It's Time to Shut Up About Dri Archer.

Dri’d up

by Ray Fittipaldo

There is a conversation I have with myself every week. It goes something like this:

Me: “Why is Dri Archer still on the team?”

Me: “I don’t know.”

If ever there was a time for Dri Archer to throw caution to the wind and bring a kick out of the end zone it was with 1:51 remaining after the Steelers fell behind by six points.

Instead, Archer fielded the kick a yard deep in the end zone and knelt on it. With the offense struggling and Ben Roethlisberger reeling after two fourth-quarter interceptions the Steelers needed a boost from the special teams, not a conservative kneel.

I flashed back to the decision Tomlin made two years ago in a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field. The Ravens tied the score with 1:58 remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Emmanuel Sanders was given the green light to bring the ball out of the end zone under any circumstance.

Sanders fielded the kickoff seven yards and deep and returned it to the Steelers’ 37-yard line to help set up the winning Shaun Suisham field goal as time expired.

“Nothing was going to stop me from bringing that ball out unless he kicked it out,” Sanders told me after the game. “I had it in my mind that I was going to return it. I had a good feeling about it.”

Never mind that it was Sanders’ first kickoff return attempt that season. Tomlin inserted Sanders for Felix Jones with the express thought of him providing a big play that could turn the tide of the game.

“He's got a skill set,” Tomlin said after that game. “When called upon, he's capable of delivering. Obviously, he's a starting receiver for us and it's not something we want to do all the time. But at the appropriate time we'll dial his number, and I thought he delivered.”

I’m guessing Tomlin has little or no confidence in Archer’s skill set. The Steelers invested a third-round draft choice in Archer for this very situation. Archer, however, has been disappointing in his role.

Archer’s 17-yard average on returns against the Bengals, including a 15-yard return to the 10 early in the game might have been flashing in Tomlin’s head.

I just keep coming back to the obvious: if Archer is on the team for his supposed ability to return kickoffs, isn’t that the scenario you want as a coach?

If not, maybe it’s time to get a new kick returner.

Markus Wheaton, anyone?

http://sportsblogs.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers-steelers-blog/2015/11/01/On-clock-management-and-player-management.html

He was awful returning the ball yesterday. He's been better but, still a wasted pick.

If some team is crazy enough to flip him(someone might love his speed) for a d-lineman the FO shouldn't hesitate.

Can't put all the blame on archer, the blocking is probably among the worst I've seen in the NFL. There's no way your returner should be getting hit at the 8 yard line unless someone whiffed on a block

Fire Arians wrote:

Can't put all the blame on archer, the blocking is probably among the worst I've seen in the NFL. There's no way your returner should be getting hit at the 8 yard line unless someone whiffed on a block

I agree, you can cut Archer but Danny Smith should be fired also...

Fire Arians wrote:

Can't put all the blame on archer, the blocking is probably among the worst I've seen in the NFL. There's no way your returner should be getting hit at the 8 yard line unless someone whiffed on a block

Archer has horrible judgement. He kneels down he gets the ball at the 20, he tries to return it he brings it to the 6. I saw a couple decent run backs from him but no,no,no,no He has proved useless as a running back and is a sub-par kick returner at best.

I just tell myself that we drafted Ross Cockrell in the 3rd and signed Dri Archer as a free agent in the 2014 draft and it makes me feel better.

After one particular KO return, Dan Fouts described him as "slow and indecisive."

Hell.....he's always been indecisive.....but reportedly fast. Now, he's even lost the one trait that made him so attractive to draft in the 3rd round??????

FrancoLambert wrote:

After one particular KO return, Dan Fouts described him as "slow and indecisive."

Hell.....he's always been indecisive.....but reportedly fast.  Now, he's even lost the one trait that made him so attractive to draft in the 3rd round??????

Archer hasn't lost one bit of speed. He's a human lighting bolt. The thing that makes Archer slow and indecisive is fear. He's not willing to go all out because he's afraid to get hit. That's the job description if you're a kick returner. You have to be willing to make a quick decision and explode toward the opening in the coverage. Archer is always going sideways and looking to run down the sideline or out of bounds....period.

He is not cut out for the job they have given him if he doesn't grow a pair. It's that simple. A special teams specialist that is afraid to get hit and sucks at special teams has no business on a roster.

He is not an NFL caliber player at this point. There's no other way to say it.

Ed Bouchette ‏@EdBouchette

Archer still KO returner, Tomlin says.

Tomlin: Did not want Dri Archer to return last kickoff. Wanted the ball on the 20. "Dri did what we told him to do" not run the ball out

https://twitter.com/EdBouchette

I still think Dri can produce if given the opportunity. Maybe with the injury to Bell he'll get some reps. I do think he's more suited to the slot, and he's shown he's a good receiver when given the chance

Fire Arians wrote:

I still think Dri can produce if given the opportunity. Maybe with the injury to Bell he'll get some reps. I do think he's more suited to the slot, and he's shown he's a good receiver when given the chance

I agree we may see Archer on the field for something other than kickoffs unless the new RB has some ability as a receiver

Could not work out any worse than Haley brainstorming this formation for a passing play on Sunday when Ben threw the interception that set up the Bengals at midfield

The second interception came in a peculiar personnel package in which Brown was not on the field (one of only two snaps all day for the All-Pro). The Steelers went with Martavis Bryant, three tight ends and running back DeAngelo Williams. Only three of that group were in serious receiving routes, and when Roethlisberger was flushed left, converted fullback Will Johnson, who was uncharacteristically 30 yards downfield at one point, was his only option.

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/9366295-74/mclendon-steelers-playing#ixzz3qTFIHPgF

I don't even wanna see him on the field or hear his name ever again. He was an utter failure at RB and WR. I don't care if he has a few 30 yard returns. He's fast, that's it. He can't dodge tackles. The best return he's had I don't recall which game it was, it was this year some time. He took it from like the 5 yard line and just put his head down, kind of crouched and sprinted then dove into the ground as he got tackled. BUST. I don't want to hear his name ever again. Let brown and wheaton handle the returns for christs sake archer is giving us horrible field position more often than not. He makes poor decisions on which kicks to return and which to let go for a touch back. He does everything wrong.

dri archer DRI ARCHER DRI ARCHER























I swear the bungles started kicking to "DRI ARCHER" on purpose instead of kicking it out of the end zone KNOWING the he would only get to the 15 max!

SoCalFan wrote:

dri archer DRI ARCHER DRI ARCHER


You gonna do that to me for real son?lol. There is another Dri Archer thread right now but I created this because , that damn thread keeps popping back up to the top with people saying how good he can be how fast he is and how hes going to see more action... NO

It seems like every time they have involved him in a play it was an experiment to see if he can do X Y or Z. Its a fail every time and he almost get squashed while running away and diving to save his life. BUST

It's time to take out the trash and make room on the roster for a player with potential, who might actually develop it.
























I swear the bungles started kicking to "DRI ARCHER" on purpose instead of kicking it out of the end zone KNOWING the he would only get to the 15 max!

You gonna do that to me for real son?lol. There is another Dri Archer thread right now but I created this because , that damn thread keeps popping back up to the top with people saying how good he can be how fast he is and how hes going to see more action... NO

It seems like every time they have involved him in a play it was an experiment to see if he can do X Y or Z. Its a fail every time and he almost get squashed while running away and diving to save his life. BUST

It's time to take out the trash and make room on the roster for a player with potential, who might actually develop it.

Atlanta Dan wrote:

I agree we may see Archer on the field for something other than kickoffs unless the new RB has some ability as a receiver

Could not work out any worse than Haley brainstorming this formation for a passing play on Sunday when Ben threw the interception that set up the Bengals at midfield

The second interception came in a peculiar personnel package in which Brown was not on the field (one of only two snaps all day for the All-Pro). The Steelers went with Martavis Bryant, three tight ends and running back DeAngelo Williams. Only three of that group were in serious receiving routes, and when Roethlisberger was flushed left, converted fullback Will Johnson, who was uncharacteristically 30 yards downfield at one point, was his only option.

sounds like Todd Haley outsmarting himself yet again...

No, it's time to end Dri Archer in a Steelers uniform.

Hawaii 5-0 wrote:

ImperialFan wrote:

SoCalFan wrote:

dri archer DRI ARCHER DRI ARCHER


You gonna do that to me for real son?lol. There is another Dri Archer thread right now but I created this because , that damn thread keeps popping back up to the top with people saying how good he can be how fast he is and how hes going to see more action...

one can never have enough Dri Archer threads...

Mike Wallace agrees.

SoCalFan wrote:

I swear the bungles started kicking to "DRI ARCHER" on purpose instead of kicking it out of the end zone KNOWING the he would only get to the 15 max!

Actually, I think all our opponents do that......and they're daring him to return it......which unfortunately happens a lot.

I think Archer would have better luck on KR if we actually gave him some decent blocking. If he had a hole to run through he's got deadly speed.

Offensively I think it's hard to come in and light things up when you're barely given a chance, and defenses practically key on him every time they see him on the field because they make it too obvious. If he was involved a little bit more I think he would be more effective than what he's shown so far. More two back sets with DeAngelo and Archer on the field would keep defenses guessing a little bit.

ImperialFan wrote:

I don't even wanna see him on the field or hear his name ever again. He was an utter failure at RB and WR. I don't care if he has a few 30 yard returns. He's fast, that's it. He can't dodge tackles. The best return he's had I don't recall which game it was, it was this year some time. He took it from like the 5 yard line and just put his head down, kind of crouched and sprinted then dove into the ground as he got tackled. BUST. I don't want to hear his name ever again. Let brown and wheaton handle the returns for christs sake archer is giving us horrible field position more often than not. He makes poor decisions on which kicks to return and which to let go for a touch back. He does everything wrong.

What is his body of work as a RB/WR???

He sucks as a KR, but we really haven't seen him get enough reps to know what his abilities are as a RB/WR.

That said............. CUT HIM NOW!

pczach wrote:

FrancoLambert wrote:

After one particular KO return, Dan Fouts described him as "slow and indecisive."

Hell.....he's always been indecisive.....but reportedly fast.  Now, he's even lost the one trait that made him so attractive to draft in the 3rd round??????

Archer hasn't lost one bit of speed. He's a human lighting bolt. The thing that makes Archer slow and indecisive is fear. He's not willing to go all out because he's afraid to get hit. That's the job description if you're a kick returner. You have to be willing to make a quick decision and explode toward the opening in the coverage. Archer is always going sideways and looking to run down the sideline or out of bounds....period.

He is not cut out for the job they have given him if he doesn't grow a pair. It's that simple. A special teams specialist that is afraid to get hit and sucks at special teams has no business on a roster.

He is not an NFL caliber player at this point. There's no other way to say it.

Exactly

He is rightfully afraid, he gets lit the F up nearly every time he is tackled. On 90% of the plays I've seen him in he looks like a high school player on a college field. I know the counter-argument is that there are players his size that are successful in the NFL, but Dri Archer is apparently not one of them. He looks like a terrified mouse scurrying around to avoid the cat.

And you can't tell me his play as a WR/RB is going to be any different than his aura on the field on KR's. He would be a fumble and tipped/dropped ball nightmare due to his fear of getting hit. And again, if I was his size out there getting rocked every play I would be hesitant and anxious too. Not trying to knock him, but I don't know how anyone can deny these observations.

pczach wrote:

FrancoLambert wrote:

After one particular KO return, Dan Fouts described him as "slow and indecisive."

Hell.....he's always been indecisive.....but reportedly fast.  Now, he's even lost the one trait that made him so attractive to draft in the 3rd round??????

Archer hasn't lost one bit of speed. He's a human lighting bolt. The thing that makes Archer slow and indecisive is fear. He's not willing to go all out because he's afraid to get hit. That's the job description if you're a kick returner. You have to be willing to make a quick decision and explode toward the opening in the coverage. Archer is always going sideways and looking to run down the sideline or out of bounds....period.

He is not cut out for the job they have given him if he doesn't grow a pair. It's that simple. A special teams specialist that is afraid to get hit and sucks at special teams has no business on a roster.

He is not an NFL caliber player at this point. There's no other way to say it.

Maybe at the combine he was.  But not on the field of an NFL game.  I haven't seen any evidence of blazing speed from him in a game that counts.

IN ORDER TO BE FAST YOU NEED TO RUN LONG ENOUGH TO GET UP TO SPEED. Everyone time dri touches the ball he probably has it for 3.3 seconds at the longest and is just squeezing the football trying not to get squashed. That said, I know there are a couple people here that are ordering Archer jerseys

FrancoLambert wrote:

pczach wrote:

FrancoLambert wrote:

After one particular KO return, Dan Fouts described him as "slow and indecisive."

Hell.....he's always been indecisive.....but reportedly fast.  Now, he's even lost the one trait that made him so attractive to draft in the 3rd round??????

Archer hasn't lost one bit of speed. He's a human lighting bolt. The thing that makes Archer slow and indecisive is fear. He's not willing to go all out because he's afraid to get hit. That's the job description if you're a kick returner. You have to be willing to make a quick decision and explode toward the opening in the coverage. Archer is always going sideways and looking to run down the sideline or out of bounds....period.

He is not cut out for the job they have given him if he doesn't grow a pair. It's that simple. A special teams specialist that is afraid to get hit and sucks at special teams has no business on a roster.

He is not an NFL caliber player at this point. There's no other way to say it.

Maybe at the combine he was.  But not on the field of an NFL game.  I haven't seen any evidence of blazing speed from him in a game that counts.

But that's the point. We know he's that fast. He has run that fast and can absolutely fly in a straight line when there's nobody coming at him trying to hit him. The problem is he never runs in a straight line because he fears contact. He's always running at half speed and running where he thinks he'll avoid the most contact at high speed. That's why you never see him running as fast as you think he should be on a football field.

There have been guys that have struggled with fears and being tentative and have found a way to overcome it and produce. I just don't see elusiveness and feel for the game with him either.

I just don't know that he'll ever be more than he is right now. I haven't seen him make one return where I thought he got just one more yard than the blocking for the play or return. He is not able to create anything or get more out of a return than what has been cleared for him. I just don't see him doing anything that any other player could be doing, and hasn't really come close to breaking a long return. He needs to do much more than that to be of any value to this team.