Shut'Em Down
by TheCommish on Dec 12, 2009 3:01 PM EST
Email
Print
Let me start by saying. I told you so. It became apparent to me that we were a team in real trouble 5 weeks into the season. We were outscored 52-13 in the 4th quarter, against Ten, Chi, Cin, SD, and Det, hardly the symbol of a championship caliber team. The Cleveland game came as no shocker to me; I mean really were you surprised. We were coming off of 4 straight losses headed into Cleveland on a frigid Thursday night. The rest is history and we can make all the excuses we want. The truth is I am 29 years old and we have two Superbowl titles in that time. So please spare me when I here ridiculous claims that we need to fire everyone if we don’t win it all. Moving forward some things I would like to see.
-Shut down Ben for the season. It is very apparent that he is still suffering from the effects of that concussion. His play in the past couple games is very reminiscent of how he played after the Atlanta game in 2006. He is our franchise quarterback and there is no need to risk it. I would like to see Dixon finish out the year and get some NFL experience that may be needed if Ben goes down in future years playoff runs.
-Run Mendenhall until he can’t run anymore. Can he take the pounding of 30 carries a game? Well he has not done that yet although when he got the rock 29 times he did run for 169. Nothing has been more disappointing to me than our shotgun formations on 3rd and less than 3.
-Start Burnett at corner. He is our 2nd best cover guy and has tremendous ball skills. He played exceptionally well in the 2nd half at Cleveland. Willie Gay is a serviceable nickel back at best and he’s been picked on all year. Let’s see what happens when they pick on the rook.
-James Farrior father time has passed you by. His play has had a sharp drop off. I think Josh Cribbs bitch slapped him on 3 plays. Play Fox with Timmons and see what happens. ILB needs to be addressed in the draft. Eric Norwood anybody?
-I love Hines Ward. He needs to take a step back. Do you sense the same rift that I do in the locker room? I think this started in preseason when Ben brought unnecessary distractions again. Hines is a warrior and will not sit out but I think he should rest so I can see what the 3 man tandem of Santonio, Wallace, and Limas have to offer. I have not given up on Limas yet.
-Buy Heath some stick’em. Just saying!
-Actively pursue Mark Whipple for OC, i think BA is going to feel the wrath of hell from MT.
In closing I would rather finish 6-10 then be teased to an 8-8 or 9-7 record. Rest some vets and play some young guys. We need to evaluate our talent headed into one of the most loaded drafts ever. A little better draft position wouldn’t hurt either. Just my take.
20 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Shut Troy Polamalu down as well. No reason for him to risk any more damage to that knee. Our chances are done this year, but not next year. We will need non-Madden cover Polamalu if we want to compete next year.
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
I don’t think Ben is still feeling the concussion, I just think he’s playing selfishly. I just want to see something like every time he takes a sack, Tomlin calls a timeout and Ben runs a lap.
I don’t think Ben is still feeling the concussion
That is a big assumption.
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 12, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions
I was thinking Bad
Players who should be in the Hall of Fame
DIck Lebeau, Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel and Chris Carter
by WVPiratesfan on Dec 12, 2009 5:19 PM EST up reply actions
Some good suggestions Commish, until the last...
You’d prefer a losing record, even a 6-10 rather than a winning record at 9-7? Do you miss 1980s-style Steelers’ football that much?
While I’m looking forward to the draft as well, I would much rather the team pull out of their slump before carrying it over into the off-season.
I understand your preference for sitting the injured, and I don’t oppose giving Dixon some playing time. But the team needs to grind through this rough patch.
Tell me, what ball player wants to stay with a team that’s going to go belly up as you suggest? Some here have suggested Clark will sign on for less $$$ to finish his career here. Do you think that will be the case if team keeps losing?
How about the free agent help we may require? Who would want to join the Steelers now? You think that will improve if we lose out the rest of the season?
6-10 does not make us any less of a team than 7-9, 8-8, or 9-7. We are still one of the most talented teams in the league and it is safe to say that most free agents would recognize that. From a fans perspective I would love to see us win, from a business perspective I wouldn’t be upset if we didn’t win another. We have lost to KC, Oak, and Cleve and Detroit has a shot to tie in their last posession. It does not get any lower than that is you are 6-10 or 9-7.
If anything Ryan Clark has lost money with his play this year. Lose out and we might get him at a better discount. If he believes then he stays, if he does not believe he is best fit elsewhere.
The Steelers have never made a big spalsh in the free agent market so I think this point is irrelevent. Players I would go after though: LeRon McClain, Marcus McNeil, Winston Justice, Barrett Ruud, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Adewale Agunleye, Tramon Williams, and Nick Collins
I understand your reasoning behind the 6-10 record. I’ve been wavering on what would be better. Stack higher draft picks on an already talented team or get our heads right by winning several games going into the offseason. I think I’d rather play spoiler to the next three teams and get our tenacity back. I think we will do well in the draft regardless of our position. I think it is far more important to regain our tenacity on both sides of the ball than to add marginal talent, in respect to draft positioning. I would be sorely disappointed to see this team roll over and die, for the sake of better draft positioning. Not that I’m not already sorely disappointed by our current situation.
In keeping with the season, I’d like to play the Grinch for the rest of December!
by Silverback92 on Dec 12, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions
go for 9-7
i agree to try burnett a little why not work him in, but as for the rest, I say show that they arent as bad as the last 5 weeks and kick some ass to finish off the year…get the old mindset back, I personally want to se if Tomlin can get these guys ready to play…he hasnt for at least the last 5 weeks and my biggest questions are about him
yoy
Compromise?
Lose 2/3 and beat Baltimore thereby also ending their playoff hopes.
That’s what I want.
Man I really dislike "I told you so's"
I would have to disagree with parts of your assessment for this reason: They need to play with reckless abandon without any pressure just once this season as a team. Ending on such a sour note leaves a taste that lasts. Ben included. As for Troy… keep him out. IMHO we saw him come back MUCH too soon after Crumpler hurt him in game 1. For what it’s worth, let ’em play.
When the tailgate drops, the BS stops. Shut up and play!
Good Ideas...
… some good ideas to consider. I like protecting the injured assets and testing out the futures.
BUT, clean out the OC & DC lockers and watch the team spirits & performance pick up.
AND, if Tommy doesn’t clean the lockers out, Rooney should show him how.
DO THIS MONDAY, neither one is performing his job so do we really need to pay for their airfair to Miami?
I’ll do their jobs right here for the rest of the season (without headphones) >>>
OC… uuhhhh… Mendy run right B Gap X block. Next Play, uuhhhhh… 6 Wide Out, throw it somewhere Ben. Make me look good Ben !!
offense done for 3 weeks.
DC… send Carter on delay blitz & Ike cover deep (he’s good at that), Harrison do your thing. Next play… secondary drop back 15 (even if it takes you out of the back of the endzone), Woodley do Harrison’s thing too. Everybody push them out of bounds.
defense done for 3 weeks.
Hell, Tommy can give these directions every play.
by Hollywood Steel on Dec 12, 2009 8:20 PM EST reply actions
Hear Hear
I like all of these ideas sir!
If we could just add my idea about making Sepulveda the “Defensive and Special Teams Tackling Coach” I think we have a winning “schematic” to “toss the rest of this years hay”.
dont run mendy into the ground!!
run him, but not 30times per game, he is the future…give dixon some snaps..maybe in the miami game, start him..
Have to say I agree
Especially if we lose the next game, and are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs – not that I think we have a chance anyway, but I can imagine all of the commentators blasting Tomlin for shutting things down too soon. I know that “You play to win the game”, but let’s start evaluating people, get some experience for the people who need it, and rest/protect the people who need it. There’s a LOT of work that needs to be done for next year, and I think that it should start now. We’ve already lost the war for this year, so if going 7-9 or 6-10 ultimately translates to more wins next year, I’m all for it.
by SteelerFanInPatsieLand on Dec 14, 2009 9:59 AM EST reply actions
Let the chips fall
I don’t think anyone here is calling for them to lose on purpose just to get a better draft pick. I do think, though, that it is time to start getting ready for next year. Get the young guys in there and let them play their hearts out. If we win great if we don’t then at least we are still getting some positives out of the game.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
"Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history."
Art Rooney Jr.
"Level-headed thinking." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Related FanPosts on Behind the Steel Curtain
Related FanShots on Behind the Steel Curtain
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
