Under .500 - Post-game commiseration thread
by acrollet on Dec 10, 2009 11:41 PM EST
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PrintWell, now we know what it feels like to be the have-nots of the league. Here's a thread for rants, raves and perhaps group therapy.
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You think the concussion Ben suffered has affected his play?
When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.
There isn't a shrink out there tonight who would sign up for this.
Forget the therapy, most of us would settle for a simple, “what the hell just happened?”
I definitely need some group therapy!!!!
Can’t believe we went from 6-2 to 6-7. Hope we beat GB next week,
what farm? already lost that in the KC game
lost the yugo in the oakland game, and my griswold-wagner collection in this game.
rest of schedule is with better teams
maybe they will play up when they are underdogs..
by Crucible Steel on Dec 11, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
I think most of us are beyond the ranting point after these past four weeks…this puts all of us especially myself looking for answers and therapy to keep us jumping off decks. I got a pretty tall one at my house if someone is looking for one… I don’t agree with such action but would understand
"Hope we beat GB next week,"
who cares? You want a worse draft pick? There’s no redemption now!
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
And your situation isn't any better
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Dec 11, 2009 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
At least I didn't give up until the situation was hopeless
unlike ravens fans who were frothing at the mouth @ 3-3. Boy would I love to be at 500 now.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Actually at this point I'd rather go 7-9 than 9-7
We could use a good draft and make a run next year. 9-7 isn’t going to make the playoffs so lets put in the rookies and suffer the rest of this year and get a good draft. Last time we went 6-10 it worked out pretty damn well eh?
Cheers, -Dave The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. --Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
I'd rather not...
…for any reason.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 7:21 PM EST up reply actions
only team in Pittsburgh doing well right now
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 10, 2009 11:50 PM EST up reply actions
I'm a huge Pens fan
But right now, that’s little consolation.
by pghnorthside on Dec 10, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
I got nothing
I am resigned to our fate, and have been for a while now. Sine the Chiefs game. I was more frustrated after week 3 than I am now. I knew we would lose tonight, and I do not expect to win any more games this year.
I love being the most-hated guy here. I love beating them while [their fans] are flicking me off. --Hines Ward
How To Explain The Coaching Staffs Concussion?
Steelers driving with 240 to play. Browns on their heels for the first time all night. Clock ticking, Browns defense gasping, Steelers with 1st down in the no huddle…TIME OUT?
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
I think BA’s head got froze in his ass and couldn’t get it out…just the two cents from an extremely frustrated fan
BA has been our OC ...
…for three years now and I’ve never once seen him attempt to get his head out of his ass.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:58 AM EST up reply actions
Valid
Was the only thing I could come up with, mind is in a fog right now after that shit I watched. We’ll just say it got frozen in harder, or maybe the wind just completely blew it off tonight, I don’t know. I just want to scream and shout after this game but just don’t have the energry or emotion, much like our team.
There's next year guys
We have a good staff, the luxury of having not to make big changes is over, every empire falls, everything comes to an end, and football is no different. You see it with the Patriots and it’s happening to us, we need personnel moves and we need to go to the drawing board again, I have faith in our staff, it’ll be fine
How many Baltimore Ravens does it take to win a Super Bowl? Nobody knows and we may never find out
Farrior vs. Kendall Simmons
Everyone was complaining about the Simmons signing as the worst deal ever. Farrior’s deal is looking worse. He was missing tackles like he had no arms. And 3.85 mil cap hit next year (4 mil if we cut him). that my firends is the defination of a bad extension. Hopefully he pulls himself out of the mire
"The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others." Don Shula
That deal does look awful
But there might not be a salary cap next year either, so it may not matter
by pghnorthside on Dec 10, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions
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If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't
He has to act
childish and live it up now. It could be twenty years before his team has a winning season again.
True
But we have yet to lost to a team with a losing record. You guys have 4 times.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
God I am going to enjoy knocking you hookers murders criminals ratbirds out of the play
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 11, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
offs
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 11, 2009 1:38 PM EST up reply actions
Go ahead
Enjoy it all you want. I don’t even think the Ravens deserve to be in the playoffs. Won’t hurt my feelings.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Good
So you are exactly where I was with the Steelers 2 weeks ago.
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 11, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
Im 99% sure that isn’t photoshopped.
by TheRealSlimShady on Dec 12, 2009 12:45 AM EST up reply actions
Did you make up that lame joke over at the dog pound or did you steal it from someone?
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
YOU'RE A FUCKING CHILD.... GROW UP PUNK!
Every day brings future to past, every breath leaves me one less to my last. DT
From another Marine
try to limit the F-bombs that tend to find their way into your posts. We have some younger viewers on this site and there is absolutely no need whatsover for that. Expand the lexicon…You’re a child…without the other word still is fitting.
"The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others." Don Shula
by SteelCage on Dec 11, 2009 11:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, I’d been with Blitz all year and saying that Arians wasn’t the only one to blame. But I can’t argue anymore that he’s got to go. First, the offense rarely attempts to make the defense make a difficult read. Second, the empty set has been killing the offense but they keep going to it. Third, right now Bruce is Ben’s buddy and Ben needs somebody to straighten his head out, get him to move more quickly in his progressions instead of enabling his bad habits.
And as tough as it is to say, it’s hard to imagine that this defense is going to look at all the same come next year. It really has five or six starters and about that many reserves that need to be replaced. Unfortunately, chances are that it will take more than a single offseason to rebuild the unit.
we will have troy and smith next year
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 10, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions
that will certainly help – hopefully Harrison, Woodley, Fox can help too. We already have a lot of the pieces
its bad but not as bad as some might think.
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:04 AM EST up reply actions
Agree. Draft corner help. Get Troy and Smith back healthy and this can be a top defense again.
by Steelers in XLIV on Dec 11, 2009 12:47 AM EST up reply actions
Plus you add in the
development of some of the rookies from this year, and we could be strong again pretty quickly.
ekl
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
I would include Troy and Smith as two of the 5 or 6 starters that should remain starters. But the rest of the secondary? All can go. Hampton will probably leave as a free agent and that’s OK. He’s not the same player he used to be. Farrior has been an incredible player for a long time, but he’s got to either become a situational player or be replaced outright. I’ve been a big Timmons fan, but he’s just not consistent . For his talent, he should be making as many plays as Woodley and Harrison and he’s not coming close. Kiesel, Woodley and Harrison are building blocks with Troy and Smith.
by pghnorthside on Dec 11, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
Timmons
I think what we’re seeing with Timmons is just growing pains. He really hasn’t gotten much consistent playing time yet with all his injuries. I think he’ll turn into an outstanding player
Pound the rock
by syracusepittfan on Dec 11, 2009 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
I agree. I don't want to
give up on him yet. I think he will be awesome very soon.
ekl
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
I’m less than impressed by Timmons, but it also seems that he seems to be more of a fit to replace Farrior than he was to replace Foote. So maybe that’s the answer.
by pghnorthside on Dec 11, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions
timmons
he we get better next year..it was his first full year as a starter
by nycsteelerfan on Dec 11, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions
They have ....
…..a mutually self indulgent relationship. That’s never good.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 10, 2009 11:58 PM EST up reply actions
Agree..official on board the dump BA bandwagon
When we as fans know that on 3rd and 3 it’s going to be an empty set, Ben in the shotgun, then you can presume that opposing Defensive Coordinators would pick up on that also. They will know the blocking scheme and the routes. They know exactly what’s coming, never surprised.
Maybe the steelers can promote from within. Is there anybody on their staff that can mix it up a little bit? Zierlein? Daniel?
by stylepoints on Dec 11, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions
Whis and Ben-
Ben wanted Whisenhut gone b/c Whis didn’t let Ben do things his way. However, we went 15-1 and then won a SB with Whis calling the plays. We even stayed in the hunt til the end in ’06 despite playing flat and without desire.
Arians IS too chummy with Ben. He definitely lets Ben keep up bad habits, even laughing off how long he holds the ball.
A major coaching shake-up is needed and some much better depth, including a QB to push Ben.
Question?
Because I was watching online and the stream froze on that final 4th down play, I’m not sure what I saw but did Rashard line as a wide reciever?
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 10, 2009 11:56 PM EST reply actions
Tomlin
I dont think Tomlin is the answer. He has no sidline intensity if a player messes up it is like oh well lets try again. He needs to get a hold of this team before he is not with this team.
Knee-jerk
Forget dude, Tomlin is a keeper. He just needs more experience in bad situations and he got that this year. Now we’ll see what he does next.
Yes
To Tomlin’s credit, he did not make many changes in his first year, or last year. This year will be different, we are not going to win the Super bowl, so all the good coaches that he may want to hire, won’t have already scooped up.
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:04 AM EST up reply actions
C'mon man?
BA has to go.
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:08 AM EST up reply actions
won’t have already been scooped up
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:06 AM EST up reply actions
Tomlin needs to learn how to handle his coaches and coordinators. I am not convinced that he is a keeper yet. He hasn’t shown that he can make adjustments during the season.
you can not fire a coach mid-season it presents alot problems
and besides no-one good is aviable
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:06 AM EST up reply actions
I agree that you shouldn’t fire a coach mid-season – but where were any changes made to stop the losing or to motivate the players or to even make minor changes with the offense or defense.
It was almost like he trusted his coordinators too much. He is the head coach and needs to lead the team. He did a poor job of leading this year.
He did a poor job of leading MOTIVATING this year. cohwer was a great motivator but ppl said he wasnt good at X’s and O’s (i’m just making comparisons, not saying one is better). i think tomlin is good with the X’s & O’s but isnt the best motivator. he goes by the philosophy of “these guys are professionals so they try their hardest all the time” which isnt always true.
What!?
Are you serious? You don’t think Tomlin is a good motivator? Every player that’s ever played for him gets pumped up when he speaks. The guy is pure verbal motivation. Our players just wouldn’t have it this year. Like Rocky Bleier said, "in the NFL you don’t need someone to motivate you. You should be self motivated.
Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!!!
by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 11, 2009 5:32 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed.
The Rooneys are not going to fire him anyway and they shouldn’t. When they hired him, they said he would grow into the job. That is what is happening. This is his first tough stretch of adversity. He is going to continue to grow and develop. If he strengthens his staff, he will be fine. Cowher didn’t win the big one until he LET HIS staff do their jobs.
ekl
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
i'm not calling for his firing
i said that in all the rest of my comments if you look below. just forgot to do it in this one (which was actually after those ones)
look at the way the team looked yesterday. 95% of them looked like they didnt want to be out there. some of that has to go on the head coaches shoulders (and agn i’m not calling him to be replaced, just work on it a lil in the offseason).
for example, tomlin said there would be changes to motivate the players. not a single starter was benched for any significant time (i think taylor was for one drive in the 3rd quarter). i think the message would’ve been sent if, say, he told the team their #1 CB was riding the pine for the 1st quarter. worked for mendenhall
hell
tomlin didnt even seem indifferent in his post game press conference and said this about the team
I like the fight in the group and I trust they will continue to do that.
what fight is he talking about??? i’m wondering if we’ve been watching the same team play the past 5 weeks (excluding the ravens game).
tomlin continually talks holding ppl accountable, so i’m only holding them accountable. and i want him to improve that aspect of his game
Rooney think so
And that’s good enough for me. Should be for you too unless you want to be the Raiders and change every year or so?
One game does not a franchise make
And they’ve been the goats of the NFL for a long time now, changing coaches like linemen change underwear…
I agree that the Raiders management is messed up; but you are comparing the most stable franchise with the least stable. There are 30 other teams in between. You don’t have to keep every coach for 15+ years.
Let him a least...
….prove he can fix the problems and not every problem can be fixed during the season.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
He will get that chance whether I like it or not with Rooney. It won’t change my opinion about him as a coach until there is consistency and he can win close games (not that it matters to anyone).
There's the conundrum....
….we’ve been in too many close games, in the last three years because our offense has been inefficient and unconvincing especially against average and poor defenses.
The more close games, the more disproportionally difficult it becomes to be consistent in that situation.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:40 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
and I think that we will continue to have too many close games with lesser teams with Tomlin in charge – the team (07-09) hasn’t closed other teams out.
by Sick Puppy on Dec 11, 2009 12:44 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
one step at a time...
or more serious and damaging mistakes will be made.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:52 AM EST up reply actions
right – they could’ve hired millen. But a losing record for this year’s team, with all of the talent (even with the injuries), is serious.
lol
you listen to some of his retarded comments during the game? no wonder he’s the only person to coach a 0-16 team. he couldnt even add at the end to figure out the browns would have to punt with a few seconds left
LOL....
…listening to him add out loud was hilarious!
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 1:12 AM EST up reply actions
i got so mad at some of his comments i told my friends to mute the TV
bet he loses a lot of arguments now.
Millen:“i dont think thats quite right…”
any other person in the world:“whatever 0-16, what do you know”
Millen sighs
Matt Millen's...
stupidity was my petronas charm!
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 1:18 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, i know..
but he’s had better game days.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 1:37 AM EST up reply actions
He's made a few mistakes...
…all of which are correctable and forgivable.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:06 AM EST up reply actions
Offensive coordinator
From my seat on the other side of the TVI know exactly when the Steelers will run (telegraphed) and where (off tackle) and with whom (the only running back behind Ben). This is known by the entire stadium and just by chance(?) the defense. Leads to a whole new lesson in “piling on”. Puts unstoppable forces on the blockers. The defensive backfield can ignore all receivers. And when the run is not telegraphed, Ben is blitzed and receivers double-teamed. This is old school, ossified offense. The only chance is for Ben to go free style, which can be great. Too often leads to many 3 and out and long tours for our defense. Defense has its holes but generally keeps the team in the game if only the offense could get a brain to support Ben. Old Steeler football of getting a lead and running out the clock on the ground is only effective if you can run on the ground. All this performance is largely related to bad play construction and bad play calling on the offensive side.
by PlanOfAttack on Dec 11, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
There’s a lot to agree with here. Virtually every other team will use a receiver in motion to fake a reverse before handing to the running back. Watch how often the Colts run play action off their stretch run play. The Steelers defense has been burned numerous times by the fake right, pitch left on third and fourth or short but have never run it themselves.
I think the lack of change in the coaching staff is actually hurting this year. It seems that too much stability eventually becomes stagnation.
by pghnorthside on Dec 11, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions
I presume you're answering my question.
If you are then, thanks and man is Arians F@#$&ng stupid.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I was
And yes he is! The guy is a great pass blocker and you’ve given up 8 sacks, leave him in the backfield!!!
what... the... hell.....
horrible season, horrible…
and now we get the packers and ravens, this aint good
At least they won the title last year
Although that just makes it suck.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
Optimism
how cool would it be if the Jets, Dolphins, Jags, Broncos, Ravens all lose this week. Is it gonna happen, probably not, but hey…
Not Very!!!!
You really want the steelers going to the playoffs the way we’ve played the last 5 weeks. I’d much rather have a nice draft pick then getting embaressed in the playoffs. It’s kind of a relief knowing that we’re going to save ourselves the embaressment we would see.
by colorado steelhead on Dec 11, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions
I would want the Steelers to make the playoffs every year any way possible. It only takes a 3-game hot streak to get to the SB.
Embarrassment in the playoffs is still a playoff game.
Ask the Raiders or the Lions or the Browns how much difference a high first round pick is worth. We have done pretty well with lower picks.
+1 9-7 isn't going to the playoffs this year
Let’s get a good draft and make a run next year. Last time we went 6-10 it turned out pretty good next year eh?
Cheers, -Dave The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. --Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
-1 9-7 is very likely to make the playoffs this year
It would take Jacksonville winning 2 from Miami, Indy, and New England or any of the 6-6 teams to win all 4 to NOT have a 9-7 team get in. Then it is all tie breakers.
We will lose every tiebreaker. Look at our division record and conference record all worse than those ahead of us
@9-7 – we have Head to Head against Miami, Tennessee, San Diego, Denver
The only teams that have already clinched tie breakers against us are Baltimore & Jacksonville. It is not over yet – only difficult.
I would have never thought that Steeler Nation would give up with 3 1/2 weeks left and a lot of possibilities left.
In lets say a three way tie does it not go to conference records? Thats what I had always thought but could easily be wrong. In this case I believe we are behind everyone in that tiebreaker. Correct me if I am wrong.
1) Break ties in division first
2) Head to Head Sweeps
3) Conference Records
4) Common Games (min of 4)
5) Strength of Victory
We are currently behind many teams but they will all have extra losses to get to 9-7. Tennessee already has 7 losses. New England, New York, Houston, & Denver could all get to 6-6. We need Jacksonville & Baltimore to lose because they would have the tie breaks. No one else is guaranteed yet.
Pittsburgh should rule in Strength of Victory because we lost to all the easy teams. Currently, we would finish with the highest SOV in the group of teams that could have 7 losses.
u guys
will be ok next year u will get troy back
okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule
This is unacceptable.
Are you kidding me? Game plans are BS…Coaches are BS… and players are BS. Tomlin walked into a already solid franchise and now that he is in full control, this is what’s happening? Somebody needs to wake up! Coaches says there are going to be changes? BS…
Should have gone with Dixon
COuldn’t have hurt.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
There was no reason...
…..to do that. Changing QB’s doesn’t help bad game planning, bad play calling and bad in game adjustments. Bruce Arians is just lousy at his job.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
Sorry bro
Must suck right now. Get well for next season.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
yep thats all we can do but I am still loyal to the steelers and always will be
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
hey
MaLoR enjoy being 9-7
okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule
Why you say that?
We haven’t lost 7 games…..yet.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
i watch u team mon
major penely plombers flacco try too much u have 1 wr u beat useif too much yes u couild be 10-6 but @pitt @oak will be touch to play
okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule
Whatever
Guess that means you lost to a crappy team.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
i am a denver fan
its my best intest to have u 9-7 becuase of tiebreakers nothing peonal
okay i have cereal palsy arhrtis and chronic fatiue as well i have a grea life loveing folks some days are better that other days i got a make a wish in 2001 saw my favorive team the broncos was the trip of the lifetime i wish everyone couild gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that ok but i bleed organ and bule
Just not your year
Not too sure how that is possible with how much talent is on that team, but things didn’t click.
Strange to say this, but you guys “only” have 6 Lombardis for a reason. It is impossible to be dominant in this league each and every year.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
we did it in the 70's but the NFL was different than
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
Yea
But I am talking like win Superbowl each year, like I am sure you expect your team to do. And trust me, coming into this season I would not have been surprised to see you guys repeat. You are that good, just not sure how it got to this point. Troy? Execution? Arians? Not my team to say what happened, so I’ll leave my opinion out.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Perfect storm of injuries suspect playcalling on offense
Even last year the play calling was bad. Also we lost some great people on Defense
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:19 AM EST up reply actions
An average CB and over the hill LB?
You guys definitely should have been able to still be dominant, which you have for the most part. Troy must really, really hurt. I am not surprised by that either. He is the best safety in the game.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
well if the Ravens lose Ed Reed it is the same thing
Some players are just have the perfect combination of football smarts and athletic ability.
I think that the team did not want it this year as much as the fans did. They all got their contracts and it is it.
Really we should not have won it all last year. We were lucky with a great QB and some picks on a great defense. at the right time that propelled us to victory. We rode our defense to the super bowl
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:27 AM EST up reply actions
gonna hafta disagree with you there
-missed a tackle on a WR (as in a WR broke our ILB‘s tackle) resulting in another 15 yards
- was too slow on the edge resulting in a TD
-remember rice’s 4th down sick catch & run against us…farrior was supposed to be covering him
-cinncy’s 4th down conversion on us….farrior’s guy again
and that just what i can come up with off the top of my head
oh, and let’s not forget cribs 11 yard first down run on 3rd and 10 in the 4th quarter to kill another 2+ min off the clock. farrior missed that tackle too.
wait correction: farrior’s tackle was BROKIN by a wide receiver.
farrior was by far one of the worst defenders today
All those plays
Have been used extensively by frustrated fans to bitch about Farrior’s demise, but even though I agree he has been mediocre at times, the same could be said of just about everybody on this year’s D. I think he may have slipped a little but is still pretty good…
lol
at least i know how to call blitzes in the 4th quarter when we’re winning. that aside (sorry a sore point from last week),
lebeau is awesome and farrior is probably right now better than anyone else we have or else they’d obviously be playing. i’m trying to say that i hope we find a replacement that is better than farrior this off season. he’s been involved with more plays that really hurt us than plays that really helped us this year. the guy was a pro bowler but he’s gonna be 35 next year. thats old and he’s probably only going to get worse
Now we agree
That argument is solid. I also think we should look to improve by drafting a couple of linebackers next spring, or getting a good one in free agency. Just a note, I think he still makes more plays that help us than miss ones that hurt us, but the clock is ticking…
From that attempt of a tackle on Cribbs
Kinda looks like it’s starting. No disrespect, happens.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
your wrong
lol, it was 2 tackles cribs broke on farrior, sir
and farrior makes them for a living
sepulveda seemed to do a decent job tackling him, maybe we can try him out at LB next week. heard he used to play in high school
It was different
Cause nobody cared about Roids or HGH. or the Immaculate Reception.
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 11, 2009 3:03 AM EST up reply actions
I will not talk crap
I didn’t even get to see the game at my friends apartment. Had to check my phone all the time.
Just get healthy and lets battle it out in 3 weeks.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Too bad, you would have loved it.
Try to catch it on replay
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
Oh, I recorded it
And will watch it tomorrow and break it down personally like I do every Steeler game I get a chance to watch.
But 13-6, there will not be too much to examine of your team.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
plenty of bad football
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:16 AM EST up reply actions
Just saw the highlights
Cribbs is insane. Imagine what he would do for a contending team. He is literally the only hope they have and had in this game. Just crazy how one player can take over the game. Their pass rush seemed unstoppable tonight against what I think is a solid O-Line so far this year.
But I have not caught enough of it to understand what happened though. Will probably read through the Open Threads to see some reactions.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Ben wouldn't throw it, kept taking sacks, more than usual.
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
Seems like it from the little I have seen
Guess he needs to work on that? Is it a problem with the WR not getting open?
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Those out-of-bounds passes must be covered too.
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:37 AM EST up reply actions
You will see.
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 12:43 AM EST up reply actions
thanks for the kind words
I do hope we can find something for the Ravens game, as I am going to the game all the way from down here… Oh well
It all starts in the trenches.
by The_Nation_in_Mexico on Dec 11, 2009 12:31 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I am sure you will find something
No matter how you guys are playing throughout the season, you seem to always find a way to bring your best football to our match-ups. I look forward to that.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Suspect Play Calling and Ben
Third downs went into empty back sets which allowed a free blitzer and Ben held the ball forever
Ben needs coaching
He needs somebody to tell him there’s a difference between extending and stalling. Too many of those sacks were his fault. Bad pre-snap reads and just no internal clock… I have a feeling nobody’s telling him to change because he’s a winner. But he needs to make quick decisions to be consistent.
Agreed
The coaching he needs isn’t going to come from BA. BA is to concerned about being his friend and whether or not they are going to meet up at a bar later in the week. BA is trying to be that “cool” dad that all your friends and yourself love, because he does cool things for you. But he never teaches you what you need to learn. For Ben to learn, BA has to go. PERIOD.
by redmik on Dec 11, 2009 2:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
yeah...
no kidding…I mean, really. Tomlin is in year 3. So, it was a bad year. Host of reasons why. I agree that BA needs to go, I have never been a fan. He’s too predictable. Only thing that I knock Tomlin for is not stepping in there on that one…
and changing QBs…first of all, Ben has had an amazing year up to concussion time. I don’t think he’s healthy and in THIS off-season, he needs to lay off sammiches, his triple chin is insulting me…though, I do think that’s part of the reason people have a hard time tacking him, regardless, hit the gym.
I think Smith and Troy healthy will make a big difference on defense…and look, the secondary…ahhhhhh, the secondary. Will and Ike are good, but they lacked that this year. They were better last year. I don’t know what the problem is.
Hopefully the team will get it together this off=season and come back strong, healthy and with a kick-butt attitude. Me and my terrible towel will be waiting…
Steelergurl
Losing is one thing-being embarrassed is another
Play calling has been predictable for weeks-Arians has to go. Special Teams coach has to go. DBs are pathetic without Troy.
We should start our youngsters including Dixon start building them-and drop the last 3 games to get us the best DB’s in the draft we can get.
by MeanJoeInGeorgia on Dec 11, 2009 12:09 AM EST reply actions
Spend money then?
Unfortunately Steelers prefer to build through the draft rather than buy veterans-with one notable exception of Jerome Bettis. If you can convince the Steelers to buy some good DBs coming up in free agency that might be different.
by MeanJoeInGeorgia on Dec 11, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
with a uncapped year that will help
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
Not that easy...
…they aren’t going to be a lot of free agents and you don’t want to get into bidding wars with the nutjobs.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
Cleveland's been doing....
…that for years and tonight’s not proof that it work’s.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
Honestly, I think the offense primarily just needs some fresh thinking. Sure, a couple young Alan Faneca’s would be welcome, but really I just think the offense needs to have more than one (bunch formation) or two (empty set) tricks up its sleeve. I think the talent is there, but the unit is limiting itself because the guys running it, Bruce and Ben, don’t want to stray from their comfort zone.
The defense could be problematic. Lewis, Burnett and Hood should obviously get chances to show if they can play, but I don’t think there’s a safety on the roster other than Troy. Chris Hoke is a great sub and a great person, but he’s not a long term solution. There’s no first or second year player that seems to project to a starter at linebacker either.
i would have to blame this on a lack of heart & desire on both the players and coaching staff. i’m not calling for tomlin or anyone else to be fired (maybe certain ppl, but not tomlin). but no one PLAYED with any heart, again including the coaches.
woodley
played his A$$ off
Pound the rock
by syracusepittfan on Dec 11, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
Yes he did....
He did indeed.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
i agree.
but i didnt feel like taking the time to write the 4 or 5 players that did. because really the other 40 some didnt.
it also isnt a good feeling watching your head coaches reaction to losing to your rival when they’re bad and missing the playoffs as a “aw shucks” type of reaction.
YES
I probably shouted the loudest-actually didn’t shout at all lots of choice words to myself-when Tomlin just leaned back when the fourth down pass was batted down. There is no passion, fire, desire on this team. No one wants to step up and take charge or get in peoples faces. I watched NFL networks America’s Game today which got me thinking about that. 2005 we had Porter who trash talked everyone he could, probably did it to his Grandma, he got into opponents head and brought that intensity to the field. WHERE IS THAT ON THIS TEAM?
i'm glad i wasnt the only one
i think tomlin goes by the philosophy of these guys are “professionals” and i shouldnt have to motivate them, yell at them or just scream on occasion.
i loved it so much more last year when he’d really get into games and show a lot more emotion at the end. they say teams behave like their coaches and i really feel this is how tomlin’s behaved all year, pretty unemotional. he said “they’ll be changes” and NO ONE was benched.
i’m NOT calling for him to be fired, just be a little (and i really mean only a little) more passionate next year.
There're other ways to...
motivate. Dungy, Vermeil and Belichack aren’t/weren’t yellers.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 12:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
you dont have to yell to motivate (i was just giving an example). but have you ever seen dungy or vermeil or belicheck react to loss like we just had the way tomlin did? he has to find some way to motivate beyond saying a couple cool phrases in his press conferences because talk is cheap. the way the team came out and played this week showed they werent playing with heart and that falls on tomlin’s shoulders.
again i think he’s a great coach and want to keep him for years to come but this is something he can improve upon
sorry i just realized i may have misinterpreted your post
i agree there are other ways to motivate, but what tomlin was doing at the end of this year certainly wasnt working
Those guys aren't Tomlin
Tomlin was firery last year, seemed to be that way when we hired him. We win the Super Bowl and everyone seems to get satisfied. Keep doing what got us that Super Bowl win, don’t change what works. There is an old saying that goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” It seems we tried to fix what wasn’t broken. Why? There is a time when you have to get emotional and that came 5 weeks ago and everyone, not just Tomlin, seems to have the “bummer” attitude. I can recall Vermeil getting into his players faces and yelling, didn’t happen often but it happened.
"I can recall Vermeil getting into his players faces and yelling, didn’t happen often but it happened."
exactly, and it probably makes even bigger impact on the players the few times he did it than if he did it all the time. i just wish tomlin would have done it.
he sat mendenhall for a week and look what he’s done. why didnt he sit some of the norm starters like he said he would for even a quarter. bet that wouldve got the message across real quick in the locker room if he told the the D that their #1 CB from last year is riding the pine for the 1st quarter and potentially the entire game.
Right on
Was going to bring Belichek in the conversation, but hate that man. Look what he did this week sending players home for showing up late, and for De-activating Thomas earlier in the year. Thomas came back the next week and dominated. I was looking forward to watching Tomlin come through on his word and sit starters and get Burnett and Lewis a lot of playing time. This was one of the reasons I blew off all homework was to watch them, and I got papers and finals tomorrow. Instead I sit disappointed. I just want some passion out of these guys, show us you actually care because all of us fans still do.
Reality
There comes a point in time that one has to look at the facts, while we as a community have looked to Tomlin to “make changes” and “unleash hell” little of the promised difference has occured. We still are unable to read and adjust to hot routes when presented with an obvious blitz package and we are unwilling to power run when the situation calls for it. As much as we want to look to the D for stop, as we so often could do in the past, our O needs to be accountable for their part of the game. Drops happen as does in correct execution, this is exusable if difficult. However our inability to alter game plans during a game to take advantage of the opposing defense is unacceptable. We have a multitude of looks, from a power I with D Johnson to a spread with Wallace Holmes Ward and Sweed, depending on the D we are presented. I fully expect B.Arians to be held accountable for the lack of production in the points margin. While I understand that Ben and B.A. get along, it is time to realise that Ben needs to perform at the highest level as an offensive manager and not rely on the D to bail him out. The team is what matters, not ones egotistical ideologies regarding how Ben “plays the game”
Being a Steelers fan is more than just liking a team, it's about accepting your challenge and doing it right.
by StVincentKid on Dec 11, 2009 12:31 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Real?
Can’t go back to sleep… had a very bad nightmare that the Steelers were crushed by the Browns
5 IN row
i could understand bengal,but not oakland ,and certainly not cleveland who are 1 in 10 its like they just quit takles sucked ,no running plays worked ,ok its cold outside i work in this crap everyday outside with less a lot less money we always get the job done ,im just stunned it looked like they didnt even wanna play ,i was there freezing right along with them ,just pitiful well they dont have to worry about a playoff spot cause u gys blew it tonight to a 1/10 team
Sepulvuda
Nice tackle dude…were you watching, Reed?
Mendhenhall, catch the ball and then look to run, watch the ball into your hands…
Good challenge for Tomlin, this run of games and season will either make him or break him….I say he goes on to be a HOF coach and we have more great years than bad in the next 10….in the meantime, lets knock the Pack and ravens out!
there is no where to go but up.. the thing that bothers me the most is that this team has alot talent but
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 1:21 AM EST up reply actions
Mendenhall
Pulled a Limas Sweed move
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 11, 2009 3:05 AM EST up reply actions
Hit like Sepulveda!
My revelation for the evening? Daniel Sepulveda needs not only to be our punter, but he also needs to play corner, and he needs to become the “Defensive and Special Teams Tackling Coach”.
:)
Learn how to tackle you bastards!
This is the second game this year that I’ve watched Sepulveda put his whole a$$ and heart into a tackle on a return. Yeah, it’s never pretty, and he doesnt really drive the hips, but when I see Sepulveda come in frame, I start feeling a lot better.
Which is the opposite of how I feel when I see Jeff Reed come in frame. I almost expect him to pull a pink handbag out and try to trip the returner with it.
Stick ’em Sepulveda! Stick ’em!
Sepulveda Destroys Kick Returner at Baylor
Here it is, thanks for the heads up Twell. Man…BAAAAAAAM!
HOLY SHIT!!!
My only two words when I watched that. As the commentators said, “ho, ho, ho now thats a decleater!”
Great Play
Enjoyed watching him even lower his shoulder before getting stiff armed, but still made the tackle. Alot of people could learn from that on our team. Wrap up and drag the guy down, don’t care if it doesn’t look pretty.
I'm glad he did
Helped us get a division sweep
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 11, 2009 3:23 AM EST up reply actions
Six?
Ward, Holmes, Wallace, Sweed, Grisham and…
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 1:51 AM EST up reply actions
Here is what fries me…we don’t even give Sweed a shot rather we play Grisham…maybe it is time for me to move on past my unnecessary man crush on Sweed, but NO I will not. He will make plays for us given an opportunity.
By Plays
You mean dropped TDs?
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 11, 2009 3:27 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly
Just like every other receiver has done for the Steelers this year, really no different only they continue to get chances
Yeah, I guess that's true
Though we continually give Dan Coats chances despite the fact he’s dropped FOUR TD passes.
by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on Dec 11, 2009 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
Ever Since Mr. Rooney's Been Gone...
… things have gone to hell! Do you think that has anything to do with this team’s demise???
Not sure but...
The lack of heart and fight on both sides of the ball sure can’t help.
Rooney
All last night I was saying to myself:
“See what happens when Dan Rooney goes to Ireland! See!” Best not focus on this one too much though, just more ammo for people who hate Obama.
“He’s a socialist”, “He’s a Muslim”, “He runied the Pittsburgh Steelers!”
Going to go out on an unpopular limb and say
Bruce Arians DID NOT lose the Steelers the last five games.
And you don’t have a clue if you think he and his play calling are the main reason this season is already in the gutter.
I’m not necessarily defending all of his coaching, nor am I saying that he should stay, but this ridiculous notion that firing him will fix things is a ludicrous knee-jerk reaction that — for everyone’s sanity — needs to stop.
This is not some two-bit franchise that goes all firing happy after an awful season. This is the Pittsburgh Steelers — have a little pride (and perhaps a little faith) that things will get better. As Steelers’ fans, we’ve gotten spoiled.
by smashtheguitar on Dec 11, 2009 2:24 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
He may not have lost them, but he sure did have a helping hand in it. BA to frequently abandons the run, doesn’t have a flow to his plan, and doesn’t make adjustments. He made no adjustments tonight to try to get our receivers freed up. He kept calling the same plays. He ran deep routes and plays that take to long to develop when the Browns were getting pressure. He too often takes the threat of running the ball out of the play which often leads to sacks. There also comes a time when you have to tell Ben it doesn’t hurt to get rid of the ball instead of taking sacks which BA doesn’t do.
Firing him may not fix the problem, you are correct. But, what he is doing isn’t working at all so why not try to find someone who can improve it. Sometimes it is important to put your pride aside and admit you made a mistake which has to be done. BA isn’t getting his job done. In any other business would you keep your job if it wasn’t getting done? The answer is no. Part of the blame has to be put on the execution, but it is up to him to make sure the players are aware of what they need to be doing each and every play. If they can’t do it find someone else who can or find something they can execute. That is his job and it isn’t getting done.
by redmik on Dec 11, 2009 2:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I’m with you, Smash. Fire Arians for calling the same plays he was calling in week 5? Or how about firing him because Mendenhall dropped that pass while we were driving? Or how about firing him because Ben held onto the ball way too long all night long and couldn’t read coverages and find the open man?
When your players don’t execute, it doesn’t matter what plays you call, they aren’t going to work.
Train Hard. Train Right.
PLayers also need chances to execute.
Naming a few instances of players messing up (they do from time to time, I acknowledge that) does not make up, or serve as an excuse, for how terrible BA playcalling has been. No consistency, the same 2 formations over and over, and I think most damning, he has been here what? 3 years? 2 years? Why does our offensive play book seem like a game of Madden? Lebeau morphs his plays to suit players strengths. If you tell me Arians seems to be doing the same thing I will slap you in the mouth. Whisenhunt did it as well, look at the gadget plays and such he used to run EVERY GAME. I mean, Dixon is doing relatively decent against BAL, a good OC can write up a couple plays Dixon can run that might give him a shot if no one is open, on the sideline or at halftime. Does Arians? No. He sticks to his gameplan no matter what. He’s like Obama with a fucking teleprompter, god forbid he has to make decisions on the fly. (Sorry, only analogy I could think of)
And you know what, if Ben gets along sooooo great with him, maybe they should get each other’s fucking numbers and hang out in the off-season. I dont give a fuck about their relationship, I WANT A COMPETENT OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR!
Heads need to roll this year. If Tomlin doesn’t have the stomach to eat his crow, then someone from on high needs to take matters into their own hands. Offensive line coach, Special Teams coach, and Offensive Coordinator need to go already.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results each time.
Temporary Saints fan.
Not so knee-jerk
Of course firing Arians isn’t going to solve all our problems, especially considering our dismal special teams issue. But what about Arians is there to like? Sure, he’s got a great relationship with Ben, but if that’s the only thing going for him then it’s time to change things. It’s hard to watch the offense put up the numbers they do and falter in the points column as badly as they do. I’ve been on the fire Arians bandwagon for a long time waiting for him to prove me wrong (which I would be perfectly fine with), but aside from brief glimpses of the offense living up to their pretty obvious talent—like earlier this season for a few games or random times throughout 2007—nothing has been very impressive.
Although a random note, I’ll give Arians credit for making that bunch formation a lot of fun to watch. He’s designed some great plays, but it seems he doesn’t have the slightest idea on how to string together a quality, intelligent game plan.
"Money isn't the world, anyway. Ain't no price tag on winning. Winning and making history is something you can't buy. Me? I'm a guy who loves history. When I'm 60 or 70, I don't want to be remembered for the money I made. I want to be in the history books." -- Lamarr Woodley
by PrimantisStillersNAt on Dec 11, 2009 6:24 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
It just feels icky to me to talk about firing a coach
That just helped you win the Super Bowl the previous year. That’s all.
by smashtheguitar on Dec 11, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions
Are you kidding me?
Yes, Bruce Arians is a fault for our losing record.
A team with a proficient offense should have expected to win six of the seven games we lost and would have won at least four, but we are not a team with a proficient offense and we go into fourth quarters with games close rather than closed out.
Bruce Arians has had three years to build a proficient offense had he has failed.
We struggle consistently on 3rd down and in the red zone, we consistently fail to control the line of scrimmage and we consistently fail to be explosive.
After three years of disorganization, mediocrity and predictability, to categorize calling for his firing as a knee jerk reaction is ridiculous.
Yes, we have problems on the defensive side of the ball but we are allowing 18.8 pts a game and 20.7 pts in our losses. Of teams conceding less than 21 pts and having a losing record, Washington, SF,Pitt all have major offensive woes.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions
Browns
Arians was fired as the OC for the Browns…Not the Colts. What I mean by that is when he had a QB that did all the work (Manning, Arians was the QB coach) he looks good. When he actually doesn’t have a QB who can change his crap calls every play (like with the Browns) he needs to go. He is an extremely weak OC with phenomonal talent that is being squandered. Against the Ravens, the roll out was killing them, so he oculd only use it twice. The players are not executing and I am not saying he is THE reason, but he is certainly one of them. He was hired to win Ben over to Tomlin. That is it folks.
"The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others." Don Shula
Even further out on a limb...
I’m not a huge BA fan, however, until the loss to Cleveland last night, the DEFENSE had lost 5 of the 6 games in the last quarter….that’s not the offense out there letting teams score as many as 21 points in the Fourth Quarter…Steeler Nation is out for BA’s head, however, this year, the ownership goes to the DEFENSE for giving these games away. Looks like everyone’s figured out Dick’s Defense and is exploiting it to the hilt…sorry guys. Steeler fan forever.
by Dabombdiggity on Dec 11, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions
Question?
Knowing that our defense is struggling in the fourth quarter of games, do you think our offense after three years with BA at the helm is capable of putting together drives late in the game to protect a lead and our defense by keeping them of the field and taking large chunks of time off the clock the the Bengals did at Heinz field?
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 11, 2009 8:12 PM EST up reply actions
Totally agree...
….we need the whole package, AND the Defense has been compensating for the Offense’s lack of scoring. With that said, this season, our ‘O’ has been more complete than it has been in 2 yrs w/ Mendenhall putting up numbers greater than Mewelde and Willie. Additionally, Mike Wallace has stepped up multiple times and has taken some pressure off of the Ben/Hines/Santonio – predictability. We have lost those 5 of 6 w/in one score (FG), so I think our points on the board hasn’t really been the problem. Our D, which has been so strong for so long and has kept us in games for so long, has just run out of steam in the last quarter….I cannot figure it out and the only conclusion I draw is a ‘lack of motivation’…or fitness?
by Dabombdiggity on Dec 12, 2009 6:48 AM EST up reply actions
Smizik
Is correct. I normally think of him as very smug and on the unfair side, but that was a correct characterization of this game as a disgrace. I do not know where we even start with this one.
I do not know what is causing this lack of heart and effort, but whatever it is, (coaches, personnel, etc.) it needs to go.
by SteelCurtain4Life on Dec 11, 2009 2:30 AM EST reply actions
WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The last two weeks were about PRIDE people!
Citizens of the Steeler Nation, I am fucking fit to be tied right now! This shit is shameful. We can’t even play for pride, let alone play to win. These past two losses were the most painful because they were both to rivals that normally couldnt lift the jock straps of the Steelers. I want B.A.’s (or Bitch Ass as I like to call him) head on a spike for all to see at the intersection of the Three Rivers as a warning to all who dare to come into Pittsburgh and try to subvert the progress of this team!
Steelers
Please get rid of Bruce Arians !!!!!!! He calls the worse plays in Steeler history. I can’t believe it!!! I’m I the onle one who sees this?
Linda in PA
I have no desire to go to work or be in public today. This is a nightmare.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
Garbage
Our Oline and and Corners were finally exposed as the frauds they are. The line play is actually regressing Big Ben’s development. Our corners can’t cover, can’t tackle, can’t catch; they are just downright garbage. I am so despondent right now, I haven’t felt this bad since 2003 (I expected the fall off in 2006). Well as my Eagles friend says time after time, “there always next year!”
Anybody for a group hug?
Look what I can do!
by NS_Stillers_Fan on Dec 11, 2009 7:09 AM EST reply actions
Be honest with yourselves
You had to see this coming. This team just has no drive or desire. That fire that just said no to winning last year is a figment of our imaginations this season. A lot of people have been saying we have all the components of a good team, but we are missing that little something. I assume it is a SB hangover or maybe Tomlin is taking it too easy on the guys this season, I don’t know.
For the rest of the year: Sit Troy and preserve the knee. Work on replacing Farrior with Fox. Take a look at the rookie CBs. SB XLV here we come!
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
-Mike Tomlin's idea of "Unleashing Hell"
*no to losing
Haha whoops
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
-Mike Tomlin's idea of "Unleashing Hell"
by John Stephens on Dec 11, 2009 8:14 AM EST up reply actions
Missing Piece
I think it is someone who cares every damn game every damn play every damn second and cares what the fans and people think of the team. We miss someone who is going to go out and smack someone in the mouth, someone who is going to get in peoples faces, someone who is going to intimidate someone on the field and verbally. Said it before and will say it again, I want Porter back so he can get in people’s faces and get in opponents head that he was going to try to take it off. That man was an animal in the postseason of 05 both verbally and playing, except the SB. Where is that guy on this team?
Yep, no drive!
Never 11 guys working in unison like last year on any given play. Just a couple of guys working and a bunch of losers going through the motions. I think that’s a byproduct of lenient coaching. You have the culture you create!
Please stop unleashing hell, coach, I can't take it anymore!!!
This was no surprise
Johnny S is right. The loss to Kansas City took the wind out of this team’s sails. Perhaps had they pulled it out in Baltimore, but they didn’t. Tomlin does deserve the blame for this, through and through. But Parcells and Walsh had Super Bowl hangovers their first times around.
Perhaps Tomlin can follow suit, but he failed this year, that is for sure.
by Hombre de Acero on Dec 11, 2009 8:11 AM EST reply actions
Oh!
And please don’t feed the trolls in any of the posts. If they don’t get responses they will just stop posting. “Be the bigger man and walk away”.
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
-Mike Tomlin's idea of "Unleashing Hell"
as hard as that is
I have to agree with you there, just gotta swallow our pride and ignore the trolls
I love being a Steelers fan, Its like a gift from the man upstairs
by LayinTheWoodley on Dec 11, 2009 8:17 AM EST up reply actions
Can anyone make a case for Bruce?
Can’t see how BA keeps his job, any good arguments to the contrary?
Going empty backfield after being sacked 6 times already is not risky, it’s just stupid…
Just move the frickin’ chains, instead dialing up an array of 15 – 25 yard passing routes!
by western mass steeler on Dec 11, 2009 8:53 AM EST reply actions
What really REALLY pisses me off
Is that BEN CAN SEE THE DEFENDERS AT THE LINE. Can you NOT move one of your fucking guys to cover the extra rusher? It just seems FUCKING RETARDED to see you dont have enough guys to block on that side, with no one in the backfield to pick up, and still snap the ball. WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?!
This team needs alot of work in the off-season/ Fuck an off-season, I want the whole team practicing 2/3 of the whole off-season, establishing a rhythym and making an actual OFFENSIVE PLAYBOOK. Hopefully written in the blood of Bruce Arians.
Someone needs to hang that fucker from one of the walkways at Heinz Field.
Worst. Coach. Ever.
Temporary Saints fan.
Miss the the Wiz...
I know the doode is gone, but remember that playbook?
Even in the defeat you always new the Wiz had a plan..BA gives no identity to the O and has no mid-range game plan…Can I get more than 1 check down to Mendenhall a game please?
by western mass steeler on Dec 11, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
And part of being a good coach is to know what the strengths and weaknesses of your players are. Clearly, right now Ben is struggling on third downs and particularly in sets with four or five receivers. To continue to heavily use those formations on critical downs is (to be charitable) highly suspect.
by pghnorthside on Dec 11, 2009 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
Exactly
This is on the coaches…Lebeau too. Love him, but you have to do better with what you have, both weaknesses and strengths. BA…not saying anything.
This Tomlins challenge…what’s he going to do? I think this exposes him if he is really an average coach who rode talent an chemistry to the SB last year…or if he is a great coach/diamond ijn the rough.
I think the latter. You got three games to show us Tomlin…set us up for 8-10 years of making at least wild card, and one or two all-the-marbles.
Twell, well said...
I’m in your camp my friend…we need to be cautious in worshiping the Lebeau altar. We can’t expect to give up 21 points in Fourth quarters and still win football games. We’re scoring enough points to win if the Defense was doing it’s job. I don’t blame Lebeau directly because, specifically, the players need to execute. What I do see is a general lack of intensity….could there be something deeper that’s baffling us all?
by Dabombdiggity on Dec 11, 2009 7:37 PM EST up reply actions
Ya I said as much in one of my posts above.
Lebeau writes his playbook to take into account his players strengths and weaknesses, which is to our disadvantage when we are missing the key piece to the whole thing, but Arians just calls plays. He’s an idiot and barely fit to be a high school coach.
Temporary Saints fan.
If there's any validity fo the "Super Bowl Loser Curse" (which there isn't)...
…apparently the wrong team won the Super Bowl. ::shrugs:: Sadly, “next year” is truly next year for the Steelers. Rough up the Packers a bit if you would.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
The team with the most points at the end
won the Superbowl, TYVM.
Wrong team won?
No the right team did last year. We got a bunch of prima donnas coaching and leading the team who thought that no one would notice their flaws last year, and decided to just “let it ride” and basically employ the same exact gameplan into a changed environment.
This team really needs to grow the hell up in the off-season.
Temporary Saints fan.
I like Coach Tomlin and he isn’t totally at fault for this loss. Only a handful of players showed up and one of them was the punter. The coordinators, and I mean offense and defense, both failed to put their units in position to counter how the Browns were attacking them.
But Tomlin can’t say he’s going to make changes and then not back up his word. To not even dress Keenan Lewis is unconscionable. It makes me concerned that not only is there possible discord in the locker room, but that there’s disagreement on the coaching staff. And I have to say, that the most disturbing thing about Bruce Arians is that when he talks about the offense, he says “my offense”. Maybe it’s simply a poor choice of words, but it isn’t his offense and if Coach Tomlin comes to him and tells him to install a fullback and never run an empty set formation again, it’s his job to follow through on that. But it just doesn’t seem like anything, who is on the field, what tactics are used, what plays or defenses are called, reflect what Tomlin says publicly. Although where it is isn’t clear, there is a palpable disconnect between the message that the head coach is sending out and the product on the field.
13 Points?
Granted, the defense had trouble getting off the field and we simply can’t force turnovers, but 13 points shouldn’t beat you. The defense has blown their share of games this year (@Cin, @KC, Oak), but last night was not one of them.
~Tommy~
by sb24ws2005 on Dec 11, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
There's discord somewhere in the org, fer sure.
Your veteran WR bus-tosses your QB in public? Your offense looks completely lost against some of the worst defenses in the NFL? Receivers give up on routes while the QB still has the ball?
Trouble in paradise, folks.
My heros have always been Steelers...
Band of Brothers?
What a bunch of hogwash – how do we fail that many gut checks? No heart. We easily have enough talent to win some of those five at least. I need to call a Saints fan and get one of those bags for my head – they clearly don’t need them now.
Makes me want to puke. I don’t even remember feeling this hopeless about the team in the 80’s.
by SteelCurtain4Life on Dec 11, 2009 10:43 AM EST reply actions
Empty backfied, another sack ... Farrior whiffs on another tackle ... Ben holding on to ball and taking sacks
Same iissshhhhttt different day. This team will not win another game this season. They are too shell shocked right now. Still say resign Snack, extend Santonio and Woodley, and let some of this age go: Clark, Carter, Farrior, Kirschke, Townsend. Make Ike fight for his job next year and move Gay to safety.
Coach Ben to be a complete QB and to not hurt his team by taking so many sacks. Burn all your plays with the empty backfield (I watched the first quarter and said how many sacks will the Steelers have before BA and Ben realize that empty set stuff is trash).
Tomlin will grow from this. He’s a keeper. A person can’t have all mountaintop experiences. There has to be some valleys. Still, he’s going to be hearing about that “unleash hell” diatribe for a long time. The coach put himself out there and his players didn’t back him up. Let the youth movement begin.
Truth...as always
I agree. Good to see some rationale amidst quite a few jerks of the knee.
I agree largely with you. I believe that the biggest culprit this year, in the W/L column, is the defense…(go figure)…the same defense that lead us to the trophy last year. While I haven’t posted any of these thoughts on here, I’m sold on the idea that James Farrior, for example, just can’t get it done anymore. He’s 33+ years old! It takes a special athlete to maintain such a high level of play at the linebacker position at that age. He’s a gapping hole in passing situations, the youth of the league outruns him easily, and his tackling is at times, nauseating. Ryan Clark…he’s a big hitter, but I haven’t really seen much else from his this year. His coverage/ball skills are awful, he’s dropped at least 3 sure-fire interceptions, and his tackling is also pretty bad. Townsend is old, too old to play a cover position. He would probably be a valuable addition to the defense coaching staff, but he can’t effectively play the position anymore. As far as Ty Carter goes: my hat is off to him. The biggest defensive shoes to fill in the NFL, just might be those left by ol’ 43…and I believe that Carter has done a pretty decent job…at least better than I expected. I don’t think Carter is a starter, but, depending on his age, I think we keep him one more year as a backup. And….Swaggin’…Face Me Ike….Whatever he wants to call himself, I don’t care, but he should call himself “Benched” becuase he blows this year. He is a classic example of a corner depending on a safety to play his position well. Without help, Ike’s been worthless this year. That jump ball he lost against the Raiders was disgusting. I would have benched him right then, and made him earn his PT. Pathetic.
Changes are in order next year, and I think we can all agree on that.
breathe in deep feel your heart beat, just to know that life's worth livin'. feel your feet on the earth, better love it while it's still here spinnin'.
by NoCal-SteelCity on Dec 11, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
I mostly agree Datruth
Couple of points, though:
1-Of the group mentioned, keep Farrior but transition him out, moving Timmons in his spot and Fox in his. Farrior can become veteran depth since he’s under contract. Gay at safety, not sure, I’m thinking competition must be brought in at corner and safety either way.
2-Ben must be coached to take quicker decisions. This is key to some of the sets’ effectiveness. Sometimes they had an uncovered receiver but BB still held the ball, and of course got sacked. That has to be coached up. That covers the empty sets, that are not bad per se but just not good with a QB like BB. I think Ben works best out of a balanced offense where he can have the benefit of playactions and personnel in the box.
3-BA needs to adjust. Cleveland ran cover 2 man under most of the game. That means the box is light in three receiver sets and defenders can be run off by the receivers. When you read that presnap you have to run draws. They were begging for it and we never capitalized aside from that one QB improv.
4-Tomlin needs to start to back up his talk or just shut up. I’m tired of his lengthy phrasing and cliches. People will judge you by your actions. You talk about playing your young corners and then you deactivate one to dress a SIXTH wideout (let’s not forget Logan is 5th) in freezing conditions? Makes no sense at all. Coaching needs to get better. And if things don’t drastically improve, some coachs’ heads need to roll. That’s the nature of the game. Every coach needs to work on improving his staff if recurring problems are not solved. Stability is important, but results are paramount.
Please stop unleashing hell, coach, I can't take it anymore!!!
Larry Foote only signed a 1 year contract in Detroit. Maybe we can get him back.
Who's laughing now, O Line??? Ben Roethlisberger (from the Podium) to his O-Line and the world in Superbowl XLIII
by SteeladyinVA on Dec 11, 2009 4:05 PM EST up reply actions
Steelfrog, good assessments ...
I have no problem with the concept of running an empty set, but when you have a QB like Ben who won’t get rid of the ball under any circumstances, it’s just not a good fit. Everyone in the stadium knew that when the Steelers went empty backfield, the Browns were going to blitz one more off the edge than the Steelers had to block with. I also think if you were to look at a lot of Ben’s INT’s during the past two years, many have come off of this empty set (particularly the throws to the right flat that had ended up being pick 6’s).
I don’t buy this “you aren’t letting Ben be a playmaker when you are coaching him to get rid of the ball” stuff if no one is open. It seems to have worked pretty well in the careers of Peyton, Brady and Drew Brees. This would also keep Ben from getting hit so much if he can get the ball out of his hands.
Agree that BA should have adjusted earlier. I definitely think Whiz would have seen that and tried to exploit. His playcalling during the Steelers playoff run to the Super Bowl under Cowher was amazing. I am starting to believe that Ligashesky and BA could be gone in the offseason. I think both are in the final years of their contracts, too. Still think RB’s coach Kirby Wilson has the best chance to be the team’s next OC.
by datruth4life on Dec 11, 2009 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
Yep
We agree Datruth… About Kirby Wilson, I don’t really disagree, I’m sure it’s a good bet but with a young HC I’d rather have an experienced OC both as a prestige/credibility thing to turn things around with the players (Ben in particular) and I think it would be best, just like an experienced DC has worked well on D.
Please stop unleashing hell, coach, I can't take it anymore!!!
* deep sigh *
Ugh. My thoughts:
1. The important thing to remember about last year is that we were not a dominant team. The schedule was brutal, but we were generally playing very tight games all season long. In other words, our margin for success was very narrow, and ultimately relied on the play of a historically great defense. Going into this season our margin was still going to be narrow. And with our defense not being up to last year’s level (vis-a-vis Troy’s injuries and a laundry list of others underperforming), we are on the wrong side of that margin.
2. I am officially on the “fire Arians” bandwagon now; my patience is not infinite. Put simply, you need to be a good X’s and O’s guy to run a successful offense; everyone has to know their role, and there have to be consequences for players not executing those roles. The Arians approach seems to very broad and general; i.e., run very basic sets and let Ben or whomever improvise something. While we’ve got tons of talent on our offense, that approach just doesn’t cut it against NFL defenses. The guy’s had 3 seasons to get a consistent offense working with a lot of very talented players, and he hasn’t gotten it done.
3. This offseason will tell us all we need to know about what kind of coach Mike Tomlin is. There have to be consequences for the lack of heart and lack of effort on the part of many players. If there aren’t, I will start to think that I’ve misjudged him.
P is for Latrobe.
Resurrected Sadness of the 90's
I havent felt this let down since having to watch an incredibly talented 90’s team continue to fall over and over again to lessor opponents due to ultra conservative coaching and a quarterback or two not having their head screwed on straight.
We are somewhat seeing that again -BUT – now their seems to be the missing WARRIOR intesity of a Greg Llyod or Joey Porter who say “i will take a fine, or a penalty on occassion, I dont care – I want the quarterback to know I am coming to hurt him”.
COACHING – what has happened to this – our DB’s have some of the worst technique – I know its popular to watch the backfield now – but why – how many times does that result in a pick? How many times does that technique result in your man breaking free? Far more often. Ben holds the ball too long – Arains is a terrible coach – been saying that for two years. I am terrified that Timmons might become another Kendrell Bell situation – which would be sad to see.
Doing the little things right needs to become a motto – and GET FREAKIN MEAN – move through a couple of interviews with a scoul on your face. Grow a HEART – I was proud to see Hines backing up his tough talk playing wounded like that you could see he is hurt and hamstrings are the worst.
Grace and Peace to the NATION
What's wrong?
I know it’s too late for this team and many people want to fire people and think up all kinds of reasons for the terrible play. Let’s look at the following, because it’s a snowball effect as to the state of the crummy steelers.
not football related—→BB’s rape allegations in his head.
1. Losing the free agents
2. Losing players due to injury
3. Relying on lesser players to pick up the slack for the free agents that left and/or are injured.
4. Special Teams KILLED the steelers for many games in a row.
5. Failed play in the 4th quarter by those mentioned in #3.
6. Ward screwing up team unity by saying BB shoulda played
7. OL line allowing the BB to get killed last night
8. Uncreative play creation and play caling by Arians.
9. Not forcing BB to take what the defense gives him and allowing him to ALWAYS try extend the play which allows in sacks and him taking a beating.
I think all of the above has added up the current mess of the steelers. It’s just a huge snowball effect…..if it’s not one thing this week…..it’s another thing….or another….or another.
This team should play out the rest of the season, not for fans, not for anything but to prove to themselves that they at least play with passion and pride!!!!
#6, not sure is accurate
My take on that is he was reflecting a general lack of chemistry that was already there…not bad blood, but not “Band of Brothers”….which was last years team, not this one. You can get the job done with average players and couple of ringers mixed in if they have chemistry. When I watch guys just running by our guys on the line and in the secondary, nobody’s got each others backs.
This is Tomlin’s problem to solve, and lebeau needs to adjust and BA…not saying anything.
Number 9, I am with you 100%. Ben is stuck on the long play, and BA isn’t helping, or Ben doesn’t pay attention. I think Ben needs to start over and go back to his rookie style of play for a while, just to get a refresh
Hate to say it...
but I am liking Ben less lately…rather watch Dixon learn to be an NFL QB….he probably wouldn’t get hit as much….and he can run away from guys
I don’t buy the chemistry issue. If it is in fact an issue, I don’t understand how. It’s largely the same team as last year.
Watching the game last night, I wanted to tip over my brother’s new TV and tear apart is newly renovated living room. They just seem so vanilla.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Dec 11, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions
It is a team that hasn’t had to go through losing. It is easy to have good chemistry when everything is going good.
(Disclaimer: this does not imply that I am saying that the team chemistry is bad)
On Reflection....
…count’em and sick puppy…you might be right that its not chemistry, but its something, the intangible…. as far as largely the same team, injury and guys moving on (Foote, etc) unlinked something. Someone during the game kept posting “They’re playing with urgency” last night…did you think so? If they were, it wasn’t helping (and I don’t know why the guy wouldn’t type something different instead of the same thing over and over).
I didn’t sense what they needed…they needed to play together and like their hair was on fire (and not just to stay warm). The Browns, they just played over their heads with Passion. Where is the fire and passion…..I think when Tomlin said “unleash hell”…he didn’t get it out of them. Why not (rhetorical question)
#6 & #9
I’m not saying that any of these is more than the others having a negative impact. But any distractions cant be good….and if BB said he was hurt, then that effects his mood, and I’m sure his mood effects his play. He’s human and we cant take that out of the equation.
Again…..not saying it was a huge thing……..but i’d bet it hurts a bit and hasn’t helped.
As for BB and the love of the long ball. between him and arians…..they just need to mix it up, find what works during THAT game and attack it. If everyone is covered, then try other plays. There’s soooo much talent that what makes this so frustrating is that it’s not taken advantage of.
If they truly sucked, there would have been no super bowl this year, and they would be leading in so many stats either. The talent is there…….it’s been on display…..it just sucks RIGHT NOW.
Good points
I see what you are saying, and on review can reconsider. And being hurt and the mood effect…yeah, you’re on to something.
And you’re right, they have been there as far as stats, so they don’t suck….except for right now as you stated. I guess only those guys know right now what the deal is.
You know, Joey Porter’s got passion…Ray Lewis has passion….Maybe its time for James Harrison to get loud, the consequences be damned…or is he not that kind of guy?
screen pass
why did BA never try one? or am i mistaken? I know ben just HATES dumping the ball off for the easy cheap 6-8 yards that helps moves the chains (instead, he’d rather take a sack trying for that 26-yd completion).
If we are being tormented by the cleveland pass rush when we clearly know its coming, WHERE IS THE SCREEN PASS???
COWHER/RON EARHARDT/MULARKEY LOVED THE SCREEN PASS
by SteelCityMafiaNewOrleans on Dec 11, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions
Becoming one
I want to share in their misery when Cincy loses in the playoffs and when Baltimore doesn’t even make it.
Given the current state of the union, fashion is out the window…if you will.
Bad Andy, Good Pizza.
by count'em_six on Dec 11, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions
Then we have nothing.
Becoming a troll on others blogs does nothing to help us. All it does is invite more trolls to come here. Not a good idea in my opinion.
"We just have to play better as a whole team." James Harrison
by LongTimeSteelersFan on Dec 11, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
Baltimore gets no sympathy...
…but Cincy, I have no ill will. No offense, I am glad Palmer is back and playing well. I respect that guy. I wish we had beaten them straight up in that playoff back in 05, but then again, we might not have beaten them…they were good.
But I don’t want to antagonize, its like throwing hand grenades instead of using a sniper through window of a crowded room…you get lots of people who haven’t earned it.
so who are people pulling for in the playoffs?
I mean, I will be aiming to see the bengals/ravens/pats get crushed
but after the first round, maybe the saints or cards to make the superbowl
I’d like to see the Vikings win. I don’t dislike anyone on their team and we did beat them…
I’ll rank who I am rooting for
1. Vikings
2. Packers
3. Saints
4. Cardinals
5. No one
6. Playoffs Canceled
7. The end of the world
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 11, 2009 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
put a fork in it
if we can not beat KC OAK, and Cleve. then we do not deserve the playoffs
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 7:59 PM EST up reply actions
reread his comment...
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 12, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
I like Brees...
…good guy, stacking up numbers with no reward…and the shit situation in San Diego…so I am for the Saints….unless Pitt is playing them…that would be a satisfying win, taking out a turbo team like them….like beating the Vikes earlier in the seas…..shit, did we beat the vikes? I guess we don’t suck…except right now (thats for you Ragnar, thanks for premise check)
Saints
It would be nice for that city…and I am a big Drew Brees fan
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Dec 13, 2009 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
Cardinals
They will soon become what we had with Whis…a quality running team, dominating O-line-credit Russ Grimm-a defense that is flying to the ball and making plays, and a potent passing attack-not saying we had on with him but AZ does. Not to mention they have good special teams play.
Ummm....
…that used to be our team…
sigh…..when they played the vikes, Collinsworth kept calling what they were doing that night “Steeler Football”….I guess the guy isn’t a total idiot.
Made my point...
I just didn’t want to call them that yet since they aren’t on the same running game level we were. I hate saying this, but that is a team I wish we could be like. Feels wrong saying I want the Steelers, a NFL powerhouse, to be like the Cardinals, an NFL dumpster dweller for years.
Don't go there....
….remember, other teams have been copying ‘Steeler Football’ for decades…ok, maybe an overstatement…but proud, none-the-less. Teams that create their own path end up winners because they find different ways to win (49ers in the 80’s, West coast offense…that everyone copied.) From reading the strings above, seems like the common theme is our Offensive Line. We held our own last year, but this year, teams have discovered how to exploit…8 sacks in one game…164 sacks in 4 years…regardless of the Quarterback, the O-Line can’t protect and can only moderately create holes for the run. I believe if we start there, the rest will come; It all starts with the Offensive Line…give Ben more time, Open holes for Rashard, Mewelde, Willie, buy time for the receivers…starts with the O-line.
by Dabombdiggity on Dec 12, 2009 7:00 AM EST up reply actions
Fans
I have read articles that the Steelers have hit “rock bottom”. Let me tell you something, Steeler fans don’t know what rock bottom is. If they had to go through everything Browns fans have gone through (The Fumble, The Drive, Red Right 88, The Move to Baltimore) there would be no Steeler Nation. I know fans are hopping off the bandwagon, but don’t worry because once the Steelers win again they will dust off there jerseys and hop right back on. Cleveland fans are LOYAL, and after reading some of the comments all over the internet, I’m not so sure about Steeler fans!!!!!
I dunno about these other guys…but I have been a Colts Vikings Saints fan my whole life… Go David Brees! Marcus Colston! Jeremy Shox! SaiNtS 4 LiFe!!!
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 11, 2009 3:20 PM EST up reply actions
We are just disappointed, that's all...and we EXPECT more from our team, unlike Brown's fans.
Who's laughing now, O Line??? Ben Roethlisberger (from the Podium) to his O-Line and the world in Superbowl XLIII
by SteeladyinVA on Dec 11, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
You're right...
…rock bottom is relative, and the Browns fans I know are my relatives. I gave them kudos shout outs this morning because their team earned it last night….and as my uncle said, they have been waiting a long time to beat the Steelers, so I get it.
Steelady is right, its very disappointing…but not faith shaking. There’s a lot of moaning and groaning and grasping for answers BECAUSE we care so much.
But we have a quality foundation that will mean we will spring back…so, we’re down but not fleeing. You will continue to see yellow towels dominating your team’s stadium when they’re matched up
My thoughts
We’re in a loser state of mind right now, and no one is getting up and screaming at these guys to snap out of it. That’s what guys like Joey Porter and Jerome Bettis were great at. Farrior had been that current guy but he seems pretty quiet lately as he is not backing up any talk with his play. The only person playing like a champion right now is LaMarr Woodley who, after a slow start, has been on fire during this losing streak. Did you see him run down Cribbs last night from behind to save a TD? I wanna hear what his doubters are saying now. But I digress; we’re in hell right now no doubt about it. We’re not playing inspired football, and no one is waking up.
I posted this on Arians and his offense on another thread:
Nah Bruce Arians just sucks
Plain and simple. There’s not a lot of consistency to his game. The Steelers offense is in an identity crisis, and despite some success this year, which has come at the expense of some weaker teams, has no identity (to quote the Terry Bradshaw). Partially why they can’t close games out this year has to do in part, with the inability to run out the clock with a consistent ground game. When you pass the ball as much as we have, the clock stops more with every incomplete pass, drives as a result, do not take as much time off the clock. Our Veteran defense is on the field more, gets tired faster, and proceeds to let up late scores. Just my theory. Not the only reason why we’re in hell right now, but I feel it plays a large role.
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 HighSchoolSteeler on Dec 11, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
On the Brightside, the draft just got a helluva lot more interesting, and I’m aiming to post my third quarter draft report this weekend.
Keep your heads up guys, can’t win every year.
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 Dec 11, 2009 3:15 PM EST reply actions
Look guys...this would be soo much worse if we had not won the Superbowl last year.
I know, I know!! This should have never happened, but we are STEELER fans!! We have the best team in professional sports!! They’ve had a few bad games. My god, do you realize how hard they fought last year? They got killed every game. They probably should never even have made the playoffs with their schedule. Give them a break!! I know it hurts, but they are hurting more.
Who's laughing now, O Line??? Ben Roethlisberger (from the Podium) to his O-Line and the world in Superbowl XLIII
Disgusting sight in NYC
Just came out from a nice lunch that helped me forget, for a brief time, about last night’s debacle…. but as I made my way back to my office in Manhattan’s financial district, I see some jackass in a Browns hat. It was immediately apparent that the hat had never been worn before as it was stiff and clean. I can just imagine how excited this tool was to have a reason to wear it in public. I felt like kicking him in the groin.
I almost lost my lunch.
"If I could start my life all over again, I would be a professional football player, and you damn well better believe I would be a Pittsburgh Steeler." Lambert
Look on the Bright Side
The hat will be in the trash soon enough.
I love being the most-hated guy here. I love beating them while [their fans] are flicking me off. --Hines Ward
Sometimes its good to lose it makes winning that much better
Since this is the rant page I will let it all out. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaahhhh ok thats over. Don’t know if anyone in the steeler organization reads this but I will talk like they do and hope they listen here it goes: 1st we have essentialy the same team as last year but not the same lucky bounces or calls that made us champs last year so there is not much to change but the key pieces missing have made us mediocre. Without Troy the D needs a differ scheme. Look for more of the Tampa 2 next year I love coach Lableau but his scheme needs a fast hard hitting safety that makes the other QB spend at least a half a second on the snap to see where that guy is that 1/2 second allows the rush to get them we have been a 1/2 second away from 30 more sacks thats what Troy does without him the QB can read the blitz and burn us. If we get Troy hurt we must change schemes on D to have less blitzing period. unfortunatley there is only 1 Troy and we will not find it in the draft if you think a corner is going to make a change forget about its the blitz scheme it must have a Troy or it wont work because offense these days thrives on blitzing teams and the wildcat is designed to eliminate the blitz with Troy he eats it up and even Peyton has to take a second to find Troy next years draft must be O line. The jags will make the playoffs cause they took 2 lineman early last year and they have wway more holes. If we get a top 20 pick and dont draft a stud lineman look for Tomlin to have a short career in Pitt. The line we have now is average and it shows yes Ben holds the ball long but the pressure up the middle and on the outside is horrendous he is a $100 million man he needs Oline help that will allow more rushing wich rest the D as far as BA he does not call plays as much as Ben does so you can’t falt him that much give him a good Oline and his O will work good. Stop drafting for the future coach this team window is closing and if you build for the fututre you will be fired you are a sound coach and the players love you but don’t pick a guy you like pick the best player. All I can say is Ziggy who? he may one day be good but we need to win now! well I guess I should say next year
Coach Tomlin kept his promise....
He promise to “unleash hell in December.”
Well, in the two games they’ve played in December, the Steelers have certainly looked like hell.
D’oh!
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
Baling wire and camouflage go only so far on defense.....
LeBeau has been scheming a defense that is without its only true Hall of Famer and without its best lineman. Missing Polamalu and Smith is what has killed them. Of course, losing McFadden to free agency weakened the defensive backfield even more. And we certainly could have used Larry Foote.
Do you guys think that hiring Joe the Plumber and putting him in black and gold will stop anybody???? The Steelers uniform, as much as we might revere it, is laundry.
This team is only as good as the players it can field on any given Sunday. It is amazing to me that LeBeau has been able to stay competitive as long as he has – considering the play we’ve seen from Carter, Gay, and some of the raw rooks like Ziggy and Burnett.
The defensive line is worn out. Period. Exhausted. The corners are weak. And they seem to be missing someone at safety. If you folks expect Tomlin and LeBeau to take this worn out combat team to the level of last year’s healthy squad, you must believe in the magic of laundry…..‘cause they simply don’t have the healthy, rested bodies to fill those black and gold uniforms.
It is a long season, and our injured team of veterans is limping to the finish. It may be time to give the young ‘uns some additional playing time and play for the future. Don’t even think about bringing back Troy if it could jeopardize his future.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
How much is Big Rothesburger to blame for this
I mean he has really taken control of the team and if the rumors are true is calling 40% of the plays
by steeler_in_maryland on Dec 11, 2009 7:57 PM EST reply actions
He needs a good OC and/or QB coach
…get him some guidance…like when to get the rid of the ball, throw a screen, check down…something else besides waiting around…
If he is calling that much, how come the no-huddle has worked relatively well? Is it because it keeps the D from substituting?
This post is still up?
I’ll write something if you want.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Taking requests?
Make it fanciful, maybe a slight of a rhyming scheme, something in the key of G…something easy to hum to.
(Sorry, just being a wiseass….could use some levity)
Wearing Black & Gold Under that Purple?
Honestly, MaLoR — where does a Raven fan find so much time to spend on a Steeler blog? You’ve added something to almost every post I’ve read today. Don’t get me wrong — I wish all fans of Steeler opponents were as respectful as you. I mean, you’ve been playing therapist all day to Steeler fans who are ready to jump off the ledge. But makes me wonder sometimes whether you’re bluffing us all and are a secret Steeler fan.
by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 11, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Nope
B-More full and through. Just enjoy football.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Okay, MaLoR, write something.....
Are the Steelers – with all those rooks on the roster – having lost five games by a field goal – with their Hall of Famer and best defensive lineman out – really as bad as some of the Yinzers think they are? Are they on a downhill slide because they are too old?
What do you expect from them the rest of the season? And next year? What are their priorities now that they’re gonna draft in the middle of the pack?
Seriously, I’d be interested in your thoughts.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
C'mon Nation - Save this talk for when the Steelers are eliminated - We are not eliminated yet
It is difficult but not impossible. The goal of every team is to get to the playoffs – anything can happen once you get in.
Consider the following scenario if the Steelers can get it together for the last 3 games (9-7):
Jacksonville loses to Miami, Indy, New England (8-8)
Baltimore loses to Chicago or Oakland + Pittsburgh (8-8)
New York loses to Indy, Cincy (8-8)
Miami loses to Pittsburgh (9-7, but loses Head to Head)
Houston loses to Miami or New England (8-8)
Tennessee can win out or lose – doesn’t matter (9-7, but loses Head to Head & Conf.)
We are in @9-7 – the only stretch is Baltimore losing to Chicago or Oakland.
(Unless, of course, you doubt that we can win the last 3)
We can even include New England with 2 losses to Buffalo, Jacksonville, and Houston (9-7, 6-6 conference, will lose Common Games & Strength of Victory to the Steelers)
Love the enthusiasm...
…but may be just too reliant upon ‘this, that and the other’. NFL network anchors were predicting 12-4 or 11-5 to get in…I’d have to agree with ‘em, I don’t think 9-7 will get us there. Just too many variables to rely on other teams. In the big picture…I don’t mind losing as long as the team plays well (every loss last yr). That’s not happened this entire year. Every loss was because the Steelers gave it away, I still suspect a rift in the locker-room…
Remember last year when...
Denver 8-4
San Diego 4-8
only way San Diego could get in was if Denver lost to KC, Carolina, Buffalo & San Diego.
No one thought Denver would ever lose to KC or Buffalo. The situation is not this bad yet.
I’ll be the first to say that we haven’t played good enough to get to the playoffs & I’m not getting my hopes up; but if there is a chance, you have to back the team and hope for the best.
Too many comments calling the season over. We can’t get eliminated this week.
still...
I want to be optimistic about this as well, but I can’t believe that a team that lost to Kansas City, Oakland and Cleveland can pull it together. Not to be defeatist, but…
by BrooklynSteelersFan on Dec 12, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions
yes,
I wanna be on your side on this one, I really do. I just can’t – the whole realism thing.
by BrooklynSteelersFan on Dec 12, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions
fiasco performance
Unbelievably poor performance Thursday night. Steelers looked unprepared for the cold weather, the Browns blitz packages, and generally looked like they wanted to be inside sipping hot chocolate.
Willie Colon clearly messes up a blocking assignment; Roethlisberger allows himself to be tackled by a guy the size of my sister (Poteat), the Browns had Mike Furrey playing CB (Furrey is a WR) and could not take advantage.
I have been a fan since 1971 (living in Wisconsin). The Steelers have built their dynasties on the run not on the pass. Mendenhall could have singlehandedly won that game the other night if they give him the ball enough. Cleveland is 29th in the league in rushing defense.
What does Arians do? Give the ball to a disinterested QB who looked like he was throwing passes in a wind tunnel, and the punter gets more TV time than anyone. I am thoroughly unimpressed and now going to root for the Packers to make it into the playoffs so I might be able to watch a game for more than 10 minutes. Arians, you can move on to other pastures any time. I would make a better Offensive coordinator than you will ever be.
by steelerwisconsin on Dec 12, 2009 2:10 PM EST reply actions
a true test of faith...
Steelerwisconsin…what jersey will you be wearing for GB/Pitt? C’mon man! The Steeler Nation is the ‘Nation’ for a reason and it didn’t happen overnight….(oh yeah, I’m in VA, surrounded by the ‘skins, Ravens, and Panthers fans…still see more STEELERS paraphanalea than any other team). Growth only happens by identifying weaknesses, and from what I’ve read at ‘The Trib’, appears this is motivational and psychological….ALL coaching!! Time for TOMLIN to step up…he’s got more talent on the team right now than any coach could hope to have in a career, but if they are not prepared physically, emotionally and intellectually, they will lose…gotta stay hungry.
by Dabombdiggity on Dec 13, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
response to dabombdiggity
Thanks for the comment. I do not own any green and gold- never have and I have lived in Wisconsin most of my life. Getting together with my family next Sunday for Christmas- 10 Packers fans and me.
Having watched the Packer/Bear game today, I am predicting the same result- Packers 21, Steelers 14. This team has no fight in it, and to think otherwise is to not have seen them play the last 5 weeks. They play as well as Barack Obama speaks without a teleprompter. An offense without creativity and execution. A defense that plays hard down 2 good men but spends WAY TOO MUCH TIME ON THE FIELD. For those of you looking inside yourself for answers, I’d like to think it will be better next year, but depends on what the Rooneys make for changes.
by steelerwisconsin on Dec 13, 2009 6:15 PM EST up reply actions
good to hear..
…that the Steeler nation is represented loud and proud in the northern mid-west!! The Packers are a force, so are the Steelers if they can overcome the points that you made above (to which I agree on all of them..). Cheers.
by Dabombdiggity on Dec 13, 2009 9:34 PM EST up reply actions
Thursday game.
It was so bad, I got confused for a few seconds and thought I was watching a Pirates game.
The Pirates
can actually catch a ball now and then
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Dec 13, 2009 10:15 PM EST up reply actions
Sweetest Revenge! The Cleveland Dawg Pound rules!
I can’t even begin to explain the ABSOLUTE BEST CLEVELAND XMAS EVER to all you Steeler fans! The steelers are out of the playoffs!! Nice job Defending the title that all of the NFL knows should have gone to Arizona! Ben has a few too many dings to the head(motorcycle duh) and oh sacked 8 more times…I’m thinkin BIG BEN has had too many beers and meatloaf sandwiches on the Southside! He is fat, cocky and slow. Oh yea he forced hisfat self on a drunk girl too! Ben is not focused! Ben is done, and is costing you your future due to his salary and future cap!!!
Browns are on the way up! Watching you fans lose to the Raiders at home was so much fun too! Watching all those Steeler fans driving home after the 13-6 loss on the Turnpike was just awesome. Steeler fans can’t even muster up a “good game” comment—SAD. Steeler fan get ready for a long road a ho! Oh and Tomlin is living off of Coach Cowhlers great work he did! Tomlin will take you to the bank-but not with any Super Bowl wins!!
Here is to the Browns drafting Toby Gehrhardt! Beautiful Browns days ahead!
LOL!
Beautiful Browns days ahead!
Sober up it’s been three days.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 13, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
Congrats
It only has taken you guys about 50 times to finally beat us. I guess you should be proud.
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Dec 13, 2009 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
No
your team still sucks…and that idiot Mangini would draft Gerhardt…please do….
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Dec 14, 2009 11:28 PM EST up reply actions
Very sobering for P Town!
I was sober-wouldn’t want to be sober if i were a Steeler fan! The team is aging and Tomlin and Ben are not your future. Truth be said the Coach took Cleveland too lightly! Looking forward to future games against Pittsburgh- Great Rivalry
All time series Pittsburgh 60 Cleveland 56!!!
Mery Xmas!
Ben on his worst day
is better then Derek Anderson and Brady Bunch on their best day…now run along…
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Dec 13, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
Sobering?
Your team hasn’t been relevant since 1964. Try doing something significant in the modern era (AFL-NFL merge of 1970 is considered to be the modern era), then come back here and we’d be happy to discuss football.
I love being the most-hated guy here. I love beating them while [their fans] are flicking me off. --Hines Ward
move along...
Browns outplayed the Steelers Thursday night – no doubt. Congrats on that. Now why don’t you come back and lecture us on how to run an organization once you’ve won a meaningful game – I won’t even dare you to win a playoff game. Move along, now.
by BrooklynSteelersFan on Dec 13, 2009 1:08 PM EST reply actions
All I am saying is
the Packers did lose to Tampa Bay. We could be Tampa Bay this week. That is what I am hoping for. Just please break the losing streak!
ekl
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
Arians?
Okay – So if Arians does go – which is looking like it could happen – who for OC? What are your thoughts on Charlie Weis?
Train Hard. Train Right.
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