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It’s “Put up or Shut up” in 2018

Steeler Nation

Steeler Nation

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The Steelers are in crunch time for another Super Bowl and with the season approaching the team will be put to the test come September. It’s no secret that *Pittsburgh has faced many obstacles while chasing that seventh Lombardi trophy, but the question is, can the team fight through them and bring another ring back […]

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The only thing holding us back is:
a). ILB
b). Pass rush (from the DL & OLB)
c). Coaching
 
This statement in the article just doesn't sit right with me somehow.

Two words. Ryan Shazier. DeArdo’s top concern was the loss of Shazier which doesn’t come as a surprise. The Steelers decided not to draft that inside linebacker position during the draft. But instead, I think the hope is that Terrell Edmunds will be able to cover the hole. But like we’ve said a million times before, can anyone really do the job that Shazier did? There will certainly be a lot of movement within the position to find the right match.
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For one thing, if that hole is gonna be so hard to fill then maybe the defensive scheme was more the problem. I recall that there were some problems with stopping the run while Shazier was on the field. Granted they were not as prominent but they were there nontheless. Maybe Butler leaned on Shazier's athletic ability too much. Other teams have produced excellent run stopping defenses without a superstar ILBer,.so it can be done.

I'm somewhat impressed with the potential talent they have gathered up this year, upgrading the whole defensive secondary to the point that the sometimes questionable "talents" of Artie Burns may get challenged for playing time and the depth at safety is also going to push Sean Davis to clean up his act. Maybe if all these additions produce the improved performances that are anticipated, we won't require a superstar to replace Shazier...a good player may be enough. ( ya hearin' me Red? lol)

Aughta be fun come football time in Pittsburghia
 
SteelChip said:
This statement in the article just doesn't sit right with me somehow.



For one thing, if that hole is gonna be so hard to fill then maybe the defensive scheme was more the problem. I recall that there were some problems with stopping the run while Shazier was on the field. Granted they were not as prominent but they were there nontheless. Maybe Butler leaned on Shazier's athletic ability too much. Other teams have produced excellent run stopping defenses without a superstar ILBer,.so it can be done.

I'm somewhat impressed with the potential talent they have gathered up this year, upgrading the whole defensive secondary to the point that the sometimes questionable "talents" of Artie Burns may get challenged for playing time and the depth at safety is also going to push Sean Davis to clean up his act. Maybe if all these additions produce the improved performances that are anticipated, we won't require a superstar to replace Shazier...a good player may be enough. ( ya hearin' me Red? lol)

Aughta be fun come football time in Pittsburghia
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Duuuuuude........filling a hole may be hard for you, but.....:witless:
 
slashsteel said:
D] FS
E] Depth atWR
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Depth at WR? We're pretty thick there:

1: Best WR in football
2. OROY Candidate with pro bowl potential
3. 2nd round draft pick
4. Former starter, battle tested combat receiver
5. Former 1st rounder, burner, plays all positions and ST
6. Slot guy with KR/PR potential

If Washington or Hunter step up, this offense will be tough to stop.
 
It will as always come down to injuries. If we have few and not to key people we will be in the hunt for 7.
 
SteelChip said:
This statement in the article just doesn't sit right with me somehow.



For one thing, if that hole is gonna be so hard to fill then maybe the defensive scheme was more the problem. I recall that there were some problems with stopping the run while Shazier was on the field. Granted they were not as prominent but they were there nontheless. Maybe Butler leaned on Shazier's athletic ability too much. Other teams have produced excellent run stopping defenses without a superstar ILBer,.so it can be done.

I'm somewhat impressed with the potential talent they have gathered up this year, upgrading the whole defensive secondary to the point that the sometimes questionable "talents" of Artie Burns may get challenged for playing time and the depth at safety is also going to push Sean Davis to clean up his act. Maybe if all these additions produce the improved performances that are anticipated, we won't require a superstar to replace Shazier...a good player may be enough. ( ya hearin' me Red? lol)

Aughta be fun come football time in Pittsburghia
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This is my same beef with that mentality. 31 other teams also do not have Ryan Shazier and many of them stop the run just fine (even better than we did with him out there). But just like our offense was the "our guys are better than your guys" offense, I think Butler also built schemes around RS
 
Cope said:
Depth at WR? We're pretty thick there:

1: Best WR in football
2. OROY Candidate with pro bowl potential
3. 2nd round draft pick
4. Former starter, battle tested combat receiver
5. Former 1st rounder, burner, plays all positions and ST
6. Slot guy with KR/PR potential

If Washington or Hunter step up, this offense will be tough to stop.
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You have Brown and Juju

Washington is a unknown until we see that attractive college player show out in the NFL.

The rest aren't really that reassuring, if one of the top three went down....
 
Put it all up and beat the dog piss out of the pats***** and jagoffs while you're at it.
 
Change defensive scheme and beat the jags.

Better yet do not overlook lesser competition
 
slashsteel said:
You have Brown and Juju

Washington is a unknown until we see that attractive college player show out in the NFL.

The rest aren't really that reassuring, if one of the top three went down....
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I disagree, 2 more receivers are former starters: Hunter and DHB. If Washington beats them out, our receiving core is stronger because of it. Not despite it.

Eli plateaued, and I reviewed Marcus Tucker. He has AB qualities. Not AB for sure, but he can assert himself as a return star, and a better slot receiver with better hand mechanics than Eli, then I'm all for him as well.

The only question is if the Steelers go with a UDFA to take that 6th spot away from Tucker. I personally wouldn't bet on it today, but camp is a long time, and injuries happen.

I thought we were better off last year, but Bryant ended up being a trojan horse. His hand mechanics improved, and he became a much more willing blocker, but his route running dropped, then his combat catches left him. He became a guy that always ran with a defender on his hip. He was a step up from Sammie Coates and Hamilton, but Washington has the potential to beat his numbers from last year, this year. I'd say that's an even bet at this point.
 
Cope said:
I disagree, 2 more receivers are former starters: Hunter and DHB. If Washington beats them out, our receiving core is stronger because of it. Not despite it.

Eli plateaued, and I reviewed Marcus Tucker. He has AB qualities. Not AB for sure, but he can assert himself as a return star, and a better slot receiver with better hand mechanics than Eli, then I'm all for him as well.

The only question is if the Steelers go with a UDFA to take that 6th spot away from Tucker. I personally wouldn't bet on it today, but camp is a long time, and injuries happen.

I thought we were better off last year, but Bryant ended up being a trojan horse. His hand mechanics improved, and he became a much more willing blocker, but his route running dropped, then his combat catches left him. He became a guy that always ran with a defender on his hip. He was a step up from Sammie Coates and Hamilton, but Washington has the potential to beat his numbers from last year, this year. I'd say that's an even bet at this point.
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Both Hunter and DHB have suspect hands.

We "might" be able to tote the rock with Hunter. But hell that is a unknown. DHB isn't going to do too much as a WR, he hasn't and he won't.

We had two experienced WRs leave and replaced that with one rookie.

Washington has the potential to be better than Bryant was last year, but that is just potential.

I am not saying the group is going to fail. But I would like to see a experienced WR brought in...............
 
slashsteel said:
Both Hunter and DHB have suspect hands.

We "might" be able to tote the rock with Hunter. But hell that is a unknown. DHB isn't going to do too much as a WR, he hasn't and he won't.

We had two experienced WRs leave and replaced that with one rookie.

Washington has the potential to be better than Bryant was last year, but that is just potential.

I am not saying the group is going to fail. But I would like to see a experienced WR brought in...............
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But we are discussing depth. When your team has 2 former starters (one being a first rounder), that depth is better than 80% of the league.

As far as hands, Hunter's mechanics are pretty good. DHB has problems downfield, but he's better on shorter routes.
 
Cope said:
But we are discussing depth. When your team has 2 former starters (one being a first rounder), that depth is better than 80% of the league.

As far as hands, Hunter's mechanics are pretty good. DHB has problems downfield, but he's better on shorter routes.
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I guess you just see more from those two than I. I hope they both show well of course...
 
They need to figure out how to beat NE in the playoffs. We can't be obsessed with that throughout the regular season. We need to win our division first and if we can secure home field we need to win our home games and play complete games.
 
Hines57 said:
They need to figure out how to beat NE in the playoffs. We can't be obsessed with that throughout the regular season. We need to win our division first and if we can secure home field we need to win our home games and play complete games.
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Yep
 
Hines57 said:
They need to figure out how to beat NE in the playoffs.
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Pffft, beat 'em in the regular season too.

We can't be obsessed with that throughout the regular season.
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I think they were clearly looking past the Tampa game to NE, not that Tampa was a pushover, as we saw. Obviously.

We need to win our division first and if we can secure home field we need to win our home games and play complete games.
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Perhaps last year was a learning experience for Shades and he will raise the bar and perform above the line in his above-the-neck preparation, if you will, obviously.
 
slashsteel said:
I guess you just see more from those two than I. I hope they both show well of course...
Click to expand...

I understand your side too Slash. Really Washington is the wildcard. If he shows he can play, I feel we're deep, if not, we'll be less deep. Bryant was the head scratcher for me last year. Coming back and essentially doing nothing but whine. He got better at just about every aspect except catching contested balls.
 
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Hines57 said:
They need to figure out how to beat NE in the playoffs. We can't be obsessed with that throughout the regular season. We need to win our division first and if we can secure home field we need to win our home games and play complete games.
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I'm not saying New England isn't good, but I think Brady and Gronk are on their way out and Coach Hoodie and Mr. Kraft aren't seeing eye to eye.

Father time is patiently waiting for Brady to age, and once he retires this is a .500 type of team

Personally I'd love detailed book on how they used to cheat from an insider. Just give one of the worker ants $1,000,000.00 for the book rights. It will sell plenty!
 
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