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Game breakdown

I couldn't agree more, we should rarely go empty set, yet we do it 24/7. Pass rushers have no worry about a run or even getting chipped or a RB catching it out of the backfield.

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I would go Pony backfield and then after the D's first look, move out either RB and adjust.

Empty set when we lack TEs and a #2 WR... who the **** is our coordinator? the **** flinging moneky?
 
I would be bringing 5 WRs in for tryouts.... Perhaps resign Eli for starters...

I don't disagree. Just saying that parts are hard to find but you have nothing to lose by looking. The current trajectory certainly doesn't seem to be heading for a good landing.
 
Blame the youngin's all you want but in my mind this team is badly coached on both sides of the ball. Maybe that was a contributing factor for Munchak's departure. Gettin' out while the gettin's good doesn't sound like a bad way to go when you can see the bus has a loose steering wheel.

I don't see any sound decisions from either co-coordinator, it's like a free for all, wrapped in confusion, spread liberally in random directions.

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All the minority owners wanted to fire Tomlin. Instead Rooney says well let’s give him another
 
All the minority owners wanted to fire Tomlin. Instead Rooney says well let’s give him another

Rooney probably feels the same as the plodder HC: "It's not about coaching, it's about execution."
 
Well perhaps the Steelers need a coach to help the players execute better.

Like a X and O coach that will adjust gameplans during the game, and know when to throw a challenge flag.
 
Rooney probably feels the same as the plodder HC: "It's not about coaching, it's about execution."

Bradshaw has been very critical of Tomlin. Hines Ward as well. To lesser degrees, but critical nonetheless, Jerome Bettis and Rod Woodson. Bleier posted that surprising & emotionally charged video after the Raiders debacle (I believe) last season and he wasn't directing his ire at the players. Then you hear about the minority owners and their thoughts on Tomlin.

The wagon has been filling up, and Tomlin continues to show absolutely no signs of improving. Almost going in the opposite direction it looks. Then with what looks to be a pretty apathetic owner, not good. I think the best coach the Steelers had headed off for Denver.
 
Well perhaps the Steelers need a coach to help the players execute better.

Like a X and O coach that will adjust gameplans during the game, and know when to throw a challenge flag.

He left for Denver unfortunately.
 
Holy crap, I know the rookie Bush had a bad game, but Will Dissly, that little known TE of theirs made him his personal *****:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Devin Bush got rocked by Will Dissly here. Welcome to the NFL type moment. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/BtaHbxB6FF">pic.twitter.com/BtaHbxB6FF</a></p>— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora/status/1173360786531651585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is the Seahawks TD with Bush in coverage <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/DUSi4KM7mu">pic.twitter.com/DUSi4KM7mu</a></p>— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1173296886784020480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seahawks second TD against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/MDLnKeoS38">pic.twitter.com/MDLnKeoS38</a></p>— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1173311134931177472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Holy crap, I know the rookie Bush had a bad game, but Will Dissly, that little known TE of theirs made him his personal *****:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Devin Bush got rocked by Will Dissly here. Welcome to the NFL type moment. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/BtaHbxB6FF">pic.twitter.com/BtaHbxB6FF</a></p>— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) <a href="https://twitter.com/Alex_Kozora/status/1173360786531651585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here is the Seahawks TD with Bush in coverage <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/DUSi4KM7mu">pic.twitter.com/DUSi4KM7mu</a></p>— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1173296886784020480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seahawks second TD against <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Steelers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Steelers</a> <a href="https://t.co/MDLnKeoS38">pic.twitter.com/MDLnKeoS38</a></p>— Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot) <a href="https://twitter.com/Steelersdepot/status/1173311134931177472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 15, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hate to say it but he wasn't worth moving up for. I don't see the speed or instincts. I haven't seen a single nice play by him so far.
He doesn't have Shazier's speed or IQ.
 
Bush had a terrible game there is no denying that. But the coaches haven't put any of these guys in a good situation. Bush shouldn't be playing right now. He isn't ready. He also has physical limitations as well. But right now he shouldn't be on the field.
 
Hate to say it but he wasn't worth moving up for. I don't see the speed or instincts. I haven't seen a single nice play by him so far.
He doesn't have Shazier's speed or IQ.

He does have good speed and he can hit when he's lined up. But the tape doesn't lie. If anyone watched any film besides the highlight film they would have seen some of the issues he had. I even discussed it before the draft when people thought he was going to another team. I do think he will be a decent ILB IF the Steelers put some big guys in front of him. You can't leave him in a 2 DL set. It makes no sense. The Steelers are horrible right now at drafting players and then putting them in impossible positions.
 
Bush had a terrible game there is no denying that. But the coaches haven't put any of these guys in a good situation. Bush shouldn't be playing right now. He isn't ready. He also has physical limitations as well. But right now he shouldn't be on the field.

Yep, and don't kill the guys confidence while you're at it.
 
Bush had a terrible game there is no denying that. But the coaches haven't put any of these guys in a good situation. Bush shouldn't be playing right now. He isn't ready. He also has physical limitations as well. But right now he shouldn't be on the field.

You don;t trade up in the 1st round for guys with physical limitations. Bush has 3rd round talent.
 
One game doesn't make a career.

And it doesn't lock in that he will be deficient in any area.

Some players minimize their weaknesses and maximize their ceiling.

Will Bush? Only time tells that. It could go either way.

I am not going to label him after being thrown into the fire.
 
His speed hasn't helped yet. Probably because the defensive scheme sucks, not necessarily the players.
 
His speed hasn't helped yet. Probably because the defensive scheme sucks, not necessarily the players.

There is a decent amount of thinking which will slow down reaction time. Often first year players have this issue. Bince's injury did Bush no favors.
 
There is a decent amount of thinking which will slow down reaction time. Often first year players have this issue. Bince's injury did Bush no favors.

I agree with this. I think the version of Bush we saw in the pre-season is closer to the player he will become, than what we've seen thus far. The whole D looked tentative and unsure of themselves, at least they did past the middle of the 2nd quarter yesterday. I'll forever remember how bad (and lost) Polamalu looked his rookie year, as a stark reminder not to pass judgement too soon on first year players.
 
My biggest issues are:

The D still seems too complicated. There are always "communication" issues. Players don't know what they are supposed to do. I commented on this in another post. On consecutive plays for one of Seattle's TD's, they threw to the TE. Barron covered the 1st play that resulted in a 1st down and nice gain. Bush covered the 2nd and it resulted in a TD. Both TE's did the same thing. They got to within a couple yards of the TE and then didn't engage the TE. They both pulled up and assumed a S would cover the TE. This was right in the middle of the field and probably within 15 yards of the line. This is their territory. Either they are being told to do this or this is a "communication" issue. Both times, the S was still too far away to get to the TE before the ball was in their hands. Something is wrong there and they need to fix it. The way I see it, if both TE's would have engaged their man, the TE, one or both of those go for an incompletion and they don't get the easy TD. Our D needs to go back to basics - whether that's a simple zone or each man lines up with a man and sticks with him no matter what. They need to figure something out because so far in 5+ years now of Butler fronting for Tomlin running the D, this **** ain't working.

The O line was decent in the running game last year but not as good as the pass. This year, they have been horrible. Then again, Samuels and Snell had decent holes to run through while Conner did not. I am not sure if there were holes and Conner didn't see them or if the O line was doing better as the Samuels and Snell runs came after they could have worn on the D line a little.

I am really not sure where we go from here. Ben is still out of sync and now hurt. My guess is he misses at least one week.

Some players on the D flash at times but the entire D is far from a unit or playing as a team. VW not in there against the run was bad. Barron just sucks. I sure hope that isn't the same waste of money like last years ILB they brought in but in 2 games, he looks awful.
 
Nice post TDX27.

Couple of points.

Regarding our D, the whole system needs to be simplified and overhauled, hard to do - but not impossible - in-season. Firing Butler would be the place to start, in my view. Something cathartic needs to happen, and happen fast, if they want to turn this around.

On Barron, I agree. Complete lack of urgency, literally seemed to be jogging on a few plays, noticed that last week as well. He was supposed to be this new, hybrid S/LB type flying all over the field, in stark contrast to the slow-footed VWill, Matatevich and Bostic (last year). He actually looks slower to me than those players, or simply has no idea what to do in this defense and is thus handicapped. I'm looking at Ulysses Gilbert as possibly someone who needs to start playing more in the middle. Good good, two rookies out there...that could be cringeworthy for a while before, possibly, gelling into something satisfactory.

The run game thus far is a disaster. Not sure if it's Conner, the O-line or coaching, probably a combinaton of all three. Not having Nix doesn't help, though he was hardly used last week. Maybe the vets on the line have spent too much time reading their press clippings, about how they're this great, veteran group, 'among the best in the league' and are not putting forth the effort to consistently win at the line. Maybe losing Munchak is a bigger deal then we thought. Maybe Sarrett is someone they tune out or simply take things for granted. I think a lot of it is on Fichtner and the formations & calls we've seen.

On Ben, I hope you're right. It was omnious how this was a non-contact injury, the fact they didn't try to wrap it or at least put a sleeve on it. Or the fact he didn't even try to keep his arm limber and warmed up, just put on his cap and called it a day. Reading the tea leaves, that doesn't sound to me like a one week type thing...but we'll see.
 
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Bush had a terrible game there is no denying that. But the coaches haven't put any of these guys in a good situation. Bush shouldn't be playing right now. He isn't ready. He also has physical limitations as well. But right now he shouldn't be on the field.

Kinda reminds me of this little Hawaiian dude we picked up in the first round back when. He also struggled for awhile to get his feet firmly planted in the game but eventually blended in quite well. I don't like throwing rookies under the bus but now 3rd and 4th year guys missing tackles and dropping balls...that's a different story.

Then again there is this part of the equation ( But the coaches haven't put any of these guys in a good situation ) you so astutely mention.

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Devin Bush looks better than Troy did in his first 2 games, just sayin...
 
That was my thought. Polamalu didn't show much his first season.
After he had a year to learn things and stop thinking, he became Troy. You could even say his head shrunk 2 sizes...

I don't know where, why or how Tomlin and Butler have fallen in love with this 2 DL ****. I don't know what they're thinking. I don't know what they can possibly hope to gain by being weaker at the point of attack. Folks have been noticing that the Steelers are getting beaten in the 'physical' aspect of the game. Well, it may very well be that putting just 2 DL in the ******* trenches and thus giving up the line of scrimmage without a fight may be part of that. And, as noted earlier - you have a smaller, quick ILB, why on ******* EARTH would you allow guards that outweigh him by 70+ lbs to get in to him rather than tie them up with other big-uglies?

Offensively, it's like they just assumed all the receivers would be running free over the middle with no defender within 3 yards of them. In the P*ts debacle the game ultimately turned in to the "Chuck it deep to Washington and see what happens" strategy. I'm not ready to give up hope on JuJu, he's still putting up pretty good numbers, he could get better than 1200 yards without ever having a "good" game at this rate. But they NEED a reliable #2 to give them some options. Mongrief just isn't cutting it. I don't want to hate on a guy, but C'MON! He has 7 ******* yards this season on what... 12 attempts? Consider that. He is literally averaging just over 1/2 yard PER ATTEMPT! (Hey, we ever need a call for 3rd and inches... um. Nevermind.)

I'm not an Xs and Os guy. I don't understand all the subtle nuances and complex **** a defense (or offense) does to break a play or cover a weakness. But clearly this team is struggling like a ************. And if Ben's out for an extended period of time... Well, I guess we'll see how Rudolf does when teams have some tape on him. I hope he does well. (I have no expectation whatsoever that a GREAT Rudolf still isn't nearly as good as Ben Roethlisberger, but I guess we take what we can get.)

******* coaches...
 
They miss Brown more than any of us care to admit.

The guy had to go, but he opened things up throughout opposing secondaries.

We really took all that separation Steelers WRs used to get for granted.

Everything is a struggle now.

We miss Brown because he had play making abilities to bail out a ****** or lack of game plan. Ben knew he could sling the ball AB's way and get a completion. This bailed out piss poor game plan's for years. Now we need to actually play a complete football game. You see how that impacted us in the first two weeks. Maybe Ben's elbow had something to do with a poor week 1, but we weren't competitive in that game. We had a chance to win with a backup QB yesterday and blew it.
 
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