Going to be a LONG season

[EzraTank]

This team has nothing going for it. Yes the defense will get healthy and steal a few games for us but unless we bench Ben we're looking at a 2-4 win team. Tomlin's .500 record is definitely done.

[86WARD]

Rudolph and Haskins aren’t giving this team more than 4 wins. Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Justin Fields…none of those guys are getting this team to more than 4 wins either.

[Edman]

Rudolph and Haskins aren’t giving this team more than 4 wins. Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Justin Fields…none of those guys are getting this team to more than 4 wins either.

How do we know this exactly?

[86WARD]

How do we know this exactly?

I mean they are struggling with teams that are arguably better. Combine that with all the issues this team has, put the puzzle together and that’s what you get.

[EzraTank]

Rudolph and Haskins aren’t giving this team more than 4 wins. Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Justin Fields…none of those guys are getting this team to more than 4 wins either.

Ben couldn't even read that last defense and picked that hot read to Harris for no gain on 4th and 10. He's a shell of his former self. When Watt gets healthy we will eek out some wins but the #1 overall pick would not surprise me at this point.

[Shoes]

How do we know this exactly?
Well by the game day thread. You don't remember the mason hate by most? Then the Duck hate? Do you think it will be any different for Haskins? How about the boz hate? I mean I could go on. Some people just love misery, it's what they excel in.

[86WARD]

Ben couldn't even read that last defense and picked that hot read to Harris for no gain on 4th and 10. He's a shell of his former self. When Watt gets healthy we will eek out some wins but the #1 overall pick would not surprise me at this point.

Should’ve never been an option to start with. Was poor play selection. Poor decision by Ben.

That’s not a 4th & 10 play call.

[stillers4me]

How do we know this exactly?Well, you'v been bitching about Ben for years. Sooner or later, you are bound get it right. Enjoy the 80's Steelers. Happy now?

[86WARD]

Well by the game day thread. You don't remember the mason hate by most? Then the Duck hate? Do you think it will be any different for Haskins? Some people just love misery, it's what they excel in. How about the Boy hate, I mean I could go on.

Hey…I resemble that remark!

[Fire Goodell]

play for draft picks already, if we can't beat the bengals at home the season's already over

[dislocatedday]

Rudolph and Haskins aren’t giving this team more than 4 wins. Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, Justin Fields…none of those guys are getting this team to more than 4 wins either.

I'd at least like to see how this offense looks with Rudolph in there for a little bit. If he looks as bad as Ben or worse, then see what Haskins can do. I realize these are moves of desperation, but I have seen enough for many games in a row now to know that we are not getting better with Ben at QB (...and while I harp on Ben, I realize the Oline play is weak too, and the coaching/play calls may be suspect..).

[stillers4me]

Should’ve never been an option to start with. Was poor play selection. Poor decision by Ben.

That’s not a 4th & 10 play call.There are people here that relish having the number one pick. They are the same ones that will bitch about who we pick.

[Shoes]

Hey…I resemble that remark!

:chuckle: no, you are reasonable.

[Edman]

Well by the game day thread. You don't remember the mason hate by most? Then the Duck hate? Do you think it will be any different for Haskins? How about the boz hate? I mean I could go on. Some people just love misery, it's what they excel in.

Guilty as charged.

[Shoes]

Guilty as charged.


:chuckle:

[Rotorhead]

There are people here that relish having the number one pick. They are the same ones that will bitch about who we pick.

And the same that would trade our best players for more picks so we can pick 100 new players next draft, then think we would win the next 50 Super Bowls because we had a lot of picks.

[Rotorhead]

As far as benching Ben, the only change we could make would be Haskins cause he is at least mobile, and behind this OL MR would get crushed.

[that1guy]

Why can't fans accept that Ben is done? We're all Steeler fans here but at some point people have to take off the rose-colored glasses. None of us want to see the team struggle but when you own a car that can't take you down the street, you can't call it reliable transportation. The offensive line sucks and the QB sucks an equal amount.

[Steeler-in-west]

Defense is still not healthy, we need our pass rush back, seems the defense hinges on that. And as long as the o line is a work in progress (because 39 year old Ben needs a solid o line - because he can’t buy time anymore and make plays) the offense relies on the defense.

We are 1-0 with Watt (against Buffalo no less)
and 0-2 without him (at home)

[stillers4me]

Why can't fans accept that Ben is done? We're all Steeler fans here but at some point people have to take off the rose-colored glasses. None of us want to see the team struggle but when you own a car that can't take you down the street, you can't call it reliable transportation. The offensive line sucks and the QB sucks an equal amount.Nobody is saying that. We just don't have anyone better. Shit bombing every single thread with it doesn't solve the dozen other obvious problems this team has.

[vasteeler]

You can blame Ben if you want to but any other QB would produce the same results with this offensive live.

[stillers4me]

You can blame Ben if you want to but any other QB would produce the same results with this offensive live.Ding ding ding!

[that1guy]

Nobody is saying that. We just don't have anyone better. Shit bombing every single thread with it doesn't solve the dozen other obvious problems this team has.
What do you want people to do? Venting is all fans can do to ease frustration. The reason it's brought up so often is its been an issue for quite a while, no one is wishing bad things on Ben but when you show up to work everyday and can't cut it somehow people notice.

[Steeler-in-west]

You can blame Ben if you want to but any other QB would produce the same results with this offensive live.

It’s both, you got a 39 year old QB that can’t evade the rush and throw like he used to behind a porous young o line.

mahomes was still making plays and scoring behind his crap o line in KC today

[that1guy]

You can blame Ben if you want to but any other QB would produce the same results with this offensive live.

I disagree, Ben is a statue back there he is immobile. The offensive line is terrible but imagining that because Ben can't get it done that no Qb can isn't true. The problem is two fold ,both are to blame

[Mojouw]

Changing the QB has to be a real consideration at this point. The few highlights I saw this preseason, it was a totally different offense than what is being run on Sundays during the regular season.

I think that the team owes it to itself to see what the offense that Canada was paid to put in looks like with a QB that can run it.

Ben clearly is only confident throwing short to the flat or shallow crossers and slants with the occasional sideline go route that looks like it came out of a mortar. That means the defense can just sit on like 6 plays and 3 keys every darn down and tee-off.

That cascades into making other components look bad. Let the Packers beat the snot out of them next week and then have Ben get "injured" and bow out gracefully.

[stillers4me]

Ben is not a young QB, but he is a future HOF'er veteran QB. The plan was to let him manage a young offense, have the receivers actually play to their potential, and let the Defense carry the show. Even the players themselves had faith in him. Some of them took less money to stay in Pittsburgh and JuJu said the reason he wanted to stay for another year was because of Ben. They ARE the ones that know what he brings. What they didn't count on was the defense becoming a MASH unit after 1 game, piss poor play calling, dropped passes, and veteran Oline players retiring and leaving Ben completely unprotected.

This team has huge problems that have zero to do with their QB. Ignoring that is just lazy.

[Shoes]

Changing the QB has to be a real consideration at this point. The few highlights I saw this preseason, it was a totally different offense than what is being run on Sundays during the regular season.

I think that the team owes it to itself to see what the offense that Canada was paid to put in looks like with a QB that can run it.

Ben clearly is only confident throwing short to the flat or shallow crossers and slants with the occasional sideline go route that looks like it came out of a mortar. That means the defense can just sit on like 6 plays and 3 keys every darn down and tee-off.

That cascades into making other components look bad. Let the Packers beat the snot out of them next week and then have Ben get "injured" and bow out gracefully.

Well I hope they have considered this at the start of the season. That 4th down play to Harris was just sick. I have to go back and look at the game but it looked like Pat Muth had a few steps on his guy in the EZ.

[Edman]

Ben is not a young QB, but he is a future HOF'er veteran QB. The plan was to let him manage a young offense, have the receivers actually play to their potential, and let the Defense carry the show. Even the players themselves had faith in him. Some of them took less money to stay in Pittsburgh and JuJu said the reason he wanted to stay for another year was because of Ben. They ARE the ones that know what he brings. What they didn't count on was the defense becoming a MASH unit after 1 game, piss poor play calling, dropped passes, and veteran Oline players retiring and leaving Ben completely unprotected.

This team has huge problems that have zero to do with their QB. Ignoring that is just lazy.

You're kidding yourself if you thought anyone on the team is going to come flat out and say Ben sucks or they refuse to play with him. The young guys know what Ben has accomplished and are just trying to be good teammates. They want to have his back as much as they can.

[stillers4me]

1442225091274690573

[that1guy]

Does anyone else have concerns that relying on Najee as much as they do (he had to have played 70 snaps) may get him hurt?

[Shoes]

Does anyone else have concerns that relying on Najee as much as they do (he had to have played 70 snaps) may get him hurt?

Yes. But the steelers did it with Ben early on and nearly killed him.

[that1guy]

Yes. But the steelers did it with Ben early on and nearly killed him.

Najee is the one bright spot , he is as much of a playmaker as we all hoped but it reminds me of how the Steelers overused Bell and that led to a serious knee injury.

[Mojouw]

Does anyone else have concerns that relying on Najee as much as they do (he had to have played 70 snaps) may get him hurt?

Sure. But that is what bad offenses do. They rely on guys that can create plays outside of scheme and structure. Until further notice, the 2021 Steelers offense is contested catches by Claypool and Harris doing it all himself.

[stillers4me]

You're kidding yourself if you thought anyone on the team is going to come flat out and say Ben sucks or they refuse to play with him. The young guys know what Ben has accomplished and are just trying to be good teammates. They want to have his back as much as they can.

Ok, making less money even though Ben sucks instead of getting out of Pittsburgh. Good plan.

[stillers4me]

1442210798160470018

[Dwinsgames]

I would likely bet the under on 8 wins as I sit here this evening after watching that display in ineptness .....

[stillers4me]

Tomlin is facing his first "losing season".

[Rotorhead]

People seem to forget that Ben was going to hit the cap the same whether he stayed or left. We weren’t going to get anyone better this season whether Ben stayed or left. It is what it is, and all we can hope for our OL starts figuring things out this season and heads into next season only needing minor upgrades. MR isn’t the answer, DH doesn’t look to be the answer some of us hoped he could be.

[Mojouw]

People seem to forget that Ben was going to hit the cap the same whether he stayed or left. We weren’t going to get anyone better this season whether Ben stayed or left. It is what it is, and all we can hope for our OL starts figuring things out this season and heads into next season only needing minor upgrades. MR isn’t the answer, DH doesn’t look to be the answer some of us hoped he could be.

Great point. Letting Ben play was always the only decision they really had for 2021.

I think that many fans took until this week to give up on the narrative that there was a way to cobble together a good offense for this season and this was a contending team. It was a great idea and they did everything they could in the off-season to make that happen. But they put a TON of eggs in the Ben Roethislberger isn't done yet basket.

[teegre]

Ben couldn't even read that last defense and picked that hot read to Harris for no gain on 4th and 10. He's a shell of his former self. When Watt gets healthy we will eek out some wins but the #1 overall pick would not surprise me at this point.

Bingo!!! A terrible decision on fourth-&-game. This brain fart is exacerbated when one realizes that Ben had a receiver open in the end zone.

But, that’s the rub: he’s not even looking downfield, let alone past his outlet. On that same series (the few plays prior to that awful fourth down), Ben should have been throwing into the end zone. That way, it’s either incomplete or a touchdown. Instead, it was dump off, sack, dump off… wasting 2 minutes of valuable time.

[Mojouw]

Bingo!!! A terrible decision on fourth-&-game. This brain fart is exacerbated when one realizes that Ben had a receiver open in the end zone.

But, that’s the rub: he’s not even looking downfield, let alone past his outlet. On that same series (the few plays prior to that awful fourth down), Ben should have been throwing into the end zone. That way, it’s either incomplete or a touchdown. Instead, it was dump off, sack, dump off… wasting 2 minutes of valuable time.

And that is how you know a player needs to hang them up. He is only looking for certain "safe" options. At some level, Ben knows that there are things he can no longer do.

[teegre]

Well I hope they have considered this at the start of the season. That 4th down play to Harris was just sick. I have to go back and look at the game but it looked like Pat Muth had a few steps on his guy in the EZ.

:director: THIS!!!

[86WARD]

It’s both, you got a 39 year old QB that can’t evade the rush and throw like he used to behind a porous young o line.

mahomes was still making plays and scoring behind his crap o line in KC today

He was also throwing lollipop passes and passes behind players and deep passes near the sidelines.

[Steeler-in-west]

He was also throwing lollipop passes and passes behind players and deep passes near the sidelines.

your talking about Mahomes? He did mange to throw three TD’s.

I’m also not on board with this notion that Ben is automatically the best QB on the team therefore we have no choice but to play him, then what’s the point of having a backup? Only use him if Ben is injured ? I thought backups came in if the starter was injured or….ineffective, maybe the Steelers are going to wait until the o line has a good game to decide what the real issue is…..

[Edman]

And that is how you know a player needs to hang them up. He is only looking for certain "safe" options. At some level, Ben knows that there are things he can no longer do.

According to Stan and Charlie on the post-game show, Tomlin was asked about the pass to Najee on 4th down and his response was "we ran out of plays". I didn't hear the Tomlin post-game presser but I can't believe he would actually give that answer. If this is true, it's an admission and a scathing indictment.

[Mojouw]

According to Stan and Charlie on the post-game show, Tomlin was asked about the pass to Najee on 4th down and his response was "we ran out of plays". I didn't hear the Tomlin post-game presser but I can't believe he would actually give that answer. If this is true, it's an admission and a scathing indictment.

Yeah. I read that. The full comments are less damning. It was basically that the Bengals were loading up to stop X and we wanted to then do Y and there's only so many ways to do that.

Defenses never used to dictate what this team did on offense. Now they do.

And they're caught in between. The current roster on offense is constructed half to play "we're just gonna line up 3 wide and who cares what the defense does can you can't stop our guys" and half "whatever Canada's system" may be.

Welcome to the in between times at the end of franchise QB tenure.

[BlackAndGold]

I'm usually an optimistic fan but yea this is bad. I don't see how they can right this ship. Hopefully they don't wear Najee down but who am I kidding?

[hawaiiansteeler]

I'm usually an optimistic fan but yea this is bad. I don't see how they can right this ship. Hopefully they don't wear Najee down but who am I kidding?

same here.

our offensive line is offensive.