Randy Fichtner is Awesome?

[Mojouw]

I think that lost in all of the discussion in the national media and twitterverse about Conner and Bell's production through the first X weeks or whatever, is the impact that Fichtner (sp?) seems to be having on the offense.

I always liked Haley's playbook, it was aggressive and took advantage of available playmakers, but agree with the many that questioned is playcalling and overall strategy. While I will always be partial to the deep shot on 3rd and anything, I also realize we are seeing proof of a better way in 2018.

The efficiency and purpose of the offensive design is staggering. These RZ stats are insane and surely not sustainable, but they are great! https://steelersdepot.com/2018/11/st...st-since-2008/

[vasteeler]

Wait... a coordinator is awesome thread

[Mojouw]

Wait... a coordinator is awesome thread

I know, right?

[GoSlash27]

To be fair, Butler is the first guy to make me envy a defensive strategy in a single game. "They want to present a 3- headed dragon RPO offense? Well, that just means that Newton is a viable target every play."
Pretty brilliant game plan, especially for a short week. Really, *he* deserves my game ball more than anyone else.

[Mojouw]

To be fair, Butler is the first guy to make me envy a defensive strategy in a single game. "They want to present a 3- headed dragon RPO offense? Well, that just means that Newton is a viable target every play."
Pretty brilliant game plan, especially for a short week. Really, *he* deserves my game ball more than anyone else.

Good point. I also think the hit Watt laid on Newton was some pretty solid hockey tactics. Oh you have an "upper body injury"? Let's just light that shoulder up and see how you fare!

[DesertSteel]

^^^ Great picture

[polamalubeast]

Fichtner understands that you do not have to be a genius to be successful with this offense, which is very important.Haley did not understand that and he had too much of a big ego.

The only one who could stop our offense in the past was not the opposing defenses, it was Todd Haley.

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Our redzone stats may be sustainable, but the stats that can not be sustainable is our 3rd down offense in the last 5 games which is at 61% I think(41/66 to be exact).

Of course, when you're in 3rd down and shorts often it helps.

[86WARD]

Fichtner is playing the averages a lot more than Haley and Ben did. How many “long balls” have we seen this season on 3rd & short or 4th & short? Not many. We’ve seen QB sneaks, slip screens,quick slants...pretty much everything we’ve been asking for.

[Fire Goodell]

Fichtner is playing the averages a lot more than Haley and Ben did. How many “long balls” have we seen this season on 3rd & short or 4th & short? Not many. We’ve seen QB sneaks, slip screens,quick slants...pretty much everything we’ve been asking for.

Yeah the play calling seems a lot smarter, instead of trying to impose our will, we take what the defense gives us. Sure the long scores are nice, but when you're constantly taking the high percentage first down plays, that tends to demoralize a defense over time. When that happens, big plays just follow

[ALLD]

Maybe Fitz is too smart to out think himself?

[Edman]

Sometimes, the simplest thing is hardest thing to do. Sure, we could do the amazing thing and look like a genius, or we can just do what is the safe and smart thing. Many OC's in the NFL have major egos and want to show they are the next Bill Parcells or Bill Walsh. Todd Haley unfortunately, was one of them.

Failing to do the simple thing cost the Seattle Seahawks a Super Bowl repeat. It also cost the Atlanta Falcons dearly in Super Bowl LI.

Darrell Bevell and Kyle Shanahan are curse words, now.

[Steeler-in-west]

Our red zone production has been better this year. And Ben has been scrambling for first downs, which is a double edged sword.

[ETL]

He’s awesome until we lose and then he’s a bum because people have the shortest f*&king memories around here.

[HollywoodSteel]

Wow. We are 22 for 28 RZ conversions.

22 is more RZ conversions than any other COMPLETE season in Ben’s career... and I think we have more games to play.

Also with 28 attempts so far we’re getting close to the most RZ attempts in Ben’s career.

So we’re getting to the red zone more than ever and converting more than ever. That is damn impressive.

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Compare that to last year: 14 for 33. That’s like 42%!

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This year we are over 76%!

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Sorry this year we are 78.6%!

[HollywoodSteel]

It also doesn’t hurt that the O-line is playing lights out this year. They have been nothing short of incredible. Even with a back up RT! No drop off at all!

So yeah, hats off to coach Randy... but coach Munch is the TRUE godsend.

I hope we pay him head coach money to stay right where he is. There’s no salary cap for coaches, and every penny we pay him is money well spent.

[polamalubeast]

[SteelMember]

Fitchner is calling Ben's plays...

joking aside, there is probably some truth to it. They seem to have a much better relationship and give and take than the stubborn ego that previously ran the show. Tequila Cowboy had his moments, and did help Ben not take as many hits from the slow developing deeps routes Arians loved, but the honeymoon was over... and it wasn't difficult to see.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

He’s awesome until we lose and then he’s a bum because people have the shortest f*&king memories around here.

So true!

People used to bitch about Bubble Screens being thrown and now they are praising them. People used to whine about Haley's "dink and dunk offense", but now love slants, screens and crossing routes. Steeler fans love winning and think losing is the end of the world.

Just wait, Randy's time to become the villain will come soon enough.

[86WARD]

Fitchner is calling Ben's plays...

joking aside, there is probably some truth to it. They seem to have a much better relationship and give and take than the stubborn ego that previously ran the show. Tequila Cowboy had his moments, and did help Ben not take as many hits from the slow developing deeps routes Arians loved, but the honeymoon was over... and it wasn't difficult to see.

I wouldn’t be so fast to lift blame from Ben. Some of those deep passes in the past on third and short were Ben’s calls at the line when he saw the matchups...I’d be willing to bet that Fichtner reigned some of that in.

[86WARD]

So true!

People used to bitch about Bubble Screens being thrown and now they are praising them. People used to whine about Haley's "dink and dunk offense", but now love slants, screens and crossing routes. Steeler fans love winning and think losing is the end of the world.

Just wait, Randy's time to become the villain will come soon enough.

Who is praising bubble screens? Problem with Haley’s offense is he didn’t run enough of the quick slants. Especially in short yardage situations...lol.

[SteelMember]

I wouldn’t be so fast to lift blame from Ben. Some of those deep passes in the past on third and short were Ben’s calls at the line when he saw the matchups...I’d be willing to bet that Fichtner reigned some of that in.

No blame in there... just a toxic relationship. Besides, Ben has to throw somewhere when it's first, second or third and short, and the formation is 5 wide empty set without even a shift to the backfield... Please, those were obvious Haley calls.

[tube517]

So true!

People used to bitch about Bubble Screens being thrown and now they are praising them. People used to whine about Haley's "dink and dunk offense", but now love slants, screens and crossing routes. Steeler fans love winning and think losing is the end of the world.

Just wait, Randy's time to become the villain will come soon enough.

I was going to start the Fire Randy thread after the 1st play of preseason just to get that out of the way.

[Istina]

I have a feeling that Fitchner is holding the 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 long ball until the time comes to win a playoff game or even the Super Bowl. He's going to put QB sneaks, quick hitters, James Conner and other chain moving plays on tape and then, with a big game on the line, he's going to go for the 9 route, deep post, etc. He will actually catch a team off-guard because he hadn't put it on film all year.

[fansince'76]

I always liked Haley's playbook, it was aggressive and took advantage of available playmakers, but agree with the many that questioned is playcalling and overall strategy.

Same here - it was the "WTF?" play calling that I took issue with.

[Fire Goodell]

Yeah the bombs on 3rd and inches were drive killers and they happened so often it started to become predictable. I can agree with it, say if there's a tendency for a certain team to bite hard on the play-action that makes them susceptible to it, but it was like clockwork he'd do that twice or so every game. If it worked out, awesome, if it didn't, they were wasted possessions.

Haley was like going to vegas and putting the house on red or black. Could pay off, but if it doesn't, well then it's a waste. Maddening how that guy never seemed to be willing to go with a high percentage play in those situations.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Who is praising bubble screens? Problem with Haley’s offense is he didn’t run enough of the quick slants. Especially in short yardage situations...lol.

Apologies, the Slip Screen must be a much better option than the Bubble Screen for a playcaller.

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I was going to start the Fire Randy thread after the 1st play of preseason just to get that out of the way.

Man you are the "Russian Judge". No time for Randy to at least have a honeymoon huh? I think he gets a big pass from fans this season, but if they don't win a Lombardi he is on the block early and often next season.

[86WARD]

No blame in there... just a toxic relationship. Besides, Ben has to throw somewhere when it's first, second or third and short, and the formation is 5 wide empty set without even a shift to the backfield... Please, those were obvious Haley calls.

There were quite a few occasions where Ben said he made he call and you can’t blame him when you see the WR/CB matchup in big favor of Martavis Bryant.

[86WARD]

Same here - it was the "WTF?" play calling that I took issue with.

Same. The WHat the F and Where the F and Whynot the F!

[Mojouw]

Same here - it was the "WTF?" play calling that I took issue with.

Haley would better served to draw up the playbook and have someone else call the game.


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[86WARD]

Haley would better served to draw up the playbook and have someone else call the game.


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There’s an idea for a job. Maybe he can go on Etsy and design custom playbooks...