I wouldn’t worry much about Colbert leaving the team. While no one can say for sure what he’s thinking, both Wexell and Bouchette argue that his real loyalty is to the Rooney family (as well it should be).

Additionally, Wexell (who will reply to you on Twitter if you ask him a good question by the way) says that Cowher probably wouldn’t want a personnel man – he considers himself, and I quote, a “personnel genius”. What he would really want instead is a cap wizard – someone to keep him reined in a bit on expenditures and to work their magic on FA and rookie contracts.

Anyone else with me on that?

Here you go:

1. What’s wrong with the Steelers?

The Steelers are still the reigning world champion, but you would never know it watching them lose to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night. I watched their last few game tapes and talked to a few coaches and players who have faced the Steelers this year, and the consensus is that numerous factors have caused this five-game losing skid. In no particular order here are some things to consider:

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Ben Roethlisberger’s Steelers are teetering on the edge, but have not yet been eliminated from the playoff race. Get an updated look at the complete postseason picture. More …

a) The Polamalu Factor. The Steelers are 3-0 and have allowed just 14 points per contest when Troy Polamalu has played the entire game. In the other 10 games, the team is 3-7 and has allowed an average of 20 points.

b) The Steelers gave up two touchdowns on returns all last season. In 13 games this year, they have already given up eight.

c) The 2009 Steelers have lost three games in which they had a fourth-quarter lead. If they would have won those games, they would be 9-4, not 6-7.

d) The irony of the Steelers’ five-game slide is that their best chance to win came in a Week 12 overtime loss to Baltimore, when Dennis Dixon started for an injured Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers ran the ball 38 times in that matchup and almost won. Against the Browns, they ran the ball just 22 times.

e) Roethlisberger still gets sacked too often. He was sacked eight times against the Browns. For the season, he gets dropped once every 12 pass attempts.

So what is the answer? As one coach said, they must get back to their roots: “Practice outside in the cold, practice in pads more often and bench anyone that doesn’t play Steeler football.”

I agree getting back to being a physcial, run-first team. The OL sacks kind of piss me off because Ben just takes TOO MANY. That has to be on the coaches more than Ben at this point. They allow him to do it, so he does it.

Tired of hearing about Troy. The players we got back there are getting paid, too. If they can’t do the job, either put someone else in there who can or get better players next year.

It sucks to see this team fall apart this year. What the hell am I supposed to do during the playoffs this year?

1) A return to physical football on both sides of the ball

2) Saving Ben from himself as far as taking sacks

3) becoming a better short yardage and redzone team

4) a return to STEELERS FOOTBALL!

Damn it, just do it!

The Cowher-Colbert rumor has been out there before, the argument was that they were going to market themselves as a “package.” I doubt there is much truth to it, but until Cowher lands on another sideline, this one will get recycled.

While I like Colbert and want to see him stay, some of the Steelers personnel/draft decisions, both recent and spanning back to the middle of this decade, are haunting them this year.

As for Logan, he reminds me of Dwight Stone. Not because of his hands, but becuase he seems to be one dimensional – fast but nothing else.

This guy isn’t what you think. Sure, he has been spot on with most of his first round picks. But his overall draft record is spotty. This current team has no real depth. Colbert does well in the early round most years but he absolutely sucks in the later rounds. Good bye and don’t let the door hit you on the way out!!! The Steelers need a complete face lift. Get some new coaches and as many young athletic guys on the team as they can. They have extra picks this year and they need to hit a homerun! The core is there but they need role players. Get a “real” kick returner and a few DBs who can actually cover and make interceptions. William Gay is a disgrace and oh my, don’t even get me started on Ike Taylor. Parker, Clark, Carter, Townsend, and Gay got to go. Change to a 4-3 defense and get a fullback. Weaver and McClain will be on the free agent market. Get either. And finally, find a “true” identity. It’s be shown and proven time after time that a balanced offense, good run defense, and special teams are the recipe to success in the NFL. JUST do it!!!!

and i think it’s hard to compare him to jackson.
1) desean jackson was drafted, high. logan was never drafted
2) yeah, jackson made the first guy or 2 miss, but after that he had blocking. logan never ever gets any blocking. the few times he has, he’s made big plays.

he might not be back next year, but i think it has to do more with our blocking than anything. if nobody can make plays returning the ball on our team, there isnt reason to keep a guy specifically for that purpose.

plus i dont understand tomlin pulling logan (possibly permanently based upon his press conference the other day). guess that ranks right up there with saying he “like the team’s fight” after our loss to the browns.

some people hate to see mr. colbert go. i think he should, when you are a playoff team
those players you draft in the second third and lower rounds are your future down the road he has been good in the first round, but after that he has been a bust, look at the offensive line at center when was the last time we had a home grown center that has always been the heart of the steeler running game, now you know why we cant run or sustain a five minute drive to give our defense a breather.
so good bye mr. colbert, maybe a grandson or a nephew of the rooneys can get involve