Steelers apparently have Panther disease

[Kevin Greene]

Bulk of Pittsburgh blame rest with Arians

Posted by Mike Florio on December 12, 2009 9:14 AM ET

With the entire coaching staff returning and 19 of 22 starters in place to begin the year, the Steelers were expected to make a serious run at accomplishing the thing that the Steelers of the 1970s did twice -- win back-to-back Super Bowls.

A 6-2 start to the season only reinforced the belief that the Steelers would be right in the thick of things come January, and possibly February.

Though a return to the postseason is still not impossible, it's highly unlikely at this point.

So what's wrong with this team? We devoted Friday's PFT Daily exclusively to the subject, and there surely will be much discussion and debate in and beyond Pittsburgh regarding the things that need to be done to get the franchise back on track.

But here's the most obvious fix -- bid farewell to offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.

Arians has lived by the pass and, particularly on Thursday night in Cleveland, died by it. As John Harris of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review points out, the Steelers' first two drives of the game ended with sacks of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who lined up in shotgun formation on third and short.

"You figure that is a run down," tackle Willie Colon said, per Harris. "[T]hat's usually a down for our running backs."

But not with Bruce Arians, who has turned the notion of Steeler football on its head by throwing the ball in such circumstances. Or, more accurately, by not throwing the ball because Roethlisberger again held the ball way too long.

A running team that passes too much, where have I seen that before?

[Brandon]

The Steelers should be more of a passing team, considering how poorly the OL blocks on running plays. And as a fan of both teams it's painful to watch both struggling in somewhat similar manners this year.

[rayzor]

steelers aren't running because the run game is pathetic due to a piss poor oline. thats also the reason that ben gets sacked so much. the run game has been ugly as well. they are only getting 4.2 yards per carry.

playcalling might be a problem but the oline, a bad running game, and less than steller play from the defense, particularly passing defense, has brought them a whole slew of problems. that is where the major issue is for them.

[monstercat]

They do have O-line problems but Big Ben holds the ball too long too, so a lot of those sacks are on him. The only reason he has gotten away with it for so long, is that he's just as big and strong as half the guys trying to sack him. Hell, Delhomme wouldn't have lasted past week 1 if he tried to hold the ball as long as Ben does.

[pstall]

Besides showing how thin the margin of error in the NFL is.

Also shows how stubborn coaches get when either an area is struggling or where you find yourself points wise during a game.

[Argus Plexus]

I hate Steelers fans. They're so annoying.

[outlaw4]

They do have O-line problems but Big Ben holds the ball too long too, so a lot of those sacks are on him. The only reason he has gotten away with it for so long, is that he's just as big and strong as half the guys trying to sack him. Hell, Delhomme wouldn't have lasted past week 1 if he tried to hold the ball as long as Ben does.

It was surprising to see Ben go down so easily on Thursday. Usually, he shakes off would-be tacklers with ease and extend the play.

Last year, their running game was crap as well but had one of the best defenses of the league. Not so this year.

[Brooklyn Bully]

Yeah, I don't consider them a running team this season. Big Ben can throw the ball with ease. He's a great QB. Their RBs? Trash. Parker is old and busted up, Mendenhall isn't anything special, and the 3rd stringer...hell I don't even know his name.

WE are a running team. They are a defense first, passing team.

[ChucktownK]

P1S1?!?!

Feline Flu?!?!?!

[Kevin Greene]

Yeah, I don't consider them a running team this season. Big Ben can throw the ball with ease. He's a great QB. Their RBs? Trash. Parker is old and busted up, Mendenhall isn't anything special, and the 3rd stringer...hell I don't even know his name.

WE are a running team. They are a defense first, passing team.

We have 359 pass attempts through 12 games.

The Steelers 429 thru 13 games.

Project 30 onto our total for 13 games and it would be 389 vs 429 for the season. Pretty close, 40 more attempts thru 13 games = 3 more passes per game for the Steelers.

The Steelers are a hellova lot more succesful when they do pass the ball, so there numbers look better, but almost everyone else is compared to the Panthers.

[Panthers128]

I hate Steelers fans. They're so annoying.

They're easy to hate. I for one am glad to see them struggling.

I blame all their failure on Ben Roethlisberger distracting the team by raping women in the offseason.