This was a 3 to 5 Win Team Last Year Without Ben

I don't think the team has gotten worse vs last year. I think Ben papered over a lot of the issues. First, I will say Ben was over the hill and it was the right time to retire after last season. He was too limited in his mobility and deep passing accuracy. However, his ability to make quick decisions and hit the open receiver allowed us to have 4th quarter comeback wins in most of the games we won last year. Without Ben scrapping the play book and "drawing plays up in the dirt" in the 4th quarter of those games, we would have only had 3-5 wins.

I'm not sure what the answer is. There are too many problems to identify the main ones. Certainly a new offensive play calling philosophy is needed. I would say benching Najee at least for a game or two to get him right also makes sense. Getting TJ back will paper over issues on the defense much like Ben did for the offense during his HOF career.

Whether Tomlin should go is a tough one. Maybe it's time for a fresh start with this rebuild. He's been here for about as long as Cowher was. Things tend to get stale after awhile. Tomlin hasn't lost the locker room but maybe he's not the right coach to develop a young team and help them achieve their maximum potential.

 

Ben covered up a lot of ills for quite a while. That's the role of a franchise QB. They get paid a lot meaning less to go around requiring that QB to be a force multiplier/make those around him better. Or overcome shortcomings of weaker parts of the team. Even covering up for a bad coordinator or general mismanagement by coaching. Ben made a lot of average players and coaches look better than they were...and in many cases getting them paid (likely overpaid). As example, Dick Lebeau was a great coordinator. The game didn't pass him by all of sudden like a lot of fans thought. He just didn't have a in his prime Troy P. anymore. Or a Prime Deebo...or take your pick on those great Defenses.

Most Teams with a Franchise/HOF QB are a 5-6 win team without. Think if Buffalo played a full season with the backup...or the Chiefs...or the Bengals. Think back when Peyton Manning got hurt and the Colts won 1 game (I think). If this isn't the case...you don't have a true franchise/HOF caliber QB.

 

Ben was done

His last pass was worse than my wife

No matter how nice the sponge is you can only wring it so many times

And that sponge was dry 2 years ago now

 

The team has gotten worse and it will continue under the current regime and nepatism hiring practices. Until they gut the entire coaching staff maybe even Tomlin or surround him with high pedigree football people Steelers will not be relevant for a long long long time .

 

Are you saying your wife is wobbly and high?

 

I don't thing anyone is implying he's the answer now. Just recognizing even on his last leg...he was still covering up our multiple short-comings (as well as an over-rung sponge can.)

 

He was not good during the first 3 quarter in a game but he was still able to win close game.The steelers won 9 games last year because the steelers had 7 comebacks win in the fourth quarter.You need that when you have a -55 points differenciel!

It was a awful team who were lucky to win 9 games last year.Bottom 5 in passing yards per play on offense,rushing offense and last in rushing defense

 

The offense under Ben last year was just as good/bad as the offense under Kenny when scripted. There’s always a point where Ben says eff this crap and starts to audible. Kenny is not there yet

 

Why are y’all spending any amount of energy on last season and a retired player?

 

There is a joke in this somewhere involving Ben using a dry sponge to make a pass at your wife, but I need some time to figure out the wording.

 

Wobbly yes

But gravity has lowered pretty much all of the parts

 

Feel free to take your time

 

Because most of the rest of the team is made up of the same personnel. Ben is one of the key differences. So it's worthy to compare this year's team with the team that had a franchise QB on his last leg who usually succeeded when he threw the playbook out. I know internet space is extremely limited and therefore topics must be narrowly focused on an agreed to set of topics. But some of us like to go off script and have a different take.

 

Last year has no bearing on this year. Ben is gone. He isn’t coming back. It’s time to move on.

 

I bet there are a bunch of Wrs on this team that would take Him back in a minute. Your such a smart Guy.....So why are You so dang dumb about this.....
2020 ...1st eight games...Ben...18 tds, and 4 turnovers
2021... 1st eight games last season with a worse OL, and no Pickens ...Ben....10 tds, and 3 turnovers.
This season through 8 games with Trubisky, and Pickett, and Claypool....6 tds, and 11 turnovers.
Done , or not....You tell Me who those TEs, Wrs, and Coaches rather have right now.

 

I don’t believe there is a single WR on the Steelers who wants my wife throwing the ball

I also don’t know how you can’t see big dumb was done at the end of last season

 

I said He was done compared to His former self, but He's still a freaking super star compare to what We have going on right now. Hell the numbers show it, and not just that the record shows it.

 

That’s nice

My point was accurate

 

LoL
LoL
No You ,and I both know You're wrong, but I really like You so ....I will drop it.

 

I’ve been told by my friends this novelty wears off

 

I doubt it, or they still wouldn't be Your Friends.

 

That sponge kept us more competitive than we are now.

 

Yes

Agreed

But it is still past tense

Those days are gone

 

Dry sponge walks into a bar..........


Okay. So I'm still working.

 

A sponge walks into a bar and doesn’t order anything

Are you not going to order anything?” Asks the bartender

The sponge quickly replied

“I’m too holy”