Has Mike Smith lost it?

[POP]

Watching a highlight of last game, the Falcon coaches are seen/heard saying to the offense, "We don't run where #43 is. We don't run any where 43." Do they think this is 2005? They think Troy is something to fear and account for? Where have they been? Troy hasn't been a factor since 2008 or so. It's 2014. I was blown away they felt the need to account for Troy every play. Where have they been? I know Troy _tries_ to _appear_ like the menacing Tasmanian Devil he once was, but all that's left is a facade - he is a mere shadow of what he once was. I am not casting ANY blame on him; no one escapes father time. But I am shocked any NFL coaching staff still thinks he is something to avoid at all costs.

 

[deljzc]

NFL coaches are very overrated.

 

[jitter77]

NFL coaches are very overrated.

Yeah some of the stuff is dumbfounding. It's like they watch the media and not games. If i was going against the steelers i would throw against troy now a days. Also his tackling has been suspect for a while now. I would love to goto some coaches meetings just to see what they have to say.

 

[POP]

NFL coaches are very overrated.

I have to totally agree with that. I do think the very best are smart guys with vision (Belichick, Carroll, Fisher, Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, Noll, Gibbs, et al) but the run of the mill coaches are nothing that brilliant.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Well, they did say "We don't run where #43 is ..." Troy in the box is still effective. Troy in coverage? Not so much. I can't remember where I read it, or I would post a link, but one of the local reporters stated something along the lines that all the other safeties were basically told by the coaches that Troy would NOT be in coverage this year.

Off topic, but if Troy is so useless in coverage that you tell your other safeties that they have to cover their responsibilities and his ... WTF is he doing out there?

 

[Coryea]

Troy is still solid vs the run, if I were a coach I'd run toward the other DB too. Troy did win DPOY in 2010, he's been relevant after 2008

 

[POP]

Troy is still solid vs the run, if I were a coach I'd run toward the other DB too. Troy did win DPOY in 2010, he's been relevant after 2008

2010 was the year GB picked on him in the Super Bowl. He was hobbled and ineffective. Rogers and Jordy Nelson ate him for lunch. I don't recall seeing the "old Troy" for a long time. Again, this isn't a knock on the guy; he has given his full effort. He just isn't a difference maker anymore. I believe when he is replaced it will be an upgrade. But I will forever cherish the fond memories of TP in his prime. But once a player has declined, hero worship is not really helping the team.

 

[Omar10213245]

2010 was the year GB picked on him in the Super Bowl. He was hobbled and ineffective. Rogers and Jordy Nelson ate him for lunch. I don't recall seeing the "old Troy" for a long time. Again, this isn't a knock on the guy; he has given his full effort. He just isn't a difference maker anymore. I believe when he is replaced it will be an upgrade. But I will forever cherish the fond memories of TP in his prime. But once a player has declined, hero worship is not really helping the team.

fair enough, he was hurt at season's end, but he DID win DPOY for that season, so he was doing something right after 2008. But yes, I agree, his abilities have eroded, it's to be expected. I wish Troy nothing but the best after football, he has been an absolute warrior for the Steelers, a true gridiron legend.

 

[Drink IRON City]

All the best to TROY !! !!!!!!!! He plays as long as he wants, knowin Troy, he'll retire very soon as he knows too!!!!!




Salute the nation

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

I am not quite sure if youve been paying attention this year-

But that would maybe fall under #17 of "Dumb **** said/done by Mike Smith in 2014"

 

[POP]

fair enough, he was hurt at season's end, but he DID win DPOY for that season, so he was doing something right after 2008. But yes, I agree, his abilities have eroded, it's to be expected. I wish Troy nothing but the best after football, he has been an absolute warrior for the Steelers, a true gridiron legend.

OK, no argument. He did have some stretches of great play since 2008, but had long bouts of being hobbled in that stretch too. But I am not arguing that he had a career where he was incredible for many seasons, very special. I have only seen a handful of safeties make the impact he did, among them Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Ronnie Lott, Donnie Shell and Kenny Easley.

 

[Ward4HOF]

2010 was the year GB picked on him in the Super Bowl. He was hobbled and ineffective. Rogers and Jordy Nelson ate him for lunch. I don't recall seeing the "old Troy" for a long time. Again, this isn't a knock on the guy; he has given his full effort. He just isn't a difference maker anymore. I believe when he is replaced it will be an upgrade. But I will forever cherish the fond memories of TP in his prime. But once a player has declined, hero worship is not really helping the team.

Ya, he only beat every other player on defense in the whole league but you know more.....

 

[POP]

Ya, he only beat every other player on defense in the whole league but you know more.....

Yea, guess you missed that game, showcasing a limping Troy who couldn't have stayed with my mom. He was playing on one leg, for cripes sake.

 

[Coryea]

Yea, guess you missed that game, showcasing a limping Troy who couldn't have stayed with my mom. He was playing on one leg, for cripes sake.

maybe the coach should've taken him out, but that would mean we'd have to have someone better to replace him.

 

[Stryker]

Troy is the most confusing pre-snap safety in the league. An offense must account for him, because they have no idea where he is lining up or what he is going to do at the snap. He's not as effective as he was earlier in his career after the snap, but pre-snap, still a force.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Troy is still solid vs the run, if I were a coach I'd run toward the other DB too. Troy did win DPOY in 2010, he's been relevant after 2008

That's the answer. Troy is still a good run defender. He's lost a step though, so he is not as big a factor running things down from behind as he used to be. The Falcons probably gameplanned to find Troy and call the run in the opposite direction. Same play, just a different side. Matt Ryan probably missed that audible a few times and the coaches were getting frustrated.

 

[hamster]

I have to totally agree with that. I do think the very best are smart guys with vision (Belichick, Carroll, Fisher, Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, Noll, Gibbs, et al) but the run of the mill coaches are nothing that brilliant.

Mike Tomlin feels disrespected by the your post.

 

[Troglodyte]

This doesn't have to do with Troy, it has to do with a free-lancing safety who is in-accounted for in the blocking scheme.

 

[obxsteeler]

I have to totally agree with that. I do think the very best are smart guys with vision (Belichick, Carroll, Fisher, Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, Noll, Gibbs, et al) but the run of the mill coaches are nothing that brilliant.

I'm sure you and deljzc have spent hours talking to many of them before reaching that conclusion. I just hope at least two of them appreciate how lucky they are you don't want their jobs.

 

[Steelerfan]

Watching a highlight of last game, the Falcon coaches are seen/heard saying to the offense, "We don't run where #43 is. We don't run any where 43." Do they think this is 2005? They think Troy is something to fear and account for? Where have they been? Troy hasn't been a factor since 2008 or so. It's 2014. I was blown away they felt the need to account for Troy every play. Where have they been? I know Troy _tries_ to _appear_ like the menacing Tasmanian Devil he once was, but all that's left is a facade - he is a mere shadow of what he once was. I am not casting ANY blame on him; no one escapes father time. But I am shocked any NFL coaching staff still thinks he is something to avoid at all costs.

If an aging, has-been, declining, over-the-hill, liability like Troy is still dictating what opposing offenses do (as you cite above), that is
******* AWESOME!!


Maybe hero worship does, in fact, count for something. Troy doubters, haters, and critics can kiss my ***. He will be the first one to bench himself when he becomes a liability to this team.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

maybe the coach should've taken him out, but that would mean we'd have to have someone better to replace him.

That's kind of the problem in a nutshell.