Okay, here is my effort at being optimistic. Really ...

[Steeltime]

Losing Ben is just @#$%ing awful. @#$% you, Barron, and die in a fire.

No, that's not the optimism. Here it is: The defense needed to improve from 2014 by a lot for the 2015 Steelers to be a team that wins the only game in February. The defense has a lot of young players - Tuitt, McCullers, Shazier, Dupree are key parts of the defense.

The defense now knows it is time to grow up and establish itself. Tuitt and Heyward can become dominant if McCullers gets healthy enough to see the field. Shazier and Timmons inside are a potentially top-tier pair of inside linebackers. Tuitt, Dupree, and Heyward can rush the passer.

At some point, Boykin will have missed enough snaps to play the slot receiver and start taking care of the middle of the field. Blake is serviceable. This defense can get better - quite a bit better.

The Steelers still have the best RB in the NFL in Bell, the best WR in the NFL in Brown, and a very significant number 2 WR rejoining the team in week 5.

If the Steelers go 3-3 during Ben's time off (presuming worst case scenario and he misses 6 weeks), they are 5-4 with a defense that is learning and getting better every week, a great QB returning from injury, and still with Bell, Bryant, Brown, Williams, and Heath. Not the way I would have preferred the defense get challenged to improve, but screw it ... maybe it turns the defense into a dominant force, to go along with an elite offense and improving special teams.

 

[blitzburghv5]

Ill take an improved maturing, defense and a healthy Ben and the offensive arsenal vs NE in a rematch for the Conference championship in January. If we get healthy and draw those ******** in the playoffs, I know we will whip their *****.

 

[MTC]

Ill take an improved maturing, defense and a healthy Ben and the offensive arsenal vs NE in a rematch for the Conference championship in January. If we get healthy and draw those ******** in the playoffs, I know we will whip their *****.

Thats a lot of optimism

 

[Steelerfan]

Yinz ought to be banned for all the positivity here. Our season is doomed and you know it. Are you guys new or something?

 

[Drink IRON City]

Ill take an improved maturing, defense and a healthy Ben and the offensive arsenal vs NE in a rematch for the Conference championship in January. If we get healthy and draw those ******** in the playoffs, I know we will whip their *****.

Nutral or steelers home, 100% agree. If played at that %#@*!!! cheatriotsgate field, then maybe a little tougher. Did I ever mention that I can't stand the FlUCKING cheatriots !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!






Salute the nation

 

[GMC]

At some point, Boykin will have missed enough snaps to play the slot receiver and start taking care of the middle of the field. Blake is serviceable.

This is the most puzzling thing to me so far this season. The only reason I can think of for him sitting is to keep the compensation at a 5th round pick. He's looked good in the limited reps he's had.

 

[wig]

You know, you can't have it both ways.

Either we have the best receiving corps in the league along with the best running backs. (Bell and clearly D. Williams who WAS the #1 rusher in the AFC until Tomlin decided he was hot garbage and sat him for all but 1 snap in the game last week.)

OR.

You don't.

Having Vick as the QB doesn't change the quality of the receiving corps or the running backs. It only changes the quality of the QB. Brown can still run routes. DHB and Wheaton can still go deep and get open. Heath can still find holes in zones and sit. Bell can still pick his way through a crowd and catch out of the backfield and Williams clearly can still be ignored by Tomlin despite being a great role-player and team-first guy who does everything he's asked until Bell returns and then he's relegated to the bench where he slowly becomes a hateful, spiteful Blount clone determined to drag the team down. Wait. I digress...

Either you trust those guys or you don't.

Pick a side.

 

[AggieSteel]

You know, you can't have it both ways.

Either we have the best receiving corps in the league along with the best running backs. (Bell and clearly D. Williams who WAS the #1 rusher in the AFC until Tomlin decided he was hot garbage and sat him for all but 1 snap in the game last week.)

OR.

You don't.

Having Vick as the QB doesn't change the quality of the receiving corps or the running backs. It only changes the quality of the QB. Brown can still run routes. DHB and Wheaton can still go deep and get open. Heath can still find holes in zones and sit. Bell can still pick his way through a crowd and catch out of the backfield and Williams clearly can still be ignored by Tomlin despite being a great role-player and team-first guy who does everything he's asked until Bell returns and then he's relegated to the bench where he slowly becomes a hateful, spiteful Blount clone determined to drag the team down. Wait. I digress...

Either you trust those guys or you don't.

Pick a side.

I agree with this. I definitely think the rest of the offense can lift Vick up and get us through the next how many ever weeks. Plus he's a better QB when he prepares as the starter, rather than being tossed in cold halfway through the game due to injury.

 

[steelhurt]

Losing Ben is just @#$%ing awful. @#$% you, Barron, and die in a fire.

At some point, Boykin will have missed enough snaps to play the slot receiver and start taking care of the middle of the field. Blake is serviceable. This defense can get better - quite a bit better.

I picked up on your Boykin comment. It sure does appear they are holding back his snap count intentionally to secure that 5'th round pick rather than the 4'th. Guys the best CB on the team and he sits. You can probably forget about re-signing him too. I'm sure he's pissed about having to sit especially on a defense with such poor secondary players

 

[SteelerAl]

You know, you can't have it both ways.

Either we have the best receiving corps in the league along with the best running backs. (Bell and clearly D. Williams who WAS the #1 rusher in the AFC until Tomlin decided he was hot garbage and sat him for all but 1 snap in the game last week.)

OR.

You don't.

Having Vick as the QB doesn't change the quality of the receiving corps or the running backs. It only changes the quality of the QB. Brown can still run routes. DHB and Wheaton can still go deep and get open. Heath can still find holes in zones and sit. Bell can still pick his way through a crowd and catch out of the backfield and Williams clearly can still be ignored by Tomlin despite being a great role-player and team-first guy who does everything he's asked until Bell returns and then he's relegated to the bench where he slowly becomes a hateful, spiteful Blount clone determined to drag the team down. Wait. I digress...

Either you trust those guys or you don't.

Pick a side.

Just to address your complaints about not giving more playing time to Williams on Sunday --- Bell was really the better match-up vs. the Rams defense. Williams wasn't going anywhere the way that Donald was penetrating. Bell - with his ability to flex out - was a better matchup. But don't fret --- Williams is going to see plenty of action over the next month.

 

[SteelerAl]

Losing Ben is just @#$%ing awful. @#$% you, Barron, and die in a fire.

At some point, Boykin will have missed enough snaps to play the slot receiver and start taking care of the middle of the field. Blake is serviceable. This defense can get better - quite a bit better.

[B]I picked up on your Boykin comment. It sure does appear they are holding back his snap count intentionally to secure that 5'th round pick rather than the 4'th. Guys the best CB on the team and he sits. You can probably forget about re-signing him too. I'm sure he's pissed about having to sit especially on a defense with such poor secondary payers[/B].

Boykin is on the bench because he isn't playing well in practice, not because we are trying to keep the draft pick from turning into a 4th rounder. He has some physical issue that's causing him to play with too much stiffness. Hopefully that improves but right now the Steelers feel like they didn't get what they were hoping for in Boykin.

 

[Coach]

Boykin is on the bench because he isn't playing well in practice, not because we are trying to keep the draft pick from turning into a 4th rounder. He has some physical issue that's causing him to play with too much stiffness. Hopefully that improves but right now the Steelers feel like they didn't get what they were hoping for in Boykin.

Some guys are gamer types. Let's hope he's one of them.

 

[TAS]

Boykin is on the bench because he isn't playing well in practice, not because we are trying to keep the draft pick from turning into a 4th rounder. He has some physical issue that's causing him to play with too much stiffness. Hopefully that improves but right now the Steelers feel like they didn't get what they were hoping for in Boykin.

Where are you getting this?

 

[TAS]

Wtf

 

[bigben]

The Eagles and Jets have been total garbage no matter who the QB is.
Michael Vick has the keys to the best offense of his career.
Thats my optimism

 

[Spike]

Caption your QB's

 

[Litos]

Caption your QB's

Ben: "don't **** up my team's playoffs hopes or I'll break your knees with my golf clubs, Rocknrolla style"

 

[oicu8ad]

Caption your QB's

Stay away from my mother ******* dogs *******!!!

 

[Spike]

"Landry, this is a QBs meeting, what are you doing here?"