Is it time to play the rookies more?

With Muth being banged up right now they really do miss Gentry. (A TE that can block, and run a route)

I don't know what kind of route running skills Washington has, but Muth's blocking this year has been downright terrible. Right now Washington is nothing but another lineman on the field for the Steelers.

 

There is something inherently "wrong" with our handling of the OL. The owner makes no qualms that developing the OL is among the 1st things of importance in our priorities, and yet we still can't "get it right." What is the problem? I am sick of hearing about "needing time to develop a chemistry" as an unending barrier to putting a solid OL on the field. Why are we in a continual state of "flux?" Why is the talent added in FA not performing?

It's got to be coaching, either at the position coach level or higher. Why is the OL a continual weakness?

 

Coaching is always one part of the equation. So is the execution of the assignmenst by each player. So is the scheme coaches decide to use and teach.

To this point, the OL has not been up to snuff. But remember, they were just playing in a zone scheme just 2 weeks ago. New players, some new scheme with different technique that now also needs to be worked on as a group. It's much easier with the power scheme, but it is still an adjustment.

I give the coaching staff credit for seeing that the zone scheme was not working to this point of the season and making a change. The question is why didn't they see this sooner and incorporate more power into the offense to begin with?

They may continue to work on the zone scheme and may eventually be able to do both at an acceptable level. Being able to do both will keep defenses on their toes.

As far as the owner goes, I beleive Mike Tomlin is being evaluated right now on a talented enough roster to win. If he doesn't win at a significant level by the end of next season barring catastrophic injuries, I believe he will be gone. I have nothing to base that on other than a gut feeling, a new GM, and a clear improvement of the talent level of the roster. People need to start being accountable for bad football if this new rebuild fails. IMO, I think Rooney will make the move at that point.

 

Your "zone vs. power" technique is the kind of never-ending excuse I am talking about. And you ask aloud if coaching should have better anticipated which technique to utilize quicker instead of changing it after week 2 of the season starting. That seems to be a coaching error to me.

There is always a ready-made excuse for this team and why the OL sucks, never-ending. There is something systematically wrong here. There is an inherent reason why this team can't seem to fix a weak OL. I've got to point at the HC. He is the one constant in the organization that fails to fix the OL for so many years.

 

He has been out there for pasing plays, and He's at times been open. Again an OC can't make the Qb throw the ball to Him. Matter of fact He was open on a pass play late in the game, and a check down was thrown

 

Watt covers down field at times also.

 

LoL.

 

I mean really downfield. I remember Jack picking off a few passes in deep DB territory. He revolutionized the Middle Linebacker position.

 

Did you see the replay of Muth "blocking" where he dove on the ground, in front of the DE and the defender just easily stepped around Muth who was just laying on the ground? The word "pathetic" comes to mind when watching that attempt.

 

You answered Your own Question. They both play different positions.

 

Long before Jack Levon Kirkland at about 260 pounds was covering receivers deep down the field

 

That sounds like the "Tampa 2" defense where the MLB can be way down the field, like Urlacher used to be for Chicago.

 

LoL. I think some people watch the ball, and not the game. I see kids, and women do that all the time. If people have not Seen Mt Washington open during the games that's all I can figure.

 

Then why isn't Kenny getting him the ball?

 

Have to ask KFP. Go watch the 22s. He's been open....of course not every play, but on the ones He is ....the ball is not being thrown His way.

 

Huh, I meant Jack Lambert. My boy Kirk came after Jack. Kirkland is so underrated, loved that he shut down Emmit in the Super Bowl.

 

Kirkland was a beast. I'd love to see a guy like that at linebacker for the Steelers again.

 

Sorry

I had the wrong Jack