It started with the holdout

The demise of this team and our aspirations of a successful season began when Lev held out. Not only did it keep the offense from gelling in the pre-season, but it demonstrated that a self-centered mentality was accepted by coaches and owners.

Since when do players get to make the decisions? Lev basically told Tomlin that he knew more than Tomlin did about keeping players healthy. And Tomlin lowered his head in defeat and quietly walked away. Lev and the offense are still suffering to this day because Tomlin and ownership didn't have the balls to tell their employee what was EXPECTED of him.

When the Knee-Kap movement got Trumped and reached the Steelers, Tomlin bowed out and the PLAYERS decided how to handle things. How'd that work out for them?

I hate the Cowboys, but the PLAYERS didn't make the decision on how to handle the situation. The organization did. And guess who came off looking like the class of the NFL? Jerry's kids.

See, when you let the inmates run the asylum, bad things happen. The problem isn't Ben. It's not the overperforming defense (and yes, I said overperforming. Based on personnel, we could be doing worse defensively). The problem is there is no leadership at the top. Ownership AND coaches are far too liberal. (Please don't interject politics here, that's not where I'm going with this).

This organization is far too concerned with social issues and players feelings and not offending anyone's fragile sensibilities. They've forgotten who writes the checks and who cashes them. They've forgotten that greatness comes from being challenged and from fear of failure. No one on this team is afraid of losing their job for not performing. Lev thumbed his nose at the organization and probably wrote a rap song about it. And guess what? His job was NEVER in jeapordy. Ben can throw 5 int's and basically say he's done and there's 0% chance of him being benched. When stars don't produce, their contribution is no worse than anyone else's.

The ownership and coaches need to start enforcing some tough love on this team and start acting like they're in charge before the season is REALLY lost.

 

I agree to a point but it is what it is. KC is a huge week. Another blowout loss and the team is done

 

Does anyone think LevBell looks noticeably smaller this season.

I'm just wondering, because he rarely breaks tackles anymore?

 

He is probably playing at around 220,I have stated for the past two years I wished
he would have stayed at about 235 just for protection purposes. He like's playing lighter.

 

He looks a little lighter, but what he really looks like is someone who is still trying not to get hurt.

With the rash of injuries dismantling the league right now, it's hard to fault him for being cautious, but if he can't produce for fear of injury, he might as well be injured.

 

I think the OP is a bit of a reach, to be honest.

You don't have to look off-field to see the problems with the team. Just watch the game.

Holding gap assignments, taking good angles and wrapping up tackles is costing the D.

Ben's lack of deep ball accuracy, and oddly myopic field vision, receivers not getting open, and general poor line play is costing the O.

We don't have to delve into the politics and the behind-closed-doors stuff. It's as simple as this: if you play badly in the NFL, you are likely to lose.

 

It can't be that cut and dry. And saying it is what it is sounds an awful lot like acceptance of the situation. Not that we're a good team right now, but even 4 losses wins the division.

A loss in KC isn't the end of the season. And no, I'm not wearing rose colored, homer glasses. I'm just refusing to accept that we're putting our best product on the field right now. This team is the same team that was (and is) supposed to light up the NFL. Someone just better convince the team of that.

 

I see your pretty new around here and the whole Bell hold out has been a very hot topic with many feeling like you. Now I am not going to get into all over AGAIN, if you want go back through the threads and see how this has been discussed. However, I will say I get where your coming from with leadership and off field stuff. I for one do not see how Bells hold out or the whole standing in the locker room/tunnel has anything to do with Ben continually throw a bad ball. He is short, long, behind and low on a ton of his throws, also how does that stuff account for the missed tackles we are seeing on a regular basis?

This roster is loaded top to bottom with talent, I think it is time to stop blaming the hold out, the flag stuff and the sideline tantrums. It is time to look at the guy throwing the ball and the guy making the "main decisions" as the head coach. It was pointed out we went against the #1 pass D and we passed 55 times and ran only 15. That kind of game plan needs to be talked about, that is the kind of leadership that is bringing us down.

 

So we're incapable of doing the things we've done before? Our skill and ability has deteriorated before our very eyes and we can no longer compete against the rest of the league?

Nope. Not going to accept that.

This is preparation and mentality. It's not being able to reign in egos and put a collective unit on the field for 60 each week. The Pats have been doing it for years. Their talent level isn't above ours (qb position not withstanding). They haven't been beating us with superior personnel all these years. They're just a better coached TEAM.

 

I think you're kind of making my point. I didn't start this post to rant about Bell and kneeling. Those were blatant examples of lack of leadership. That's really where I was going with all this. I really don't think it's a physical problem manifesting itself on the field.

Ben has always been one of the most competitive guys on the team. That's why he extended plays back in the day, made great things happen, and subsequently took such a tremendous beating.

But he doesn't look like he's competitive out there right now. He isn't playing with the fire that forged "Big Ben". And he isn't leading the team as a result. AB isn't leading, even though he's probably the one guy with the cred to do it. And other than Cam, we just don't have leaders, silent or vocal, to step up and take this team by the collar and shake some sense into it.

This is a fragmented, distracted, leaderless team. And that starts with ownership and coaches. And like I said, I believe it started with the holdout. Handled differently, I truly believe we'd be seeing a different team on the field.

 

The OP has some valid point. The hold out and the Anthem thing on thier own is not really the point. It's the fact that these things are allowed to happen in the first place is what the problem is.
That stupid game plan by Haley should never have been allowed. I called that in another thread earlier in the week.
This whole mentality of "we're going to do what we do and we're not worried about what the other team is doing" is beyond arrogant and stupid.
On offense the formations, personnel groupings and play calling is so insanely predictable that even A guy like me can call out what the play is going to be at the line of scrimmage 90% of the time.
It's time for a change. Whether that's the game plan or dropping Haley

Even by his own admission Ben has played like crap thus far. So why in the world is he taking off on Wednesday?

I could go on and write a whole book on the stuff. Point is Tomlin is not doing a very good job. Lack of accountability, preseason play, game planning and days off definitely lead to those interceptions.

 

I'm going off what I see on the field, rather than what I assume goes on at the practice facility, or speculation around who the leaders are on the team etc. etc.

Our reasons for losing are consistent: the defense struggled against the Bears for exactly the same reason they struggled against the Jags. It isn't an issue of capability, it's an issue of balancing aggression and discipline in what is still a comparatively young defense. I never like to get sucked into the "is it coaching or is it the players" - they all contribute, and they all need to take responsibility when things go badly.

Ben, meanwhile, has been off-target all year, before any of the off-field stuff happened.

In what world can we not compete against the rest of the league? We're not 0-5.

There are reasons to worry. But before we start trying to fire everybody, it's worth remembering the simple fact that if you turn the ball over five times in the NFL, you tend to lose.

 

It all started last year before the afccg. Coach Tomlin holding a locker room pep rally... that was exposed on social media. Tomlin, making yet another speech that his team couldn't back up. No control of his team. He get out coached week in and week out.
Todd Haley, the no imagination OC, that doesnt have a clue on how to use an high powered and super talented offense. Let alone, generate 30pts a game. Bring back the Wiz!
Bulter/Lakes/Porter& Olsie...should be fired on the spot. The product that is put on the field is embarrassing. We had talent all over the field but our def coaches are way over their head. It can't be all the players so it has to go back to coaching, development, and heart.
Now, on to lil bennie. I stated last year that this team will exceed or fail because of this one player. He threw the wr's under the bus, after yet another fail attempt to beat the brady bunch. He knew that he had lost the ol magic which he use to call on at will. So, he contemplated retirement. But, we all talked and wanted him back. Fast forward to this season. From game one...he hasnt looked like Big Ben. All I see and hear are smoke screens and excuses for his poor play (From Bell, to AB, to defense, to the anthem). I thought flacco had lost it over night...well, it seems to me, that the same... has happened to our very own Big Ben. Our goals can't be achieved with our qb playing like this. It took 5 int (2 for a pick 6) in order for some of you to see the real problem and in why, we cant reach the superbowl ... let alone win it. But, just as sure as the grass is green and the skies are blue...there will still be some..that will offer more excuses for lil bennie

 

I gottcha I guess I misunderstood where you were trying to go with that. As for you comments about Ben your right on. he has always been competitive and that was why in the off season I wasn't buying the whole retirement thing. As too with the leadership problems, is Tomlin the problem....IDK but this season is starting to point that way to me. jmo

 

It started with the Facebook live stream. It's very telling, when stuff happens, it doesn't create a bond that makes the team stronger. It does the opposite.

FB video= blow out in AFCCG
Tunnel fiasco= lose to lowly Bears
Gatorade Massacre= massacre at home vs Jags

There are too many individuals on this team, who think only for themselves. I'm sure that's why Ben contemplated retirement and will after this season.

All the talk of being unified in the tunnel, AB and Bell saying they don't care about stats as long as they win, it's all BS

 

I have held back from blaming Haley cause I have no idea if Ben is changing the play or not looking at the first read or any of the stuff that we as fans don't know. I agree the game plan sucked we threw on the very first play wtf??? We are average joes here talking about our team, at least I am not speaking for everyone. We sit here every week and see Ben throwing the ball way off, he can't hit a wide open guy right now. So to plan a game vs the #1 pass D with a struggling QB is stupid and to have one of if not the best RB in the game going against the worst run D not carry the load is dumb. Isn't this Tomlin's job to get a game plan and have his OC and DC carry it out?

I agree the leadership from the top down on this team needs to come into question and people need to be put on notice. Things need to change or see ya, we will get guys who want to play and are hungry. Most of all we will find coaches who can plan and not just do what they want........

 

The team is not a team. They are a bunch of talented players who wear the same uniform. But some of our so called "best players in the NFL" have not bought into the team concept. They have no clue how to be good teammates. It's all about them. Add in a coach who can't or won't reign in these egos and you have a recipe for disaster. Can't blame Ben for wanting out of this train wreck. Art better step in and clamp down before it's too late. If it's not already.

 

SteelerGlenn, your starting to scare me as we are thinking alike, lol. I agree with all of the above and I could also call the plays most of the times. Way too predictable. Only question I have is why does it take so long for some fans to see that Tomlin is not doing a good job, and in the past we won in spite of his coaching because we had guys like Ben pull us out of trouble.

Heck pretty soon even guys like Blast will believe in Tomlin not doing a good job. lol

 

Anyone who doesn't agree with this is in a SERIOUS case of denial!

 

And IMO, it started LAST YEAR!!! Remember around this time last year, when Ben blatantly called out the coaching staff?! Said the team "lacked discipline and accountability." He may have tried sugarcoating it by saying he didn't know if it was attributed to the players or coaches, but anyone who had been watching this team knew exactly what he was saying!

 

Agree, been saying for awhile now, he is not the same and its not all due to rust. A lot more negative yardage or no gains that puts us in passing situations and become predictable. Still dont see the same burst he had last year.

 

Two drug suspensions. Holding out all summer while his teammates were sweating it out in the hot sun. Rapping about getting paid his 17 mil. Thumbing his nose at a very generous contract offer by the Steelers after his agent had basically accepted it.

Yep, he looks smaller alright. And not just physically.

 

This team has too many distractions. Facebook live, hold outs, anthem, gatorade jugs, finger pointing, maybe ben's spending more family time, etc, clearly not focused on football.

 

Sorry, none of what you all call distractions ect. is the reason Ben is playing horrible. When you say "Maybe I don't have it anymore" has nothing to do with facejoke, kneeling, tunnels, Gatorade. It's over. Enjoy what Ben has brought to the Franchise, to us fans. I appreciate it. Ben's last ride will not define his body of work. But his body of work has declined....