Assessing the Steelers’ 2013 season

[GBMelBlount]

PITTSBURGH – There are 8-8 seasons. Then, there are 8-8 seasons.


Coming out of the 2012 season, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said there would be changes with a team that finished 8-8, losing five of its final seven games.


The Steelers have a different feeling about their 8-8 record this season.


After losing their first four games and six of the first eight, the Steelers went 6-2 in the second half, the best record in the AFC over that period and second in the NFL to Carolina’s 7-1.


“There are a lot of reasons to be optimistic about what transpired when you look at it over the course of the season,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

What went right

Several young players emerged as potential stars, including defensive end Cameron Heyward, linebacker Jason Worilds, guards David DeCastro and Ramon Foster and rookie running back Le’Veon Bell.


None of that group played a big role for the Steelers last year, but all took turns starring this year.


Heyward, a 2011 first-round draft pick, moved into the starting lineup for good after the 0-4 start. He finished the season with six sacks, 34 hurries and batted down five passes at the line of scrimmage. Only Houston’s J.J. Watt, with six, had more pass deflections among 3-4 defensive ends.


As good as Heyward was, Worilds might have been better. Despite sharing time with rookie Jarvis Jones for nearly half the season and missing the regular season finale against Cleveland with an abdominal injury, Worilds led all 3-4 outside linebackers with 21 quarterback hits, six more than the next closest player.


Worilds, a 2010 second-round draft pick, led the Steelers with eight sacks, and had 54 tackles with two forced fumbles....

http://www.observer-reporter.com/article/20140104/SPORTS0403/140109684#.UsrpyuJdYgo

[steelreserve]

Hopefully, guys like Worilds, DeCastro and Heyward will be just under the radar enough for us to sign them to new deals that we can afford. We need to fight tooth and nail to hang on to our best rookies from 2010-12 and not lose them to the cap like the couple of draft classes before them. That's what will make the difference between staying competitive and going through an full-on rebuilding period.

[MrPgh]

PITTSBURGH – There are 8-8 seasons. Then, there are 8-8 seasons.


Coming out of the 2012 season, Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said there would be changes with a team that finished 8-8, losing five of its final seven games.


Thinking back, what exactly were those changes? A few position coaches and some lesser players? Letting Keenan Lewis walk to keep an aging Ike Taylor?

If the Steelers have yet another mediocre season in 2014, you have to look back at this off season and say the Steelers should have made major changes.

[Mojouw]

Well let's see. They fielded a new nose tackle, a new starting OLB, an entirely new stable of running backs, a new #1 WR, attempted to make some changes at the offensive tackle positions, continued the process of changing the entire offensive scheme, attempted to implement a new blocking system, adjusted multiple player rolls on the defensive side of the ball, traded up in the draft to select a potentially dynamic DB, and generally churned the bottom 1/3 of the roster looking for depth and contributions.

But, you know, mostly they just hit the snooze button on the off-season and stood pat.

[MrPgh]

Well let's see. They fielded a new nose tackle (not really new), a new starting OLB (because they wanted to or because the other OLB is fat and injured all the time?), an entirely new stable of running backs (most of which weren't very good), a new #1 WR (he's not new at all), attempted to make some changes at the offensive tackle positions (no, those were the same coming into the season), continued the process of changing the entire offensive scheme (Not until about mid-way through the season when they were 3-6), attempted to implement a new blocking system (yeah, that's looking more and more like it was just preseason hype), adjusted multiple player rolls on the defensive side of the ball (not until guys got injured), traded up in the draft to select a potentially dynamic DB (too bad they didn't use him over a washed-up Clark), and generally churned the bottom 1/3 of the roster looking for depth and contributions (most of which weren't good players, ala 8-8).

But, you know, mostly they just hit the snooze button on the off-season and stood pat.

So basically the Steelers drafted players (which is something every team does every year) and made some minor personnel changes and tactical adjustments that didn't work. So really, nothing that would make anyone who isn't a homer think they would improve upon 8-8 from 2012.

[Psycho Ward 86]

So basically the Steelers drafted players (which is something every team does every year) and made some minor personnel changes and tactical adjustments that didn't work. So really, nothing that would make anyone who isn't a homer think they would improve upon 8-8 from 2012.

i see you complaining about a lot of things lately but not suggesting anything at all. what would you have us do this offseason?

[Hawkman]

i see you complaining about a lot of things lately but not suggesting anything at all. what would you have us do this offseason?

He would have you get rid of Art II and Haley.....just look at any thread, he'll tell you.

[MrPgh]

i see you complaining about a lot of things lately but not suggesting anything at all. what would you have us do this offseason?

I have made several suggestions on other threads. But since you missed them I'll be happy to repeat.

For starters (and this should've started happening after Super Bowl XLV IMO) stop with the restructuring of contracts to keep old veterans on defense. Yes, we're all in awe of how good they were in 2008, but it isn't 2008 anymore. In a salary cap era you can't keep guys out of loyalty. If guys can't play anymore, or you can get the same out of a cheaper, younger player then it's time to say goodbye. Keeping Ike Taylor over Keenan Lewis is the most egregious example of how the Steelers have been managing their roster and cap in recent years. In the cap era, you have to be more cut throat when making personnel decisions. No more can they keep kicking the can down the road.

Who's in charge? Colbert is the GM, but he doesn't have final say on draft picks, and Art II has been talking about the state of the team over him for quite some time now. Shouldn't the GM do that since an owner is supposed to entrust a GM with that responsibility? Tomlin seems to be able to overrule (or at least has much more sway than) Colbert on who he wants to draft and which aging veterans he wants to keep, but at the same time he isn't allowed to pick his own coordinators. The Steelers say they make decisions "as a team," but that sounds like an easy way to avoid assigning blame when things go wrong. So have one voice, one person who makes the decisions. No, that person should not be Art II. Even though he owns the team, bad things happen when owners get too involved with the football operations of their teams (Davis, Jones, Snyder). That voice should come from the general manager. If the owner cannot trust that GM, then that GM should be fired and replaced with another GM the owner can trust.

After two mediocre seasons, the Steelers need to stop convincing themselves that "they're close." Usually when mediocre teams try to convince themselves they're close to being in contention and don't need to make many changes, they continue to be mediocre. Everything and everyone has to be under a microscope. It shouldn't matter who is who's son, what someone did for the team 5 years ago, who's from Pittsburgh, or how the team from 40 years ago played. Did the Steelers do a thorough enough job of this so far? Are they keeping the right coaches? Are they keeping the right players? Are they adjusting their philosophies? We'll see. If they have another mediocre season in 2014, then we'll know the answers to those questions and we'll know that the Steelers made monumental errors this offseason.

[Mojouw]

So basically the Steelers drafted players (which is something every team does every year) and made some minor personnel changes and tactical adjustments that didn't work. So really, nothing that would make anyone who isn't a homer think they would improve upon 8-8 from 2012.

Well the NT was on the roster, so I guess you got me there.

Regardless of Woodley's injuries and waistline, there was going to be a new starter across from him regardless on opening day. I would say that having someone else besides a former Defensive Player of the Year and annual stalwart in James Harrison manning that position constitutes a change.

Again, I am aware that Brown was on the roster previously. However, having him assume the unquestioned role of primary target in all phases of the passing game was a significant change that many had concerns as to what the outcome would be. Perhaps, you were not among them.

The plan was to have Gilbert playing LT and Adams on the right. For a variety of reasons, that did not work out. Since Gilbert spent much of his previous tenure on the right side, this would be a change. Perhaps rotating chairs on the Titanic, but a change none the less.

No-huddle was not the only proposed or implemented change in the offensive system. I do not know if you noticed the re-appearance of the RB screen pass, the lack of the freakishly fast gentleman wearing #17 running under deep passes, the staggering increase in quick hitting passes designed to get Sanders and Brown the ball in space and on the move. I mean, I realize that the lack of a huddle was likely confusing at first and held much of your attention, but there were other changes on offense.

Whether you feel the change in blocking system was hype or not, Pouncey's knee and Decastro's conscience would beg to differ with you on that point. How many snaps into the season did a poorly executed cut block (which last time I checked was a major part of a zone blocking scheme) explode the starting center's knee?

So prior to injury, there were no adjustments on the defensive side of the ball? You honestly think that Lebeau and the other defensive coaches, just stood pat? I seemed to notice changes in how coverages were organized, where the rush was coming from, etc.

Thomas, while not used in a starting role, was used fairly extensively for a rookie on the Steelers defense. Some of that was due to injuries forcing their hand. Regardless, the team made a strong move to obtain a player it must really like going forward.

While the bottom 1/3 of any NFL roster is not likely to be that talented, the Steelers did manage to get some production there.

To the larger point, what is it that you would propose be done? Fire the coaching staff? Switch to a 4-3, cut everyone who makes over $6 million per year and doesn't play at an All-Pro level? There are only so many draft picks per year. There are only so many free agents that can be signed.

If you look at the major questions coming out of the 2012 season, many were aggressively addressed. Youth was obtained and promoted at all 3 levels in the defense. Unfortunately injuries took some of that away. A rookie was taken high in the draft and installed at RB. Providing a talent level that has been missing from that position for some time. The roles in the WR corps were revamped and talent was added. Again, injures mean we all have no idea if Wheaton is any good or not. The offensive line was addressed in some manner. It was assumed that Gilbert and Adams would continue to progress and stabilize the tackle situation. Then Gilbert got stabbed and it all went to crap, until Beachum rode to the rescue. Ember-whatever has drafted and may have won an interior job coming out of camp if he hadn't hurt his knee. What else do you want? In other threads you are against the selection of an OL high in the draft, so uhhhhh...what?

I could go on, but this is turning into a one-sided rant already.

[Psycho Ward 86]

I have made several suggestions on other threads. But since you missed them I'll be happy to repeat.

For starters (and this should've started happening after Super Bowl XLV IMO) stop with the restructuring of contracts to keep old veterans on defense. Yes, we're all in awe of how good they were in 2008, but it isn't 2008 anymore. In a salary cap era you can't keep guys out of loyalty. If guys can't play anymore, or you can get the same out of a cheaper, younger player then it's time to say goodbye. Keeping Ike Taylor over Keenan Lewis is the most egregious example of how the Steelers have been managing their roster and cap in recent years. In the cap era, you have to be more cut throat when making personnel decisions. No more can they keep kicking the can down the road.

Who's in charge? Colbert is the GM, but he doesn't have final say on draft picks, and Art II has been talking about the state of the team over him for quite some time now. Shouldn't the GM do that since an owner is supposed to entrust a GM with that responsibility? Tomlin seems to be able to overrule (or at least has much more sway than) Colbert on who he wants to draft and which aging veterans he wants to keep, but at the same time he isn't allowed to pick his own coordinators. The Steelers say they make decisions "as a team," but that sounds like an easy way to avoid assigning blame when things go wrong. So have one voice, one person who makes the decisions. No, that person should not be Art II. Even though he owns the team, bad things happen when owners get too involved with the football operations of their teams (Davis, Jones, Snyder). That voice should come from the general manager. If the owner cannot trust that GM, then that GM should be fired and replaced with another GM the owner can trust.

After two mediocre seasons, the Steelers need to stop convincing themselves that "they're close." Usually when mediocre teams try to convince themselves they're close to being in contention and don't need to make many changes, they continue to be mediocre. Everything and everyone has to be under a microscope. It shouldn't matter who is who's son, what someone did for the team 5 years ago, who's from Pittsburgh, or how the team from 40 years ago played. Did the Steelers do a thorough enough job of this so far? Are they keeping the right coaches? Are they keeping the right players? Are they adjusting their philosophies? We'll see. If they have another mediocre season in 2014, then we'll know the answers to those questions and we'll know that the Steelers made monumental errors this offseason.

i think everybody agrees with that 1st paragraph anyways. The rest of that is just assumptions you are making about who is and isnt in control. You, and really anyone on this board as a casual fan doesnt have any idea what goes on in the building. you are bashing Art Rooney based off of hunches. You must hate a lot of people without having any clear cut reason to hate them.

Did you also call for Dan Rooney's head when the steelers missed the playoffs 3 seasons in a row from 1998-2000 including records of 7-9 and 6-10? He had full operational control of the steelers back then. If you didnt, why wouldnt you? Just because Dan doesnt talk in public as much? Those years are worse than any year under the art rooney/tomlin tenure. smh...

[Dwinsgames]

sometime you smell shit before its ever stepped in , and sometimes you have to get some on your foot before you realize its there .....