Apathy is Truly Setting In

I'll never stop watching the Steelers.. I did miss a game this year though, first time in 30 years to go watch AIC in concert

 

It's not about losing to Buffalo. It's about them bringing back Tomlin. I can even live with that, IF...they actually do a thorough search for the next OC and not just promote from within or bring in another yes man to Tomlin. We need the best offensive mind we can find and not just settle and they need to be able to bring in some of their assistants.

 

I’ve said this for years. People predict doom and gloom then are outraged when their predictions come true.

The problem I see for myself is that I’ve continually lowered my expectations so I won’t be so disappointed.

 

I find it hard to believe that the Buffalo loss didn't tie into it also.

 

But they DID lose, just like they were predicted to do. Adding another check to Tomlins losing playoff record.

I'm tired of him getting credit for digging out of messes that he had a huge hand in creating.

How do you feel about Mike McCarthy?

 

Sounds very familiar and like you, I have been a fan for 45+ years and it's agonizing to watch this team fail. I have changed the way I watch the Steelers. I can tell within 5 minutes if the Steelers are going to win or lose. Sometimes I shut games off at halftime and won't stay up late to watch this garbage. Steelers have lost their way. It's so frustrating because just when you think you have the answer be it benching Trubisky for Mason the team comes out and lays another egg. It's impossible to actually look at the pieces that make up this team and decide with any kind of certainty where the problem exists. Seems to me its coach related, player execution-related and just a nonchalant culture that has been created. I expect the Steelers to come out on fire and play more physically then the Bills and win that game. How naive we are to think they would be prepared. Preparedness is lacking in half of the games they played this year.

 

Without getting into the coaching carousel, I just entered my opinion that people saying they might jump ship probably wouldn't, that imho that happens freshly off a playoff loss. I wasn't saying that was your case in particular,just in general. Evidently it doesn't apply to you. That's cool . Carry on.

 

Draft mainly for me baby!!!!

 

Most of us weren't even fans the last time the Steelers fired a HC, yet some fans think losing a playoff game was going to get the HC fired .

 

McCarthy has a franchise QB and a better team, and they got smoked at home by a #7 seed.

 

If he (or they) does that, then I GUARANTEE if and when (there will certainly be a “when”) Tomlin will 1000% get the Matt Canaduh treatment by the fans in the stands demanding he go. Maybe more. It will be relentless.

I have zero faith that this team will do much better and if they even get 1 lousy playoff win it won’t and shouldn’t quell any of the shouting criticism.

There has to be very real effort towards a shifted path out of this.

I would be happier with an altered approach and a slightly lesser win total than promoting from within and expecting a different feel.

This team is STALE!

 

Saw that one coming. Somehow they are cursed. They seem almost identical to the best of the Romo years with the same result.

Jerry Jones pissed off the gods in the universe somehow.

 

Well, try to look at the positive side of that. If they promote Faulkner to permanent OC, that might mean 2024 will be Tomlin's last season. There's no way they'll hire someone from outside if Tomlin is going to be a lame duck HC. At least that's my take on it, but I could be wrong

 

I hear that in a LOT of other statements regarding Tomlin and some other players, but I’m not reading that into Hanratty’s statement here.

I think you’re off the mark. But I could be wrong too.

 

GREAT post!

 

I share a LOT of the sensibilities as the OP except jumping ship and ever far worse - rooting for another franchise. That’s just insanity to me.

If The Steelers ever closed up shop I might just stop watching football all together or just fade to a casual NFL watcher here and there. Never signing up to a different jersey.

 

I have to disagree with what seems like the vast majority of the fan base that’s still alive.

I’m 52 and started really watching and loving the Steelers before I really knew a lot of what was going on around 77-78. Just a child. And just in time to watch the end of the era. I cannot speak of ancient history pre the Belle epoch Mean Joe crew.

As “bad” as the majority of the 80’s were, and then the later 90’s early 00’s for a few it wasn’t really as bad people make it out to be. I desperately wanted Brister gone, but even he had a little success. We went to the AFCC game with Kordell Stewart and should have won against the Cheatriots (I’m singularly convinced they were spy gating for that game) because we were the best team in Football that year. Stewart was not the only reason for that loss by a long shot.

This team, as frustrating as they are, still aren’t THAT bad. I want Tomlin gone because we’ve seen his ceiling for way too long now and everything is just stale with his approach now. There is no trophy for never being .500 or better and it’s now just as boring as his schemes.

Right before Ben came along, and also when they let Woodson walk, I had a similar feeling about the Rooney’s then as I do now. They are just fine with getting to the playoffs. If they aren’t in the basement they can live with that. Well, I can’t and neither can a lot of the base.

I def don’t want to get rid of Tomlin if it means that we become the Panthers or some bottom dwellers. They have to be able to find a candidate that could get us to this level at a minimum and I’d be a little more happy because it shows good faith that they are trying. The new GM and asst GM coupled with the draft plus most of the free agents gave me great hope. But keeping Canada on was an epic mistake in hindsight. We all gave it a pass because of Kenny and having condistantcy, but in house they should have seen more that us fans. They just rolled out the same junk as last year with a few fresh faces. No scheme development. TRASH!

I’m thinking the same is likely to happen because Tomlin likes a small staff with other coaches who aren’t good enough to give the Rooney’s somewhere to look in the same building. Nothing will REALLY change.

With the patience that this organization provides a coach to work their magic, they “SHOULD” be able to choose the best possible option once they take their aim at a new guy. Who though? Who???

With all of the rules favoring offensive point production a player safety, I’m hoping for an offensive wiz. Outside of Tom Brady running the show in NE, how many defensive minded coaches have won Super Bowls in the last 20 years or had a real shot. Not many. You can now win more Championships with a high powered offense and a just fine enough defense than the other way around.

But who? What offensive genius coach is out there who needs the shot? Who???????

 

I agree to an extent. Tomlin has no business getting extended (that’s what it’s looking like will happen). He’s become an average coach with average coordinators who rely on what little talent they have and can be easily outschemed. But let those non losing seasons and occasional first round playoff exits continue and all will be well - except to the more observant fans

the longer this goes on the more tiresome it will get

 

I agree. 3 playoff wins in the last 11 years and the bulk of that with a HoF qb just wasted. Now with the qb situation as it stands makes it even more disheartening.

 

How quickly we forget. Tomlin grossly underachieved when he not only had a Hall of Fame quarterback, he had the killer Bs.

In fact, I famously remember Tomlin sing he's going to unleash hell in December. And then lost to the 3-8 Oakland Raiders and 1-11 Cleveland Browns, falling to 6-7 en route to missing the playoffs.

You can't be serious with that answer.

 

Yeah, but he's so good at that

 

I agree with many that there are some obvious holes on the team (QB, Center, Offensive Coordinator, etc). Given that, I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom.

The OL is going to get better, especially if we can add another piece or two. I was excited by Jones progress. I am also intrigued by what Washington might add as a blocking TE.

In addition to the above, we will get our ILBs back healthy, both of whom helped us take a step forward at that position. It is clear we need more depth here, which can be continued to be addressed.

Add to that Porter Jr. entering his second year with a healthy Minkah. And then there is Watt!

The defense will be fine. We just have to make improvements to the offense, starting with a new coordinator.

 

Agreed!!

 

Bingo.

 

In playoff terms we're now AFC Dallas.