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How far are the Steelers from their next super bowl appearance?

C

Coach

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I ponder this question after I watch every super bowl. The Steelers have not won a playoff game in four years. That's a tough pill to swallow. I think the reasons why have to do with Coaching, GM moves in free agency ( Re-signing our guys for over the market value and waiting too long to cut aging vets, the draft ( which has been hit or miss ) and a failure to replace aging veterans.

While our offense is excellent, we still need to re-sign Roethlisberger and Beachum which leaves us little cap space left to get an impact free agent for defense. I think the defense is broken on three levels.

1 ) A limited pass rush which could become worse if either Woridls or Harrison leaves

2 ) Zero play making safeties,and just average coverage people among our corners

3 ) A softer then normal run defense.

Last year we have the easiest schedule in years. As such the defense wasn't as exposed as it could have been. But we do have an amazing offense, and a 2015 draft to help our weak areas. Its clear Denver is on the decline. Brady won't be as good in the next few years. The Colts defense is a mess. Houston if they ever found a QB would be dangerous. Thankfully they do not have one. The Ravens look to remain tough.

So how close are we to our next super bowl appearance? An optimistic assessment would say it can be done 2016, but only if Colbert makes the right moves in the draft and free agency. I don't see it in 2015 at all. Too many holes and a tough schedule.
 
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CharlesDavenport said:
Depends on how long we keep Tomlin around.
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Tomlin's contract is up in 2016. I see no talks of an extension. I think he's coaching for his status as the head coach. A 11-5 year, and he sticks. A 7-9-to 9-7 year with no playoffs, and he could be replaced.
 
I think we are very close


1. Shamarko can cover a lot better than Troy
2. Worlids, or some other LB will be opposite Jones. I expect that person to blitz more under Butler
3. We can draft an OLB in rd 1 or 2 to add depth and provide insurance for Worlids/Jones stinking
4. Gay can start or go back to nickel duty depending on how Cortez plays. If Cortez stinks, then Gay starts. We will draft a corner in rd 1/2 that may even start.

If we improve our pass rush, start Shamarko, and draft a corner I think we will be SB contenders.
 
40 years

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Think of it this way: Who are the contenders in the AFC next year?

Pats of course- but an older team like that will definitely be hit with SB hangover.
Bronco's- this team looks to be on the decline, and half the WR corp is up for FA.

Colts and Ravens look good, but they have just as many holes as we do.

Bengals? Looked as if they may have peaked as long as Dalton is under center.

We are easily one of the top 5 teams in the conference. I think most would consider us a contender. Not a heavy favorite- but contender nonetheless...
 
If we can sign our players that we should sign and get a couple decent free agents and have a good draft, we could be contenders this coming year. The key as has been mentioned is the D. We need some of the young guys we have on D (and there are a lot) to make a leap this offseason - whether it is from year 1 to 2 or 2 to 3. We need to see big improvement there. That, along with our O putting the pedal to the metal for 60 minutes will give us a chance in every game. And, hopefully, as was the case last year, the D must improve throughout the year.

Again, I said before last years draft, our O can and must put up 30 plus per game - especially early in the season. The O should be better with another year with the same line and our young WR's getting even better. Ben, Bell, Brown, Wheaton, Bryant and an aging Heath should be a very potent and scary O. We will have 3 WR's on the field that can take the top off the D. That will be tough for teams to cover and even worse when you add in Heath and Bell. This will only help the D and keep us in games.

I really don't think the D is that far off if the personnel are used correctly and to their abilities.
 
We need to sign a UFA CB who can come in and play and draft someone behind him who can grow into that spot. Double down on CBs, get an OLB early (rounds 2-3), more depth at safety and hopefully the defense doesn't have the same injury issues this season.
 
I like the thought of signing UFA CB who steps in on day one to play as Hines mentions. Revis anyone? Look, lets first get Ben signed to an extension prior to F/A to lower the cap then get Cam Heyward extended. I would seriously make an attempt on Revis who still has plenty left and I would draft a CB in Round 1 or 2. They also have to make a decision on Worrilds which I have a feeling they have and will sign him to an extension. It would be interesting to see how Butler would use him. Then if they take a CB in round 1 I would take the best TE available in round 2. Then round 3 I go safety, round 4 RB, round 5 DL, round 6 OL, round 7 depth perhaps on DL.
 
Revis ..really where the hell is this team gonna get enough cap room to sign Revis....never gonna happen
 
Spike said:
40 years
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20 years. By the time the D gets reloaded (and we get a HC and GM who know how to draft defense), Ben will be long retired.
 
They aren't close IMHO. Thomas couldn't get on the field when Troy went down and they were scrambling for players. Even if Worilds stays you get the same defense as last year minus Troy, Harrison, Keisel, and Ike. Counting on a rookie pass rusher is a pipe dream. They need a lot of things to happen to be a good defense again. They need Jones to work out. They need to find a LOLB. They need Tuitt to step up. They need Heyward to play more consistently. They have to find DBs that can cover. They need Mitchell to play better and have someone step in for Troy.

I know people thing that the Steelers play good teams better than bad teams but next year they play good teams they don't play well. NE is a Steeler killer and they play at Foxboro. They play AT KC. They play AT Seattle. They play AT SD. The Steelers aren't road warriors at those places. Then they get Oakland at home... we all know has that generally goes.
 
Ask me in about 8 months.

Things can change drastically from year to year in the NFL.
 
LeXX75 said:
Revis ..really where the hell is this team gonna get enough cap room to sign Revis....never gonna happen
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Well, rather than continuously throwing these mud hens out there it would be nice for a change to have a premier CB. Get rid of all the dead wood, resign Ben, Heyward and possibly Worrilds and at least talk to the guy to see what his interest is and where we are money wise. We need at least one premier, dominant guy on defense which he would certainly be since we have no one of that status. We always had a Troy, a Harrison, Woodley, Porter type now we have nothing so at least make an attempt. Of course if the asking price is ridiculous then you shut the door and move on but where is the harm in making an attempt. I know this much, if we continue on this path with throwing out back-up players in starting roles at CB you can forget about any SB possibility. Even if you draft a kid in the 1'st round can you expect him to walk in and be a top notch starter in his first year? This team needs to put sentiment aside and part ways with anything draining cap space like Troy, not franchising Worrilds.
 
Resigning Worilds would be a huge mistake. I'd rather have Moats at LOLB than him. He isn't that good and he showed it this year. I don't think he beat an OL all year. The offense ran a ton to his side and he mostly got pushed out of the way or ran so far outside he couldn't get back into the play. Just let him walk.
 
Vader said:
Resigning Worilds would be a huge mistake. I'd rather have Moats at LOLB than him. He isn't that good and he showed it this year. I don't think he beat an OL all year. The offense ran a ton to his side and he mostly got pushed out of the way or ran so far outside he couldn't get back into the play. Just let him walk.
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I agree. Worilds is no where near worth franchise tag type of money. IMO Woriilds is a little better than Moats, but I'd rather keep Moats at his low cap number and take a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick in 2016 when some team gives Worlds a long term deal.
 
Coach said:
I agree. Worilds is no where near worth franchise tag type of money. IMO Woriilds is a little better than Moats, but I'd rather keep Moats at his low cap number and take a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick in 2016 when some team gives Worlds a long term deal.
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Totally agree. Worilds isn't worth the money. You could move Moats to LOLB and draft a LB or get someone via FA for depth.
 
Vader said:
Resigning Worilds would be a huge mistake. I'd rather have Moats at LOLB than him. He isn't that good and he showed it this year. I don't think he beat an OL all year. The offense ran a ton to his side and he mostly got pushed out of the way or ran so far outside he couldn't get back into the play. Just let him walk.
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Yep, if we re-sign Worilds we are effed. Unless he signs for a 3 million a year deal or something which I doubt. At this point I would rather load up in the draft and bring Moats back with Howard Jones and the first day of camp tell them all it's wide open and best two win. Put a fire under some of these kids butts and let them fight it out.
 
We won a Super Bowl with Clark ******* Haggans. This dislike of Worilds is displaced. When our defense was dominant we had a ROLB who was a sack master. Porter & Harrison. The pressure is really on Jarvis Jones to become what we drafted him to do. The LOLB does have to drop back more in our 3-4 defense. That said, we don't know what wrinkles Butler will add to our defense just yet. Worilds still tied for the team lead in sacks. I think Worilds is our best option at LOLB, but only if we get him at the right price. We can't overpay him. Its a tough spot to be in because we would create a new need in the draft if we let him walk when we really need to focus on building a new secondary.
 
Vader said:
Totally agree. Worilds isn't worth the money. You could move Moats to LOLB and draft a LB or get someone via FA for depth.
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I think they will make a solid but not spectacular effort to sign Worlids. If they let him walk without trying then that's like admitting they made a mistake, which is something that Tombert is loathe to do. If they can get his price bid up a little bit they say, "Gosh darn, we love Jason but just can't afford him under the cap", then that doesn't make Tombert look quite as stupid.
 
Shazier is on the smaller side, but can run. Why not look at moving him to safety. I think him as a hybrid LB/S could work. I guess in all reality, I just want Mitchell gone.
 
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...-loss-seahawks-favored-to-win-2016-super-bowl

Vegas puts us at the 8th best odds for next year. I'd say that's pretty fair although the draft and free agency should shake up the odds before the beginning of the season. Funny that they give the Seahawks the best odds over the Pat*s.

I still think we're only a few defensive pieces away from getting back. We definitely have the potential on Offense.
 
You look at the league right now and it's impossible to even guess. The NFL is so ******* rigged right now even if the Steelers DID make it to the the Superbowl you'd have to question it.

Roger has messed **** up so badly with his enabling of the **'s to do whatever the **** they want that it's impossible to put any faith in the league right now. They're spinning the **** out of the footballs in order to make themselves look like they didn't pull of the bullshit cheat of the century. Anybody who's willing to realistically believe this **** isn't rigged to the hilt for entertainment purposes only is kidding themselves.

Whatever makes the best storyline... that's what will be in the next Superbowl, and the one after that. It's a ******* reality show.
 
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