Ten things we learned: Pittsburgh

THINGS I LEARNED, AGAIN

1) Offensive execution is confused and tentative. I attribute this to the tactics and schemes being too wide, and too deep. Too much to think about, so I'm not surprised when LT seems to be thinking rather than reacting. Its predictable, and its been there all season.

Simplify the Offense. When is the last time we did a simple Power Toss Sweep? I can't remember. Its a staple of just about every decent team except VT. RBs love to get the ball while moving forward, at speed, while having time and distance to make cuts. JC would shine on a power toss sweep. So would Holmes.

It just seems obvious to this lounge chair coach, that the current package designed for RBs yields numerous instances of the RB getting the ball with a defender in his face, or on his leg, and are doomed to fail.

Its not the RBs fault. Get them the ball sooner and deeper, on the move, with space and time to do their thing. Right now, they are way too close to the LOS when they get the ball to be able to do anything creative.

LT should be given a package that maximizes his capabilities and limitations. He is thinking more than reacting.

It should be an innate response that the staff tries to get out of him, not thinking. He needs to be able to simply play and be reactive on the field, rather than trying to do the mental gymnastics on what the staff wants in this situation, which is complex and dependent on too many ever changing variables to calculate instinctively.

2) Play your best players. DVD, Knowles, Jarrett, Fuller, Tyler, Manning, etc should be on the field every play they are physically able to play.

3) Develop tactics and schemes (plays) to maximize the abilities of your best players. Currently, players are being forced into positions and schemes that are not allowing for any creativity by the player. On offense, you want time and space. On defense, you want to minimize time and space. Simple paradigm.

Don't stick rigidly to a game playbook. When something works on offense, keep doing it. VT seems to abandon the good things far too early. If you simplify, you won't need a game playbook. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Keep using productive plays until the opponent shows he can stop it.

Have not read the article yet but where is an eating popcorn gif when you need one.

In regards to #1, I think we do have a possible star/difference maker at RB. The problem is that he never gets the chance to show it.

11. Luther Maddy isn't the only defender we can't block.

In the preseason we heard about a team that was more focused, driven and dedicated than, perhaps, any in recent memory, yet those are not the same words that were used to describe the way this team showed up and played on Saturday. The fire was missing on both sides of the ball for two Saturdays in a row. Where did it go?

This team didn't play it's best against GT, but it came out with FIRE and flew around, and looked energized on the sidelines. I haven't seen any of that the last two games. Are the Monday night openers still causing lingering letdowns?

Exactly. I really don't want to hear about playmakers not making plays when we are getting killed in the trenches on BOTH sides of the ball.

Ten things you took from that game and our titty dancing o-line doesn't get a mention, but our QB's, WR's and RB's trying to operate behind said line are ripped? That's some clown analysis in my opinion.

All our talent at the skill positions is just fine operating behind an average line with average offensive coaching. The problem is we have a below average line and below average offensive coaching. It has been tolerated for years, has now matasticized, and when the defense gives out like last week you see the result.