For better or (my opinion) worse we are stuck with it.

[Aussie_Steeler]

I just hope at the very least Tomlin is forced to hire an outside guy at OC and offensive coaches, maybe DC, and get a damn replay specialist.

I think the main thing I'd like to see (apart from a punter who doesn't land the ball inside his own half at least once per game) is a change in offensive philosophy (and yes a better playcaller than has been seen in recent times) when he has quarterbacks with less than 5 years experience. Most of the complaints about Pickett not throwing the ball more than a few yards and missing open receivers were being made about the Steelers with Rudolph and Hodges when Ben was out and before that in Landry Jones early years when he stepped in for Ben. It seems Tomlin doesn't trust inexperienced quarterbacks, especially when they don't have all-pro receivers and running backs.

 

[Coryea]

i'd bet anything that Kenny would've looked the same as Mason against those **** defenses. i'd bet anything the wide receivers were unlocked by very ****** safety play.

Playoffs will be the real deal.

Of course if Mason is not the second coming of Jesus - then you just f*cked a potential superstar QB over for who?: a journeyman QB and a couple of slow but bitchy wide receivers who have a tendency to under-deliver on their athletic potential.

Superstar QB??? LOL!!!! Kenny never had potential to be a superstar QB, and no I don't think Mason does either

 

[black and gold apex]

Tomlin is looked on as the top coach but he once more showed lack of decision making at the right time. Mason has smeared that mustard all over Tomlin face, Rudolph changed the offense not Tomlin. I get the winning seasons and all of that but to many seasons we lose to lacking teams at end of season. It took a team losing to get in playoffs not us winning and in.

 

[bigben]

i'd bet anything that Kenny would've looked the same as Mason against those **** defenses. i'd bet anything the wide receivers were unlocked by very ****** safety play.

Playoffs will be the real deal.

Of course if Mason is not the second coming of Jesus - then you just f*cked a potential superstar QB over for who?: a journeyman QB and a couple of slow but bitchy wide receivers who have a tendency to under-deliver on their athletic potential.

Vegas loves guys like you who would bet the house on something they have never seen done before, in 24 games to happen 3 games in a row. lol
Kenny pickett a potential superstar?
are you related to Kenny or one of Masons ex girlfriends?

 

[bigben]

Tomlin haters are always going to hate. Your arguments are tired and boring. Aww, we didn't go to Rudolph fast enough. Well guess what? We still made the playoffs, and still would have been a wildcard.

None of you (me included) thought we had a chance at 7-7 off of back to back losses vs 2-10 teams. Then had to face 3 tougher opponents the following 3 weeks and swept them. The difference between Tomlin and most teams when this happens, is Tomlin's leadership, and he never loses the men who believe in him in the locker room.

We are now playing our best football and made the playoffs with dogshit QB play. I'm starting to think this may be Tomlin's best year as a coach. Started strong, but won very close games we could have lost. Had to fire an OC for the first time in Steeler History, mid season. Reset the QB room, and when Kenny was healthy, it was his choice to stay with Rudolph.

I know the haters were waiting with bated breath to blame Tomlin for sticking with Rudolph against the Ravens. You have nothing but crow to eat my friends. Look at Bellicheck, he's supposed to be the best coach ever. Without Tom, he's the same loser coach he was in Cleveland.

Tomlin backed himself into a corner by not starting the right guy to the point even Ryan Clark was calling for his head. When Kenny went down Tomlin once again chose to start the wrong QB. Mitch played so poorly Tomlin was forced to start mason as a last resort as he was feeling the heat from the fans and media alike.
Mason came in an turned the season and the entire offense around in 3 games, and you want to pat coach T on the back like it was his plan all along??
ANY coach in the world would stick with mason like Tomlin did in that situation. How could he go back to kenny without starting a sh*tstorm in the locker room and with the fans and media? It would have been the worst decision of his career.
Tomlin lucked into Mason, Mason came in and saved the season and Tomlins no losing season streak.

 

[Gildong Sack]

He’s the starter here. I’m not sure there are many, if any, teams looking at him as a starter. Especially with this years QB class and other FA QBs. I think Rudolph has done enough that the job is now his to lose, but he’s played two of the worst defenses in the league and a Ravens defense with nothing to gain. I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m not sold on Rudolph just yet.

Exactly. Some are really getting carried away with the Mason Montana talk. He has no doubt improved just in reading the mid range stuff and making the right throw...other than the bad read early in the Ravens game that was almost a pick.

A few years ago he wouldn't even try those throws he would just check down. Like you said the sample size is just too small at this point, all will be revealed as far as how much he has elevated his game starting this Sunday, and if we are lucky the next game after that as he faces better defenses.

 

[topseed]

I fear - and it's just my fear - that a good defense will eat Mason alive with interceptions. And you'll think that you are watching a completely different game, a completely different reality when Mason's ducks don't work.

Bills D is tight. Playoffs are where things tighten up.

Your fear is warranted. The Bills have a very stingy defense, and they've been playing well -- they haven't given up 300 yards in any of their last five games, and held the Cowboys' potent offense to 195 total yards last month.

Facing the Bills in Buffalo will be a much tougher test for Rudolph, and a better measuring stick than his very good performances of late.

 

[steelreeling]

Superstar QB??? LOL!!!! Kenny never had potential to be a superstar QB, and no I don't think Mason does either

 

[steelreeling]

It seems Tomlin doesn't trust inexperienced quarterbacks

And when they get injured Tomlin will give their starting job to a more experienced guy with less arm strength and decision making ability.

 

[stillerfaninfl]

For now this team has got to ride with MR.

 

[steelreeling]

For now this team has got to ride with MR.

What message does that send to the team? Be a little ***** and the Head Coach will suck you off and keep you as a starter - be a warrior, start playing well without a high school coordinator and if you get injured, you lose your starting job?

Why? because Rudolph looked good against some scrub defenses late in the season?
he's THE SAME quarterback he's been for the last 6 years. no difference.

if i'm Kenny, i see the emperor Tomlin has no clothes on and i demand to be traded next year. i can't see how Kenny has any faith in the coaches after this sheee...ite.

 

[slashsteel]

What message does that send to the team? Be a little ***** and the Head Coach will suck you off and keep you as a starter - be a warrior, start playing well without a high school coordinator and if you get injured, you lose your starting job?

Why? because Rudolph looked good against some scrub defenses late in the season?
he's THE SAME quarterback he's been for the last 6 years. no difference.

if i'm Kenny, i see the emperor Tomlin has no clothes on and i demand to be traded next year. i can't see how Kenny has any faith in the coaches after this sheee...ite.

I think it can be positive if they coach it up as that. It sends a message to Kenny that his production needs to step up, and to the second and third stringers that improved play can come with more playing time.

Not that I don't get your train of thought...

 

[Coryea]

LOL, yeah while scoring 16 points per game, and throwing for less than 200 yards per game.

 

[steelreeling]

LOL, yeah while scoring 16 points per game, and throwing for less than 200 yards per game.

If you recall, Ben routinely threw for less than 200 yards per game in the beginning.

 

[Coryea]

If you recall, Ben routinely threw for less than 200 yards per game in the beginning.

Ben as a rookie, in a different era of the NFL, we scored 24+ points 8 times, and above 30 3 times, threw for over 200 4 times, and over 300 once.
Ben in his second season went over 200 yards 8 times and scored 24+10 times.

 

[steelreeling]

Ben as a rookie, in a different era of the NFL, we scored 24+ points 8 times, and above 30 3 times, threw for over 200 4 times, and over 300 once.
Ben in his second season went over 200 yards 8 times and scored 24+10 times.

PLENTY of 150-180 passing yard wins for Big Ben.

how many yards did Ben have running for life his rookie year? Remind you of Kenny at all?

 

[Coryea]

PLENTY of 150-180 passing yard wins for Big Ben.

how many yards did Ben have running for life his rookie year? Remind you of Kenny at all?

There's not one person that watched Ben as rookie will say Pickett was comparable to Ben, they used Ben's arm to get the lead in a handful of those games too

 

[steelreeling]

There's not one person that watched Ben as rookie will say Pickett was comparable to Ben, they used Ben's arm to get the lead in a handful of those games too

Ben solidified as a star quarterback that year.

Mason has the potential to be a star.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Tomlin backed himself into a corner by not starting the right guy to the point even Ryan Clark was calling for his head. When Kenny went down Tomlin once again chose to start the wrong QB. Mitch played so poorly Tomlin was forced to start mason as a last resort as he was feeling the heat from the fans and media alike.
Mason came in an turned the season and the entire offense around in 3 games, and you want to pat coach T on the back like it was his plan all along??
ANY coach in the world would stick with mason like Tomlin did in that situation. How could he go back to kenny without starting a sh*tstorm in the locker room and with the fans and media? It would have been the worst decision of his career.
Tomlin lucked into Mason, Mason came in and saved the season and Tomlins no losing season streak.

Agree, but Coach Shades gives not one crap about what the fans or media think. He does however give a yuge crap about keeping that non-losing seasons streak intact, even if it means he has to think outside the box.

 

[SteelerFan448]

PLENTY of 150-180 passing yard wins for Big Ben.

how many yards did Ben have running for life his rookie year? Remind you of Kenny at all?

My goodness, the two aren't even comparable. Ben's rookie you could tell he was going to be a star. Kenny hasn't come close to doing the same.

There's not one person that watched Ben as rookie will say Pickett was comparable to Ben, they used Ben's arm to get the lead in a handful of those games too

You could tell early on Ben was going to elevate the talent around him. It's no mistake so many receivers performed at a high level with Ben. He is better than most give him credit for. Pickett's play had the receivers throwing fits and sulking. He needs to players around him to elevate his play.

 

[MTC]

My goodness, the two aren't even comparable. Ben's rookie you could tell he was going to be a star. Kenny hasn't come close to doing the same.


You could tell early on Ben was going to elevate the talent around him. It's no mistake so many receivers performed at a high level with Ben. He is better than most give him credit for. Pickett's play had the receivers throwing fits and sulking. He needs to players around him to elevate his play.

Yeah. I’m not optimistic with Pickett

 

[bigben]

Agree, but Coach Shades gives not one crap about what the fans or media think. He does however give a yuge crap about keeping that non-losing seasons streak intact, even if it means he has to think outside the box.

Agreed, probably 20% of the national media showed signs they were starting to question his tenure, even guys like ryan clark. I think that was the best thing to happen to Tomlin, and his playing to win by whatever means necessary.

 

[Greg Lloyd]

Yeah, but he can't just come out and tell you the real answer. You know just be blunt..the team politics won't allow it.

It's surprising how few Steeler fans realize how much a part of team politics play into what Shades does and says. It's why Shades says so much mumbo jumbo in his answers. He can't just admit the truth, like in pretending there was a REAL QB competition in camp in 2022...what a GIANT joke that was.

 

[Greg Lloyd]

Agreed, probably 20% of the national media showed signs they were starting to question his tenure, even guys like ryan clark. I think that was the best thing to happen to Tomlin, and his playing to win by whatever means necessary.

20%? I think it was up to 50% at least, and that freaked Shades out, he's use to getting nothing but a free pass and praise. He's really full of himself at this point. He thinks he's above being questioned, and his defensive responses are a bad look.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

It's surprising how few Steeler fans realize how much a part of team politics play into what Shades does and says. It's why Shades says so much mumbo jumbo in his answers. He can't just admit the truth, like in pretending there was a REAL QB competition in camp in 2022...what a GIANT joke that was.

Or answering a reporter’s question about why KP is still listed as #1 on the depth chart.