2011 NFL Thread: The Lazarus Season - Part 8

[Ness]

I was really nervous before this game. The 49ers needed this kind of game. They needed to beat a big opponent during the spotlight especially. We were 10-3 and everyone in the media was riding everyone else's jocks because of a loss to the Cardinals. I'm glad they rose up and got physical and beat their opponent to the punch, like Walsh used to say. The offense also got a little better in the redzone. Still a lot of work to be done though. All we really need to do is beat the Seahawks at their house. Then the following week we should beat the Rams. I hope the Saints lose at least one more game though so we can have some breathing room.

 

[Ness]

It would have, in my opinion. They passed most of the game with a quarterback that had a high ankle sprain. They needed to run the ball and when they were running the ball they were having success.

However, the Niners D did come in playing with fire and heart. That's the difference. They came in wanting to win and they did. The Steelers seemed to just come in there with their shoulders shrugged saying, "Hey, whatever..."

Trust me...Tomlin is NOT that great of a coach. He inherited a great team that Bill Cowher built for years.

Don't want to brag too much, but running on the 49ers is designed to fail. Haven't allowed the a 100 yard rusher in I can't remember how many games. Zero rushing touchdowns given up this year. And allow the least amount of rushing yards per game.

The Steelers should have benched Roethlisberger. He looked bad before warmups.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Don't want to brag too much, but running on the 49ers is designed to fail. Haven't allowed the a 100 yard rusher in I can't remember how many games. Zero rushing touchdowns given up this year. And allow the least amount of rushing yards per game.

The Steelers should have benched Roethlisberger. He looked bad before warmups.

Oh, I agree. I mean Mendenhall was having some success in getting some big yards and they could have mixed it up and made the D work the guessing game. Batch is a veteran QB who can sit in the pocket and he has great targets like Ward, Brown, Cotchrey, Wallace.

I mean Batch couldn't have done any worse than Ben performed. 3 INTS and a fumble is not going to get you a win. It was just bad coaching on the part of Tomlin not to step up and tell his QB to take a seat.

Either way...the Niners played with more heart and humbled the Steelers. Sends a message to the other NFC teams that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs. It'll be interesting to see how the playoff picture ends up.

Ben took a beating too and who knows how much worse he hurt himself in this game by trying to be "the tough guy". They have the Rams and the Browns in the last two games. On paper not really tough teams but the way the Steelers played those teams could definitely pull upsets.

 

[Matt]

Don't want to brag too much, but running on the 49ers is designed to fail. Haven't allowed the a 100 yard rusher in I can't remember how many games. Zero rushing touchdowns given up this year. And allow the least amount of rushing yards per game.

The Steelers should have benched Roethlisberger. He looked bad before warmups.

Mendenhall was well on his way to 100, 14 for 65, half way through the third quarter. Mendenhall would have put up 100 if Arians did not do as Bruce Arians is so prone to doing and give up on the running game. He seriously needs to be fired.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Mendenhall was well on his way to 100, 14 for 65, half way through the third quarter. Mendenhall would have put up 100 if Arians did not do as Bruce Arians is so prone to doing and give up on the running game. He seriously needs to be fired.

Definitely. Plus Moore had that 21 yard run. Combined that's 86 yards of rushing. If the Steelers would have put a little more faith into the running game they could have easily broke that 100 yard mark, and even changed the pace of the game.

Once again...bad coaching. Billy, Billy, Billy...how the Steelers need you so.

 

[Matt]

Definitely. Plus Moore had that 21 yard run. Combined that's 86 yards of rushing. If the Steelers would have put a little more faith into the running game they could have easily broke that 100 yard mark, and even changed the pace of the game.

Once again...bad coaching. Billy, Billy, Billy...how the Steelers need you so.

The thing about Tomlin is, he delegates. Bill Cowher was a defensive minded coach, but every aspect of the team was purely Bill Cowher's. From the offense to the defense to the special teams, it was always Cowher's design (which is what made his relationship with LeBeau so great, their philosophies are identical). Tomlin on the other hand delegates hardcore. He lets Arians run the offense, LeBeau run the defense and Everest run the special teams. He doesn't take away their play calling duties when they fail. He just lets them go, for better or worse. That is a huge weakness. He needs to say, "This is my team, this is how it will be."

Beyond that, he needs to start adjusting his system for players. Not expecting players to adjust for his system.

 

[Rowsdower!]

What a horrible effort by the Steelers. They might be in the playoffs, but they certainly don't look like they deserve to be there. That game was pathetic. Excuse me while I go crawl in a f***ing hole.

 

[Wheels]

The Steelers are allergic to running the ball apparently.

 

[Hound55]

Tomlin shows that it's not just young girls who can't say "No" to Ben Rapistberger...

 

[Ness]

Mendenhall was well on his way to 100, 14 for 65, half way through the third quarter. Mendenhall would have put up 100 if Arians did not do as Bruce Arians is so prone to doing and give up on the running game. He seriously needs to be fired.

I just think we would have adjusted and cracked down if the Steelers wanted to try and run it down our throat.

 

[Ness]

The 49ers won this game more than the Steelers lost it. Let's just get that straight.

 

[Raiden]

Just imagine what would happen if Niners got an elite QB and not Alex Smith; they can probably win the Superbowl this season. If they get a Bye, then they just need to win the Conference game to go to the Big Dance.

 

[Trainwreck2100]

Just imagine what would happen if Niners got an elite QB and not Alex Smith; they can probably win the Superbowl this season. If they get a Bye, then they just need to win the Conference game to go to the Big Dance.

yeah..................no see there are six teams that's 4 games the first weeks 4 games the second week, and then there is the Conference game. So they'd need to win 2 games to get to the super bowl

 

[Ness]

Just imagine what would happen if Niners got an elite QB and not Alex Smith; they can probably win the Superbowl this season. If they get a Bye, then they just need to win the Conference game to go to the Big Dance.

That would be nice. Maybe Colin Kaepernick shows something for the future. Alex's performance in the playoffs is going to strongly dictate what his future is with this franchise.

 

[Matt]

The 49ers won this game more than the Steelers lost it. Let's just get that straight.

No they didn't. The Steelers lost it through bad coaching. The second Tomlin decided to play an injured quarterback who sucks in the pocket and allowed Arians to not adjust his play calling at all due to this, the game was lost. All before the first snap. Seriously Ness, I love your enthusiasm, but you're kinda delusional (as any sports fan should be regarding their team).

 

[kane9321]

The way that San Fran's running game and defense have been playing, this game should be 35-3. You guys are going to be dangerous as hell when you get a real quarterback under center.

we have a real qb...he just beat you
we still need to work on the red zone offense

 

[Matt]

we have a real qb...he just beat you

18 for 31 and 187 yards? Come on, I get supporting him as a fan but no one in Pittsburgh was delusional enough to see Tommy Maddox as a long term solution.
Smith is having a good season. He will never be a quality NFL starter though.

 

[bgates87]

The 49ers defense played great, but the Steelers made a lot of mistakes, too. Roethlisberger probably should have been pulled after the second interception, and certainly no later than mid-way through the fourth quarter when the game was out of hand. The clock management before halftime was a comedy of errors as well.

And also: Alex Smith... real QB... He's playing at the level of an average backup.

 

[Matt]

Roethlisberger should have never played. He is not a pocket passer. In fact, I dare say that he is one of of the worst pocket passers in the league. His coach should have identified that he was unable to run and move like he normally does and realized that his injury made the type of play that makes him successful, impossible and benched him as Charlie Batch on the other hand is a pocket passer. Furthermore, Arians should have adjusted his system rather than trying to force it on an injured player. Tomlin needs to own up, take responsibility and make a tough call....fire Bruce Arians today.

Of course, this is Mike Tomlin so I'm not counting on it. Lord, I worry for the future of this team when the Cowher players are gone.

 

[Raiden]

18 for 31 and 187 yards? Come on, I get supporting him as a fan but no one in Pittsburgh was delusional enough to see Tommy Maddox as a long term solution.
Smith is having a good season. He will never be a quality NFL starter though.

Smiths job is to not screw up so Niners' running game and defense can win the game. Once Niners can find someone better they should drop him.

 

[Matt]

Smiths job is to not screw up so Niners' running game and defense can win the game. Once Niners can find someone better they should drop him.

Then it is like I said, he is not a real quarterback. Teams should not win in spite of their QB.

 

[Erzengel]

Alex Smith this year can manage the game. Which is working out for the 49ers. But down by 6 with a minute and 45 seconds left, I don't think Smith could march down the field and score.

 

[Darthphere]

The Steelers should absolutely play Ben tomorrow. I can't stand the guy but the offense has been atrocious enough without him. They need him, because a win tomorrow gives them the one seed and home field throughout (assuming that they can go on to win out). They need to fire on all cylinders.

Roethlisberger should have never played. He is not a pocket passer. In fact, I dare say that he is one of of the worst pocket passers in the league. His coach should have identified that he was unable to run and move like he normally does and realized that his injury made the type of play that makes him successful, impossible and benched him as Charlie Batch on the other hand is a pocket passer. Furthermore, Arians should have adjusted his system rather than trying to force it on an injured player. Tomlin needs to own up, take responsibility and make a tough call....fire Bruce Arians today.

Of course, this is Mike Tomlin so I'm not counting on it. Lord, I worry for the future of this team when the Cowher players are gone.

Lets stay consistent Matt.

 

[Matt]

Lets stay consistent Matt.

The Steelers have been making his condition sound much better than it was throughout the week. The guy could barely walk. Being as I can only go based on what he and his coaches say, I was under the impression that he was relatively healthy. After seeing him, I know that isn't the case.

 

[kane9321]

Alex Smith this year can manage the game. Which is working out for the 49ers. But down by 6 with a minute and 45 seconds left, I don't think Smith could march down the field and score.

he could..and he hast: