Offense Line & OC

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

Okay so most are saying now after Duck's bad game that our QB's are horrible. I agree Mason is horrible and Duck is better but not a ton better. I don't think either are garbage and most of the problem is The OL and Fichtner! This OL has been crap for a couple years at run block even when Munchak was here. This season they are crap at pass blocking as well. Add in Fichtner's no game plan game calling other then his Wildcat, I swear he just scans a planchette over his list of plays and goes with the one it lands on!

As for him though I think the OL is the bigger problem and even a healthy Ben in there, I don't see him making a huge difference . Maybe a little better since Fichtner will let him call his own plays! There still maybe a future in the NFL for Mason as a starter but not this year with this OL. Duck is not doing a ton better but is more mobile and has a quicker release. Moral of the story Steelers need to draft OL early next draft and can Fichtner.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

The O line isnt any worse at pass protection than last season. Its just that young and inexperienced QB's are holding onto the football longer. They are taking their eyes off the receivers and looking at the rush earlier, then at some times making bad decisions of where to throw and where to slide in the pocket or run out of it.

The offense has been lacking a good blocking FB, the teams best RB and any threat of play action that would get extra defenders out of the box. Add the fact that when things seem to be going well on offense, its been time to call wildcat plays to blow up the momentum, or successive QB runs and other mind boggling playcalls that destroy any hard fought drives that have been established.

Honestly, Feiler isnt a great pass protector, but Ben's experience got the ball out of his hands quickly or he slid away from pressure to minimize that weakness. The only one I would peg as being not as good as last year is AV. He seems less balanced in his pass sets and his elbows are wide when he punches, not keeping his hands in the DE frame, but rather in a spot where they can more easliy shed his hands and get to the QB. Its technique and I would hope he and Sarrett could see it on film, if I can see it on NBC.