Keisel on Steelers: 'We're an average team right now'

[Count Steeler]

Pittsburgh has chewed up and spit out the Browns (http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE) with machine-like regularity since Cleveland's star-crossed return to the NFL in 1999.










That's partly what made Sunday (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2014101203/2014/REG6/steelers@browns) such an unusual sight.
While Ben Roethlisberger (http://www.nfl.com/player/benroethlisberger/2506109/profile) and his bevy of Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) playmakers were held in check, Browns (http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE) quarterback Brian Hoyer (http://www.nfl.com/player/brianhoyer/81294/profile) chewed through Pittsburgh's defense with a host of back-breaking throws in a 31-10 trouncing (http://www.nfl.com/now/share?id=3a313b54-a2f9-498f-8d00-0e393bdba595). While completing just eight passes on the day, Hoyer's connections included pickups of 51, 42, 31, 31, 24 and 17 yards.
"We gave up big plays that flipped the field and produced points," Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) coach Mike Tomlin (http://www.nfl.com/player/miketomlin/2527518/profile) said Sunday, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "There were two catches for about 100 yards and 14 points. ... You can't give up big plays. (http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/10/13/On-the-Steelers-A-no-show-by-the-lake/stories/201410130145) It changed the flow of the game."
Once they built a lead, the Browns (http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE) chewed up the clock with Ben Tate (http://www.nfl.com/player/bentate/497208/profile) and rookie Isaiah Crowell (http://www.nfl.com/player/isaiahcrowell/2550189/profile)blasting for 158 yards on the ground. Cleveland's 349 rushing yards in two games against Pittsburgh are the most vs. the Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) in one season since the Bengals (http://www.nfl.com/teams/cincinnatibengals/profile?team=CIN) rumbled for 382 yards in a pair of tilts way back in 1989.
"I said it last week, this is the best team we've played yet," defensive end Brett Keisel (http://www.nfl.com/player/brettkeisel/2505207/profile) told the Post-Gazette, before saying of Pittsburgh: "We're an average team right now."
Defensive lineman Cam Heyward suggested in defeat that jobs might be on the line if the inconsistency persists.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000410393/article/keisel-on-steelers-were-an-average-team-right-now

[tube517]

Defensive lineman Cam Heyward suggested in defeat that jobs might be on the line if the inconsistency persists.

Now, this is one line I've heard before and nothing came of it. I doubt we'll see any changes like that. Heard it in 2009 with the Unleash you know statement. They won't bench anyone except for Lance Moore. Cam Thomas's buffet card will probably be taken away but that's it.

[Dwinsgames]

an average team is being generous .... we are NOT as good as our record indicates

[Steelman]

When you say the Browns are the best team you've faced thus far you can't call yourself an average team. This is a putrid team that has just enough warm soapy water in the tank to squeak out wins against teams like Jacksonville and fool everyone with a polished turd against Carolina. The reality is somewhere between Baltimore and Tampa Bay.

[86WARD]

Average? Debatable.

[ALLD]

Average team of JVers. I have seen more effort put out by garbage men.

[Moose]

Okay, I'm tired of listening and reading what the player's, Tomlin and any other Steeler employee/employer has to say. The team sucks, meaning they aren't any good. They suck. They can't put 2 wins together. They play as cellar dwellars, what they are right now. They have no motivation, no determination, no passion, no pride, no will to win, no coaching, no skills, just to name a few. I'm disgusted watching this crap week after week....since preseason. And like a fool I expect something to finally 'click' and make this team appear professional and start playing like a team. Then, come Monday morning, we (as fans) have to listen to the bafoons from the team tells us they aren't any good ! Really ? Do they think we are blind and not watching them look foolish every game day ? I don't want to look at them or listen to them anymore. Tomlin....stay home after the game. Keep that buggy eyed, stupid face off of the camera ! Just venting again, thanks for listening ! I'll be at the game Monday night....hope the beer's cold !

[steel striker]

Average = Bad same difference to me. Right now this team is not good and, the defense can't stop any good offense. The offense is bad right now as well. Tomlin should just like Ben call all of the plays and, see what happens. Maybe they can right the ship but, it is hard for me to see that happen too many holes to fill. The offense needs to put up 30+points. We got Blount to pound the rock for short yardage when the hell are we going to use him for that?

[tube517]

Average = Bad same difference to me. Right now this team is not good and, the defense can't stop any good offense. The offense is bad right now as well. Tomlin should just like Ben call all of the plays and, see what happens. Maybe they can right the ship but, it is hard for me to see that happen too many holes to fill. The offense needs to put up 30+points. We got Blount to pound the rock for short yardage when the hell are we going to use him for that?

They like to run the wheels off the #1 RB. This is no surprise to me. I agree with you, let him take some of the carries.

[HollywoodSteel]

I guess we are, by reasonable criteria, what you would call a bad team. We certainly have a bad defense. But if we were just sucky and rebuilding like the Raiders, I wouldn't like it but could kind of accept the reality easier. The problem for me is that we have as good of an offense as we've had under the Tomlin regime. We have an adequate offense line that can open up enough holes for Bell and can protect Ben probably better than any line he's had since 2005. We could have easily been up 21 - 0 at one point on Sunday if not for a few crucial plays.

I wish I had some kind of parallel universe viewer to see how this exact team would be doing with different coaches. I'd love to know what is or is not happening at practice each week. I can't figure out why, in the big spots our receivers drop it, or someone always lets us down. At some point you have to look at the way you practice. If the whole offense put in as much effort as AB I don't think we'd be seeing these mediocre results. That and just start the damn game with the no huddle. We seem to always stall on the first drive with Haley calling plays, so just give Ben that series in every game and see what happens.

[Drazo85]

More and more excuses. If you believe you are average, you are average. You play like that, you act like that, you live like that. Here is the problem. The players stopped believing in each other, in coaching staff, they stopped believing that this team can be more than average. You are a winner if you go out and leave it all on the field. Fans would recognize that, just as we recognize your current below average will, determination and effort.

[Count Steeler]

More and more excuses. If you believe you are average, you are average. You play like that, you act like that, you live like that. Here is the problem. The players stopped believing in each other, in coaching staff, they stopped believing that this team can be more than average. You are a winner if you go out and leave it all on the field. Fans would recognize that, just as we recognize your current below average will, determination and effort.

:applaudit: Needs to be a mindset change on this team. You don't get points for showing up. And if you haven't noticed, teams love to embarrass us, so get out there and leave it on the practice field and leave it on the turf. This display of effort should not be in a black and gold uniform. Go watch some hilites of the 70's team and watch the effort and the determination. Talent don't mean shit if you are not going to put in the effort. The 6 SBs in the lobby of the Steelers offices did not get there because we showed up.

[KeiselPower99]

Cam Thomas is a waste of a roster spot. Guy could not defend shit.

[Shoes]

Cam Thomas is a waste of a roster spot. Guy could not defend shit.

Thomas was chasing Hoyer in the end zone on one play and the ball carrier was 15 yards down field. :chuckle: