Much work needs to be done before September

[stillers4me]

The quality of the football performance notwithstanding, there is always something vaguely comforting about August’s first Steelers preseason game on the North Shore; if there’s a man standing in the Allegheny Avenue underpass yelling about hoagies for the first time since the dead of winter, then you know despite plenty of evidence to the contrary that the earth has somehow stayed true to its annual course.


When you hear him yell “PEP-ees, i-TAL-yun hoagies, PEP-ees,” and absorb the echo from the flaking infrastructure that has carried Route 65 over his head all these years, you know it’s time again in the circle of life to start sorting through every hourly Steelers cataclysm between here and the Super Bowl.


Y’all ready for this?


Sure you are.


Fifty Super Bowls have come and gone without the Detroit Lions ever having so much as appeared in one, so who better to provide the stuntmen for this first Steelers dress rehearsal? And what better twisted narrative for ongoing discussion than the fact that the Steelers managed to make the Lions look Super?


“Some big-time negligence in all three phases,” is what coach Mike Tomlin said about it...........

Read more @ http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/gene-collier/2016/08/13/Gene-Collier-Much-work-needs-to-be-done-before-September/stories/201608130078

[Mojouw]

I love the freaking out over one preseason game!

the sky is falling

[GBMelBlount]

I love the freaking out over one preseason game!

the sky is falling

Is preseason really much different than watching two JV teams scrimmage?

[stillers4me]

Televised tryouts in fancy clothes.

[tube517]

http://www.steelersuniverse.com/forums/showthread.php/26024-Preseason-Lions-Steelers-8-12-16?p=554448&viewfull=1#post554448

[polamalubeast]

Each year, a media always says "much work needs to be done" after the first preseason game!

[Shoes]

Interesting read.

What had been present in Latrobe was AWOL at Heinz Field on Friday night.

Through two weeks of training camp, their practices were physical, crisp, competitive. In other words, those practices were everything their preseason opener was not.

http://www.steelers.com/news/labriola-on/article-1/Labriola-on-Steelers-preseason-opener/562d6b2d-396a-4b2e-9c83-33a9f96ee459 (http://www.steelers.com/news/labriola-on/article-1/Labriola-on-Steelers-preseason-opener/562d6b2d-396a-4b2e-9c83-33a9f96ee459)

[fansince'76]

I love the freaking out over one preseason game!

the sky is falling

Matt (msafford) is falling down on the job, so I guess I'll post it:

http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/1570325/81703340.jpeg

:chuckle:

[Bluecoat96]

Matt (msafford) is falling down on the job, so I guess I'll post it:

http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/1570325/81703340.jpeg

:chuckle:
Damnit. Sorry. Having 3 kids under 5 to watch will do that to you. 😊

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[tube517]

Damnit. Sorry. Having 3 kids under 5 to watch will do that to you. 😊

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk



http://www.childstarlets.com/captures/videocaps/efanning/daddy/efddc009.jpg :chuckle:

[Craic]

Matt (msafford) is falling down on the job, so I guess I'll post it:

http://cdn.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/1570325/81703340.jpeg

:chuckle:

I feel like a proud papa every time that picture is posted. Can't even remember where I found it now, but it still cracks me up all these years later.

[fansince'76]

I feel like a proud papa every time that picture is posted. Can't even remember where I found it now, but it still cracks me up all these years later.

Yep, you were the original discoverer of that pic, way back in the old SF days. :chuckle:

[polamalubeast]

764525086141325312

[Steeldude]

I love the freaking out over one preseason game!

the sky is falling

I am not freaking out, but the tackling fundamentals are very poor again. It seems to be an ongoing problem each season. Yes, it's pre-season, but players should know how to tackle someone.

[silver & black]

It always amazes me how ALL fans read so much into pre season games. They are meaningless except to the coaches. It's always nice to win... I get it. But, the games are just a tool for coaches to evaluate players... nothing else. My team won 31 - 10.... it means nothing. .Lets see how things shake out come September.

[polamalubeast]

I just hope that Keith Butler will not be too blitz happy like yesterday in the regular season.The first TD of the lions was inexcusable.It looked like the Saints defense with Rob Ryan as DC yesterday.

I want to see less of it this year!


764111603319046144

[fansince'76]

I am not freaking out, but the tackling fundamentals are very poor again. It seems to be an ongoing problem each season. Yes, it's pre-season, but players should know how to tackle someone.

That's a league-wide issue, IMO. And you can thank the NFLPA and all the no-contact practices for it.

[fansince'76]

I just hope that Keith Butler will not be too blitz happy like yesterday in the regular season.The first TD of the lions was inexcusable.It looked like the Saints defense with Rob Ryan as DC yesterday.

I want to see less of it this year!

764111603319046144


Failing to see the point of dredging up a play from 9 months ago. Not you, PB, the guy who tweeted it.

[polamalubeast]

764588267224174592

[Steeldude]

That's a league-wide issue, IMO. And you can thank the NFLPA and all the no-contact practices for it.

I totally agree, but how can you not know how to tackle? It's so simple. These guys spends their lives playing football, but tackling eludes them.

Is the NFLPA worried about the tackler or the player being tackled in practice? If it is the latter I say allow the NFL teams to hire people as tackling dummies : ) If they are worried about the tackler then they are actually hurting the players by forbidding them to work on proper tackling techniques.

[polamalubeast]

764599437800804352

[teegre]

they are actually hurting the players by forbidding them to work on proper tackling techniques.

Absolutely.


(That is also a perfect example of irony.)

[fansince'76]

I totally agree, but how can you not know how to tackle? It's so simple. These guys spends their lives playing football, but tackling eludes them.

Is the NFLPA worried about the tackler or the player being tackled in practice? If it is the latter I say allow the NFL teams to hire people as tackling dummies : ) If they are worried about the tackler then they are actually hurting the players by forbidding them to work on proper tackling techniques.

If I were a defensive coach, this would be required viewing for my players:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Lo1sAzOkU

[Hawkman]

Hey.......our punter looked good....61, 57, 59. Let's hope he can carry that over to the season.

[zulater]

It's been fairly obvious for a few seasons now that Tomlin places no value on the score of preseason games. So I'm not sure what anyone would be worried about? :noidea:

[Steeldude]

If I were a defensive coach, this would be required viewing for my players:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Lo1sAzOkU

It most definitely should be required. I am tired of seeing the flailing shoulder bump that results in nothing.

- - - Updated - - -


It's been fairly obvious for a few seasons now that Tomlin places no value on the score of preseason games. So I'm not sure what anyone would be worried about? :noidea:

The poor tackling that carries over into the regular season. I don't care about the score.

[ALLD]

The Steelers never look polished. It's like they forgot how to play organized football in the off season.

[86WARD]

The OT position looked a little concerning. Sammy Coates case of fumblitis is a bit concerning. Danny Smith's special teams looked terrible. First preseason game so hopefully plenty of time to get a handle on these...especially OT. Clay was making rookie mistakes out there.

[tube517]

It always amazes me how ALL fans read so much into pre season games. They are meaningless except to the coaches. It's always nice to win... I get it. But, the games are just a tool for coaches to evaluate players... nothing else. My team won 31 - 10.... it means nothing. .Lets see how things shake out come September.

Just win, baby!

:chuckle:

[LloydWoodson]

The Steelers are 6-10 if you compile the first 4 games of the last 4 seasons.

Never finishing better than 2-2.

There have been slow starts to be sure.

[polamalubeast]

765210562502414337

This is too much....

[Born2Steel]

765210562502414337

This is too much....

Most likely trying to find his pass rushers. It's getting it cut down to the best 53 for this season. Where are our ????? besides secondary? OLB. Offense will work itself out, determining backups right now.

[BnG_Hevn]

If I were a defensive coach, this would be required viewing for my players:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Lo1sAzOkU

IMO, Jack Lambert did so well at a light weight due to bone density. In the service, I weighed 195 (6'5") and long story short, in a Sambo wresting match, a body-bearer who weight 240+ and spent his days in the weight room, had a running start at me from across the mat. I took literally 1 1/2 steps, met him chest to chest and flattened him.

When I would tackle / run straight at people, even though I was skinner I would rarely get pushed backwards.

I never put two and two together until my first son was born. He is like a bag of bricks, he is build just like me. When he was little, he only weighed 50lbs, but to lift and carry him was a struggle.

Lambert I think is built the same way. Add to that his intensity and you have a monster.

[Craic]

I totally agree, but how can you not know how to tackle? It's so simple. These guys spends their lives playing football, but tackling eludes them.

Is the NFLPA worried about the tackler or the player being tackled in practice? If it is the latter I say allow the NFL teams to hire people as tackling dummies : ) If they are worried about the tackler then they are actually hurting the players by forbidding them to work on proper tackling techniques.

As I've said in the past, I blame it as much or more on ESPNhits than anything else. Great hits get played over and over on ESPN (and now, all the other channels). It also gets you noticed on tape by other coaches, and a better chance of being picked up if you get cut.

[tube517]

The Steelers are 6-10 if you compile the first 4 games of the last 4 seasons.

Never finishing better than 2-2.

There have been slow starts to be sure.

Nothing new there. Cowher's teams started 2-2 plenty of times.

[Mojouw]

As I've said in the past, I blame it as much or more on ESPNhits than anything else. Great hits get played over and over on ESPN (and now, all the other channels). It also gets you noticed on tape by other coaches, and a better chance of being picked up if you get cut.

There have been a ton of articles and interviews over the past 10-15 years about how basic fundamentals and techniques are simply not taught anymore - at least during the season. No time for it in the pros or college at all due to game plan installations, etc. Many high level high school programs have also transitioned to spending majority of time on installations and what not that there is no teaching of technique beyond a cursory level.

Bottom line, many of the players in the NFL are "self-taught" tacklers.

[polamalubeast]

Nothing new there. Cowher's teams started 2-2 plenty of times.


It's crazy that the Steelers have not started the season 4-0 since 1979 and they have been 3-0 just three times since then.

[silver & black]

It's crazy that the Steelers have not started the season 4-0 since 1979 and they have been 3-0 just three times since then.

The last time the Raiders won all 4 preseason games, they went 2-14 on the season. Preseason games are meaningless.

[polamalubeast]

The last time the Raiders won all 4 preseason games, they went 2-14 on the season. Preseason games are meaningless.

I was talking about the regular season.

[Born2Steel]

Not sure how to best phrase this question. What players are out there, late round/undrafted, bubble players, that probably won't make another team's 53 and we may still have a chance to pick up? Mainly thinking CBs here, but any position really. With Golson going down again, and Burns as a rookie, I'm more concerned now than before the draft about our secondary. The same problem we saw with our DL late in games or late in the season, from a fatigue standpoint, will be magnified with guys that have to sprint the whole game.

[polamalubeast]

766042850727370752

[tube517]

Not sure how to best phrase this question. What players are out there, late round/undrafted, bubble players, that probably won't make another team's 53 and we may still have a chance to pick up? Mainly thinking CBs here, but any position really. With Golson going down again, and Burns as a rookie, I'm more concerned now than before the draft about our secondary. The same problem we saw with our DL late in games or late in the season, from a fatigue standpoint, will be magnified with guys that have to sprint the whole game.


Need another Cockring

[hawaiiansteeler]

Need another Cockring

a double Cockring? :thumbsup:

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0160/2562/products/M2M-double-nitrile-cock-ring-black_large.jpg?v=1338401131

[fansince'76]

Nothing new there. Cowher's teams started 2-2 plenty of times.

They were sitting at 4-4 at the halfway point of the season that O'Donnell wound up throwing the SB away.

They were sitting at 7-5 and a cat's whisker away from mathematical elimination from the playoffs in 2005 when they wound up winning 8 straight on a SB-winning run.

[polamalubeast]

766251180532129793