Steelers Too Stubborn For Own Good: 3 Players That Should Be Starting

[stillers4me]

There is little doubt that come Sunday night, Ike Taylor will be lining up at his right cornerback position, Casey Hampton will be lining up at his nose tackle position, and Brett Keisel will be lining up at his right defensive end position.

What is the common link between these three players outside of the fact that all of them are 32 plus years old? They are all underperforming yet are not in jeopardy of losing their starting positions. This is nothing new in Pittsburgh, as players who do not play up to the standard continue to hold down their role. Back in 2009 Mike Tomlin promised to “unleash hell” in the month of December after dropping multiple games, a plan that he implied would include line-up changes. However, the only change that resulted that season was to the starting nickelback. As history shows, the Steelers under Tomlin do not make radical line-up changes, despite the performance on the football field............

read more @ http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/10...d-be-starting/

[jb500ex]

because tomlin isnt smart enough to know what to do. but he looks good in sunglasses and uses cool words

[SteelerFanInStl]

I wouldn't mind seeing that happen. McClendon, Heyward and Allen should all be playing more.

[steeldawg]

I think keisel should be in there, his play has been hurt by hampton being in there. Get hampton out of there and pass rush will instantly improve, thus improving the play of our corners.

[43Hitman]

Hampton is the real issue here. Our whole scheme is predicated on our DL getting a push, freeing up linebackers, allowing the corners to play safer. When Hampton gets nothing but moved around like an old piano, it trickles down through to the linebackers and cb's.

[Edman]

The only way new guys will be starting is by injury.

Until then Casey and Keisel will stay in there and keep getting owned and our Defense will continue to suck.

[Shoes]

The only way new guys will be starting is by injury.

Until then Casey and Keisel will stay in there and keep getting owned and our Defense will continue to suck.

....don't forget "Hold-em Ike"........Sadly, I believe this is a fact.

[Chidi29]

Ike is going to have a big game in the next couple of weeks. And he'll either get no credit for it or people will jump back on the bandwagon.

[fansince'76]

because tomlin isnt smart enough to know what to do. but he looks good in sunglasses and uses cool words

Yep, it wasn't like Cowher didn't favor vets himself (often to the detriment of the team by leaving better, younger players on the bench), or anything like that.

[Wallace108]

Yep, it wasn't like Cowher didn't favor vets himself (often to the detriment of the team by leaving better, younger players on the bench), or anything like that.

That's one thing that always irritated me about Cowher ... he always favored veterans over younger players, even when it was painfully clear the younger player was better. He was slow to make a change.

[Shoes]

Ike is going to have a big game in the next couple of weeks. And he'll either get no credit for it or people will jump back on the bandwagon.

Well Chidi I hope so...he's got 11 more games!!.....the holding & PI will continue tho.

[fansince'76]

That's one thing that always irritated me about Cowher ... he always favored veterans over younger players, even when it was painfully clear the younger player was better. He was slow to make a change.

I've got 10 bucks that says if Cowher were still coaching the Steelers, that Porter would STILL be our starting ROLB and Harrison would STILL be riding the pine behind him.

[Chidi29]

Well Chidi I hope so...he's got 11 more games!!.....the holding & PI will continue tho.

When you go against 6'4 WRs by yourself and forced to play right on the receiver...it's going to happen.

[X-Terminator]

That's one thing that always irritated me about Cowher ... he always favored veterans over younger players, even when it was painfully clear the younger player was better. He was slow to make a change.

Maybe someone wants to point that out to the good folks at SteelersDepot, and the jbex guy above spouting utter nonsense?

[zulater]

Ike is going to have a big game in the next couple of weeks. And he'll either get no credit for it or people will jump back on the bandwagon.

Out of 100 rated cb's this year Ike's 96th. So excuse us if we're underwhelmed and want to see it for more than the occasional play if he does something right.

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When you go against 6'4 WRs by yourself and forced to play right on the receiver...it's going to happen.

Keenan Lewis played Kenny Britt much better than Ike did last week. It's time to quit making excuses, Taylor needs to improve his current level of play considerably or be benched. Of course neither is likely to happen and as a result no lead will be safe until the final gun.

[Shoes]

When you go against 6'4 WRs by yourself and forced to play right on the receiver...it's going to happen.

Sorry Chidi, but Ike is not a respecter of persons.....he'll hold any size WR.

[Chidi29]

Out of 100 rated cb's this year Ike's 96th. So excuse us if we're underwhelmed and want to see it for more than the occasional play if he does something right.

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Keenan Lewis played Kenny Britt much better than Ike did last week. It's time to quit making excuses, Taylor needs to improve his current level of play considerably or be benched. Of course neither is likely to happen and as a result no lead will be safe until the final gun.

Honestly, really didn't think he played that bad vs the Titans. Fades and backshoulder throws are extremely tough to stop and it's hard not to grab in situations like that. Lewis didn't have to face the same difficulty of those routes as Ike did.

[zulater]

Honestly, really didn't think he played that bad vs the Titans. Fades and backshoulder throws are extremely tough to stop and it's hard not to grab in situations like that. Lewis didn't have to face the same difficulty of those routes as Ike did.

On your game break down thread you call out Legurskey a back up who did more than an adequete job. Yet here you give Ike Taylor, a player who in my opinion after watching that game for about 8 hours, rewinding play after play, did more to give that game away than any single Steeler player I can remember in recent history did in losing the Steelers a game.

His technique is awful right now. He's forced to clutch and grab because he can no longer cover.

Hey I hope he comes out of it, because God knows the Steelers need it. But I seriously doubt it. In football the end can come in a hurry for a player. And I think Ike's hit his expiration date. .

[Chidi29]

On your game break down thread you call out Legurskey a back up who did more than an adequete job. Yet here you give Ike Taylor, a player who in my opinion after watching that game for about 8 hours, rewinding play after play, did more to give that game away than any single Steeler player I can remember in recent history did in losing the Steelers a game.

His technique is awful right now. He's forced to clutch and grab because he can no longer cover.

Hey I hope he comes out of it, because God knows the Steelers need it. But I seriously doubt it. In football the end can come in a hurry for a player. And I think Ike's hit his expiration date. .

He is also playing a one yard cushion that makes it more difficult to stick to a receiver in/out of his breaks. Ike has been just fine playing off and reacting to the receiver. LeBeau doesn't need to mess with it. Especially if you're going to put him out on an island.

[zulater]

He is also playing a one yard cushion that makes it more difficult to stick to a receiver in/out of his breaks. Ike has been just fine playing off and reacting to the receiver. LeBeau doesn't need to mess with it. Especially if you're going to put him out on an island.

Career wise. Yes. This year? No 'effing" way my friend! It's not working! That's why we're 2-3 at the moment! That's why crap qb's like Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselback have their best game of the year against the Steelers!

[Chidi29]

Career wise. Yes. This year? No 'effing" way my friend! It's not working! That's why we're 2-3 at the moment! That's why crap qb's like Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselback have their best game of the year against the Steelers!

No, they're playing Ike one yard off the receiver almost exclusively this year. He has to turn his head and hips every team off the snap and is at the mercy of the receiver.

[zulater]

No, they're playing Ike one yard off the receiver almost exclusively this year. He has to turn his head and hips every team off the snap and is at the mercy of the receiver.

That wasn't my point. My point is it's not working!!!!!!

[Chidi29]

That wasn't my point. My point is it's not working!!!!!!

Yes and that should be changed. Not benching Taylor.

[zulater]

Yes and that should be changed. Not benching Taylor.

Taylor is playing poorly, no matter how they position him. So far this season anyway.

[Chidi29]

Taylor is playing poorly, no matter how they position him. So far this season anyway.

We should try that minor adjustment first before we make a major decision of benching your top corner.

[zulater]

We should try that minor adjustment first before we make a major decision of benching your top corner.

The difference between success and failure for pro athletes can be razor thin. A loss of a 1/5 of a second in your forty time can be the difference between a harmless incompletion and a 50 yard completion. I think Ike has crossed that bridge. Maybe not on every play, but on enough of them that he's a liability in coverage far more often than is acceptable.

If given the chance I think Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen will prove to be more effective this season than Ike has been and will be going forward.

Just my opinion based on what I've observed in the play of all 3 of them this season to date.

[Shoes]

Yes and that should be changed. Not benching Taylor.

Then why has Mike T benched Mendy and JD when they have fumbled in the past?

[Chidi29]

The difference between success and failure for pro athletes can be razor thin. A loss of a 1/5 of a second in your forty time can be the difference between a harmless incompletion and a 50 yard completion. I think Ike has crossed that bridge. Maybe not on every play, but on enough of them that he's a liability in coverage far more often than is acceptable.

Given the chance I think Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen will prove to be more effective this season than Ike has been and will be.

Just my opinion based on what I've observed in the play of all 3 of them this season.

You're not even listening to my suggestion. Ike has always been fine playing off. We try to change it and then his play suffers. Could it be that it is also because of a severe decline? Possibly. But we can't say that for sure. So instead of benching him, go back to what has worked in the past. If that doesn't, then we can talk again.

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Then why has Mike T benched Mendy and JD when they have fumbled in the past?

You're asking the wrong guy. Maybe the adjustments were made at first and the player didn't respond, leading to the benching.

I can say there is obviously less things you can do schematically from a fumbling standpoint than covering a WR.

[BlastFurnace]

I've got 10 bucks that says if Cowher were still coaching the Steelers, that Porter would STILL be our starting ROLB and Harrison would STILL be riding the pine behind him.

You are right there. Porter never would have been cut after the 2006 season had Bill still been around.

[Chidi29]

Ike is going to have a big game in the next couple of weeks. And he'll either get no credit for it or people will jump back on the bandwagon.

....

(Though at least he's getting credit)