A Tale of Two extremes.

[Edman]

This team can't seem to find any middle ground on themselves.

When they're good, they're very good. If things are going well, they're unbeatable. When the Offense is on, the Defense is on.

When they're bad, they're very bad. If things aren't going right, it snowballs and they can't fight out of it. The whole team breaks down.

Where this Steeler team goes in 2016 all depends on whether which team shows up each week. It's a roll of the dice, and that's not good. Great teams aren't great all the time, they're great when they need to be.

This team is looking for the signature win where they pull it out even when they aren't in top form. Until then, we'll just get more of this guessing game on which team shows up on Sunday.

[WCSteeler]

It starts with coaching, Mike Tomlins' teams have always been susceptible to trap games and playing down to bad teams. The team needs a change of attitude, they are not invincible

[GBMelBlount]

I feel Ben often lacks crispness and intensity against really bad teams when we are heavily favored.

I also think this lack of urgency permeates through the entire team.

On a side note - we do have a lot of injuries also.

[86WARD]

It starts with coaching, Mike Tomlins' teams have always been susceptible to trap games and playing down to bad teams. The team needs a change of attitude, they are not invincible

So how long is this tolerated?

[Edman]

So how long is this tolerated?

Ten Years. That's how long he's been here.

[Mojouw]

I really wish someone would explain to me how coaching leads to multiple bad throws by the QB and a total lack of a pass rush by the outside linebackers?

The players are not very good at key spots and the execution is even worse. In all seriousness, what specifically should the coaches be doing that they are not currently doing? I hear this after every loss. But it is never a specific critique.

Steelers Loss = Dumb Coaches. Steelers Win = great players. They are the same coaches and players in both cases...

[fansince'76]

I really wish someone would explain to me how coaching leads to multiple bad throws by the QB and a total lack of a pass rush by the outside linebackers?

The players are not very good at key spots and the execution is even worse. In all seriousness, what specifically should the coaches be doing that they are not currently doing? I hear this after every loss. But it is never a specific critique.

Steelers Loss = Dumb Coaches. Steelers Win = great players. They are the same coaches and players in both cases...

And it's always the same ones who disappear while the team is winning that pop back up out of the woodwork after losses to do so...

[WCSteeler]

So how long is this tolerated?

The Steelers don't fire coaches, with that said probably a few more seasons. Tomlins saving grace has been Roethlisberger, without a top 3 QB Tomlin is a sub .500 coach and this loss is anot especially bad loss due to the facts that he has not only totally out coached but the Dolphins were reeling and this should have been a win in dominating fashion. The culture has changed under Tomlin, for example do you think for one second Cowher would have allowed Mike Mitchell to commit two very stupid personal foul penalties in one half and not be reprimanded? We are all in for a few more years of unprepared,undisciplined football unless the Rooneys have some unpleasant words with Tomlin that make him change

[Mojouw]

And it's always the same ones who disappear while the team is winning that pop back up out of the woodwork after losses to do so...

That very well may be true. I also get that people are emotional - but it just doesn't make a ton of sense.
You're all world Qb threw multiple boneheaded INTS. Your back-up OT was exposed a bit. The MASH unit that they are fielding on defense showed its cracks. Rookie DBs made dumb decisions in coverage.
That's not really on the coaches. That's on the players and a ton of bad luck.

We could talk about how leaving Jesse James isolated on Cameron Wake is a poor coaching decision. But I sense that folks are not talking about individual tactical and strategic decisions like that. But more in a general sense that the Steelers can't lose unless the coaches go out of their way to screw things up in some general undefined manner.

- - - Updated - - -

The Steelers don't fire coaches, with that said probably a few more seasons. Tomlins saving grace has been Roethlisberger, without a top 3 QB Tomlin is a sub .500 coach and this loss is anot especially bad loss due to the facts that he has not only totally out coached but the Dolphins were reeling and this should have been a win in dominating fashion. The culture has changed under Tomlin, for example do you think for one second Cowher would have allowed Mike Mitchell to commit two very stupid personal foul penalties in one half and not be reprimanded? We are all in for a few more years of unprepared,undisciplined football unless the Rooneys have some unpleasant words with Tomlin that make him change

You mean the coach that had a player get ejected from a playoff game for personal fouls and throwing punches? That Cowher? The coach who tolerated Porter's antics? That Cowher?

Besides, both of Mitchell's penalties today were TERRIBLE calls by the officiating crew and the announcing crew even had a hard time understanding what the call was on one of them.

[fansince'76]

The culture has changed under Tomlin, for example do you think for one second Cowher would have allowed Mike Mitchell to commit two very stupid personal foul penalties in one half and not be reprimanded? We are all in for a few more years of unprepared,undisciplined football unless the Rooneys have some unpleasant words with Tomlin that make him change

Let me know when one of our players gets into an idiotic fight with an opposing player during pregame warmups and gets ejected from the game against a division rival under Tomlin.

[st33lersguy]

Can't wait to watch this team hand Cleveland it's first win of the season in a month

[The Bark]

To be honest, I lost interest 1/2 way through the second quarter. By the start of the fourth, I turned it off. Before the game even started, I shook my head when learning Shazier was out again. He's beginning to make Jay Cutler look tough. The whole "Next Man Up" philosophy only works so much as this team suddenly looks extremely thin, especially on defense. The realist in me says next week is looking really ugly regardless if they're healthy or not.

On a positive note, I'm happy to see Ben finished with a higher QBR than Landry's 0-1 attempt.

[B&G]

I agree that sometimes players just make bad plays, however, the complete lack of a solid game plan in these types of situations leads to bad plays. There is a long history of us playing like crap against teams we should just roll over, you can't tell me that every time we play a game like this, Ben and company just give up and play like shit like they don't care. I truely believe that we are just being outcoached, not only on gameday, but total preparation in these types of games.

[Mojouw]

Let me know when one of our players gets into an idiotic fight with an opposing player during pregame warmups and gets ejected from the game against a division rival under Tomlin.

How dare you! Cowher was a master disciplinarian and strategist!

Do people not remember Cowher's teams regularly doing the EXACT SAME THING they hate out of Tomlin's teams? How many seasons did Cowher open up 0 and 2? How many games did Cowher lose to "bad teams" (a term that no one really wants to define btw)? How often did "Martyball" style playcalling frustrate fans? How about those 10+ yard cushions by the DB's? What about those "terrible Lebeau style schemes" etc.

Was Cowher a really good coach? Yup. Borderline hall of fame resume? Most likely. But to make it out that everything on this team traces back to Tomlin is just dumb.

[Steeldude]

They depend entirely on splash plays. They cannot force their will onto the opposing team. Without prayers and splash plays they will struggle in all games.

As for the defense, they have no idea what kind of defense to run. Jones needs to play less and Harrison needs to play more. Jones should only come in for breathers or during times when the defense and offense are clicking.

[Mojouw]

I agree that sometimes players just make bad plays, however, the complete lack of a solid game plan in these types of situations leads to bad plays. There is a long history of us playing like crap against teams we should just roll over, you can't tell me that every time we play a game like this, Ben and company just give up and play like shit like they don't care. I truely believe that we are just being outcoached, not only on gameday, but total preparation in these types of games.

What was the lack of a solid gameplan? Serious. Other than the fact that they lost, what should have been done differently? I am willing to bet that you have no real answer to that question.

What did the Dolphin's do that outcoached the Steelers? Settle for field goals due to drops and bad calls before they wore the Steelers defense out because the Steelers offense's best play was a punt for the entire second half? That gameplan? That amazing coaching job?

[Devilsdancefloor]

it all starts with Ben if he has a funk of a day so does the team. the Defensive leader is on the sidelines this team is flat when cam isnt playing

[lipps83]

Sometimes games are hard to win when you are up against both Dan Marino and Earl Campbell.

Hey, at least we aren't Panthers fans this year with high expectations after a tough Super Bowl loss. Those guys heads are probably exploding every single week.

[Shoes]

On the bright side the ravens & bengals lost

[SteelMayhem72]

This team can't seem to find any middle ground on themselves.

When they're good, they're very good. If things are going well, they're unbeatable. When the Offense is on, the Defense is on.

When they're bad, they're very bad. If things aren't going right, it snowballs and they can't fight out of it. The whole team breaks down.

Where this Steeler team goes in 2016 all depends on whether which team shows up each week. It's a roll of the dice, and that's not good. Great teams aren't great all the time, they're great when they need to be.

This team is looking for the signature win where they pull it out even when they aren't in top form. Until then, we'll just get more of this guessing game on which team shows up on Sunday.

I agree with everything you said but this team has a hard time putting a complete game together in all 3 phases...1 or all three phases has a problem each and every game

[Terrapinstation]

How dare anyone utter a negative comment about Pope Tomlin. We can't expect him to be held accountable for anything, ever. It's just a complete oddity how we routinely lose to the worst teams in the league.

LMK when Belichick has a team get steamrolled by a 1-4 team who's only win was a nailbiter against the Browns

[B&G]

I agree that sometimes players just make bad plays, however, the complete lack of a solid game plan in these types of situations leads to bad plays. There is a long history of us playing like crap against teams we should just roll over, you can't tell me that every time we play a game like this, Ben and company just give up and play like shit like they don't care. I truely believe that we are just being outcoached, not only on gameday, but total preparation in these types of games.

[Terrapinstation]

What was the lack of a solid gameplan? Serious. Other than the fact that they lost, what should have been done differently? I am willing to bet that you have no real answer to that question.

What did the Dolphin's do that outcoached the Steelers? Settle for field goals due to drops and bad calls before they wore the Steelers defense out because the offense's best play was a punt for the entire second half? That gameplan? That amazing coaching job?

What was their gameplan? Certainly wasn't running Bell (10 carries). Certainly wasn't throwing to their hall of fame receiver (4 catches). Absolutely no idea WTF they're even trying to do on defense. No blitzes. Corners playing 20 yards off the WRs. Speaking of corners, wasn't Tomlin's main claim to fame that he's a defensive (specifically DB) coach? How in the name of Christ do we still have William Gay as our #1 corner? We haven't drafted and/or coached up a good corner since Rod Woodson. I know I know, you don't need good corners when you can pressure the QB with great linebackers! Yet, despite drafting tons of them year after year, James 'social security' Harrison is still our best.

[Mojouw]

Again, I will ask - what was the problem with the game plan?

On offense they turned the ball over twice and the QB missed about a half dozen other key throws including crucial third down conversions. That gave Miami extra possessions and kept the MASH unit of a defense out on the field far too long.

On Defense, Gay and Burns lost their guy in coverage twice. Gay dropped a pick six. Up front, they got blown off the ball. Pure and simple. Nothing clever, no disguise by the Dolphins. The head coach cut multiple OL this week. Message delivered and heard. They just blew the Steelers off the ball. How was coaching going to change guys getting out-leveraged and put on their butts at the point of attack? That's a player problem. It isn't like the Dolphin's tricked them and Butler had his nickel and dime packages out there and they got gouged by the run. That was the base defense that got its butt kicked. That isn't a coaching problem. That is a combination of injuries, a lack of a pass rush, and Hargrave, Tuitt, Matthews, and Jones got their asses handed to them.

[DesertSteel]

I feel Ben often lacks crispness and intensity against really bad teams when we are heavily favored.

I also think this lack of urgency permeates through the entire team.

On a side note - we do have a lot of injuries also.

Yeah everybody seems to give Ben a pass when it comes to this crappy team let down. Sorry but he's the leader of the team and he played like crap. I put it on him more than Tomlin.

That said, this was the outcome I expected. This is a 10-6 team. Hope we get hot at the end.

[86WARD]

I really wish someone would explain to me how coaching leads to multiple bad throws by the QB and a total lack of a pass rush by the outside linebackers?

The players are not very good at key spots and the execution is even worse. In all seriousness, what specifically should the coaches be doing that they are not currently doing? I hear this after every loss. But it is never a specific critique.

Steelers Loss = Dumb Coaches. Steelers Win = great players. They are the same coaches and players in both cases...

There is a trend with the Tomlin teams every year when they play teams like the Dolphins, low energy, mismanaged game clock, poor tackling, poor fundamentals, all,around boneheaded plays. It doesn't improve, it just continues year after year and this is what people get frustrated with. At what point does the coaching staff fix it? :32 ran off the clock today backing up from the TD catch by Hamilton to what I believe was Brown's catch the play before. 32 seconds...I believe the clock went from 1:38 to 1:06. How does that happen? Brown on the next series was taking his time moseying back to the line of scrimmage to get the next play off. These are issues the coaching staff would need to address. Mitchell had a couple unnecessary penalties...again, something the coaching staff needs to address, but it continues to happen. Of course people are going to get frustrated...because the same mistakes are happening.

The team continues to do the same things over expecting different results...it's not happening.

[Craic]

How dare anyone utter a negative comment about Pope Tomlin. We can't expect him to be held accountable for anything, ever. It's just a complete oddity how we routinely lose to the worst teams in the league.

LMK when Belichick has a team get steamrolled by a 1-4 team who's only win was a nailbiter against the Browns

Be- Be- Be- Belichick!

[teegre]

Despite all of this...

The Steelers are currently the #3 seed, and possibly the #2 seed (if the Raidaha lose).

- - - Updated - - -

There is a trend with the Tomlin teams every year when they play teams like the Dolphins, low energy, mismanaged game clock, poor tackling, poor fundamentals, all,around boneheaded plays. It doesn't improve, it just continues year after year and this is what people get frustrated with. At what point does the coaching staff fix it? :32 ran off the clock today backing up from the TD catch by Hamilton to what I believe was Brown's catch the play before. 32 seconds...I believe the clock went from 1:38 to 1:06. How does that happen? Brown on the next series was taking his time moseying back to the line of scrimmage to get the next play off. These are issues the coaching staff would need to address. Mitchell had a couple unnecessary penalties...again, something the coaching staff needs to address, but it continues to happen. Of course people are going to get frustrated...because the same mistakes are happening.

The team continues to do the same things over expecting different results...it's not happening.

I will agree with you on this: Rogers and AB both failed to get out of bounds... letting over 60 seconds of play-clock expire.

I I disagree that that is 100% on Tomlin.

[Mojouw]

What was their gameplan? Certainly wasn't running Bell (10 carries). Certainly wasn't throwing to their hall of fame receiver (4 catches). Absolutely no idea WTF they're even trying to do on defense. No blitzes. Corners playing 20 yards off the WRs. Speaking of corners, wasn't Tomlin's main claim to fame that he's a defensive (specifically DB) coach? How in the name of Christ do we still have William Gay as our #1 corner? We haven't drafted and/or coached up a good corner since Rod Woodson. I know I know, you don't need good corners when you can pressure the QB with great linebackers! Yet, despite drafting tons of them year after year, James 'social security' Harrison is still our best.

Bell rushed 10 out of the total 15 rushes the team attempted. So we can reasonably extrapolate that Bell was intended to have a much bigger role on the ground, but constantly being in 3rd and long and losing on the scoreboard kinda screwed that up.

Roethlisberger attempted 34 passes and completed 19. Between them, Bell and Brown accounted for 10 of those completions. Brown was targeted on at least 4 more terrible throws by Ben that I remember. That to me points to a gameplan that was intending to feature Bell and Brown. A combination of defensive pressure by Miami (they collapsed Hubbard's side of the line multiple times and AV looked a bit overmatched at times) and a totally terrible game by the QB may have had something to do with throwing that game plan off. But, hell, what do I know? Maybe this was the game Haley was going to prove to everyone that he is the smartest OC alive and his plan was to feature Eli Rogers and Xavier Grimble.

Corners were not 10+ yards off the wideouts. Miami completed most of their passes on blown coverages (the deep ones) and just beating their guy underneath. This is not news. The Steelers DBs are not going to suddenly get better. They are who they are.

The pass rush sucks because the 2 best pass rushers on the roster are sitting on the bench hurt. It isn't complicated. You can't scheme up what you don't have.

I'm not certain what is big headline news here?

[teegre]

1. As Cam Heyward goes, so does this defense.

2. As Vince Williams goes, so does any hope of the defense being decent.

3. The Steelers are currently the #3 seed, and possibly the #2 seed (if the Raidaha lose).