Most disappointing Steelers this year

Queen was erratic, but he is also being misused in that defense. He doesn't get to blitz as much as he did in Baltimore, which is something he does very well. He was also much better in a system that used its linemen to eat up blockers and let the linebackers make plays.

Highsmith didn't have the flashy sack total, but he was damn good this year. He created a great deal of pressure when he was healthy.

 

Yep and opposing teams adjust. Did we?

 

During the last 5 games........... EVERYBODY was disapointing except for Waitman and Boswell.

 

Leal and Guard Herbig. Always hurt the last two years.

 

I think poor preparation and scheme were the reason most of these guys didn't play to their potential. Except maybe Russ and Minkah, where those two guys may just be getting old.

also Cam Sutton was a huge disappointment. That may be outside of poor scheme as well.

 

1. Broderick Jones for me was number 1. He should have elevated his play but he regressed (just maybe the injury hampered him we shall see).
2. George Pickens (attitude and lack of effort in every game is a killer)
3. Arthur Smith - play calling sucked and still way too conservative.
4. Austin-Defensive Tackling sucked which applies to the whole team (Old Steelers legends must be howling).

 

You do realize Watt was resistant to moving around, but after the playoff loss he said he was open to trying new things next year.

 

Yes i also realize he was injured. That is why he is sitting out the
pro Bowl.

 

I'm not buying that injury excuse I don't recall Watt being on the injury list the last three games. He struggled earlier in the season before the ankle injury.

 

Somehow I think 31 other teams would disagree with you and be glad to have him.

 

He was definitely playing injured against the Ravens no question

 

I'm disappointed in Boswell because he can only play kicker.

 

Apparently many of those guys down the stretch were fighting illness for several weeks. Cam on his podcast was still hacking and sounding like dog crap! Reports were that Queen needed fluids in several games and TJ was fighting through some injuries as well.

CA3 is my disappointing WR though. I'm not seeing separation that he should have and there didn't look to be any improvement in route running.

 

I agree on just about all of these.

The main issue was inconsistency across the board and I think that affects alot of the OP's list. Queen is a good example - some games excellent, some games non-existent.

 

He was still legitimately in the discussion for DPOY until that ugly stretch late in the season. He had an injured thumb and the sprained ankle. Those took away his strengths as a pass rusher, his excellent use of his hands and his quickness.

 

Unfortunately that is the identity of our team, and an extension of our coaching staff. We've been "inconsistent" for years now. Long winning streaks, frequent losing streaks, and playing our worst ball when it matters the most. Its been a theme for nearly a decade now, and it that isn't likely to change until we start bringing in better coordinators or replace the staff entirely.

I get that Queen was a slow starter, but at this moment he is probably the most important piece of our defense. He isn't as good as Heyward or Watt, but he took on the vocal leadership of the team and hopefully brings some much needed accountability to the locker room.

 

I agree, Queen is being misused and also doesn't have the line in front of him to help keep the blockers off him. We need to get a big NT to eat up blocks and allow our LBs (Queen and Wilson) to make plays and or blitz. We need to move Benton to DE opposite Cam Heyward where i think he would excel.

A few other things to note: We needed to move Broderick Jones to LT and stop trying to flip flop him back and forth...we are ruining him. Dan Moore has stated that trying to play on the right side is like trying to wipe your ass with the opposite hand and we are expecting a young LT in Jones (who didn't have a lot of experience at LT in college as it was) to be flip flopping..smh.

Additionally, I read somewhere that the Steelers see Cory Trice as a quality CB2, so they may not try to resign Donte Jackson and allow him to walk

 

I forgot about the Long Snapper. He along with Waitman and Boswell were not disappointing. Everyone else was. Total team fail.

 

No mention of Watt being absent for 5 solid games at the end?

 

Only in every thread.

Soon , a pool cleaning thread too

 

i really think minkah and highsmith had disappointing seasons for what we expect of them and their pay.

what ever happened to using herbig as a 3rd rusher with tj and highsmith? they seem so afraid to change anything from the status quo. not moving tj around is another head scratcher. every other team moves their best pass rusher around. they are so afraid of giving up one thing that they don't do things that would help them. disgraceful actually. they talk a big game and keep the standard even if it creates failure. no innovation whatsoever.

one guy i have hopes for is wilson. he may be the guy in year two that could handle the green dot. maybe bring roberts back but they have taken him off the field mostly.

there are things they could do with the players they have but they just don't. we live in our fears no matter what they preach.

 

ALL the Steelers are disappointing-- for not winning Superbowl.Every one-- top to bottom...

 

Well, you can the same thing about 31 other teams.