Steelers have traded for Jalen Ramsey.

[diver]

Even tho I wasn’t asking you Great let’s place a wager then….a sucker and his money are quickly parted
I’ll take the under 2 playoff wins and you can have the over 2 wins

What stakes would you like?

Ok. Why not? I'm not saying this because of some confidence in Mike Tomlin. I think the QB is better. He can still throw the ball as good as anyone. I really like the addition of Jonnu Smith. I think multiple TEs with talent is a difficult offense to defend. I wasn't a fan of Najee. Good guy, but no explosiveness. I think they will be better there. I was sick of the million dollar, 10 cent head George Pickens. I think that position may surprise. We'll see about the line.

I like what they have done on defense, too, especially on the DL. I liked Minkah, but if that is what they are gonna ask of their FS, even though I think he could have made more plays regardless, it seems they can plug in someone else to do what he was doing.

Where do you live? How about a case of beer from a brewery in your area or mine to the winner? I'm about 60 or so miles west of Philly.

 

[diver]

I'm not for or against the trade, but teams don't throw 20 yards downfield often, Lamar Jackson led the NFL in yards per attempt at 8.8, so being 15-20 yards downfield really limits your chances at turnovers. I just have zero confidence that Tomlin will put any players in position to succeed.

That's a good point. Idk. I'm hoping that after last season and the "that's why I'm highly compensated" comment and the way it turned out...unless he really lacks self awareness, had to be humbling.

 

[MT~Forged]

This offense could be interesting… if the defenses have to come up to stop the run and the short passing game with the tight-ends… should open up deep game the top three receivers run 4.3… the offense has to stay on the field and score enough to give the defense a chance to play down hill… full tilt boogie… down hill!!! im buying what the hell! With our pass rush letting Ramsey roam the field he could lead in picks…dude’s crafty

While I get what you are saying, zi tend to disagree to a point.

Where in the rule book does it say that the D has to stay on the field for a minimum number of plays? If the D were able to get themselves of the field quickly, it would not matter what the O did or didn’t do. If the D needs a rest break, try not giving up 10 play scoring drives. Even if the O goes 3 & out that doesn’t mean the D can’t get off the field quickly

 

[Confluence]

Yes the massive changes are fine, that's what I'm saying, they've changed everything, but the coach, and while having the highest paid defense, that defense run by that coach has gotten embarrassed in the playoffs. If you're a legit HOF coach you can at the very least be competitive in a playoff game without a top 5 QB.

Like Cowher and Noll

 

[Confluence]

But that is the genius of the shaded one. He can take a guy that was crushing it and come up with a scheme that deploys him in a way to be totally ineffective…I call this a “Tomcept”

Another brilliant Tomcept was the way Mike deployed a generational talent like TJ in that last meaningless playoff game they played vs a hated rival, all but turning him into Jarvis Jones…slow clap for that genius Tomcept by Mike.

I like the "Tomcept" descriptor. Let me know if this fits your intended usage:

The clever Tomcept of using a 4th round G as center for 3 years was another example of trying to put a square peg into a round hole.

Or

After drafting 2 consecutive first round LTs, the Tomcept to use the poorly performing Dan Moore JR as the Steelers LT paid off handsomely, for Mr Moore, while leaving the Steelers without any experience at starting LT.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

Nope instead they have acquired an average guy like JR who will look slightly better than Trice (for a year) at a huge number and a guy that was 9th worst in the league vs contested catches and ranked 28th overall who is another year closer to being put out to pasture.

All these moves are desperate moves to preserve a meaningless streak rather than build a long term contender…as DIC would say reactive rather than proactive

It’s how the squad manages to be in an endless cycle of GHD mediocrity. Just duct taping and pasting away to preserve “the standard” with no hope for a bright future.

Do you honestly believe that today the Pittsburgh Steelers are closer to a playoff run than they were at the end of last season?

Amen.

The only thing I disagree on is that Tomlin cares about the non losing season streak, he says he doesn’t care and if he is any competitor at all he loathes it because it is mediocrity defined.

I think Tomlin wants to win in the post season, but think he coaches and puts together schemes from a combination of fear and deep desire to play it safe and keep the game close and low scoring, fatal flaws

The current senior members of the Rooney family however, who have absolutely chosen their family’s legacy (we don’t fire coaches, not wanting to fire Tomlin partly because of the Rooney rule, etc) over competing for championships, love the streak and Jim Rooney has written in his book bragging about the overall win loss record during Tomlin’s regime as evidence of the greatness of the franchise and defense of the indefensible last 8 seasons.

I need to, and think others need to as well start placing the blame of the past 8 years on the Rooney family, not Tomlin. Just like Canada, Tomlin is going to coach how he’s been coaching-many coaches are just stubborn like that. The question is how long does the owner tolerate it? I think if Tomlin got canned and wanted to coach again for a team with a shorter leash than PIT he would be forced to change and excel just like Arians and Reid did after they got fired.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I need to, and think others need to as well start placing the blame of the past 8 years on the Rooney family, not Tomlin. Just like Canada, Tomlin is going to coach how he’s been coaching-many coaches are just stubborn like that. The question is how long does the owner tolerate it? I think if Tomlin got canned and wanted to coach again for a team with a shorter leash than PIT he would be forced to change and excel just like Arians and Reid did after they got fired.

Rooney seemed to express some frustration ahead of this season so I expect his patience is getting low and the offseason the Steelers have had supports that.

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

Rooney seemed to express some frustration ahead of this season so I expect his patience is getting low and the offseason the Steelers have had supports that.

I hope you’re right but I doubt there’s any real heat from Rooney coming down on Tomlin

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I just want to say that trading for Jalen Ramsey is a huge move, virtually guaranteeing a 9 win season.

 

[diver]

Amen.

The only thing I disagree on is that Tomlin cares about the non losing season streak, he says he doesn’t care and if he is any competitor at all he loathes it because it is mediocrity defined.

I think Tomlin wants to win in the post season, but think he coaches and puts together schemes from a combination of fear and deep desire to play it safe and keep the game close and low scoring, fatal flaws

The current senior members of the Rooney family however, who have absolutely chosen their family’s legacy (we don’t fire coaches, not wanting to fire Tomlin partly because of the Rooney rule, etc) over competing for championships, love the streak and Jim Rooney has written in his book bragging about the overall win loss record during Tomlin’s regime as evidence of the greatness of the franchise and defense of the indefensible last 8 seasons.

I need to, and think others need to as well start placing the blame of the past 8 years on the Rooney family, not Tomlin. Just like Canada, Tomlin is going to coach how he’s been coaching-many coaches are just stubborn like that. The question is how long does the owner tolerate it? I think if Tomlin got canned and wanted to coach again for a team with a shorter leash than PIT he would be forced to change and excel just like Arians and Reid did after they got fired. I really think Rooney thinks Tomlin is the best coach to relate to these players today.

I think it is as simple as the fact that Rooney thinks Tomlin is the best coach to relate to these players today.

I think it is a flawed assessment. I'm not sure guys like Pickens are listening to anybody. I think you are gonna see more and more guys like that with the NIL stuff going on in college. So you might as well get a coach who is better at the Xs and Os.

 

[SCSteeler4life]

We can change players every year, until we change the head coach nothing will change.

 

[Litos]

Before the trade the Steelers had a massive hole at CB3. IMO, that's a more important position than free safety. They just made a huge upgrade at a premium position. Teams can get by without a superstar at FS. They literally just need a player who is where he's supposed to be.

Agree, money allocation wise this is a better setup of cap distribution towards premium positions and if Jonnu becomes an integral part of the passing game it will be the cheapest #2 WR you can get

 

[Litos]

We can change players every year, until we change the head coach nothing will change.

Can't argue that, but is already known

 

[ZonaBurgh]

We can change players every year, until we change the head coach nothing will change.

If the team is successful this year, use your own measurement, it will be in spite of rather that because of the greatest HC of all time.

 

[SCSteeler4life]

We use to measure success by playoff wins,AFC Championship Games and Super Bowl runs. Now all we have to do is finish .500 or better. We have lowered the bar so low. I’m a 50 year Steeler fan so I ‘be seen all the good and the bad. Just hoping for a change at the top.

 

[Drink IRON City]

WE are lucky to have a losing streak in the playoffs after losing a player like Ben. Most wouldn't be in the playoffs to continue a losing streak. To say things haven't changed is quite disingenuous. The team has made massive changes the last two years. we can debate the benefit of those changes, but they are not sitting still.

I’ve never considered losing, streak or otherwise, to be considered a lucky thing.

Losing streaks are because you are doing something wrong, NOT because you lose a player.

Taking a 2nd / 3rd rnd QB in the 1st, hand-cuffing him doesn’t help.

Sticking with the worst OC ever to work in the NFL for 3yrs. Is doing something wrong.

Dousing an on-FIRE team by abandoning the flame that got them there….. is doing something wrong

Many more to help continue the streak……………..

Losing Ben had little to do with the streak. It wasn’t Ben’s fault.




Salute the nation

 

[stillwright]

I am simply looking at the track record of teams who lose franchise QBS, nothing more nothing less. It is almost always a **** show of epic proportions. It is rare to see otherwise even if there are a few exceptions. To stay competitive in even getting to the playoffs following a departure like that is the exception that proves the rule, and it usually takes quite a while to recover. You can argue we might have been better to suck after he left but even that is no guarantee of success drafting a QB. I am also simply stating aside from the obvious many wanted changed, the team hasn't sat around and accepted the status quo they have TRIED to change things, it may not be what you want but it is massive change.

The only change most Steelers fans want has not happened yet.

200 seems to be the big magic number Rooney wants to hit. Maybe after that..... the change most want...will happen.

 

[stillwright]

I’ve never considered losing, streak or otherwise, to be considered a lucky thing.

Losing streaks are because you are doping something wrong, NOT because you lose a player.

Taking a 2nd / 3rd rnd QB in the 1st, hand-cuffing him doesn’t help.

Sticking with the worst OC ever to work in the NFL for 3yrs. Is doing something wrong.

Dousing an on-FIRE team by abandoning the flame that got them there….. is doing something wrong

Many more to help continue the streak……………..

Losing Be had little to do with the streak. It wasn’t Ben’s fault.




Salute the nation

Mike says hi.

 

[stillwright]

We use to measure success by playoff wins,AFC Championship Games and Super Bowl runs. Now all we have to do is finish .500 or better. We have lowered the bar so low. I’m a 50 year Steeler fan so I ‘be seen all the good and the bad. Just hoping for a change at the top.

I just said to my cousin who also is a Steeler fan......I just hope the Steelers move on from Tomlin before I die. I am 55. He is 54. He agreed with me. Smh

 

[stillwright]

While I get what you are saying, zi tend to disagree to a point.

Where in the rule book does it say that the D has to stay on the field for a minimum number of plays? If the D were able to get themselves of the field quickly, it would not matter what the O did or didn’t do. If the D needs a rest break, try not giving up 10 play scoring drives. Even if the O goes 3 & out that doesn’t mean the D can’t get off the field quickly

Yep. That is part of Tomlin's scheme and philosophy. Give the underneath stuff. If an opponents drive take 10 plays. That is 10 chances for a turn over. Longer play drives usually means the clock ticks away. Another Tomlin staple. Less number of drives equals lower scores. Limits the amount of points and basically keeps us in games for the entire 60 minutes.

Tomlin's D scheme and philosophy is just as flawed as his offensive scheme and philosophy.

Hopefully this is the year he learns from his failures.

 

[WindyCitySteel]

We can change players every year, until we change the head coach nothing will change.

Two years to go. Convinced they’re trying to get Tomlin 194 career wins to pass Noll, who finished with 193 in the regular season. Noll has 8 more in the playoffs (16-8), Tomlin isn’t passing that, but the combined total could be surpassed in two more seasons.

Then Tomlin walks away with a rebuild pending as all the olds retire or are put out to pasture. Wouldn’t be surprised if Rooney steps down at that point as well and lets his son take over.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Killebrew? 177 defensive snaps in 4 seasons in Pittsburgh, 110 in 2023 when injuries hit. He’s a career special teamer.

If he was penciled in as a starter, that would be a problem. But he's at best the #3 safety and maybe not even that by end of preseason. Compare him to other teams #3 safety and as I said, he's not bad.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Still processing this trade... My biggest hang-up right now, is the plan at safety. You need someone to take over the FS role, and if you're expecting Thornhill to be that guy, you still need a back up plan because of how much time he has missed.

Miles Killabrew, 32, SS
DeShon Elliott, 28, SS
Sebastian Castro, 24, SS (UDFA rookie)
Juan Thornhill, 29, FS (missed 12 games in two years)

That's a big hole in the roster now. Unless another trade happens, The options for them are limited to Justin Simmons, who is 31, or Julian Blackmon, 26. Sure they upgraded a couple positions, but at what cost, and how much of an upgrade? Worth created a massive hole in the roster? Hopefully they have a plan that shows itself soon...

I disagree that there's a hole at safety. A hole implies that you are starting a subpar player. Thornhill is not as good as Minkah but he's not subpar. Cleveland paid him a decent contract to get him from the chiefs. He just suffered from a nagging calf injury for 2 years. If he's finally past that injury then he's a steal. They can still add a vet for depth.

A step back at safety but a big step forward at CB. The secondary overall is better with Ramsey over Minkah.

There will be another draft next year. You don't have to fix everything at once. Elliott will give them a few more good seasons. They can draft a young safety next year.

Ramsey can play outside or slot. I'd much rather Ramsey matching up on a TE than Minkah. Steelers had no answer for slot since HIlton left and he was just a good player, not a great one.

Also, Ramsey may transition to safety in a year or so. Rod Woodson ended up as one of the better safeties in the league in his final years. The steelers still think Trice can be a good player. If Trice has a breakthrough, then you have him and Porter outside and Ramsey as a hybrid CB/S inside.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

The only change most Steelers fans want has not happened yet.

200 seems to be the big magic number Rooney wants to hit. Maybe after that..... the change most want...will happen.

He will another Lombardi before then. I have faith, or brain damage, not sure which.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Yes the massive changes are fine, that's what I'm saying, they've changed everything, but the coach, and while having the highest paid defense, that defense run by that coach has gotten embarrassed in the playoffs. If you're a legit HOF coach you can at the very least be competitive in a playoff game without a top 5 QB.

Talk about a coach, Coach Cowher took a rookie QB and went 15-0 as a starter. Won a Super Bowl the second year with him.

Cowher’s defense was solid and not the highest paid defense in the NFL.

Even prior to Ben, Cowher seemed to be able to keep the PO games competitive.



Salute the nation