Poll: How do wish the Steelers season will end?

[stillers4me]

In other words, do you hope to stay competitive as if Ben were still their but get a low draft pick or hope at least we can get a stud at the end of a tortuous season?

[Fire Goodell]

14-2

How do I think it'll end? 7-9 to 9-7 and missing the playoffs

We're officially in rebuild mode. Question is does Rooney have faith in Tomlin and the current coaching staff to rebuild the roster? Tomlin is the type of guy that will work if you have a team of established veterans, but younger teams probably benefit more from an x's and o's type of coach.

[steelreserve]

with Tomlin and Butler both fired, that's how.

Other than somehow winning the Super Bowl by some miracle, I could barely care less about how the rest turns out. I do hope Rudolph is a legitimate starting QB so we don't have to go on a wild goose chase.

[stillers4me]

with Tomlin and Butler both fired, that's how.

Other than somehow winning the Super Bowl by some miracle, I could barely care less about how the rest turns out. I do hope Rudolph is a legitimate starting QB so we don't have to go on a wild goose chase.

So you are going to hijack yet another thread with this crap?

[DesertSteel]

Why isn’t winning the Super Bowl an option?

[86WARD]

Best case - 10-6...with playoff berth. Players gonna play harder and coaches are going to have to actually do some work.

[stillers4me]

Why isn’t winning the Super Bowl an option?

A low round pick is a low round pick. The point of the poll...is the draft pick..........we always seem to be stuck in the middle or the end and can't get the stud players. Now for the first time, there's a real chance to get a high one without trading away the farm.

Do you want to do well or average but get the same meh players....or hope that at least if we stink, we can get something for it.

In one hand, we are competitive even without Ben...in the other, we have an opportunity to rebuild.

[BlackAndGold]

They turn this season around while Rudolph proves to be a legit starting QB.

[Rotorhead]

I wish the season ends with a Super Bowl, but let’s see how the kid performs after a full practice with the 1’s, and see how the 1’s respond to help him out.

[Steeler-in-west]

This is easy, staying competitive is always better than tanking. It’s better for team and fan morale and it will probably mean Rudolph can play and Tomlin can really coach.

[fansince'76]

This is easy, staying competitive is always better than tanking.

This.

[DesertSteel]

A low round pick is a low round pick. The point of the poll...is the draft pick..........we always seem to be stuck in the middle or the end and can't get the stud players. Now for the first time, there's a real chance to get a high one without trading away the farm.

Do you want to do well or average but get the same meh players....or hope that at least if we stink, we can get something for it.

In one hand, we are competitive even without Ben...in the other, we have an opportunity to rebuild.
My choice is always to do as well as possible. Screw the draft pick positioning.

[steelreserve]

So you are going to hijack yet another thread with this crap?

That or dick pics, your call.

[GoSlash27]

Why isn’t winning the Super Bowl an option?

:iagree:

[stillers4me]

That or dick pics, your call.

You're right. It is my call.

From the SU code of conduct:
6. Please stay on topic. Hijacking threads not only takes away from the original content of the discussion but is unfair to other members who wish to address the topic at hand.

If you want to talk about coaches, start a thread and keep it there. Otherwise, stay on topic. It's not rocket science.

BTW, dick pics results in a lifetime ban. Your call.

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

You play to win period! All answers going against that are wrong.

[stillers4me]

You play to win period! All answers going against that are wrong.

You all have made me proud.

[steelreserve]

You're right. It is my call.

From the SU code of conduct:
6. Please stay on topic. Hijacking threads not only takes away from the original content of the discussion but is unfair to other members who wish to address the topic at hand.

If you want to talk about coaches, start a thread and keep it there. Otherwise, stay on topic. It's not rocket science.

BTW, dick pics results in a lifetime ban. Your call.

Well somebody sure is cranky today.

[fansince'76]

You play to win period! All answers going against that are wrong.

:iagree:

Tanking is for chickenshits.

[stillers4me]

Well somebody sure is cranky today.

Don't you forget it.:old:

[steelreserve]

Don't you forget it.:old:

https://nbcprofootballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/551c9ab5cb449ea25012827eb2964afd-e1386945454489.jpeg?w=502&h=316&crop=1

https://www.profootballhof.com/assets/1/26/Butkus-Dick-2.jpg?52759

https://www.biography.com/.image/t_share/MTE5NDg0MDU0OTI1NjQxMjMx/dick-clark-9249296-1-402.jpg

[stillers4me]

https://proxy.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgflip.com%2F1govve.jpg&f=1&nofb=1

- - - Updated - - -

Now, back to the topic...........

[Fire Goodell]

Why isn’t winning the Super Bowl an option?

Reason #1: Tom Brady
Reason #2: Bill Belichick
Reason #3: Patrick Mahomes
Reason #4: Our secondary

[Six Rings]

Hard to say as much depends on Rudolph. We have too much talent to be 5-11 or worse, but we could end up 7-9.

[teegre]

A: winning the Super Bowl

[j-d-s]

This. And I think Rudolph can do it. Of course it's early and he could turn out to be not so good, but I'd say it's 50-50 whether he is a starting caliber QB.

Tomlin and Fichtner are now basically certain not to be fired, because you can't reasonably fire them even if it's 4-12 or something like that after losing the three best players on offense. At least that will be the consideration.

[st33lersguy]

Best case scenario is whatever leads to Tomlin getting fired and a major overhaul in the coaching staff. As long as they have non-losing seasons, Art Rooney II will be satisfied and believe he has no reason to change anything. May have to be 2 consecutive losing seasons. I hate to admit it but short term pain may be needed for long term benefit. The Steelers will never win another Super Bowl with Tomlin, the last many years has made that crystal clear. Get rid of him and all other underperforming coaches and try again with a new head coach and new staff

[Hawkman]

Well somebody sure is cranky today.

.....better to be cranky today.....than an ass everyday.

- - - Updated - - -


A: winning the Super Bowl

It is sad that we can’t go 19-0 though.:eyebrows:

[Mojouw]

For me, I didn't select one of the options. Now, it isn't about the final record or draft position. There was good article on Behind the Steel Curtain today. The rebuild of this team has been going on for 2-3 years now. Most of the roster is really young. What matters this season is if this coaching staff looks anywhere near the guys to take that youth and get it pointed in a useful direction.

I will be fascinated to see what the offense looks like over the next few weeks. The Steelers have not really done a bunch of the "trendy" offensive things the past few seasons. Sure they went 4-5 wide a whole bunch and passed a ton. But they didn't do much RPO, pre-snap motion, or hardly any play action. Was that from Fichtner or from Ben or from the lack of need because the offensive skill positions were loaded for bear? Maybe we start seeing some "trendy schemey" stuff. There was an article a year plus ago about how at Memphis (I think I got that right?) Fichtner did a # of the college style things that are so prevalent across the NFL right now. I wonder if we see more of it? Can the coaching staff come up with something to unlock Juju and get the other guys on track? Right now the offense looks about as fast as molasses flowing uphill in January. Speed kills. And most of the whiz-bang offenses putting up pinball numbers across the league have oodles of it. The Steelers have some, but may need to scheme their way to the rest.

As to the defense, I am not going to continue to beat a dead-horse. Quit bleeding yards and points between the hashes and in the flats.

Edit: I realized if you kinda visualize putting circles on the areas of the field teams are killing the Steelers now, it looks like a dick and balls. So basically Butler and Austin have to figure out how to quit taking the D on D.

[Edman]

The Steelers surrendered their 2020 First Rounder for Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Sorry to all the fans who said the Steelers should tank, because it isn't happening.

[st33lersguy]

First round draft pick is sadly gone, the only thing to look forward to in a tank is a house cleaning of the coaching staff that will most assuredly mismanage our new DB (maybe even the FO that made the misguided trade in the first place as well)

[FrancoLambert]

Making the playoffs with a second year QB, a guy you valued enough to trade up to get, and who shows he can lead the offense to secure a playoff berth would be a good season IMO.

[Steeldude]

With a SB victory. That is a rather pessimistic poll.

[steel striker]

I'm sure just about all of us would like to say Super Bowl and, this is going to the season Tomlin & the coaching staff have to have their best coaching ever. If not I would say 8-8 being a realist but, who knows maybe Mason plays great could be 10-6. The defense has to get better and, for the most part this is a young team that does have talent so it will be interesting to see what happens.

[GoSlash27]

I'm sure just about all of us would like to say Super Bowl...

The poll, if I'm reading it correctly, is asking what we *wish* for, not reasonably expect. Lombardi #7 is a perfectly valid wish. Or rather would be if it were an option in the poll.

[86WARD]

“It is our job to keep this train rolling. If anything, from a competitive standpoint, it energizes me and us. We’re excited about balling up our fists and fighting and fighting together."

-Tomlin

[AtlantaDan]

Bill Barnwell writes it does not look good but the other 0-2 teams are in even worse shape

FPI chance to make the playoffs: 7.1%


This has not been a fun week to be a Steelers fan, but I'm not trying to throw them a bone by putting them at the top of these rankings....

My hope is that the Steelers have surrounded Rudolph with enough talent on offense to get by, likely with a heavier dose of their running game....

I also simply find it tough to believe that a defense that ranked 13th in DVOA in 2018 and addressed its two biggest weaknesses (cornerback and inside linebacker) this offseason is going to be the league's fourth-worst defense by DVOA (https://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings) moving forward.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27645273/barnwell-ranking-0-2-nfl-teams-eliminated-alive-barely

[Fire Goodell]

if we can win sunday (IF), the ravens will most likely lose to the Chiefs at arrowhead. If that plays out, we're only 1 game behind in the division.

[Steeler-in-west]

I really don’t see the reason for pessimism. The QB and OL will drive this team. We know we have a good OL and Rudolph seems to have the smarts and talent to play well and adjust when needed (with a good game plan). As long as he doesn’t choke we’ll be fine....better than a lot of people are predicting. It’s easy to dismiss a young QB but I think those critics are ignoring a lot of details about this team, including a defense that should be poised to be much more stout as the season progresses. The schedule is not that tough either,

[Rotorhead]

Making the playoffs with a second year QB, a guy you valued enough to trade up to get, and who shows he can lead the offense to secure a playoff berth would be a good season IMO.

Hhmm sounds familiar . . .

[teegre]

Bill Barnwell writes it does not look good but the other 0-2 teams are in even worse shape

FPI chance to make the playoffs: 7.1%


This has not been a fun week to be a Steelers fan, but I'm not trying to throw them a bone by putting them at the top of these rankings....

My hope is that the Steelers have surrounded Rudolph with enough talent on offense to get by, likely with a heavier dose of their running game....

I also simply find it tough to believe that a defense that ranked 13th in DVOA in 2018 and addressed its two biggest weaknesses (cornerback and inside linebacker) this offseason is going to be the league's fourth-worst defense by DVOA (https://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings) moving forward.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27645273/barnwell-ranking-0-2-nfl-teams-eliminated-alive-barely


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea2HS8NL4s4&app=desktop

[Six Rings]

Ask me after the Cincinnati game on Monday night. 0-4 = you're finished. 1-3 = there is some hope.

[86WARD]

10-6.

[teegre]

Assuming that the Steelers win the next two games AND that the Browns lose to the Niners:

The Steelers would be 2-3... and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Additionally, there are a whopping three teams with winning records in the AFC. THREE!!! (Two of which are in the same division.)

SUMMATION:
Winning the AFC North is the floor. Getting the third seed is a realistic possibility. After that...

[Mojouw]

Assuming that the Steelers win the next two games AND that the Browns lose to the Niners:

The Steelers would be 2-3... and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Additionally, there are a whopping three teams with winning records in the AFC. THREE!!! (Two of which are in the same division.)

SUMMATION:
Winning the AFC North is the floor. Getting the third seed is a realistic possibility. After that...

I love you to death but -- really? Are we watching the same team?

The 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers will be lucky to beat the Bengals tonight. And they have shown no ability to consistently stop the run or TEs - which are the Ravens entire offense. After that, they would have to actually slow down the good version of the Browns offense (the one with functional WRs, TEs, and RBs - unfortunately the Steelers only seem capable of stopping 2 out of 3 and you never know which 2!).

Also, I don't think the current offense can score on the Ravens or Browns. Certainly not at a rate to put enough pressure on their offenses to assist the Steelers own defense.

I would really like your version to be true, but I just can't see it based on the recent on-field product. In fact, I'm kinda behind a developmental 6-10 season as long as it guarantees Butler gets the boot. I still think Mike Tomlin surrounded by average or better coordinators is a SB winning staff.

So go through a "mini-Process" and get everything set for 2020-2021.

[AtlantaDan]

Assuming that the Steelers win the next two games AND that the Browns lose to the Niners:

The Steelers would be 2-3... and in sole possession of first place in the AFC North.

Additionally, there are a whopping three teams with winning records in the AFC. THREE!!! (Two of which are in the same division.)

SUMMATION:
Winning the AFC North is the floor. Getting the third seed is a realistic possibility. After that...

Props for your optimism but if the Steelers do not win the next 3 games the season is over at the bye week

Steelers should (no way I say will) beat the Bengals tonight but Vegas thinks the Steelers clearly are inferior to the Ravens (who open as 3&1/2 - 4 point favorites next week) and likely will be at least a 6 point underdog for their next doomed trip to the Pacific time zone

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/las-vegas/line-movement/ravens-@-steelers.cfm/date/10-06-19#BT

Would be interested on where anyone sees 8 games in which the Steelers will be favored on this schedule (my best case scenario comes up with 6)

Bengals
Ravens
@Chargers
Dolphins
Colts
Rams
@Browns
@ Bengals
Browns
@ Cardinals
Bills
@Jets
@Ravens

[teegre]

I love you to death but -- really? Are we watching the same team?

The 2019 Pittsburgh Steelers will be lucky to beat the Bengals tonight. And they have shown no ability to consistently stop the run or TEs - which are the Ravens entire offense. After that, they would have to actually slow down the good version of the Browns offense (the one with functional WRs, TEs, and RBs - unfortunately the Steelers only seem capable of stopping 2 out of 3 and you never know which 2!).

Also, I don't think the current offense can score on the Ravens or Browns. Certainly not at a rate to put enough pressure on their offenses to assist the Steelers own defense.

I would really like your version to be true, but I just can't see it based on the recent on-field product. In fact, I'm kinda behind a developmental 6-10 season as long as it guarantees Butler gets the boot. I still think Mike Tomlin surrounded by average or better coordinators is a SB winning staff.

So go through a "mini-Process" and get everything set for 2020-2021.

Butler sucks. Period. Full stop. Everyone agrees.

That said, Fitzpatrick has paid dividends as a coach on the field. Really. Since he has started at FS, Edmunds has not been out of position. There have been almost no deep completions. The defense as a whole has looked better. And, it’s only going to improve as Fitzpatrick gets more “comfortable”.

Fichtner had to actually coach last night, and he came through. As long as he doesn’t get lulled into running a few successful plays into the ground, we should be good. I can almost feel teams crowding the box to stop the dump-off passes to the RBs, leaving JuJu open for a deep TD pass. And, once that occurs, once Rudolph shows that he can indeed go deep (and simultaneously be insanely accurate on close targets) this offense will be “good enough” to keep pace* with just about any team.

*Because, our defense will be able to force a few 3-&-outs and/or create 2+ turnovers per game.

[teegre]

Props for your optimism but if the Steelers do not win the next 3 games the season is over at the bye week

Steelers should (no way I say will) beat the Bengals tonight but Vegas thinks the Steelers clearly are inferior to the Ravens (who open as 3&1/2 - 4 point favorites next week) and likely will be at least a 6 point underdog for their next doomed trip to the Pacific time zone

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/las-vegas/line-movement/ravens-@-steelers.cfm/date/10-06-19#BT

Would be interested on where anyone sees 8 games in which the Steelers will be favored on this schedule (my best case scenario comes up with 6)

Bengals
Ravens
@Chargers
Dolphins
Colts
Rams
@Browns
@ Bengals
Browns
@ Cardinals
Bills
@Jets
@Ravens

The only team that “scares” me on that list is the Rams... and they just gave up 55 to Winston.

SUMMATION:
This is one long preseason, just to get to the “real” games (against actually “good” teams):
-playoff game against the Taperiots
-AFCCG against the Chiefs
-Super Bowl

[Mojouw]

Butler sucks. Period. Full stop. Everyone agrees.

That said, Fitzpatrick has paid dividends as a coach on the field. Really. Since he has started at FS, Edmunds has not been out of position. There have been almost no deep completions. The defense as a whole has looked better. And, it’s only going to improve as Fitzpatrick gets more “comfortable”.

Fichtner had to actually coach last night, and he came through. As long as he doesn’t get lulled into running a few successful plays into the ground, we should be good. I can almost feel teams crowding the box to stop the dump-off passes to the RBs, leaving JuJu open for a deep TD pass. And, once that occurs, once Rudolph shows that he can indeed go deep (and simultaneously be insanely accurate on close targets) this offense will be “good enough” to keep pace* with just about any team.

*Because, our defense will be able to force a few 3-&-outs and/or create 2+ turnovers per game.

You and the team are starting to convince me. Amazing how immediately after MFF comes in at FS the defense looks better organized? Maybe having one of the smartest players Saban ever coached makes a difference?

Honestly, the defense looks like a case of know your assignment, do your job, and don't worry about what anyone else is doing. All 11 are trusting what they see and trusting everyone else is going to do what they are supposed to do. Hilton and Sutton are absolutely flying around the field in sub-packages!

[86WARD]

Butler sucks. Period. Full stop. Everyone agrees.

That said, Fitzpatrick has paid dividends as a coach on the field. Really. Since he has started at FS, Edmunds has not been out of position. There have been almost no deep completions. The defense as a whole has looked better. And, it’s only going to improve as Fitzpatrick gets more “comfortable”.

Fichtner had to actually coach last night, and he came through. As long as he doesn’t get lulled into running a few successful plays into the ground, we should be good. I can almost feel teams crowding the box to stop the dump-off passes to the RBs, leaving JuJu open for a deep TD pass. And, once that occurs, once Rudolph shows that he can indeed go deep (and simultaneously be insanely accurate on close targets) this offense will be “good enough” to keep pace* with just about any team.

*Because, our defense will be able to force a few 3-&-outs and/or create 2+ turnovers per game.

Problem will be...since that game plan worked, Fichtner will go with it this week and I suspect the team puts up less than 17 points...it’s not going to work every week and it’s not going to work against good teams. I suspect the Ravens will be prepared for it...

[teegre]

You and the team are starting to convince me. Amazing how immediately after MFF comes in at FS the defense looks better organized? Maybe having one of the smartest players Saban ever coached makes a difference?

Honestly, the defense looks like a case of know your assignment, do your job, and don't worry about what anyone else is doing. All 11 are trusting what they see and trusting everyone else is going to do what they are supposed to do. Hilton and Sutton are absolutely flying around the field in sub-packages!

Ryan Clark was amazing for many reasons... one of which was getting everyone in the right position. We haven’t had a FS like that since he retired.

Bingo!!! Just like preseason: don’t overthink; just play your role.

[teegre]

Problem will be...since that game plan worked, Fichtner will go with it this week and I suspect the team puts up less than 17 points...it’s not going to work every week and it’s not going to work against good teams. I suspect the Ravens will be prepared for it...

Indeed... as I have stated in numerous threads: Fichtner s biggest downfall is finding a few plays that work and then running them into the ground.

My hope is that Fichtner gameplans differently for each opponent, specifically targeting each opponent’s weaknesses.

[86WARD]

I'm sticking with 10-6...lol!!!!

Positive vibes from the pessimist!

[Mojouw]

I'm sticking with 10-6...lol!!!!

Positive vibes from the pessimist!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/7c/ce/b17cce305734368fbafecb0e257300b4.jpg

[Fire Goodell]

It goes without saying, these next 2 weeks will be telling. 10-6 will be possible if they can get to 3-3 before the bye. If we can win against the Ravens and SD on the west coast I'll be a believer.

[86WARD]

It goes without saying, these next 2 weeks will be telling. 10-6 will be possible if they can get to 3-3 before the bye. If we can win against the Ravens and SD on the west coast I'll be a believer.

Ugh...when you put it that way, seems like insurmountable odds...

[Craic]

It goes without saying, these next 2 weeks will be telling. 10-6 will be possible if they can get to 3-3 before the bye. If we can win against the Ravens and SD on the west coast I'll be a believer.
Historically, the Steelers at 3-3 or better seem to be playoff bound teams. At least that's my recollection. This team has very seldom started off fast. In fact, under Cowher, my hope was always a 3-3 start. They just seemed to gel as it turned colder.

[Steeler-in-west]

To stay reasonably realistic:

with the division title and a playoff birth

a new young dominant defense and a very capable qb in Rudolph to take over when Ben steps aside.

[j-d-s]

It goes without saying, these next 2 weeks will be telling. 10-6 will be possible if they can get to 3-3 before the bye. If we can win against the Ravens and SD on the west coast I'll be a believer.
SD? :chuckle:

[Fire Goodell]

SD? :chuckle:

im always gonna call em SD, they probably have more fans in san diego than LA

[Hawkman]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/7c/ce/b17cce305734368fbafecb0e257300b4.jpg

One of my all time favorite movies. Right there with “Dirty Dozen”.

[Mojouw]

One of my all time favorite movies. Right there with “Dirty Dozen”.

Two excellent choices.

[teegre]

im always gonna call em SD, they probably have more fans in san diego than LA

There is exactly one Chargers fan left in SD.

So, Yes... that’s more than LA has.

[86WARD]

4-12.

[Neversatisfied]

The Steelers are here for my Entertainment so get to entertaining

[smokin3000gt]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5-iJUuPWis

[st33lersguy]

At this point I don't care how the season ends, as long as there's a complete cleaning out of the coaching staff

[86WARD]

At this point I don't care how the season ends, as long as there's a complete cleaning out of the coaching staff

That’s the thing now...Ben hurt, Rudolph to miss time...all the injuries are doing is buying the coaching staff another season...free pass for 2019.

[teegre]

The Steelers are here for my Entertainment so get to entertaining

That game yesterday was one of the most entertaining that I’ve watched in a while.

[Six Rings]

At 1-4 with 11 games left I am going to say 7-9 is most likely. Winning 6 of the last 11 sounds about right

[ALLD]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCCNNpmt8ds