Are the Steelers a better team than we think?

For sure. I see no reason why the Steelers couldn't go 4-4 or better over these next eight games: Rams, @Browns, @Bengals, Browns, @ Cards, Bills, @Jets, @Ravens.

 

I think that is unfair to Woodley. He injured his hammy and couldn't get it healthy. Prior to that he was great.

 

The way the Steelers play football is changing this year. Success is expected immediately in all phases...lol

 

Uh, yes and no. Our defense is elite in a couple categories, but it breaks down too often. For us, it`s all about pressure. If we play against a pocket QB who needs time, then we can do good. If we play against a QB who can run or is smart with the ball under pressure, then we have problems.

On offense, we are struggling. We have a poor man`s dink and dunk offense. We need a game where the defense sets us up for a score or two to win.

Until we play better on both sides of the ball, we are at best at a weak wildcard level, not a serious contender IMO.

 

Are they better than 'we' think? I guess it depends on how good you think they are.

For me, I think they're a 6-10 to 8-8 team. And that about what they're showing.

The offense is weak, kicking FG instead of getting TDs. The D is pretty good, they get sacks and T/Os, but they gave up a lot points yesterday to a very crippled offense.

As far as the 'look,at all the close games we lost argument' goes, Every so-so team in NFL history can make that complaint. That's what makes them so-so teams! They do just enough to lose.

If somehow you think this team is something better, like 10-6, I can't get on board.
Look at this 3 game win streak. Maybe the game in LA was a nice gutsy win. But the last 2? Miami is flat out bad and still got 14-0 lead. Indy handed the game to them yesterday.

 

I know I'm running on the beach in that regard

 

I think the answer is that we have some great players that seem to have a lot of drive and pride in what they do. We seem to lack scheme on defense and obviously we have a rookie QB. We gave SF a great game as well as Baltimore. We’ve been snakebit with injuries and our travel schedule to the west coast is tough as well. We absolutely hit paydirt with Fitzpatrick and Bush. Watt is coming into his own and DuPree is playing hard. If we get Tuitt back and keep things going, we can make a run next year. We should shed AB’s cap hit to free up some cash.

 

Only if you were wearing your Jabaal Sheard Pitt jersey yesterday.

For having such pathetic teams over the past, what, 25 years, Pitt sure has turned out some great NFL players (several HOF caliber). Head scratcher for sure. HTP!

 

with the 2016-17 offense and this defense we are a legit 12-4 team. This offense scares no one lol

 

The offense did this with Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown.

Steelers rarely put teams away, even with 2 All Pros and a HOF QB.

 

That has me more worried as we do not play well against teams that are sub 500. The Steelers aren't very good on a consistent basis and can hang with anyone but then lose to anyone. No one fears playing the Steelers like days of old and I just can't see the playoffs in this years future especially with the Rats winning games we needed them to lose. All I can look forward to is the next game and hope we don't screw it up or have the other teams kicker shank a fg to save the day.

 

no

 

Donald will have a career day against this offensive line unless they allow Nix to double team him on every play

 

donald is gonna have a career day regardless lol

 

This is no more than a "middle of the pack" average team, nothing more. The only thing that is different is the defense is making splash plays and getting takeaways, they still are unable to stop a 2-minute offense. There are still issues with stopping the run as well, the defense is constantly giving up 7+ yards on 1st down running plays and still giving up ridiculous 3rd and 10+ with regularity. The offense isn't good and I'm not blaming Rudolph, receivers aren't getting any separation, remember toward Haley's end the same issue was happening, the offense became so predictable that the defenders were running the routes.

The same issue seems to have popped up, there is no creativity in order to generate yards and get some momentum. The shovel pass on the 4th down play, it was poorly designed as there was no lead blocker to take out the LBer, instead it was meant to "fool" the linemen, it didn't. That is what a division II OC draws up, not an NFL level coach, the only saving grace is there is enough talent to get by other poor or average teams.

 

You're correct that they didn't put teams away as much as they should have but it last year it was due to below average D and above average O. This year its below average O and above average D. Last year the Steelers were fourth in the conference in points scored. This year its ninth. Exact opposite on D. Last year they were 9th in points allowed and this year 4th.

BTW, believe it or not, in 2018 the Steelers were #1 in the NFL in red zone TD percentage at 73.47%. This year they're 28th at 38.1%.
https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/red-zone-scoring-pct?date=2019-11-04

 

Need a bus.

 

Yes, we need Jerome Bettis in his prime. Too bad time machines aren't real.

 

Sign him anyway, Ben can win another for him then. (As much as you like old Ben, I had to rib ya.)

 

Hey Blue!

I think we are finding our way. The "D" is producing TO's and sacks at a championship caliber rate (even though they were last year as well). However, the "O" is not taking full advantage of them. You know how it goes. We need TDs not just FGs. I will go one better. I think we really should be 7-1.

As I have stated in another post, our timing of all of this is bad. Where our "O" was once our strong point especially with B, B, and B, it has now taken on a complete makeover in which they are building chemistry. If we are to do anything this year, then the "O" must mature quicker. Given that, I think that they are coming along well. Where, the "D" (and really seems to be with Minkah as the catalyst) has gone to a new level. However, they still have some 3rd down issues that must be ironed out. I think if we could have combined the B B B offense with this current "D" we would really have had something special going on. Oh well could've, would've, should've.... you know how the story goes. STEELWINDS

 

Lamar Jackson's woeful line says hello.

 

The players?......YES!

The coaching?.....NO!

Since the players are responsible for what goes on inside the white lines, they need to learn how to be better coached

 

Aren't these two things mutually exclusive? Like a woman who is attractive or is sane?

 

I think it was more the contract.