Any Steeler fans rooting for a loss against the Bills?

[zulater]

A loss against the Bills would put the Steelers on the inside track to a top 5 draftpick. Would it be worth it to you to see the Steelers suffer through that sort of season for the potential payoff of a premium draft pick?

Me, I'm hoping for a win. Even though I don't think a home win against the Bills would resurrect the season in any way ( but you never know?) for the fans that are there, for the players we have, for my own personal satisfaction I want the damn win! Even if it is a shortsighted goal.

But if they lose at least at this point I can finally see some benefit from it.

[Psycho Ward 86]

at this point, i dont care for wins and losses as much as i care for very promising individual performances from our young players. i need signs of hope for next season. A couple wins isnt going to do it, because i think we all know that any other wins we get this season are probably going to look pretty ugly

[zulater]

at this point, i dont care for wins and losses as much as i care for very promising individual performances from our young players. i need signs of hope for next season. A couple wins isnt going to do it, because i think we all know that any other wins we get this season are probably look pretty ugly

Call me crazy, but if Haley will get out of Ben's way I think we can be a top 12 offense for the 2nd half of the year. I like what I'm seeing from Leveon Bell. Especially what he adds to the passing game. I see him rushing for about 400 and catching passes out of the backfield for nearly the same. I think the offensive line is getting where the highs are at least on par with the lows the last month. I'm hoping it will get a little better. Anyway it would be nice if we could gain some offensive momentum this season. I think the talent on that side of the ball is good enough to compete or close to it, if the coaching can get out of the way.

Defensively we just don't have the talent. Particularly to run the 3-4 the way LeBeau wants to run it. Nothing outside of adding talent can help on that side if the ball.

[vader29]

I'm still cheering them to win out the rest of their games. As was the case last year for me, I won't wish for them to lose a game until they are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

[Dwinsgames]

I hope we finish 2-14 , for me hoisting the Lombardi is the objective every year ( as unrealistic as that sounds ) their is no consolation prize if you can not win it all or contend to do so you may as well garner higher draft picks once its clear you can no longer obtain your goal ...

I would play the youngsters the rest of the way , let them get experience and build off that

[zulater]

I hope we finish 2-14 , for me hoisting the Lombardi is the objective every year ( as unrealistic as that sounds ) their is no consolation prize if you can not win it all or contend to do so you may as well garner higher draft picks once its clear you can no longer obtain your goal ...

I would play the youngsters the rest of the way , let them get experience and build off that

I get what you're saying, but two cautionary tales. One it seems to me that the same teams end up drafting in the early end of the round most every year. Occasionally they might dig themselves mid pack or slighter higher, but just wait a year or two and there they are again, back at the bottom of the league and the top of the draft order. So if top ten picks were all that why is it that teams like the Cardinals and Bucs can have a dozen of them on the roster at any one time, yet still suck? I think losing becomes a state of mind on a team. The more you lose the easier it's accepted, and the more it becomes your culture. So to me I want the Steelers to win as many games as they can and hopefully take some momentum into next season to build off of.

2nd cautionary tale. Most aren't old enough to remember when the Steelers played the Eagles in 68 in the "O.J. Simpson Bowl." The Steelers won the game, but of course the Bills outstunk the Eagles and got the murderer. Anyway the Eagles drafted 2nd and picked Leroy Keyes. The Steeler ended up the biggest winners in the end slipping down to 4th and picking Joe Who. ( aka Mean Joe Greene.)

Anyway just as we managed to get Ben with the 11th pick in 04, things tend to work themselves out if you continue to play hard to the end of the schedule. Where ever we pick they'll be good players. We just got to do a better job in finding the right ones.

[ALLD]

If they lose to the Bills then we might not even make the playoffs next season.

[SteelerFans vs ToddHaley]

I can't help but want them to win. I understand the strategy of hoping for a loss and bettering the draft for next year, but I think we have the individual talent (excluding O Line) to be a good team, but not the scheme(s) from the coordinators to rightly take advantage of that talent.

[Dwinsgames]

I get what you're saying, but two cautionary tales. One it seems to me that the same teams end up drafting in the early end of the round most every year. Occasionally they might dig themselves mid pack or slighter higher, but just wait a year or two and there they are again, back at the bottom of the league and the top of the draft order. So if top ten picks were all that why is it that teams like the Cardinals and Bucs can have a dozen of them on the roster at any one time, yet still suck? I think losing becomes a state of mind on a team. The more you lose the easier it's accepted, and the more it becomes your culture. So to me I want the Steelers to win as many games as they can and hopefully take some momentum into next season to build off of.

2nd cautionary tale. Most aren't old enough to remember when the Steelers played the Eagles in 68 in the "O.J. Simpson Bowl." The Steelers won the game, but of course the Bills outstunk the Eagles and got the murderer. Anyway the Eagles drafted 2nd and picked Leroy Keyes. The Steeler ended up the biggest winners in the end slipping down to 4th and picking Joe Who. ( aka Mean Joe Greene.)

Anyway just as we managed to get Ben with the 11th pick in 04, things tend to work themselves out if you continue to play hard to the end of the schedule. Where ever we pick they'll be good players. We just got to do a better job in finding the right ones.

and I understand what you are saying too , however this coaching staff couldnt coach a team full of pro bowlers to a HS championship let alone a SB at this point in time , thus drafting high and changing the guys in control could be a win win .... instead of loss loss

[Count Steeler]

I always want the Steelers to win. Hope we start seeing some performances that will give us some optimism about our younger players.

[zulater]

and I understand what you are saying too , however this coaching staff couldnt coach a team full of pro bowlers to a HS championship let alone a SB at this point in time , thus drafting high and changing the guys in control could be a win win .... instead of loss loss

If only But I think we're going to be stuck with the same cast of characters making the decisions. Hopefully it might occur to them they haven't been good enough for awhile and will open their eyes to where they've been going wrong. I would love to see the Rooney's add a new draft coordinator to the mix though.

[GoSlash27]

Winning is a habit, just like losing. I think beating the Bills and using that as a foundation to salvage this season would do more to cement a winning team next year than a high draft pick.

[zulater]

Winning is a habit, just like losing. I think beating the Bills and using that as a foundation to salvage this season would do more to cement a winning team next year than a high draft pick.

I agree with you here. But I will add on this caveat. If going into the last game we look to be in position to draft Clowney if we lose, I'm going to find myself hard pressed to root for a win.

[Dwinsgames]

I agree with you here. But I will add on this caveat. If going into the last game we look to be in position to draft Clowney if we lose, I'm going to find myself hard pressed to root for a win.

Meh to Clowney , not that he cant play because he can but he cant play LT and that is without question our most pressing need

[GoSlash27]

I agree with you here. But I will add on this caveat. If going into the last game we look to be in position to draft Clowney if we lose, I'm going to find myself hard pressed to root for a win.

I won't. That would only give us enough time to teach him how to play football before passing him off to a team that doesn't have cap issues.

[Seven]

I don't know if I could consider myself a fan if I wanted them to lose.

[Mistah Q]

I'm interested in the long term viability of this team

And that behooves going 4-12 or worse. We'll get a high draft pick which is nice, but more importantly the message will be clear that changes need to roll down from the top.

I'm almost of the mind to trade or cut anyone who's not on a rookie or vet min. contract - and for players we can't get other teams to take on their salary obligations, we restructure to absorb their entire cap hits in 2014, leaving us unable to field anything beyond a team of people earning rookie contracts and league minimums. We have one more season from hell and then sail into the future with new coaches, a lot of youth and high draft picks... and cap room in spades.

But then again I'm just a dreamer

[zulater]

I'm interested in the long term viability of this team

And that behooves going 4-12 or worse. We'll get a high draft pick which is nice, but more importantly the message will be clear that changes need to roll down from the top.

I'm almost of the mind to trade or cut anyone who's not on a rookie or vet min. contract - and for players we can't get other teams to take on their salary obligations, we restructure to absorb their entire cap hits in 2014, leaving us unable to field anything beyond a team of people earning rookie contracts and league minimums. We have one more season from hell and then sail into the future with new coaches, a lot of youth and high draft picks... and cap room in spades.

But then again I'm just a dreamer

Sounds a lot like the Pirates plan for the 20 years prior to this one.

[Moose]

Easy poll for me, I always want them to win.

[Devilsdancefloor]

yes, i want them to win

[tube517]

I want Sharknado to get a win and bragging rights on his hometown rival, EJ Manuel

[steelreserve]

Why would you root for them to lose? Way too early for that. Maybe if it was the last game of the season. We're not the goddamn Colts.

Put it this way: We're probably not going to get a top-5 pick regardless. We'll most likely go something like 5-11 or 6-10 (remember, we play the Browns twice) and end up with like the 12th pick no matter what we do. So in the meantime, while I wouldn't exactly be breaking my neck to win every game, you should at least be trying so you can figure out who/what works and what doesn't. Better luck next year. Or more likely 2015.

Man, what a shitty year. The quick decline is no fun.

[Dwinsgames]

Put it this way: We're probably not going to get a top-5 pick regardless. We'll most likely go something like 5-11 or 6-10 (remember, we play the Browns twice)
.

the browns are playing 10 times better than we are so I would not be so quick to pencil them in as wins

[steel striker]

I always root from the steelers to win every game and, I remember in 2003 with Maddox at the helm we were 6-10.

[steelreserve]

the browns are playing 10 times better than we are so I would not be so quick to pencil them in as wins

You may be right, but I think we'll at least split them. The Browns have a better record than us, but I am not exactly impressed with their season so far and they've been horseshit since the injury to Hoyer. Maybe they're better than us, who knows, but I still think that at least talent-wise, we have the upper hand, not to mention they barely have a quarterback.

[Craic]

Always want them to win. However, we are not going to the playoffs this year. We are in the midst of a major change. Didn't think it was happening, didn't think it'd happen this way, but here we are. As such, We need to sit many of the veterans and give the rookies their starts, or let them play half the game. Wonder if Velasco can play left tackle? Pull Ben in the second half, put someone else at center, and switch him out so we can see what we have in him at Guard. Put Adams on the right and see if he can play that position. If not, cut him at the end of the year. Take Antonio Brown into the coaches office at the beginning of the week and explain to him that he's the number one man going forward. Period. But for the rest of this year, he's going to be seeing less field time so they can evaluate talent and give the rookies experience. Tell Brown to be ready to hit next year hard, because we're gearing up for it now.

Sit Troy and Clark and let them become coaches and mentors for the rest of the year to Thomas and whomever else. (When I say sit, I don't mean bench, I mean reduce their playing time a significant degree). Reduce Bell's carries by three or four a game and give them to Dwyer. For Bell, like Brown, take him into the office and tell him he's the number one guy going forward. Only with him, they're making sure he doesn't overextend himself rookie year and get injured. Then judge whether Dwyer is worthy of keeping on the team.

Will we lose a bunch more games? Yes. May even end up with a top five pick. But the point is not to end up with one. Instead. The point is to reload for next year.

[Dwinsgames]

Always want them to win. However, we are not going to the playoffs this year. We are in the midst of a major change. Didn't think it was happening, didn't think it'd happen this way, but here we are. As such, We need to sit many of the veterans and give the rookies their starts, or let them play half the game. Wonder if Velasco can play left tackle? Pull Ben in the second half, put someone else at center, and switch him out so we can see what we have in him at Guard. Put Adams on the right and see if he can play that position. If not, cut him at the end of the year. Take Antonio Brown into the coaches office at the beginning of the week and explain to him that he's the number one man going forward. Period. But for the rest of this year, he's going to be seeing less field time so they can evaluate talent and give the rookies experience. Tell Brown to be ready to hit next year hard, because we're gearing up for it now.

Sit Troy and Clark and let them become coaches and mentors for the rest of the year to Thomas and whomever else. (When I say sit, I don't mean bench, I mean reduce their playing time a significant degree). Reduce Bell's carries by three or four a game and give them to Dwyer. For Bell, like Brown, take him into the office and tell him he's the number one guy going forward. Only with him, they're making sure he doesn't overextend himself rookie year and get injured. Then judge whether Dwyer is worthy of keeping on the team.

Will we lose a bunch more games? Yes. May even end up with a top five pick. But the point is not to end up with one. Instead. The point is to reload for next year.

pretty much this ...... I want development to see and know for sure what we have with the youngsters so we do not draft players we do not need or avoid drafting a player of two thinking we have something we do not ...

I do not expect to win any or many in doing this but it puts guys on tape for the the new administration I PRAY we get this off season ....

[LLT]

These threads absolutely drive me crazy. I dont understand how ANYONE could "want" the Steelers to lose. And to make matters worse... TWO people say they dont even care and have checked out for the season!!!!!

Believe me...I understand the frustration and I LOVE the draft possibilities...its a passion of mine. But I would rather have a lower draft pick and win as many games as possible, then to lay down and lose games in the name of a higher draft pick. Lord forbid there is EVER a time in which our fanbase is faced with the reality that they paid for a game in which the Steelers didnt even try... so as to help their draft status. That type of lack of integrity (and thats EXACTLY what it would be)...would ruin the game for me forever.

This is a bad year...nothing more, nothing less.

Put on your big boy pants... and cheer the Steelers on...even when they have an off year...because LORD KNOWS they have given us year after year of enjoyment. I think they at least DESERVE that much of our loyalty.

Yea this is going to piss some of you off....and to be honest...I dont give a rats ass. I expect that attitude out of bengals fans...but expect better out of our own fanbase.

[stillers4me]

Yea this is going to piss some of you off....and to be honest...I dont give a rats ass. I expect that attitude out of bengals fans...but expect better out of our own fanbase.

[Dwinsgames]

maybe because anything short of a Lombardi is a failed season and it is CLEAR there is no Lombardi in this 2013 version of the Steelers thus if you have no shot why not get some better selections ( something we rarely are in line to get , do not mistake it for being spoiled nothing is further from the truth ... it is being smart and taking something Bad and getting something good from it two fold evaluation and better selections ) ... I want to lose now to win later , I want to play the youngsters to see what we have in them , evaluation is a good thing , putting it on tape is even better when there is a good chance there will be organizational changes coming .... many of you do not remember the down years of the 60s and mid 80s .. I remember them both all to well

we need quality youth on the cheap because we are so cash strapped its not even funny , fielding a team in 2014 is going to be difficult because of our cap situation let alone a competitive team we need to get young FAST , as in young I mean rookie wage scale players with high end ability