Why We Are Making the Playoffs

Simplest explanation: Look at the opposition and how we finished the second half of last year.

After the Chiefs, Bills and Bunlges their ain`t much competition for the 4 playoff spots outside those three teams in the AFC.

I say done deal we make the payoffs, if:

1. Kenny does not regress.

2. No injuries to key players.

I think that is fair. Now what does it take to be more than a token playoff team?

Let`s build on what needs to happen other than the first two assumptions:

3. Kenny does not regress and instead takes it up a notch.

4. O-line does better, especially in pass blocking due to better play by the guys we have or because of who we draft.

5. We draft a key player on defense or offense that makes a difference.

I think that`s all it takes to give us a chance.

 

Canada........

 

I totally agree. Only KFP not making a step, or major injuries. If KFP is better....We are automatically a better team.

 

Counterpoint; Glen Thomas. I seriously doubt he is another mere Offensive Assistant as the team is making him out to be. Thomas has had success both in the NFL (Matt Ryan) and the Collegiate Level (2019 Baylor had a 11-2 record) as both a QB Coach and Offensive Coordinator. Matt Canada does not and has not had nearly as much success. There is also another nugget to add; Glen Thomas was one of the college recruiters that attempted to get Kenny Pickett to play for Temple.



Quite a bit to unpack regarding Glen Thomas but the fact remains is that he has shown himself to be a successful Offensive Play Caller; something I am sure the Front Office wants with this current corps of the Offense in addition to maximizing Kenny's talents as quickly as possible. He will not be on that Rookie Deal for long so it is best to get the most out of his talents as fast as possible. If that also means Matt Canada must see the "NFL Guillotine"?!...


So be it.

 

Biggest honest question though is still something that is yet to be determined. We know that the 2023 Steelers will be better than the 2022 Steelers... on paper. How much better though remains to be seen; all the more reason this draft is arguably the biggest one of Tomlin's Coaching Career.


Kenny is the guy... that much is known. However, the rest of the team still needs some work. Thankfully the positions of need are well within play for the Steelers early picks. Question still remains.... which position goes first between Offensive Tackle and Corner?!


That will depend on the board. Even if it somehow does not... it is still a question worth asking.

 

I think a big part of it is how comfortable they are going with either the fourth cornerback (Banks or Smith) or the fourth offensive tackle (Wright). There is a very good chance they miss out on the top three at both positions, so what do they do? Try to trade up? Trade down if all of those guys are gone? I really hope it isn't Bresee. I don't even want him at 32. I initially thought they should trade down, but Wright seemed to help his stock enough at the combine that I wouldn't hate taking him at 17.

 

as long as Canada prowls the sidelines he dims any hope I have of the Steelers making the playoffs. Supposedly we have an easier schedule this year so that may help. But that guy has got to be held in check for us to have much success at all. Here's hoping the OP is correct. Perhaps Canada can finally get his act together.

 

On paper, the Steelers look like a very promising team.

I do agree that a lot rides on the arm of Kenny Pickett.
This is the stage where a QB that is dedicated to the trade, takes it to the next level both in the classroom but also in training.
He must continue to take command of his offense and know the system inside out.
Physically, he's figured out what shape he needs to be in to take the weekly pounding.
He's also needs to develop that unspoken communication with his targets and develop that trust with them.

Kenny Pickett doesn't have to be Mahomes, he just needs to be good.

 

Think your really not paying attention to how much talent the Dolphins are stacking, that team is putting all chips in the pile, but much of it will rest on how healthy Tua stays.

I think Jacksonville is also on the trend up. I wasn't too sold on Trevor Lawrence but he took a big step forward last year.

If Lamar stays in Baltimore, they are well coached and can contend for playoffs easily.

The NY Jets have mad a ton of moves, and who knows if Rodgers goes there or not.

I'd expect a bit of a turn around on the Broncos with new coaching staff.

Chargers can contend with Herbert, because of his talent.

AFC is not some push over after KC, Buffalo, and Cincy that you make it out to be.

Gonna be hard to qualify, but as long as Kenny proceeds to build and we stay generally healthy, I like our chances to qualify for the tournament.

 

I want to wait to see the final product that is going to be fielded.

They almost made the playoffs but only on the back half of a weak schedule. They need to take that next step and win against the strong contenders.

Will the pieces they acquired pay dividends especially at ILBer and Corner?

Pickett needs to ice down that franchise leap. He does that and its a good possibility of playoffs.

Health is paramount.

Canada has to go after this season. Hopefully Glen Thomas can usher him out the door.

 

Mahomes is the top rung.

The 2 nit wits on Good Morning Football stated that Kyler Murray was as talented if not more then Mahomes

Kenny Pickett does need to improve on his late season performance and carry himself into the franchise QB we hope he becomes.

 

I quit watching GMF last year. Pure cheese, IMO. I guess they are targeting GenZ and younger Millennials. It's about 70% Patriots since McCourty is on there... and the Patriots suck now and nobody outside of Boston cares about them. They never talk about the Steelers.

 

Whack

 

The AFC is challenging and certainly has depth after the top three teams, but the Steelers can play with most of those them.

The Dolphins often seem to be less than the sum of their parts. I also don't trust Tagovailoa to stay healthy. The Steelers played them on the road with Tagovailoa well before Pickett started to figure things out and nearly beat them, anyway.

The Ravens lost some pieces this offseason, but they should still be good. Even with Jackson, the Steelers are fully capable of beating them.

I still can't believe the Steelers managed to lose to the Jets. They would be a lot tougher with Rodgers, but let's see if that actually happens.

The Chargers are like the Dolphins, but I trust their quarterback more. They seem to have so many great pieces, but it hasn't come together for t hem.

 

For them to get to the sb and go through the gauntlet of qbs you will likely have to go through to get there, he's going to have to play better than just good.

 

This.

For that matter, I believe Trevor Lawrence is getting ready to run the table in the AFC a bit more than others are giving him credit for. He finally began to showcase why he was "the guy" last season in the playoffs against the Los Angeles Chargers. With Calvin Ridley back?!......


Expect the Jags to make some serious noise in the AFC; some surprise upsets as well.

 

Kyler Murray was called out on his lack of prep and immaturity by theowners when they put together his contrsct.
GMFB has become a joke. Packers, Cowboys, Jets 24/7. It's as if the rest of the league didn't exist.

 

Is it just me and recency bias, but is this draft holding a lot more cards than usual for us.

I’m, like most, always concerned about the draft, but this year feels almost like make or break. Along with KFP moving his own needle.

These new mega QB contracts now affecting and magnifying this narrow SB window. If you hit with a QB and don’t win in the rookie deal with them then you gotta hit home runs in the late draft roll players almost across the board. Either a few super stars get you there is a mega foundation of lower price roll players who are starters.

 

'Just good' was not the operative. 'Good' was the term.
Good being that he plays mistake free football and makes some splash plays (not like Allen or Mahomes or Burroughs does on a regular basis)
and our Defense plays very good defense.
Should those fall into place, good will get you time consuming drives and points and force the opposition to gamble and play into the strength of the defense.

I also think "Super Bowl" is little bit of a reach, I was more waxing on the playoff picture.
Honestly, I don't think the Steelers are the cream of the crop on the AFC... Buffalo, Cincinnati and Kansas City are the top of the class so far with Maybe Miami, the Chargers and possibly the Jets (depending on a trade) looking to challenge - the Steelers can run with those dogs though.

To get to that Super Bowl level, Kenny needs to produce TD's when in the redzone, hit strikes on the deep balls and so on.

 

Just cause we are the friggin awesome stillers.

 

I’m guessing we were less awesome last year eh

 

No injuries to key players is touch to get in a season. Steelers should have been able to make the playoffs even with TJ out part of the season.

 

He need to be better than "good". This is why yiu see all these teams gearing up to try to compete with kc. Unless another bucs situation happens when mahomes entire oline is hurt and he gets zero help from his weapons, the likelihood of holding him or even a few of the other top qbs down defensively is likely not going to happen. You're going to have to match them. Look at hurts in the sb. Played an excellent game and even that wasn't enough to overcome mahomes.

 

Yep. First half of season was sorry Mitch and a few games with Kenny trying to learn AND Watt out. Would have won more games in the first half of the season if we had second half of season Kenny the whole way, not even counting Watt. Two more wins minimum if Kenny was sharp the whole season and no Watt injury.

Some say season coming up has easier schedule for us than last.

Also. Look at the so-so competition for Wildcards.

Considering all these facts, seems ridiculous bordering on stupid for anyone to predict a non-playoff season IMO.

The correct pessimistic argument would be we will have big trouble getting by Bungles, Bills and Chiefs.

 

Bush.