Heads up!!! This is a MUST win!

I was thinking more Landry Jones but I digress. LOL.

 

I agree, BFT. There is plenty of blame to go around. But to me, it starts and ends with coaching and the head coach is the most important piece of that. I'm satisfied that we have sufficient talent on the team, franchise quarterback included, to contend for the divisional title and make noise in the playoffs. I really don't believe we're in "transition" and both Tomlin and Colbert bristled at that suggestion a few months ago. They obviously believe we have the talent to contend so the question is this. Why aren't we? Like it or not but head coaches get fired because of the performance of their football teams so it's obvious that somebody thinks they are responsible. I'm certainly willing to admit that it's not ALL Tomlin but there are many on this board that don't seem to think that ANY of the blame lies with Tomlin.

 

And I feel like we've wasted two plus years now of a franchise (arguably elite) quarterback's premium years. Ben shares some blame for the team's underperformance but his OL has about gotten him killed the last few years. He really does look gun-shy at times.

 

This team doesn't have sufficient talent on defense, it doesn't matter if Tomlin or Colbert admits it or not. Coaches coach and players play, and the players lost that Tampa Bay game they were playing a average offense the defense should've made a stop. Name me one playmaker on the defense? The Steelers might not admit they're in transition but the tape don't lie, they will continue to struggle as they play the younger players.

 

Sufficient talent? Really? Do you really think we are sufficient at LT, LG, DE, OLB, CB, and Safety? Do you really think Tomlin and Colbert are going to stand there in a press conference and say yeah this year is a mulligan?

 

I think we're underperforming and that some of our talent is either not developing or regressing.

We've got two first round draft picks and two second round draft picks on the OL. Those players were pretty highly touted coming out of college and most scouts thought they had the ability to play at the next level. They're underperforming for the most part. For whatever reason, Tomlin and the coaching staff are not getting the most out of them.

We've got a highly touted, first round draft pick at one OLB position and a Tomlin hand-picked OLB drafted in the second round on the other side. In fact, we have three first rounders and one second rounder on the linebacking corps.

We've used two first round draft picks on DEs during Tomlin's tenure. They both seemed to have the skill set to step up to the next level but for whatever reason they've struggled in doing so.

A good head coach figures out how to get the most out of the talent he has. They highlight their elite talent and fill in and get the most out of the free agent fill-ins surrounding them.

Sure, we have deficiencies in some areas but so does every other team in the NFL. We have the talent to win and to win NOW.

 

So no, you don't actually think we have sufficient talent.

 

I'm still waiting for you to name one playmaker on defense. If they had sufficient talent on defense they wouldn't be struggling to stop the Browns in the second of that game. Or letting Tampa Bay get a comeback win and they had WR signed off the street get 100 yards against them. They surely don't have a #1 CB, neither safety does anything in pass coverage inconsistent pass rush.

 

we have some talent , probably not enough to go deep in postseason but enough to go to the playoff (expecially with this schedule) and probably win one game .. somehow we underperform and we kick ourself in the feet

 

Wasn't JJ supposed to be a "plug and play" playmaker? Didn't Mike Mitchell make plays all over the field in Carolina last year making him our top free agent target? Worilds was making plays the second half of last season as was Heyward. Troy's aged but the Steelers obviously believe he's still capable of making plays. Would you consider Timmons a playmaker? I would even though he's proven himself to be somewhat undisciplined over the years taking himself out of some plays. McClendon? He looked so beastly and athletic a few years ago that we quickly signed him to a huge deal when the Packers showed some interest. I think Shazier will be a playmaker if he doesn't regress which I'm honestly concerned about given the recent track record of some of our young, talented players.

Rule, I think we have a lot of playmakers on defense. Maybe they're just too undisciplined at this point to make plays or our coaching staff is not utilizing them correctly, i.e. the recent article on how DL is not using Worilds in pass rushing situations.

So, I take it that you don't feel we have a single playmaker on defense?

 

I think in the offensive skill positions we are a talented team. Outside of that I don't think we are. Again, I am coming from a production over potential aspect. On defense I think we are a long way from where we need to be. Suppose we've seen the end of Ike. Do we have his replacement on the roster? Suppose Worilds doesn't get resigned. Do we have enough depth at that position? We are missing pieces on the o-line as well. I think we are a long way from being a true "contender". That's just my opinion.

 

Trust me my glasses aren't exactly Rose colored! I have criticisms of the Steelers also , I just don't repeat the same ones in every post 24/7. If you bother to read any of my posts you'd know what they are. Remember my statement was a reaction to your post telling people to stay away !

 

Hope you're right, Blast. And for the record, while I have reservations about Tomlin and the deterioration of some aspects of the team under his leadership, I'm not necessarily advocating that we fire Tomlin at this point either. If we finish at .500 or under and miss the playoffs again this year I think it's fair to say that the option should be on the table. He'll get another year, IMO, regardless of the Steelers W-L record this season.

Fair enough. And while I don't shy away from any debate which discusses the overall health of this football team, I certainly don't, as you imply, repeat the same criticisms 24/7. I didn't even start this thread as a criticism of Tomlin necessarily. The reality is that we just lost at home to a really bad, winless football team. If we lose to another in back to back weeks, a lot of seats are going to get really hot, really fast.

 

I can't blame Beachum, he was playing next to Wallace, who just isn't tough enough at guard. Would have been nice to have Guy Whimper filling in instead at LG.

honestly I don't even really like Ramon Foster, I'd rather upgrade if we can. They won't get rid of him though, everyone in the lockerroom seems to like him too much.

when you look at it, 24 points isn't good enough to win, that is a problem. Defense is blowing it.

 

No I don't feel they have any playmakers on defense, my definition of a playmaker is someone who can make a play in crunch time. I didn't see anybody step up against Tampa Bay on defense. The Steelers haven't had a playmaker on defense since Troy was younger or Harrison in his prime. All those guys you named they aren't there yet.

 

The way this team is playing, we will have a must win every other week till week 17 where we will be 8 and 7, hoping someone else wins and we do too. IF THEY DON'T GET THEIR HEADS OUT OF THEIR ASS. We been playing this game for 3 years now. Somehow they need to get a fire lit under their butts or, it'll be the SOS different year

 

Agreed we have the freaking talent we don't have the discipline. We need to get our carp together and von on a run NOW!!!!!

 

strummer, do you really feel gilbert is what's needed at RT? pass protection when we throw the ball at the rate we do is pretty important. you can't overlook that fact because he is maybe making a slight improvement in the running game. or is he? having heath and spaeth healthy this year may make it seem like he's improving in that area. a 6-6 330 lb. OT should not be knocked on his back , nor should he be pushed, walked or otherwise knocked into our franchise QB. this is unacceptable. then we sign him to a longer term contract, really? Colbert has a problem with O-line, D-line and DB player evaluation for the most part.

 

From Pitt Post Gazette:
Most of the problems this season have been with the two tackles. Left tackle Kelvin Beachum and right tackle Marcus Gilbert have allowed four sacks apiece. Gilbert allowed four in the first two games before settling down the past two weeks. Beachum is coming off a game in which he allowed three sacks.

 

the optimum would be ...draft a stud left tackle and play one of them on the right and the other as swing back up

 

I know what you mean Ray. When I'm in a good mood, I'd look at:
The o-line in between the tackles
The development of Bell
Justin Brown has come along the more playing time he gets
Sparks in the D from Heyward, Shazier, Spence... just need those sparks to turn into an actual fire
The no-huddle offense

When I'm in a bad mood, I look at all the other stuff. Which includes looking at a lot of the above again, taking in the bad as well as the good plays.

The fact is that in a team sport, single boneheaded moments can be costly. And all of our games this season, bar none, have had a monumental collection of boneheaded moments. At this point in the season, we need to deal with those first, then assess where the talent issue lies.