Man that was brutal. I know the majority of the blame falls on the defense, but it was still a total team loss. The offense put up 42, but struggled again early, and were partly responsible for the 14-0 and 28-7 deficits. Hard to overcome that......even at home. Anyone that doesn't think that two possible comeback opportunities weren't at least PARTIALLY due to the Jags playing less "close to the vest" doesn't understand football. D got gashed early, and that will remain a problem, but Pitt stopped Jags two straight drives before half, and their first two possessions of the 2nd half. That's four straight possessions, and our offense did the following with it: 1) Sack - fumble recovery for td the other way 2) TD to Martavis on 4th and 11 right before half 3) Punt after having 1st and 10 at Jags 40 yard line 4) Stopped on 4th and inches at Jags 35 yd line - great decision(s) Ben on both audible and terrible throw Gotta do better than only playing EVEN 7-7 in four total offensive possessions when you're down 2+ scores. Not converting on either 4th and inches were daggers, as both likely result in AT LEAST fgs if converted, and the Jags in turn scored touchdowns after stopping both. Ben had a mostly good game today, but he's a POS for throwing Haley under the bus again after the game, just like he did after the loss to New England. For crying out loud Ben.............YOU CHANGED THE ORIGINAL PLAY CALL on 4th and inches........both times. The first with 6 seconds left on the play clock, and checked into a toss sweep with a trio of receivers to lead block. The second he tries to force it down field to JuJu when a WIDE OPEN Eli Rogers is standing 7 yards in front of him in the flat (just like the New England game on 3rd and 4). Horrible decisions. Haley needs to go, but not because of his play calling..........but because he and Ben don't work well together anymore. That relationship has soured. Its no secret there's a go between and that can't function long term. Let Haley sign elsewhere and promote internally. No need for a new system, the biggest factor in this offense's success will always be Ben's decision-making. Speaking of............give me a break Tomlin........you wanted the ball back? No kidding? Do you really feel that this team's special teams.......pretty bad most of the year........after getting a partial punt block........were going to make another great play this game. With two timeouts and the 2 min warning? If you hold them, you possibly get it back with 1:45 or so in decent field position, with chance for game tying drive. One first down for Jags ends the game either way. How can you NOT take that chance on THEIR 20 yard line vs your own 40 yard line? Just makes no sense. I'm adjusting expectations for this team going forward. I really thought this was the year given the offensive firepower, the defense was solidified with the draft, a few good free agent signings, the health of the team was pretty good until late, and they finally got that bye that had eluded them in past few years. The past few seasons each seemed to be a stepping stone, this year looking to put it all together. And yet the offense sputtered for more than the first half of the season, were one of the very last teams in the entire league to record 30 points versus an opponent. The defense, while dominant at times in first half of the season - carrying the team, was seldom ever that for an entire game. And seldom were BOTH aspects good in any single week. Either the run defense was leaky, or the passing D gave up tons of big plays........one or the other most weeks. Until this team starts burying some inferior opponents early on and finds itself in less dog fights, I'll never be convinced they're serious contenders or capable of beating the Pats in the postseason. This includes dropping games vs a couple teams each year that cost them dearly come January (Chicago this year - would have made the Pats loss late irrelevant for #1 seed) and playoff seeding. That's especially true vs any backup QB or one-dimensional teams from the jump (Browns, Bears, Colts, Packers, Lions, etc). Defense D-line needs to get nastier and more consistent. Tuitt and Heyward need to be more disruptive vs quality opponents, their combined cap numbers now total at $26 million in 2018. Hargrave needs to continue to improve, get stronger, come off the field less on passing downs. Linebacker has to be a priority in draft and/or free agency as it looks unlikely that Shazier will ever play again. Our OLBs are NOT good enough, and they are the key to the defense being truly great instead of just good. Watt looks like he'll be a good one in time, but Dupree does NOT. Not good in coverage, looks lost when he drops. Isn't a good enough pass rusher, and just gets MAULED playing the run. I don't think they should pick up his 5th year option. Secondary is still a glaring weakness. Haden is solid, but Burns has regressed. Davis is up and down, and I'm close to being done with Mitchell. He just doesn't make enough plays, doesn't cover enough ground. You need at least one true PLAYMAKER or ASS-KICKER at each level of your defense to be truly great or dominant. We had that in 2007, we had that in 2008 & 2010. We DON'T have that right now. We were spoiled in that 2008/2010 we had arguably the TWO BEST defensive players in the entire league on the same defense. Heyward or Tuitt MIGHT BE......Watt MAY BECOME ONE........Shazier WAS......nobody in our secondary is right now. Sacks are one thing, but 14 of our team record 56 this year (25%) came vs one team (Cleveland). They need to improve on 3rd down, and force more turnovers. I'd expect the draft to be HEAVY once again on defense, although I wouldn't expect as much impact from the young guys as in years past. Our starting defense is nothing but 1st/2nd rounders with the exception of V-Williams and Hargrave. Offense Just need to stay healthy, improve red zone percentage, and avoid so many slow starts. Our offense has FIVE future HALL OF FAME caliber players on it, they have to become more consistent and put teams away sooner. I don't anticipate any additions vs free agency as all eyes will be on trying to tag or re-sign Bell. They may target a better TE if they don't choose to bring back McDonald (really tough call I think given injury concerns). We know how well he is when he plays, but $4+ mil per year can't be for just half the season. Next year WILL LIKELY BE the last chance for the killer B's to finally win a championship while playing together. At that point one is likely gone (Bell), or Ben may retire.
1. Change the fucking culture in the locker room. The fact that my team has devolved into a bunch of whiny brats who talk big and guarantee wins against playoff opponents that don't exist is a disgrace. They demand a new contract in the middle of the goddamn season when their focus should be on the opponent. The actual opponent. Self-serving touchdown celebration choreographers and not team-oriented football players. Part of me is glad this football team lost so they can instill some much-needed long-term changes. Speaking of which: 2. Don't worry about retaining Le'Veon Bell. Let his fucking ass walk right out the door so he can play all right for his brand spanking new $15 million/year for a year or two before breaking and lamenting his former offensive line. WE NEED FEWER HEADACHES AND A TEAM-FOCUSED APPROACH. 3. Have Martavis Bryant on a short leash. Cut bait with him on the slightest peep. 4. Fire Todd Haley. The idiot doesn't know what to do with this offense. His idea of "playing smart" is running sweeps on 4th down when even the asinine color commentator knows inside runs >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> outside runs against this opponent. He calls cute trick plays that don't fool anyone and cost this team. 5. The scheme on this defense is terrible. However, we need to release Mike Mitchell. He gets beat for at least one deep pass per game and is just awful. 6. Fire Joey Porter. The outside linebackers are a weakness. A weakness! Two first-round picks start there now, and high draft pick after high draft pick over recent years and we get nothing. Don't let Porter ruin T.J. Watt too! 7. Fire Carnell Lake. Same reason. 8. Have an introspective talk with Keith Butler. Is he only here to call creative blitzes? 56 sacks my ass. This boom-or-bust approach will kill us every time we go up against a well-coached team. If he's not willing to adjust, then fire him too. 9. Draft ILB and S. Of course, also make sure the new secondary coach is actually half-decent and not just hired 'cuz the city of Pittsburgh'll love 'im, yee-haw! 10. Promote Randy Fichtner to OC. Then don't be afraid to force him to retire with Ben if he isn't up to snuff. "Stability" can't be associated with "fear of change."
Two great posts guys, beloved Demo is right on except I would also consider cutting ties with Butler. I feel like the defense is stuck in limbo somewhere between a Lebeau defense and what Tomlin wants it to be. A defense stuck in purgatory. I’ve lost all confidence that this team as talented as it is on offense will win a SB with the current defense and coaching staff including Tomlin who continuously makes bad in-game decisions. He may be one of the better coaches around but his game management blows. They took a step back this year in a year that should have been a step forward.
Discipline and Responsibility. Without them the team will not win another championship. There is enough talent on this team to win. Look around the NFL and show me a more talented roster of players. Football is a team sport and requires teamwork to win. There isn't much "TEAM" on the Steelers. IMHO
I agree with everything you said Demo! It all starts with changing the culture of the locker room! The head coach is supposed to be the man who establishes the culture and demands that everybody fall in line. The culture in the locker room is worse this season than last season. I hate the Patriots but the man in charge over there sends guys packing when they don't comply with his expectations! Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones were studs but they didn't comply so the coach shipped them out. Gronk was asked about TD celebrations recently. He said I'm not allowed to talk about that. The standard is set by the head coach. It's time for coach Tomlin to change course. If he doesn't the locker room culture is only going to get worse!
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2018/01/decastro-says-steelers-failed-4th-play-calls-came-sideline/ Please fire this idiot OC already. And while you are at it, fire Butler too. Hopefully these announcements are being delayed due to Steelers staff being chosen to coach pro bowl game. Give me a break. It is not just tactical moves and lack of strategy (aka being outcoached), this staff sucks regarding personnel evaluations as well. None of you will agree or admit to agreeing, but Tomlin is an average coach being carried by a HOF qb. Is Tomlin a great tactician, strategist, game manager, motivator, personnel picker, disciplinarian, etc? Answers: no, no, no, no, no, no and no (whatever etc. you want to add bc he isn't great at anything). As much as Ben makes some key errors in playoffs these days, he is the only thing padding Tomlin's record, getting him there, and making him look so good he keeps his job. This team will be a trainwreck (by Steelers' standards) with Tomlin at the helm once Big Ben retires. We will be a .500 team once Roethlisberger retires. I am assuming we will be that way for a very long time like in Cincinnati after he retires bc the Rooneys will never fire a head coach. Tomlin = Marvin Lewis + Better Offense That's what I think anyways.
His explanation was the D hadnt stopped them all day so he felt they had to get the ball (might be paraphrasing it). So lets do a low percentage play (less than 20% when expected) and then put our D that I dont trust in an even worse situation. Bloody brilliant situational coaching by the guy several fams insists (wrongly) is a top 5 guy.
I think you will find here several that not only believe you but also agree with you. There are some Tominlinites here of course that would back him even if they lost a game 99 to 0.
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2018/0...old-teammates-wants-play-least-three-seasons/ Big Ben told teammates he wants to play at least 3 more years
I think it's the elephant in the room. Tomlin shone a spotlight on why the team has a disgusting, arrogant, head-in-the-clouds culture when he said the Steelers would have a second crack at the Patriots six fucking weeks ago. Of course, Tomlin's been the king of empty rhetoric since "unleash hell" back in 2009.
Not that I don't agree with you Jean. Just imagine what would be said if he kicked off and Jax ran the ball 3 times and made a first down. Everyone would blast him for kicking off when the D hadn't stopped them all day. I just don't think that specific decision was as bad as everyone else believes. Oh and I would have kicked off also, but in reality it was probably a no win situation the way the Steelers played all day.
No one knows the day or hour that the league will let games not be poorly officiated. Good luck to the Jaguars, they will be on the losing side with the refs in this game.
BnG - according to Decastro, Ben didnt check into the plays that everyone universely despised on those 4th downs you are mentioning above. He said they came from the sideline (aka Haley it seems / or Tomlin). Ben was taking a beating on one radio show yesterday for NOT checking out of the dumb play call on 4th and inches to run a QB sneak. Thing is, I do not think they even practice a QB Sneak because my understanding from listening to programs over the past 24 hours is that Tomlin/Haley do not allow it to be run (fear of injury to QB or something like that). So much for "not living in our fears"....this seems like more evidence of how "all talk" we are at the head coaching position. Here is a link: http://www.steelersdepot.com/2018/01/decastro-says-steelers-failed-4th-play-calls-came-sideline/
