State of the Steelers After Preseason

[tapeANaspirin2it]

So what did we learn in the preseason?

Munchak is a great OL coach but not a miracle worker. The OL is still just mediocre at best unless they have been holding back big time. The pass protection should be OK, especially since Ben seems to have learned that he can't hold it forever.

The run blocking is still a big question. Goodell's candy *** practice rules have made it tough to really practice running. I'm hoping they are able to play into shape.


Big Ben completely carries this team. With a mediocre run game, and a defense that looks to be middle of the road, it will be on Ben's shoulders to outscore opponents.

There is absolutely no point to keeping Landry Jones on the 53. No way any team picks him off the practice squad.

Antonio Brown is the only playmaker on offense, meaning he can create a big play on his own. They will need another WR to step up if the offense is going to go to the next level. DHB better make the team. They may actually need him.

Troy is the only playmaker on defense. This preseason showed clearly that Troy is the only player who can win matchups without Lebeau scheming up a way to give an advantage.

Worilds might be a playmaker. He's shown flashes. If he can't be a double digit sack guy, this defense is in trouble. Lebeau can't do it all. There has to be at least 1 pass rusher who scares an offense and demands a double team. If everybody can be single blocked then it doesn't matter what Lebeau schemes, any offense can pick it up.

Chris Carter is the new Will Blackwell. He keeps making the team, not because of skill but because they have nobody better.

If Joey Porter suited up, would he be the 2nd best pass rusher? Sadly, the answer could be yes.

They still need Ike. He is slowed down but they have nobody better. Is Cortez about to have a Keenan Allen type breakout? If so he hasn't shown it yet.

This team has no depth at all. They may as well keep 5 lawn chairs as backup OL. At least the DL may trip over a lawn chair, unlike the turnstiles that make up the second string.

Is there any backup that could reasonably replace the starter? Shamarko could probably replace Mitchel. Gradkowski can't replace Ben, but he's about as good a #2 as you could expect. That's about it.

The schedule may be the team MVP

 

[Steelerfan81]

I am hopeful. I don't think we can take away anything from last nights game. Our secondary really concerns me. I just keep having flash backs of the games last season where they weren't able to stop anything. They had some lucky bounces and missed plays that led to them winning games ex: @GB. They shredded our defense at will but kept going away from the stuff that was working. If Rodgers played it wouldn't of been close.

 

[Slaine]

The biggest concern for me is the laid back attitude to sucking big time. It feels a lot like last season and we all know how that finished. I know that they don't gameplan for other teams but it doesn't say much for their basic talent if you can't even score a point against Carolina. I really hope that the great plan is unveiled for the real games and that it's not the emperor's new clothes because right now everyone can see that he's naked anyway.

 

[Slaine]

It could be worse. We could be the Browns.

 

[hook]

It could be worse. We could be the Browns.

Opening day is no shoe in win for the Steelers. Wouldn't be at all surprised if we lose.

The only preseason game that we were able to see here was the Iggles game,and I turned it off at half time because they were so horrible. This team BAD period.

 

[Southern Steeler]

Looks like I picked a superb time to quit getting so worked up over this stuff 3 years ago.

 

[hamster]

It appears that we are going to, once again, unleash mediocrity on our opponents this year.

 

[Hollywood Bags]

What we learned: SOS (Same Ol' Steelers).

 

[Steelerfan]

It could be worse. We could be the Browns.

Two 8-8 seasons say we are trending that way. I don't think the arrow is pointing up. At least not yet.

 

[GRBman]

I got to watch 3 games this preseason...(didn't see the Buffalo game). Here are my observations:

1) This team can't tackle. I don't know if it is the lack of opportunity to hit in training camps, but there's an awful lot of arm-tackling on display out there. Last night I was at the game and it was just brutal.
2) The officials have completely taken over, but last night was the exception. Hardly any PI or Holding calls and I even heard the ref say that holding was not applicable because the play wen to the other side of the field *shock*... holy crap, common sense
3) Game management and situation awareness is non-existent. There were at least 2 times where I saw situations that needed to be addressed. Close spots where the offense needed to hurry up and run a play to avoid a review (didn't happen)...4th & 8 from midfield with :23 to go in the half...punt. Really? You're punting with :23 to go in a preseason game? What, is Brad Wing not warmed-up yet?
4) Dri Archer is fast and seems to be able to shake and bake...but they are going to have to do better than fly-sweeps.
5) Depth (as mentioned above) is abysmal.
6) Landry Jones is terrible, I don't know what he's looking at half the time...he has to be cut...sign somebody else...ANYBODY else...

This is just a bad football team with worse coaching. I like Tomlin, but I really think he's in over his head here. Hayley is horrible. The only bright spot is LeBeau who seems to be able to put lipstick on a pig...but that pig is pretty damn ugly

 

[Max Power]

Only take-away I really have is that Landry needs to go. Zero progress.

At least I have the Vikings to follow. No high expectations and a tough division. They actually went 4 - 0 in preseason.

 

[Badcat]

Shazier is going to be great. I like his speed and his attacking style. As he gets more comfortable in the schemes and catches up to the speed of the game, he is going to be an exceptional linebacker.

 

[Super Dave]

Shazier is going to be great. I like his speed and his attacking style. As he gets more comfortable in the schemes and catches up to the speed of the game, he is going to be an exceptional linebacker.

I hope so....... he looked great against Buffalo, but everybody pretty much sucked against the Iggles.

He will be compared throughout his entire career against CJ Mosley who has also played well

 

[Steelers1356]

You can't conclude too much from the pre season, too many situations where vets are mixed in with rookies for the majority of the game, 2nd team players matched up against 1st teamers, etc. Not a good gauge of the regular season. About the only thing you can really conclude from the pre-season is who's not good enough to make the final cuts.

If we got blown out 38-0 in each game, then I might be concerned.

 

[Steelers1356]

Chris Carter is the new Will Blackwell. He keeps making the team, not because of skill but because they have nobody better.

Howard Jones.

 

[Superman]

if we must have 3 QBs, I'd wait for the 'Skins to cut Colt McCoy then snag him.

 

[steelhurt]

I've been saying that it has to get worse before it will get better, meaning we will see a couple losing seasons here then finally after the 2015 season the Tomlin experiment will be over. Colbert most likely goes as well. Colbert worked well with Cowher but that didn't translate well to working with Tomlin.

We have mediocre talent lead by an excellent QB sprinkled with very few good players. The depth is a joke. Nice job Tomlin and Colbert.

I'm looking at two 6-10 or 5-11 seasons before this lark comes to an end.

 

[FordFairLane]

I am going to go over what I have seen from each position.

QB- Ben is a very much underrated QB. Tom Brady or Manning would not do anything better with this group of misfits we have on offense.

Bruce is a capable backup. I don't see him winning any games for us but I see him keep us in them just to have someone else lose them for us.

Landry Jones... god awful.

RB- Bell is a capable back but not an elite one. I feel his ceiling is a 1,200 yard rushing at 4.0 ypc with 200 yard receiving back. Nothing to shake your head at but not elite like Tomlin and company tried to make him out to be and acted as if we got a steal in the draft. We got a capable running back who is obviously a liability with his character with recent off the field issues.

Blount, again off the field issues and I did feel they were behind him. That he learned from past mistakes. But no and I think the team should have flat out cut him as an example and even suspend Bell to do the same.

Dri Archer is what I thought he was going to be a gadget player who will never give you 300 rushes and 50 catches but will do enough to make a few splash plays throughout the season.

WR- Antonio Brown keeps showing why we signed him longterm before Wallace.

Wheaton needs to figure out how to get more separation. He is quick but I don't know if he's not selling routes or what but it seems more times than not the CB is in his back pocket.

Moore hasn't shown me too much. I think he will be a nice slot chain mover but he hasn't wowed me or anything.

Justin Brown I heard so much great stuff about in camp but on game day he is just slow. I think he does have good hands and uses his body well but gets no separation. Blocks better than the guys mentioned above though.

DHB seemed to kick butt against lesser competition and can actually run block but again he's a vet usually going against scrubs.

Derek Moye seems to have just stayed still not progressing like I had hoped.

TE- Miller is so valuable because he can block and catch.

Spaeth still just a blocker.

Paulsen looks decent in pass catching but can't block. I had high hopes for Waters but...

OL- Starters look like they can pass block effectively but not great. No depth from what I can see at OT and Wallace seems to have regressed at interior. Hubbard looks like he could develop into something. I hope the the group progresses into a better unit with more playing time and practice. Right now they look pretty much like they did at the end of last season. Effect pass blockers but awful run blockers.

DL- The only guys I am going to give props to are McCullers and Tuitt. At this point they should start just because of their effort and motors. Heyward looked very lethargic so I hope he was just not giving 100% because it was preseason. McLendon still doesn't look like he can fill Big Macs shoes, those are big shoes to fill. I think they brought Keisel back because they had high hopes for some of these young guys to step up but were disappointed and at least know Keisel will show up to play.

ILB- probably one of the better position as of right now. Timmons and Shazier should bring some speed and create turnovers. Spence looks like he is a very solid backup at the very least and Williams might be a thumper but he does play the run well.

OLB- Puke. Watching other teams around the league what I am noticing is our OLB's do not use their hands well. The funny part is that is what JJ did well in college is use his hands to shed blocks and watching the Browns last night I saw time and time again guys shed blocks just with their hands and at least put pressure on the QB. Michael Sam for gods sake is almost a JJ clone and watching him he uses his hands to stop the OT from getting their mitts on him so he can at least get pressure on the QB. I don't think I see JJ get his hands on an OT until the OT has locked him up and he is effed at that point. Worilds just uses straight speed or brute strength and has some success but to be a complete pass rusher YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR HANDS!!! I would probably be scouting that waiver wire if I was the GM because Chris Carter and even Moats would not be safe. Hell, if I was the GM JJ, Worilds and Howard Jones would be the only OLB that would make the squad right now!

CB- Ike Taylor should be cut or made to wear boxing gloves. He is too old school grabbing, yanking, holding the WR to change their route or slow them up. In todays NFL you can't do that and he is too old to learn new tricks.

Cortez Allen will flash one play and suck the next. So much talent just hope he can put it together this season still.

William Gay at this point I might start over Taylor. At least he won't get us 10 penalties a game.

After that take your pick between Blake, McCain and Richardson. I think Richardson might be this years Terry Hawthorne and won't even make PS but it doesn't matter cause Blake and McCain aren't much better.

S- Troy might have lost a step but he still is a playmaker and understands football. He is just a great football player.

Mitchell I hope just needs time because a few big runs were 100% his fault.

Shamarko Thomas at this point would start over Mitchell. He at least plays the run and won't allow 50+ yard scampers.

Golden would make the final S spot if we only keep four. I think he has shown to be just as capable as Will Allen so far.

I just don't have a good feeling boys about this year. At least we have all our draft picks so next year if we fire Tomlin the new coaching staff can start fresh. It just seems we are being out coached from a player development standpoint to a preparation standpoint and from a game time adjustment standpoint. Just my opinion but I think I will need extra beer on Sundays to watch this circus on the field.

 

[ark steel]

Bell had almost 400 yards receiving last year and missed 3-4 games. You think that will be cut in half by having Blount/Archer on the team?

 

[steelhurt]

I am going to go over what I have seen from each position.

QB- Ben is a very much underrated QB. Tom Brady or Manning would not do anything better with this group of misfits we have on offense.

Bruce is a capable backup. I don't see him winning any games for us but I see him keep us in them just to have someone else lose them for us.

Landry Jones... god awful.

RB- Bell is a capable back but not an elite one. I feel his ceiling is a 1,200 yard rushing at 4.0 ypc with 200 yard receiving back. Nothing to shake your head at but not elite like Tomlin and company tried to make him out to be and acted as if we got a steal in the draft. We got a capable running back who is obviously a liability with his character with recent off the field issues.

Blount, again off the field issues and I did feel they were behind him. That he learned from past mistakes. But no and I think the team should have flat out cut him as an example and even suspend Bell to do the same.

Dri Archer is what I thought he was going to be a gadget player who will never give you 300 rushes and 50 catches but will do enough to make a few splash plays throughout the season.

WR- Antonio Brown keeps showing why we signed him longterm before Wallace.

Wheaton needs to figure out how to get more separation. He is quick but I don't know if he's not selling routes or what but it seems more times than not the CB is in his back pocket.

Moore hasn't shown me too much. I think he will be a nice slot chain mover but he hasn't wowed me or anything.

Justin Brown I heard so much great stuff about in camp but on game day he is just slow. I think he does have good hands and uses his body well but gets no separation. Blocks better than the guys mentioned above though.

DHB seemed to kick butt against lesser competition and can actually run block but again he's a vet usually going against scrubs.

Derek Moye seems to have just stayed still not progressing like I had hoped.

TE- Miller is so valuable because he can block and catch.

Spaeth still just a blocker.

Paulsen looks decent in pass catching but can't block. I had high hopes for Waters but...

OL- Starters look like they can pass block effectively but not great. No depth from what I can see at OT and Wallace seems to have regressed at interior. Hubbard looks like he could develop into something. I hope the the group progresses into a better unit with more playing time and practice. Right now they look pretty much like they did at the end of last season. Effect pass blockers but awful run blockers.

DL- The only guys I am going to give props to are McCullers and Tuitt. At this point they should start just because of their effort and motors. Heyward looked very lethargic so I hope he was just not giving 100% because it was preseason. McLendon still doesn't look like he can fill Big Macs shoes, those are big shoes to fill. I think they brought Keisel back because they had high hopes for some of these young guys to step up but were disappointed and at least know Keisel will show up to play.

ILB- probably one of the better position as of right now. Timmons and Shazier should bring some speed and create turnovers. Spence looks like he is a very solid backup at the very least and Williams might be a thumper but he does play the run well.

OLB- Puke. Watching other teams around the league what I am noticing is our OLB's do not use their hands well. The funny part is that is what JJ did well in college is use his hands to shed blocks and watching the Browns last night I saw time and time again guys shed blocks just with their hands and at least put pressure on the QB. Michael Sam for gods sake is almost a JJ clone and watching him he uses his hands to stop the OT from getting their mitts on him so he can at least get pressure on the QB. I don't think I see JJ get his hands on an OT until the OT has locked him up and he is effed at that point. Worilds just uses straight speed or brute strength and has some success but to be a complete pass rusher YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR HANDS!!! I would probably be scouting that waiver wire if I was the GM because Chris Carter and even Moats would not be safe. Hell, if I was the GM JJ, Worilds and Howard Jones would be the only OLB that would make the squad right now!

CB- Ike Taylor should be cut or made to wear boxing gloves. He is too old school grabbing, yanking, holding the WR to change their route or slow them up. In todays NFL you can't do that and he is too old to learn new tricks.

Cortez Allen will flash one play and suck the next. So much talent just hope he can put it together this season still.

William Gay at this point I might start over Taylor. At least he won't get us 10 penalties a game.

After that take your pick between Blake, McCain and Richardson. I think Richardson might be this years Terry Hawthorne and won't even make PS but it doesn't matter cause Blake and McCain aren't much better.

S- Troy might have lost a step but he still is a playmaker and understands football. He is just a great football player.

Mitchell I hope just needs time because a few big runs were 100% his fault.

Shamarko Thomas at this point would start over Mitchell. He at least plays the run and won't allow 50+ yard scampers.

Golden would make the final S spot if we only keep four. I think he has shown to be just as capable as Will Allen so far.

I just don't have a good feeling boys about this year. At least we have all our draft picks so next year if we fire Tomlin the new coaching staff can start fresh. It just seems we are being out coached from a player development standpoint to a preparation standpoint and from a game time adjustment standpoint. Just my opinion but I think I will need extra beer on Sundays to watch this circus on the field.

I like the post and agree with most of it. I cannot remember the last time I was so down about the start of a Steeler season. I just cannot see this current collection of players, even with the relatively easy schedule, winning more than 6 games. However, with the Steeler arrogance being what it is, they will I think keep Tomlin/Colbert another year and give them a chance to fix things. Unless they have one hell of a draft next year and bring in some quality players via F/A, I just don't see 2015 being much better. Then I think Art finally pulls the plug.

It just seemed that Cowher/Colbert worked the draft well and brought in key F/A's something Tomlin/Colbert just fail miserably at. Result, a few leftover relics from the Cowher/Colbert era and the rest all Tomlin. This is not and has never been a racial thing with me. If you can coach and evaluate talent, I personally don't care what your race or beliefs are. I'll back you 100%, but this guy is a joke.

 

[keslerclan]

Some nice observations so far. The bigger problem I see is there isn't a whole lot we can do to "upgrade" our lack of depth at this stage of the season.

I would however do the following (knowing I can't do worse) as opposed to standing pat with the potential liabilities we have as back-ups:

- sign Deebo, he would be our best run defender and is still better than our starters, I would even bring in Jackson Jeffcoat for a look as he best fits a 3-4 scheme, IMO

- sign another punter, Richie Leone or Colton Schmidt would be more consistent than what we have. It's difficult enough already to establish special teams play without having to adjust to inconsistent play from the Punter

- get some OL back-up help for Munch to work with. I would take Joe Long back now and add Lamar Mady (who is already a better suited LG in 'zone' than Foster) who will be cut from the Raiders soon

- I would kick the tires on a CB, McCain is not a decent back-up. See if Assante Samuel will 'play for pay' and look at Terrell Thomas (who was a good CB before ACL injuries) or even Antonio Dennard (any of them might be better than what we have been trying to work with) IMO

Not much to work with right now BUT there are players who will be cut who are already better than our back-ups at some positions,

 

[Vader]

Great post Ford. What I don't understand is why the Steelers are not running their "real" plays during the pre-season. Don't they understand that they need to practice the plays they are going to be running during the regular season. The idea of having super secret plays is just ignorant in today's NFL. Just like Tomlin not wanting to show his super secret 2-point conversion plays a few years ago. They are a young team.. run the stupid plays.

 

[FordFairLane]

Bell had almost 400 yards receiving last year and missed 3-4 games. You think that will be cut in half by having Blount/Archer on the team?

I think a large part of those targets were a lack of ability to open holes in the running game so we used a short passing game to partially replace the running game. So, less passes. Also, yes I feel Bell will split more carries and catches with Archer and Blount. I guess what I feel he will get this year is 300 carries lets hope for 4.0 ypc is 1,200 rushing yards. 20-25 receptions for 10 yards a catch for 200-250 yards receiving. Not bad numbers but Tomlin made him out to be the next Gale Sayers.

 

[Stryker]

Pennsylvania!! What do I win?

 

[black and gold apex]

Preseason or not the last two games leave a sour taste in Steeler fans. Does not seem to be any swagger in this years Steelers, where the leadership comes from is not very evident and there really is no star power. So as Cleveland comes to town where really are we in comparison tot he rest of division. As much as my heart says we will win the division my brain looks at the other teams and how they have played and really we don't look good at all. Going to be a ruff first week with Cleveland and Baltimore in less than a week and us not showing much on the field in last two games. BUT I will be in Pittsburgh Sunday and cheer the living crap out my team.