How to fix the Steelers?

[maowv]

Most weeks, we comeon here and lodge the same complaints about Tomlin, the Defense or the Offense, or all of the above. What would you do to fix this franchise?

My Plan to fix the Steelers

• Part ways with Mike Tomlin. It’s beyond time. The team is stale, predictable and incapable of improving beyond the 9-8 threshold. Since Ben’s retirement, the carousel of Quarterbacks and Offensive Coordinators have led to consistent results. The inability to put an effective offense on the field falls upon the common denominator. The refusal to utilize the middle of the field falls to the common denominator. The standard has become sub-standard.
• Part ways with Teryl Austin. The reasons are self-evident.
• For the moment, I'm unsure what to do with Arthur Smith as the Steelers are not running the offense that Arthur Smith is known for. Smith didn't avoid the middle of the field. Smith ran a power running game with a lot of play action, including to TE over the middle. We haven't seen that in Pittsburgh. I suspect his philosophy didn't change as much as it was changed for him.
• Part ways with Pat Meyers and bring in someone, anyone different to coach the offensive line. Too many high draft picks have failed to produce in that position group. The Steelers have put too much draft capital into a group that never lives up to expectations. It’s not the players. It can’t always be the players when the players are replaced and the results stay the same.
• Omar Kahn. He has made some improvements to this roster but his repeated failure to improve the QB and WR positions have left his team handcuffed. If Tomlin has too much influence in the draft room then No. 1 above will fix that. If Kahn believed Calvin Austin was a legit No. 2 WR in this league, then Kahn should pack up his office too. Additionally, adding all these TE to the roster on a team that refuses to throw over the middle made no sense. Finally, those contract extensions to the elder statemen on this roster are going to hurt this team for years to come. Cam and TJ will not play up to those salary cap figures next year and the year after. I question Kahn’s competence for the job.
• STOP signing 30/32/34 yar old Cornerbacks. Period. End. It’s a speed position and guys at the end of their careers don’t have the speed anymore. Stop signing a name guy who WAS great once but those days are 4 years in the rearview mirror.
• Accept reality, not wishful thinking. This roster is old. The best players on this team are old. This team is on the decline with very few significant pieces filled by youth. This team needs to get younger in the most important positions. We need a QB, we need a CB, Safety, WR, WR, DL and OLB (TJ and CAM are not the TJ and Cam of yesteryear). Accept where this team and what is on the immediate horizon. The Steelers need a rebuild and they need it now. Accept where this franchise is.

Like France, the Steelers were once a great organization. Today, they are both average and largely irrelevant. Wishing it away isn’t a strategy for success.

 

[slashsteel]

You part ways with Mike and the rest will follow.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Art II needs to step aside as well.

 

[slashsteel]

Art II needs to step aside as well.

Definitely as he has shown a lack of want to.

 

[DesertSteel]

That's just a plan to tear it down, not to fix it. How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The Steelers need to pair a bright OC or offensive HC with a QB, whether it is a legit talent ready to break out (Malik Willis, Mac Jones, etc.) or a draft pick with potential. Mike Tomlin doesn't check the box as an offensive HC and Arthur Smith doesn't check the box as a bright OC. I'm not holding out hope Will Howard is that guy either, so right now the Steelers have no boxes checked.

 

[Omar10213245]

That's just a plan to tear it down, not to fix it. How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too.

"How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too."

Are you expecting a serious answer here? Do you think any of us work for the team? Why would any of us mere fans here or anywhere, be held accountable for coming up with such a list of names/information? If we don't have a laundry list of names at the ready, does that mean that those of us fed up with what we've been seeing, don't have a valid opinion on the matter?

Things have been trending poorly for so long now, that these "Well who ya gonna hire if ya fire Tomlin??" questions are no longer able to disguised as sincere, good-faith rebuttals where, in most instances, it's essentially an attempt to try and paint those of us who want new leadership to rebuild this team, as "ill-informed" and "not knowing what they're talking about"; nice try, though. Well, not really.

None of us are employed by the Steelers. I'm going to assume that none of us posting here have ever worked for an NFL front office where we'd be tasked with searching out and hiring coaches, and frankly, it doesn't really matter. We've seen enough, and we know enough about how this league works to have a valid opinion, even if we don't have a laundry list at the ready to start spouting off random names to satisfy whatever ridiculous expectation that you might have for the fan, watching at home.

At this point, we have no other choice but to have faith in the ownership (be it Art II or whomever) and the front office, to hire a coach that can bring a certain standard and culture back to this franchise. We really have no other choice but to have faith that this hypothetical head coach to succeed Tomlin, will bring a staff onboard which shares his values and vision, and is able to execute in an effective and efficient manner to reach that vision. What, are we supposed to sit quietly with our gaze at our feet, hands folded like a milquetoast mouse, and just thank our lucky stars that we have the privilege of being allowed to root for the Pittsburgh Steelers, no matter how far into the abyss the franchise sinks?

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Both Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel were available at the end of last season. They seem to be doing OK.

 

[Gildong Sack]

You part ways with Mike and the rest will follow.

Gospel

 

[WindyCitySteel]

That's just a plan to tear it down, not to fix it. How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too.

Find someone from the McVay or Shanahan tree, give Howard a year, if he doesn't have it, sell the farm to get Julian Sayin or whoever is the top QB the next year. Getting rid of the coordinators is a bonus, not a problem.

In addition, trade Watt, Heyward, DK, stockpile picks for 2027.

 

[Gildong Sack]

That's just a plan to tear it down, not to fix it. How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too.

This is like the "who are you going to find that's better" argument. It doesn't have to be someone "better" just DIFFERENT. An offensive minded guy who gets that that's how the league works now. I was listening to DK after the game and he was saying it's not Arthur Smith, it's not Rodgers that doesn't want to throw into the middle...it's Tomlin.

Now they were in single high quite a bit..very hard to throw short/medium into that with scrubs running the routes.. but they did switch to cover 2 at times and we ran into it instead of throwing into it because of the scrubs I would imagine.

 

[ExUSAF]

That's just a plan to tear it down, not to fix it. How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too.

It's the difference between ignorance and apathy. I don't know and I don't care. It's like looking for a pair of pants - try on coaches until you find one that fits. Let the new coach pick his coordinators. Begin to realize that stability leads to stagnation. As far as QB, give Will Howard a chance. Right now, we need a WR1 before we start thinking about a WR2.

 

[DesertSteel]

It's the difference between ignorance and apathy. I don't know and I don't care. It's like looking for a pair of pants - try on coaches until you find one that fits. Let the new coach pick his coordinators. Begin to realize that stability leads to stagnation. As far as QB, give Will Howard a chance. Right now, we need a WR1 before we start thinking about a WR2.

I think I'll pass on your plan of burning through coaches until they find the right one and rolling with Will Howard at QB.

 

[DesertSteel]

"How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too."

Are you expecting a serious answer here? Do you think any of us work for the team? Why would any of us mere fans here or anywhere, be held accountable for coming up with such a list of names/information? If we don't have a laundry list of names at the ready, does that mean that those of us fed up with what we've been seeing, don't have a valid opinion on the matter?

Things have been trending poorly for so long now, that these "Well who ya gonna hire if ya fire Tomlin??" questions are no longer able to disguised as sincere, good-faith rebuttals where, in most instances, it's essentially an attempt to try and paint those of us who want new leadership to rebuild this team, as "ill-informed" and "not knowing what they're talking about"; nice try, though. Well, not really.

None of us are employed by the Steelers. I'm going to assume that none of us posting here have ever worked for an NFL front office where we'd be tasked with searching out and hiring coaches, and frankly, it doesn't really matter. We've seen enough, and we know enough about how this league works to have a valid opinion, even if we don't have a laundry list at the ready to start spouting off random names to satisfy whatever ridiculous expectation that you might have for the fan, watching at home.

At this point, we have no other choice but to have faith in the ownership (be it Art II or whomever) and the front office, to hire a coach that can bring a certain standard and culture back to this franchise. We really have no other choice but to have faith that this hypothetical head coach to succeed Tomlin, will bring a staff onboard which shares his values and vision, and is able to execute in an effective and efficient manner to reach that vision. What, are we supposed to sit quietly with our gaze at our feet, hands folded like a milquetoast mouse, and just thank our lucky stars that we have the privilege of being allowed to root for the Pittsburgh Steelers, no matter how far into the abyss the franchise sinks?

The OP said here's my fix.

 

[SteelerFan448]

Both Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel were available at the end of last season. They seem to be doing OK.

Ben Johnson - elite offensive mind paired with Caleb Williams - top QB prospect

Mike Vrabel has Josh McDaniels - elite OC paired with Drake Maye - top QB prospect

Liam Cohen - top offensive mind paired with Trevor Lawrence

We can keep going but get a top offensive mind in the building and find a young QB with potential, whether it’s through the draft or a player with tools who just needs to be in the right system.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Art II needs to step aside as well.

Although I fully agree with you, his stepping aside may not be what you think it is.

He will still show up every day, ask what’s going on and finally put his opinion in the hat.

He will influence the new president Dan, that is a gimme, how far Dan has progressed in his football acumen has yet to be seen.

Word was he set himself back a year or two by speaking out on the Tomlin subject internally, he was held to silence.

Dan has worked his way up from the bottom (owner’s bottom different than commoner’s bottom). He has had his hand in most aspects of the team, including the locker room 9keep in mind that will be tomlin influenced).

I want Art 2 to step aside as well, Dan will be a breath of fresh air and we need that.




Salute the nation

 

[Punxsutawney]

Ben Johnson - elite offensive mind paired with Caleb Williams - top QB prospect

Mike Vrabel has Josh McDaniels - elite OC paired with Drake Maye - top QB prospect

Liam Cohen - top offensive mind paired with Trevor Lawrence

We can keep going but get a top offensive mind in the building and find a young QB with potential, whether it’s through the draft or a player with tools who just needs to be in the right system.

Vrabel also had some really good teams with Ryan Tannehill at QB and Arthur Smith at OC, so he has shown he can have good offenses without an elite QB or OC.

Vrabel, Mike McDonald, and Sean McDermott are among examples why the Steelers should not be absolutely married to the idea of an offensive-oriented coach as the next HC, though I am not against it by any stretch.

Though a defensive coach, Cowher's understanding of offensive football was generally underappreciated, given how his teams were frequently in the top half of the league in scoring, despite not always having the best QB play.

Mike Mularkey and Ken Whisenhunt were entirely homegrown on his staff, while Tomlin promotes Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada.

Not quite the same.

 

[Gildong Sack]

I think I'll pass on your plan of burning through coaches until they find the right one and rolling with Will Howard at QB.

Why look for a QB? Sign Mason to a long term deal and let him start.... Howard can back him up. That's outrageous isn't it? Why?

Because we know what the results will be.....yet you want to apply that same logic to Tomlin. We know the results...why would anyone still want him here?

Why do we need to look at Will Howard? Is it because we already looked at Mason Rudolph, Duck Hodges, Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson?

We've all had a LOOOOOONNNNGGGGG good look at Tomlin as well. Too long. And we can look at as many coaches as we need to as well, but here's the kicker.

Because the Steelers don't fire coaches that easily almost anyone you find that is pretty good has a chance to turn this thing around. And that's because they won't have the shadow hanging over them that they could be fired after a few years. They will know they have time to get the right coaches and players to get this team moving in the right direction.

Will Howard might be able to save the non losing season record....hopefully we'll never know.

 

[maowv]

That's just a plan to tear it down, not to fix it. How are you hiring as coach? Who is your QB? How are you revamping the defense? Who is your WR2? And if you fire the coach the coordinators go too.

My high school coach was the first person in my life to teach a bunch of young kids a tremendously valuable lesson - good enough isn't good enough.

The Steelers current makeup isn't good enough.
Hoping to go 9-8 every year isn't good enough.
The Steelers current coaching staff isn't good enough.
The apparent attitude of the current owner isn't good enough.

As a 50+ year fan, I have grown tired of caring more about a team than it appears to care about itself.

Tearing it down is the first step toward becoming better because we aren't getting better with the pieces currently in place.

 

[xjx]

If the steelers really do have a reputation for keeping coaches a long time it should be attractive. It would be even more attractive if Tomlin wasn't at the top.

 

[SteelerSask2]

However much depth you want to take it to comes down to this. Needs to be taken down to the boards. Keep young talent unsheddable contracts and rebuilt from ground up by a young offensive minded coach with mandate to go through some hard years. Anything else is a facade. Look at the young running back this year. Makes a massive mistake.....******. no out. Same with how Roman Wilson played in preseason. Now it's like 1985 and he has AIDS.

 

[timsim00]

Hoping to go 9-8 every year isn't good enough.

We could be much better, 10-7 this year!!! BOOM!!

 

[Coryea]

as long as we aren't below .500 that's the standard, post season doesn't mean a damn thing.