Are the Steelers a better team than we think?

Didn’t Woodley have conditioning concerns.? I remember something about him not wanting to go and train with Ike’s guy, who many others were training with at the time. His conditioning was a big part of his injury woes, if I remember correctly. He got large....

 

I really thought it was the other way around. He injured his hammy and then couldn't train the way he needed to, thus causing him to balloon. I could certainly be wrong though. I just never was one who questioned his effort.

 

Steelers are a 4-4 team

 

Hey bigbenhotness.

Yes, this is what I have stated numerous times over the past week. That is, our timing could not have been worse. It seems that the "O" and "D" have role reversed in regards to being the team's strength. Once the 3 B's went away (well Ben is still here, just hurt) that really put a major damper on our "O" which was our strength. Yes, if we had our current "D" and the 3-B offense we would be about complete a team as we have been in a long time. The current "O" is good on paper and some on the field but it is going to take time to gel. STEELWINDS

 

Hey TheTerribleOwl.

His forced fumble to close out Super Bowl XLIII is how I best remember Lamar. So many great Steeler plays in that game. Him and Harrison were a great tandem. STEELWINDS

 

That redzone offense is brutal, can't keep settling for fieldgoals.

 

You are what your record says you are

 

Nothing personal steelersrule6.

However, I am fairly bored with hearing this cliché. Yes, on the surface your win-loss-tie record is concrete. It cannot be denied. It is what it is. And probably for the most part it carries some validity. Given that, not every game, whether win, lose, or draw tells the complete story of the outcome of each game on an individual basis.

For example, a team may lose by one point due to a horrific call by the officials (and for the record I am not one of those official bashing fans). Like, with the BS Pass Interference call in the New Orleans game last year. We probably should of won that game but did not. Given the cliché, does that really apply to that situation? On that night, in that game, I really feel our "potential victory" was snatched from us not because of "who we are/were" but rather an errant mistake that cost us a win. Yes, I realize that it is one instant that I am providing you however when a team experiences multiple losses because of things outside of their control then yes, I do not feel that it truly defines who they are.

On a lighter note, I love your avatar my friend. Those four were a terror. I am so glad that I was able to grow-up in their playing days and have had the chance to watch them, as well as the team as a whole. It may be nostalgic, but man I miss those days. To get to watch the Steelers back then, growing up with no cable TV really was really a treat if they were televised that week (I grew up in Connecticut). What a complete team we had as they progressed from Super Bowl IX to Super Bowl XIV (when we reached the pinnacle of our success of that era). The transformation from a run dominant "O" to the progression where Swann, Stallworth, and TB put it all together was really a thing of beauty. Especially, as they did it all through the draft. Take care "Rule". STEELWINDS

 

Hey steelersrule6.

Yes, I totally agree and have posted the same thing. This is nothing new though and even have had these issues with Ben. Our "OC" has to do a better job in those situations as well as the players executing. Every time we leave those four points out there on the field in those situations it is not good. Yes, it will happen but it cannot continue to be the primary source of our scoring. Just look at the SF game this year. STEELWINDS

 

I agree to a point. Were the 2017 Steelers (13-3) better than the 2005 11-5 wild card team that went on to won the SB. I know different time, team, blah, blah. My point is parity in the league, especially during regular season means many games come down lass than a TD, or even a FG. When that happens you can see late minute magic like we saw in 2017, or last minute heartache like we saw last year.

I do not think this is a good team, it is a growing team of very young players. A good team will learn from the mistakes, correct them, and get stronger as the season matures. So far many of our games have been the Steelers winning is spite of their mistakes, or losing because of those mistakes (in very close scoring games). We are seeing some all pro play be certain D members, Boz being near perfect. We need more consisetncey on O, then this team may actually be good.

 

Is that you, Mike Tomlin?

 

It was Bill Parcells who said that, duh.

 

Bill Cowher used to always say there is a fine line between being a good team and bad team.

Steelers are 4-4. In games decided by one score. They are 2-3.

Make that 2-3 a 4-1 and your looking at a 6-2 instead of 4 -4.

Sad part it was possible, they blew the Ravens and 49ers games. I'll let you have the Seahawks as a loss, but even that was winnable.

 

Our record is correct. It is a perfect indication of who and what we are. We are mediocre. We have the ability to play with anyone in the league, even the Pats.

The first game was to be expected. We were playing the most prepared team in football. We are one of the least prepared teams in football. The fact that it was the first game of the season and Ben was not only hiding an injury, but hadn't had enough first team reps just made it even worse. At this point, even with MR under center, we would give the Pats a much more competitive game.

That being said, we are not a well prepared or disciplined team. We aren't able to put teams away. It is easy to say that we play to the level of our competition, but I think we play to our own level and just find ways to keep from putting together a 60 minute, solid performance.

The defense can't close out games, even though they are playing at a higher level than we've seen in a long time.
The skilled positions that we need to depend on have cost us games by fumbles, dropped passes, interceptions, and inaccurate passing.
Injuries have destabilized the offense AND defense, and both are playing catch up, trying to find a rhythm.
Poor coaching, before and during games, has put us in hard to overcome situations.

The thing is, other than injuries, most of our problems are self inflicted and can be corrected. Whether we find the playoffs or not is irrelevant at this point. Right now, we need to find consistency and stack wins regardless of opponent. Stacking wins is the best way to prove that we are progressing because we can squeak out a win against any team in the league, good or bad. We just have to be able to play above the level of ourselves.

 

Hey troybellringer55.

I think that you can throw in the Seattle game as well as winnable. If Moncrief does not let the ball ricochet off of his hands for a pick that was eventually turned in to a TD we probably win that one too. Like I have said in other posts, we realistically could be 7-1. However, as stated by others the difference in close games usually comes down to a few plays. STEELWINDS

 

Hey Glory Days.

You summed it up perfectly in your last paragraph.... "self inflicted". That was the difference between the 13-3 year two seasons ago and the 9-6-1 last season. STEELWINDS

 

Please explain that before I respond. I have a LOT to say about that if I'm taking it the right way.

 

Sorry - didn't read your whole post, but in keeping with tradition around here, we extend a rip-roaring Happy Birthday wish to the inner circle folks which happens to be you today MadtownDrunkard - our collective wish is that you are neither Mad nor crazy drunk today - just enough to make it memorable, happy and safe. Dilly Dilly!

 

...and 4-4 this season...

It's hard to think about where we would be this season without some very untimely fumbles and an interception or two. I know every team has turnovers. But I'm just "what if-ing" right now.

 

Hey The Glory Days

Yeah, I know. It really is a fine line.

This year's issues have been big time around ball security. I have seen more of the same self-sabotaging behaviors from this team whether it is a penalty, turnover, bad coaching calls, etc., etc., (feel free to jump in, smile) at the most inopportune times. Not that anytime is good for a blunder obviously. However, they only become magnified as the games get closer to the end.

Like I stated, we could easily be 7-1 even, without Ben. This is all nothing new though. I have witnessed these issues in past seasons as well. You just expect better from the team; especially from veterans. Wrap the ball up! I could live with the loss of some yardage before a turnover. Ugh! STEELWINDS

 

Not so strange is that in recent past seasons (last season not included), we were simply "better put together" (industry term) and didn't suffer such significant injuries so early in said seasons. We were able to overcome lapses in focus, coaching inadequacies, bla bla bla.

And even though ball security falls on the "professionals", most of our most crucial fumbles have come when players are trying to do too much. JuJu has fumbled away potential wins in two consecutive seasons now while fighting for more yardage AFTER making a first down. Not condemning him, but pointing out that it is the coaches' responsibility to prepare the athletes with situational awareness. I've harped on that before. There is a time to fight for more yardage and a time to go to the ground. JuJu, Conner, and now Samuels, all need to be coached up on the difference. Because if not for a shanked punt, Samuels might have fumbled away a game this year just like JJSS and JC have. This is beyond a coincidence at this point. It's a coaching deficiency that is undermining everything that the team is doing for the first 55 minutes of the game.

 

The players don't have much choice when the coaches are nimrods!

 

Glad I asked for clarification before I responded. I misunderstood. I thought you were putting the blame on the players and saying that it was more on them than the coaches.

I totally agree with you! The players are there to carry out the coaches' game plan. If they execute a poorly designed plan at a high level, they still end up losing and looking like the Bengals. A well conceived game plan, on the other hand, can compensate for deficiencies and create favorable matchups, ultimately giving the team the best chance to succeed...aka win.

 

I will say for the past 3 years the Steelers have been dealing with crazy injuries or a holdout. Especially with this season, losing Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell in the off season. Big Ben getting hurt in the Seahawks game. And Stephon Tuitt getting hurt in the Chargers game, the Steelers back as been against the wall big time. The one game I really feel that the Steelers did not take advantage of was the 49ers game. Steelers defense was great in the 1st half. But played average at best in the 2nd half. And the offense was trash in the 1st half. But good in the 2nd half. Other than that, the Steelers being 4-4 at this point is pretty solid. Steelers just have to execute better with their red zone offense and score touchdowns. Mason Rudolph have to be more accurate. He also have to stop holding on to the ball to long. And the Steeler defense have to be tighter on the holes against the run.

 

I agree. many have what ifed just about everything. Brown, Bell blah blah. I do like certain things we are seeing. The turnovers the D has created, the lack of locker room drama. it really is hard to really give a critique on where this team is at, should be, or where it is going. They are very young, there are a host of injuries, and certainly make a lot of mistakes. I agree on stacking wins, but even in losses, if they lose by being outplayed instead of those mistakes, then at least we can see growth. If they show heart and hustle and more symmetry, that will be some measure of success. Wins are the only way some people count success, but sometimes the losses (especially with a young team), can be a catalyst for the future. Sure I want the playoffs, anything can happen, but starting the way we did even 500 seemed impossible.