Cautiously optimistic

[FordFairLane]

Is anyone else getting a little optimistic. Normally, the Giants are a Steelers trap game the Steelers usually play down to their level. Kind of like we did vs Dallas. But this was different. We overcame some terrible mistakes. George had two touchdowns taken off the board, Russ had a costly fumble, but when the Steelers needed plays Russ to GP for a big play and Minkah to knock an easy catch loose and then TJ puts the nail on the coffin to seal the deal. After 8 years without a playoff win… could this be the year we make a little noise in the playoffs? Could we do a little something?

I fear getting my hopes up as it’s been a rough decade of playoff blunders. Starting with the Tim Tebow game and then a progressive downward spiral. But maybe, just maybe this year our defense is stellar, our 1st round running back looks like a 1st round running back, our QB looks competent, our #1 wr is a star in the making and maybe that’s enough to do something when it counts.

Anyone else letting their guard down and letting a little hope in?

 

[BLITZ]

I am optimistic to the point of stupidity. but even I knew last year was not going to be the year. this year? why the hell not!!

 

[Steelr4evr]

I'd feel a lot better if they start making it damn near impossible to run on them,and stop leaving guys wide open in the passing game.


I see heartbreak down the road if they don't fix it now. They have the players,they need better tactical planning and some element of unpredictability. Doing the same thing over and over will not produce better results. Play chess,not checkers.

I am completely encouraged by the direction of the offense,minus the red zone/endzone aversion to scoring and just booting tons of fieldgoals.


Great long term health in key positions will make or break you.


Can they become a complete team and a well oiled machine?


I know one thing is for sure. The special teams are as good as I've seen them in a long time.

They've become difference makers and could very well help secure some victories that may not have occurred without their above the mark play.


So far it's been a fun season.

 

[Litos]

This might be the year that we get on a long run

 

[jitter77]

In the AFC I think we match up well with anyone. KC is undefeated and just finds ways to win, but I think we match up well with them. Teams like the Cinci and Houston seem to be tougher matchups on paper at least. The Ravens run game scares me, but we usually play Henry and Lamar tough

 

[MT~Forged]

I am optimistic of our O improvement, but at the same time worried that the D has peaked a few weeks ago. I still worry that the O will have to score 40+ points to over come the 40 points the D will give up IF they make the playoffs.

 

[slashsteel]

This might be the year that we get on a long run

I would be ecstatic with a playoff win, long overdue for one.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I would be ecstatic with a playoff win, long overdue for one.

I think many, including myself would join you. Many would think the STEELERS are “back” and assume success for the future………………..

I think we need 2 playoff wins, I know I’m asking for a little much, but It would definitely show we could compete current and longer term.



Salute the nation

 

[xjx]

Baby steps. Baby steps.

 

[steelhurt]

The second half of this season will be the real test. Much better teams and QBs to face and based on the first half of the season, I’m just not sure what to think.
The good: Russ seems to have taken hold of the offense and is a true leader which they really needed. He sees the field and uses all of his weapons. Play action is working, running game looks good, OL playing well, key offensive players coming back.
The bad: Must fix run defense. Simply cannot continue to get gouged like we did against Giants.
Limit these big chunk passing plays especially over the middle.
The good: Keep it up ST. They’ve been key to the first half and this must be sustained.
The bad: Have to be much better in the red zone and start putting up six.
Injuries: Have to be lucky and not get any more major injuries.
If all this happens the second half should be exciting and successful. We shall see!

 

[Gildong Sack]

I'd feel a lot better if they start making it damn near impossible to run on them,and stop leaving guys wide open in the passing game.


I see heartbreak down the road if they don't fix it now. They have the players,they need better tactical planning and some element of unpredictability. Doing the same thing over and over will not produce better results. Play chess,not checkers.

I am completely encouraged by the direction of the offense,minus the red zone/endzone aversion to scoring and just booting tons of fieldgoals.


Great long term health in key positions will make or break you.


Can they become a complete team and a well oiled machine?


I know one thing is for sure. The special teams are as good as I've seen them in a long time.

They've become difference makers and could very well help secure some victories that may not have occurred without their above the mark play.


So far it's been a fun season.

If not for the hold on the called back TD and Pickens not getting both feet down in the E.Z. we hang 40 on the Giants. Russ is only two games in....Smith and he will expand what they are doing. I feel very optimistic at this point after the Trubisky/Rudolph/Pickett carousel of mediocrity.

 

[Lloyd]

We seem to have found a decent QB, big. OL not so much. DL playing decent, LBs playing super sometimes, DBs holding their own. RBs playing well recently. WRs playing as good as we can expect with basically ONE legit player lining up. How far can Mediocre Mike take this group? Can they finally beat a playoff team? After 7 years?

 

[Gildong Sack]

In the AFC I think we match up well with anyone. KC is undefeated and just finds ways to win, but I think we match up well with them. Teams like the Cinci and Houston seem to be tougher matchups on paper at least. The Ravens run game scares me, but we usually play Henry and Lamar tough

Ben said to "pump the brakes" as the real challenge is coming up ahead. I've been watching his podcast quite a bit and I noticed first he was adamant against changing from Fields to Russ...now Russ balls out and we need to "pump the brakes" instead of giving Russ much credit. Me thinks someone's ego is worried about his legacy should Mr. Unlimited secure a Lombardi for us.

I think we can take any of those teams out. Defense needs to clean things up, someone needs to emerge as #2 (Jefferson?) or bring someone in. We can go on a run.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Optimistic, yes, I'm getting there. If nothing else, this offense the last couple of weeks has been fun to watch for the first time in years.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Ben said to "pump the brakes" as the real challenge is coming up ahead. I've been watching his podcast quite a bit and I noticed first he was adamant against changing from Fields to Russ...now Russ balls out and we need to "pump the brakes" instead of giving Russ much credit. Me thinks someone's ego is worried about his legacy should Mr. Unlimited secure a Lombardi for us.

I think we can take any of those teams out. Defense needs to clean things up, someone needs to emerge as #2 (Jefferson?) or bring someone in. We can go on a run.

But if you want to know what a true Russ hater sounds like I present one Cam Newton:

 

[bigben]

Is anyone else getting a little optimistic. Normally, the Giants are a Steelers trap game the Steelers usually play down to their level. Kind of like we did vs Dallas. But this was different. We overcame some terrible mistakes. George had two touchdowns taken off the board, Russ had a costly fumble, but when the Steelers needed plays Russ to GP for a big play and Minkah to knock an easy catch loose and then TJ puts the nail on the coffin to seal the deal. After 8 years without a playoff win… could this be the year we make a little noise in the playoffs? Could we do a little something?

I fear getting my hopes up as it’s been a rough decade of playoff blunders. Starting with the Tim Tebow game and then a progressive downward spiral. But maybe, just maybe this year our defense is stellar, our 1st round running back looks like a 1st round running back, our QB looks competent, our #1 wr is a star in the making and maybe that’s enough to do something when it counts.

Anyone else letting their guard down and letting a little hope in?

I hear ya ford
My optimism is at the highest level since the Killer bees in 2017. We don't have the Killer Bees but we do have what looks to be a top 10 QB, Harris finally looks like an RB1, Pickens is what we thought he was.
The Giants game was a signature Tomlin play down to the competition game.
The Russel Wilson difference seems to be through two games is, we have enough firepower to win despite playing down to opponents. Thanks to Russel for opening up the offense and showing us weapons we just didn't have with other QB's running the offense.

I still don't trust the D, still making average players look like all pro's way too often, and seemingly living on an unsustainable turnover margin. But we can get to the QB as well as anyone, and have some young db's playing out of their minds.

Due to the fact that there isn't a great team this year, everyone looks beatable on the right day, It feels like we have a punchers chance against anyone?
I sure as hell don't trust Tomlin he has the ability to lose to any journeyman out there. or the D in the playoffs, but we may just have a good enough offense to get lucky in a shootout.

With all that being said, at the same time my rational side says don't get you're hopes up too much, We have a good record beating bad teams in close ones so far. We haven't beat any of the teams that will be in it come January.

 

[Lloyd]

But if you want to know what a true Russ hater sounds like I present one Cam Newton:

Certainly not classy, but is he wrong?

 

[Lloyd]

I hear ya ford
My optimism is at the highest level since the Killer bees in 2017. We don't have the Killer Bees but we do have what looks to be a top 10 QB, Harris finally looks like an RB1, Pickens is what we thought he was.
The Giants game was a signature Tomlin play down to the competition game.
The Russel Wilson difference seems to be through two games is, we have enough firepower to win despite playing down to opponents. Thanks to Russel for opening up the offense and showing us weapons we just didn't have with other QB's running the offense.

I still don't trust the D, still making average players look like all pro's way too often, and seemingly living on an unsustainable turnover margin. But we can get to the QB as well as anyone, and have some young db's playing out of their minds.

Due to the fact that there isn't a great team this year, everyone looks beatable on the right day, It feels like we have a punchers chance against anyone?
I sure as hell don't trust Tomlin he has the ability to lose to any journeyman out there. or the D in the playoffs, but we may just have a good enough offense to get lucky in a shootout.

With all that being said, at the same time my rational side says don't get you're hopes up too much, We have a good record beating bad teams in close ones so far. We haven't beat any of the teams that will be in it come January.

A lot of truth stated here. Are we to believe this team will beat KC, Bills, etc.? I don't know.

 

[BLITZ]

But if you want to know what a true Russ hater sounds like I present one Cam Newton:

Man Cam is really a piece of work.

 

[Steelr4evr]

But if you want to know what a true Russ hater sounds like I present one Cam Newton:

Cam comes across as a full of himself narcissistic arrogant douchebag. A guy who never won a championship with a big ego who dresses like a 70's pimp. **** him.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

We seem to have found a decent QB, big. OL not so much. DL playing decent, LBs playing super sometimes, DBs holding their own. RBs playing well recently. WRs playing as good as we can expect with basically ONE legit player lining up. How far can Mediocre Mike take this group? Can they finally beat a playoff team? After 7 years?

You don't watch games. Idk why you're here.
Black man bad. You contribute nothing to the conversation. But black man bad. . Sounds really familiar.

 

[BLITZ]

Cam comes across as a full of himself narcissistic arrogant douchebag. A guy who never won a championship with a big ego who dresses like a 70's pimp. **** him.

you said it better than I

 

[Steelersfan84]

In the AFC I think we match up well with anyone. KC is undefeated and just finds ways to win, but I think we match up well with them. Teams like the Cinci and Houston seem to be tougher matchups on paper at least. The Ravens run game scares me, but we usually play Henry and Lamar tough

Until we play a true contender.

 

[Steelersfan84]

I hear ya ford
My optimism is at the highest level since the Killer bees in 2017. We don't have the Killer Bees but we do have what looks to be a top 10 QB, Harris finally looks like an RB1, Pickens is what we thought he was.
The Giants game was a signature Tomlin play down to the competition game.
The Russel Wilson difference seems to be through two games is, we have enough firepower to win despite playing down to opponents. Thanks to Russel for opening up the offense and showing us weapons we just didn't have with other QB's running the offense.

I still don't trust the D, still making average players look like all pro's way too often, and seemingly living on an unsustainable turnover margin. But we can get to the QB as well as anyone, and have some young db's playing out of their minds.

Due to the fact that there isn't a great team this year, everyone looks beatable on the right day, It feels like we have a punchers chance against anyone?
I sure as hell don't trust Tomlin he has the ability to lose to any journeyman out there. or the D in the playoffs, but we may just have a good enough offense to get lucky in a shootout.

With all that being said, at the same time my rational side says don't get you're hopes up too much, We have a good record beating bad teams in close ones so far. We haven't beat any of the teams that will be in it come January.

They're called the KC Chiefs.

 

[BLITZ]

Until we play a true contender.

You such a fan.