There are no trades, no matter how you package them, that will change the performance characteristics of the team right now. Generally speaking, if you trade player for player, you get similar value. If you want to stack up late round picks, that's a futures investment, with no ability to predict how it will pan out.
To me, the biggest issue with the Defense is that they lost likely the best defensive player in the league, Watt. He's irreplaceable, it's that simple. They are a different team without Watt, and it is glaring. I would compare it to the 80's Giants losing Lawrence Taylor. It's that impactful.
What I see overall, is my team has been forced to abandon their decades old persona of 'Steelers football'.... Where when you stepped on the field against the Steelers, even if you won the game, you limped into your next game because you still got a physical beating. The NFL has done their darndest to remove the 'hitting', but keep the tackling.
Players that used to 'tackle' via a crushing 'hit' are no longer. The days of Greg Lloyd or even Deebo Harrison planting someone are gone. And I certainly miss that style of play.... It's simply just not allowed any more.
Teams are glorified flag football teams. You tackle but you can't 'hit'. They've changed rules to entice pass happy offense. Once again, a move away from Steelers football.
We are a finesse team on offense, trying to pass to set up runs, with very little game planning that I am able to see. We look exactly the same every week.
Shades talks a better game than any coach in the league. But his time will be up soon. Depending on how well Watt heals up and can play will be the biggest factor in a 4-13 campaign v. an 8-9 campaign. I, for one, do not anticipate a winning ledger in the W/L column.
