Demotions

Farrior, Ward, McFadden, Hoke.....I've been a Steelers fan since '76, and can't remember another season when so many players have seen their playing time reduced so significantly. I really don't know what to make of it. Part of me applauds Tomlin for making what he apparently believes are necessary changes; Another part of me worries about the future as so many of our core players are aging and near the end of the line. I'm very encouraged by the play of youngsters like Wallace, Brown, Woodley, etc., but I also think we're at a very critical juncture. I remember what it was like when the stars of the '70's hung it up. The 80's were brutal.

At any rate, it'll be interesting to see who steps up and how successful the team will be. It seems to me that Tomlin is clearly in charge, and overall I am encouraged. Thoughts?

 

It's about time the coaching staff held players accountable for their performance. Frankly I wish the front office would do the same with certain members of the coaching staff. Isn't BA, like Kemo, looking a little weak and out of shape with our 19th ranked offense?

 

Let's be honest, McFadden needed to be sat down. So does Gay. Let the young guys play.

I am a bit sad about Ward. Yes, I want to see the team win. But I'd like to see Ward Contribute whenever possible. 5 wide, 3rd down, goalline, big lead, etc.

 

I LOVE Hines Wards and would like to see him achieve the goals in receiving that he is so close to. The team should at least give him that.

 

what goals do you mean?

 

1000 catches. 12000 yards

 

I would respectfully disagree with Gay. McFadden most definitely . Gay is getting better and with a bit more coaching and Carnell being the DB coach I expect he may get better. Gay has had some very good plays in the last few games including a tip for an interception and an interception against Cinci

Bman

 

Each of these were primarily due to injuries, not performance. Their replacements played at a high enough level that the staff couldn't keep them off the field

 

I really do agree with the statement that Gay should be left off the list. I do think he has covered so much better this year. The year that McFadden left, he was giving receivers a 20 yard cushion. I do not see that anymore. Thanks Carnell! Other than the push of by Torrey Smith in the end zone to win the game, he has made the plays. (The sad thing is we were the ones called for pass interference on that play.

 

That post pretty much nailed my sentiments

 

The post that nailed it for you is misleading. We are ranked 19th in "Scoring Offense" Overall we are ranked as the 9TH BEST OFFENSE in the NFL.*

Bottom line is wins!! Lets look at all 3 phases of the game.

We win as a team and lose as a team. All 3 are accountable!!

*This IS NOT a post in support of BA.

 

From your fingers to Tomlins eyes. Kemo has lost his starting job to Legursky

Bman

 

I am still curious about Ward's demotion. If he has lost a step, I don't see that it would matter as he didn't have fast steps to begin with. Unless he has forgotten how to play football, he is still an outstanding blocker and knows how to get open in the 8-10 yard range, and knows how to find the endzone. I don't see how he could have lost that. I think his demotion is due to: (a) Arians wants his young speedsters on the field for more big plays or (b) Ward's bell got rung pretty good against Baltimore, and they are letting him recuperate fully. Seeing him on the sidelines in the second half of that game made me worry about his future - he looked really out of it for a "stinger" or "concussion-like symptoms". The Steelers may be saving his life through this demotion.

I sure hope he reaches his milestones, though, even if they just feed him some passes in garbage time (if we ever HAVE some garbage time!). I will miss that smile after he retires.

 

I agree with you a lot. Hines was never fast, so in theory he should be as good as he ever was. But even a slow receiver losing a step hurts. Makes it harder to get open, and he's not as good as he was at that. The biggest issue, though, is competition. We've never had more than one explosive receiver on the team a time before. Now we have three. Really hard to sit any of those guys even for a play, let alone two of them.