Kupp on the trade market.

[Fiji Mariner]

Sounds like Pickens who is going to want top WR money, Pickens played in 12 games, had 59 catches for 900 yards and 3 TD's

And Pickens made those numbers in a remedial offense in about 75% of a season on a team that only uses 50-60% of the field.

Just imagine what he could do with a legitimate HC/OC or if he was even just allowed to use the whole field.

He’ll be an easy top 5 WR in the league after next season when he escapes this dumpster fire of an offense.

 

[SteelerFan448]

We need DL in the draft first.

Who will promptly sit on the bench on running downs while the Steelers employ 2 DL.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

Who will promptly sit on the bench on running downs while the Steelers employ 2 DL.

The guy I want would likely not be sitting in that circumstance. Hopefully. We are certainly not the only team regularly employing that defense.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

The guy I want would likely not be sitting in that circumstance. Hopefully. We are certainly not the only team regularly employing that defense.

On passing downs several teams will play a 2-4-5

On 3rd or 4th and short we are one of a very rare breed that refuses to get bigger on the front.
Unless in the shadow of the goalposts Mike is sticking with 2DL even on 4th and a foot

It all goes back to living in his fears
The only time he doesn’t fear the big play is when he is down to his last yard of real estate

It’s why he does things like devise a plan to keep
Minkah 20 yards from the action…he’s full of asinine tactical dumbassery

 

[Litos]

And Pickens made those numbers in a remedial offense in about 75% of a season on a team that only uses 50-60% of the field.

Just imagine what he could do with a legitimate HC/OC or if he was even just allowed to use the whole field.

He’ll be an easy top 5 WR in the league after next season when he escapes this dumpster fire of an offense.

The thing is we shouldn't pay top WR money without having a real QB, I think.

 

[Coryea]

And Pickens made those numbers in a remedial offense in about 75% of a season on a team that only uses 50-60% of the field.

Just imagine what he could do with a legitimate HC/OC or if he was even just allowed to use the whole field.

He’ll be an easy top 5 WR in the league after next season when he escapes this dumpster fire of an offense.

Imagine if he mentally stayed in games the entire game, I don't think he'll ever be top 5, no matter where he goes. Other coaches won't give him the long leash like Tomlin has.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

The thing is we shouldn't pay top WR money without having a real QB, I think.

I can’t argue with that logic

Good receivers like GP can make mid QBs look good but I’m pretty sure GP realizes this system is death to the numbers he craves. I don’t see a scenario where he willingly signs on the line for more of this dumpster fire. He’ll be gone to greener pastures as soon as he serves the last year on his Steelers sentence. He is definitely a hostage and not a volunteer at this point.

Unfortunately the broken system Mike runs is preempting bringing in solid FA offensive talent, a massive over pay would be required as enticement to acquire good offensive talent.

 

[Aussie_Steeler]

The thing is we shouldn't pay top WR money without having a real QB, I think.

I'd say having a real NFL offence might help the quarterback look more like a real quarterback.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Imagine if he mentally stayed in games the entire game, I don't think he'll ever be top 5, no matter where he goes. Other coaches won't give him the long leash like Tomlin has.

I think a huge part of his distraction is the dumpster fire he’s in.

He didn’t have near these issues at GA when he had a real coach like Kirby. Sure he threw a punch in a game vs a rival after being mugged all game, but in general he was a much better teammate under the structure and discipline Kirby brought over the clown car Mikey drives.

He’ll be fine with the structure a real
Coach brings as long as he’s afforded opportunities to put his immense skill set on display.

He knows he is being wasted in Pittsburgh.

 

[Coryea]

I think a huge part of his distraction is the dumpster fire he’s in.

He didn’t have near these issues at GA when he had a real coach like Kirby. Sure he threw a punch in a game vs a rival after being mugged all game, but in general he was a much better teammate under the structure and discipline Kirby brought over the clown car Mikey drives.

He’ll be fine with the structure a real
Coach brings as long as he’s afforded opportunities to put his immense skill set on display.

He knows he is being wasted in Pittsburgh.

He's talented no doubt, but giving up on play and saying it's because you didnt' want to get hurt, or seeing a ball on the ground and making zero effort to jump on it has nothing to do with the environment he's in IMO, if you're a competitor you don't do that. I agree though him getting out of here definitely wouldn't hurt.

 

[insaniti]

He's talented no doubt, but giving up on play and saying it's because you didnt' want to get hurt, or seeing a ball on the ground and making zero effort to jump on it has nothing to do with the environment he's in IMO, if you're a competitor you don't do that. I agree though him getting out of here definitely wouldn't hurt.

That was DJ not Pickens. Pickens didn't finish a block on the goal line one time, and it was because the week before there was a serious injury that was fresh in everyone's minds. The very next week after that story was blown out of proportion, Pickens thru a key block on a Warren run that resulted in a big play.

 

[Litos]

I'd say having a real NFL offence might help the quarterback look more like a real quarterback.

I'm not putting that in to question, but in the context of your point, is it worth to pay top WR money for such an offensive (literally) game plan?

 

[Aussie_Steeler]

I'm not putting that in to question, but in the context of your point, is it worth to pay top WR money for such an offensive (literally) game plan?

I agree. I also think the Steelers should be building for a Super Bowl run in 2027 (2026 in the unlikely event Fields proves in 2025 he is the QB of the future), so I don't think it's worth bringing in a player over the age of 28.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

He's talented no doubt, but giving up on play and saying it's because you didnt' want to get hurt, or seeing a ball on the ground and making zero effort to jump on it has nothing to do with the environment he's in IMO, if you're a competitor you don't do that. I agree though him getting out of here definitely wouldn't hurt.

Definitely a DJ play you’re referring to

Also never heard that quote from GP
When did that happen?

Sure he has not finished a block or a route a few times, I watch nearly every diva…I mean receiver in the league do that lately tho outside of a very limited group of try hards (the dying breed)

 

[Coryea]

Definitely a DJ play you’re referring to

Also never heard that quote from GP
When did that happen?

Sure he has not finished a block or a route a few times, I watch nearly every diva…I mean receiver in the league do that lately tho outside of a very limited group of try hards (the dying breed)

“I didn't want to get injured,” Pickens said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “When you stay in and block somebody, you can get run on very easily.”
That was after the Colts game in 2023

The talent is there, just the want to isn't and if I'm giving a guy that much money I don't want to have to constantly have to worry about his effort and if he's going to feel like playing play to play

 

[SteelerFan448]

The guy I want would likely not be sitting in that circumstance. Hopefully. We are certainly not the only team regularly employing that defense.

The Steelers primarily played 2 DL and an extra DB as the Ravens ran all over them in the playoffs. Tomlin doesn't value playing 3 DL.

 

[slashsteel]

The Steelers primarily played 2 DL and an extra DB as the Ravens ran all over them in the playoffs. Tomlin doesn't value playing 3 DL.

I am not even sure if they had the two best DLs against the run in the NFL that that scheme would work. It is just not gap sound.

It is what I mean when I say the scheme is broken.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

“I didn't want to get injured,” Pickens said, via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “When you stay in and block somebody, you can get run on very easily.”
That was after the Colts game in 2023

The talent is there, just the want to isn't and if I'm giving a guy that much money I don't want to have to constantly have to worry about his effort and if he's going to feel like playing play to play

Never heard him say that, thanks for the reference.

No worries tho…You won’t be giving him any money but more to the point he won’t resign a new sentence to serve any more hard time in the Steelers dumpster fire…he’s smarter than that. He’ll go somewhere that knows how to use him and coach him better.

 

[SteelerSask2]

It's ok we don't need him. Apparently, Chad Johnson talked to Pickens. He's gonna be more composed. He's fixed. No problem.

 

[Coryea]

Never heard him say that, thanks for the reference.

No worries tho…You won’t be giving him any money but more to the point he won’t resign a new sentence to serve any more hard time in the Steelers dumpster fire…he’s smarter than that. He’ll go somewhere that knows how to use him and coach him better.

LOL, come on man, i have 30 mill tucked away in my dresser.

 

[TDX27]

If they could get Kupp in here for 2 years without giving up too much and getting the Rams to pay some of his cap hits, you have to seriously consider it. The WR room is in desperate need of veteran leadership plus Kupp can still put up numbers for a couple of years. Having him, GP, Roman, Austin, and a 1st round (2nd round at the very worst) WR, should make for a great WR room assuming they stay healthy. Whoever the QB is will now have a ton of weapons at his disposal - the WR's, 2 good TE's, Warren, and Najee (who still may come back and is good catching out of the backfield), or a RB draft pick.

This, of course, comes down to how Smith/Tomlin will use the weapons. They need to be able to run but they shouldn't be running 60% of the time. 50-50 is the most they should run. This is now a pass first league that opens the run, not the other way around.

 

[insaniti]

This, of course, comes down to how Smith/Tomlin will use the weapons. They need to be able to run but they shouldn't be running 60% of the time. 50-50 is the most they should run. This is now a pass first league that opens the run, not the other way around.

I can see how it would seem that way, 60% run. But doing some actual research, I've discovered that not to be the case. In fact, we ended the year with a 48/52 split rushing to passing. This is how each game broke down in terms of pass attempts and rush attempts.

ATL - rush 41, pass 23
DEN - rush 36, pass 20
LAC - rush 31, pass 32
IND - rush 30, pass 34
DAL - rush 26, pass 28
OAK - rush 36, pass 24
NYJ - rush 36, pass 29
NYG - rush 31, pass 28
WASH - rush 43, pass 29
BAL - rush 34, pass 36
CLE - rush 34, pass 29
CIN - rush 26, pass 38
CLE - rush 35, pass 26
PHI - rush 17, pass 22
BAL - rush 24, pass 33
KC - rush 31, pass 37
CIN - rush 23, pass 31

I don't think the ratio of rush to pass is the issue, I think the ratio on FIRST down is an issue, we ran the ball 59.1% of the time on first down, fourth highest in the league. I found this cheat sheet on the season at Steelers.com. A LOT of interesting info about the season. Definitely worth the read.

https://www.steelers.com/news/cheat-sheet-an-overview-of-steelers-2024-offense

 

[TDX27]

I can see how it would seem that way, 60% run. But doing some actual research, I've discovered that not to be the case. In fact, we ended the year with a 48/52 split rushing to passing. This is how each game broke down in terms of pass attempts and rush attempts.

ATL - rush 41, pass 23
DEN - rush 36, pass 20
LAC - rush 31, pass 32
IND - rush 30, pass 34
DAL - rush 26, pass 28
OAK - rush 36, pass 24
NYJ - rush 36, pass 29
NYG - rush 31, pass 28
WASH - rush 43, pass 29
BAL - rush 34, pass 36
CLE - rush 34, pass 29
CIN - rush 26, pass 38
CLE - rush 35, pass 26
PHI - rush 17, pass 22
BAL - rush 24, pass 33
KC - rush 31, pass 37
CIN - rush 23, pass 31

I don't think the ratio of rush to pass is the issue, I think the ratio on FIRST down is an issue, we ran the ball 59.1% of the time on first down, fourth highest in the league. I found this cheat sheet on the season at Steelers.com. A LOT of interesting info about the season. Definitely worth the read.

https://www.steelers.com/news/cheat-sheet-an-overview-of-steelers-2024-offense

But, Smith would have wanted more runs. He is not known as a passing OC. He fits more of a Tomlin thought process to run the ball to set up the pass. This past year we still saw too many runs on first downs and getting behind the chains. You can do that more if your OL is playing well and opening holes consistently.

 

[insaniti]

But, Smith would have wanted more runs. He is not known as a passing OC. He fits more of a Tomlin thought process to run the ball to set up the pass. This past year we still saw too many runs on first downs and getting behind the chains. You can do that more if your OL is playing well and opening holes consistently.

Which I referenced at the bottom. And being a balanced offense isn't going to lead you to be called a passing offense. Smith has actually tried to be pretty balanced with all his offenses, the problem with that is that it will rank you near the bottom of the league in pass attempts and make it SEEM like you are a run first guy.

2019 Tenn OC rush 445, pass 448
2020 Tenn OC rush 521, pass 485 (Henry's first 2,000 yard season)
2021 ATL HC rush 393, pass 573 (both ranked near the bottom of the league, QB's were )
2022 ATL HC rush 559, pass 415 (Mariota and Ridder were his QB's)
2023 ATL HC rush 522, pass 530
2024 PITT OC rush 533, pass 499

Besides one year with Henry going off, and one where he didn't have a QB, he's tried to stay as balanced as you can get.

 

[Coryea]

Which I referenced at the bottom. And being a balanced offense isn't going to lead you to be called a passing offense. Smith has actually tried to be pretty balanced with all his offenses, the problem with that is that it will rank you near the bottom of the league in pass attempts and make it SEEM like you are a run first guy.

2019 Tenn OC rush 445, pass 448
2020 Tenn OC rush 521, pass 485 (Henry's first 2,000 yard season)
2021 ATL HC rush 393, pass 573 (both ranked near the bottom of the league, QB's were )
2022 ATL HC rush 559, pass 415 (Mariota and Ridder were his QB's)
2023 ATL HC rush 522, pass 530
2024 PITT OC rush 533, pass 499

Besides one year with Henry going off, and one where he didn't have a QB, he's tried to stay as balanced as you can get.

It's hard to know the real story just by those numbers, like how often were they trailing in the 2nd half that skewed those numbers, or vice versa how many times were they leading that skewed those numbers. How often did they run on 1st down, etc.