I refrained from posting at all during preseason, not just because I didn't like what I saw (especially on defense), but because it ultimately doesn't matter. I refrained from posting during Pats because what I thought would likely happen did, and its literally the same thing we'd be complaining about with regard to the Pats for the last decade-plus, namely how we play them defensively. However, now that we're 0-2...........for now......it could get a lot worse IMO without it getting better, some thoughts: I am DONE with this coaching staff on offense. As if last week wasn't bad enough in terms of preparation vs Pats in all phases..the offense comes out absolutely flat YET AGAIN today. It isn't all just Ben (more on that to come), the entire unit.....all positions just lack urgency and don't even seem frustrated or angry that they start games slow. One touchdown in the first 6 quarters of the season? Lowest scoring team in the league at that point. Its inexcusable for continued slow starts on offense with a HOF QB, a Pro Bowl running back, a Pro Bowl receiver, and three Pro Bowl OL. Season after season, week after week. Its ridiculous. No adjustments to what the other team is trying to do. No Plan B for when the opposing D takes away a certain look or player. No urgency by Ben at any point to try and get in a rhythm. No determination to ESTABLISH........not try, but physically impose your will in running the ball. Our running game shouldn't be something to keep the other team off balance. Every 3rd/4th and short should be a given with this team. Nixie or no Nixie. Its one yard. I am DONE with Ben. I don't care about his preseason schedule, he's seen little to no action the last several years. I have no problem with coaches giving veterans certain days off...........so long as they are playing well or NEED those days for rest or recovery. That isn't applicable to Ben. Despite great protection and play makers everywhere, our offense has been stuck in the mud early in the season for the last several years. At least SOME of that falls directly on his shoulders. Its been documented both last year and this year that he routinely misses Wednesday. Why? You have a new and young receiving corps this year. You have a lot of question marks from your skill position players this year. So why are you taking additional time off? If your heart isn't in it anymore, and you aren't willing to work or put in the same effort, then why did you sign an extension........knowing your role would expand with Brown and Bell both officially gone now? Your #2 receiver Moncrief (not for long) is a new addition to the team. Your #3 receiver is a 2nd year player. Your #4 receiver is a rookie. Your #5 receiver (Switzer) hasn't gotten on track since being here and may also be on his way out. Your #6 receiver is an undrafted rookie that you have missed two weeks in a row on deep balls, both times open.......one underthrown, one this week overthrown. Both could have been touchdowns. Knowing this team has cap constraints this year and next, Ben takes an extension......his THIRD with the team, for an average of $30+ million per year for the next 3 years . Boy isn't that hamstringing us for this year and next, especially given how he's played so far this year? If his injury is a major UCL injury and requires Tommy John surgery, that has to be it for him. I am DONE with Tomlin's defense. He was a highly regarded defensive coordinator when he was brought in, but Pitt hasn't fielded a championship caliber defense since 2010. This despite HUGE investments via the draft on this side of the ball since our last Super Bowl appearance. Every year its been the same thing..........inconsistent play overall. Poor secondary play, highly penalized team. Anytime the D is put in a position to win the game in the end, FAR MORE often than not the D CANNOT hold on and win the game. Doesn't matter the opponent, doesn't matter the situation........does ANYBODY have faith in our defense shutting the door on anybody anymore when it matters most? This is a TEN year problem, not a recent one. Why can the coaching staff and GM not rebuild a dominant defensive unit? Either the coaching staff completely stinks, or the talent evaluation is crap. Look at this current starting unit: Heyward (DE) - 1st round (2011) Hargrave (NT) - 3rd round (2016) - Our best player from that draft. Tuitt (DE) - 2nd round (2015) Watt (OLB) - 1st round (2017) Barron (ILB) - 1st round (2012) Bush (ILB) - 1st round (2019) Alvin (OLB) - no nickname Bud, he's unworthy of one - 1st round (2015) Haden (CB) - 1st round (2010) Davis (FS) - 2nd round (2016) Edmunds (SS) - 1st round (2018) Nelson (CB) - 3rd round (2015) Burns (3rd CB) - 1st round (2016) - complete and total bust I'll bet NO OTHER TEAM in the league can say that their entire starting defense is nothing but 1st/2nd/3rd round picks, and I'll bet nobody else has seven..............SEVEN first round draft picks on their starting D. The fact that they have made this type of investment and STILL see mediocrity and inconsistency on that side of the ball falls squarely on Tomlin and Colbert. They have failed........pure and simple........to restock the pantry and rebuild a championship caliber defense. Either the talent evaluation stinks, or the coaching staff CANNOT put the players in a position to win, and design a system that favors their talents and can disrupt other teams. Sacks are nice, but they don't matter if you can't get one in the end with the game on the line. They don't matter if they aren't coupled with turnovers. They don't matter if they come rarely or not at all vs good teams. The amount that the coaching staff and Colbert FAIL......repeatedly.............in not drafting or developing quality secondary players is unacceptable. And after a while you should simply declare yourselves FAILURES on that front, STOP DOING IT, and go the free agent route exclusively for that position group. Stop drafting secondary players. Our top two corners were brought in via free agency. Yet for YEARS we've been content to roll with Sean Davis, Cameron Kelly, and other scrubs at safety. You have to have playmakers there. Edmunds looks like he may.........MAY be a decent starter one day, but nothing special. He's not a playmaker. No attempt at all last Spring to bring in Earl Thomas at free safety despite not signing in the first round of free agency. He thought he was going to take a one-year "prove it" contract coming off a friendly fire injury last year until Baltimore came calling. Pitt was REALLY high on him prior to the 2010 draft, along with Joe Haden. Not even an attempt to entice him to come to Pitt? And today Steelers Depot says the Steelers have NO INTENTIONS to try and obtain Minkah Fitzpatrick. Really? No attempt given what we've seen thus far from our safety the first two weeks. Davis isn't going to be resigned, so what do you care if someone better is brought in now this year and on a rookie deal for three more years after this season? God. What from Davis or Kelly in how they play shows you that either one will be anything other than a backup? But I guess its hard to entice quality free agents (like Earl Thomas) when your QB is commanding $30+ mil per year and you eat $21 million in dead money from a recently traded diva wideout. This team is just a mess and frankly isn't worth our time and investment for now. Frustrating and just sad, frankly.
Well said. I’m done with this team until Tomlin and the rest of the coaching staff is replaced. I posted it years ago, the Tomlin/Ben combo will never get to another SB yet alone win one.
It's sad because Ben has all the talent in the world but he lacks the fire that Brady has. He doesn't inspire anyone. Calling guys out on the air isn't leading. He's got two rings so he doesn't care anymore regardless of what he says.
Well said. Agree 100% with all of that. Am I to believe our talent evaluators honestly felt Chikillo was better than Tuzar Skipper? Now Chikillo is out with foot injury and Skipper is on roster of Giants and I have to read how we are in trouble depth wise at linebacker now with Williams out too. JOKE of a team from a personnel management standpoint. Either total fools or seriously trying to lose.
Yes you did, and I agreed. I had been saying that repeatedly as well. It bothered the sunshine and lollipop guilders but truth is truth.
Forgot two BIG THINGS from yesterday. I will try to post screenshots later, but on two BIG plays during the game the clock expired before the ball was snapped. One was the FG conversion that drew a penalty by McCullers........the second was the 3rd and 16 play with 2:11 left in the game. Both plays were succeeded by penalties or a timeout. The team supposedly brought in someone strictly to assist with replay decisions, given that Tomlin hasn't won one since 2016. How in the world are BOTH of these missed. They can be challenged, just like 12 men on field, etc. How is it that we can see it in real time, back up the TV and see it definitively............yet they can't decipher and throw a flag in the course of a minute if that's all they are there for? Just inexcusable.
