Najee states it again: team needs more discipline

[Greg Lloyd]

https://www.steelernation.com/2024/...is-begging-in-house-rule-changes-playoff-loss

I don't know how many times we have to hear players state it. And I don't know why Rooney isn't capable of picking the message up. But for the 20th time or so, a player has come out and stated that the team needs more discipline, generally speaking. We've heard it over and over again. Now, who would be in charge of team discipline? Not the equipment manager. Not the strength coach. The GM? Not really. Oh, the head coach is the most obvious answer. Everything starts and ends with him.

And if the players have said this same thing, multiple times in recent years - even by the rookie QB last year - then you would think it's an area of real concern. I mean, how often are players requesting MORE team discipline? I'd say it's pretty rare. If the players are gonna naturally lean one way, it would be towards less team discipline, but here we have a case where players keep mentioning this same aspect. Why? I'd say it's safe to say it's because it's simply true. And it's safe to say that losses to the very worst teams are a product of a lack of team discipline. And that is coming from the head coach. He lacks it and he allows it to carry over to the team. Another sign that we need a change, period.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The players are confirming what I’ve, and many here, have been saying for years.

Little chest being allowed to stay “off” campus at training camp, was a prime example, but not the start.


Salute the nation

 

[bigben]

Besides discipline the team also needs more than 37 yards from their first round RB in a playoff game.

 

[Greg Lloyd]

The players are confirming what I’ve, and many here, have been saying for years.

Over 2,600 likes on FB already over the article.

 

[TDX27]

If you listen to Najee, he is hinting at organizational issues. He said he was good with the coaches.. So, if he is talking discipline, he is either trying to say the players or the organization at all levels. He doesn't want to come out and say it. But, I do agree the discipline and many other issues come from the head coach.

And, I am darn tired of hearing the D say we didn't stay in our gaps or it was a communication issue. That is BS as well.

 

[Troglodyte]

I noticed on Washington’s first of two offsides penalties that Najee’s head dropped in disappointment.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Yeah Najee, like the discipline for the staff to start, and give more reps to, the better back.

 

[bigben]

Darnell Washington, yet another overdraft. Guy netted 41 yds all year after penalties.
To think we could have had Kyren Williams or Puca nacua 2 rounds later?

 

[stillwright]

Besides discipline the team also needs more than 37 yards from their first round RB in a playoff game.

Our HC running him into 8 and 10 man fronts on most 1st and 2nd downs didn't help. Our OL got zero push....but blame the RB. Smh

 

[bigben]

Our HC running him into 8 and 10 man fronts on most 1st and 2nd downs didn't help. Our OL got zero push....but blame the RB. Smh

Plenty of blame to go around. but 37 yards is 37 yards, and that is never gonna be good enough to win.
Gotta love a #1 pick from Alabama averaging 3.9 for his career, calling other people out like he hasn't been part of the problem, minutes after putting up 37 yards and 3.1 ypc in the biggest game of his life. Keep pointing the finger Najee

 

[SteelerFan448]

In typical Heyward fashion, he says they just need to play better. This is always Heyward's response and yet the results never change. It's a fine line in the NFL and if coaching was as simple as telling your guys to "play better," then everyone would be a great coach. It's what you do during the offseason and during the week that makes a difference, plus the individual effort put forth by the players. That's how athletes improve, not just by flipping a switch and playing better.



Watt said there were some things they do well, others they could change but that should be kept and handled in house.

 

[stillwright]

Plenty of blame to go around. but 37 yards is 37 yards, and that is never gonna be good enough to win.
Gotta love a #1 pick from Alabama averaging 3.9 for his career, calling other people out like he hasn't been part of the problem, minutes after putting up 37 yards and 3.1 ypc in the biggest game of his life. Keep pointing the finger Najee

Also when you get down 21 points......teams tend to pass a bit more.

 

[MTC]

Darnell Washington, yet another overdraft. Guy netted 41 yds all year after penalties.
To think we could have had Kyren Williams or Puca nacua 2 rounds later?

Puca is steal. The dude is tough as nails

 

[mdk2]

In typical Heyward fashion, he says they just need to play better. This is always Heyward's response and yet the results never change. It's a fine line in the NFL and if coaching was as simple as telling your guys to "play better," then everyone would be a great coach. It's what you do during the offseason and during the week that makes a difference, plus the individual effort put forth by the players. That's how athletes improve, not just by flipping a switch and playing better.



Watt said there were some things they do well, others they could change but that should be kept and handled in house.

Cam is basically a parrot of Tomlin at this point. He’s always tried to be a leader but he just isn’t that guy. He can lead by example on the field but vocally, the players don’t seem
To react to anything he says.

 

[chipped ham]

Darnell Washington, yet another overdraft. Guy netted 41 yds all year after penalties.
To think we could have had Kyren Williams or Puca nacua 2 rounds later?

You don’t honestly believe that Nacua would have produced the way he did in this offense, do you? Averaging 130 ypg (or whatever ridiculously ******* laughable amount it was) leaves him with no room to produce. Hell, that’s also assuming this staff would’ve allowed him to play more than special teams prior to week 10 like they do with most other rookies……you see why this is a stupid argument, right?

 

[mdk2]

It’s funny that Jaylen Warren, Muth, and TJ all said they’d like to see some things change as far as rules and accountability. Cam was the only one to say oh no everything is just fiiine. How can you take anything the guy says serious. He’s as bad as Tomlin.

 

[stillwright]

Cam is basically a parrot of Tomlin at this point. He’s always tried to be a leader but he just isn’t that guy. He can lead by example on the field but vocally, the players don’t seem
To react to anything he says.

Heyward is not this great locker room leader people say he is. For that matter Watt isn't either. Both play their *** off on the field though. Now you have a RB who came from one of the winningest college programs ever and sees stuff that goes on that he feels needs to be changed to hit the next level as a team and organization. A RB that also plays his *** off on Sundays. Props to Harris for speaking out.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

Our HC running him into 8 and 10 man fronts on most 1st and 2nd downs didn't help. Our OL got zero push....but blame the RB. Smh

Jaylen was really struggling to get more than a yard or two behind the same line and couldn’t get more than a yard or two a carry either…totally proving your point that it’s all systemic (HC, OL…anyone but Najee)

Oh wait… Warren was effective in the exact same situation?!?! Who knew?!?! not like it’s been a weekly occurrence all damn season with the exception of one monsoon game where the coaches give the majority of the reps to the less effective player

Certainly we can’t expect them to figure it out by game 18 when most casual fans didn’t see it until week 1 or 2…lmao

 

[steel dino]

Puca is steal. The dude is tough as nails

He is Hines Ward reincarnated..
Watching him play I see a black gold uni with number 86 on it all day long..

 

[stillwright]

Jaylen was really struggling to get more than a yard or two behind the same line and couldn’t get more than a yard or two a carry either…totally proving your point that it’s all systemic (HC, OL…anyone but Najee)

Oh wait… Warren was effective in the exact same situation?!?! Who knew?!?! not like it’s been a weekly occurrence all damn season with the exception of one monsoon game where the coaches give the majority of the reps to the less effective player

Certainly we can’t expect them to figure it out by game 18 when most casual fans didn’t see it until week 1 or 2…lmao

A lot of Warrens runs were 3rd down situations where the box wasn't stacked and Bills were looking pass. Otherwise you are correct.

 

[Bluesteel]

Besides discipline the team also needs more than 37 yards from their first round RB in a playoff game.

Probably would have gotten more if he wasn’t running into 9 man box throughout the game and simply making adjustments to throw medium range, over middle, on a 1 deep D with depleted LB core, could have loosened up the run game.

But why do that? Let’s keep making our back run into a wall, while Buffalo dared them to pass???

 

[Badcat]

What kind of discipline are these players talking about? Disciplined play or disciplined locker room? Both? Naj is used to a strict disciplined locker room and demands of excellence from an old school coach in Saban. Outside of Darth Hoodie, I don't hear of many disciplined locker rooms any longer. With Saban and Belichick out of football for the moment, perhaps with this generation it's a thing of the past?

 

[Bluesteel]

Plenty of blame to go around. but 37 yards is 37 yards, and that is never gonna be good enough to win.
Gotta love a #1 pick from Alabama averaging 3.9 for his career, calling other people out like he hasn't been part of the problem, minutes after putting up 37 yards and 3.1 ypc in the biggest game of his life. Keep pointing the finger Najee

Let me preface this with, I didn’t love the pick and don’t think he is a superstar RB, but, he has generally performed well when there is a semblance of OL push and a semblance of a passing game that has to be respected by the D, as evidenced by back to back 100+ yrd games when those things occurred.

The vast majority of his career has been with poor OL play and very underwhelming pass attack, allowing opposing D’s to cheat on run defense.

How’s he supposed to rack up yards when he’s consistently getting met in the backfield, practically instantaneously after taking handoff.

 

[GILBERT]

When/if Najee goes to another team, he will be a stud. Good coaches will recognize his strengths.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Najee has gained over a 1000 yards each of his three season here.


Salute the nation