Steelers losing out would be best case scenario

[bigben]

Team is beyond salvageable for this year. Tomlin lost the locker room, No QB, no chance in the playoffs even if they were to somehow get in.
Better Draft pick, Higher odds of Tomlin getting canned. I just don't see a downside?

Burn it down

 

[steelhurt]

They may just do that! Very tough road game at Indy who is fighting for a playoff spot. Cincy still fighting for a playoff spot looked pretty good with Jake Browning 33/37. Then at Seattle still fighting for a playoff spot and wrapping up at Baltimore.

 

[maowv]

Left the anger alone post-game last night. Started some unemotional analysis of what we are seeing. Thought I'd share some thoughts and solicit others.

COACHING
I have no access to any insider information so this is purely based on the product we see.
This team is not prepared to start games. That is a consistent theme throughout this season and more.
This team regualrly shows disconnect in formations, alignments, and receivers running different patterns than what the QB is throwing to.
This team is very undisciplined, in regards to penalties taken, on-field behavior, and apparently in their individual preparation to play the game.
Few, if any young players, show significant development from year 1 to year 2 or year 3. For every TJ Watt, we have a few Kenny Picketts and Najee Harris who never become what they were expected to become.
The playcalling on offense is, has been, and likely will continue to be beyond suspect. It couldn't be more disorganized if they were reaching into a hat to pull out the name of the next play.
It's hard to give this coaching staff a grade any higher than a D-. Were they always this bad and were able to get by based on roster talent before? Are they becomming worse, disinterested, over time? I don't know. I just know the results on the field suggest this coaching staff is not having a positive impact on these players.

QB PICKETT
I see a guy who is slow to process the field in front of him. He seems to struggle immediately post-snap at determining what coverage he is looking at. You see it in his feet, he gets nervous almost immediately, even before actual pressure develops. Looks like a QB who can't wait to get the ball out of his hands which I think is why he goes to the short route, or dump off, so quickly. Arm strength is no better than average for an NFL QB but it's enough to win with if everything else falls into place. That's where I grow concerned. He is not progressing from year 1. He's no better, and arguably worse, this year. Sure, he was saddled with a bad OC but even with that restraint, he didn't show much promise in most games this year.

QB TRUBISKY
That display we saw last night was largely consistent with what we have seen from Trubisky since his arrival in Pittsburgh. First and foremost, he is careless with the football. That is reason enough to not be the guy. Beyond that statement, I see a guy who is lost out there. Just no idea where to go or when to throw. He does move through his progressions faster than Pickett but then seems to regularly make the boneheaded decision to throw the ball into an area with little to no chance of completing the pass. That attempted screen pass should have been intercepted last night. The out-route he underthrew earlier should have been intercepted. Those are both throws an NFL QB cannot make. His footwork is what I focus on and it is terrible, just terrible. Trubisky rarely throws off a solid platform and rarely steps into his throws. It's often falling away, wrong-footed, a mess. Even the TD pass to Dionte Johnson was released as he was falling away back and fading to his left which caused the ball to sail more toward the sideline and not the post (Dionte made a nice adustment on his route to get to that ball). I've seen enough on mechanics alone to conclude that Pickett is better right now, and a better option going forward, than Trubisky. I just don't see what this organization sees in him that he is now signed beyond this year.

QB RUDOLPH
What is there to say? We know what Mason is from the 2019 season. Was he anything great? No. But I would give him a shot next week for one reason and one reason only - he wasn't careless with the football when he played. It's not like this offense needs a guy to throw for 400 yards to win a game. Mason will be his hesitant self and take more sacks but he likely doesn't throw as many interceptions, or deserved to be intercepted, as Trubisky.

CENTER
This position must be addressed this offseason. Mason Cole is not an NFL starting caliber center. This is 3 years in a row that the organization has failed to put a competent player in the middle of the O-Line. How is that possible? Did they learn nothing from starting an underpowered rookie at center for most of a season? It's an important part of any O-Line. The organization is negligent in its failure to address this position.

There are other positions that are underperforming or present a need. Inside Linebacker isn't really fair to be too critical of due to how this year played out. No team survives losing your top 3 at a position and replaces them by signing multiple guys off the street. Mychal Walker looks like Jon Bostic in coverage but he was unemployed a month ago.

Anyway, I should do some work this morning. Hope to hear some other thoughts.

 

[SteelerSask2]

To me the players are the players. They make decisions in the blink of an eye and have physical abilities and mental attributes. It's decisions that have time to be made correctly. You are getting killed over the middle but it takes you till half to address and then it goes away. Why? Because Tomlin believes we are what we are instead of we will stop what tgey do well and force them to do what they don't want which is how virtually any other defensive coach operates.

 

[Steeltime]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait ...

Are you suggesting that Mike Tomlin is not a great coach, one of the best ever, an amazing and inspiring leader who gets more out of his team than any other human being could possibly match?? BLASPHEMY!!

Did you know he has never had a losing record and won a SB during the Truman administration?!?

 

[Avoid_Lloyd]

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait ...

Are you suggesting that Mike Tomlin is not a great coach, one of the best ever, an amazing and inspiring leader who gets more out of his team than any other human being could possibly match?? BLASPHEMY!!

Did you know he has never had a losing record and won a SB during the Truman administration?!?

Yes and how dare you criticize Pickett and point out he’s shown no consistent signs of being a quality starting QB, that is also forbidden by the homer mob

 

[Hines field]

Very true, but being honest, how do you expect Pickett or any or our players to grow and improve with the lack of any sound coaching? We do the same crap over and over again and expect different results.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Yes and how dare you criticize Pickett and point out he’s shown no consistent signs of being a quality starting QB, that is also forbidden by the homer mob

Their problem is much bigger than just Pickett. I doubt CJ Stroud or Brock Purdy would do anything in the shitshow here. I suppose they could continue to draft QB's every year thinking that's the issue. Now if that makes me a homer, I accept that label without insult.

 

[mdk2]

Yes and how dare you criticize Pickett and point out he’s shown no consistent signs of being a quality starting QB, that is also forbidden by the homer mob

To be fair, think about how Ben could have had an even greater career if he had a competent HC for the majority of it. Ben was held back by Tomlin and still won in spite of him. Pickett can't do that, he needs help. Do I think Pickett is our guy going forward, probably not but Tomlin only makes it worse.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I don't think any team should intentionally tank, but the last 4 games look like L's on paper. Then again, AZ and NE looked like W's.

 

[Djfan]

Tomlin has never been a player development guy. He admits that he doesn't think that he should have to motivate men, but that they should do it themselves. That was cool when Cowher gave him that culture, but now that it is gone, we have none of it.

He's in over his head, for a long time now. We pissed away Ben's career, how about we don't do that to Watt, etc?

 

[Coryea]

Very true, but being honest, how do you expect Pickett or any or our players to grow and improve with the lack of any sound coaching? We do the same crap over and over again and expect different results.

He has to be the smartest guy in the room, he doesn't want a DC or OC that's going to challenge him, he just wants guys that will say yes sir to him. He thinks he shouldn't have to game plan towards a teams strength, he thinks what we do is good enough to win games and if it doesn't work, well it's because of lack of execution.
That's why when we got our *** handed to us by Cleveland in the playoffs, we continually trotted out our version of the Tampa 2 with only 2 DLinemen, 4 LB's and 5 DB's vs the best Oline and best running game in the NFL and we wonder why we couldn't stop them.

 

[mdk2]

I don't want Tomlin to win another game but I can't root for losses. It's win win either way I guess.

 

[Steelr4evr]

Very true, but being honest, how do you expect Pickett or any or our players to grow and improve with the lack of any sound coaching? We do the same crap over and over again and expect different results.

You can't. It's a horrible setup for growth,development and a true ramping platform to the highest level.

 

[Superman]

Tomlin has never been a player development guy. He admits that he doesn't think that he should have to motivate men, but that they should do it themselves. That was cool when Cowher gave him that culture, but now that it is gone, we have none of it.

He's in over his head, for a long time now. We pissed away Ben's career, how about we don't do that to Watt, etc?

Tomlin could very well be misinterpreting "motivate" with "develop". it's as if - no, it is - the only way someone on this team progresses is if they put the work in on their own. Like AB did. I seriously doubt Tomlin sat down with a 6th round rookie WR and coached him up.

 

[Badcat]

Nice analysis Maowv. A good chunk of the issues you identified could be fixed with an offensive line coach. The blocking schemes are horrendous, I mean protections always work from the A gap outwards, yet these bozos are letting the A and B gaps exposed trying to take the edge rushers leaving the RB to take the blitz. WHAT? In terms of technique, they are equally as bad. They often times step with the wrong foot and/or punch with the wrong lead hand. If you can get this group serviceable (The talent level is what it is) then the QB's can work through progressions and wouldn't have happy feet. It would also allow intermediary routes to open down field and allow double moves for chunk plays. It would open the playbook up as well because right now, how many plays can they run when the QB's only have 2.5 seconds to make their reads.

This offense needs to be a 60-40 run to pass ratio offense and 90 percent of the plays should be under center with play action. This allows the QB to get into a rhythm and flow and gives the offense timing. I would have Naj and Warren on the field together for most of the packages so defenses would have to account for this two headed monster.

 

[suncitysteel]

I suppose they could continue to draft QB's every year thinking that's the issue. Now if that makes me a homer, I accept that label without insult.

Good lord, we're becoming the Browns.

 

[Steelr4evr]

He has to be the smartest guy in the room, he doesn't want a DC or OC that's going to challenge him, he just wants guys that will say yes sir to him. He thinks he shouldn't have to game plan towards a teams strength, he thinks what we do is good enough to win games and if it doesn't work, well it's because of lack of execution.
That's why when we got our *** handed to us by Cleveland in the playoffs, we continually trotted out our version of the Tampa 2 with only 2 DLinemen, 4 LB's and 5 DB's vs the best Oline and best running game in the NFL and we wonder why we couldn't stop them.

He has to be the smartest guy in the room, he doesn't want a DC or OC that's going to challenge him, he just wants guys that will say yes sir to him. He thinks he shouldn't have to game plan towards a teams strength, he thinks what we do is good enough to win games and if it doesn't work, well it's because of lack of execution.
That's why when we got our *** handed to us by Cleveland in the playoffs, we continually trotted out our version of the Tampa 2 with only 2 DLinemen, 4 LB's and 5 DB's vs the best Oline and best running game in the NFL and we wonder why we couldn't stop them.

If that is really the case ,then he should have been fired long ago.

Which from the looks of it and from comments by past coaches, I'd say it's fairly accurate.

 

[mdk2]

Tomlin could very well be misinterpreting "motivate" with "develop". it's as if - no, it is - the only way someone on this team progresses is if they put the work in on their own. Like AB did. I seriously doubt Tomlin sat down with a 6th round rookie WR and coached him up.

He was suppose to be a good DB coach, yet how many DBs did we draft that actually turned out good. How many DBs did we over draft that turned out to suck and never developed at all. Tomlin is and always has been such a fraud.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Yes and how dare you criticize Pickett and point out he’s shown no consistent signs of being a quality starting QB, that is also forbidden by the homer mob

Pickett gets no pass once he is working with what I deem to be an NFL offensive coordinator. Mitch Trubisky looked no better he was top 5? How would Bryce Young look in this. They paid up to get him. So you can throw a middle of the first round pick at that next year and see how that goes for you. I'd rather get a new coach and if they sink to bottom at least you get pick of the litter.

 

[ZonaBurgh]

Nice analysis Maowv. A good chunk of the issues you identified could be fixed with an offensive line coach. The blocking schemes are horrendous, I mean protections always work from the A gap outwards, yet these bozos are letting the A and B gaps exposed trying to take the edge rushers leaving the RB to take the blitz. WHAT? In terms of technique, they are equally as bad. They often times step with the wrong foot and/or punch with the wrong lead hand. If you can get this group serviceable (The talent level is what it is) then the QB's can work through progressions and wouldn't have happy feet. It would also allow intermediary routes to open down field and allow double moves for chunk plays. It would open the playbook up as well because right now, how many plays can they run when the QB's only have 2.5 seconds to make their reads.

This offense needs to be a 60-40 run to pass ratio offense and 90 percent of the plays should be under center with play action. This allows the QB to get into a rhythm and flow and gives the offense timing. I would have Naj and Warren on the field together for most of the packages so defenses would have to account for this two headed monster.

What little that I did watch last night was that Zappe had time on multiple plays to go through all of his progressions, and thought when was the last time the Steelers o-line provided that type of protection?

 

[mdk2]

He has to be the smartest guy in the room, he doesn't want a DC or OC that's going to challenge him, he just wants guys that will say yes sir to him. He thinks he shouldn't have to game plan towards a teams strength, he thinks what we do is good enough to win games and if it doesn't work, well it's because of lack of execution.
That's why when we got our *** handed to us by Cleveland in the playoffs, we continually trotted out our version of the Tampa 2 with only 2 DLinemen, 4 LB's and 5 DB's vs the best Oline and best running game in the NFL and we wonder why we couldn't stop them.

100 percent. Why else would he hire Teryl Austin as DC, that seriously makes no sense. Why else would he hire Canada at OC? These guys are proven failures. Even Pat Meyers is terrible. Eddie Faulkner as no clue what he's doing as an OC. On the sideline last night, it was like he was just pretending to do stuff, all while having his cross necklace out of his shirt just like his idol Tomlin. As soon as the defense or offense looks bad, Tomlin can easily just point his finger to the DC and OC, all while actually being the one in control. Easy scape goats that won't say a word.

 

[SteelerSask2]

What little that I did watch last night was that Zappe had time on multiple plays to go through all of his progressions, and thought when was the last time the Steelers o-line provided that type of protection?

I would say many times last night in fact I must have said throw it after 4 seconds at leat 8-10 times. The difference was that the seven in coverage blanket the ****** rote concepts and no one is wide open.

 

[Steelr4evr]

I don't think any team should intentionally tank, but the last 4 games look like L's on paper. Then again, AZ and NE looked like W's.

You know years back if you would have told me we would lose back to back game at home to 2-10 teams, and not just lose them, but get handled by them. I'd say no way in the hell.


This thing is done.

 

[Coryea]

100 percent. Why else would he hire Teryl Austin as DC, that seriously makes no sense. Why else would he hire Canada at OC? These guys are proven failures. Even Pat Meyers is terrible. Eddie Faulkner as no clue what he's doing as an OC. On the sideline last night, it was like he was just pretending to do stuff, all while having his cross necklace out of his shirt just like his idol Tomlin. As soon as the defense or offense looks bad, Tomlin can easily just point his finger to the DC and OC, all while actually being the one in control. Easy scape goats that won't say a word.

Randy Fichtner and Tomlin were coaching buddies at whatever university they coached at, and Canada recruited Tomlin's son to Maryland.