Tuiit

*sigh* Huge loss. No other way to put it

 

What little hope I had that this team could somehow salvage this season with the injuries they have already just flew out the window. Tuitt was a beast for us and will not be easily replaced.

 

In keeping with the sidebar of this thread - all I can say is.....Shuiit! I'll keep a positive attitude though, never know when the next Wally Pip heads to the IR and gets replaced with a nobody!

 

Ho

Hope so Dude...What a great player he is/ was when healthy...Just a shame

 

Bring Mondeaux up I guess.

 

Maybe trade away the second pick for someone

 

Fixed it for ya!

 

I don’t use green font because I like to see people get upset. If after 8,000 posts people don’t know where I stand, we’ll then, they just need to be on here more often.

 

Steelers need a Sgt. Hartman type to come in and make Big Dan one hell of lot meaner.

 

It isn't just the weakening of the starting lineup. It's the lack of depth. I think that is a significant part of why the defense seems to fall apart late so often. They just don't have enough quality players up front and now it is even worse.

 

I don't get the comparison to Aaron Smith. Smith played twice as many seasons before he was injured. The injuries aren't even the same. Plus Smith has 2 SB rings. I can't remember how many Tuitt has...

 

It's not a very good comparison at all. Smith was a better player than Tuitt and even though he broke down later in his career, he was a lot more durable. He barely played as a rookie, but starting in his second season, Smith played all 16 games in seven consecutive seasons. He did it eight times in his career. Tuitt has played in all 16 games once, and that was his rookie year. He has never done it as a starter.

 

Fair enough regarding Tuitt. My mistake. I thought Aaron Smith was more injury prone than that.


Be that as it may however, I still wonder if an Interior Defensive Lineman is on the table next season. Free Agency or otherwise. Cameron Heyward cannot continue for much longer, Alualu is in the same boat even though he is depth, Javon is as good as gone and one cannot count on Tuitt to stay healthy for a full season.



Something has to give here.

 

I am curious to see what Hargrave does now. He got snaps at defensive end in a three-man front after Tuitt left. The hope has to be that he can step up as a playmaker with Tuitt out. That also means more playing time for McCullers.

 

While a direct comparison to Smith isn't necessary there can be some comparison's to the upper body injuries that ended Smith's career and the reoccurring injuries that have dogged Tuitt since coming into the league. This is a third upper body injury for him, I like to see statistics on how the risk of reinjury goes up as these mount.

 

Sadly, I cannot provide that for you. However, I can state this without queation. Re-aggravating the elbow and shoulder as an Interior Defensive Lineman is cataclysmic. Age sadly does not matter in this case.



Nevermind constantly blowing up your upper body like Tuitt does. Going under the knife is not a good sign in it of itself. Earl Thomas is learning that the hard way as he no longer has the same overall agility or explosivness he once did.

 

I would think DL goes on the list of priorities for next season. The growing list of priorities.
I read somewhere that it's a good draft for that position, deep draft.

 

I think Aaron's injuries were the shoulders, then the biceps, then a neck injury plus reaggravated biceps. Something like that.

 

Yep.


I made reference to next year's draft regarding Javon's contract situation weeks ago; a number of threads recently. Quite a bit of talent there for certain. Still hoping for Alabama's Raekwon Davis but I have every reason to believe he does not slide into Day 2.

 

Long term, does this affect his career after having 2 tears.... I’m assuming there will be more?

Can he come back? Will he be the same?

 

as soon as it flashed on the screen during the game, I knew it was a season ender. Just had that feeling.

Alualu had some flashes last night, but I hope Buggs is ready.

 

Man this stinks, our defense was just getting back to our strong suit. This is a big loss for several reasons mostly cause he was play great this year. I know big Dan had the best game I have ever seen him play for us but I don't have any faith in him for a season. I am hoping Digger steps up and maybe this is what he needs a chances. Let's face it they take him off the field a lot so maybe Buggs steps in for Digger and Digger plays more for Tuitt. I like Digger and by no means do I think he is Tuitt like but I do have faith that Digger can play good. Sorry this is the best I can do for optimism right now cause losing one of if not the best player on defense hurts............

 

Just to pour more salt on the wound. Two things are likely to happen with Hargrave getting more playing time.

He will play so well he will price himself out of Pittsburgh or he won’t play well and will get exposed by the increased amount of snaps. Either way we better start scouting DL in the draft.

 

It better be Marianas Trench deep since the Steelers have no first, no third, and no fifth round picks right now along with some other pressing needs.

 

IMO I feel like he was gone anyways, we have a ton of money wrapped up in Tuitt and Cam that we can't spend anymore on the dline with all our other postions that need the money. I think this was why we drafted Buggs but you never know.

 

I think we can easily find the money if it’s not outrageous. ABs money coming off plus probably a few others. Wasn’t Buggs a 6th or 7 th ? He was drafted for depth IMO