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The four main reasons we lost

bmoritz

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As I see them, in order (sorry if this is rehashing a lot of what's already said, I'm still furious):
1. Jax came in prepared, and we weren't. They came into our house, twice, and punched us in the mouth. By the time we decided to wake up and take them seriously, we were already in a nearly impossible hole.
2. Piss poor coaching. And this starts with the head guy. What the **** did we do for two weeks? We were clearly not prepared (and for those who moronically ask "How do you know? You're not in the locker room....blah blah blah." I KNOW because the proof is in the pudding. Just rewatch the first quarter. It's also crystal clear that from the head coach on down, this team is OBSESSED with the Patriots, and was absolutely overlooking the Jags, which is a team that has consistently been a thorn in our side. This is both arrogant and incredibly stupid, but those are Tomlin characteristics. Who the **** calls a sweep play on 4th and 1 against that fast defense? Easily the most asinine play call I've ever seen. The onside kick? While I get it, it was incredibly stupid with over two minutes and two timeouts left. It was the final nail in our coffin. Defensively, did we blitz at all? We made Blake Freakin Bortles look like Brady. Anybody here knows I've been a Tomlin critic, but this year I naively thought maybe, just maybe he's turned a corner, but today proved me wrong. The deer in the headlights look was back. In big situations, he is clearly and consistently in over his head and outcoached. I am more convinced than ever that will never win another lwoB repuS with him at the helm. I know that for some idiotic reason, he's untouchable. But at the very least, both coordinators need to go.
3. Horrible defense. No pressure, no identity. Mitchell, Spence, and Bud have no business being on the team, let alone starting. They SUCK! While I still have hope for him if we get any decent coaching, Burns is too hot and cold right now. Where the hell was Heyward yesterday?
4. Refs letting Jax get away with EVERYTHING! While I refuse to claim this is why we lost, it was blatant that they were letting the Jags get away with murder. Constant uncalled pass interference (including blatant holding of JuJu on 4th down), a blatant false start that wasn't called before their first TD, and Ben literally being body slammed 5 seconds after he threw the ball were uncalled. Now that the Legion of Boom is old and broken, it's clear that Jax is the new Seattle. A defense that is allowed to do whatever they want.

I'm REALLY glad Ben is coming back, and that surprises me. And while he had a few bonehead plays, I refuse to place the blame on a QB who led the offense to 6 TD's against the mighty Jag defense (and refs). This loss falls 100% on coaching and defense, and the vast majority of the blame needs to finally fall at the feet of the head coach. No more excuses.

I REALLY hope Jax wins next week, but we all know the league will not allow that. So realistically, I'm hoping for Brady and/or Gronk to get a broken leg, and the Vikings to become the first team to win a lwoB repuS at home.
 
For anyone who doesn't think coaching played a factor in this game needs to look at Jacksonville's offensive plays. They were killing our D on play action and numerous times had wide open players. The one that really stood out was the play action pass to the FB for a wide open TD. When have we ever seen any inventiveness like that from Haley?

Every single big play by our offense was a great individual play and not a result of scheme. Without Ben's backyard style, this would have been 45-14.

I said at the middle of season we should run no huddle non stop from here on out and once again the offense was unstoppable with Ben leading the no huddle. We were at home in the playoffs and we didn't run no huddle until we were down by multiple scores.

People are wondering how we could let Bortles do what he did and the answer is he did what he did because his coaches called plays to get the most out of him and the offense. It was a perfect example of what good coaching does. Meanwhile we have the best skill position players in the league and could hardly score 20 points in a lot of games.
 
the main reason we lost ... everything else is just bullshit.

1. T
2. O
3. D
4. D

20170806pdSteelersCamp11.jpg
 
As I see them, in order (sorry if this is rehashing a lot of what's already said, I'm still furious):
1. Jax came in prepared, and we weren't. They came into our house, twice, and punched us in the mouth. By the time we decided to wake up and take them seriously, we were already in a nearly impossible hole.
2. Piss poor coaching. And this starts with the head guy. What the **** did we do for two weeks? We were clearly not prepared (and for those who moronically ask "How do you know? You're not in the locker room....blah blah blah." I KNOW because the proof is in the pudding. Just rewatch the first quarter. It's also crystal clear that from the head coach on down, this team is OBSESSED with the Patriots, and was absolutely overlooking the Jags, which is a team that has consistently been a thorn in our side. This is both arrogant and incredibly stupid, but those are Tomlin characteristics. Who the **** calls a sweep play on 4th and 1 against that fast defense? Easily the most asinine play call I've ever seen. The onside kick? While I get it, it was incredibly stupid with over two minutes and two timeouts left. It was the final nail in our coffin. Defensively, did we blitz at all? We made Blake Freakin Bortles look like Brady. Anybody here knows I've been a Tomlin critic, but this year I naively thought maybe, just maybe he's turned a corner, but today proved me wrong. The deer in the headlights look was back. In big situations, he is clearly and consistently in over his head and outcoached. I am more convinced than ever that will never win another lwoB repuS with him at the helm. I know that for some idiotic reason, he's untouchable. But at the very least, both coordinators need to go.
3. Horrible defense. No pressure, no identity. Mitchell, Spence, and Bud have no business being on the team, let alone starting. They SUCK! While I still have hope for him if we get any decent coaching, Burns is too hot and cold right now. Where the hell was Heyward yesterday?
4. Refs letting Jax get away with EVERYTHING! While I refuse to claim this is why we lost, it was blatant that they were letting the Jags get away with murder. Constant uncalled pass interference (including blatant holding of JuJu on 4th down), a blatant false start that wasn't called before their first TD, and Ben literally being body slammed 5 seconds after he threw the ball were uncalled. Now that the Legion of Boom is old and broken, it's clear that Jax is the new Seattle. A defense that is allowed to do whatever they want.

I'm REALLY glad Ben is coming back, and that surprises me. And while he had a few bonehead plays, I refuse to place the blame on a QB who led the offense to 6 TD's against the mighty Jag defense (and refs). This loss falls 100% on coaching and defense, and the vast majority of the blame needs to finally fall at the feet of the head coach. No more excuses.

I REALLY hope Jax wins next week, but we all know the league will not allow that. So realistically, I'm hoping for Brady and/or Gronk to get a broken leg, and the Vikings to become the first team to win a lwoB repuS at home.
Dilly Dilly my friend

Sent from my SM-G955U using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Zero turnovers. Jax 3 defensive td in two game (Steelers zero for the season). Watt was a hair from a strip sack. Had tge punt been a block instead of deflection big difference. And Bortles getting his own fumble from Heyward. Those three weee at minimum 7 point flips and 2 were 14.
 
All good points here but the season was really lost/stolen week 15. We should've been playing the Titans while NE deals with the Jags.
 
The steelers organization goes to the pit of misery. I don't see them getting out until they field a real defense.
 
As I see them, in order (sorry if this is rehashing a lot of what's already said, I'm still furious):
1. Jax came in prepared, and we weren't. They came into our house, twice, and punched us in the mouth. By the time we decided to wake up and take them seriously, we were already in a nearly impossible hole.
2. Piss poor coaching. And this starts with the head guy. What the **** did we do for two weeks? We were clearly not prepared (and for those who moronically ask "How do you know? You're not in the locker room....blah blah blah." I KNOW because the proof is in the pudding. Just rewatch the first quarter. It's also crystal clear that from the head coach on down, this team is OBSESSED with the Patriots, and was absolutely overlooking the Jags, which is a team that has consistently been a thorn in our side. This is both arrogant and incredibly stupid, but those are Tomlin characteristics. Who the **** calls a sweep play on 4th and 1 against that fast defense? Easily the most asinine play call I've ever seen. The onside kick? While I get it, it was incredibly stupid with over two minutes and two timeouts left. It was the final nail in our coffin. Defensively, did we blitz at all? We made Blake Freakin Bortles look like Brady. Anybody here knows I've been a Tomlin critic, but this year I naively thought maybe, just maybe he's turned a corner, but today proved me wrong. The deer in the headlights look was back. In big situations, he is clearly and consistently in over his head and outcoached. I am more convinced than ever that will never win another lwoB repuS with him at the helm. I know that for some idiotic reason, he's untouchable. But at the very least, both coordinators need to go.
3. Horrible defense. No pressure, no identity. Mitchell, Spence, and Bud have no business being on the team, let alone starting. They SUCK! While I still have hope for him if we get any decent coaching, Burns is too hot and cold right now. Where the hell was Heyward yesterday?
4. Refs letting Jax get away with EVERYTHING! While I refuse to claim this is why we lost, it was blatant that they were letting the Jags get away with murder. Constant uncalled pass interference (including blatant holding of JuJu on 4th down), a blatant false start that wasn't called before their first TD, and Ben literally being body slammed 5 seconds after he threw the ball were uncalled. Now that the Legion of Boom is old and broken, it's clear that Jax is the new Seattle. A defense that is allowed to do whatever they want.

I'm REALLY glad Ben is coming back, and that surprises me. And while he had a few bonehead plays, I refuse to place the blame on a QB who led the offense to 6 TD's against the mighty Jag defense (and refs). This loss falls 100% on coaching and defense, and the vast majority of the blame needs to finally fall at the feet of the head coach. No more excuses.

I REALLY hope Jax wins next week, but we all know the league will not allow that. So realistically, I'm hoping for Brady and/or Gronk to get a broken leg, and the Vikings to become the first team to win a lwoB repuS at home.

Only bits and pieces to add. Hargrave looked fat, gassed and was manhandled. Our soft middle needs to be addressed in the off season.
 
Have to agree Coach. I was really excited about Gravedigger coming into this season, but he's been pedestrian at best.
 
the main reason we lost ... everything else is just bullshit.

1. T
2. O
3. D
4. D

There is a lot of truth to this, if our offense could ever come out with a game plan that has balance and attacks a teams weakness we might be able to bail out our defense and not get put in a hole. Our first 2 offensive series were pretty much throw away series. I don;t think he has a bad playbook, I just don't think he has half a clue how to formulate a game plan, call plays during a game, or make adjustments when things are not working.
 
All good points here but the season was really lost/stolen week 15. We should've been playing the Titans while NE deals with the Jags.

Do you really think it mattered who we played yesterday, we played the worst QB in the NFL in Blake ******* Bortles and allowed them to move up and down the field at will, while our offense put up 42 points on one of the best defenses in the NFL. You beat the teams you are supposed to beat and if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.
 
Do you really think it mattered who we played yesterday, we played the worst QB in the NFL in Blake ******* Bortles and allowed them to move up and down the field at will, while our offense put up 42 points on one of the best defenses in the NFL. You beat the teams you are supposed to beat and if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.

I have no doubt that Mariotta and Henry would have ran all over them yesterday just like the Jags.
 
I have no doubt that Mariotta and Henry would have ran all over them yesterday just like the Jags.

Mariotta would have had 400 yards passing to go along with Henry's 200 yards rushing. All the while, keeping our offense off the field so we are lucky to put up 21.
 
The biggest issue IMHO, is all the above, but a lot of it starts with a lack of discipline. Not even talking about just yesterday, all season and last season too - and before that. Tomlin and players shooting their mouths off. Not getting ready for games properly. Taking bad teams lightly. Lack of communication on the field. Players not doing their assignments. Coaches with head scratching calls. Clock mismanagement. Using the wrong personnel packages. Penalties. Thinking inside the box and failing to change defensive schemes when what you are using is not working, for example using 2 down lineman and getting scorched time and time again with the run. And on and on. Discipline will never happen with Tomlin, and he ain't going anywhere. So time to get used to having the best personnel in the league - at least on offense - and ending up all pissed-off at the end of the season. OK, get rid of Mitchell, get rid of others, but then some other yoyo will take his place and shoot his mouth off as long as there is no discipline on the team. Dunno how Ben stands it. The Rooney family needs to really look at this team and make some hard decisions if the team is to ever get out of this morass. The Cheats have discipline. Noll's teams had it and to a lesser extend Cowher's teams had it. The Jags obviously have it and used it to kick the Steelers ***, twice.
 
The biggest issue IMHO, is all the above, but a lot of it starts with a lack of discipline. Not even talking about just yesterday, all season and last season too - and before that. Tomlin and players shooting their mouths off. Not getting ready for games properly. Taking bad teams lightly. Lack of communication on the field. Players not doing their assignments. Coaches with head scratching calls. Clock mismanagement. Using the wrong personnel packages. Penalties. Thinking inside the box and failing to change defensive schemes when what you are using is not working, for example using 2 down lineman and getting scorched time and time again with the run. And on and on. Discipline will never happen with Tomlin, and he ain't going anywhere. So time to get used to having the best personnel in the league - at least on offense - and ending up all pissed-off at the end of the season. OK, get rid of Mitchell, get rid of others, but then some other yoyo will take his place and shoot his mouth off as long as there is no discipline on the team. Dunno how Ben stands it. The Rooney family needs to really look at this team and make some hard decisions if the team is to ever get out of this morass. The Cheats have discipline. Noll's teams had it and to a lesser extend Cowher's teams had it. The Jags obviously have it and used it to kick the Steelers ***, twice.

it has become glaringly obvious that any team rules do not apply to certain players and that those players are above the team. Until a HC comes in that can fix THAT problem, it is nothing more than putting lipstick on a pig.
 
That was a JV level defense the Steelers had on the field. Even a below average effort would have been enough for a 10+ point win with the offensive output. From Scott Kacsmar on Twitter (can we post Tweets? if so, how?):

https://twitter.com/FO_ScottKacsmar/status/952659412732309505

Points allowed in playoff losses in Roethlisberger era
2004 - 41 (NE)
2007 - 31 (JAX)
2010 - 31 (GB)
2011 - 29 (DEN)
2014 - 30 (BAL)
2015 - 23 (DEN)
2016 - 36 (NE)
2017 - 45 (JAX)

Some return TDs in there, but if you want to know why Roethlisberger might only win 2 SB...
 
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