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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2018 season was utterly unacceptable at too many levels, not least in the standings.
The Steelers plummeted from 7-2-1 to 9-6-1 and out of the playoffs. Only one word describes that: “collapse.” We had been talking about home field and a bye. Now we’re discussing what should have been and the NFL Draft.
Three of the Steelers’ defeats and their tie were intolerable: the losses at Denver and Oakland because those teams stink, losing at home vs. the Los Angeles Chargers because the Steelers blew a 16-point halftime lead, the tie at Cleveland because the Steelers blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.
The coaching was rotten. Replay challenges were stupid, made based on what Mike Tomlin saw on the scoreboard. Tomlin routinely mangled clock management. Tomlin opted to not use Ben Roethlisberger for four series in the Oakland loss despite the injured quarterback being cleared to play. The Steelers’ special teams led the NFL in penalties. The Steelers were the league’s most-penalized team in the season’s first half. As is tradition, Tomlin didn’t have his team properly prepared for inferior foes. Witness Sunday’s lackluster effort against injury-riddled Cincinnati.
It took the Steelers 16 weeks and 12 missed kicks to replace the NFL’s worst kicker. Then Matt McCrane came in and went three-for-three on field goals. That kind of accuracy would have come in handy during a few of the Steelers’ losses.
The Steelers had zero playmakers on defense, getting just 15 takeaways (third-worst in the NFL) and finishing minus-10 on turnovers (fifth-worst).
The season was a disaster given its potential. The instances of stupidity, sloppiness and selfishness are far too numerous to mention in one column.
It was a stink sandwich, and everybody should take a bite: owner Art Rooney II, Tomlin, GM Kevin Colbert, Roethlisberger, all the coaches, all the players, the equipment managers and the ball boys.
But if you’re expecting significant changes, they won’t be forthcoming. A sacrificial lamb or two might be offered, like defensive coordinator Keith Butler (at least his platoon contained Tyler Eifert on Sunday) and special teams coach Danny Smith, who can’t possibly be fired enough. Smith should be fired, rehired, then fired again. The Steelers’ special teams were slapstick.
That’s where all that stupidity, sloppiness and selfishness comes from: stubbornness and arrogance. Every decision the Steelers make is correct. Just ask them.
The Steelers would rather be right than do better.
There’s no point discussing Tomlin’s future. He stays, for sure. He had another winning season, after all. He never has had a losing year. Did you know that?
https://triblive.com/sports/columni...lame-steelers-collapse-on-discipline-humility
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Can't disagree with any of it
The Steelers plummeted from 7-2-1 to 9-6-1 and out of the playoffs. Only one word describes that: “collapse.” We had been talking about home field and a bye. Now we’re discussing what should have been and the NFL Draft.
Three of the Steelers’ defeats and their tie were intolerable: the losses at Denver and Oakland because those teams stink, losing at home vs. the Los Angeles Chargers because the Steelers blew a 16-point halftime lead, the tie at Cleveland because the Steelers blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.
The coaching was rotten. Replay challenges were stupid, made based on what Mike Tomlin saw on the scoreboard. Tomlin routinely mangled clock management. Tomlin opted to not use Ben Roethlisberger for four series in the Oakland loss despite the injured quarterback being cleared to play. The Steelers’ special teams led the NFL in penalties. The Steelers were the league’s most-penalized team in the season’s first half. As is tradition, Tomlin didn’t have his team properly prepared for inferior foes. Witness Sunday’s lackluster effort against injury-riddled Cincinnati.
It took the Steelers 16 weeks and 12 missed kicks to replace the NFL’s worst kicker. Then Matt McCrane came in and went three-for-three on field goals. That kind of accuracy would have come in handy during a few of the Steelers’ losses.
The Steelers had zero playmakers on defense, getting just 15 takeaways (third-worst in the NFL) and finishing minus-10 on turnovers (fifth-worst).
The season was a disaster given its potential. The instances of stupidity, sloppiness and selfishness are far too numerous to mention in one column.
It was a stink sandwich, and everybody should take a bite: owner Art Rooney II, Tomlin, GM Kevin Colbert, Roethlisberger, all the coaches, all the players, the equipment managers and the ball boys.
But if you’re expecting significant changes, they won’t be forthcoming. A sacrificial lamb or two might be offered, like defensive coordinator Keith Butler (at least his platoon contained Tyler Eifert on Sunday) and special teams coach Danny Smith, who can’t possibly be fired enough. Smith should be fired, rehired, then fired again. The Steelers’ special teams were slapstick.
That’s where all that stupidity, sloppiness and selfishness comes from: stubbornness and arrogance. Every decision the Steelers make is correct. Just ask them.
The Steelers would rather be right than do better.
There’s no point discussing Tomlin’s future. He stays, for sure. He had another winning season, after all. He never has had a losing year. Did you know that?
https://triblive.com/sports/columni...lame-steelers-collapse-on-discipline-humility
-------------------------
Can't disagree with any of it
