Bruce Arians Larry Zierlein Are Not Getting the Job Done in Pittsburgh

O-Line

If indeed this is a slower O-line (and weaker?) the Steelers are working with then they need to adjust the play calling. A faster line can make line adjustments to support a stronger running game.

If the O-line needs more time to get to the blocks, then the Steelers need to adjust their play calling to force defenses to limit the blitzing, as mentioned above.

Think wish-bone. Think roll-outs.  Think quick passes.  Think direct snapping it to the backs. Heck, pay the line a million-dollar bonus for a game where they don't give up a sack. Whatever is done, they should stop asking the O-line to try to protect the QB for six, seven, or eight seconds while the receivers run 20-yard routes. If they can't do it, then they can't do it.

Bruce Arians in Cleveland didn't have the tools he needed, so it was hard to fault him entirely for three abysmal seasons in which his offense was ranked 25th, 19th, and 29th in the league, ending in his being fired.  

But in Pittsburgh, he has many of the tools, but is just not making the adjustments that are needed. Bruce Arians brought Larry Zierlein with him from the Browns and he too seems to not have what it takes to coach a successful line. He was not successful in the three years he was with Arians in Cleveland and has not been successful since.  

Fast Work: In only one year, Arians and Zierlein have succeeded in reducing the level of playing of Pittsburgh's offense to that of the 2003 Cleveland Browns. There should be a rule against bringing old assistant coaches with hired on coaches and head coaches, especially if from a pair of coaches that mustered only 21 wins in three seasons.

The O-line is floundering without proper leadership on the field and off the filed. You can't dump a coach so close to the end of the season, but who say you can't hire an outsider to come in and consult as an assistant to the assistant.

The Steelers season is long from over, and they stand to fare well against the Titans who are not solid in running and have to rely heavily on the pass. The only pitfall is that the Titans have a decent defense, and the Steelers offense is suspect at best.

The Future

Now: Get some help by hiring a possible replacement for Zierlein this week. If he works out, keep him on next year as a permanent replacement.  

Later: Start looking for a new O-coordinator for next season. Nothing wrong with promoting someone up from O-line Coach in the NFL if they have produced winners. Also, it couldn't hurt to look at someone at the university level that runs an offense similar to the University of Florida's.  

Draft: The Steelers need to blow the bank on the Offensive Line. They need to seriously consider drafting three offensive linemen with their first three picks, at a minimum. This is a problem that needs to get fixed.

They also need to look at picking up a veteran to anchor the line, someone that might develop into a player coach and possibly another Russ Grimm. Winning starts and ends in the trenches. The Steelers could easily be a 9-6 team today struggling for a wild-card berth if not for the Defense and the 60-minute mentality they've adopted.

They could also have been a 13-1 team today had they had a O-line that could have protected the QB a little better against New York and Indianapolis.

The Steelers are in a pretty good position this year and have gotten there through tough play. But unless they fix things, Roethlisberger probably has only three or four more good years before he has to retire early for injuries.

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