I just can't help it
by loosecannon69 on Nov 22, 2009 10:45 PM EST
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PrintLast week I wrote that the Steelers are not a Super Bowl team. The post was met with the expected incredulity and occasional hostility. I just spent the last couple of hours reading a wealth of comments and posts of the doom and gloom variety. Following the debacle in KC, is it possible we are all a bit more inclined to face facts? Or am I still simply over-reacting to an uncommonly bad performance. Please feel free to talk me down from this ledge, at the very least, send me a hug.
In my post I focused on five key issues.
1. Injuries and lack of depth on defense.
2. Big Ben not playing like Big Ben, speculating that his off field issues may be at least part of the reason.
3. Santonio Holmes lack of big play production and Heath Miller spending too much time in protection.
4. Bruce Arians, nuff said.
5. Special Teams.
Tonight I would like to update my assessment.
On my first point. I have come to be in aggreement with the many who who responded to my post about the absence of Troy and just how important he is to the defense. It has become abundantly clear that every area of our defensive unit suffers when Troy is not in the game, particularly how we cover the long ball. If Troy does not return soon and at full strength we are in deep trouble, no pun intended.
Concerning BB, I stick to my guns, he's not right. And as I mentioned in some random thoughts afterward, a lack of quality backups on the O-line is going to bite us in the end. Today it bit Ben in the head.
My concerns about the receiving corp were a bit overstated. But I am still waiting to see big plays from Holmes and with two lineman down, the game we got out of Heath today may not be there in future games. He will have to stay back in protection more to help an ailing line. Hines was magnificent and didn't look his age which was a concern of mine last week.
Bruce Arians, nuff said
Special Teams. I didn't focus much on the horrible kick off coverage, it frankly didn't seem necessary, they suck. But I did spend a lot of time defending Logan who had a great game today and did more than enough to put our supposedly high powered offense in excellent field position. I don't have tivo so I can't comment on his coverage play, maybe someone could fill in that gap for me.
In conclusion. I think it's time that we start to get a little more realistic about the state of our beloved Steelers in light of what we have seen these last few weeks. My heart sank with todays loss, because no matter how much I would like things to be otherwise, no matter how impressive this team looks from time to time, it's evident that they are not last years Steelers.
One final note. These were my closing thoughts from last weeks much maligned post
"I love Mike Tomlin but we are about to find out just what kind of coach and leader he really is. Should this team falter in the playoffs, or heaven forbid fail to reach the playoffs there are going to be some tough decisions to be made in the off season. Will Coach T make the correct evaluations and proper adjustments, is he willing to let go of a few members of his coaching staff if need be? Time will tell."
It's obvious that Arians isn't going anywhere in the middle of the season. As much as I would love to see him on a bus out of town, or under a bus, it simply isn't the Steeler way to flip the panic switch in mid-season. I'm glad for that. But special teams is another story and whoever the ST coach is (we should all know his name by tomorrow afternoon) he needs to be fired, Will Coach T step up to the plate and lead this team? Am I expecting too much? Am I wrong to even suggest it? I'm looking forward to hearing every ones thoughts on the matter. Go Steelers.
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Yeah, 398 passing yards, 3 td's is not Ben...
"Chris! That's a terrible word! Pussywillows..."
-Lois Griffin
Loosecannon actually has a point
Last year, despite how inept our offense was, Ben always came up with a couple of huge plays for us at the end of games. The defense was coming up with big stops too. That hasn’t been happening this year.
by StoneColdSteel on Nov 22, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions
Late 4th Q/OT meltdown...
That, actually, is definitely NOT Ben, I agree, but you have to believe if he hadn’t taken that shot in OT and left the game, we would have pulled it out.
"Chris! That's a terrible word! Pussywillows..."
-Lois Griffin
by Steel Spike on Nov 22, 2009 11:07 PM EST up reply actions
would like to believe indeed
big game next week, guess we’ll see
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
by loosecannon69 on Nov 22, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
agreed
if Ben had slid feet first, there may be a whole different set of posts on here tonight.
by indianasteelers on Nov 22, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions
Not really, even IF we had won that game in OT, we still played a crappy team close.
Wall of Shame
"I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Brownie's Year
"BB is ok (slightly overated)…but he is NO Kyle Orton! I’ll take Kyle over Ben any day" - Bronco_Fan_Tom
PIT 24 KC 27
by John Stephens on Nov 23, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions
I think
The time for coulda, woulda, shoulda’s is over. He coulda shoveled it to Mendy and picked up the first down, but he didn’t. That is not a slam on Ben, he by and large played a great game with one very poor pass. This has been a very strange year in which a lot of C,S, and W’s has kept us from being 10-0 or at least 8-2 but we aren’t. I still believe this team is overall more talented than last years but they just haven’t been able to put it together. The Denver game was as close to a complete game as we have had all year and we didn’t play that great in the first half. There are still 6 games left but realistically we need to win out. Possible yes, likely no. I would love to see another playoff run but my gut tells me it just isn’t gonna happen this year. I thought we had turned a corner in Denver, turns out it was just a circular drive way. For those who will try to say I’m jumpin off the wagon, I have been on this wagon for over 30years ,so shush. No more C, W, S, no more your team sucks even though they beat us, none of that crap(obviously fever this isn’t pointed at you, just on a roll), we are simply left with the reality that while we still might make it, odds are it just isn’t our year.
398 yards against the Chiefs, and a near pick 6 in the red zone
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
I'm just sayin'
he doesn’t seem crisp, a little lost at times, and his decision making has been suspect. Don’t get me wrong. I told anyone who would listen this kid was a future hall of famer in his rookie year. I was repeatedly told that I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. I’m the guys biggest fan. It’s not criticism as much as it is empathy. I think too many fans think this guy is superman. He’s just a guy, a guy with an extra heavy load right now.
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
You don't have to tell me about future HoF Roethlisberger
I bought his jerzee after they lost the AFCCG to the Pats, and he promised Bettis to get him to the SB the next year.
"Chris! That's a terrible word! Pussywillows..."
-Lois Griffin
by Steel Spike on Nov 22, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
and then delivered with that games saving tackle on Bettis' fumble
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
by loosecannon69 on Nov 22, 2009 11:20 PM EST up reply actions
You're right, Ben isn't Ben
Because he’s off to one of his best starts ever. Sure he didn’t pull through in the clutch like he usually does (he probably would have if he had slid on that collision-course scramble), but no one, and I mean no one, does it every time.
That being said there are definitely some issues that have to be changed now, if we want any shot at repeating.
BTSC Obituaries
OldManSteeler, ominously died two days before Superbowl 123 where the Ravens are set to attempt their 7th superbowl win, facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He was 86. His last words are believed to be "MALOR CAN SUCK IT!!!". Like friends and family, we can only guess what this could mean.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Nov 22, 2009 11:12 PM EST reply actions
Ben has been padding his stats against crappy teams this year IMO
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
by loosecannon69 on Nov 22, 2009 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
Btw loosecannon, that wasn’t a knock on you. I was just trying to make the point we need to value every win, even against the teams we expect to beat, as today proved.
It's all good Hines
nothing could compare to the beating I took last week.
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
by loosecannon69 on Nov 22, 2009 11:34 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah
Props to you for having the balls to come back and back up that post.
Everyone go check out the main page story on the Cincy Jungle!
It’ll make you feel better about what we went through today! LOL!
"Chris! That's a terrible word! Pussywillows..."
-Lois Griffin
hahahah wow
it’s a complete meltdown over there. you’d think they’d be used to losing to teams like the Raiders.
LOL
that was almost sad. by the comments you would think they were the Washington Generals.
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
Haha
They are coming apart at the seams over there. If we can right this ship and they can somehow implode, it would be the biggest slap in the face to the Bengals ever. They sweep us and Baltimore and we still win the division. Oh God, please let this happen!!!
by StoneColdSteel on Nov 22, 2009 11:38 PM EST reply actions
Sunday night's game will be critical.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that next week’s game in Baltimore will probably be the turning point of the Steelers’ 2009 season. I don’t see how this team ever recovers from three consecurive losses in November. The best that Tomlin and company can do is to try to hold things together for the Baltimore game and hopefully come out with a win. Whether Ben plays or not, though, we need to see a different approach offensively. Running a more conservative offense with some higher-percentage plays in key situations might be a start.
Stats don't mean everything
I would assume with 398 yds passing, over 500 yds offense, and with over 30 minutes of posession, the score would be a bit lopsided. Don’t blame the defense entirely, there have been too many turnovers by this team of late putting them in tough positions.
I have been ridiculed on here for mentioning that being a pass happy team gets you nowhere in the playoffs and even though our pass to run ratio was far better than last week, it just doesn’t seem like we are holding the football in the 2nd half like we used to. I remember complaining about how boring football was in the second half of games when we played our “get a lead and shut it down” style of football. I was even excited when we started tossing the ball all around with success this year, but now I am beginning to wonder if that has actually caused us problems.
Firing Bruce Arians is not the answer because he has designed a very successful offense, I just think the playcalling is a little suspect. It almost seems as though Ben calls a better game than Arians.
you think that..
We dont have it this year? Maybe ,BB should have settled the lawsuit to put this non sense to rest? I know BB is innocent, but quitting when you are ahead, is not like quitting..But sometimes to pay a loser her her, will embolden other gold diggers to do the same…tough call there..
by nycsteelerfan on Nov 23, 2009 7:56 AM EST up reply actions
We meet again Loosecannon69
Haha, I am sure you were expecting my response. Anyway, as I said yesterday I am submitting that whatever “it” is, this team just does not have it to win a SB. Is it attitude? SB Hangover? Bad ST? Poor execution? Coaching? I really don’t know. Regardless, I will address some of your points.
Big Ben
I still stand by him. He is still having a good year and had a very good game yesterday. He only had one pick (the other one was completely Heath’s fault). He completed 76% of his passes, which is made even more absurd when you realize he threw it over 40 times.
I think we were spoiled last year by Ben’s clutch performances. It seemed last year that any time a game was close at the end we won it. Ben made a ton of 4th quarter drives that ended up winning us the game. It was awesome. However, for all of us to expect him to do this every single time is ridiculous. Elway and Montana did not do it every time, so to expect it from Ben is kind of absurd.
Coaching
Sadly, we cannot ditch BA mid year, it would kill our offenses. I don’t know the exact statistics, but when you fire an OC mid-season or even during preseason/camp the team will not fair well. I remember they talked about it after TB fired their OC in camp. It took their OC about 6 weeks or so to settle in and get some production.
I agree with you on ST coaching though. Fire that guy and let Tomlin take over the responsibility.
Stefan Logan
He got blocked outside on the return, but turned back up field running toward the returner. When the returner made a cut Logan caught up to him and had a chance to tackle him. What did he do you ask? He ran right by him and didn’t even get an arm on him. It was bad, but a lot of people missed tackles on that return.
They need to force some defensive starters to play ST and maybe that can pick up the intensity out there. Otherwise, I don’t see it getting much better. All of the guys out there just seem to be making half-assed attempts at tackles.
Wall of Shame
"I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Brownie's Year
"BB is ok (slightly overated)…but he is NO Kyle Orton! I’ll take Kyle over Ben any day" - Bronco_Fan_Tom
PIT 24 KC 27
Like I said before
People don’t appreciate Ben enough because he ain’t Terry Bradshaw. Older fans really get on my nerves when they do this.
And Logan will not be back next year. He just doesn’t contribute enough.
It’s the little things that are killing us. If we fix these things we will be a great team. Until then, we’ll just be average to good.
by StoneColdSteel on Nov 23, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
Hey Johnny
not merely expecting but looking forward to. I’m glad we are starting to get on the same page.
About Ben. I never meant to suggest even vaguely that I’m not in his corner. I’m the guys biggest fan. I’m just a little concerned about him. He is obviously growing as a football player and if you go just by stats (minus red zone interceptions) having one helluva yrear. I’m still convinced that the off field stuff is affecting him and am looking forward to next year when this crap is all over and done with. If I’m right and he is playing this well in spite of it all, I can’t imagine what a stud he’s going to be when all this is behind him. The departure of Bruce Arians couldn’t hurt either but that’s another story.
On the coaching. We are in agreement on every point
On Logan. I hope he grows into a performer on the coverage unit because I really like what he brings to the table as a return man. He is improving every game and I would like to see just how good he can be. I’m not too concerned about the roster spot he takes because frankly I haven’t seen many of our guys further down on the depth chart do any more to help this team than he has.
Finally, I hate to say it but I am already ;looking forward to next year but that’s for another post.
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
by loosecannon69 on Nov 23, 2009 11:19 PM EST up reply actions
One more thing
I’m with you on giving special teams duty to some of the defenive guys. The only problem is that we are just to thin on defense to risk it. I don’t expect it will happen, we are pretty much stuck with what we have and need to make some major improvements in that area or this season is toast.
"Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted" Martin Luther King Jr.
by loosecannon69 on Nov 23, 2009 11:22 PM EST up reply actions
If we lose sunday nite..
This should be the plan…START ZIGGY! Lets see what he can do and learn…lets try out Lewis and burnett and Mundy to see for next year…also, get sweed into the line up..we MUST have these questions solved before the draft next year and move on from there…We lose this week, it will be pretty much over..am I right?
I think we have room for one more L
and still came make playoffs. I think most expect a split with Ravens to be it. Deeper we get into the season the weirder this shit gets though, so all I can do is believe that we are gonna win out.
"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.
by kick him in the head on Nov 23, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
came=can
"Now that I'm here, I don't want to just be here, I want to be here for a long time." Hines Ward, 1998 4th round draft pick.
by kick him in the head on Nov 23, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
Can't play someone who doesn't know the playbook.
We don’t know how well Burnett and Lewis know the playbook yet. And if we lose to the Ravens this week the season is not over. two more losses will put us at 10-6. we still could get in the playoffs. as WC
pipe dream!
10-6 will not be enough..we will have too many AFC losses.
by nycsteelerfan on Nov 25, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
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