Bruce Arians Too Predictable in 2008

It hard to criticize an offensive coordinator when you win a Super Bowl.  I know that there are 31 more teams that are worse off than the Steelers when it comes to coaches, but Bruce Arians always seemed to be bailed-out by the heroics of Ben Roethlisberger in 2008. 

Persistence seems to be the key with Bruce Arien's play-calling.  If the running doesn't work on first down...run it again on second down. 

2008 was plagued with Willie Parker leaving 2nd and longs as I wrote in my previous article, Mendenhall to Replace Parker in 2009; but then when the Steelers are left with 2nd and long it seemed every time Ariens was determined to run the ball again, which in return left Roethlisberger with a 3rd and long situation. 

We all know Ariens loves his tight ends.  After all, he was a tight ends coach.  The Steelers use the " banana bunch" formation more than any other team in the NFL.  Ariens tends to call this formation on a 3rd and short situations in which Ben usually throws to one of his 3 tight ends on the field, or scrambles for the first down. 

This formation doesn't really bother me, especially when the Steelers have Heath Money becoming one of the best tight ends in the league.  However, Ariens must have forgot that the Steelers have a future hall-of-famer Hines Ward and Super Bowl MVP, Santonio Holmes at his disposal. 

Why not use these guys on third and short and keep the defense guessing every time on 3rd down?

And what about the 'tricker-ation' plays?  Re looking the past 2008 season its hard to remember any trick plays used in Ariens play calling.  No Hines Ward at QB, no HB pass.  Nothing. 

I know its not always wise to use trick plays, and the Steelers have used considerably less amount when they lost Antwann Randel-El, one of their best "slash" acquisitions; but its always nice to see a trick play come out of Ariens playbook once in a while.

Ariens has to change up his play-calling in 2009.  When the Steelers have so many weapons at the helm, it would be ignorant and a shame not to use them.  31 other teams would be licking their chops to be in the Steeler's situation.

In order for Ariens to keep his job in the future, Ariens is going to have to start changing up his play calling before other teams can figure it out, as I have.