GolfHos

Two bad coaching decisions to go for 2 pointers does the Steelers in.

Well, at 28-23 with the choice of a PAT or a two-point conversion attempt ...

If you get the PAT (leaving you down 24-28), you'll still need another TD (not FG) to win.  But in that scenario, JAC can kick a FG at the buzzer to tie.  If you get the two and go to 28-25 down, a subsequent FG ties it, and a TD puts PIT ahead such that the Jags need a TD to win (at 32-28, a Jacksonville FG doesn't even tie the game).

But once they got that holding penalty (and let's not talk about the fact that no holding occurred) to push them back to the 12, going for two was ridiculous.

When they scored again to get to 30-28, you're at a crossroads.  A gambling coach who trusts his defense might just go for two and make a Jaguars FG a non-option.  Personally, I'd have kicked the extra point.  Six minutes left in the game, PIT holding all three timeouts, their defense having found new life ... I like those odds enough to stay on the reservation.  Tomlin didn't agree, I guess.

He should be fired.

Good game.  Should have been within three points and it was. 

Wouldn't blame the PAT decisions.  Letting Garrard scamper for 30 on 4 and 2 is what cost them.  Well, that and Ben's horrid first half.

Strange officiating in this one.  Anyone agree?  Not saying it was one-sided necessarily as I thought quite a few calls were iffy.  But that reversal on the catch was bizarre.  Did seem to even out though as I thought Ward probably was guilty of the face mask.

Probably?  His hand was all up in there, even if unintentionally.  Should have been offsetting penalties, fourth down at the three-ish.  (Can a personal foul and pass interference offset?)

Replay wasn't absolutely conclusive even in 1080i.   ;)

I agree it was a face mask but the replay was a poor angle not to mention the nipples were pixelated. 

Hines Ward's nipples are real, and they're spectacular.

Where's Aske?

He's on a covert maim and kill mission at Warner Bros. headquarters. 

Now that I've had more time to think about it (I was just about to step out when I posted my last message), the failed 2 point conversions turned out to be sort of blessings in disguise for the Steelers. If the Steelers kicked the 2 PATs, the Jags would have been down 28-31. Assuming everything else played out the same way, when the Jags got to first down at the Pittsburgh 11, they probably would have been thinking TD to win--not FG to tie. Giving the Jags an option to score a FG to take the lead at least gave the Steelers a chance to win with a FG of their own. Of course, Big Ben's last INT would have rendered any scenario moot, but at least there was a better chance to win.

Almost forgot about the phantom hold on the two point conversion wiping out the spectacular catch by Ward. 

Maybe there was a penalty there but in the single replay you sure couldn't see it.

Anyway, can't figure out Roethlisberger.  If he plays the first half like he did the second the Steelers run away with this game.  Defense played well other than on two plays (Garrard fourth down conversion and Jags second TD.)  Special teams obviously still a weak point.

You mean his "fumble" on their last possession?  Post-game said it was a (horrible) shovel pass to Davenport.  I haven't reviewed it, but it probably wasn't a forward pass.  If it were, though, then it's either in the grasp or incomplete.  Either way, PIT keeps the ball and has another chance to try something with prayer attached.

I still can't figure out what qualifies as holding in the NFL.  Watch some plays again and focus on Polamalu.  He's held nearly every single play ... assuming holding means a guy hangs onto his jersey from the side or behind, or a guy behind him hooks one of Polamalu's arms, or a guy puts his hands or shoulder on the "43" on Polamalu's back and drives, etc.  Only one time did any Jag get called for holding on Polamalu.

Over on the left, Barnes had to be holding at least two out of three plays.  Yet JAC got called for holding ONCE (the tackle of Polamalu by the TE).

I'm going to re-watch some PIT offensive series and focus on a lineman, just to see if it's everyone doing it like that.

Yeah, I meant whatever kind of turnover it was that sealed the game for the Steelers.

Back on subject, I don't think the PAT decisions were bad.  I was actually questioning not going for two at 28-16.  Madden later said he feels it's a 4th quarter call only.  He's smarter than me by a long shot so I'll accept that. 

I think Tomlin and his staff deserve a lot of credit on this one.  The defensive scheme was brilliantly executed.  They attacked the run very aggressively and held the Jags to 239 yards of total offense and, taking Garrard's scrambles/called runs out of it, the running backs well under 100.  Es**** played very well in overcoming what was thought to be a glaring weakness.  The Steelers, even though they had Ward and Polamalu back, were still beat up (Parker, Smith, Smith and Starks).  Once they decided to play a NE style offensive scheme with Ward and Miller taking everything on offer underneath they absolutely ruled.  For the first time this season (I think) I felt the Steelers game out of the halftime locker room with a grade-A plan.

This game comes down to three gift interceptions and one HORRIBLE lapse on special teams.  Not much the coaches can do about the former although admittedly the latter has been a problem for a long time. 

The little bit I saw I thought PIT would come back and take it. They were throwing more and moving the ball. However I did see a couple plays where Ben had people open and just held on to the ball too long, or pump faked and ended up with a sack. He was trying too hard to make the big play.

The couple of times they did run (that I saw) was weak up the middle stuff. Same old stuff that gets stopped.

I don't know, as UB said if they just played the safe passes....

The answer here is really not elusive.  Aske simply quit on this team.  He was hinting at it weeks ago, and is now clearly evidenced by his lack of PBP on the game.  No amount of I was watching at D & B's with some friends playing Rock Band, and "calling" the chair Clive sat in, for the whole night! is gonna erase the fact that he turned his back on this club and quit.  Lay the blame where it deserves to get laid.

the entire game plan did the steelers in,  it was a miracle that jack del rio  turned off the gas in the 2nd half and let the steelers claw their way back in.   big ben did all he could to lose it (well, to be fair he was harassed all day long) early, then garrard did the same late.

that  super *goshdarn* idiotic delay sprint run call behind the fill in left tackle on 3rd and 4(?) with about 2:30 to play   sealed it, as i told all in attendence they would punt it away and lose.    when garrard converted the qb sneak on 4th and 1  I was screaming just let him score (so they would at least have about 90 seconds and 3 timeouts, even if it was needing a TD, not a FG... instead of 30 seconds and no timeouts.   which i pronounced immediately... then madden affirmed about 5 minutes later)

 [sm_disgust]


disgraceful. 

fire the moran!

hate !

i should be !  [sm_disgust] :sad3:  oh well


was out of town with no internet access.     :sad3:

the other part nobody talks about is the stillers biggest weakness came back to haunt them early with that huge kickoff return.      kickoff returns now cost them 4 games this year .

I don't know who #23 is in black and yellow, but he needs to be looking for a new employer also.

 >:(

sorry, i meant in the media, not the forum.
 :sad3:

 8)

It wasn't only that play.  They kicked away from Jones-Drew the rest of the game and routinely gave JAX the ball near mid-field. 

Where's Bobby April these days anyway?  (Rhetorical, I know it's Buffalo)    :'(

I was wondering why you let someone else have a chance to start the thread....

Oh, no!  That sounds horrible.

Is this gonna be the last "Fire Mike Tomlin" thread of the season?