Don't let the football game get you down (Pittsburgh, Butler: design, place)

[Craziaskowboi]

Look at the bright side: Bruce Arians' contract expired the moment the game was over!

[gmagoo]

I`m not exactly broken hearted over the game. I wasn`t looking forward to having the Stillers shoved in my face 24/7. Indeed there is a bright side.

[gmagoo]

One thing a true Stiller fan will never say. "the other team has better players than we do".

[Caladium]

Gotta admit I'm a little down today. My friends announced there'll be no super bowl party in Pittsburgh this year. And they always make killer chili.

[Copanut]

Dem Stillers gettin old n'at.

The better team won, period.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

It always amazes me what happens after a major football loss. Prior to the loss that's all you heard was talk about football and the Steelers. After the loss...... silence.

[rhondee]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

Look at the bright side: Bruce Arians' contract expired the moment the game was over!

I can't believe the Steelers employed this clueless dufus to begin with, however right now, with or w/out Ariens, the Steelers are all just too injured and brittle right now. How many games has Big Ben played now by hobbling across the field-its ridiculous.I knew it was over for them after they played the Ravens.

Denver played a good game- all I want now is for those Broncos to beat the Pats this weekend. I plan on doing some Tebowing myself to bring them good luck!

[ex-burgher]

I'm not upset they lost because I knew this was not their year. They never would have beaten NE. The players are beaten up and need to recover. I'm hopeful for next year.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by ex-burgher

I'm not upset they lost because I knew this was not their year. They never would have beaten NE. The players are beaten up and need to recover. I'm hopeful for next year.

Exactly how DH and I feel.
We would not have gone past the next round... so losing now isn't so bad.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by ex-burgher

I'm not upset they lost because I knew this was not their year. They never would have beaten NE. The players are beaten up and need to recover. I'm hopeful for next year.

I'll be a lot more hopeful for next year if Bruce Arians is replaced by an offensive coordinator who:

- Knows how to design an offense properly
- Has a good sense of the flow of a game and calls the right plays accordingly
- Makes adjustments depending on matchups, tendencies and injuries
- Holds his players accountable for their mistakes

Arians does none of the above, and as a result, he's done less with more than any other offensive coordinator I've ever seen. He's been here for five years now, and the offense still feels incomplete in spite of all the talent to work with, which is a failure of coaching, as far as I'm concerned. This is why I hate seeing guys like Sean Payton, Mike McCarthy, Charlie Weis, and even Norv Turner working with other QBs: because they know how to get the most out of a QB. Arians does not, and he's wasted five years in the process. The day he's replaced is the day I'll have steak for dinner!

On a sadder note, though, and after reflecting and sleeping on it, I do wonder if we've seen the last of Dick LeBeau. He's in his 70's now, and his poor scheme was directly responsible for yesterday's loss. Has he reached that age where his mental sharpness is beginning to decline? At the very least, it seems like the defense has been so stable that it's ultimately become stale with time, and it's times like these when a little bit of change can do some good. Furthermore, we can't keep Keith Butler waiting forever. I wouldn't be surprised if yesterday was the last we'll ever see Dick LeBeau on an NFL sideline.

But if it is, then we should all thank him for helping make the Steelers perennial championship contenders.