Basically the Steelers “management” realized mid season what EVERYONE realized 2 years ago. And another season was wasted because of it. And who knows how much Pickett’s development was sabotaged. They kept an obviously incompetent offensive coordinator for no good reason.
Based on the plays you hilighted, it appears that our route concepts just dont work. Defenses know the 5 or so routes we run and have the linebackers muddy the middle and Kenny gets happy feet. He then spins left or right into the defense, rinse repeat.
Saw some more Allen Robinson wind sprints across the formation that did nothing to fool/influence the D the last couple weeks and thought of your vid on that as well. They're trying so many things but none of it seems to result in guys actually getting more open
That play with Robinson - how in the hell is it selling the run when the RB goes the OTHER WAY??? You would immediately know that "something doesn't look right." And Pickett drives me INSANE with his lack of commitment to the fake. He doesn't even TRY to sell it. I mean, he doesn't have to win acting awards, but it immediately doesn't look or 'feel' to ANYONE that it might be real. It's like that play designed by Coach Klein where the QB fakes, NO, WAIT, he doesn't fake, he PRETENDS to fake... This IS Coach Klein's offense AFTER he got his green notebook stolen and BEFORE he got his manhood back.
I’m glad you tackled this issue. We are all so used to Ben and his patented play action drop, followed a deep ball completion. And we just haven’t seen anything like that, even though we can run the ball well. I actually have no idea why it isn’t drawing anyone in.
Alex, I know you’re a Steeler guy. But you’re talented. I think you could grow this channel if you expanded to doing this with other teams too. I played O line in college and always enjoy seeing your breakdowns. Keep up the great work.
It's almost like the defense knows what's coming. 1st play KP gets sacked - no one blocks edge rusher. 3rd play - several defensine players near Warren. It's obviously not working. Poor design.
Love the breakdown . Pickens wasn’t messy though in the first play . He was finding a soft spot in the zone like Travis Kelce . We need to sling it to gp
Maybe it is just from the time I've spent watching this team, but dont you feel like you have a pretty good idea what is coming each play? I feel like there are so many tells presnap between personal, splits, body language, and the down and distance predictability. If you can't figure it out presnap, the line and half assed ball fake will give it away instantly. They are just straight pass blocking, no attempt to make it look like run, just that their guy doesn't beat them. I had to watch teams who run playaction more effectively and then come back and watch this tape to see how bad it was. There are reasons teams like the 49ers have wide open runners in the middle of the field. Granted the 49ers zone run scheme allows them to move aggressively along the LOS without being illegally downfield.
Neither Pickett or Trubisky are masters of sleight-of-hand. But that doesn't mean they can't become better at it. Because Canada didn't use it much, Pickett nor Trubisky probably didn't get much work at it.
In the first 2 Clips, the O-Line dont sell the run. Nobody blocks for the run, they block for the pass. In the last clip, they block to their left were the run supposed to go. Better design, so Washington gets open.
Imo Mitch had Pat on the 2nd PA almost immediately plenty of space to make the throw. But on all of them the OL the Rb and Qb are not selling the PA well at all.
First two downs shown, Kenny should have stepped up in the pocket keeping his eyes down field. My take on it that he does not trust Mason Cole to hold his block. So he dives out to his left.
There looks to be a common strategy from defenses this year, middle linebackers don't budge much. That might be why play action doesn't look to be that effective.
Hi Alex, nice video and I agree, they aren't fooling anyone. The throw to Washington, the playfake goes to the other side away from the insert block - WTH? Since this is still the Canada play pamphlet, the route combinations don't seem well coordinated and a defender seems to never be put in a position where he's wrong no matter what choice he makes. What I did notice is receivers running through open space into coverage a lot. Some different route concepts/combinations maybe? Some deep curls and digs rather than what we saw here, perhaps? The Patriots in particular seemed to know what to expect to the point they were running the routes for the receivers a lot.
the second video vs the cards, the middle linebacker got pulled way up and that opened up muth. He didn't turn his head to look for the throw early enough and it looks like mitch wasn't even looking his way. This is a play that we've seen kenny make many times (the first play post canada was similar). I think most of the problem is that mitch can't read defenses or make most throws. not sure why muth didn't turn around until he almost reached the safety though. seems like he should either know that or have been told by the coach. I think this offense simply won't function at all under mitch. He's just terrible.
I don't know how or what the giveaway is but somehow these teams know that it's a pass play. If you look at your 3rd example against the Patriots and look at the D lineman that comes thru before Mitch makes the throw, that lineman never even LOOKS at the running back as Mitch is turning away from the LOS. That lineman starts making a beeline towards Mitch before he's had a chance to make the fake and doesn't hesitate in the SLIGHTEST in coming after Mitch. He never acknowledges AT ALL that Mitch might hand it off. Something is tipping teams off. Neither of our QB's is selling the fake that well either. Ben was very good at it. He made it LOOK like he was handing off so that anyone that was already coming forward paused to see where the running back was going..Mitch and Kenny both need work on the fake itself.
Do you think this has anything to do with how long it takes our pass plays to run? It seems like the defense knows that given how long they will have to react to a pass, they can just stand their ground against the run, and then drop and will still have time to get to any receiver in their zone. In that play against the Cards, looks like Muth is wide open against the zone if Mitch just does a '3-step-fire' pass. It's almost like they're not even starting their reads until they finish a 7 step drop. By then the LBs will have already dropped, so what good is play action if they can't get a pass off in rhythm after 3 steps? Great vid!
They don't really 'sell' the play as a run at all, the hand-off is extremely obviously fake looking at the endzone perspective, the running back does not carry his momentum forward or have any explosiveness and the quarterback's arm jerks back noticeably to pull the ball back in. I think this is an extension of issues they had under Canada where the *entire offense* was giving the play away as a pass (and weren't PA off of run looks in the first place), and now everybody else has tightened up but the backs haven't tightened up their end yet.
Our play action almost never works because we use the pass as an extension of run. An aside: What kills me about Mitch "the aggressive" Trubisky, in the ARI example, is he should have thrown an post into the endzone to Pickens as soon as Pickens hit the 10, or to single covered Muth. He won't ever do that. He needs to have triple coverage or a route where it only moves the chains in order for him to throw it. When was the last time we got a turnover inside striking distance and went for the throat on the first play?
Is it just me or if they are calling/designing/targeting as many passing plays for their backup TE or RB then to the starting receivers or TE it could help explain why the offense has struggled, outside of predictability. Just putting it out there but if there were more designed plays for the top playmakers, especially 14, to get the ball downfield instead of using desperation heaves, things could improve, and the team might see better attitude from the starting cast.
I’m no expert but I can’t help but wonder is it attention to detail. The quarterbacks are not doing a good job of selling the fake. Almost looks like they are trying to get the ball out as fast as they can. Some of that too can be attributed to the running backs also selling it hitting the hole with force.
I’m not going by play but in a nut shell. A head coach worth anything has to know the passing game is bad by design. The routes are not designed to take advantage of the open areas of the field. The receivers are making it easy to cover them. They are running at the defenders and on vertical routes with no thought of sitting down in the open area of the defense but run to the defender making it easy to cover them. The whole passing game has to be updated and that will take time under a a new OC. The QB will have to be one who has the arm to get it done. Any head coach who would let this go on should be fired. On the first play the line blocks to the right and lets a defensive linemen be blocked by Harris its just a stupid play. On the last play they let a defensive linemen come free on the right.
Go back and look at what you're looking at. They're running the ball effectively the play option should work if if you executed properly. You can clearly see that he's not spending enough time. Faking like he's putting it in the running backs gut. It's just a flash at the running back. And then he spends around so he can throw the ball. That's not gonna fool anybody.
Pickett and the backs gotta sell it a little better. Would you fall for that? I wouldn't. Watch Lamar Jackson's fake handoffs. Big difference. Boomer Esiason had the best play action I can remember. He was a magician, and even the camera guy would get faked.
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Basically the Steelers “management” realized mid season what EVERYONE realized 2 years ago. And another season was wasted because of it. And who knows how much Pickett’s development was sabotaged. They kept an obviously incompetent offensive coordinator for no good reason.
Oh there was a good reason! He helped Mike Tomlin's son get into college and he's Tomlin's good friend!!!!!!!! That's literally THE REASON!
We are lucky to have you, Alex. Great work.. love your unbiased approach and breakdown.
Appreciate you man!!
Based on the plays you hilighted, it appears that our route concepts just dont work. Defenses know the 5 or so routes we run and have the linebackers muddy the middle and Kenny gets happy feet. He then spins left or right into the defense, rinse repeat.
Spot on.
Saw some more Allen Robinson wind sprints across the formation that did nothing to fool/influence the D the last couple weeks and thought of your vid on that as well. They're trying so many things but none of it seems to result in guys actually getting more open
It's because they aren't great at anything. They don't fool or scare any defense.
That play with Robinson - how in the hell is it selling the run when the RB goes the OTHER WAY??? You would immediately know that "something doesn't look right."
And Pickett drives me INSANE with his lack of commitment to the fake. He doesn't even TRY to sell it. I mean, he doesn't have to win acting awards, but it immediately doesn't look or 'feel' to ANYONE that it might be real. It's like that play designed by Coach Klein where the QB fakes, NO, WAIT, he doesn't fake, he PRETENDS to fake...
This IS Coach Klein's offense AFTER he got his green notebook stolen and BEFORE he got his manhood back.
Pickett is never convincing, I’ve noticed that too. Part of play action is actually selling the fake. Probably the biggest proponent of it.
It's possible they dont bite because they know or at least have an idea what's coming and they stick to their assignments?
I’m glad you tackled this issue. We are all so used to Ben and his patented play action drop, followed a deep ball completion. And we just haven’t seen anything like that, even though we can run the ball well. I actually have no idea why it isn’t drawing anyone in.
Because the defense knows what we are trying to do.
Alex, I know you’re a Steeler guy. But you’re talented. I think you could grow this channel if you expanded to doing this with other teams too. I played O line in college and always enjoy seeing your breakdowns. Keep up the great work.
3:40 the play action clearly pulled the linebacker up creating an opening for the TE, Trubisky just didn’t throw it to him.
It's almost like the defense knows what's coming. 1st play KP gets sacked - no one blocks edge rusher. 3rd play - several defensine players near Warren. It's obviously not working. Poor design.
Love the breakdown . Pickens wasn’t messy though in the first play . He was finding a soft spot in the zone like Travis Kelce . We need to sling it to gp
It is awesome to repeatedly see all 5 receivers outside of the numbers. (Rolling my eyes)
Maybe it is just from the time I've spent watching this team, but dont you feel like you have a pretty good idea what is coming each play? I feel like there are so many tells presnap between personal, splits, body language, and the down and distance predictability. If you can't figure it out presnap, the line and half assed ball fake will give it away instantly. They are just straight pass blocking, no attempt to make it look like run, just that their guy doesn't beat them. I had to watch teams who run playaction more effectively and then come back and watch this tape to see how bad it was. There are reasons teams like the 49ers have wide open runners in the middle of the field. Granted the 49ers zone run scheme allows them to move aggressively along the LOS without being illegally downfield.
The dysfunction on offense is clearly apparent in these clips...Some of the worst and unimaginative pass routes I've ever seen...
Neither Pickett or Trubisky are masters of sleight-of-hand. But that doesn't mean they can't become better at it. Because Canada didn't use it much, Pickett nor Trubisky probably didn't get much work at it.
No one is fooled by the fake. The back and ball are nowhere near each other. lol
In the first 2 Clips, the O-Line dont sell the run. Nobody blocks for the run, they block for the pass. In the last clip, they block to their left were the run supposed to go. Better design, so Washington gets open.
Yeah I should've mentioned the high hat/low hat aspect of it more. Really crucial to PA success.
Imo Mitch had Pat on the 2nd PA almost immediately plenty of space to make the throw. But on all of them the OL the Rb and Qb are not selling the PA well at all.
First two downs shown, Kenny should have stepped up in the pocket keeping his eyes down field. My take on it that he does not trust Mason Cole to hold his block. So he dives out to his left.
I have a feeling that Trubisky has a tell that defenses figured out and we can’t see/hear it as fans.
There looks to be a common strategy from defenses this year, middle linebackers don't budge much. That might be why play action doesn't look to be that effective.
Hi Alex, nice video and I agree, they aren't fooling anyone. The throw to Washington, the playfake goes to the other side away from the insert block - WTH? Since this is still the Canada play pamphlet, the route combinations don't seem well coordinated and a defender seems to never be put in a position where he's wrong no matter what choice he makes. What I did notice is receivers running through open space into coverage a lot. Some different route concepts/combinations maybe? Some deep curls and digs rather than what we saw here, perhaps? The Patriots in particular seemed to know what to expect to the point they were running the routes for the receivers a lot.
Good breakdown......watching the ineptitude of this team makes me want to gouge out my own eyeballs! WTF??
the second video vs the cards, the middle linebacker got pulled way up and that opened up muth. He didn't turn his head to look for the throw early enough and it looks like mitch wasn't even looking his way. This is a play that we've seen kenny make many times (the first play post canada was similar). I think most of the problem is that mitch can't read defenses or make most throws. not sure why muth didn't turn around until he almost reached the safety though. seems like he should either know that or have been told by the coach. I think this offense simply won't function at all under mitch. He's just terrible.
The sad thing is that DM slides down to take Isaac's man and IS73 blocks no one when NH22 is left to block a DE. That's asinine
Oh film Master does PGH line the RB deeper than other teams? Looks to me that the time it takes is too long to keep attention or redirect LBs.
I don't know how or what the giveaway is but somehow these teams know that it's a pass play. If you look at your 3rd example against the Patriots and look at the D lineman that comes thru before Mitch makes the throw, that lineman never even LOOKS at the running back as Mitch is turning away from the LOS. That lineman starts making a beeline towards Mitch before he's had a chance to make the fake and doesn't hesitate in the SLIGHTEST in coming after Mitch. He never acknowledges AT ALL that Mitch might hand it off. Something is tipping teams off. Neither of our QB's is selling the fake that well either. Ben was very good at it. He made it LOOK like he was handing off so that anyone that was already coming forward paused to see where the running back was going..Mitch and Kenny both need work on the fake itself.
Do you think this has anything to do with how long it takes our pass plays to run? It seems like the defense knows that given how long they will have to react to a pass, they can just stand their ground against the run, and then drop and will still have time to get to any receiver in their zone. In that play against the Cards, looks like Muth is wide open against the zone if Mitch just does a '3-step-fire' pass. It's almost like they're not even starting their reads until they finish a 7 step drop. By then the LBs will have already dropped, so what good is play action if they can't get a pass off in rhythm after 3 steps? Great vid!
They don't really 'sell' the play as a run at all, the hand-off is extremely obviously fake looking at the endzone perspective, the running back does not carry his momentum forward or have any explosiveness and the quarterback's arm jerks back noticeably to pull the ball back in. I think this is an extension of issues they had under Canada where the *entire offense* was giving the play away as a pass (and weren't PA off of run looks in the first place), and now everybody else has tightened up but the backs haven't tightened up their end yet.
Our play action almost never works because we use the pass as an extension of run.
An aside: What kills me about Mitch "the aggressive" Trubisky, in the ARI example, is he should have thrown an post into the endzone to Pickens as soon as Pickens hit the 10, or to single covered Muth. He won't ever do that. He needs to have triple coverage or a route where it only moves the chains in order for him to throw it. When was the last time we got a turnover inside striking distance and went for the throat on the first play?
We also use it too much at times
Is it just me or if they are calling/designing/targeting as many passing plays for their backup TE or RB then to the starting receivers or TE it could help explain why the offense has struggled, outside of predictability. Just putting it out there but if there were more designed plays for the top playmakers, especially 14, to get the ball downfield instead of using desperation heaves, things could improve, and the team might see better attitude from the starting cast.
I don’t see them really selling it well and it’s in obvious pass situations
Kenny is just late on getting the ball out to DJ. And Najee, He gotta block upright!
I’m no expert but I can’t help but wonder is it attention to detail. The quarterbacks are not doing a good job of selling the fake. Almost looks like they are trying to get the ball out as fast as they can. Some of that too can be attributed to the running backs also selling it hitting the hole with force.
I’m not going by play but in a nut shell. A head coach worth anything has to know the passing game is bad by design. The routes are not designed to take advantage of the open areas of the field. The receivers are making it easy to cover them. They are running at the defenders and on vertical routes with no thought of sitting down in the open area of the defense but run to the defender making it easy to cover them. The whole passing game has to be updated and that will take time under a a new OC. The QB will have to be one who has the arm to get it done. Any head coach who would let this go on should be fired. On the first play the line blocks to the right and lets a defensive linemen be blocked by Harris its just a stupid play. On the last play they let a defensive linemen come free on the right.
Play action works when ppl fear the run… no one fears this offense
Recipe for change. We have to get a guy in the OC position to who knows how modern nfl offenses work.
Your run game has to be good for it to work
the only ppl getting fooled by this offense are us fans. need a new O coord. stat. and please go outside the organization to find one.
Look at Muth and Pickens in the middle just running into each other on the first play.. Jesus 🤦♂️
Go back and look at what you're looking at. They're running the ball effectively the play option should work if if you executed properly. You can clearly see that he's not spending enough time. Faking like he's putting it in the running backs gut. It's just a flash at the running back. And then he spends around so he can throw the ball. That's not gonna fool anybody.
Pickett and the backs gotta sell it a little better. Would you fall for that? I wouldn't. Watch Lamar Jackson's fake handoffs. Big difference. Boomer Esiason had the best play action I can remember. He was a magician, and even the camera guy would get faked.
Correct on Boomer Esiason
Dude our entire offensive scheme is low key techmo bowl…… no route concepts, no coaching it’s just bad
All I see is a franchise that has done #2 D I R T Y