Randy Fichner’s play-calling takes me back to the Bruce Arians days — except in reverse: Open up the playbook for Mason Rudolph or risk losing to the dreaded black birds

... Arians, Haley, and Fichner

As a former offensive coordinator and play-caller as a head coach, I realize that you can call some great plays — and you make some calls that stink.

It is the nature of the business.

However, after watching very few Steelers games last year because I now reside in the Upper Midwest — though I have tried to get coverage — I still have an opinion of Randy Fichner’s play-calling.

Last year was Fichner’s first opportunity to call plays in the NFL. I saw a few games on TV, but primarily listened to the games. Even on radio, I questioned many things last year.

This season, he has been worse. In 2018, he allowed Ben Roethlisberger to change plays at will, so he passed the ball two-thirds of the time despite having a strong running game. The offense had no real balance, particularly at the end when they lost four out of five games from late November through late December, including embarrassing failures at Denver and Oakland.

Now, with the loss of Roethlisberger, who was singularly unimpressive through six quarters this season with a QB rating of 66 with zero touchdown passes in the first two games, both losses, he has had to work to develop a young quarterback in Mason Rudolph.

Fichtner reluctant to unleash Rudolph

I have seen the past two games against San Francisco and Cincinnati. Against the 49ers, he ran on first and second down and threw on third down. Very creative.

The result was that Rudolph, starting his first NFL game, was often facing third-and-seven or nine, putting him in difficult situations. He did hit two big passes in that game for touchdowns, including a 76-yard throw to Ju Ju Shuster, but Fichner threw his QB under the bus after the game, saying that he missed some opportunities, according to ESPN,

We had some opportunities for some throws and even some shots, and if you don’t connect or throw them it never really materializes,” Fichtner said after the loss to the 49ers. "We were able to go down the field early. You’ve got to throw them. You’ve got to throw it. You’ve got to attempt to throw it there.

Brooke Pryor, “Can Steelers QB Mason Rudolph exploit 

Ravens' problems with big plays?” Oct. 5, 2019

Fichner did adjust last week, but focused short

Give Fichner some credit for coming up with a creative approach against the winless Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Not only did they use the Wildcat, which threw off the defense, but also threw a lot of short patterns that allowed Rudolph put together at QB rating of about 125.

So, after that win, he changed his tune about Rudolph and the short passes,

“We always talk about catch short, run long,” Fichtner said. “We’ve got to break tackles. We’ve got to make guys miss. That’s the way this league is. We call it playmakers. Playmakers got to make plays. If you’re on the field, you’re a playmaker. Make plays ..."

Brooke Pryor, ESPN, Oct. 5, 2019

Not sure what all of that means. However, let us look at the big picture against the Ravens.

Ravens beat winless teams for two wins

What Steeler fans have to realize is that the Steelers have played a tough schedule prior to the game against the Bengals. The Patriots, Seahawks, and 49ers have a collective record of 10-1. while the Ravens two wins are against teams like the Dolphins and Cardinals which have a collective record of 0-7-1. [Steelers only win was also against a winless team.]

So, while the pundits have been routinely picking the Ravens to win, this game could belong to the Steelers if they play good football. If they allow Rudolph to throw the ball on every down — and down the field. And if the defense plays opportunistic football and contains Lamar Jackson.

Big ifs — but possible.

Arians, Haley, Fichner -- interesting OCs

Fichner’s play-calling is more like former OC Bruce Arians, who served for five years from 2007 until 2011. In case Steeler fans forget about Arians, he was the opposite of Fichner in that he wanted to go long all the time.

However, while he was Roethlisberger’s “buddy” and golf partner, those five years were also the worst of the QB’s career in terms of sacks. In those five years, Roethlisberger was sacked 215 times, an average of 43 per season. It also featured his worst season in that area, 2009, when he was sacked 50 times.

And, this was during the years when they reached two Super Bowls, winning one. So, the line was not problematic during those years.

Arians never protected Roethlisberger, and he was fired because he refused to run the football. That decision came from Art Rooney II, who wanted the change.

In came Todd Haley, whom Roethlisberger despised because he resented their firing Arians. Haley, however, protected the QB. In his last three years, the Steelers had just 58 sacks and averaged just 19 per season, fewer than half of the Arians years.

While many disliked Haley’s play-calling, I think that Rudolph would be better served with Haley than he is being now — but I could be wrong. Perhaps things will change tomorrow. Perhaps the OC is getting more confidence in his young QB who is now starting his third game.

Remember also that Roethlisberger’s numbers under Haley were the best of his career. While we may complain about some of his calls in 2018, and his reluctance to use the QB sneak — which Fichner also does — he was still an effective OC. He set up the short passing game that worked so well with Le’Veon Bell, too.

Conclusion

The Steelers need to unleash Rudolph and use his arm effectively, one that was so impressive in college — and in the preseason. And they also have to get that running game going more than just out of the wildcat.

The other part of this is that we desperately need a win to stay in contention for the playoffs. A 1-4 start rarely results in a playoff berth down the road.

The Sacks Saga

Steeler sacks of BR under Arians

2007 47

2008 46

2009 50

2010 32

2011 40

Total 215 43/season

Sacks last three years under Haley

2015 20

2016 17

2017 21

Total 58 19/season