Steelers Shoot Themselves In the Foot, Fall to Bengals

For the second week in a row, the Pittsburgh Steelers started the game on fire; for the second week in a row, they shoot themselves in the foot, and lose in the final seconds of the game.

There are many people you can put the blame on this week, but the main culprit are the coaches.

For the second week in a row, Bruce Arians insisted on running the ball. Even though the Steelers were relatively successful, 103 yards on 28 carries, forcing a running game has cost the Steelers another victory.

With the exception of one time in the second half, the Steelers ran the ball on every first down. Cincinnati knew it was coming, and stopped them almost every time.

The Steelers receivers did not do much better with Hines Ward drawing two offensive pass interference penalties, Limas Sweed dropping a touchdown that hit him directly in the hands, and Santonio Holmes catching one pass for 18 yards. The only bright spot for the Steelers receiving corps, was rookie Mike Wallace, who had seven catches for 102 yards.

But as Bruce Arians is, it doesn't matter what works because we only force a ground game that is obviously not working.

Let it be clear, that the days of the power running game are over.

As hard as that might be for some Steelers fans to swallow, we need to stop forcing  a ground game when we obviously have more success passing.

Arians has essentially handcuffed our Super Bowl QB with his play-calling. There was a reason that Bruce Arians was chased out of Cleveland, and he has brought the same problems to Pittsburgh.

Last year, the Steelers won in spite of Arians. This year, they have no chance, unless he throws away his "Coordinating for Dummies" book, and starts playing to the teams strengths.

Not to be left out, Dick LeBeau has to shoulder his share of the blame.

For the second week in a row, the Steelers linebackers were held out of the opposition's back field, with only one sack, by James Farrior. Casey Hampton also had one, bringing the teams season total to five.

This type of play is absolutely unacceptable.

Last week, against the Bears, the Steelers beat them in every facet of the game, except the final score, when Jay Cutler threw a late touchdown pass, winning the game for the Bears.

This week, at the end of the game, the Bengals ran eight plays inside the red zone, in the final minute of the game, before Carson Palmer hit Andre Caldwell with :14 left in the game for the winning score.

For the second week in a row, the Steelers defense allowed the opposition to score at the end of the game, for the victory.

I believe that the reason for the lack of dominance is without Troy Polamalu, Dick LeBeau is afraid to run anything elaborate, for fear of getting beat deep.

There is no question that Troy Polamalu is an amazing player and he is missed on the field. But there were 10 other guys on the field with him that made the Steelers defense the best in the game last year.

Not only that, enough with the prevent, and the 10 yard cushions on every receiver on every play.

Last year, the Steelers were number one in the league against the pass. How do teams counter that? By running short crossing routes and slants. When the corners are playing 10 yards off the receiver, then the slants are a gimme every time.

Has anyone ever heard of bump and run? Every time Ike Taylor played on the line against Chad Ochocinco, he held him without a catch. On the next play, he lined up 10 yards back.

Dick LeBeau said in the off-season that he had new elaborate plays. They are not working.

Special teams coach Bob Ligashesky is not even void from criticism, allowing Chris Crocker to rush for 21 yards on a fake punt, with 1:32 left in the third quarter.

That is not to mention Jeff Reeds third missed field goal in the last seven days. This one, a 52 yard attempt, which should never have even been attempted.

But ultimately, all of this falls squarely on the shoulders of Mike Tomlin. It's time to stop pretending that we are, what we are not.

In the last two weeks, Pittsburgh showed that they can score when they drop back and pass. Then, when they take the lead, they quit dancing with the girl that brung them there.

In the end though, what the Steelers need to learn, is how to have a killer instinct. They have to know how to punish the other team, and end the game early, instead of letting them hang around until the end.

Because every time they do, they shoot themselves in the foot.