With journeyman like Ryan Fitzpatrick, this team wins the Super Bowl.
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With journeyman like Ryan Fitzpatrick, this team wins the Super Bowl.
Lots of goats. When you turn the ball over 5-6 times you aren't winning.
Coaching staff. Terrible calls on offense, including that monstrosity James Conner to WR hand off near the goal line. No more Wildcat as a go to. The team abandoned the run too soon.
OL. Way too much pressure on the QB as a group. Pouncey stood out in a bad way. Too many wild snaps. Got pushed backward too easily
Duck, though it wasn't all his fault, he made 2-3 really bad throws.
Berry. That turd punt cost us points.
Possible goat. The trining staff. What's up with Ju-Ju's injury?
Tip of the hat. The Bills defense is the best we've played and their coach McDermott should be coach of the year. The Bills 10-4? Yep.
Been saying it for years...want a real back up? Have to pay around $5-8M/year for it. Foles, Fitzpatrick, Brissett...any of that...Foles was available several times as was Fitz...Originally Posted by DesertSteel
Enthroned Into The Good Old Boys Club - 2024
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Lol, that is awesome!
But but there's a whole thread where people said he could be a starter in the NFL. When I said his arm strength wasn't there I was lectured on how arm strength isn't that important.
Those last two interceptions disagree with that. Horrible floaters and throws that good QB's can make on the move. Not only that he hit Washington deep on two balls that Washington had to slow down and wait on. Those were throws a healthy Ben (or good QB) make so the receiver can take it right to the house.
Look, I think Duck is a cool dude and I'm happy he gives us a shot at winning but he clearly is NOT the future nor is Rudolph. I just hope Ben can play next year so we have a few more years to address our future QB. It just sucks that our offense completely hit the shitter in less than two years and our anemic defense is finally legit. If Ben stayed healthy and AB didn't go full douche bag we easily would be a top seed this year.
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Nobody is getting the genius label for saying Hodges isn't a future quality starter. Those of us who weren't trashing him were doing so out of optimism. Believe the best until it hits the fan. It hit the fan last night and I don't think it surprised anyone who was being optimistic.
There's not trashing someone and then blind optimism. I wasn't trashing him in the IS DUCK A STARTER thread either. I was just pointing out that he doesn't have the arm strength to be an NFL QB and was told arm strength isn't important. There were quite a few people in that thread that were saying Duck could be an NFL starter. Well last night we got a first hand look at why he isn't and it all had to do with this arm strength (or lack thereof).
SNF broke down all his throws this year and over 20 yards is was atrocious. Most of his throws were in the flat. Now is some of that on Fichtner? Absolutely, but a lot of it has to do with the fact he doesn't have the arm strength to throw down field. Again like I said above I think Duck is a cool dude and I'm happy he's managing games and giving us a shot but he's just not our future.
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Duck was playing behind a mediocre line with below-average weapons against a top 5 defense.
I still think it is too early to say if he can be a quality starter long term or not.
"With love, with patience, and with Faith
....She'll make her way" ~ Natalie Merchant
Come on, I like the guy too, but there is no way he's an NFL starter.
The last two INTs weren’t about arm strength; they were about poor choices.
Washington was open... because, the play was designed to get him open. Hodges (for whatever reason) ignored the first read AND didn’t see the obviousness of Washington’s openness.
The last throw was while running to his left. Not many QBs would be able to hit Washington on that play. What he should have done was hit the guy along the sideline and have one more pass attempt. That said, if he somehow manages to get another 5 yards on that pass, it’s a TD (because, Washington has slipped behind the defender).
Sorry I disagree. I've seen Aaron Rodgers make that throw (on the last INT) before. The throw should have gone to the back corner of the endzone. Even the NBC guys said, "that needed Aaron Rodgers zip". I agree that he missed a cutting Washington on the first INT that would have at best got a first down or gone to the house.
I really do like that guy but like I said earlier he threw two balls that Washington caught earlier in the game that just didn't have anything on them and Washington had to slow down and wait for them. Had Washington caught them on the run he probably scores.
Last edited by EzraTank; 12-16-2019 at 03:04 PM.
I thought Connor looked good carrying the ball, averaging 5 yards a carry. Problem was, he only got 8 carries. Puzzling, but Fichtner probably deserves some blame there. Berry was awful punting, too. Looks like all the next draft picks, the ones we have left, should be on offensive players.
I suspect it is not too early, but there is always hope. We can assess what Hodges has been able to do. He has been able to reach shouting distance of the low end of average against terrible defenses (Cards, Bengals, and surprisingly the Browns), looked a step above catatonic against a mediocre defense (Chargers) and was next to useless against a high quality defense (Bills). I suspect we can assume he cobbles together a win against the Jets and maybe gets a "Landry" against the Ravens JV in Week 17. That would leave the Wildcard round to determine if he makes immediate progress from last night. Then, of course, the offseason.
Right now, Hodges looks like the kind of QB that you just wish was a bit better. Hard worker, lots of moxie, awesome attitude, etc. Should make a great coach somewhere in 3 years.
The defense is the only game ball almost had us the W and, my god the goats Berry, Fitchner, Duck. I really sick of the wild cat and, that's like 2 or 3 turnovers when they try to run that formation. The o-line was not good either and, I know the Bills defense is good. Still even with Duck's picks steelers still had chances in this game.
Agreed on putting Fichtner on the goat list, no reason for the wildcat, and relying on Hodges arm too much. We need a new OC for next season, and a QB coach as well,
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Bingo! Horrible, horrible decisions.
I think that "arm strength" is a funny thing. The INT to Cain in the endzone wasn' t because the ball lacked zip, but because Hodges went to the wrong WR. But why did he go to that WR? Was it simply a poor decision and a misread of a coverage? Or was it a player not being confident in his ability to throw a 20 yard rope down the hash through the teeth of the Bills defense to a streaking Washington? For the final INT, not many guys can make that off-platform all raw arm strength throw. But at least a third of the league can. This is the NFL, we are talking about flat-out ridiculous feats of strength and agility on a weekly basis. Further, the INT to White earlier in the game was an "arm strength" issue. Sure, it is almost never a good decision to throw an out route across your body to the wide side of the field against the other team's best CB, BUT the right amount of arm strength muscles that throw 2 yards further outside and DJ gets to it instead of White.
What I saw last night was a QB who has serious arm strength concerns at the NFL level BUT is not sure what he can and can not get away with yet. Basically he was able to work around his arm strength at the FCS level and is still figuring that out in real-time at the NFL level. But he certainly took a pass on several throws that were there to be had last night. Looked like a QB who was unsure of his arm. Contrast that with a guy like Ben. Ben has never been unsure of his ability to rifle the ball into a small window in his entire life. Both for good and bad.
Goat.... Berry for his PATHETIC PUNTING.. ( unload this guy) All night long, especially his 20 yrd that gave Bill a 40yrd field and eventually 7 pts (game).
Fitchner for his play calling.
Ball.... Watt
You may be on to something there. Much as I would like to give Hodges a chance, as of now he seems to be a backup who can barely get you by, but nothing more.
I really wish there was a way to make Rudolph and Hodges into one player. Rudolph has the ability to be a good QB, but can't deal with the speed of the pro game, and that will likely always be a problem. Hodges can deal with the speed of the game and has the guts to make the throws, but struggles against NFL competition. Put them together and you'd have one great quarterback and ... Nathan Peterman, I guess.
See you Space Cowboy ...
Watt had a hell of a game. I thought Conner was good too, but they didn't give him many touches. Probably since coming back from injuries and all, but he's clearly the best RB we got right now.
I think Watt is easily DPOY. Is there another player in the league playing at his level?
QFT.
This is what I was saying above and last week in the HODGES QB thread.
Yeah. But that was just because you were not believing in the Duck and rooting for him to fail. Or so I have also been told.
In all seriousness, there is below average QB play, there is bottom few percent of QBs across the league, and then there is what the Steelers have gotten from Rudolph and Hodges. The fact that they have not been comically blown out each and every week is a testament to the superiority of the defense and the calming approach of the coaching staff.
Watch Gilmore get it because...Patriots.
He wasn't even playing last night but Collinsworth sure spent enough time blowing him anyway. I've been listening to Steelers games on radio a LOT this year - now I remember a huge reason why. I sure as hell haven't missed listening to pencil-neck.
It should be him or Minkah, though I think Watt may have been the higher impact player the past few weeks (but then again that may be more the case of him making more splash plays the last few weeks, I bet Minkah's been preventing a lot of deep stuff we just haven't been seeing it, if someone has been seeing that please reply).
Sadly, you're probably right becauseWatch Gilmore get it because...Patriots.
He wasn't even playing last night but Collinsworth sure spent enough time blowing him anyway. I've been listening to Steelers games on radio a LOT this year - now I remember a huge reason why. I sure as hell haven't missed listening to pencil-neck.
1. ZOMG, Patriots
2. Minkah and TJ split the Steeler vote
3. Aaron Donald fatigue (the non-steeler most deserving of the award)
Of course it stinks because you can take Gilmore out of the lineup and the Pats would still coast through their season. Take TJ out of the lineup and the defense becomes worse especially in pass rush, and of course we all saw how much of a dumpster fire this defense had been prior to the Minkah trade
It might have been a metacognitive choice by Duck to make the throw to Cain (as opposed to throwing to the wide open Washington); that is indeed a possibility. But, IMO, Duck did what so many young QBs do: he locked in on one guy and didn’t survey the field.
Sure, 10-12 starters could have made that second throw to Washington. But, 20-22 other starters couldn’t have. Duck is in among the lower 2/3 of the starters.
SUMMATION:
I’m not saying Duck has a good arm/I’m not saying he doesn’t lack arm strength. What I am saying is that those two plays aren’t good examples if one wants to “prove” his lack in arm strength.
It's easy to cover plays like Gilmore does since he knows the play that's coming.Watch Gilmore get it because...Patriots.
He wasn't even playing last night but Collinsworth sure spent enough time blowing him anyway. I've been listening to Steelers games on radio a LOT this year - now I remember a huge reason why. I sure as hell haven't missed listening to pencil-neck.
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So you are basically saying "you never use a drill bit designed for wood to drill through concrete". I think I know what you mean.
Two bags are guarenteed to fit all sizes ,or your money back. If you are not completely satisfied call 1-800-GOO-DHELL We show 5 bags to choose from,most problems only need 2 bags
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You are correct. Those INTs had nothing to do with arm strength.
Here's the part of that play that nobody seems to understand. He didn't make the wrong read. He made a throw out of desperation because he was just trying to make a play, but just threw it up hoping the safety wouldn't get there.
There was a single high safety on that play. He had two WRs lined up left running deep routes...one running each side of the field. If he used his eyes or a pump fake to move the safety, he had the throw to Rudolph. He made up his mind early and either forgot because he was stressed with the way the game had been going for him, or he simply doesn't understand how to manipulate defenders. That is something that comes in time if he is capable of handling all the stresses of playing.
Some guys never figure it out. They can do it in practice. They can go over the playbook and describe everything they have to do on a play. They can go through walkthroughs and simulate what they will do in certain situations...but some guys can't do it when they are in the action. They freeze. They simply are not capable of processing all the information quickly enough and they are incapable of holding up under the pressure. They need to find out if Hodges is capable of doing enough quarterback things under stress to know if he can be a legitimate starting option.
A quarterback like Ben would have probably looked the safety off and made a big play. The defense looked like it was set up for Duck to fail. A quality quarterback sees that defense and looks at that same defensive set as a big play waiting to happen. That's the difference. Ben probably would have known pre-snap where he was going with the ball and would have moved the safety where he wanted him to go. Remember, there was one single safety on top. That is a gimme if you know what you are looking at and how to defeat it.
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