Cajun's evaluation of the Steelers

We stink, We suck and we'll be lucky to win 8 games this season.

Now that the seemingly obvious is out of the way let's get real.


True, we have played bad but remove a bad call, a couple penalties and a couple T.O. and we're 3-0. In other words we aren't as bad as our record would lead some to think. We're still 0-3 at the end of the day and things must change. First off protect the ball, protect the ball and protect Ben.


Our OL- Its the youngest line in the NFL and its the most inexperienced Line in the League. right now they are not very good but they have good moments and they should be one of the best next year after all the adversity, trials and triumphs they will go thru this year.


Offense- we stink but once our OL starts to gel and play better look for a better running game. Felix actually looked good last night. Dwyer looked good and his weakness, pass protection, he looked very good. Bring in Bell and loose Redman next year and I see an offense becoming a league leader. Especially with Heath coming back and wheaton being a bigger part of the game.


Defense- some say we're soft, truth is we're trying to play within the rules and look, 3 rookies are playing a lot of snaps, V. Williams- S. Thomas and J. Jones. Add in Kion Wilson & Golden also getting plenty of snaps and we're getting younger and better by putting them into the fire so quickly. In fact, Williams & Wilson are both calling the defensive plays, mistakes are being made as expected but they are learning and growing up fast.


ST- I'm actually surprised at how well they are doing right now.


Overall- this is a tough season, we could clean things up and even make the playoffs, I would be surprised. I think we may end up with a 10-6 season and miss the playoffs.


Cajun-

 

8 GAMES... lol.. 8 games... i'd love to see the list of the 8 games you think we are going to win.... i had us 2-1 at this point.. after teh preseason i had us at 5-11... now that looks too high..

HINES

 

There is an optimist among us

 

Yeah Special teams is a highlight this year. Crazy!

Our oline will get better with time, I would at least like to see some nastiness in these guys though. Both our tackles seem to apathetic out there...I want to see some lineman with a mean streak.

 

I would think the o line would/should gel, with time. However, I need to see some pride at the tackle spots before I call it a gelling problem at this point. These boys need to grab their hangy downs and remind themselves that they're men and get to work! Can't coach pride so they better find some of it fast.

 

I am not buying it Cajun and I usually like your perspective.

 

I like it!
Now lets crush the Vikings and get this thing started.

 

I love the optimism but I just don't see it. We have flashes of brillance and then longer times of ineptitude. I think this is going to be a season of frustration and what ifs and could haves... I think we are going to be 5-11 or close to that record because we will be forced to take too many chances to get back into games. I see a disturbing trend which has not been fixed the past 10+ games. We are not consistent and can't seem to get a much needed stop or score when it is needed.

 

if they can win Sunday and show some signs on offense than i think theres still some hope.

it all depends on if and how they win.

 

I have us winning four games....and I am not even sure we will do that- but YES we will be very lucky to win 8 games. I would THRILLED with 8 games this season

 

I actually just said this to the woman I work with. I think this game is going to be very telling. I saw a little bit of hope against the Bears. If they build off of that, we have a chance to salvage some of this season.

 

I hope so.

 

Going into last season we said the Oline was going to be one of the best in the league. Then we said they just need time to get and they'll get much better as the season progresses. Then we said the same thing going into this year, that we'll be among the best in the league. Now we're once again saying they'll get better as the season progresses, as well as saying they'll be better next year.

We'll win some games, we'll have the odd good rushing game, but as for this Oline actually improving, I'll believe it when I see it. I'm tired of hearing how they need to gel and they'll be better next year.

 

At this point, I am more in the "what can we learn for next year" mode, but that doesn't mean there aren't things to see as positives.

DEFENSE:

Well, we have given up 77 points (if you include the blocked extra point) in 3 games, that is WAY below par. That is an average of 25.3 per game. The best right now is Seattle at 9. If you take away just the points that we have actually given them from the offensive side of things, you move that number down to 63 an average of 21 per game which would place us 11th in the league. If you take away all points off of turnovers, they have only given up 39 points in 3 games or 13 per game, good for 7th.

There is a big difference there. While they aren't providing impact plays for the team, this D is playing well enough to win games if the offense shows up. And, this D is a whole lot younger this year. No Hampton, No Harrison, and No Foote instantly makes us better. In addition, this D is doing that without a 3rd corner and 4 safeties playing in the dime. We have 4 older guys on D: Keisel, Troy, Ike, and Clark. After that, this D is actually pretty young.

OFFENSE:

IMO we still don't know enough about what we have on the Oline. If the young guys can't pick up their games, then we have some problems which may be pretty hard to overcome. I would LOVE to see Adams and Gilbert and DeCastro all get their games together enough to make an impact by the end of the year. Don't go easy on them this year and push push push them to improve their games at all cost.

When it comes to the skill positions, I like Jones and I hope Bell is the real deal, but if he isn't then we will need a RB. I can tolerate Dwyer as a 3rd option and can see LSH helping next year as the #4. At WR, I like the guys we currently have, but I don't understand the resistance to getting a big physical receiver in the Boldin mode.

I also think we need an additional TE option. Heath and Spaeth are fine, but getting another impact guy who can run and block like Heath can now, could potentially put 3 LARGE receivers (or 4 if you put Spaeth out there) in a pattern at the same time. It isn't always about separation, sometimes it can be about the physicality of the receiver and I think that is a major need.

SUMMARY:

Positions of need:
WR - Big and physical
OL - If we can get a top 5 draft pick type OT, I am all for it. It makes a huge difference on your line.
TE - Heath can't play forever and the new trend is you need 2 guys like Heath.
DL - I am not sold yet with what we have
CB - We need another

 

LOL!!! LOL!!!

After the week 2 loss I almost posted a "we suck!!!!" thread like yours but for some reason I didn't. after the week 3 loss, One I didn't see live due to work but followed with online updates I again decided to post that we suck thread with more determination but decided to watch the game 1st.

I will take care of that certified letter and promise to use it when all hope is loss and not a game sooner!!!!!

Cajun-

 

We just do not have enough dynamic play makers and really not one super star anymore except maybe troy. And the lack of turnovers kills us. None of our players attack the ball or make plays. And yeah blocking is do bad its hard to see it getting any better with any amount of time.

 

Let me further my perspective on this version of the Steelers and hopefully get you to buy into it if but for a little while longer.

Our record is bad but with a few calls and mishaps going in a different direction we could have a winning record instead. Lets forget that though and go with 0-3. Moving forward do we have any hope? do we realistically have a chance to compete and actually win 10 games?

Yes and here's why!!!

Ben is a winner and ultimate competitor and he will correct his portion of this malfunctioning offensive unit AND he will help the other units of the offense improve as well.

The OL- our weakest unit and yet most vital. They are the youngest and most inexperienced in the league. They are also high draft picks meaning all their lives they were the best, in H.S. and in College. These men have been challenged by failure, something they've never experienced, challenged by their teammates and challenged by their coach ( see OT rotation ) so they have no-where to go but up or out and I seriously doubt they lay down and give up.

The OL scheme- Yes we moved from man to ZBS but we haven't seen much ZBS. Reason for it is because we had NO TE who can block. We also had NO RB-- Redman & Dwyer-- who fits that scheme so they had to run the man scheme, something they aren't best suited for. We have run some ZBS with Felix and he looked good, Dwyer as well but his poor vision and bad decisions hurt. Being behind so far in score we had to abandon the run and go hurry up to catch up.

Miller is back--- This is huge in deploying the ZBS and saving Ben when things break down.
Bell is back--- A Big time back with vision,speed and power perfectly suited for the ZBS and Felix is now co-starter.
DJ- never been a fan of his but he is playing better than ever- Paulson, while a very good receiving TE, should be #3. Either Him or Palmer, the worse blocker, needs to be cut and will most likely when Spaeth comes back for the final 3rd season push. By then the OL unit should coming in on their own as a legitimate force.

Defense- We're getting younger,faster. Vince Williams is a huge surprise for me. Being the Buck, making all the defensive calls on a complex defense and being a rookie!!!! Man, you've got to be totally pumped and excited about him. He's made a few mistakes but it seems the job isn't too big for him, he's learning, growing and improving every week. On top of that, Kion is fighting hard for that starter role and even if he doesn't win it he will be a great back-up moving forward.

Defense sub-package- Have you noticed Troy playing a SS/LBer role. A new "twist" from LeBeau's Lab.
Allen returns which should really help. In his absence Gay proved his worth as did Golden. Shamarko is getting a lot of reps/experience and he seems to be everything we hoped for.

DL- they are doing what was predicted, getting more pressure on the QB than ever before, this is huge moving forward against teams who think they "know us"

OL- Woodley is back as hoped for, Jarvis is becoming a force, worilds is playing well on both sides of the line in relief.

ST- any time a unit shuts down hester on KR & PR & blocks a PAT you got to be happy moving forward.

This team, even down by score big time and playing bad NEVER Panicked, just came back and did their job getting within 3 pts by the 4th and this is huge, veteran leadership showed the youngsters how to a real Pro, never give up.

We will win against the vikes. We will come back and beat the Jets. We will be 2-3 riding a 2 game winning streak and take on the ratbirds and honestly after a hard fought game I think we'll win. The Following week the Raiders will fall leading us to a 4-3 winning record riding a 4 game winning streak. Even if we loose to the birds we'll still be 3-3 and in a new season for us.


You buying it yet Ward? I know you can!!!!


Go Steelers!!!!!


Cajun-

 

One thing to keep in mind...you're talking about 2 different OL's here. Last year it was to be Starks, Colon, Pouncey, DD, Gilbert. DD went down in preseason and that put Foster back in at RG..then Gilbert went down and Adams came in....then Beachum/etc

Now you have Adams, Foster, Pouncey, DD, Gilbert....Pouncey goes down and in comes Velasco. Had it been the same starting line as last year...I could see the ok when is it going to happen. But with in reality with 3 new guys (or guys in new positions) its like starting over again as far as the infamous "gelling".

 

I keep reading that we need a "Boldin like"receiver. Well, the only way to get that is to get Boldin. Not like there are a bunch of clones out there.

Next, I hear a ton of complaints about not forcing turnovers. Well when the other team does not fear you out scoring them, they tend not to force things and do not turn it over. Most turnovers occur when you fall behind - see steeler offense.

 

I looked at your positions of need and just wanted to give my input:

Right now I feel TE is our biggest need and I liked your reasons for needing another TE. I feel at top CB would be our 2nd biggest need.

Cajun-

 

I stopped reading after this.