Questions for the Draft

[MT~Forged]

I will add 1 more question.

Do the Steelers think they can win the Super Bowl THIS YEAR with an improved scheme under Smith, improved QB play, and a few more additions in the draft?

No, they still have the same HC who continues to believe that playing “to not lose” is the way to go. He will also hamstring any attempt by Smith to implement a different gameplan.

The answer could be Yes. There are Zero great teams in the NFL right now. The Chiefs are the closest and they are beatable. The Steelers have a SB caliber defense right now before the draft. If you add 1 or 2 OL starters the the OL can be very good. The run game will be strong. They have weapons of they get good QB play.

Super Bowl calibre Defense? Your kidding, right? The same Defense that continuously gives up 30+ points in every playoff game, is Super Bowl calibre? You must be high or drunk.

If the Steelers think they have a shot at a SB this year, then maybe you draft a playmaking WR in rd 1. Somebody like AD Mitchell, or Brian Thomas.

If they do that, it will just prove that they are incompetent.

 

[MT~Forged]

I dunno is Mike keeping his hand out of the cookie jar?

You know he won’t

 

[BLITZ]

Given the Steelers draft needs unless someone drops to 20, this is the perfect year to trade back.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Given the Steelers draft needs unless someone drops to 20, this is the perfect year to trade back.

If the right scenario is there, I can agree with this but NOT at the risk of not improving the OL.

This coaching regime seemed to not care about OL very much in the past, This year is a perfect year to improve it greatly. Get the right top Guys, make Pittsburgh football great again.


Salute the nation

 

[BLITZ]

If the right scenario is there, I can agree with this but NOT at the risk of not improving the OL.

This coaching regime seemed to not care about OL very much in the past, This year is a perfect year to improve it greatly. Get the right top Guys, make Pittsburgh football great again.


Salute the nation

100% agree

 

[Troglodyte]

Super Bowl calibre Defense? Your kidding, right? The same Defense that continuously gives up 30+ points in every playoff game, is Super Bowl calibre? You must be high or drunk.

If you recall, the defense was pretty good last year until injuries forced them to sign and start guys off the street at ILB and DB.

 

[madinsomniac]

Espn has a great article talking about how bad it is to trade up early in the draft... unless it is for a qb... basically the draft charts are hellabusted and you just dont typically get good value out of it even if the guy pans out

 

[MT~Forged]

If you recall, the defense was pretty good last year until injuries forced them to sign and start guys off the street at ILB and DB.

Everyone has injuries, that is not an excuse, and that D was just ”good” on paper.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

No, they still have the same HC who continues to believe that playing “to not lose” is the way to go. He will also hamstring any attempt by Smith to implement a different gameplan.

Super Bowl calibre Defense? Your kidding, right? The same Defense that continuously gives up 30+ points in every playoff game, is Super Bowl calibre? You must be high or drunk.

If they do that, it will just prove that they are incompetent.

That defense lost Cam and Minkah for a large stretch and Cam played hurt. They had to play Pat Peterson at Safety and sign guys off the street just to fill out the secondary. All of their ILBs were injured.

If they just come back healthy, they are a Super Bowl defense. They added Patrick Queen. The first good ILB since Shazier. They added Dante Jackson and Deshon Elliott to the secondary. Not pro bowlers but solid players who are upgrades over last year. Porter and benton will likely be better in year 2. They will likely add a couple new players in the draft.

Yes, unless they get decimated with injuries again, this is a Super Bowl caliber defense. It will also help if the offense can actually score some points.

 

[MT~Forged]

That defense lost Cam and Minkah for a large stretch and Cam played hurt. They had to play Pat Peterson at Safety and sign guys off the street just to fill out the secondary. All of their ILBs were injured.

If they just come back healthy, they are a Super Bowl defense. They added Patrick Queen. The first good ILB since Shazier. They added Dante Jackson and Deshon Elliott to the secondary. Not pro bowlers but solid players who are upgrades over last year. Porter and benton will likely be better in year 2. They will likely add a couple new players in the draft.

Yes, unless they get decimated with injuries again, this is a Super Bowl caliber defense. It will also help if the offense can actually score some points.

Again, just looks good on paper. We will have to see if it actually translates to the field.

I see you are just another person who likes to repeat the stupid idea, that the Offense is responsible if the Defense plays poorly. Sure the Offense has been an absolute mess, as it has been for most of Tomlin’s tenure. Last time I checked the rules though, it did not REQUIRE that if the O goes 3 & out, the D is required to be on the field for a minimum of 8 plays. I do believe that the Defense is allowed to get themselves off the field at ANY TIME. They continue to give up yards and 1st downs because of piss poor coaching schemes, AND poor player execution.

Mike Tomlin is NOT CAPABLE of fielding a Super Bowl team unless he inherits one. You can’t become a Super Bowl team, when you can’t get to the playoffs and especially when you lose in the 1st round and give up 30+ points every time. He is an above average coach, which is fine, if all you care about is a winning regular season record. You have to be a good to great coach to win against the top teams in the playoffs, and he is sadly not one of those.

 

[Troglodyte]

Everyone has injuries, that is not an excuse, and that D was just ”good” on paper.

No, every team has injuries but they certainly aren’t impacted equally.

 

[Steelmann]

That defense lost Cam and Minkah for a large stretch and Cam played hurt. They had to play Pat Peterson at Safety and sign guys off the street just to fill out the secondary. All of their ILBs were injured.

If they just come back healthy, they are a Super Bowl defense. They added Patrick Queen. The first good ILB since Shazier. They added Dante Jackson and Deshon Elliott to the secondary. Not pro bowlers but solid players who are upgrades over last year. Porter and benton will likely be better in year 2. They will likely add a couple new players in the draft.

Yes, unless they get decimated with injuries again, this is a Super Bowl caliber defense. It will also help if the offense can actually score some points.

I think they have definitely been working towards having much better depth in the last couple years. Patrick Queen might be our best defensive signing in years. But to call them “Super Bowl caliber defense” is certainly a stretch. It’s one thing to be a good defense in the regular season……they have done absolutely nothing to be considered a SB caliber defense in the last how many playoff games. They have been blown out.
Here‘s to hoping that changes.
Cheers

 

[MT~Forged]

No, every team has injuries but they certainly aren’t impacted equally.

That is because some teams plan better for that eventuality. This team has one of the highest paid defenses in the league. That means the quality of B/U players drops off considerably. When you pay a player top 5 pay , you get a #100 backup. If you have a top 20 player, you may have a # 30-40 backup. There are pros and cons to BOTH philosophies.

 

[Troglodyte]

That is because some teams plan better for that eventuality. This team has one of the highest paid defenses in the league. That means the quality of B/U players drops off considerably. When you pay a player top 5 pay , you get a #100 backup. If you have a top 20 player, you may have a # 30-40 backup. There are pros and cons to BOTH philosophies.

The Steelers defense lost both the starters and backups to injury at both ILB and DB. It wasn’t a matter of not paying backups.

 

[Steelmann]

The Steelers defense lost both the starters and backups to injury at both ILB and DB. It wasn’t a matter of not paying backups.

You know Trog….we zero in on our Steelers. And yes…we had a ****** run with injuries. You could go on and on all you want,but all teams get big time injuries. The amount of teams we have played over the last couple years without their starting QB. It’s a part of the game.

 

[Troglodyte]

You know Trog….we zero in on our Steelers. And yes…we had a ****** run with injuries. You could go on and on all you want,but all teams get big time injuries. The amount of teams we have played over the last couple years without their starting QB. It’s a part of the game.

Right, other teams losing their starting QBs is probably why the Steelers made the playoffs. The Steelers injuries on defense may very well have been why the didn’t advance in the playoffs.

 

[Steeltime]

I can see and agree with this logic. People forget reports had Trice looking better than Porter in camp. He’s still relatively an unknown commodity but the coaching staff might feel comfortable with him to compete for a spot. And Jackson is a nice insurance policy if Trice can’t take the opposite outside cb of Porter. Having two starting cbs on rookie contracts would be advantageous in keeping other veterans the next couple of seasons.

Steelers can certainly hope Trice remains healthy, his overwhelming history to the contrary notwithstanding.

The Steelers CANNOT bank on Trice being healthy, his overwhelming injury history explaining why.

 

[MT~Forged]

The Steelers defense lost both the starters and backups to injury at both ILB and DB. It wasn’t a matter of not paying backups.

That just furthers my point.

 

[MT~Forged]

After looking at countless mock draft’s, nobody is considering moving Barton to Center. The VAST majority are not even going to keep him @ OT, the majority consensus is to move him inside to Guard. This team doesn’t really need a Guard, so I would have to say I would pass on him, and still take Mims if available. If the Steelers had an aged productive line, then maybe I could see taking him and allowing him to find his position.

 

[Troglodyte]

That just furthers my point.

What are they supposed to do? Teams can only have so many players on the active roster. If they get injuries to thier starter and backup after the trade deadline, they have the practice squad or guys on the street as options.

 

[SteelerSask2]

The steelers have to plug holes at receiver center and Corner. That is before one injury. If they do well in the draft and pick up one more FA they will be competitive till they start inevitably losing starters. Any thought of SB is laughable.

 

[Drink IRON City]

That is because some teams plan better for that eventuality. This team has one of the highest paid defenses in the league. That means the quality of B/U players drops off considerably. When you pay a player top 5 pay , you get a #100 backup. If you have a top 20 player, you may have a # 30-40 backup. There are pros and cons to BOTH philosophies.

^^^^this^^^^

Many forget this exact syndrome about cost vs quality full scale Of players. The cost of this defense verses the cost of the defense 8-10years ago was vastly different, yet similar post season results in win / loss.

All that leads to coaching, and ability to rise up for the playoffs. Our coaching has proven it can NOT rise to the occasion, regardless of talent.

When combining them scheme & the coaching, specifically the head coaching, you get the blow out losses. It extends across the offense as well, currently.

Rudy, best QB in the league when looking at just the last three games he started. A wide open offensive game plan, come playoff game………. Crickets, conservative and play not to lose…………… THAT is head coaching, our head coaching.



Salute the nation

 

[SteelerSask2]

^^^^this^^^^

Many forget this exact syndrome about cost vs quality full scale Of players. The cost of this defense verses the cost of the defense 8-10years ago was vastly different, yet similar post season results in win / loss.

All that leads to coaching, and ability to rise up for the playoffs. Our coaching has proven it can NOT rise to the occasion, regardless of talent.

When combining them scheme & the coaching, specifically the head coaching, you get the blow out losses. It extends across the offense as well, currently.

Rudy, best QB in the league when looking at just the last three games he started. A wide open offensive game plan, come playoff game………. Crickets, conservative and play not to lose…………… THAT is head coaching, our head coaching.



Salute the nation

I agree. In a league of parody this coaching staff has proven it is better then the bottom consistently but can not rise good to great at all. So if that is what you want.....the facade of contending. This is your regime.

 

[Greg Lloyd]

My opinion is that they have one glaring hole and 3 serious upgrades that are needed. Other upgrades would be nice.

Glaring need - C. There could be an option already on the roster, but since Cole wasn‘t replaced at any point last year, I doubt it. Hopefully this can be addressed in the Draft, no later than pick 2.

Agreed. I'm really thinking C must be addressed by round 2. If they don't think they need to use a 1st on it, fine. But they got to grab a C by round 2.

Serious upgrade needed - RT, WR, DL. I would hope that Mims makes it to #20, if he does, AND all 3 top C’s are still on the board, then he is my pick. If a C is taken before #20, then I take a C @ #20. I believe that WR is deep enough that they can get a quality guy who can challenge for WR2 in the 3rd or later. If I were lucky enough to get Mims and Frazier with picks 1&2, then I look at DL with pick 3, UNLESS there is a WR head and shoulders better.

Exact same thinking.

Nice to have upgrades - CB, ILB, S & QB. Hopefully Trice takes the CB2 or CB3 spot, making that a less position of need, but too many starting calibre CB is never a problem. It would be nice to add a young LB to play next to Queen for the long haul. I also think Queen is going to be Farrior type of signing, and will pay dividends for years to come. With the Queen signing hopefully the S’s can go back to actually playing SAFETY. In a best case scenario they need a B/U QB next year, as both Wilson and Fields will not be on the team in 2025. Worst case they need a starting QB in 2025, maybe even late 2024, so a QB in round 3 or 4 is not a bad option.

I am wondering about the leftover ILBs from last year, some didn't play that bad and could be healthy for 2024. Between Roberts, Holcomb and Robinson, can't we get one decent ILB from that group? It seems the fans are assuming "no" on that question.

I am really hoping they hit it with the first 3 needed picks and 1-2 with the rest.

 

[Greg Lloyd]

I agree. In a league of parody this coaching staff has proven it is better then the bottom consistently but can not rise good to great at all. So if that is what you want.....the facade of contending. This is your regime.

Boom, shalackalacka boom!