Tomlin: Pickens behavior a problem

Actually Cowher would have probably kept that in house. This is one of the few times that Tomlin didn’t use one of his cute cliches correctly when he really should have.

 

The bench is the best motivator of all time. Pathetic that Tomlin doesn't use it.

 

Shouldn’t this not be public?

 

pickens is not supposed to get separation - we don’t need any stinking separation - we like to thread the needle or throw it up for grabs. You actually want the coaching staff to draw up more complicated routes? Too much trouble!

 

I don't think Staley will be employed much longer. It's the Charger way!

 

Well, we talked to him in private, supported him in public. And that hasn’t worked.

Pickens thinks he’s a superstar, but he doesn’t do superstar things. He runs lazy routes, quits on plays, manages to just be out of bounds on his “sensational “ sideline “catches”. His numbers are meh.

if you think you’re better than that, go show me.

 

Pickens needs to learn to stop taking plays off and running sloppy routes before he earns the right to pull that nonsense.

 

My God, did you guys see the contortions the team went through to try and ensure that 86 got his 1000 receptions. The last season and a half or so, he was incapable of getting open. They threw every WR screen, gimmick, shovel pass they could to get him there.

Like I said, I'm not saying he didn't deserve that treatment or preferential treatment, but let's be honest, if he were truly the "team player" that he's made out to be, he would have said "Guys, I appreciate it, but please no." He did nothing of the sort. He's a great Steeler, but he's not pope-like infallible.

His 1000th catch was a 3 yd loss on a shovel pass early in the fourth quarter against the Browns on the final game of the 2011 season, which he celebrated with glee. The Steelers were up 13-9 so the game, and a division title, was still in the balance. That doesn't scream ultimate team player to me.

 

I mean, I am not advocating the behavior.... just speculating on his thoughts. The last sentence I think is true. We can draft WR's well enough, but if we don't have anyone that can get them the ball then they'll just sign elsewhere.

 

Who really cares about Ward nowadays? Or are you focusing on Ward in order to distract yourself from having to care about the Steelers of 2023?

 

I'm not the one. Others are. That's my point. He's being constantly held as some paragon of ultimate team player which is completely revisionist.

I don't even mind his selfishness, because at this level you need some of that to get where you are. Just saying.

But since you're questioning my motives. Why would you care if I did care? Are you offended? What are you compensating for?

 

The Steelers went 12-4, they did just fine.

You are talking about maybe a handful of moments over the span of a long career. We are talking about this dude weekly.

 

You're right... I don't really care about you or what you care about. Or anyone else here for that matter.

I just figured since we're on a message board and the objective is to have 2 way discussions, I should try to see if there's some logic behind your detailed discussion of a player that retired last decade.

 

"Tomlin: Pickens behavior a problem"

Any player that is on this roster that is NOT giving 110% is a problem.
Having watch both Pickens and DJ exhibit disgusting loser behavior, I would be very difficult to get along with if I were coach.

Every team has every game on film and they note players taking plays off.
It tips plays and if they are in the free agent market, they see the effort or lack thereof.

I think he needs to bench 1 or send them down to the practice squad. Maybe suspend one for the remainder of the season. I'd prefer DJ because he's a 5th year man and supposed to be a leader by example.

 

If they lose Saturday and either one of them dogs it again, that is exactly what should happen. The season would be effectively over, so take advantage of that and enforce some accountability.

Pickens has been tipping off plays since he first got into the lineup and it's a big problem that gets very little attention.

 

There is no accountability in the entire organization. No boundaries are set and no consequences exist. Deuce and Tomlin have created and fostered this loser culture.

 

Quite the mental gymnastics to excuse the behaviour of DJ and Pickens. You'll deny it, but it's exactly what you did. Deflect blame away from those guys by throwing a former player under the bus. A former player who played through years of bad QB play, blocked hard, played hard, didn't complain, etc. Ward was the ultimate team player. He EARNED the right to be catered to slightly near the end of his career. The team chose to continue to employ him, so why wouldn't he want to hit a career milestone? Name me one player in history that would say "no thanks" to the team wanting to get him a career milestone. Wouldn't happen, in any sport. Players either walk away from the sport or they want to play and be involved in the play. Ward chose to stay and the Steelers chose to continue to play him. Doesnt make him any less of a team player.

 

I was looking at some game clips - this year and last year.
I saw slop in last year but not a lot to complain about as he and Pickett seemed to be clicking as the season wore on.
The last 2 games, his slop seemed to get worse, and he got frustrated and just seemed to sulk some.
This season, I saw same slop. This applied all season. He is not running crisp routes, and not slipping into open zones and setting..
So, I think Coaching and mentorship is an issue.
I tend to use Terry McLaurin as an example because he is one. He mentors the other WR's.
So, we've got a breakdown on coaching as the prime and a breakdown in 'team.'

Our WR's are not playing in tandem.
Our coaches aren't doing anything about it.
And Matt Canada's offense is still in place... and it sucks.
As some have said, Tom Brady would fail in this offense... or blow a heart valve.

 

That would make me giggle like a school girl!

 

Tomlin is solution oriented? He's delusional.

 

That Tomlin admits GP has an attitude but does nothing tangible aside from pointing it out is and of itself a problem. Same thing with Johnson. It's very irritating.

 

This.

I used to mad that Plax exited for another team, but I heard him rationalize his reasons once and it seemed very reasonable even though I knew after that fact that he was immature as a person displayed by his gun charge. But despite that his reasons were sound IMO.

He basically said what Steelhammer said.

At that time with an aging o-line a rookie QB that was then labeled a “game manager” throwing about 20 times a game with a run heavy team focused on Bettis and sharing with Plax and Randel-El that he THOUGHT his numbers and contract offer(s) would suffer. At that time he was probably correct and nobody knew Ben would pan out to be a big time thrower.

As much as I hate hate hate the displays Pickens has shown, I can understand seeing your future being stifled.

If they don’t move him now and get max value, he will soon be even more of a disgruntled WR diva and request a trade at the wrong time for the Steelers. Unless this whole QB situation does an about face 180 turn. How likely is that to happen? Lightning to strike twice?

So much rebuilding to come. And Tomlin is NOT the right architect to site supervisor to do it. To say the very least…

 

No, no, no. You don't reward a child when they have a meltdown. That is the problem with the younger generation.

 

It's a trend in the entire NFL, let's be clear.