The Reality of Our Team

[Ron Burgundy]

Right back at ya Ron. How's Baxter and Veronica Corningstone?

The three of us went to Greyhounds In Gettysburg this weekend, it's an annual event, we go about every other year. The Lesbian faction shows strong.



Always rep Steelers when I'm out of town. Lots of people admitting to be Pats** fans, smarmy cheating bastiges.

 

[Steelerfan]

The thing that is most bothersome to me regarding the schedule is the way it is set up. Granted there are likely at this point to be some better teams but last year they did not exactly feast on the bottom feeders that they played.

This team is I suspect prepared to lose to anyone. One way I think they do this by looking past teams as do many college players and get surprised. In other instances they are not all staying focused on the game as they should, a mental breakdown by one of the eleven players can turn a successful play into a loss. When you spread that out to many players it does not mean they all stink but collectively they lose enough plays to kill a drive, then another and so on. On defense the same thing happens, how many third and longs have we seen where we all thought there is no way the other team converts and we see a penalty that has a first down attached to it, or a lapse that turns into a big play.

A good example of the offense going into the bag was the game after Ben's two back to back highlight games, they should have easily attained a record with just a mediocre performance but were below the line and had two great games followed by a WTF game.

Many many years ago while watching the Steelers play prior to their super bowl runs in the 70s the steelers were close to the goal line and one of the folks I was watching the game with made the comment here comes the Pittsburgh special a fumble on the one and loss of the game. Teams have to develop an identity of success and work hard to maintain it. Our present team and recent teams have not done that as they should have, instead they do not seem to embrace the urgency that winning requires. I do not blame any one person for this coach or player but suspect it takes lots of little things by lots of people to continue this just as it takes lots of little things by lots of people to become a dynasty as they did in the past.

I hope they get their act together because until that happens we will continue to have games that end with what the **** was that on our minds.

Great points. It wasn't that long ago that this team had an "aura" or something abstract about them where I thought they could kick any team's ***. Now I wonder if they can even keep up with the other team.

 

[SteelerSask2]

the three of us went to greyhounds in gettysburg this weekend, it's an annual event, we go about every other year. The lesbian faction shows strong.

View attachment 1408

always rep steelers when i'm out of town. Lots of people admitting to be pats** fans, smarmy cheating bastiges.

solid gold

 

[deljzc]

I see a 9-7 struggling season.

We'll improve in 2016. Everything in the eastern time zone again. We play the AFC East and NFC East. Road games against Buffalo, Miami, Philly and Washington (plus our AFC South matchup based on divisional spot). That's a potential 4-4 road record in my opinion minimum. And our only really hard home game is New England (and divisional opponents of course).

Again.... this is the Tomlin/Colbert era. We are a tier-2, "good" team that will bounce in and out of the playoffs and when we make the playoffs likely bounce around with our success when there (losing some, winning some).

In all honesty, this front office and coach should have a 2-year plan and almost throw in the towel this season. Draft picks should be thought of as not what they can do in 2015, but rather how it sets up our roster and starting lineup for 2016. Everything from contracts to salary cap to free agency should be discussed not in terms of 2015 but rather how we can maximize a decent schedule in 2016, get to 12-4, get a first round bye in the playoffs and maybe make a run at a final-4 appearance in the AFCCG.

Of course, they won't do this. Tombert will spout how positive this season is looking, play a bunch of veterans that have no part of our future, waste some talent on the bench in the name of winning 8 or 9 games instead of 7 (like that matters), run Bell into the ground and expose Roethlisberger to more hits than he should be taking.

 

[ark steel]

expose Roethlisberger to more hits than he should be taking.

With Hailey as OC, Ben is we are averaging 8.5 less sacks per season than we had from 2007-2011 and almost a yard less per sack.

 

[deljzc]

With Hailey as OC, Ben is we are averaging 8.5 less sacks per season than we had from 2007-2011 and almost a yard less per sack.

I know that and that's a positive.

I think what I'm worried about is our season will be mediocre but never "out of the playoffs" and Tomlin will lean heavily on Bell and Roethlisberger (who will still likely be nicked up by year end) just to attempt to try and make it into the playoffs (which I think they will fail).

The December schedule is brutal and if we do end up 8-8 or 9-7 that will mean in the playoff hunt until after our bye week. Then the wheels will fall off and there's potential to push too hard for too little reward.

This team is not set up for a deep run into the playoffs. Best to develop talent, play the season close to the vest, see what we can build on and improve and have a 2-3 year plan. Even the 2017 schedule is not that intimidating with away games at Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis and our AFC matchup (Denver with a retiring Peyton if we win our division in 2016???).

I see potential to get back to being relevant in these two season as Brady/Manning start to (hopefully) decline and our offense continuing to be a potential top-5 while paying Le'Veon Bell on the cheap. But we have to really BUILD the defense back up from scratch. And that means not just good draft picks, but letting go of disappointments and maybe being a bit more risky in free agency and giving some guys 2nd chances.

 

[Vader]

Serious question. Who are the old vets you see them playing instead of the young guys? What aged vet is left? Harrison?

 

[deljzc]

Moats, Harrison, Will Allen, Wheaton (who we might not extend/2nd contract), maybe McLendon, even Jarvis Jones if he's a complete lost cause would be wasted snaps.

Again, it's a 2-3 year plan. Who are the real pieces and who are there as stop-gaps?

The defense isn't that good. Who's really the reason? Where are the non-impact players? What spots need upgraded between now and 2017 and how are we going to accomplish it?

 

[Vader]

Moats, Harrison, Will Allen, Wheaton (who we might not extend/2nd contract), maybe McLendon, even Jarvis Jones if he's a complete lost cause would be wasted snaps.

Again, it's a 2-3 year plan. Who are the real pieces and who are there as stop-gaps?

The defense isn't that good. Who's really the reason? Where are the non-impact players? What spots need upgraded between now and 2017 and how are we going to accomplish it?

Moats, Wheaton, Jones and McLendon aren't old. Hell Moats is the exact same age as Worilds. They have to play Jones. He's a #1 pick. If they play Harrison you can come back and say "see they should have played Jones instead of that fossil Harrison". They are razor thin at OLB. There are no young guys to play.

Not sure I understand exactly who you want to play.