The Price of Loyalty in Pittsburgh

i hope you are right ..since we payd him and we have to stick with him
p.s : i was meaning qb killed if he keep playing like this start of the season

 

Tomlin!

Man I've missed this! How about you, Blast? Been a long off-season.

 

Trade Big Ben after the season for a draft pick and get mariotta. This will open cap space for a defensive lineman and a cb.

 

What would we want with Mariotta?

 

That's too confusing of a chart for the average fan, I won't attempt to understand it.

 

If I'm reading it right, looks like Gilbert give up 11 sacks last year and 5 sacks over the last 8 games? Considering we only gave up 6 sacks over the last 8 games that's pretty bad! Or maybe these stats were just for the RT in general?

 

I think we gave up 10 sacks over the last 8 games and 6 over the last 7 games (Buffalo had 4 sacks against us).

It does seem possible Gilbert gave up this many (I've always doubted STATS, LLC's numbers). His other 2 sacks allowed performances were against Miami (they had 3 against us).

Those PFF numbers seem pretty dead on to me. Very inconsistent. Lot's of issues in pass blocking. I don't understand the contract extension at all. I've said from the time he signed it, Gilbert is average at best. He's better than "replacement level" (which means he's better than any current RT free agent), but with any scouting worth a crap, he's replaceable.

Also, now that we have a road block at RT, no future LT we draft gets a chance to ease into the NFL at RT first. If we do get lucky and have a legit LT prospect fall to us, and we decide to draft him, he's going to basically be thrown to the wolves right away at LT.

Locking up a long term RT without having a long term LT is kind of stupid IMO. Of course we've done this before with Colon so it's not a surprise.

 

Overall -5.7 on the year tells you all you need to know. 46 pass disruptions on 584 dropbacks for ben means that 8% (!!!!) of his dropbacks were disrupted due to Gilbert. He's an even worse run blocker. Throw in 8 penalties and you get a player who we SHOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN A CONTRACT TO.

 

Man this board just makes me

I've read a few threads today and this is what I've gathered: Fire everybody. Tomlin, Ben, LeBeau, Colbert and maybe even Haley.

So, get rid of all the coaches and the franchise QB, and maybe we'll salvage the season?

The Steelers are the AFC version of the Cowboys? Please tell me that none of you bought that BS.

I agree that Gilbert is terrible, though. He's the weakest link on the O-Line. I have no idea what's up with the contract extension. [corrected as I had Gilbert's position wrong. SteelTerp pointed that out, but I edited the post, anyway.]

Other than Gilbert, I have no idea wtf y'all all talking about after just two games. And the Steelers are 1-1.

Y'all are hilarious. You can't make this stuff up. You have to come and read the board.

 

Rukus, you keep talking about the Steelers being 1-1 and that by itself doesn't seem too bad. But have you been watching this team over the last couple of seasons? I think that's where most of the angst is coming from, at least from my perspective.

 

I think the Rooneys know we are in a 3-5 year rebuilding plan. It takes a while to fill all the holes on the team. Thing is, by the time the team contends again, where will Ben be? Will he be willing to wait?

 

Explain to me how a RT is protecting a right handed QB's blind side. Please.

And you can laugh all you want but there are merits to critically evaluating our current leadership:

MT: we consistently start off slow, exhibit awful clock management and cannot evaluate talent at a high level.
DL: We create less than 20 turnovers a year and even though we ARE ONLY 1-1 we still have 0 turnovers and show the same flaws that have plagued us since 2012

Colbert: See: talent evaluation.

Ben: No one is saying fire ben, but we must give the non-renewal of his contract SERIOUS consideration.

But it's fine you can dismiss anyone who doesn't blindly follow the rose-colored glasses as "sky is falling" morons. Really contributes to our discussion.

 

I was shouting from the mountain tops about the issue this team would face when they got Tebowed. I don't believe many people were interested. My comments didn't generate much debate. Or maybe it's been so long people have forgotten. I was talking about the issues that reared their ugly head way back when the team lost the SB to Green Bay. Nothing. I'm done with that game. I dropped my 2 cents about all this long ago. I've moved on.

All I'm saying is I see improvements: O-Line protection is better (minus Gilbert). Run game is better. The defense is making mistakes in execution but many times the defensive players are in position. Same goes for the offense. The team needs to tighten up in all facets. But I think I see that happening. They still play sloppy at times. Game 1 showed they still try to play just 1 half. But it's only 2 games, and I choose to think that small tweaks with an emphasis on focused play and intensity will get them there. Troy tried to show some of that against the Ravens and drew a BS flag. Whatever at that nonsense.

I'm giving them 4 games to determine who and what this team is. 0-4 last year. Already 1-1. Already looking up.

The team is where it is. I have hope. I had hope last year. I have hope every year. And this year will be no different.

 

This may be the best post I've ever read!

 

1) That is my mistake on Gilbert's position. My main point is to his horrible play. And I agree with others on that. The stats don't lie.

2) Yes, I can.

3) Like the 27-3 halftime lead against the Browns?

I never said the team didn't have issues. But all 32 teams have them. I just don't think it's as bad as it seems people are saying on this board.

I see improvement over last year and I'm giving them four games before I get concerned. 1-1 is already better than last year.

 

I've read some of your posts and I appreciate your level-headed view of this team. You seem to just enjoy watching the Steelers play. You seem even-keeled about your criticisms.

Thanks for the vote, but I laid an egg on Gilbert's position.

 

Even if it could be done, a Mariotta trade/ drafting would seal the deal on the rebuild and atleast a couple more losing seasons. I'd love to have him, being tutored under Benthat is, but look at it honestly. He's a spread QB, pistol or shotgun snap QB. I think Marcus has all the potential in the world, but he doesn't fit and won't fit for awhile... Ala Landry! Hurts me as a duck's fan and a huge one at that to say it, but it's true.

 

Great few posts, rukus. For what it's worth, I agree pretty much completely.

I think this last line might have blown your cover though - Tomlin? Is that you?!?

 

Thanks for the vote.

But, nah.... not Tomlin.

But I have been taking notes during his interviews!

 

These are excellent questions. I wonder the same things. However, it seems as though the Steelers organization believes they can build up a contending team while Ben is still here. I believe that's why there has been so much focus on the O-Line in both drafting and free agency.

Unfortunately, the defense has taken a hit on talent while the focus has been on shoring up the offense. I have faith in the linebackers, but I do wish we could find just one stud safety, one stud corner and either a stud nose tackle or stud defensive end. As much as I hate it, Polamalu and Ike Taylor are both aging and will be gone soon... and the current D-Line needs some work.

And about your rebuilding comment. I think the Steelers started the rebuilding process 2-3 seasons ago. I just think there were issues with: 1) Veterans exiting and leaving holes, 2) Injuries with the remaining studs (especially Pouncey, DeCastro, Troy; to name a few), 3) Cap woes (exacerbated by crazy contracts, as mentioned in this threads article), and 4) Organizational turmoil (Arians debacle, Ben/Haley, Tomlin's seemingly early issues with veterans and just being a new coach and trying to keep everyone fired up). It's like the Steelers have had the perfect storm.

And still... the worst they've done is 8-8 the last two years and were still in the wild card race until week 17. And they haven't had a losing season! I count myself as spoiled as a Steelers fan because even when I think my team is not performing well they are doing much better than a great many other teams in the league.

 

I think the article in Grantland is fantastic, but it also avoids bringing in another key culprit - Dick LeBeau. When you look at a lot of the egregious extensions over the past 4-5 years it has been largely for defensive players Woodley, Hampton, Taylor, Polamalu, Farrior etc. Why do you think that happens? Because the genius D Coordinator has such a complex defense that we all know you can't have young buck rookies playing ball out there. I am sure Dick LeBeau has vouched for his guys (an any D Coordinator would) to keep them around, but it takes strong management from Tomlin (tail wagging the dog) and Colbert to say to Dick..."sorry we need to rebuild, we need to adapt."

The bottom line is numerous defenses across the NFL get by playing young guys. New England's defense over the past years gives up plenty of yardage, but they still have guys making plays (interceptions and sacks) as well - they are constantly jettisoning players after 3-4 years. Has their defense been better than Pittsburgh's? Not on paper, but they have contributed to what the team tries to do.

 

While I don't really care for the conclusions and speculation about what to do with Ben's next contract..... I do agree with the basis and analysis earlier in the article. He does a better job than I can explaining the problems. In another thread I had stated that we have 7 starters that represent 50% of our salary cap, the remaining 46 players split the remaining 50%. You've got your "stars" signed to huge contracts, and you've got some dismal players signed to huge contracts. They need to perform to the high expectations of those big signings. Woodley, come on, you played your heart out while playing in your rookie contract, big signing..... where'd you go? The coaching staff needs to find a way to keep these guys HUNGRY once they "show me the money", and we haven't done that. Too many high dollar players aren't pulling their end of the deal or the FO is just making the wrong gamble on the wrong players.