On offense: All receivers/tight ends and Joe work together during the offseason so that they play cohesively during the regular season. Use this time to iron out Joe's timing issues and footwork, and hammer into the heads of the receivers/ends that they need to actually catch the ball. Work more on catching the ball while bracing for impact. Change the cadence/rhythm when hiking the ball to keep defenses on their toes and cause more offsides penalties. O-line work on techniques to maintain ground and not allow the pocket to collapse.
On defense: As you did much later this season, bring the pressure on the quarterback without showing your hand pre-snap. You appeared to do this well when mixing up the four players pressuring Roethlisberger -- same strategy NE used on us. Actually, you seem to do this well early in the games, but it breaks down near the end. Keep the opposing offense guessing. Minimize the stupid penalties. And I ask this honestly because I don't know what it's like to be out there: Is it that difficult to turn your head around when your man appears to be staring down an imminent catch?
On coaching: When a strategy seems to work in a game and the opposing team seems to have no answer for it, CONTINUE said strategy, e.g. running the ball. Also, when common sense screams at you, it's ok to listen, e.g. again, running the ball. Show your players that you trust their ability to execute the most needed plays in certain situations. If you do the opposite, you risk making them and yourselves look inept. If you don't trust them, then that's another problem in itself.
