Kevin Colbert on the hot seat?

As most of you know, the Steelers had to part ways with more draft picks today in order to fix some depth issues. However, the depth on this team is weak in several areas, and that goes hand in hand with drafts. Looking back to 2008 it seems we have had several draft picks leave the team by choice or by attrition. Some made a splash or two, and some never even made a play. Currently, Will Allen is now our starter as Shamarko watches, we have drafted, what seems like 30DBs in he last 7 years, and only one or two made it? We draft LBs often, and we, as fans are still waiting for some to do something worthy of their pick. Colbert by no means will be sent packing over the next few months, BUT the holes on this roster can be attributed to his handy work. So, if this season is a flop, is Colbert safe?

 

I don't think tomlin is on the hot seat but I could see Colbert. They could move on from GM while keeping the HC.
Happned with Cowher.

 

It is definitely a fair question to ask about both him and Tomlin. But ultimately they are both absolutely safe. They just gave them both extensions this offseason. It will take a few more flop seasons for that to happen. The Rooneys do not have knee jerk reactions and move slowly on these things. Some times that is to the team's detriment, but the vast majority of the time it is for the best.

 

I think it's a fair question. One thing is for sure, the lack of development of recent high profile draft picks is most certainly a concern. The switch just doesn't seem to be coming on for some of these guys. Maybe it's a lack of talent. Maybe they're not responding well to coaching. Maybe the coaching has been insufficient. Whatever the case, Colbert and Tomlin had better start getting a lot more ROI on these guys or that hot seat will be built for two!

 

I have supported the front office for years but it's getting harder to do. I don't really disagree with the cuts made but I will say u should stick with the guys u evaluate in the draft. I had high hopes for grant. That one is the one I am really having trouble with. I didn't watch preseason so can someone help me with understanding
Did he suck?

 

The whole defense sucked. I'm like you, I had at least some hope for Grant. Instead, we decide to drop him like a hot potato in favor of Russ Cockrell who was cut by the Bills who needed DBs. It's almost like Colbert, Tomlin and company are starting to doubt their ability to judge talent when they cast off their own in favor of somebody else's castoff.

 

True, but do you

agree that there is something amiss in our draft process? I mean in 5 drafts I'm confident I could draft at least one above average CB. Not to mention Jarvis, who on draft night started to slide, and when we got him, which I lauded as a steal that night, is nothing more than an average player to this point. We seem to have a lot of misses. I mean 4th round picks are on all teams, and it seems like we waste these picks on a regular basis? Maybe it's just me?

 

Couldn't agree more!

 

Colbert should be safe considering his recent extension but if the season goes to far south I would say 6 wins or less he could be sent down the road,

 

I think you have to look at hawthorne and Richardson as potentially being guys that fit what DL was trying to do and the three this year as what Tomlin and Butler were looking to do. I think after camp and preseason it might have become obvious that while these guys had ball skills they may not have fit with the rest of the defense in away to maximize what they are trying to do. I think the push to go cover-2, Tampa 2 might have been a little premature and they had to somewhat settle into what can we do in the meantime till we are ready to switch. I think they are going to have to make a choice in the coming months and decide where they want to take the secondary and what coverage scheme matches the personnel.

 

I can't seem to get the article to post, but on the main page, near the Twiiter feeds, ESPN wrote a small story about this years rookie class and it really gives this topic some teeth! Check it out

 

Nope, the Steelers continue to have success drafting players. One or two drafts that don't pan out as expected isn't that big a deal.

 

Colbert built two SB winners, with Cowher by his side. (Yes, the 2008 champs were mostly a Cowher/Colbert built team.) He hasn't suddenly become stupid. Tomlin is the addition to this equation. Since coming on board, the drafts on defense have been suspect, at best. The o-line, RB, and WR positions have been terrific.

 

No but there used to be 10th round picks,, and some players made there teams,, " golic' is a 10 nth rounder

 

Everyone also needs to remember that Tomlin has never had a losing season so I'm sure that Colbert will be given the same leeway if that occurs, as Tomlin would even though he's been here longer. Point is, he's not going anywhere for at least a few more seasons, regardless of how bad they do.

 

Sometimes I feel like using the draft post the most recent CBA is a similar situation to the free agency change in the 90s. It requires that kind of slight shift of perspective on what we expect.

 

I'm surprised that Doran Grant was not signed to the PS. Fact is you can have all the tape, visit the college workout ect. but once the player gets into camp is where the rubber meets the road. We all have high expectations of everyone on this team. Colbert has had some great success and other times not so much. He's not going anywhere unless this team has an epic collapse for a few years.

The issue that concerns me is the lack of putting importance on the secondary. Is it just bad luck? I mean our 2nd round pick comes in and bam, out for the season. Our 4th rounder cut, not even signed to the practice squad. A SS that was traded up for and was penciled in for the start only to struggle and be replaced opening day by a 34 year old journeyman. And a promising corner gets signed to a nice deal, has a total meltdown, gets injured and doesn't see the field the rest of the season and has not shown much this year. The list goes on and on. I liked the Bud Dupree pick and understand it, but with Marcus Peters sitting there it's time to buck the trend.

 

I just posted in another thread that I am getting tired of seeing 4th and 5th Rounders cut immediately. You can't do that. Colbert has to get back to where he was in the past. It seemed like 80% of his picks became at least valuable backups or special team players at minimum. I don't know if it's just bad luck lately or maybe Tomlin is pressuring him to pick certain guys or whatever.

But the biggest mistake they made by far and I hope they have learned their lesson for the future, is letting so many guys on one side of the ball get old without grooming replacements for them before they were no longer productive players. D Line, LB and DB. They wanted to be loyal to guys like Troy and Ryan Clark by not drafting early round players at those positions while they were still here so as not to offend them or whatever, but you can't do that. Now we are in this position trying to rebuild a large portion of the defense at the same time and plugging in inexperienced guys to fill these voids. In the past we had a guys' replacement drafted and on the roster two years before they were slowed down by age and had to be replaced. Remember how we always had young LB's waiting in the wings and developing until their turn came around? I hope this has taught them a lesson on what not to do in this situation.

 

It will likely take another 3 years to get the Defense completly rebuilt, Landy Jones should be ready to go by then. lol

 

4th and 5th round players get cut a lot league wide. It's not just a Steelers issue. Studies suggest that 4th and 5th rounders won't be around long anyway.

I doubt that 80% of his picks became valuable backups or special teams players. Take a look for yourself. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/draft.htm

80% is an unrealistic expectation. That being said, the Steelers continue to have some mid to later round hits and contributors. I would consider the two best later round hits to be Brown and Beachum. They drafted mid round contributors/starters like Spaeth, Gay, Mundy, Hills, Dwyers, Stevenson, Williams, Bryant.

It's not so easy to draft and groom replacements for aging starters. It's not about loyalty either. Teams never know when an aging starter will fall off. Often times, the replacement drafted won't be as good as the aging starter. Chances are that the draft won't be able to deliver a "good enough player". There's also the financial aspect to consider. It's a delicate balance.

Here's something to think about. It's possible the Steelers had more late round defensive hits in the past because less teams ran hybrid/3-4 defenses. The league has changed a lot since the 90's and early 2000's. That being said, the Steelers drafted backups for almost every position on the defense. All this goes to show how difficult it is to draft and play in the NFL.

Fans should be glad that the Steelers appear to have a good enough team to compete. Maybe people would be better off if the Steelers turned into the Browns? That way they would really have something to complain about.