Once Again the Steelers Play Calling is Called "Predictable" by an Opponent

The Pittsburgh Steelers took the lead over the Indianapolis Colts early during their Monday night faceoff in Indy. For the first time this season, they were able to maintain that lead for the majority of the game. However, for the second time in two weeks, an opposing team member made a comment about the Steelers offensive play calling being "predictable."

Steelers' Benny Snell (#24) celebrates his touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts which came on third down. | Credit: Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers

During the 3rd quarter of the game, you can very clearly hear one of the Colts players saying, "It's the same plays" after the Steelers pick up 9 yards on a 1st and 10. Immediately Twitter imploded as fans expressed outrage and vindication to hear their own thoughts echoed.

However, there is a way to flip the script on the meaning of this comment. Again, the comment came after the Steelers picked up 9 on a run play by Anthony McFarland on a 1st and 10. The defenders were angry that their teammates were not able to stop the play despite it being the same play that had just been called on the previous play. All of this from a unit that is supposed to be one of the best defenses in the league.

Steelers Cookie Cutter Offense

Last week, when Pittsburgh faced off against the Cincinnati Bengals, Bengals defender Germaine Pratt made a similar comment. The Steelers played well during the first half and during the last couple of drives, but failed to sustain any drives during the majority of the second half. When asked about what helped the Bengals find success, Pratt said:

“Just settling down,” Pratt told CBS Sports when asked about the difference between halves. “It was us giving them plays. We knew what they were going to do. They like to do the same plays over and over.”

During his press conference last week, Head Coach Mike Tomlin unloaded on reporters when asked about Pratt's questions. Tomlin seemed annoyed and in typical Tomlin fashion, he did not give them the fodder they were hoping for. Despite the fact that the Steelers looked like a whole different team in the second half of the game - the offense performed so poorly that the defense barely got breaks - he shut down any talk about the plays:

“There were some repeat concepts, but Cincinnati was in some repeat concepts,” Tomlin said hinting at the Bengals’ predictability. “That’s football. When it’s good on good, particularly in the latter part of the season. There’s very little secrets. It comes down to execution and that’s where I like to keep our focus. We gotta execute better.”

He indicated that opponents make comments like this when they are winning and would have had nothing to say if they had lost:

“That’s what they say when they’re having success and they don’t say it when they’re not. I don’t worry much about that.”

Steelers fans and media members have been divided all season about the predictability of Pittsburgh's play calling. Many feel that it is the same plays over and over. The same run plays on 1st and 2nd down and then go into shotgun on 3rd and short. It feels like OC Matt Canada is drawing from a 10-12 play script.

What do you think about offensive predictability? Were the Colts shaming the Steelers or were they simply voicing their frustrations over their inability to stop the plays? Click to comment.

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