Without thrust intervention, only pitch control is available and if used excessively may result in a high nose attitude with risk of tailstrike or reducing speed more quickly than in a normal flare which incurs other risks.
The MD-11 has a significant number of tailstrikes on record (and numerous near tailstrikes no doubt, always ck the VHF 3 antenna tip during walk around) associated with speed deficiencies in takeoff and landing phases. FMS gross weight mis-entry, rotating too early, and perhaps relevant to this thread, attempting to stop an excessive rate of descent close to the ground by aggressive use of elevator, w/engines at idle after A/T retard.