Gilbert cut no slack with Steelers

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

By Maurkice Pouncey's estimation, he gave Steelers right tackle Marcus Gilbert — his good friend and temporary housemate — about "one second" to enjoy a recent promotion.

"I told him, 'Congratulations but other than that, man, you've got to get to work. Get in your playbook right now, and if you've got any questions make sure you ask,' " Pouncey said.

Gilbert, who will make his first career start Sunday against Seattle, is taking the equivalent of a crash course on the Steelers' offense this week. And Pouncey, with whom Gilbert is living until his place is ready, isn't the only one that has been watching over the rookie.

"I told him on Monday, 'Listen, not only do you need to learn this offense, you better have the no-huddle down pat, because we're going to do it and I'm not slowing down for you,' " quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said.

Read more: Rookie RT Gilbert cut no slack with Steelers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_756861.html#ixzz1Xzevtit6
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This story is about Gilbert, but two other things stood out to me.

1. In his second year, Pouncey is already a great leader. He's going to be a tremendous help to our future O-linemen.

2. This quote from Ben:

Quote :

"... you better have the no-huddle down pat, because we're going to do it and I'm not slowing down for you,' "

Isn't it the O-linemen who have to slow down and wait for Ben to pick himself up off the ground?

OK, seriously ... did Ben just reveal something there? Do you think they're planning on using the no huddle more? Or did he just mean that they use it a few times every game (two-minute offense)? If the offense struggles, I think they should go no huddle. It couldn't hurt.

BGSU A Dub wrote:

Wally picking up on the minor details and looking into his crystal ball....

I think that they need to use the no huddle to slow down these blitzes that other teams throw at them.

Yep!! Not to turn this into an anti-Arians rant (I'd never do that ), but I've complained for years that most of our pass plays take too long to develop. That's great if you have a line that can pass block, but we don't. We need shorter, quicker patterns. Remember how we used to use Santonio on that quick slant? Why aren't we doing that with Wallace and Brown? And how about throwing to Mendy or Moore coming out of the backfield?

Wallace108 wrote:

BGSU A Dub wrote:

Wally picking up on the minor details and looking into his crystal ball....

I think that they need to use the no huddle to slow down these blitzes that other teams throw at them.

Yep!! Not to turn this into an anti-Arians rant (I'd never do that ), but I've complained for years that most of our pass plays take too long to develop. That's great if you have a line that can pass block, but we don't. We need shorter, quicker patterns. Remember how we used to use Santonio on that quick slant? Why aren't we doing that with Wallace and Brown? And how about throwing to Mendy or Moore coming out of the backfield?

i have no idea why they didnt try this against the rats. during the preseason i saw them do this alot and thought i would see during the rats game as well

Wallace108 wrote:

vasteeler wrote:

i have no idea why they didnt try this against the rats.

enough said

No-huddle, No-huddle, No-Huddle!

STFU about the No-Huddle. Until you freakin' run it more than in the last 2 minutes of the half or end of game, then shut up about it.

I've been teased about this so-called NO-HUDDLE more over the last 3 years, than anything else in my life! ENOUGH ALREADY!

SHUT UP!

stlrtruck wrote:

No-huddle, No-huddle, No-Huddle!

STFU about the No-Huddle. Until you freakin' run it more than in the last 2 minutes of the half or end of game, then shut up about it.

I've been teased about this so-called NO-HUDDLE more over the last 3 years, than anything else in my life! ENOUGH ALREADY!

SHUT UP!

That's all fine and dandy, Truck, but how do you feel about the no-huddle?

Buddha Bus wrote:

stlrtruck wrote:

No-huddle, No-huddle, No-Huddle!

STFU about the No-Huddle. Until you freakin' run it more than in the last 2 minutes of the half or end of game, then shut up about it.

I've been teased about this so-called NO-HUDDLE more over the last 3 years, than anything else in my life! ENOUGH ALREADY!

SHUT UP!

That's all fine and dandy, Truck, but how do you feel about the no-huddle?

If the topic aint' dead yet... give me some time.

BGSU A Dub wrote:

Why did you just have a conniption about no huddle there Trucky? You saying it doesn't work?

No Dubs, I'm not saying it doesn't work, what I'm saying is that for the last 3 years I've heard about this NO-HUDDLE offense the Steelers are going to use and yet I rarely see it.

Stop talking about it and just run the damn thing. Hell if the fans aren't taking you serious, what makes you think the D-Coordinators around the league are going to take you serious.

Apparently, Arians isn't in agreement with Ben on going to the no huddle and not cutting Gilbert some slack.

Quote :

He expects more production Sunday against Seattle, but did not sound as eager to go to the no-huddle offense as was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger a day earlier. Roethlisberger said no concessions would be made for rookie right tackle Marcus Gilbert, making his first start. Arians intimated there would be.

"We have a rookie right tackle who's never been in and going to be starting. There's a lot of variables that go into whether we use it.

"I think he'll play fine, as long as we stay in his comfort zone and don't put him in a situation where he's only got two seconds to think of a play instead of 10 while he's breaking the huddle and coming up there."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11259/1175070-66-0.stm#ixzz1YBCKrulx

Arians probably feels that switching strategies would be like admitting that he was wrong and his strategy wasn't working. He probably thinks that his game plan didn't work because of Ben. If that reckless son of a bitch wouldn't have fumbled and thrown interceptions, Arians' game plan would have worked to perfection.

So he uses Gilbert as an excuse to not change his strategy. Don't believe me? Let's ask Bruce (from last season):

Quote :

Q: Have injuries along the offensive line affected the play calling, especially since you’ve had your share of them during games?

Arians: “You can’t change what your game plan is, you just expect the next guy to step up and play and it gets taxing after a while when it happens every damn week.”

http://steelerssource.com/pittsburgh-steelers-response-to-the-bruce-arians-interview.html

Well, there you have it. You don't change your game plan to account for injuries ... or even if it isn't working, I guess. So if they don't use the no huddle more, it has nothing to do with Gilbert and everything to do with Arians being stubborn.

C'mon Wally..... they weren't going to use the no-huddle anyway. Promises of using the no-huddle by this team are about as credible as them unleashing hell in December.