005. Second year Big Ben. 2010-11. 8th year Big Ben advantage Arains.

RB. 2005. Willie Parker, Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley 10-11. Mendenhall, Redman, Moore. Even

FB 2005 Dan Kreider 10-11 David Johnson? Advantage Whiz, but only because Arains places no value on the position.

Wr. 2005 Hines Ward, Cedric Wilson, Antoine Randle El , Quincy Morgan. 10-11 Mike Wallace, Antoine Brown, Hines Ward, Emanuel Sanders. Huge advantage Arains

TE. 2005 rookie Heath Miller 10-11 seasoned Heath Miller, advantage Arains.

C. 2005 Jeff Hartings 10-11 Maurkice Pouncey even

LT. 2005 Marvel Smith 10-11. Max Starks. Before anyone pronounces this a big win for 05, keep in mind that Marvel Smith missed 4 starts and was replaced in the lineup by rookie Trai Essex. The Steelers went 3-1 in those starts. that said advantage Whiz.

LG. 2005 Alan Faneca 10-11 Moron wearing #68 Kemopenalizeu. Big AD Whiz!

RG. 2005 Kendall Simmons 10-11 Ramon Foster. slight ad Arains.

RT. 2005 Max Starks 10-11 Flozell Adams- Marcus Gilbert. even.

One last thing, with a quarterback with limited experience in 6 playoff games Whisenhunt's offense averaged 348 yards in 6 playoff games. With an experienced quarterback Arains led offense's averaged 323 yards in 8 playoff games.


Whiz did more with less. Clear winner!

[zulater]

Yeah, I just dont remember Mularkey being as polarizing a figure as Arians with the fan base.

In 2003 he was. Maybe not the whole season, but after passing the ball about 60 times with Tommy Maddox in blizzard in the Meadowlands his stock took a rapid dip.

[X-Terminator]

BA was not as good as Whiz as an OC. End of argument.

I doubt many people would disagree with that. I certainly don't. I'd take Whiz over BA 10 out of 10 times.

[stillers4me]

Don't shoot the messenger. I don't writem'. I just copy and paste'em.

Mike Jurecki@mikejureckiHearing former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is likely to become the next coordinator of the Colts. #colts #steelers

[polamalubeast]

Don't shoot the messenger. I don't writem'. I just copy and paste'em.

Mike Jurecki@mikejureckiHearing former Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians is likely to become the next coordinator of the Colts. #colts #steelers

bye bye Peyton

[Count Steeler]

Great news for Bruce. Now he can coach a real quarterback.

[ALLD]

I can already hear the Manning's tires peeling to get out of Indy. If he were to ever play again, I bet Manning tells BA to plug-in an ipod instead of a headset on gameday and just watch. I am no fan of P Manning, but I know he knows more about NFL offensive football than BA.

[O'Malley]

Peyton can't get sacked 40 times a season.. He would be in the hospital after week one..

[polamalubeast]

Peyton can't get sacked 40 times a season.. He would be in the hospital after week one..

Luck will be the QB of the Colts in 2012!


Manning will be in another team

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

This should be good. Congrats to the colts