Seven shots returns

[stillers4me]

The drill that helped the Steelers make big improvements in their red-zone offense and red-zone defense returned for a second consecutive year Tuesday when the Steelers opened offseason training activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.


Seven shots – seven plays from the 2-yard line – kicked off the competitive part of practice, pitting the first-team offense against the first-team defense for a few plays before the second-team got their chance. The drill, a favorite of head coach Mike Tomlin, also helped the Steelers have by far the highest two-point conversion rate in the league last season.


“We were a little surprised we were doing it, but then we weren’t surprised, because it’s what he loves,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. “He loves that little period. Anytime you’re competing in one-on-ones, I think it just carries over from last year.”


The Steelers jumped from 19th in the league to 13th in red-zone efficiency last season. They converted 57.1 percent of their red-zone opportunities into touchdown last season compared to 51.7 percent in 2014.........

Read more @ http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/S...s/201605240203

[LloydWoodson]

Actually that is a significant improvement in the red zone when you consider Ben was healthy all 16 games in 2014 but missed 4 in 2015.

[ALLD]

Tomlin is a good coach. Same line of thinking is what led to James Harrison's TD in the Super Bowl. In practice Tomlin created a fire drill that if there was a turnover, everybody turn around and block somebody. IMHO, the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

[pczach]

When you practice that drill at the goal line that much, offensively you create a belief that every time down there you cannot take a down for granted. Every play needs to be executed and players need to elevate their play and must be sharp to succeed in a confined space. An offense needs to operate at a very high level to move the ball in the red zone. Everything needs to be crisp. Route running, blocking, quarterback reads and throws, etc. I think it makes the offense better everywhere on the field because that situation makes a team play at its best and at full concentration.

Defensively, when a team runs this much of a drill at goal line, it creates a mindset that the defense needs to make a play. You don't just hang on or play conservatively. You are looking for playmakers to create turnovers or big stops. I think the defense becomes much more comfortable in doing that, and much more confident that they will come up big in big spots.

I like it.

Tomlin is dumb like a fox.

[Hawkman]

Tomlin is a good coach. Same line of thinking is what led to James Harrison's TD in the Super Bowl. In practice Tomlin created a fire drill that if there was a turnover, everybody turn around and block somebody. IMHO, the greatest play in Super Bowl history.

At least top five!

[hawaiiansteeler]

Wexell reported in his paid subscription service that Artie Burns got an interception in today's seven shots drill...

[fansince'76]

Wexell reported in his paid subscription service that Artie Burns got an interception in today's seven shots drill...

Time to put Ben out to pasture - can't cut it anymore!

[tube517]

Time to put Ben out to pasture - can't cut it anymore!

That's how a QB who doesn't prepare performs.

[Born2Steel]

That's how a QB who doesn't prepare performs.

"It's all shits and giggles, til someone giggles and shits".

[hawaiiansteeler]

That's how a QB who doesn't prepare performs.

Ben obviously didn't study enough film on Artie Burns...