We don’t have a Talent Problem!

Tomlin teams aren’t fun to watch. We seem to never have continuity or consistency. The games are always messy and we are completely reliant on splash plays and turnovers. When it works its great and Tomlin looks like a genius and it does against teams that are poorly coached, but against good teams with equal or better talent who are coached well we often find ourselves underperforming. Heck even against teams who are inferior to us talent wise if they don’t turn the ball over we often end up losing to them - Indianapolis, Dallas and Cleveland are good examples of that this year.

This teams needs change and it starts with Rooney. We have had the same problems for years now and they just never get rectified. Everyone knows what the problems are. What I do know is with the right coaching staff this defense should be a top five unit in nearly all categories. We aren’t. This offensive line should be top ten, we aren’t. The running game should be top ten, we aren’t.

We have pedigree all over the place on that defense. It is so frustrating to see teams continue to march down field methodically on us and are only answer is to hope and pray TJ gets a sack of pressure. Thats seemingly are only answer on defense or a turnover. Tomlins hand prints are all over the defense and he has failed significantly in that area.

We keep on signing and drafting middle linebackers and yet we still give up chunk plays in the middle of they field in the passing game. We keep signing and drafting high pedigree lineman on offense yet the unit has no cohesion and fails to both pass block and run block consistently. At what point do you look at the coaching?

The Steelers don’t make drastic changes, its not in our DNA. However what we or should I say Rooney can do is have an honest sit down with Tomlin at the end of the year and have directive on the changes that need to happen and not leave it up to Tomlin completely to enforce those changes. What I am saying is he needs to point out where Tomlin needs help. For this team to take the next step, Tomlin needs to understand where he himself is falling short and he needs to swallow his pride and agree to change and to relinquish some power.

It starts with getting a real legit DC in place, one that will be free to coach and game plan as he sees fit. If that means replacing the MLB’s, and secondary coaches so be it. The only coordinator on defense that I see of value is the Defensive Line coach anyways.

On offense from what I have seen we have not gotten right OC. Instead of being slow to react like we always are we should pivot quickly and not only replace the OC but the Oline coach and the RB coach. Heck let that whole side go and bring in a competent young innovative OC and let him bring in his OC staff. I highly doubt that will happen. My biggest issue with Smith is his usage of personnel. He doesn’t get the ball in the hands of his stars enough. Third stringers are getting playing time when they should not be. He runs predictable plays over and over again from game to game and in the same game (Outside pitch). His routes seemingly take to long to develop and he lacked scheme for a quick passing game to help the offensive line out when we were struggling to pass protect.

This team has the talent on defense to be dominant. I do think we need another cover cornerback and a young DT to develop but other than that we are there from a talent standpoint.

On offense we have the talent on the offensive line. They need better scheming and better coaching. You have a fantastic blocker at RB (Warren) and TE (Washington) Those are your tools to help out your Dan Moores and Broederick jones’s when they are struggling. But we don’t. We put Heyward in there or Najee or better yet we try to use Austin to block down instead of Skowreneck. It is so frustrating to watch.

Yes we need to upgrade the QB, but if we schemed things right, used the correct personnel to their strengths and coached up the offensive line correctly we have enough pedigree to play more consistently and to play winning football. The lone area we need to upgrade is WR.

Outside of some minor tweaking on the roster that one offseason and a good draft can’t fix it is obvious that where we lack the most talent isn’t with the players but the coaches. I hope Rooney recognizes this. I am not sure he does and if he does I am not sure he has the courage to make the necessary changes. He isn’t the same as his Dad was.

 

Well I can tell you I was sitting at the field last night and watched Pickens drop three critical passes, Austin fumble a punt return that ended up leading to the two points we lost by and the TE drop the last pass that would have put up in FG range with 4-5 seconds left. Yes Sir, that is a talent problem and no coach can win a game like that in those conditions with players screwing up. It was cold, brutally cold, trust me I know. They did not do their jobs.

 

Coaches job to get these guys physically and mentally prepared so they don’t make these mistakes.

 

After years and years of mentally soft and weak teams, it's not talent its coaching.

 

https://www.steelernation.com/2025/01/04/steelers-offensive-russell-wilson-happy

 

I agree. It's a combination of both to me. For the highest paid defense in the league, they're just not living up to those investments. The team lacks depth because of such investments. And the offensive talent is even worse.

Now this doesn't dismiss the coaching neither. The game planning has sucked these past few weeks. Playcalling on offensive, specifically in situational football has been terrible. Then of defense, the single high safety look has been bad. The defense only relies on splash plays and when they don't get sacks/turnovers, they get carved up. It's both a talent and coaching issue.

 

That's by far the worst blog site to be referencing. LeeAnn Loman is a great person and fan nonetheless.

 

technology the ball was knocked out of Pickens hands before he secured it on 2 of those catches

 

Art II is worth over a billion dollars. Spends his time on his board activities, philanthropy, and actively supports Democrat candidates. He's Chairman of the NFL’s Workplace Diversity Committee. He would probably rather not explain firing Tomlin to his dinner party friends.

I want a change at HC, but I am not confident he would pick the best available candidate.

 

Players have a responsibility, they are professionals and are expected the play like the enormous salaries they demand. This is not Coach um up little league you played in, it is a business and they are expected to perform. It is as simple as that. The plays drawn up that Pickens dropped worked, the punt Austin fumbled only happened because the defense did their part. The last pass Muth dropped hit him right in the hands and was inexcusable. That took away a chance for a FG. They are pros and that it carries expectations.

 

I can tell you, Cory Trice is not an answer at CB. I watched him get schooled over and over by Chase. I watched the match up live and when the ball didn’t go to him. He was open Everytime. He is a liability.

 

Well I was there and that is exactly what happened. She was spot on. The line was collapsing.

 

I think they absolutely have a talent problem, particularly on offence. The QB is a 35 year old re-thread and the WR group is bottom 10, possibly even bottom 5 in the league

The Oline has added a lot of young guys and they are not there yet clearly. Maybe another season or two.

Pat F is a good TE and the running back room is fine, nothing special

There isn’t a single player on that side of the ball close to All Pro level. Frazier may get there but he is a center

That is a talent problem

That’s is not to say there isn’t a coaching / scheme issue as well

 

Youi can't expect Trice to match up with Chase at this point.

 

But whatever the talent has been over that last 7-8 the result has alwasy been the same - late season collapse.

 

They have had a middle of the pack roster since about 2018/19 IMO

 

For god sake keep that racist bullsh!t at you klan meetings cause no body here wants to hear that sh!t. They lost a football game and he’s been a successful coach. If he is past his prime we can get another coach, but stop with your bigoted political Putin loving garbage.

 

That collapses every season, that has the same dsicipline issues, that is as dumb as ****, and reguarly lays eggs against terrible opposition.

Any constant in that time-frame you can think of?

 

You're a moron.

 

In this league to have both talent and depth, you have drafted well, develop well, keep the few core players that make a difference, and bring in the crafty FA's that fill the holes in your scheme.

Omar's drafting is still a work in progress, the players he has drafted seem to be those you can build around. Everything else seems to be an issue. When you have the same field issues for years, communications, wrong schemes, on and off field issues, lack of development, this is management from top to bottom.

This team is not the worst run, does not have the least talent, but it certainly is not at the top either. It is middle of the road, and this is what we see year in and out.

 

Mr. Always F-ing Open wants to be a #1 WR then he needs to make those catches.

 

So your judging those players on one game. Perhaps it was a motivation issue which leads back to coaching. Perhaps and accountability issues which leads back to coaching. Pickens lacks alot of things, talent isn’t one of them. Frieirmuth is usually sure handed. Does he suck at blocking, yes. Austin is what he is. We made up for that fumble with getting one back on special teams. Im not talking about last nights game anyway. Im talking about the whole season.

 

Trice has played like 5-6 games in his career of course he's going to struggle against a receiver like Chase, Trice might not be a starting CB but he's worth keeping around. They need to get rid of Sutton and Pierre.