State of Denial???

http://www.steelers.com/video-and-a...w---1212/0c5a5dd7-d387-41cf-8ee9-2ff5d2c61c6c
I just posted this link, because, I have been reading a lot of articles, and seeing a lot of interviews with Tomlin, saying... "I don`t need to look at the past... I live for the future.."... etc...
There have been some legitamite threads posted here, questioning the character of our team..
I have read some good quotes from Keisel, especially, calling his teammate`s hearts, into guestion recentley...
So, What I want to know, is...
Does this team have the HEART that it takes, to become champions???
Are they all just saying the politically correct things, that they are expected to say?
Or does anyone on this team have the balls to step up, and say "NO!!!"...
This is unacceptable!!! We are better than this!!!
I have heard it from Keisel, and a few other players, but not as much as I would expect, given the way they have played...
So, I guess what I am asking, is...
Do these guys believe what they are saying to the media(are they in denial?)...
Or, are they just trying to put a positive spin on what they have done...
Trying to stay positive, ... Not throw teammates "under the bus"... "Speak the company line"...
"Provide a unified front"..."Be a good teammate".. etc...
As long as this team knows it has underachieved, and is keeping the negative crap behind closed doors, I am fine with that...
But...
If they really believe half the crap they are feeding the press... We are in deep crap!!!
Sorry, Just venting.
Seems like no one in this league will speak out, when they see a problem, they would just rather give the "nice, acceptable" answers that everyone wants to hear, when things are going wrong..
Where are you, when we need you, Silverback?!?! Speak up! And light a fire under your team`s ass!!!
(Maybe he`s doin it behind the scenes... but I haven`t seen proof of it on the field, yet...)
...Oh, Wait, Maybe I did when we went into the Craven`s house, and walked out with a win.
Can`t just do it once in awhile, when we "need" it... Gotta do it EVERY week...
I am holding out hope!
GO STEELERS!!

 

I am hearing some grumblings from some Pittsburgh media types that Tomlin has or is losing this team. There's nothing specific out there, but it seems to be the way the wind is blowing. Dejan went after Tomlin in the trib today. I have heard some things from Ed Bouchette on The Fan that are head-scratchers. And Mark Maddden has suggested that the team indeed has character issues (though you have to take what he says with a grain of salt).

 

Living in Cleveland, the only access I have to Steelers Sports talk is through I Heart Radio's Black and Gold station. The one prevalent thing that I have heard listening to that has been that the team has an issue with on-the-field "Player" leadership. I have not heard much from the talking-heads about the idea of coaching leadership.

I tend to agree with this. They lost Hines and Farrior last year - two players who have been known to be on-field leaders. This year, no one has seemed to step up with the characteristics that those players have shown throughout the years.

My gut feeling is that Kiesel is sensing the same thing and he is ready to step up. He is a popular player with the fans, and I would think he could be that guy that calls for accountability of his teammates on the field and behind the locker room doors.

On offense - it has to be Ben. Perhaps it wasn't a "leadership" thing on Sunday. Perhaps it was that Ben had a difficult time getting his feet underneath him for much of the first half. By the time he got the chance to get things going, the game was out of hand. So, maybe we see a different story on Sunday against Dallas. If Kiesel steps up and lights a fire under the defense, and Ben is back to his pre-injury self, maybe we go on a roll for the next 3 games.

The issue of "playing down" to opponents is definitely something that the players need to address during the off-season. Player/leaders can really make a difference in a locker room and on the field. I don't think it is a matter of Tomlin "losing" the locker room. I think they buy into his philosophy and his style - but at some point, as professionals - the players need to hold each OTHER accountable for their actions and "below the line" play. Kiesel seems ready to do that on defense, and I don't see anyone other than Ben who would do it on offense. Let's hope that the issue is handled during the week and on Sunday. If so, the team could peak at just the right time and give us a good show for the next couple of months.

 

Back during the Bubby Brister era, I used to think that if he could get a first down on the first drive then they had a chance to win. But if it was 1-2-3-punt, it was going to be a long day. Seemed like it was just hot one week and cold the next. For what ever reason, I've always felt that way. Get a first down on the first drive and move forward. During the Kordell era it was much the same thing. So it's just something I've conditioned myself to look for as a fan.

I would get so frustrated seeing the Patriots or the Packers or Saints come out and drive the field for 7 on the first drive and yet here I am hoping that the Steelers simply get a first down.

So on Sunday, we did. Ben completed his first pass for a first down. And then, at some point in the first half he was 5-12. The air just deflated out of the offensive ball. Dwyer and Redman couldn't get the yardage we needed, Wallace and Brown were dropping passes. Just total momentum was terrible. This hot one week and cold the next is just something that is part of Steelers football. Runs like 2004 just don't happen that often. It seems it is not so much that they play down to opponents is that they just can't seem to keep up the intensity needed to win football games from week to week. This is an observation that I've made whether the coach be Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, or Mike Tomlin. Thoughts?

 

I am hoping that Tomlin is saying one thing to the media and actually feeling a different way. If he actually believes the crap he says during his press conferences, then we are in deep do-do.