IMO we were a George Pickens away from at least being 1-1 in those games and maybe 2-0. Now it's a question of can we overcome the secondary injuries. At least we'll have fewer PI penalties!Originally Posted by Steeler-in-west
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IMO we were a George Pickens away from at least being 1-1 in those games and maybe 2-0. Now it's a question of can we overcome the secondary injuries. At least we'll have fewer PI penalties!
The Steelers organization has set its "Standard" over the last decade when it comes to playoff success and this year will be no different. Realize it's been nearly a Decade with no playoff wins and the last two were every flimsy. Cincinnati was back to back personal foul penalties to set the Steelers up for a last second field goal and vs KC was a successful two point try nullified by a questionable offensive PI call against the Cheifs. Until the entire coaching staff( Tomlin included) is replaced history will repeat itself.
Living in your past much? ……and what the hell is “every flimsy”? I’m guessing you don’t expect or hope that the Steelers win a playoff game.
No, it's not a sure thing the Steelers will be one and done in the playoffs this year. And those were good playoff wins. That was an incredibly hostile environment in Cincy. The Steelers did well to win that. And that Chiefs game was also a road playoff win, not easy to do.
It's actually just the reverse.
Russ was brought in for a playoff run, its pretty obvious. Otherwise they wouldve just rolled with KP and Mason
Tomlin wants to win now for his legacy and for his vets (Cam, TJ, Minkah) who may not get another chance. Next year Russ, Cam TJ will all be older so this might be their best shot.
I'm going to say two things about Tomlin, one of which might surprise you.
As I've said many times, I'm a great believer in track record. And one of the bad things in Tomlin's track record is that every year his teams lose two or three games to teams they have no business losing to, the so-called "Tomlin games". This year that track record held up with losses to the Colts, Cowboys, and Browns. As usual these kind of losses played a big role in the determination of the Steelers potential playoff seed. If they had just won two of these very winnable games against the Browns and the Colts they would already have clinched the AFC North (even before the Ravens game) and had at least the #3 seed locked up.
But having said all this, there is also a positive aspect to Tomlin's track record. Although Tomlin has a record of losing to teams he has no business losing to, he also has a track record of rallying the troops when things looks hopeless late in the season and winning games against teams he has no business beating. The KC game looks exactly like one of those. Yeah, the Chiefs have Mahomes and a 14-1 record, but (a) the game is at home, (b) the Chiefs have not really played as well as their 14-1 record would indicate, and (c) the Steelers are more pissed off and desperate and have more to prove. I'm not guaranteeing that a Steeler victory will happen, and Tomlin's track record also indicates that he will make at least one stupid decision during the game, but the game is not the slam dunk for KC that a lot of people think it is.
Vegas agrees, which is why KC is only favored by 2.5 points.
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The Steelers are ALWAYS in win now mode. What other mode is there?
The mode where Mason Rudolph, Devlin Hodges, washed up Ben Roethlisberger were at QB and the hope at RB was either Benny Snell or Jaylen Samuels was gonna carry the rock.
There have definitely been some reload and rebuild moments. Lets be serious.
this is serious “were all getting older” win now mode
I know theyve got a young core for the o line that the next Qb can take advantage of but Cam, TJ, Minkah, Russ (and Tomlin) dont have much time left
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There was no plan involving Ben getting hurt and having to go with Rudy and Duck. You be serious. That may have initiated rebuilding the offense but that was a forced issue and not a plan. Bringing in Canada and drafting KP were part of a rebuild attempt that went seriously sideways. We have drafted a 1st round RB, several OL including 2 in the 1st round, as part of rebuild. But we have never moved away from a win now mode mentality. We approached this very season with win now.
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This season's football team would mop up the field with last season's football team. I don't think it's even close.
Having a washed up QB is the opposite of a rebuild, unless your genius IQ tells you something different.
Ben was on the downside slide of his career for around 6-8 years before he finally retired and there was no plan to have a successor at QB. After Bell left they had no real plan at RB other than run the tires off Conner.
Sure some fans with B&G colored glasses thought that Ben could recover his prime form and will the Steelers to a Super Bowl by himself, but it was just delusional thinking to believe they were ever contenders or could get to an AFCCG. There wasnt really a true " win now" plan in place.
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I’m thinking that the Steelers should be the first team to opt out of the playoffs this year.
Even then, they werent in a rebuild mode. Reload...yes. They never go into a rebuild mode.
Enthroned Into The Good Old Boys Club - 2024
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The Steelers could still win a SB in the next 2 years with Wilson as QB. However, if they keep doing the same thing I see Tomlin taking some time off because the fans will start on him. He could take a couple of years off and regenerate, then go back to a new team or even go into college ball. He wants to be great, but something is not synching up over the coarse of a full season. They are either slow to start or crash and burn at the end.
It took moves by other coaches like Andy Reid among others until they achieved their ultimate goal. The NFL might be on the brink of a new change where HCs rotate among teams like QBs.
All Defense!
Andy Reid was getting a ton of criticism. Then he drafted Mahomes and hired Spags and he became a genius.
As soon as Tomlin drafts the next great QB I guess it will all work out.
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Philly loved Andy! They love all their sports coaches and athletes!!!
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Until they didn’t.Philly loved Andy! They love all their sports coaches and athletes!!!
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You’re right! I totally forgot how reasoned and measured Philly sports fans are.Philly loved Andy! They love all their sports coaches and athletes!!!
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How could I forget?!
This is it for Russ, he’ll be 37 next year. I dont see him getting better next season. I saw this season as all or nothing. Season is not over and they could get JPJ back, O line plays better, Smith makes some adjustments in pass protection and they make a surprising playoff run but its looking doubtful right now.
Make Russ a two year reasonable offer, if he doesn't accept fine, go after Darnold and offer him more and/or draft a Qb
Why wouldn’t they have made the adjustments in pass protection already?
McCormick looks like a lost puppy out there. I’ll give him the benefit of doubt because he is a rookie and it’s extra hard for rookie OL to go from playing college to camp to NFL but right now, that’s just another hole that needs to be fixed.
maybe because Moore and McCormick were holding their own and now they're not? Maybe the competition has gotten better or theyre moving d linemen around at the snap of the ball ? Like how the browns used Garrett.
Philly loved Andy! They love all their sports coaches and athletes!!!
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I wonder if those people feel like idiots now.
I’m willing to give McCormick a pass this year. And hope a full offseason and camp gets the holes in his game patched up.
I really feel like the online is better than it has been in years but it seems like they are hitting the wall and are worn down. Couple of rookies with proper off-season should be fine coming back next year.
Just gotta ask yourself if Wilson has a few more seconds per game does this all end differently next year
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Merry Christmas
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Ben was not on any downside slide until his elbow surgery in 2019. His stats prove that out. So, right out of the gate I have no idea what you're talking about. There was no plan for a QB successor? That is exactly why they drafted MR. He did not work out, but that is why he was drafted. AND the Steelers have always had a 'Bellcow RB' offensive mentality. What should have been different with Conner? We can better pick on those early OL decisions. They put more effort into the DL but that has still not paid off fully.
We have rebuilt the LBs twice in the last 3 seasons. The Secondary was rebuilt just this last offseason with FA. The OL has been rebuilt through the draft. We drafted Harris, PF, GP, CA3, D.Wash, R.Wilson, DJ, Claypool, McFarland, and Kenny Pickett, all in the top 4 rounds to try to rebuild offensive weapons, since 2019.
"A" problem has been a revolving door of coordinators since Haley. Don't get me wrong, changes were needed. But, that does not help with rebuilding at all. I think we have finally found an OC we can stick with for several years with Smith. We can hopefully establish an offensive identity and personality now.
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