Two quick thoughts on "hoping for a better draft pick"
by TheSpatulaMessiah on Dec 12, 2009 8:44 PM EST
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PrintI don't buy this idea that one should hope the Steelers lose out, for two different reasons.
First, as has been memorably quoted, one plays to win. I wonder if some fans are forgetting this sports premise that winning, in and of itself, is the goal. Even if it doesn't "matter" as far as championships go, the idea is that your team plays to win. Every game. Sports fans want the team they support to be winners, not losers. Consider a choice of two scenarios:
1) It is a point of pride that the Steelers are a team that no one wants to be scheduled against in the last few weeks, because they will ruin the playoff chances of the unfortunate opposition. When the Steelers host a hated rival like Baltimore, they leave them battered, defeated, and sitting at home in January.
2) It is a point of disappointment that the Steelers have transformed into one of the worst teams in the NFL. This is a game that opponents can pencil in as a sure win.
I'll take scenario #1 every time. It's the reason we cheer for a sports team.
Second, losing breeds losing way more than getting a slightly later draft pick does. Quality squads build whole teams around trading wisely and picking the best unheralded talent throughout the draft, not just in the first round. Being confused and dysfunctional hurts a lot worse. Right now the Steelers are in a state of disarray, with concerns that they simply don't know how to win any more. Tomlin and company are facing perhaps the biggest hurdle of his coaching tenure so far, and some of us worry that our coach has "lost" the team or that the players have given up on each other. You know what would build confidence and improve teamwork heading into the off-season? Fixing things, getting some wins, and getting everyone to believe in the Steelers again. There is no doubt in my mind that finishing 8-8 or 9-7 would be much better for the future of the franchise than finishing 6-10. None.
(Of course, there's the fact that if the Steelers can somehow get things together and win out, there's still technically a chance they could in fact make the playoffs at 9-7. So that's a third reason. However, realists have probably already accepted that they will not make the playoffs, even at 9-7.)
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+1
Play to win. The expectation shouldn’t change. It sucks that we will probably not make the playoffs, but beating the Ratbirds and knocking them out of the hunt would still be pretty sweet, much like beating the bungles in The Chin’s final game. I would be VERY disappointed if they just shut it down and conceeded….very unSteeler like.
"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?
+1
Always play to win. Otherwise, get off the field.
I love being the most-hated guy here. I love beating them while [their fans] are flicking me off. --Hines Ward
Agreed
Though I wouldn’t mind getting a high draft pick, which I think we may have regardless, play with for pride for God’s sake. They’ve got nothing to lose so why not spoil Baltimore and Green Bay’s years?
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 12, 2009 11:31 PM EST reply actions
Lets face it
we have an high enough draft pick already. We can do some trades to get a little higher if need be.
Steelers football is 60 mins.
by tannofsteel84 on Dec 14, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
and the Fish
"Coach Mike Tomlin promised that his Steelers would unleash hell, not look like it." Ed Bouchette PPG
in an effort to be more accurate in all posts, I remind you,
Dolphins are actually mammals not fish! Just kidding! I was part of the debacle associated with the same post as Klompus. None of us looked good at the end of that.
Yeah, but ...
… they weren’t trying to go 6-10, they tried to win each and every game and nonetheless, ended with a 6-10 record.
We must endeavor to be 9-7 and then see where it takes us, we do not control our playoff fate and we can’t wait for the opportunity to present itself before trying. No, we must try for a 9-7 record.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Dec 13, 2009 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
Play to win or turn in your helmet
and don’t let the door hit you on the way out. We don’t need quitters and quite honestly; we do better than “ok” in the draft every year.
When the tailgate drops, the BS stops. Shut up and play!
they already quit!
after the second cincy game..
by nycsteelerfan on Dec 13, 2009 10:11 PM EST up reply actions
I've ignored you for a reason....
You just confirm it every time you type.
When the tailgate drops, the BS stops. Shut up and play!
they quit after the second cincy game, huh?
That’s why 2 weeks later, without their 2 best players they forced OT in Baltimore, and nearly pulled out a win. You’re right. Sounds like they quit.
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 14, 2009 12:04 PM EST up reply actions
It is a point of pride that the Steelers are a team that no one wants to be scheduled against in the last few weeks, because they will ruin the playoff chances of the unfortunate opposition
The thing is…this “fear” that teams have when they see us on the schedule is not apparent anymore. I personally would not be afraid of an offense that fails to score, a defense that collapses in the second half, and a ST that gives it up more than the courtesan down on the corner. Maybe we can win one of these remaining games on the schedule, but no one is going to fear us this year.
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
I hope you're incorrect, Johnny
What I’m hoping for is this team to say “F-it. We blew our chance to rock their world this season and defend what we fought so hard for. Down but never out. Quitting isn’t an option. Let’s give them something to think about. Let’s bring it. Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
That’s what I want for Christmas.
When the tailgate drops, the BS stops. Shut up and play!
I hope you're right and Santa brings you your gift
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
by John Stephens on Dec 13, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions
Not about the post, but
I totally love your name. Read what your write just because of that. :)
Only better one I can remember is “The Slug Whisperer.”
Thanks
I’ve been using it forever; don’t exactly remember where it originally came from.
by TheSpatulaMessiah on Dec 14, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions
Play the kids
Lets see what Hood, Wallace, Lewis, Burnett, Urbik, Hills, Swead, etc. can do?
by Steeler Nation VA on Dec 14, 2009 8:57 AM EST reply actions
Absolutely. This year is effectively over, so it’s time to get a jump start on the evaluation process. It won’t necessarily translate to losses either. Given how the past 5 weeks have played out, it couldn’t get any worse.
by SteelerFanInPatsieLand on Dec 14, 2009 9:22 AM EST up reply actions
See, I'm thinking about it from the opposite angle
Well, my post was more about fan hopes than trying to tell team coaching/management how to do their jobs. But my philosophy would be to treat these as real games, because they are. This is not the pre-season. The top priority should be to win, for its own sake, because until the clock runs out in the Week 17 game, the year is not “effectively over.” The “evaluation process” only comes into play after you stop playing to win.
Now, if Tomlin et al were to use the last few weeks of the season to give “the kids” an opportunity to prove that starting them gives the team the best chance to win (and force the starters to try to prove the opposite), I’m all in favor.
by TheSpatulaMessiah on Dec 14, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
qiutins for bitches
I drank before the game cause I was excited
I drank during the game cause I was confused
I drank after the game cause, well, I was already drinking. why not?
One benefit of losing that’s been overlooked is it’s impact on next year’s scheduling. If we finish 3rd in the AFC North, next year we play the 3rd place teams in the AFC East, South and West. Looking at the current standings, there’s not much of a difference in caliber between the 2nd and 3rd place teams, but theoretically our schedule will be easier next year if we lose out.
Don’t get me wrong, I hope that somebody lights a fire under the Steeler’s ass and they get their act together. I’ll be at the Baltimore game rooting for the Steelers to ruin the Ravens season. But if we lose out, and I’ll take some solace in the fact that some of the younger players got more PT and that we’ll have to work harder in the off season.
I've thought of that too, while clinging to positives...
…but this year we were supposed to have one of the easily schedules in Steeler history, and many of us anticipated that we might go undefeated as a result of the weak opposition.
That didn’t quite work out.
agreed
iron sharpens iron. we’re not too sharp right now
Seriously
I don’t think the easy schedule helped us this year.
by Chicago Steeler on Dec 15, 2009 2:49 PM EST up reply actions
I am not saying give up, play to win. But that also means playing the young players and see what they can do.
Playing Lewis and Burnett can’t be any worse than playing Gay (he sucks). If they are not ready by now, then Tomlin needs to coach them up and get rid of the DB coach. Ziggy has shown flashes, lets see more of him.
by Steeler Nation VA on Dec 15, 2009 4:40 PM EST reply actions
I understand your point
But we still have a glimmer of hope to make the playoffs… we’re not done. I’d really like to see our best be out there and the rest of the season not treated as a scrimmage to see how the young guys will fare. Injury related substitutions, certainly.
When the tailgate drops, the BS stops. Shut up and play!
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