Does this team have any on the field leaders?

Reading all these posts got me thinking. I don't think we have any on the field leaders. Ben never really had to be with Bettis, Faneca, Ward, and I would say he never developed to be a leader. On defense, you had Hampton, Foote, Clark and maybe Keisel. Even though you brought Keisel back, what does that say that you brought him back so late after cutting him? I never saw Troy as a leader, too quiet.
This is a big part of our problem, no leaders. Then you get these stupid celebration penalties, guys half-assing things, no hustle, etc..
You guys see any leaders in the black and gold on Sundays, cause I don't.

 

I don't know about leaders,but they are severely lacking in the resolve department. One little thing goes wrong it's lights out.

 

I've often questioned Ben's leadership abilities myself. I'd like to see him just one time get in Brown's face for a stupid TD or first down celebration. I'd like to see him grab Beachum by the facemask and scream "you're going to freaking get me killed if you don't start blocking your guy!!!". Why can't he dress Bell down for feeling he has to give that stupid first down signal after every single first down?! The really great field generals don't have a problem doing that. Manning and Brady certainly don't. Marino definitely didn't. Dan Fouts would light his guys up if they needed it. I know quarterbacks have differing styles and approaches to things, but given the idiocy that some of his offensive teammates demonstrate on the field at times with mental errors leading to stupid penalties, uncalled for TD celebrations, wrong route running, first down signals after relatively meaningless first downs, etc., maybe Ben should take the bull by the horns and put a stop to it! We've Ben clamoring for Tomlin to instill more discipline in the team, but Ben needs to take more of a leadership role too. Maybe he's part of the problem.

 

Can you imagine the drama that would come out if Ben did that? Everyone makes sure to tell us he's no Manning or Brady, so where would they believe he has the right to do that.

I 100% believe lewisha an you are correct.

Now can someone please gi get Heath and give him the leader reins?

 

I think DeCastro is probably our best hope on offense but he has Ben and Pouncey ahead of him in the pecking order, which may explain some things on why our offense is so inconsistent. On defense I think Heyward will be the guy, with Mitchell another possibility.

 

About 2 years ago I went to a basketball game where it was some Steelers vs. the faculty of a high school. Heyward was one of the guys I most remember from that night. He was full of himself, poking lots of fun at everyone (including himself), full of antics on the court, but seemed very humble when it came time for autographs.

I could see him becoming a team leader, especially after the last game, and "voicing" his opinions a bit louder than usual.

 

To answer you question, does this team has leaders? NO! And it shows in their games.

Bettis, Portis, Ward, were the last good leaders. In the 70's half of the team were leaders, that's another reason they were so good. Part of that is the way they drafted, they didn't need Chuck Noll to motivate and discipline them, they did themselves. Don't see that in today's team..

 

I think we could use at least 1 linebacker who has a little swagger on the field. I mean you don't need all 11 guys to be crazy and foaming at the mouth. But I think at least 1 linebacker on the defense to keep the energy would help.

 

Heyward was who I thought too. He plays with passion but he's not the playmaker that Joey was. He is leading the team in sacks though but that's not really saying much. Timmons was leading in tackles but I'm not sure if he still is or not. Troy was 2nd to him.

 

I don't see any clear leaders on the field, right now.

I'm hoping Timmons will become the guy in the defensive front 7. I'm not sure who will in the defensive secondary. Let's see what Brice McCain comes with.

Offensively... The only person I see, so far, is possibly Wheaton. I think it was a major move that he took it upon himself to to meet with the QB team to tighten up his game. That kind of initiative is part of what leaders are made of.

 

I miss Farrior and Ward. I felt they both filled that slot respectively on their sides of the field.

 

I think Heyward is a definite leader.

 

I was going to say maybe Timmons on defense, but like Troy he seems kind of soft-spoken. I'd think his only leadership would be through example.

I sure miss the days of Joey Porter leading this defense. I was so excited when we hired him as LB coach, and really hope his fire starts to catch-on before too long. I thought his presence alone would spark this defense from day one but unfortunately it hasn't shown :-/

 

I remember pre-game footage of Farrier pumping up the defense with chants. I think the Steelers had some really good leaders prior to the last three years, and a lot of the people considered non-leaders were far more leading that our current "leaders" (guys like Hampton/Clark/Townsend/Starks/Randel El/Foote/Harrison/Batch) , then guys like Farrier/Bettis/A. Smith/Ward/Porter were head and shoulders above our current leaders.

I think Keisel stepped up to fill the role the last few years, but he was not considered a leader when the guys I mentioned above were here. Not many others stepped up it seems.

But who knows what actually goes on in the lockerroom and practice. Maybe some random player is actually firing up the team to try to play well. Maybe....probably not..lol

 

Another point to consider is that maybe it is harder for leaders to emerge due to the mentality imposed upon the team by Tomlin/Haley (I don't think LaBeau). Perhaps they themselves want to be the "leaders" and try to impose that upon the players. And by leaders, I mean "My way or the highway" types of situations.

 

No, nor do they have any on the sidelines.

 

maybe porter ..

 

There have been a few threads on here in the recent past about the lack of leadership on this team since 86 & 36 left. As some of you may know I agree we have no leaders.

When ever this topic comes up Im reminded of a few stories about Mr.Charles Edward (Mean Joe) Greene and his leadership abilities. That Im quite sure will never ever be meet let alone surpassed.

I know Im going back about 45 years (Mr. Greene was drafted in 1969) but I hope some day some one can step up and come close.

Here is a recent post of those few stories....

 

me too
but Ward was too Whiney
so I hear

 

Myronwemissyinz/BFT thanks for sharing those stories. That's the kind of stuff that made us all love Steelers football. Can you imagine ANYONE giving Ernie Holmes pause!?

Those poor draft years created a field leadership gap for sure. Do any of our youngest players have someone there to guide them/pay it forward in the way Mike Webster mentored Dermonti Dawson? Not really. Keisel (and JH) were diminished by how/when they were signed. Amazing as he is, Ben has never been a general... more like a lieutenant. Young players (receivers/o-line) that look to him for field leadership or NFL guidance (like E. Sanders or maybe Wheaton) won't find it. Decastro is said to be a leader in every way but until he commands respect...? Heath leads by example which means something. I like the Bell and Blount unity... but they seem more self-medicated, sorry... self-motivated at this point.

The Steelers don't have a single field leader like the aforementioned Mean Joe, Rod Woodson, Hines, Faneca, or Porter. Nor do they currently have a Dawson, Kirkland, K. Greene, Lloyd, Smith, or Lambert. (Lord what I wouldn't give for some players with the controlled explosion, ferocity, and willful toughness of Lambert. That Lambert/Cliff Harris clash has to be one of my all time favorite Steeler moments of field leadership.)

 

Mine too! Lambert had a few moments like that.

It just seems to me that our evaluation process may be somewhat flawed. I know that tangible, physical talent is important, but we need to also be looking at heart and leadership abilities, the intangibles, as well.