Last night debacle vs. Eagles

[Tibs]

Couple of theories:

Theory #1: The whole team was rattled and shell-shocked by the news that two of their teammates - the core of our running game - would be so stupid and disrespectful to their coaches, teammates and the Rooneys that they'd jeopardize the start of the season by getting stoned an hour before a team flight. I know it shook me as a fan, I can only guess how it affected the team.

Theory #2: The young D-linemen, heck the D-line as a whole - in addition to #1 above - were also rattled and shell-shocked by the team signing Kesiel back. It's possible they took is as a statement by the coaches and front office that the D-line is insufficient and looked upon as a weakness. Consequently they lost confidence, went out and played down to those expectations.

Theory #3: Shazier has let some of the pre-season hype from last week get to his head, lost his focus and concentration in the process.

Theory #4: We witnessed a simple case of snowballing, where one negative led to another, to another and it just picked up steam from there, became impossible to stop. Pure physics. I noticed the players on both O and D just standing around staring out of their helmets. No communication, no energy, everyone went numb by what was happening.

I am out of theories, simply puzzled by most everything I witnessed in this game.

My hope is they can use this embarrassing performance - sprinkled with some of the anger coming from players like Polamalu - to get this thing back on track.

 

[CharlesDavenport]

Theory #5: This organization is bad at drafting and coaching.

 

[Tibs]

Theory #5: This organization is bad at drafting and coaching.

Yeah, that too. I left out some obvious theories such as Theory #6: Tomlin is the anti-Christ, Theory #7: Jarvis Jones is the worst linebacker since Brian Bosworth, and Theory #8: if only we wouldn't have reached for Dri Archer...

 

[nooneuno]

Theory 54 we got our *** kicked by a better team and will have to improve immensely to do anything this year.

 

[antdrewjosh]

It was all good just a week ago.

I said it last nite the Eagles offense is hard to stop especially if your not studying and gameplanning for it. They have put up 28,35,and 31points in their preseason games. Not excusing last nite performance by no means cause the offense wasnt good either. There does need to be a little perspective. We are counting on some young guys in key positions they are going to take their lumps. Is what it is.

 

[ark steel]

It was all good just a week ago.

I said it last nite the Eagles offense is hard to stop especially if your not studying and gameplanning for it. They have put up 28,35,and 31points in their preseason games. Not excusing last nite performance by no means cause the offense wasnt good either. There do needs to be a little perspective. We are counting on some young guys in key positions they are going to take their lumps. Is what it is.

A week ago was the Bills, not a team that went 10-6 last year and racked up a **** ton of offense.

Still, should have been able to show some ability to stop them, or, at least, pretend they were trying to do so. It wasn't just the D, thought, it was the whole team.

If it were a regular season game, I could find a way to care. As it is, I do not.

 

[Omar10213245]

It was all good just a week ago.

I said it last nite the Eagles offense is hard to stop especially if your not studying and gameplanning for it. They have put up 28,35,and 31points in their preseason games. Not excusing last nite performance by no means cause the offense wasnt good either. There do needs to be a little perspective. We are counting on some young guys in key positions they are going to take their lumps. Is what it is.

Wait a minute, wait a minute, waaaaaaait a minute....did you really type "there do needs...."??

 

[scstillerfan]

The Eagles second string offense led by Dirty Sanchez trounced the Steelers starting D. I think that says it all.

 

[Tibs]

Theory #10: Big Ben wanted to one-up LeStoner backfield and smoked a fattie an hour before the game. He was out of synch all night, threw some really crappy passes...

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Steelers were playing defense at half speed. I'm watching it now, so far it's just the end of the first quarter but they really look like they're coasting. It's preseason guys.

 

[Omar10213245]

Steelers were playing defense at half speed. I'm watching it now, so far it's just the end of the first quarter but they really look like they're coasting. It's preseason guys.

Jarvis Jones resents this statement

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Just finished the first half, (saw the second half yesterday) I do have some concerns:

Mike Mitchell - This dude likes to blow people up, not tackle.

Cam Thomas - that goal line stand establishes why Keisel was brought back. Even going half speed Thomas should never be turned like that.

Martavis Bryant - His effort sucks. He's not attacking the ball at all. Far too many drops that should have been catches, rookie be damned. Makes sense considering the comments that have been made about his practice habits.

Also, I no longer think Justin Brown will make the team. He's done very little all preseason.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I may have to reevaluate my 12-4 prediction.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

I think Ben and Ike were the worst performers last night.

Ike looks even slower than last year. Which is not the entire problem. The problems is when his natural reaction is to hold the WR on almost every play.

Ben was playing as sloppy as he did earlier on last season. He had a couple of guys open but failed to make the throw. And that INT? Embarrassing...

I

 

[thesteelcity]

it may just be pre-season, but the Eagles looked like they were preparing for the season, as if it started next week. The Steelers don't look prepared, at all. How can that be? Both played three pre-season games now and one team looked crisp and ready and the other was playing in quicksand. That "dress rehearsal" has me concerned. They have two weeks to get it right. The sky is not falling as it was an exhibition game, but that was an embarrassing display of football. If that was a regular season game, the Eagles easily put up 42+ on our D, prob in the first half.

 

[NC STEEL]

The offense seemed to be trying to force plays. Getting the ball to Wheaton, and Bryant. The O-line appeared solid in run/pass blocking. I am not concerned out the offense I think they will be fine and honestly better than we have seen in years. The defense was just ugly. I can't believe the way the d-line got crushed. Their ability to run and play action pass froze the linebackers. Taylor can't play without getting his hands on a receiver. Four penalty's for defensive holding and a roughing the passer. Hopefully Kiesel makes a difference.

 

[insaniti]

The offense seemed to be trying to force plays. Getting the ball to Wheaton, and Bryant. The O-line appeared solid in run/pass blocking. I am not concerned out the offense I think they will be fine and honestly better than we have seen in years. The defense was just ugly. I can't believe the way the d-line got crushed. Their ability to run and play action pass froze the linebackers. Taylor can't play without getting his hands on a receiver. Four penalty's for defensive holding and a roughing the passer. Hopefully Kiesel makes a difference.

That's exactly what they were doing, forcing it to the lesser known people to get them reps. We know what we have with Brown and Miller, and it showed on the last drive Ben was in. But we need more than just those two in the passing game. The problem with the defensive line is simple. McClendon. Doesn't command a double team, gets easily pushed back by one OL. That allows a double team on Heyward and another OL to get into the second level on the LBers. McClendon was on skates all night. I think that might be more of a reason to bring back Keisel. Move Cam Thomas to NT, that opens up a DE spot.

 

[Super Dave]

Yeah, that too. I left out some obvious theories such as Theory #6: Tomlin is the anti-Christ, Theory #7: Jarvis Jones is the worst linebacker since Brian Bosworth, and Theory #8: if only we wouldn't have reached for Dri Archer...

So do you equate the hyperbolic infused theories espoused above with what C.D. posted "Theory #5: This organization is bad at drafting and coaching." ?

 

[Tibs]

So do you equate the hyperbolic infused theories espoused above with what C.D. posted "Theory #5: This organization is bad at drafting and coaching." ?

No, I don't. We're actually pretty good in both areas, if you look at our track record and two SB's with Tomlin.

 

[Idioteque]

No, I don't. We're actually pretty good in both areas, if you look at our track record and two SB's with Tomlin.

So our roster is pretty stacked then? Its quality hasn't dipped?

 

[Vader]

That's exactly what they were doing, forcing it to the lesser known people to get them reps. We know what we have with Brown and Miller, and it showed on the last drive Ben was in. But we need more than just those two in the passing game. The problem with the defensive line is simple. McClendon. Doesn't command a double team, gets easily pushed back by one OL. That allows a double team on Heyward and another OL to get into the second level on the LBers. McClendon was on skates all night. I think that might be more of a reason to bring back Keisel. Move Cam Thomas to NT, that opens up a DE spot.

The problem is that Thomas didn't play well last night either. I'm not sure he can be a NT that demands double teams. Right now the DL looks just like last year. The dbs look like college players.. bad ones at that. Troy was beaten easily by the TE last night for a TD but the ball was over thrown. Troy looks slow as a snail when he isn't around the LOS.

 

[Stryker]

I'm not sure if I'm remembering correctly, but I don't believe we ran the hurry up last night.

 

[Tibs]

So our roster is pretty stacked then? Its quality hasn't dipped?

Let's discuss this say, five games into the season. The day after a really crappy pre-season game is probably not the best time to make any blanket statements.

 

[Vader]

I'm not sure if I'm remembering correctly, but I don't believe we ran the hurry up last night.

The Steelers don't run the hurry up very often. They run the no-huddle most of the time.

 

[Super Dave]

No, I don't. We're actually pretty good in both areas, if you look at our track record and two SB's with Tomlin.

Ok....I just think that when you quoted what Charles Davenports post, then followed it up with hyperbole that you were mocking his suggestion.

I, for one, can see where a reasonable person could come to such a conclusion as Charles. We have been 8-8 two years running and missed the playoffs both times. This week our 1st and second string RBs were busted for smoking dope while they were on their way to catch a flight...... to a game.....where we were shellacked by the Iggles and gave an entirely uninspiring and unacceptable performance.

My hope for this team started last year when Tomlin impressed me greatly when he turned around the team and we finished strong. I thought that he had lost the team after that horrendous start.

The key to this team will be the development and ascension of young talent, and last night they appeared to take a step back.

I honestly do not know the answer to this question, but has any Steeler defensive player drafted after 2007 made the Pro Bowl?