Reality check came and cashed

[Edman]

This team is not "a few pieces" away as we all thought. They are not a QB away. They're very far away and possibly going backward. We are rebuilding. We were in a rebuild since Ben retired. We drafted Kenny Pickett to get a good restart after Ben. But we traded Kenny away because we wanted to "win now". Well, here we are. We overhauled the QB room, got rid of the OC, infused the Defense with new talent, and what has changed? Contenders like Philly and KC still boatrace the Steelers. The Offense hasn't improved and the Defense has gotten significantly worse.

The organization didn't want to face the reality that this team needs a significant rebuild, and we were gonna be rough for a while, but at least a core was being formed with Pickett. We chased the glory, and keeping the streak instead of eating dirt with a young QB. We can't draft high in 2025 either since we made the playoffs.

Pittsburgh's best chance now is hope they get a good draw as a wild card (Houston, maybe) but they'll likely be headed to Buffalo again in January.

[Mojouw]

Who thought they were a few pieces away?

[El Kabong]

This team is not "a few pieces" away as we all thought. They are not a QB away. They're very far away and possibly going backward. We are rebuilding. We were in a rebuild since Ben retired. We drafted Kenny Pickett to get a good restart after Ben. But we traded Kenny away because we wanted to "win now". Well, here we are. We overhauled the QB room, got rid of the OC, infused the Defense with new talent, and what has changed? Contenders like Philly and KC still boatrace the Steelers. The Offense hasn't improved and the Defense has gotten significantly worse.

The organization didn't want to face the reality that this team needs a significant rebuild, and we were gonna be rough for a while, but at least a core was being formed with Pickett. We chased the glory, and keeping the streak instead of eating dirt with a young QB. We can't draft high in 2025 either since we made the playoffs.

Pittsburgh's best chance now is hope they get a good draw as a wild card (Houston, maybe) but they'll likely be headed to Buffalo again in January.

The Steelers do want to win now, but that's not why Kenny was traded.

[Mojouw]

The Steelers have totally turned over their TE, QB, OL, WR, ILb, and DB groups since about 2022 or so. For some of those groups it’s been more than once in that timeframe.


If that’s not a clear sign from management that they know they weren’t good enough and are attempting to rebuild, what more do you need to see?

[DesertSteel]

They are what their record says they are.

[86WARD]

They are a few pieces away. Problem is that they are pretty big pieces.

Starting QB
Starting RB
Starting WR
Possession WR
Starting DT
Starting OT

Starting offensive coordinator

Starting defensive coordinator

[Rotorhead]

They are a few pieces away. Problem is that they are pretty big pieces.

Starting QB
Starting RB
Starting WR
Possession WR
Starting DT
Starting OT

Starting offensive coordinator

Starting defensive coordinator

I think maybe you have a bit too much here, our RB room is fine, we just need a solid #2 WR and more OL help. But a complete new coaching staff would be best honestly.

[Mojouw]

The Steelers entered 2024 with questions about OT, OC, and OG. They gotten clarity on OC and Guard. But OT is still a bit mysterious.

There were questions about Fields and Wilson. Fields answered about 50% of them and was an incomplete on the rest. Wilson has demonstrated some willingness to play well with others but also some unwillingness to change his game to suit new realities. Got him run out of two different teams before the Steelers. Does it get him run out here?

Queen was speculated to struggle with communication. Started slow then seemed to thrive on the field. Now the schedule got extreme, the QBs got good, and some of the coordinators got real good…and the defense has “communication” issues? Is that Queen or just that they’re playing CB they cut before for not being any good and another that hasn’t really played football in a couple years?

There were significant questions about the WR group. There are several answers. Pickens is really good. Jefferson was not primed for a resurgence. CA3 is tough as nails but doesn’t worry anyone. Wilson is a lottery ticket for next year. The position group is one of the worst in the league.

To make noise in the AFC, the Steelers needed all of these big questions to break their way 100%. They got like 60%, maybe 80% at best.

[Voice of Reason]

The Steelers do want to win now, but that's not why Kenny was traded.

Kenny was traded because the head coach doesn't know a damn thing about evaluating or developing quarterbacks.

And I'm gonna say something that's the truth, and and I don't give a damn how much some people here don't like it or attack me for it: All that crap that certain people here have been telling me for a year about how Russell Wilson was a "big upgrade" over Kenny Pickett was a bunch of BULLSHIT !!!

[86WARD]

I think maybe you have a bit too much here, our RB room is fine, we just need a solid #2 WR and more OL help. But a complete new coaching staff would be best honestly.

After this season you have ZERO RBs. Warren is a RFA so they can keep him. Harris is UFA and he's been putrid. He went through a few games where he was starting to look like a real RB but hes since tanked that. There's no RB.

- - - Updated - - -

The Steelers entered 2024 with questions about OT, OC, and OG. They gotten clarity on OC and Guard. But OT is still a bit mysterious.

There were questions about Fields and Wilson. Fields answered about 50% of them and was an incomplete on the rest. Wilson has demonstrated some willingness to play well with others but also some unwillingness to change his game to suit new realities. Got him run out of two different teams before the Steelers. Does it get him run out here?

Queen was speculated to struggle with communication. Started slow then seemed to thrive on the field. Now the schedule got extreme, the QBs got good, and some of the coordinators got real good…and the defense has “communication” issues? Is that Queen or just that they’re playing CB they cut before for not being any good and another that hasn’t really played football in a couple years?

There were significant questions about the WR group. There are several answers. Pickens is really good. Jefferson was not primed for a resurgence. CA3 is tough as nails but doesn’t worry anyone. Wilson is a lottery ticket for next year. The position group is one of the worst in the league.

To make noise in the AFC, the Steelers needed all of these big questions to break their way 100%. They got like 60%, maybe 80% at best.

I'm not sure they got the answer on OG. McCormick is constantly running around chasing DL or running in circles. Not his best look. The WR group looks exactly like we thought it would, especially when Pickens gets injured. THey are in need of a #2 (Could be MIke WIlliams if they play him and utilize him) and they need a possession receiver to go across the middle. Freiermuth is perfectly fine, but they have to have a willingness to use him and Warshington.

- - - Updated - - -

This team is not "a few pieces" away as we all thought. They are not a QB away. They're very far away and possibly going backward. We are rebuilding. We were in a rebuild since Ben retired. We drafted Kenny Pickett to get a good restart after Ben. But we traded Kenny away because we wanted to "win now". Well, here we are. We overhauled the QB room, got rid of the OC, infused the Defense with new talent, and what has changed? Contenders like Philly and KC still boatrace the Steelers. The Offense hasn't improved and the Defense has gotten significantly worse.

The organization didn't want to face the reality that this team needs a significant rebuild, and we were gonna be rough for a while, but at least a core was being formed with Pickett. We chased the glory, and keeping the streak instead of eating dirt with a young QB. We can't draft high in 2025 either since we made the playoffs.

Pittsburgh's best chance now is hope they get a good draw as a wild card (Houston, maybe) but they'll likely be headed to Buffalo again in January.

They got rid of Kenny because he wasn't good in Pittsburgh and he was a baby. He's also proving he's not good in Philadelphia. lol. Looks like Omar and Tomlin knew what they were doing to unload him. As for the rest, it is what it is. This team is never going to just up and tank for the sake of a rebuild. They never have.

[El Kabong]

Kenny was traded because the head coach doesn't know a damn thing about evaluating or developing quarterbacks.

And I'm gonna say something that's the truth, and and I don't give a damn how much some people here don't like it or attack me for it: All that crap that certain people here have been telling me for a year about how Russell Wilson was a "big upgrade" over Kenny Pickett was a bunch of BULLSHIT !!!

No it isn't. It's not like Kenny's statline in his recent game in Philly should have us all crying with regret at letting him go.

[Steeler-in-west]

Our tackles are not good and the passing game is suffering as a result, thats 80 percent on them maybe 20 percent on Russ. they should keep Warren or Najee in to help block on passing downs, i dont know why they dont do it. Or design a quick outlet pass for warren.


On defense unless TJ is hurt we’ve got problems, i know i’ve said it before but Austin needs to go. Our D should not be this bad. And Austin sadly is proving me right. I dont know why we got a Marvin Lewis castoff like Austin to begin with.

[Steeler-in-west]

We handled the KP situation poorly. If we had played him last year as soon as he was ready to go he woudn’t have thrown a tantrum if they still brought in Russ, just my guess.

[Voice of Reason]

No it isn't. It's not like Kenny's statline in his recent game in Philly should have us all crying with regret at letting him go.

What about Wilson's statline in the last three games? Especially the stat "points scored by offense"?

[86WARD]

We handled the KP situation poorly. If we had played him last year as soon as he was ready to go he woudn’t have thrown a tantrum if they still brought in Russ, just my guess.

Sure they mismanaged it (in our opinion) but here’s the thing, If Pickett isn’t a baby, he maybe gets his time. He threw a tantrum when Rudolph was starting. He threw a tantrum when the Steelers tried to improve the QB Room by getting free veteran QB. Pickett was a baby the whole way through his process.

If Pickett were starting material and not a baby, he would’ve come back from injury and started. What team doesn’t put the starter back in and goes with the “hot hand”? The ones that don’t have a strong QB room. But Pickett wasn’t starting material. Not with what he showed on the field and not with his baby girl attitude. He refused to dress, he threw tantrums, threw more tantrums, whined and asked to be traded. That’s all already been proven multiple times. So he’s gone.

Sure it was mismanaged (in our opinion) but Pickett was far from talented enough to overlook his baby episodes and was far from mature enough to be a starting QB.

[ALLD]

Wilson is a great QB. He needs better players and a scheme for the WRs to get open. Washington would be a great TE if he knew how to chuck and run or block.

[Steeler-in-west]

Sure they mismanaged it (in our opinion) but here’s the thing, If Pickett isn’t a baby, he maybe gets his time. He threw a tantrum when Rudolph was starting. He threw a tantrum when the Steelers tried to improve the QB Room by getting free veteran QB. Pickett was a baby the whole way through his process.

If Pickett were starting material and not a baby, he would’ve come back from injury and started. What team doesn’t put the starter back in and goes with the “hot hand”? The ones that don’t have a strong QB room. But Pickett wasn’t starting material. Not with what he showed on the field and not with his baby girl attitude. He refused to dress, he threw tantrums, threw more tantrums, whined and asked to be traded. That’s all already been proven multiple times. So he’s gone.

Sure it was mismanaged (in our opinion) but Pickett was far from talented enough to overlook his baby episodes and was far from mature enough to be a starting QB.

im basing my opinion on what i saw on the field. Forget the time playing under Canada in 23. I cant count that as a true evaluation; everyone looked bad in Canadas system. But the one game KP played after Canada was let go he played considerably better (against Cincy). He was starting slow the next game but that was only a half. Then he got hurt. And he never got on the field again. To me it wasnt a good enough evaluation. Maybe there were things going on behind the scenes, at practice or in the locker room that we were not privy to. Maybe he was an asshole, maybe he didnt listen to the coaches, i guess its possible and that may be a reason they stuck with Mason. But to this day hes an incomplete as far as his performance in Pitt. I guess lets see if he gets a chance in philly.

[86WARD]

im basing my opinion on what i saw on the field. Forget the time playing under Canada in 23. I cant count that as a true evaluation; everyone looked bad in Canadas system. But the one game KP played after Canada was let go he played considerably better (against Cincy). He was starting slow the next game but that was only a half. Then he got hurt. And he never got on the field again. To me it wasnt a good enough evaluation. Maybe there were things going on behind the scenes, at practice or in the locker room that we were not privy to. Maybe he was an asshole, maybe he didnt listen to the coaches, i guess its possible and that may be a reason they stuck with Mason. But to this day hes an incomplete as far as his performance in Pitt. I guess lets see if he gets a chance in philly.

Sure he looked good in that one start but then he went all baby on the team and that’s just not leadership qualities in my opinion.

[El Kabong]

What about Wilson's statline in the last three games? Especially the stat "points scored by offense"?

Still better than Kenny's?

[Mojouw]

Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in…

https://64.media.tumblr.com/68c60aca...has9o1_500.gif

[feltdizz]

Kenny is starting this week and he played well last week vs Commanders when inserted. One bad INT but also 2 brutal drops by Barkley and Smith that were both first downs if caught. We didn’t handle the Kenny situation well because we had Canada who was trash at OC.

Russ had been brutal these last 3 weeks too. Absolutely brutal.

[cubanstogie]

Kenny is starting this week and he played well last week vs Commanders when inserted. One bad INT but also 2 brutal drops by Barkley and Smith that were both first downs if caught. We didn’t handle the Kenny situation well because we had Canada who was trash at OC.

Russ had been brutal these last 3 weeks too. Absolutely brutal.

Is Kenny accountable for any of it in your opinion? I didn’t see him play but stats pretty meh. I’ll be watching against cowboys only because I’m stuck inside sick. Hoping he gets hit by Parsons no way they can lose game.

[Steeler-in-west]

They are a few pieces away. Problem is that they are pretty big pieces.

Starting QB
Starting RB
Starting WR
Possession WR
Starting DT
Starting OT

Starting offensive coordinator

Starting defensive coordinator

i guess we have backup coordinators.

we do have a starting Qb. He just needs better pass protection and maybe some plays to get the ball out faster.

[DesertSteel]

Is Kenny accountable for any of it in your opinion? I didn’t see him play but stats pretty meh. I’ll be watching against cowboys only because I’m stuck inside sick. Hoping he gets hit by Parsons no way they can lose game.

I watched it. He was the same no risk game manager that gets you 5 yards per pass attempt. That’s who he is. I expect the same tomorrow.

[feltdizz]

Is Kenny accountable for any of it in your opinion? I didn’t see him play but stats pretty meh. I’ll be watching against cowboys only because I’m stuck inside sick. Hoping he gets hit by Parsons no way they can lose game.

Sure, Kenny getting hurt during the soft stretch last year was his biggest fault. Dude is brittle af. Would never wish injury on the guy.

- - - Updated - - -

I watched it. He was the same no risk game manager that gets you 5 yards per pass attempt. That’s who he is. I expect the same tomorrow.

I watched most of it and the Barkley drop on a 30 yard pass was crazy.

But has Wilson’s moonball stats the last 3 games been any better than Kenny? Seems like we are watching Wilson shrink vs good teams and he is turning the ball over a lot. All that tall and we are stuck at 10 wins and a wild card spot. Not much has changed.

[86WARD]

i guess we have backup coordinators.

we do have a starting Qb. He just needs better pass protection and maybe some plays to get the ball out faster.

clearly the joke goes over your head. lol. They do NOT have a starting QB that is talented enough to compete at a high level. He once was but not any more.

[MikeT]

This team is not "a few pieces" away as we all thought. They are not a QB away. They're very far away and possibly going backward. We are rebuilding. We were in a rebuild since Ben retired. We drafted Kenny Pickett to get a good restart after Ben. But we traded Kenny away because we wanted to "win now". Well, here we are. We overhauled the QB room, got rid of the OC, infused the Defense with new talent, and what has changed? Contenders like Philly and KC still boatrace the Steelers. The Offense hasn't improved and the Defense has gotten significantly worse.

The organization didn't want to face the reality that this team needs a significant rebuild, and we were gonna be rough for a while, but at least a core was being formed with Pickett. We chased the glory, and keeping the streak instead of eating dirt with a young QB. We can't draft high in 2025 either since we made the playoffs.

Pittsburgh's best chance now is hope they get a good draw as a wild card (Houston, maybe) but they'll likely be headed to Buffalo again in January.

Wouldn't say we got rid of Pickett cause we wanted to win now. Pickett asked for a trade. While i do not think Pickett was ever going to be a world beater he was also given a pretty raw deal. He was thrust into the lineup early in his rookie season with no prep due to Tomlin Panicking. He was saddled with one of the worst if not worst OC's to ever be in the NFL. Had a terrible O line and just lots of dysfunction. Then to be told you need to compete for your job cause you weren't good enough to overcome your teams dysfunction is a pretty big slap in the face. Lets be real here. Most Qb's would have had a hard time in those 2 years with Canada and Tomlin running the worst offensive scheme ever (JV football teams have a better scheme than we did).

[Mojouw]

We can't have it all ways with KP. He was not drafted because he was an athletically gifted "project" QB. He was drafted because he was supposedly a well developed processor with high accuracy. That type of draft prospect doesn't sit on the bench. He starts. From Day 1. The "bridge" plan was nonsense and a waste of time. KP should have been prepared to start since the minute after he was drafted.

While I grant the OC was garbage. Rookie QBs have played much better behind far worse offensive lines.

The Steelers scouts missed the mark in their evaluation. KP was not an advanced prospect who had his rookie NFL year in college as claimed. He was a QB with mediocre tools that struggled with the speed of NFL defenses. He should have never been drafted in the first round.

Why are we arguing about this like the Steelers messed up Joe Burrow or Andrew Luck or some other sure fire prospect?

KP's ceiling is high side of average NFL starter. And the Steelers didn't do enough to help him get there. But, seriously, who wanted 10 years of a some sort of amalgamation of Gardner Minshew and Kirk Cousins?

[Steeler-in-west]

clearly the joke goes over your head. lol. They do NOT have a starting QB that is talented enough to compete at a high level. He once was but not any more.

how do you know he cant compete at a high level if he doesn't have tackles who can block or only has one good receiver ? The joke i think was your post.

[Mojouw]

Mahomes has worse tackles and about the same WRs.

He’s the best QB in the league.

Can we stop creating excuses for post Ben Steelers QBs. I mean the dude is in the HOF and he had some bad lines and poor WR corps at times.

The Steelers QBs are average at best. And that’s okay to admit.