The Steelers coaching on Sunday was dreadful, awful, horrible.
With their backup quarterback in and a rain/snow mix at Heinz Field against the winless Detroit Lions, head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Matt Canada stuck with their game plan.
They threw the ball 50 times, compared to just over 25 run attempts, almost a two-to-one difference.
Yes, the coaches get an "F" for their decisions yesterday, but it isn't all on them.
They players on the field also need to execute on the field.
Just take a look at some of these examples:
-For instance, the first play at the 5-yard line was a RPO, what was Mason thinking? On third down in that series, Mason missed a wide open Ray-Ray McCloud for a touchdown
-Steelers would have been up 14-7 if not for Dan Moore holding after Najee Harris left the area. It's a questionable call, but after the tailback is gone, let go of the defender and most times it's not called
-While you could blame Keith Butler for whatever, how about making a tackle. Devin Bush looked like a matador out there. You can draw up all the schemes you want, make a play. You were a first round pick.
-Schobert said the team didn't take practice seriously enough at times. Sure you can and should to an extent blame the coaches for that, but how about some pride. How about staying on your details, you're getting paid to do this
-Instead of blaming Canada for having Ballage in the game and giving Najee a blow, how about Mason makes a better pass and it's not intercepted
-How about a turnover from the defense, oh yeah, you had one from Minkah, but Devin Bust, I mean Bush held on the play nullifying a key interception on the second possession of overtime
-How about Diontae Johnson secures the football when running free in overtime
Yes, coaches aren't blameless and made mistakes Sunday. We aren't coddling high school players, instead of just putting it all on the coaches. Wouldn't it be nice if the players execute?
