Life in the NFL
by maryrose on Dec 1, 2011 3:34 PM EST
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PrintThere's a faction among Steeler Nation that believes the Pittsburgh Steelers have some inherent right of passage to succeed in the NFL, that somehow losing is for other teams, but not us. Losing can and will never happen. Competing for championships is our birthright. I am not among that faction. To the contrary, I am thankful every day that our team is very competitive at a time when I can enjoy going to games with my teenage daughter. I know that it is a matter of time when the franchise goes into a slump. The NFL is systemically designed that way.
I told Mary Rose before Sunday's game that it would be a battle to get out of Kansas City with a victory. I am trying to instill in her an insight into the NFL that will keep her from being like so many talk show callers who were "upset" at Sunday's victory - that's right, "upset" at a victory. We've got the Chicken Little faction that thinks the sky is falling when Pittsburgh falls short of domination. We've got the "why-do-we-play-down-to-the-level-of-competition" faction, as if Pittsburgh was Alabama and Kansas City was Vanderbilt; and then, of course, the obligatory Bruce Arians bashing, where 200,000 truck drivers, accountants and school teachers use the magic of hindsight to think they can call plays better than the people who study this for a living.
There's a salary cap in the NFL, which levels the talent pool. In addition, teams who finish with lesser records get better players. The Kansas City Chiefs are loaded on defense, but no one seems to be giving them credit after a "lackluster" Pittsburgh 13-9 win. Kansas City has two defensive linemen who were drafted third and fifth overall in the first round (Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey). The last time Pittsburgh had a pick that high they drafted a guy named Bradshaw. The other D-lineman is Kelly Gregg, an old nemesis from Baltimore. The Chiefs have two stud linebackers drafted 15th and 20th (Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali) and a defensive backfield that features three second rounders, including an early 35th overall pick (Brandon Flowers). The last I checked, those guys were getting paid also, yet people fail to acknowledge that highly-talented athletes are scheming to prevent us from having our way.
So why then, if the Chiefs defense features high-caliber athletes, do they rank mediocre at best in most statistical categories? The answer is that with a very poor offense, the defense has little chance to rank high in anything. When a team goes three-and-out repeatedly, the defense is on the field more than their fair share. They can't help but give up yards and points. When the offense doesn't do its fair share of clock control and production, the defense pays the price. They're human. They wear down. And then there's the losing part of things. When a team good enough to win their division just last year loses its quarterback, all-star running back and all-star safety, losing takes its toll.
So why then, if the Chiefs rank mediocre in defense and losing has taken its toll, did the Pittsburgh Steelers struggle so much on Sunday? Why did they look worse than New England or Miami or other teams who have looked much better against KC? The answer, as I told Mary Rose on Sunday, is that the game was scheduled seven hours later than my liking. A 1:00 p.m. contest probably would have ended with a much different score. Take the third, fifth, 15th, 21st and 35th best players in their respective drafts, put them in prime time, on national television, the only game being played, in maybe the loudest stadium in the NFL, after eight hours of tailgating, and you are going to be in a dogfight. The Chiefs may not win another game, or very few, but on that night, their defense played in the Super Bowl. Their highly-talented, chiseled-muscle athletes, spent every dime as if it were their last.
Remember the Colts game? Did they not lose their quarterback and did their defense not spend every dime on prime-time national television? Put a wounded, downtrodden group of thoroughbred athletes on national television, prime time, in their own house, and you better cross your fingers and hope to get out of town with any kind of victory. Ask the Baltimore Ravens how their trip home was from Jacksonville? Here's a team who doesn't have its coach anymore, but on that one night, they cashed every check.
One of the disadvantages of being the Pittsburgh Steelers is that they are often showcased on featured games in enemy arenas. That comes with the territory of being the real "America's team." These are the elements to the NFL that I am trying to teach Mary Rose. About bull's-eyes and psychology and human beings playing different games on different levels at different times. About how close the talent level is in the NFL, despite what records may indicate. Regardless of whether you are 8-3 or 3-8, a blowout in the NFL is a 10-13 point game.
Look, I know the offense struggled. I am aware of the penalties and dropped passes, etc., but speaking of 8-3, there are four teams in the AFC with that record and none better. The Steelers are one of those four teams, and unlike the others, their three losses have all come to the others. Do we need to get our offense back in sync this week? Absolutely. Will 13 points beat Cincinnati? Maybe not. But one thing is for sure - that on Sunday night in Kansas City, the Pittsburgh Steelers got the job done, style points be damned.
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Here's a team
Thank you, great put in perspective
Well said...
..I am properly chastized. It won’t stop me from wanting to see better, but it has opened my eyes to give credit where credit is due to the other team.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
Indeed
Reputedly, when asked why the Confederates lost the battle of Gettysburg, Gen. George Pickett replied, “I always thought the Yankees had something to do with it.”
Funny you say that.
Because my Civil War & Reconstruction professor used that quoted just a couple days ago.
by SteelerHokie90 on Dec 1, 2011 7:50 PM EST up reply actions
great article
Pros are pros playing a mans game. As a bengals fan, I actually got re-directed to this site, and was pleasently comforted that there is civility here, unlike the other sites full of blow hard, over passionate, over testosteroned fans. I hate the steelers this week, being a true bengals fan, but support every team fromthe AFC N once it comes to repesenting and the rest of the league. I’ve always said that, the worst team in our division is a mouthful of overcooked meat compared to the rest of the league. Do good against us once, spread out… but play us twice packed together, you’re grandmother might get broken bones just from watching. In searching for some statistical reason to decide if my Bengals will win or lose this game, I yet again came away empty handed.first meeting, we sucked, we spotted 14 points to start, we got dominated at tims, we dominated at times. The thing I love about this game (bengals/steelers 2) and hate about is this…. I have a bad feeling about this game, and a good one. I have no clue what’s gonna happen, but excited to find out. Our young rookies against the leagues best. Win or lose, I’m already proud of my team and will always root for our rivals to represent well. Guess I’m an afc n fan second to being a bengals fan. That being said…. who-dey! ;)
by whodeyrevolution33 on Dec 1, 2011 4:48 PM EST reply actions
I’ve always said that, the worst team in our division is a mouthful of overcooked meat compared to the rest of the league. Do good against us once, spread out… but play us twice packed together, you’re grandmother might get broken bones just from watching.
I don’t know what this means, but I love it.
That was one meaty metaphor
but, like you, I have no idea what it means.
by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 1, 2011 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Tough, and hard to get down?
I’ve always said that, the worst team in our division is a mouthful of overcooked meat compared to the rest of the league. Do good against us once, spread out… but play us twice packed together, you’re grandmother might get broken bones just from watching.
Tough and hard to get down? (the meaty part)
Proximity to the locus of the point of contest in a relative short period of time may cause collateral damage to viewing octogenarians?
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
Hey now, vandy is legit! Kentucky man, haha
But really, great write up, it’s really hard to beat a team by more than ten in the NFL. Quite hard.
ESPN-The Enablers
Forget the 409 wins and 2 national championships. Joe Paterno helped mold thousands of young men into productive members of our society.
great write up...
enjoyed reading thoughts that reflected mine.
Not the point of your story, but was part of your premise (regarding the naysayers hating the play calling)… One of the first games this year, there was a lot of screaming regarding a certain play or two, and came out in interviews the next week that Ben had called out of those certain plays b/c he saw something in the defensive lineup.
I’ve always tried to keep that in mind too.
Article
I wholeheartedly believe that a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers mystique and success is all of the crazy, perhaps overzealous fans that believe every year our beloved Steelers will win a Lombardi or at the very least be in the running for the championsehip. Maybe it’s unrealistic but that unshaken belief that somehow our guys will pull out the win, works. I remember the playoff game when the Steelers seemingly had the game @ hand when the sure handed Bettis fumbled at the goal line, I jumped up from my chair and held my breath as I watched Ben just get enough of a foot to tackle the defensive player that had scooped up the ball. Then watched as the Colts drove down the field and set up for the field goal. I said,there’s no way Vanderjack makes this kick, he will miss it. I watched as the ball was snapped and as soon as the holder put it down and the kicker’s foot made contact with it, I said it’s no good and blew and waved my arms wildly as the wobbly kick sailed through the air and went wide right. Laugh at me go ahead but I will always believe that on that day there were millions of Steeler fans all over the world doing the same thing, that’s energy, a lot of energy focused on the same thought for those few seconds made the difference.
by Janice Hess on Dec 1, 2011 5:29 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
HEAR HEAR!!
"My mentality is singular in that I want to be world champs each and every year, so that's what we work toward. I have a tough time acknowledging levels of success short of that. That's just how I'm wired." - Mike Tomlin
Then, why earlier in the year
even with Cassel and jammal charles in the line up, they still got blown out. The problem here is the sloppy play by the offense and the lackluster sense of urgency that annoys me. Look what the Pats did to them??
A man is innocent untill proven guilty...Even if it's Ben Roethlisberger!
'I rather have a German division in front of me than a French division behind me'..General George Patton
" I don't care if he has two horns and a tail, as long as he is anti-communist"..General Douglas MacArthur..
"The way to end our dependence on foreign oil is to keep our tires properly inflated"....B. Hussein Obama
"Government is not the solution to our problems, it is the cause of them" Ronald Wilson Reagan..40th President of the United States
Yes....
But what look what we did to the Pats. Which team are we really? Why both, of course…becasue they were both wins. Remember how poor the team looked at times in ’08?
"I've been trying to justify you, in the end i will just defy you" Dream Theater
I think its the ugly wins that build character!!!
by moonsteeler on Dec 2, 2011 10:56 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree in principle
It is OK to have high expectations, but it is also OK to realize the other side is talented also. It is also OK to realize there are bad days at the office (dropped passes and errant throws) made worse by the crowd.
Specifically in regards to Arians, I think the angst is more accurately directed at his situational play calling. There have been some excellent games called this year, but every so often he calls something that makes you wonder. Against the Chiefs, the offense was struggling to run normal plays, so he calls a reverse pass. It got smoked for a large loss.
Or the wounded-Ben, naked bootleg against the Jags in the playoffs.
That kind of thing.
What i like about this post
It lives up to the expectations i have of its author. You can see she lived up to her potential in calming steeler fan qualms of bad play. This post is worth more than 13 points.
by ibygeorge on Dec 1, 2011 6:57 PM EST via mobile reply actions
she is he
Maryrose is his daughter’s name.
anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Dec 1, 2011 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
I like it
because it’s a father/daughter connection MaryRose is describing and honoring when he uses the screen name MaryRose, and that’s how football is passed on in the part of western PA where I grew up. Or mother/son. Or just parent/child.
Thank you MaryRose—both the father and the daughter. You’re both lucky and we’re lucky for having you.
by dogthebus on Dec 2, 2011 2:51 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I propose
that this post be required reading for anyone wanting to join BTSC. I get just as frustrated as any other Steeler fan when the team falls short of our admittedly high expectations. But it drives me nuts when so many here are so quick to claim the sky is falling when things don’t go the way we want them to. Win or lose, the Steelers are my team. Thank God, and the Rooneys, I’ve rarely been tested on that claim.
by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 1, 2011 7:04 PM EST reply actions
I actually think that “so many here are so quick to claim the sky is falling” is an extraordinarily rare minority compared to not only other sites, but even to the larger Steeler fan base in general. I think that many people who would normally be inclined to feel and act that way do so less on here because of articles like this and other contributors who take a much more level headed viewpoint.
The mikebb and nycsteelerfan (see comment above. talk about completely missing the point of the posting) types are really few and far between on BTSC.
Thanx Trip. The Pats comparison by nyc was exactly my point. Playing at home in prime time against the Chiefs is night and day to playing in Arrowhead. And if I recall, the Pats had 3 points on the board with 4 minutes left in the half. KC defense couldn’t sustain on the road the adrenalin they could at home.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
by maryrose on Dec 1, 2011 7:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I concur...
and I find myself skimming and skipping the reactionary posts and inane rants in search of real analysis. I like to get a feel for what some of our very knowledegeable football x and o guys have to say about certain plays, formations, calls, etc. I also like to see if other folks had the same feel for how the game played out as I did as I was watching it. I
"I've been trying to justify you, in the end i will just defy you" Dream Theater
indeed sir,
indeed.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Dec 1, 2011 8:04 PM EST up reply actions
Point taken
The chicken littles on BTSC are indeed a minority. Otherwise, i wouldn’t visit here every day. But, man, they were out in force on Sunday’s game thread, despite Bean’s efforts to focus on the positive. You would have thought that the Steelers had just rolled over and given the game to the Chiefs.
by Citizen of Steeler Nation on Dec 1, 2011 9:28 PM EST up reply actions
chance
People don’t like chance, even Einstein. But we were only a couple plays from a blowout. And a couple plays from losing. That’s what MR tells us: you never know, but take a win whenever you get it, esp on the road in prime time. I, for one, enjoyed it. As Bob Prince would say: We had em all the way!
I love the chance part of it
Twenty two players all in motion at the same time (at least one hopes) and the difference between one outcome and another can be the difference between someone moving faster or slower or to the right or the left or with his head or his hands or a thumb or a foot in one place rather than another.
To me, football is about these players pitting their skills against the chance that plays out every single time the ball is snapped—against all those other players and what they’re doing and the wind and the weather and the way a ball drops or is tipped and who is here at this second in time and who is there and what they do if another player is here or there and then there’s the noise in the stadium, the mood on the field (what Wolfie always calls the changing mojo), a lucky break, a bad break.
And that happens play after play so there is also chance involved in when someone gets hot and someone isn’t and how much time there is on the clock and what quarter it is and if a flag is thrown for this or that and…(And I hate to mention the injury part of it—if someone comes down just a little wrong, if a knee,a shoulder, a neck is twisted, if a hit happens when someone is slightly here or there, it could mean the end of someone’s game, season or career.)
Yeah, yeah, some are more skilled than others but even the best can fumble or throw bad passes or drop a good one or make the wrong move. That doesn’t mean they’re not good or good enough. Sometimes the very thing that is the best part of their skill set—Troy’s Nightcrawler moves, Ben’s nerves of steel, Ike’s style of coverage, Deebo’s tackles—is also part of the very same thing that causes it to go badly. Troy dives too soon, Ben gets sacked, Ike gets a penalty or isn’t even looking for the ball (didn’t one bounce off his ass this season?), Deebo draws a flag.
I guess I could just say, “that’s why they play the games” but I get frustrated with people who expect perfection because it’s just plain old impossible. Sometimes Troy is going to come up with the ball in one of those moves so incredible you can watch the video over and over again and still not believe what you just saw—and sometimes he’s going to miss by an inch or a second. Sometimes Ben is going to hold the ball and hold the ball and hold the ball and we all scream at him from home or in the stands and sometimes he’s going to be brilliant and sometimes there he is on the ground and we’re cussing him out.
And sometimes the ball is going to land in Ike’s hands of stone and his fingers actually close around it or there’s Deebo, he’s got a ball in his hands and he’s running…And sometimes it’s the opposite. Mike Wallace doesn’t move this or that finger fast enough…Or Keisel is an inch too far in one direction rather than spot on as he’s headed toward the QB or ball.
Sorry to go on so long. I get all excited even thinking about watching this team in action. I love the drama of them against what might happen and they might lose, but they never disappoint me.
by dogthebus on Dec 2, 2011 2:41 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
+1
also +43, 7, 24, and 92
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Dec 2, 2011 10:27 AM EST up reply actions
that's a lot of adding
I’m going to have to consult my calculator.
This message will self destruct
Who the hell's interrupting my Kung Fu? - Black Dynamite
With two D's, for a double dose of this pimpin'
You young people -
just can’t add in your heads anymore…
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Dec 3, 2011 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
I can add in my head
As long as it’s only one number to one number. When you start throwing in all that extra stuff…
This message will self destruct
Who the hell's interrupting my Kung Fu? - Black Dynamite
With two D's, for a double dose of this pimpin'
All I can say
is amen.
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
Simply brilliant...
…level-headed thinking…..and with a sense of history.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
View from the Other Side.... Sorry, but this is not the Special Olympics
Not everybody is a winner in the NFL. Some teams are just bad. That’s why those teams lose frequently, year after year.
When you look at your team, you ask: what is that team capable of? Are you playing up to your level? Below it? Exceeding it? In 1989, the Black and Gold came off of a 5-11 season; lost their first two games to division rivals by a combined scored of 92-10; and were led by Bubby Brister. That was a team of limited resources; but it exceeded expectations and gave us a great run. 9-7 and a playoff win was a great accomplishment.
But this Steelers team is an elite team. A top 5 defense, a top 5 quarterback, and probably’s the league’s best judge of talent. Inching past that inept Chiefs team is not something to feel good about.
It’s a cop-out to defend a flat effort by saying this was the Chiefs’ Super Bowl, or the Ravens’ Super Bowl, or the Texans’ Super Bowl. It’s a cop-out to say that that the Chiefs were excited about it being Prime Time. And claiming that the Chiefs have acquired better talent than the Steelers did is without basis (Tyson Jackson as the third best player in his draft? Seriously?)
It’s Prime Time for the Steelers too. It’s Hines playing in one last western; Mike Wallace playing for his payday; it’s Worilds’ chance to prove himself; its Antonio Brown’s tux. There’s no excuse for playing flat. That’s on somebody.
No, the Sky is Not Falling. It never was. This team will win between 11 and 13 games. But whether it wins a Super Bowl depends on whether it’s willing to accept that kind of effort. Part of the reason that the Steelers are great is that people like Mike Tomlin use words like Stench to describe a 35-7 loss. They expect excellence. So do we. Accepting mediocrity cultivates mediocrity.
by Steelzombie on Dec 1, 2011 9:03 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
If an 8-3 record and 3 Super Bowls in 6 years doesn’t make you happy, then you should move to Cleveland, where they have just cause to be ornery. Of course we have things to work on and of course we fall flat at times. I am constantly wanting us to sharpen up and make corrections. I am not defending, but explaining. The other guys have a say in the outcome of games, especially in their house on the national stage. This is the NFL, not the Pittsburgh Invitational.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
by maryrose on Dec 1, 2011 10:34 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Not unhappy at all
Just don’t agree with you.
Fair enough
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
by maryrose on Dec 1, 2011 11:16 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
+7
Bravo!!!
Accepting mediocrity cultivates mediocrity
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
While I am going to try to step back from the ledge and give proper acknowledgement to the talents of the opposition, at the end of the day, my posts stating that my frustration is not that we didn’t blow out the other team, but that we didn’t play up to our potential.
You said it much better.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
Nothing wrong with having high expectations for your home team.
Sure, we’ve got some people ready to jump off the bridge and write this team off after only one or two sub-par performances. Those folks clearly are misguided. But on the other hand, is it really necessary to exaggerate the challenge presented by teams like the Colts and Chiefs?
Mistakes by the Steelers (MM’s fumble and Wallace’s drops) are the main reason why Sunday night’s game wasn’t the convincing win that most of us expected. It had nothing to do with the Chief’s defense being great or even playing “over their heads” just because the Steelers were in town. Let’s face it, we shot ourselves in the foot and, in general, didn’t play up to our capabilities. What’s more, every Steeler player and coach recognizes that we fell down in KC. So if they’ll admit the obvious, what’s wrong with us doing the same thing?
I agree with Steelzombie; once you start accepting the kind of football we saw in KC, there’s no limit to how far or how fast you can sink. That’s one place that no self-respecting Steelers fan wants to go, at least not without plenty of kicking and screaming along the way. I truly hope that we never get too comfortable with half-assed football, even when we win.
I'm not trying to be a jerk
but what does it mean if a fan “starts accepting the kind of football we saw in KC”?
To me, that’s a matter for the players and what they expect of themselves and how their coaches adjust and push them. And I trust these ones to not be happy with that game.
Otherwise, I don’t know what you expect. Do you really think Mike Tomlin says, “Okay, the fans are happy, so let’s get out there and play mediocre football this week because, well, we’re all being paid anyway and our paycheck is the only reason we play this game”?
You can talk about money all you want to, but I would bet my house or maybe my soul that none of these players is actually playing for dollars. Or they would never have made it into the NFL. Two years ago, Ryan Clark—rightly I think—told off the fans who were complaining that they lost a couple of games in a row (that December when they unleashed hell) by saying, “Do you think we want to lose? We’re out there making the same effort we make when we win.”
Without the fans at the stadium or watching on TV, there is no NFL.
How can you say that what we think about the team is irrelevant? If the team or the sport in general sinks to a mediocre level, they’re cutting their own throats. If they want to keep making the kind of money they make, they need to put more thought and effort into the final product. Otherwise, they must assume that pro football fans are rubes who can’t tell the difference anymore.
I agree with Steelzombie; once you start accepting the kind of football we saw in KC, there’s no limit to how far or how fast you can sink. That’s one place that no self-respecting Steelers fan wants to go, at least not without plenty of kicking and screaming along the way. I truly hope that we never get too comfortable with half-assed football, even when we win.
Winning is not the end all and be all of being a fan. While you have a right to like the team for whatever reasons best fit you, you still have to recognize the fact that not some fans might not share them with you.
You can be as criticall as you want that is fine but you’re not allowed to disqualify anyone just because they don’t share your point of view.
Did you even read my post?
I always recognize that others on this site don’t necessarily agree. It’s the dialogue and debate that makes BTSC a fun site. Also, I’ve never tried to “disqualify anyone” because I disagree with their views. Why not present your own point of view instead of block-quoting mine?
You did. Your comment about self-respect implies that I’m somehow a worse fan than what the standard for a “steelers fan” should be if I accept that the game against KC.
In my opinion even for top athletes it’s impossible to avoid performances that appear less than 100% all of the time. As long as it does not become a trend an occasional sub-par performance is perfectly fine for me.
I’m more concerned with the team getting healthy for the of-season and our struggle in the red-zone this year. The O-Line rotation, Troy and Wards heads, our seeming inability to establish a balaced ground game (although I think this might improve if the O-Line manages to get healthy for a stretch and can start building chemistry), some of the questionable play calling this year. The fact that we seem to struggle to open up bigger leads during the stretches when the team is dominating the game.
Those are things that worry me much more than the look of just one game where the result was exactly what we needed it to be a W.
Yes but saying that it was a “half-assed” effort implies a lack of effort which I don’t think is the case ( English is not my first language… well not even my second so sorry if I misunderstood the meaning).
I refuse to not be excited about a win under objectively unfavourable conditions. I doubt there are many teams in the league that could have sustained the amount of injuries this year and play to the same standard this one has.
And besides there have been positive things about the KC game as well. Alot of the rookies seem to be able to contribute Saunders, Heyward, Gilbert. Our run D seems to be improving just in time for the play-offs. The pass defence still looks to have improved over last year.
Imo saying that the performance on Sunday was unacceptable is being overly negative and an exaggeration.
I agree mostly but disagree as follows
Still think BA stinks. U can’t compare him against us, the general public. Ofcourse he knows what he is doing but it is not good enough as a Steelers coach. If Coach dad and his D is not here, BA would sink this team. Offensively, we need to draft a dominating runner and O-linmen soon to keep this team at the high level for next few years.
Having said that, I am very happy that we are 8-3 and completely agree that we had a W against extremely talented D. We have won all of our games that we expected to win and lost 3 against the league leaders at this point.
by NO1KTA on Dec 2, 2011 1:02 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I'm not really a fan of BA,
but the offense wasn’t the unit that gave up that last-minute TD to the Ratbirds this year and I’m sure BA wasn’t yelling about the need for more press coverage or pressure on Mr. Unibrow as he torched our DBs. Why is it that the D always gets a pass, even when they choke, and BA and the offense always gets slammed?
I'm your huckleberry
Who would you rather have mad at you for blaming them...
…Coach Dad or BA?
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
whomever deserves it
If Coach Dad’s D gets smoked, I yell at him…. such as every time its 3rd and short and the damn db is 10 yards off the ball. I’m yelling at the defenseive coaches and saying “WTF, they’re going to run a slan” and, sure enough, they run it for a 1st down.
I’m also a little tired of hearing “the O can’t get a 1st down…” how come we seldom ever hear “the D couldn’t get a three and out”? I love our defense just as much as anyone, but I’m done with giving them a pass and blasting BA. That said, I still don’t like BA, hate that we’re a passing team that tries to run the ball with a committee of TEs rather than a running team that passes the ball when we need to, and hate that we draft road grader type o-line and then wonder why they can’t pass block. I blame BA for the offense not having the identity that I want it to, but hey, it is still a winnning offense and I have to give the guy credit for the offensive successes we have had. No one complained about his play calling when BB hit Holmes in the back of the end zone and gave us our 6th trophy.
I'm your huckleberry
Amen Tim
Sadly, some folks will realize 40 years from now that these were the good old days, only they missed out because they were busy throwing a tantrum. To be sure Sunday night’s game was stressful and disappointing on a number of levels. But I believe maryrose is much closer to the truth of the matter. Has anybody considered that we played the bulk of that game without our best defensive lineman (Smith, arguably), our best linebacker (Woodley, on a performance level given that Deebo is still recovering from double back surgery), our best defensive back (Troy), our best offensive lineman (Pouncey), our quarterback was playing with a broken bone in his throwing hand. Five Pro Bowlers. Please provide the short list of teams that can weather those issues and keep bopping along at a dominant level. No knock on Ziggy, Worilds, Munday and Legursky, but c’mon man.
Injuries have not been kind to this team (37 different starters this season), yet they are tied for the best record in football. You want to worry about something? You think this team is going to succeed in January with these issues?
Oh boy, we are in the midst of one of the truly great runs in sports. Particularly when you consider the challenges posed by salary caps, free agency, injuries, a lockout. I’m not suggesting that anyone should be satisfied with where the team is today, just a sensible appreciation of how hard this is and the competence and, yes, grace that this organization displays day in and day out in meeting the challenge. The odds are against us scoring a championship this year. But the odds are always against success. The fact that so many otherwise intelligent people actually believe that we are entitled to championships on a regular basis is the proof of the greatness of this franchise.
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Dec 2, 2011 1:45 AM EST reply actions 3 recs
A little perspective
If you are a fan of 14 of 32 NFL teams, nearly half of the league, the next championship (modern era – Super Bowl) you celebrate will be the first ever. That includes in our division th state of Ohio.
If you are 40 years old and a Jets or Chiefs fan you have not witnessed a championship in your lifetime.
If you are 30 years old and a Dolphins fan you have not witnessed a championship in your lifetime.
If you are 20 years old and a Redskins or Raiders fan you have not witnessed a championship in your lifetime.
If you are 15 years old and a Cowboys or 49ers fan you have not witnessed a championship in your lifetime.
The Patriots have done well in the past decade, but were 0 for the 20th Century.
And just in case you are too provincial to relate; if you are 30 years old and a Pirates fan you have not witnessed a championship in your lifetime.
A question: what the hell would have to happen in order for there to be no complaints? Would such a set of circumstances be realistic? Would it be good for the game? More to the point are the complaints part of what makes the fan experience satisfying?
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Dec 2, 2011 9:55 AM EST reply actions
Are we not allowed to disagree here?
And put in our own perspectives..
There is always room for improvement. Why do u think we are not satisfied with where this team is right now?
The point is where do we think we can improve. I agreed to most of Maryrose’s comments except that BA’s playcalling is just an average in this league. We can certainly do better there. Also it is my opinion that for past 3-4 years our O-line has been OK and it is besides the point what coaches have done to keep the team performing high. Just from talent perspective and keep this team contending for SB for next few years we need to improve in those areas, offensively.
I am not sure if you are related to BA but please quit covering his ass. Even at 8-3 record the truth is he is not upto the quality that this team of 2006-2011 deserves.
by NO1KTA on Dec 2, 2011 10:21 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
If BA is really that bad
doesn’t the blame fall on Coach T and the Rooney’s for keeping him? This is like when circus tigers get executed if they bite someone that works with them. They’re tigers, its what they do. Apply that logic to BA, he has shown what he is capable of in his time with the FO should know his strengths, weaknessess, and limitations. If they accept them, shouldn’t our frustration be aimed at Coach T and, the FO, and the Rooney’s, rather than the guy that is just being himself?
I'm your huckleberry
I think healthy criticism is always welcome. It’s just that sometimes fans forget to think or mention the positive things due to the passion they have for the team. So some of the comments come across as overly negative.
Imo even Arians isn’t as bad as some claim. If you go by results alone 1 SB win, 1 SB appearance, no losing season as OC yet. Could he have done better? Almost certainly… but on the other hand no other coordinator has during the last 3 years.
More to the point are the complaints part of what makes the fan experience satisfying?
I think this a symptom of the fact that most professional sport has largely become motivated by large amounts of money and so much emphasis is put on winning. The achievement and effort are almost secondary considerations. Everyone expects the athlete/team to win. Their employers, the sponsors, the press, the fans.
I wish we could get a little bit of the Olympic creed back into professional sports. But I think that ship has sailed and is not scheduled to return for a long time.
What you say has a grain of truth....
But I still want the Steelers to dance all over the Bengals.
To those frustrated by Sunday's win...
1. "Accepting mediocrity cultivates mediocrity"…Is a complete misnomer. No one accepts mediocrity. The Jacksonville Jags do not accept mediocrity. They just fired their coach. The Cleveland Browns do not accept mediocrity. Josh Cribbs is livid in their locker-room. The 49ers and Lions didn’t accept mediocrity a couple years ago, and now they are among the elite teams. To imply that any team or any fan ever "accepts mediocrity" is just not accurate.
2. There are 256 wins and 256 losses in the NFL every regular season. No team or fan wants any of those losses, but they are mathematically forced whether you like it or not.
3. With a hard salary cap, every team is going to have warts and flaws. I want the team to address those areas as much as anyone, but to be frustrated by the inevitable is senseless.
4. The other guys get paid also, and they are talented players acquired in the same draft that Pittsburgh participates in. To think that we have some inherent birthright to have a better team than anyone else every year is also senseless.
5. If being 8-3 and playing in 3 of the last 6 Super Bowls is frustrating to you, then you should move to Cleveland. When I cried for stupid reasons as a toddler, my dad told me to stop or he would give me something real to cry about. If winning on the road in prime time frustrates you, move to Cleveland where you will have valid reasons to be frustrated.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
by maryrose on Dec 2, 2011 11:39 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
Again with Cleveland?
Sir, with all due respect, why the cheap shot? You’re basically saying that if someone doesn’t accept your viewpoint, then they’re not a real fan of the team and should go cheer for one of the worst teams in footaball, as well as a rvial. Above you said “fair enough” when someone disagreed with you, now you’re reiterating your position. While I am quite happy the team is 8-3 and played in 3 of the last 6 super bowls, there are things that still bother me about the team. For instance, I would have much rather have seen us win that last SB, rather than choke on both sides of the ball. If you think my lingering displeaure and frustration makes me any less of a fan, you’re mistaken. I’m neither bothered nor worried about those of our fanbase that are “negative nellies” or “chicken littles.” As I believe people said above, I try not to read or respond to the posts that take such a view and I move onto the posts that actually catch my interest.
I'm your huckleberry
that is "football," rather than "footaball"
I guess my Italian came out in that sentence.
I'm your huckleberry
I don’t know how different we really are, maybe not much. Of course I wish the offensive line was better and we had the best players at every position. Of course I wish we had won that Super Bowl. I was there. Walking down those steps and through the parking lot was heartwrenching. I attend every home game and also a road game every year. I’m on the streets. I listen and read everything. I think I have a pretty good feel for the pulse of Steeler Nation. I believe that many fans, albeit still a small percentage, have an elitist attitude that winning is an expectation, so much so that winning "ugly" is not acceptable.
To players and coaches, winning must be an expectation. They need that mindset to survive in such a competitive environment. Winning is an expectation to the players and coaches of Jacksonville, St. Louis, Minnesota, everyone, good or bad. Just ask them. To fans, winning should be a hope, not an expectation. We don’t impact the game (other than screaming at home games). Fans need to understand how hard it is to win in the NFL. They need to understand that there are very talented athletes lining up across from our team whose sole purpose it is to keep us from winning. They need to understand that going into the home of proud and wounded world-class athletes, cashing all their chips to a national audience, is a very difficult thing to do.
The Cleveland reference was hardly a cheap shot. It is reality. It is reference and perspective. If the Browns had won "ugly" at Kansas City Sunday night and left town at 8-3, those people would be dancing in the streets. I believe there are Steelers fans who have become so spoiled to the point where winning is no longer a hope, but an expectation. I’ve been going to Steelers games for 50 years and trust me, that’s a dangerous place to be. That’s all.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
If teams do not accept mediocrity then explan ....
Why the Bengals kept Marvin all those years and Jack stayed in Jacksonville?
If the owner is more interested in the $ bottom line than the W’s then the fans will either accept mediocrity, be frustrated or join Steeler Nation.
by Steeler Nation VA on Dec 2, 2011 3:23 PM EST up reply actions
Explanation pretty simple really...
The jags just fired their coach in mid-season, not acepting mediocrity, and the Bengals cleaned house with star prima donnas and turned their record to 7-4, not accepting mediocrity…Of course, for every winning team there is a corresponding losing team, who will also fire their coach and not accept mediocrity…
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
I do not accept mediocrity
There’s a faction among Steeler Nation that believes the Pittsburgh Steelers have some inherent right of passage to succeed in the NFL, that somehow losing is for other teams, but not us. Losing can and will never happen. Competing for championships is our birthright.
It is our right to expect the best. Success breads success. It starts at the top. However you want to say it, “I expect the best at work and from my sports teams.”
the obligatory Bruce Arians bashing, where 200,000 truck drivers, accountants and school teachers use the magic of hindsight to think they can call plays better than the people who study this for a living.
Count me in this group if failing to score in the redzone last week and especially calling an empty set on 3rd and goal. The defense knows exactly what you are going to do. When the OL can block a fly, why call for more long passes. Quick throws so that Ben does not get killed makes sense to me. If it is not the play callers fault, then whose fault is it? Uncle Fester’s fault?
The last I checked, those guys were getting paid also, yet people fail to acknowledge that highly-talented athletes are scheming to prevent us from having our way.
I agree but do not accept the fact that just anybody can beat the Steelers
One of the disadvantages of being the Pittsburgh Steelers is that they are often showcased on featured games in enemy arenas. That comes with the territory of being the real “America’s team.”
- We are not America’s Team – WE ARE STEELER NATION
Look, I know the offense struggled. I am aware of the penalties and dropped passes, etc., but speaking of 8-3, there are four teams in the AFC with that record and none better. The Steelers are one of those four teams, and unlike the others, their three losses have all come to the others.
I just do not accept the fact that we lost to the Ravens twice – I know our record is good, but it could have been better.
Great article, I just do not accept anything less than perfection. Call me arrogant if you want, but we have 6 rings, How many ’yinz got?
by Steeler Nation VA on Dec 2, 2011 2:14 PM EST reply actions
“I agree but do not accept the fact that just anybody can beat the Steelers”
“I just do not accept the fact that we lost to the Ravens twice –”
" I just do not accept anything less than perfection. "
- so basically, you don’t accept ……. reality ?
(just messin with ya)
"Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball." - Roberto Clemente
For those that get concerned about minutia
I try to see the big picture.
The season is at minimum 16 games. There are stories and narratives that play out every week, and stories and narratives that play out over the course of a season – and the post season. I know we all want the Lombardi, but I’d be disappointed and would reject it if it was just handed to the Steelers before the season started. As much as I want to win the super bowl, it’s the journey that counts for me. The anticipation, the mystery and excitement, as well as the pleasure of watching skilled players perform their craft. Otherwise I’d stop watching.
I accept the wins with the loses. You have to. But I also understand and accept this past week’s narrative, just as much as I do when they play well. The steelers were without starters, played flat, missed some catches and fumbled, and got lucky with bad decisions by the opposing QB. I also remember all those catches by Wallace and Brown for big gainers in the other wins. You can’t appreciate the sunshine without the rain, and at 8-3, it’s cloudy, but the sun is creeping through.
Ok.
What’s next Sunday going to offer?
by IronJake on Dec 2, 2011 3:39 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Nicely done,
and rec’d
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Dec 3, 2011 12:44 AM EST up reply actions
agreed
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Dec 3, 2011 9:32 AM EST up reply actions
KC
I had to hear it from everybody at work on Monday (I work in Cleveland)….Steelers looked like crap, barely got out of there with a win, etc etc. Bottom line…it was a Primetime game, on the road, in the NFL. There is absolutely NOTHING easy about that scenario. The game pretty much played out as I had suspected, a narrow victory, but a victory nonetheless. Tomlin says it best, there are no style points in the NFL, get the “W” and move on. With that being said, time to kick some Bengals ass this week. I wasn’t worried about last weeks game, even if they looked less than stellar most of the time, and I’m not worried about this weeks game. They will def take care of business at home….then again Thursday when the Browns come to town. That will be my first game of the year at Heinz Field and, in the words of Bart Scott: “Can’t Wait!”
Does any other fan base...
…exercise itself with philosophical debates like this on their version of BTSC?
I agree with some, disagree with others, find value in almost all the posts, whether I agree or not.
For me, reading and responding to fellow Steeler Nations citizens has become almost as enjoyable as actually watching the Steelers play every week.
Kudos to all of yinz for your thoughts, arguements and dissertations.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
+1
At the end of the day that’s exactly the point. And at 1pm on Sunday we all be on the same page.
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Dec 2, 2011 6:05 PM EST up reply actions
Rec'd x 1000 !
In my opinion this is the best post of the year. We, as Steelers fans are so lucky, and spoiled. I live in the SF bay area and saw how the Niners went from dynasty to doormat; it can happen to any team, and sometimes very quickly (hello Colts !). The Rooneys are such amazing owners, providing stability and the smarts to hire the right people.
As to “playing down to the level of the competition” … Football, more than most other sports, is a game where every game takes on a personality of it’s own; primarily due to the emotional aspect of it. The first Ravens game this year showed us that – the ratbirds were so UP for that game and played probably their best game in the teams history. But they had nothing left in the emotional tank a week later and fell to the Seahawks. I never take ANY game for granted, and expect even the weakest team to bring it early. The Steelers ability to start well on the first drive this year has been a big part of winning the games they should win.
All of that being said, I have a good feeling that the Steelers will look very good this week vs. the Bengals. I rarely bet on the Steelers because I bet with my heart too much, but I laid down $ 25 this week for them to cover. Just a hunch.
Oh, and Steeler’s Nation rules
"Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball." - Roberto Clemente
I agree with you
But…
I would put cold hard cash on the reality that there is a truck driver bouncing along an interstate of this fine country who could be a top 10 offensive coordinator in the NFL.
So the other 199,000 folk may be out of luck, but that guy you hear calling in a talk radio show just might know a few things.
I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from May, 2011 to Sept., 2011, to raise money for charity. For more info, please visit: http://thf2.wordpress.com
by Fifty-Eight on Dec 3, 2011 2:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions
hehe
or someone who’s had lots of time out on the trail hiking throughout western north america :)
Contact me at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com or michaelbean06@gmail.com with comments, suggestions, complaints, etc. Find BTSC on Twitter. Follow BTSC on Facebook for regularly updated content and commentary.
Pacific Crest Trail
I know it well; a lot of it is truly “God’s Country”.
Fifty-Eight: curious where you started, and where you finished. I met a guy on it in the Siskyous once who had started at the Mexican border and was targeted for Alaska, just him and his dog; some serious packing !
"Pitch me outside, I will hit .400. Pitch me inside, and you will not find the ball." - Roberto Clemente
"move to cleveland"
Sam wyche endorses this comment
by whodeyrevolution33 on Dec 3, 2011 7:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions
as a bengals fan
I must say this is one of my new favorite sites. Love seeing people actually being intelligent and about football and their team as I am, but with more class. Its much different than the other sites where peple just want to be entitled asses. (One of my pet peeves, and also why I live 70 miles from clumbus and hate my ohio state buckeyes)
by whodeyrevolution33 on Dec 3, 2011 7:51 AM EST via mobile reply actions
thanks
we’ve been known to attract some folks from across enemy lines. all in good fun. cheers.
Contact me at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com or michaelbean06@gmail.com with comments, suggestions, complaints, etc. Find BTSC on Twitter. Follow BTSC on Facebook for regularly updated content and commentary.
the revolution will not be televised
sorry, cheap joke about the blackouts. Just kidding. Thanks for stopping in. Always nice to have some members of the other side around.
BTW, 70 miles in which direction from Columbus?
This message will self destruct
Who the hell's interrupting my Kung Fu? - Black Dynamite
With two D's, for a double dose of this pimpin'
Welcome whodey
Hope you stick around.
by Ivan Cole (RickVa) on Dec 3, 2011 12:55 PM EST reply actions
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