I don't get it

I think Diamond answered in a prior message. Last 3 years starts: 0-4, 2-2, 2-2, equals slow starts to me.

 

BIP
BAM
BOOM

 

VERY PERPLEXING!!!!

 

How about using the entire sample size since Tomlin became the HC? I believe the Steelers won more games in the first 4 games to start the season then they loss since Tomlin became the HC. There are also other factors to consider like the rebuilding years, injuries, ect. I suppose in the eyes of the ownership the other factors matter and that's why Tomlin still has a job.

 

Starting with one of Cowher's mediocre teams.

 

I looked up this information too. That's why I wanted more clarity.

 

I've always thought we've came out of the gate slow with Tomlin. I mean even when we've won there have been some ugly ones. Although we've had some good early ones too. I just think we start to play our "best football" when the chips seem to be down. I hate that but it just seems that way.

 

The ones we won without Cowher's players were mostly with Cowher's fans in the stands though. So either way it's because of Cowher.

 

What has me not very confident is the recent pattern.


Steelers last 5 opening games.

2011 LOSS
2012 LOSS
2013 LOSS
2014 WIN
2015 LOSS

 

I always thought the same. Sometimes I even wonder if some of us watch the same team.

 

Record alone isn't really what the "slow start" thing is about though.

We've won games but still looked lethargic. Conversely, the game against NE last year was much closer than the record shows. The loss came down to poor secondary play in a new defensive system.

 

Or how about the Browns game. Looked like they would run them out of the building in the 1st quarter and the Steelers looked unstoppable then suddenly it stopped.

 

Also how the hell do you get swept by a 5-11 team lol

 

I guess this goes back to what appears to be a superiority complex that some Steelers fans have. The Steelers are not a far and away superior team in relation to other teams around the league. Other teams have talented players that get paid too. The difference between more than 50% of games in the league probably comes down to 7 to 8 points or less.

 

Mistakes, turnovers, and injuries. The Steelers had opportunities to win both games but blew it.

 

Tomlins 4 game record since becoming HC in 07 wasn't bad until that 0-4 skid in 013, heres his record for 4 game starts: I might add that in the last 5 years we have been no better than 2-2 in our first 4 games....

07-3-1
08-3-1
09-2-2
010-3-1
011-2-2
012-2-2
013-0-4
014-2-2
015-2-2

 

past wins don't matter one bit. we need to win early with this defense and depleted offense to give these guys worth of their own abilities. we are young at many spots. we are inexperienced at many spots with a lot of pressure on guys to step up. winning will help them mentally.

 

I agree the past wins or losses don't really matter for this season. Each team is different just about every season.

The problem I had is that some people tended to believe that the team got off to a slow start under Tomlin for whatever reasons. The facts show that they are just above .500 to begin the season. Not great but not terrible either.

Injuries and suspensions are already having a huge impact on this team's ability to function at its best. Some people will leave those factors out of their equation and still believe that this team is extremely talented regardless of the players loss. Then there are those that like to live on both sides of the fence. For instance, giving the organization an F and still maintain that the team is extremely talented.

It wouldn't surprise me if the Steelers loss to the Skins on Monday night. It's the first game of the season, Skins are at home, Steelers have injuries/suspension to key players, and the Skins have the talent to compete and win. We'll see.

 

i think we still have plenty of firepower and talent all over this team even without those injured and suspended. they just give us that much more when they are included. i do believe that not getting young guys on the field earlier was a problem in some of these slow starts but that is changing the more we do it. the steelers as a whole and butler and tomlin were coaches that put a lot of credence in veterans over talent in past years. it seems to be slowly changing, not completely but slowly.

 

Bingo. I don't care if the best team in the history of the NFL plays the worst team in the history, there will be fans of both teams claiming their team will win. There's nothing odd about that. I can't think of any scenario in which 100% of a teams fans would predict their team to lose.

Besides, it's not like we're ever an unbeatable team. In fact, we're often very beatable, despite what I think is one of the most talented teams in the league. We play down to our competition IMO

 

NE seems to keep winning without their key player(s)

 

This ^^^^

... and on the road vs. a good team with a backup QB and without their all-pro TE.

 

well we also opened up last season and now this season without a couple of key players. bell and bryant. thats hard to overcome when we rely so heavily on them to take the pressure off our best receiver. our defense isn't quite good enough to take up that slack last year and probably not early this year with the added missing players from this years team. it's hard to come out firing on all cylinders early with these losses.

the cards didn't look sharp and belacheat took advantage of BA. like they mentioned during that game about BA and his offense, if you shut down they're downfield plays it takes them out of they're game plan and they start to force the ball downfield. BA is not patient about going downfield. the cards did show they could run on NE and passing to the RB out of the backfield was very successful against NE. lock that away in the memory banks coach haley.