Merged: Time To Rest?

[xx Behind Enemy Lines xx]

With Pittsburgh losing to Dallas, as i'm sure most of you already know..

We're in the Playoffs. (Atleast as a wildcard anyhow)

What some of you might not realize is, regardless whether we win or not next week, if Pittsburgh beats Cincinatti we automatically win the division. Because at that point, even if we lose to Cincinatti in Week 17, we'll split as we did with Pittsburgh, the only difference being that both teams lost to Cleveland whom we swept.

With that said:

Cincinatti & Pittsburgh play at 1pm next week, we play the Giants at 4:25pm.

So the question I pose to you, do we take a crap shot chance at getting a higher seed, or if Pittsburgh wins do we do the smart thing and rest our starters the next two games and go into the playoffs the Division Winner at 9-7?

Realistically Denver plays the Browns & Kansas City.. The Patriots play Jacksonville & Miami.

So I say why risk getting any more banged up, let our starters sit out and get healthy, and go into the Wild Card round with a fighting shot.

Also as an added bonus, if we lose to Cinci after clinching it would knock Pittsburgh out of the Playoffs.(*ADDED)

What say you?

[Ragin'Raven]

If the Steelers beat the Bengals, I think you give it a serious thought. If the Bengals win, no way on God's green earth do you rest anyone who is able to play.

[Purple Nurple]

They better rest Suggs if he's even a little hurt after today.

[dhstandard]

If the Steelers win then yeah I guess it would be smart to rest the starters. My only issue is the team has yet to gel and I think Caldwell needs some practice calling plays as OC before we get into the playoffs. I doubt we rest healthy guys but I would let all injured players rest.

[xx Behind Enemy Lines xx]

I completely agree, the only way this would play out is if Pittsburgh wins and we have already clinched the division.

[Dubs]

In almost any situation I would say no and play it out. We need the momentum and we need to work on alot of things in game situations. However, to play devils advocate with myself I do think we should be wary with specific players, namely suggs, Reed, Yanda, Ray lewis as the extra time off may benefit more

[burnell]

U R WRONG!!!!
the PITTSBURGH STEELERS CAN WIN the Divison in 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Balt goes 0-2, Bengals 1-1, Pittsburgh 2-0; then they win the Division.

[Ed_Reed20]

Besides certain players what exactly is the upside of resting everyone? The team obviously isn't going to iron out their numerous issues in that time. I'd rather see the players on the field.

[xx Behind Enemy Lines xx]

[quote name='dhstandard' timestamp='1355712806' post='1266468']
If the Steelers win then yeah I guess it would be smart to rest the starters. My only issue is the team has yet to gel and I think Caldwell needs some practice calling plays as OC before we get into the playoffs. I doubt we rest healthy guys but I would let all injured players rest.
[/quote]

That's a good point too. But I think any practice for him is good practice even if it's just backups playing. Think of it like a first week pre season game and put flacco and rice in for a few series even a quarter or two, then send in the 2nd strings...

Even better... an added plus would be, if Cincinatti beat us in week 17, it would knock the Steelers out of the playoff race lol. WIN WIN

[RavensFanInCA]

Actually, to your original point, using ESPN's playoff tracker, it claims if Pitt wins out and we lose out, Pitt takes #4 and we take #6, but looking at the actual division tie-breakers, I think we win out because of better conference record (we tie in head-head, division record, common games record). Since we've been flexed to 4:25, that makes our game very interesting. Pitt needs to win to stay in the hunt.

[SideStep77]

There is no way of us getting higher than a 4th seed at this point, if we clinch the division. Rest as many as possible. It is no point to re-injure or just injure in general. So we'll get a loss, as long as we get the #4 seed I don't care about Ws and Ls

[cursona pirate]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1355713025' post='1266486']
Besides certain players what exactly is the upside of resting everyone? The team obviously isn't going to iron out their numerous issues in that time. I'd rather see the players on the field.
[/quote]
They need to get used to the Caldwell system or whatever

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='cursona pirate' timestamp='1355714308' post='1266576']
They need to get used to the Caldwell system or whatever
[/quote]

You don't do that on the bench. Practice snaps can only take you so far.

[RavensFanInCA]

[quote name='cursona pirate' timestamp='1355714308' post='1266576']
They need to get used to the Caldwell system or whatever
[/quote]

If you're healthy, you play. If you're injured (BP, Ray, Suggs, etc.), you rest.

[frank21054]

You find your best offensive sets and you run them out until they get it going. Defensively you might think about tinkering with things including scheme to find your best matchups.

[xx Behind Enemy Lines xx]

[quote name='RavensFanInCA' timestamp='1355713661' post='1266529']
Actually, to your original point, using ESPN's playoff tracker, it claims if Pitt wins out and we lose out, Pitt takes #4 and we take #6, but looking at the actual division tie-breakers, I think we win out because of better conference record (we tie in head-head, division record, common games record). Since we've been flexed to 4:25, that makes our game very interesting. Pitt needs to win to stay in the hunt.
[/quote]

I don't know where they got that from but Pittsburgh has lost to Tennessee, San Diego, Denver, Oakland, Cleveland, Ravens

We've lost to Houston, Denver & Pittsburgh

We have a better conference record and if we lost to Cincinnati it would be a split record for the division

[Tank 92]

[quote name='RavensFanInCA' timestamp='1355714417' post='1266589']


If you're healthy, you play. If you're injured (BP, Ray, Suggs, etc.), you rest.
[/quote]


Exactly. It's not like we are a well oiled machine rolling into January.

[Malkavian Raven]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][i]At the very minimum, they need to play the first half.[/i][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][i]If I were the coach, I'd put them in for three quarters and depending on what I saw, maybe the whole game if things were going smoothly. If that weren't the case, it'd the Tyrod Taylor show come the fourth quarter.[/i][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][i]Sitting starters for two weeks wouldn't benefit us on any level. We're beat up as it is, we're trying to learn a "new system" with 2nd & 3rd stringers and our defense being banged up as well isn't helping matters. You don't want these guys hitting the post-season riddled with rust.[/i][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][i]~ Cosmic[/i][/font]

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='frank21054' timestamp='1355714453' post='1266591']
You find your best offensive sets and you run them out until they get it going. [b]Defensively you might think about tinkering with things including scheme to find your best matchups.[/b]
[/quote]

Pees has done a lot of tinkering this year, but it's become increasingly clear there aren't many good match-ups for him to take advantage of.

[ravefan52]

All the recent SB winners have had momentum going into the playoffs. Rest injured players and play everyone else who is healthy. Momentum means so much in this league.

[frank21054]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1355715129' post='1266654']
Pees has done a lot of tinkering this year, but it's become increasingly clear there aren't many good match-ups for him to take advantage of.
[/quote]

Tinker to a 4-3 defensive front. We have no middle linebackers. We can rotate Ngata, Cody, Kemo, McPhee, Jones, Hall, Tyson along the line. Put Kruger, Upshaw, Suggs rotating at OLB/DE. Rotate McClellan, Bynes, and any of our injuried MLB we may get back. I think our defensive line played well until they got gassed in the second half today. Just an interesting thought.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='frank21054' timestamp='1355716029' post='1266727']
Tinker to a 4-3 defensive front. We have no middle linebackers. We can rotate Ngata, Cody, Kemo, McPhee, Jones, Hall, Tyson along the line. Put Kruger, Upshaw, Suggs rotating at OLB/DE. Rotate McClellan, Bynes, and any of our injuried MLB we may get back. I think our defensive line played well until they got gassed in the second half today. Just an interesting thought.
[/quote]

A strict 4-3 with no MLBs wouldn't work. Even Ray were healthy, a 4-3 usually has to capable of making tackles sideline-to-sideline as well as other things. McClellan or Bynes would get exposed even more.

[SilverMyst]

I was just wondering your thoughts on Should they sit certain players till the play off game....

I believe they should rest lewis and suggs.... plus other key players for a run for the top....

[usmccharles]

Lewis and suggs rest...everyone else needs much more practice

[frank21054]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1355716267' post='1266749']
A strict 4-3 with no MLBs wouldn't work. Even Ray were healthy, a 4-3 usually has to capable of making tackles sideline-to-sideline as well as other things. McClellan or Bynes would get exposed even more.
[/quote]

Maybe but the 3-4 is being exposed having to start 2 non starters are middle linebacker. Right now our depth is on the dline

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='frank21054' timestamp='1355717772' post='1266835']
Maybe but the 3-4 is being exposed having to start 2 non starters are middle linebacker. Right now our depth is on the dline
[/quote]

There's nothing wrong with the 3-4; it's the players being forced to start there.

[DavidJGuyton]

Practice hard, limited snaps in games. Let's be honest, our chances of getting to the Super Bowl are not any better if we win the next two and rack up more injuries.

[Free Agent]

[quote name='frank21054' timestamp='1355717772' post='1266835']
Maybe but the 3-4 is being exposed having to start 2 non starters are middle linebacker. [b]Right now our depth is on the dline[/b]
[/quote]

Thats debatable. Id argue that our starters on the d-line are some of the worst starters on the team. Maake Kemoeatu in particular is playing like garbage.

[RavensFanInCA]

Actually, in looking at the tie-breaking procedures, if Pittsburgh wins out and we lose out, there will be a three-way tie. Since Pittsburgh would have beaten Cinci twice and us once and we split both of the matchups, Pittsburgh wins that three-way tie breaker, making them the 4th seed.

I.e. We still need to win at least one game to secure the AFC North.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

[quote name='RavensFanInCA' timestamp='1355726816' post='1267252']
Actually, in looking at the tie-breaking procedures, if Pittsburgh wins out and we lose out, there will be a three-way tie. Since Pittsburgh would have beaten Cinci twice and us once and we split both of the matchups, Pittsburgh wins that three-way tie breaker, making them the 4th seed.

I.e. We still need to win at least one game to secure the AFC North.
[/quote]

we got better Conference record than both Pitts and Cinci at all three finishing 9-7... only way to lose the Division is if Cinci goes 10-6 and we go 9-7... which is not going to happen!

nb Pitts cannot win the AFC North... matematically speaking... and football wise too