Whether by design or Kenny, nothing goes over the middle. Rewatch the game (games) and really watch Kenny and what you can see of the routes. Rewind and watch the plays 2-3 times. It is hard to see down field beyond 10-15 yards on tv, the camera often follows the qb/rush and rarely pans out to see deeper routes, so hard to tell if someone is open. It is amazing how much more many people claim to be seeing though... Maybe they are all at the game sitting close enough to see the route and Kenny’s eyes and not fall over drunk from tailgating like the other 80% at the stadium are? Not talking here, but comments from many fans seem to be parroting what they are hearing (sort of like politics). Occasionally they will replay people that got open, but usually the ball is already in the air at that point, but some he is obviously missing. He does have some inaccurate throws as well, many are communication or throwing the ball away, but others are just bad passes. Kenny is not playing well, but many other factors going into it, many we don’t know and never likely will. All added up though, I think it is more their scheme. Obviously bad throws aren’t part of the scheme, but nothing in the middle and rare deep shots, especially early in the game seem to be by design. Which makes me wonder if some of the wide open looks he is passing are what he is being told to do. I wasn’t all that high on Kenny as a Pitt fan, but most things that people are saying are his weaknesses, were his strengths at Pitt. He threw a lot of accurate deep balls over the middle. Enough that Jordan Addison was in the Heisman talk and disappeared from that talk at USC. He had other receivers and TEs that he threw to in the middle intermediate routes. Not throwing there came about with the Steelers.

The options behind him have proven to be about the same when given the opportunity. Do you take “about the same” or do you stick with the guy you thought could be the future? To me, it really comes down to, is he doing mostly what they are asking him to do. Or is he being talked to and not doing what is asked. If the latter, then you roll with “one of the same” and bench him. I tend to think they are telling him to not throw over the middle. That is where balls get tipped and many of his INTs came from last year (also many of Mitch’s). Letting him do a bit more when behind in the 4th, why he typically plays better then. Didn’t this week. It seems to take them a little while to establish the run and think they want to keep him under wraps until they can. An INT forces them to abandon the run early and no confidence in playing a full game without the run. If this is the case, absolutely no way Mitch goes in. He is basically the same guy that Kenny was when tossing as many INTs as completions. Mason I just don’t think they will turn to unless both Kenny and Mitch are hurt. Imagine what Mason would have done with that Browns pressure? Maybe more accurate on some throws, but likely twice the sacks and no opportunity at all for his long passing ability. Garret would have likely bent him over and given him one on national TV too…

When they drafted Kenny, I was completely against it (feel free to go back and look on here). I wanted them to ride with Mason and rebuild the line. Not patch work it as they have been. It appeared like they addressed much of it through FA, but it hasn’t shown against quality opponents. Jones does look to be a future stud, especially in the run. James Daniels is solid, but far from the all pro guys they have had in the past. Seumalo has been a disappointment from what I thought we were getting. Cole needs replaced. Not sure if Herbig is the answer or would likely see him more. Dan Moore did absolutely nothing in slowing Garret. In their defense, they are doing much better in their run blocking, but pass blocking is horrendous. Look up average time before pressure. They are ranked dead last. Their run blocking, average yard before contact for runners is pretty good and getting better. So their total rating isn’t bad.

It also seems to be what Tomlin wants to do in running the ball and keeping games close until the end. For what this team is, it really isn’t a bad strategy. Rather painful to watch since they aren’t really good at it. But rewind to the early 2000’s when they were a dominant team. It was all about Bettis, Fast Willie behind the best O-line in the league and a strong D. Ben was a game manager his first few years. They are just a lesser version of that now. They tried to take a short cut by getting the RB and QB before the O-line and we see the results.

A strong O line and D line has been the recipe for success for years. Eagles are proving it again. They make average skill players look much better. KP would be just fine behind a line like that. Harris would be a perennial all pro. They did well getting Jones on the O side and Benton on the D side. If Seumalo turns things around and they can address center and tackle in the draft or FA, the entire offense will look much better. Kenny will never be Mahommes or Ben. But he can be what Ben was, when they were a dominant team. Ben got much better, but they went away from that winning formula and tried to copy the high flying offense, which just never lived up to what they could have been. Ben’s prime with Brown and Bell, was probably their best offense ever. They made it to one superbowl and crapped the bed.

Mitchell

Encouraging news for me. I'd like to see Harris and Warren together in the backfield on some of the plays. Two major threats behind the QB makes it decision time for the defense, maybe a big enough decision for the tight end or a wideout to get loose. I guess I'm just old enough to remember Franco & Frenchie or Franco and Rocky to do some wishful thinkin'.
 

It would be nice to see some creativity in the playbook, besides a jet sweep that maybe gets a yard if they are able to hurdle a player and do the work that would typically gain 10…

The reality is that mid season OC change isn’t going to do all too much with the playbook. It is too much to create a new playbook and get every player on the same page. Hopefully these two coaches have the ability to pull from their overall playbook to find the plays that fit their team strengths the best. Don’t be as predictable on the calls. They might be able to add a few new plays, but takes a lot to get everyone on the same page. What training camp, preseason and first few weeks of practice are for.

What I was saying about Pickett and what is really being asked of him, I imagine wouldn’t just be a Canada thing. Likely if it is the case for him to be ultra cautious on the risk taking, would very likely at least get the okay from Tomlin, if not completely his call. So, would that even change things?

At the very least, gives fans a bit of hope for a few days!

Oh yeah Eyes, Love our Browns. I find it hillarious that the Steelers fire their OC after playing against 1 of the best Defenses in the league. Let's get honest, both our offenses suck.
 
BH

The browns arn't going anywhere in our lifetime LOL infact it's been a few lifetimes that they have.If you can't beat the stinky steelers and split with them your toast!! At least the steelers have a few trophys to show . I do like Nick Chubb he is the best running back in league now shame he is hurt.  BH we fing it hilarious that you browns fan you have something every year and every year they STINK!!!  LOL

Browns on paper were the best team in the best division. Their front office did what they could to build one of the top 5, if not higher overall rosters. But, they are the Browns. Besides Detroit, possibly the most unlucky team. If their defense isn’t the best, it is dang close. They built a nice O line with the best RB in the league, both dealing with injuries to make a shell of what should have been as an offense. Along with Watson following the absolute curse of every Browns QB since Bernie. Looks like DTR is next…. Death, taxes and Browns QB to be horrible.

Shocking firing of Canada. I think there was a player revolt or something going on. I can't believe he got canned. 

Great news though. We either see that he was a very big problem OR we see that Kenny is the issue. Either way, we find out what we got. 
It cannot get any worse than it was so, we'll see.
 

BloodyHand

ICE NUT
The browns arn't going anywhere in our lifetime LOL infact it's been a few lifetimes that they have.If you can't beat the stinky steelers and split with them your toast!! At least the steelers have a few trophys to show . I do like Nick Chubb he is the best running back in league now shame he is hurt.  BH we fing it hilarious that you browns fan you have something every year and every year they STINK!!!  LOL

Its been a lifetime of disappointment for sure. The Browns find a way to beat themselves every year.  My family and friends are split between the Browns and the Steelers. I guess you'll have that when you live in Erie. I met both Bills fans from Erie, nice people. I've always enjoyed the rivalry but like the fact that we both hate the Ravens.
 
BH

It really is remarkable how that organization is ran/has bad luck. 

The Stadium is beautiful though!

I might be a little old and memory challenged, but do you guys remember all of this horsetrading with other teams, pickin' up waived players, even players asking to be cut in order to find another team of their dreams. This is late in the season for all of this, it seems. I know it happens mostly after pre-season or within the first few weeks of the regular season, but I think this is a little odd. OTOH, there have been soooooo many injuries this year it seems natural to try to grab a player, but Jeez!, it's like they'll put a 3rd stringer with a minor ankle injury on the IR and then hit the "sales sheets" to find a replacement. What say you guys?
 
Looks like the Browns have signed Joe Flaco. I'll give them a thumb's up for that. Flaco still has life in him.

The Browns are still starting the rookie. I believe Flacco will be the 3rd stringer.
 
BH

I new I walked into an inferno on this thread being a Browns fan. I'll shut my mouf. Carry on....................
 
BH

Most enjoyable game to watch all season for Stillers. Looked sort of like the first drive of every preseason game against the other teams starters (which of course none of them were trying then)…. Funny reading morons type stuff like that. Those starters are playing their shifts in preseason just the same as they are during the season. Pride/competition in these extreme athletes doesn’t allow many of them to not give 100% when lined up against another teams’ top players. No doubt, making in game adjustments isn’t as much then, but those 2-3 shifts by the starters are on the same level as week 2-3, but for the entire game.

Only the team knows if it was play calling and player instruction to not throw over the middle and be ultra safe on throws. But this one game sort of made it look that way. Let’s see how the rest of the season goes. Bengals defense isn’t the best, but ranked right with the Steelers, facing similar circumstances this year of an offense (even with Burrow), not helping keep them off of the field. Although Burrow was turning it on a bit mid season, he was struggling as bad as Kenny to start.

It surely makes the remainder of the season a bit more exciting. Welcomed with winter starting to creep in and fishing phasing out. Hopefully this weekends forecast will allow at least one more trip. But not sure if another skunking is worth freezing my rear off???

psu_fish
PSU cow tippers will get false hope every year vs weaker teams. Then get smoked by Ohio State and Michigan like usual.

Can’t say that I saw that coming…. But how could you be surprised by anything the Stillers have done this season.

Trubisky has reminded why he hasn’t been called on when Kenny was struggling. Can’t blame it all on him by any means, but he is not an upgrade.

Good thing they went and got a bunch of ILBs in the off-season. Too bad they are all injured now. Roberts going down was the downfall of the defense today. How they allowed that 99 yard drive is unacceptable for such a “good” offense.

Center has to be their top target in next years draft, unless there is a solid ILB, depending on how injuries pan out.. If one of the first round graded QBs falls to the second round, probably not a horrible move. I wouldn’t use the first round without shoring up the O line. They were playing much better until today.

Play calling on offense was like Canada was back. I understand establishing the run. But they sliced right through Cardinals worst ranked pass defense on the first drive, then seemed to only pass in predictable situations.

PSU assumed this game and next would give fans false hope. Last game might have been the only false hope…. Thursday now looks like a toss up, possibly be an underdog to a 2 win team???

Browns lost too. Status quo for now. Steelers still control their own destiny. 

These games happen every single year. They're a Tomlin tradition. Every single year they lose to an absolute garbage team, sometimes a few times a year. 

I agree with Porktown. They definitely need a Center. All this season I've watched Kenny pickin' the ball off his shoelaces when in the shotgun, which seems to be the only way they center the ball. The only times you see Pickett under center is for the sneak. Trubisky's fumble came off of snatching the ball off his shoe tops when even under the best of conditions, a good straight up shotgun saves maybe 1 additional second to unload in play action or downfield. With a low ball the quarterback has almost no chance to scramble. 4 shots at goal and gettin' stuffed on the 1 yard line just don't cut it, and then the embarrasment of a 99 yard drive just rubs salt in the wound. With any luck, they might do 10 & 7 for the season, but if I was a bettin' man, I don't think I'd go with them.