Steelers release Mason Cole

[Litos]

Together Watt and Fitzpatrick are a Franchise QB price. Where is the rest going?

Cam Heyward/Highsmith/Peterson/Larry O basically

 

[MT~Forged]

For the right price I might consider Pat Pete for a b/u S position. Give him a camp to settle in. First thing is negotiating a friendly deal, while letting him know he IS GOING TO BE CUT. If he is willing, then re-sign him afterwards.

 

[slashsteel]

Why peterson? He can't play outside due to speed, he can't play Nickel due to lack of tackling, he is only a glorified back-up FS/CB at this point of his career.

Exactly they can't fall in love with a player they have to keep it to the love of their play or the disappointment of it and move on. If he is your buddy invite him over for tea and crumpets after you give him his walking papers.

 

[SteelerSask2]

Cam Heyward/Highsmith/Peterson/Larry O basically

And that is what one interception and 8-10 sacks between them last year.

 

[stillwright]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you on Minkah. Returning Minka to his FS role and allowing him to create havoc on D, makes his contract on point. Relegating him to a LB support roll does not get you your money’s worth.

At this point the word "havoc" and Minka should never be put in the same sentence together. Sorry.

 

[Confluence]

Where do you play said “Stud NT” in the Mike Tomlin 2 DL Defense?

This is where we can see ninja Tomlin, playing 4D chess: they will draft a huge NT in the 5th and convert him to starting C for the next 3 seasons.

 

[MT~Forged]

At this point the word "havoc" and Minka should never be put in the same sentence together. Sorry.

Minka is so much better when he is allowed to play his position, instead of being forced to cover for someone who can’t do theirs.

 

[bermudasteel]

No it was a statement by me and Tomlin is stupid for running it. He should honestly stay out of defense and they should get a top notch DC.

But with that not going to be the case, then we will get a bunch more of the same.

So, what defensive scheme do you suggest we run when 99% of teams run a 3 WR offensive set??? The 3-4 will get torched. Nickel 3-3-5??? We'll get gashed on inside running plays.

Don't forget that we lost BOTH starting ILBs early/midway thru the season. Minkah was also down for quite some time.

The FO and HC did a very good job at bringing in 'the right type of FAs' last offseason. I have faith they can do that again...

 

[stillwright]

Minka is so much better when he is allowed to play his position, instead of being forced to cover for someone who can’t do theirs.

That might be. You say the word havoc and I think of Troy. Minka is no where close to Troy's level of play. Just my take. For what we pay Minka I expect so much more from him.

 

[slashsteel]

So, what defensive scheme do you suggest we run when 99% of teams run a 3 WR offensive set??? The 3-4 will get torched. Nickel 3-3-5??? We'll get gashed on inside running plays.

Don't forget that we lost BOTH starting ILBs early/midway thru the season. Minkah was also down for quite some time.

The FO and HC did a very good job at bringing in 'the right type of FAs' last offseason. I have faith they can do that again...

I think you look at the top defensive units and see what they run and when.

Not fans job to know which scheme to change to, but it is the coaches jobs to fix what isn't working. The last 5 playoffs show the scheme isn't working.

When something isn't working you just don't continue doing the same thing over and over and over again expecting different results.

 

[MT~Forged]

That might be. You say the word havoc and I think of Troy. Minka is no where close to Troy's level of play. Just my take. For what we pay Minka I expect so much more from him.

I am in no way claiming Minkah is at Troy’s level, but he is at a level below him that is better than almost all of the others. Troy was a historical player. Troy creating “havoc” is a gross understatement of a huge magnitude.

We would be getting so much more from him if he wasn’t being used to cover for the LB’s. Getting decent LB play in the middle allows Minkah to go back to the role the team needs.

 

[stillwright]

I am in no way claiming Minkah is at Troy’s level, but he is at a level below him that is better than almost all of the others. Troy was a historical player. Troy creating “havoc” is a gross understatement of a huge magnitude.

We would be getting so much more from him if he wasn’t being used to cover for the LB’s. Getting decent LB play in the middle allows Minkah to go back to the role the team needs.

How do you know what we would be getting out of him? You are speculating. The last couple of years he has been just another player ... yet his pay is top in the league. Don't the coaches know best where to play him and get the most from him and every other player? Or are you simply smarter than they are like most on this board think.

 

[Steelr4evr]

So, what defensive scheme do you suggest we run when 99% of teams run a 3 WR offensive set??? The 3-4 will get torched. Nickel 3-3-5??? We'll get gashed on inside running plays.

Don't forget that we lost BOTH starting ILBs early/midway thru the season. Minkah was also down for quite some time.

The FO and HC did a very good job at bringing in 'the right type of FAs' last offseason. I have faith they can do that again...

They will never beat the best teams running that trash. Ever. Every no name qb under the sun puts up career stats on it. They get run all over and any cut back runner makes them look silly. They get no push up the middle.

The 3-4 would do a lot better with a stud NT and a corner. I do agree on the ILB. We need a top blue chip who can cover a TE.

It's that or bite the bullet and go back to a 4-3. That will take years and a unloading of edge rushers. They have time. It's not like they've won anything in over a decade

What free agents did well? They brought in has beens. I'm sure most are genuine nice guys, but being nice won't win you anything and the Steelers are not a retirement home.

I don't have much faith in bringing in free agents. I do like what they did last year in the draft. They need to repeat that.

It's frustrating to watch year after year after year after year after year after year after year after year. The same ole ****.

The standards have really lowered on this team. It's been 15 years since they won a championship. And the last 10 have looked like hell. I have like 48 years of watching these guys. And I've never seen such a stagnant time of not getting better or worse. Well, unless it's the playoffs. That's been a **** show.

I'd even take a couple losing seasons in a row because it would force them to change. Staying exactly the same is just as bad losing to me.

It's all about the playoffs and winning championships. Just sticking on the colors won't make you a badass.

Ok, now I'm ranting...lol. I feel better. I can't do **** about any of it.

I've been pissed since the pats**** and jagoff losses. The cards didn't help at all either.

For as much money invested into that defense,it's mediocre at best.
Just no progress other than the running game. That's a major step.

Ok,Berm. I'm really done ranting.

 

[slashsteel]

How do you know what we would be getting out of him? You are speculating. The last couple of years he has been just another player ... yet his pay is top in the league. Don't the coaches know best where to play him and get the most from him and every other player? Or are you simply smarter than they are like most on this board think.

I think the coaches have shown they are getting things wrong. Dotson was played wrong, a few corners are playing well elsewhere. TJ was played wrong. For me it seems they aren't evaluating, putting these players in the best position to succeed. They know Minkah is multi position capable and I think they like using him to cover deficiencies. Just not convinced that is the best way to use him.

I will say as I said elsewhere their defensive results within the last 5 playoff games are showing a trend for bad decision making and or bad schematics.

Something is rotten in Denmark, I think that is a fair assessment.

 

[stillwright]

I think the coaches have shown they are getting things wrong. Dotson was played wrong, a few corners are playing well elsewhere. TJ was played wrong. For me it seems they aren't evaluating, putting these players in the best position to succeed. They know Minkah is multi position capable and I think they like using him to cover deficiencies. Just not convinced that is the best way to use him.

I will say as I said elsewhere their defensive results within the last 5 playoff games are showing a trend for bad decision making and or bad schematics.

Something is rotten in Denmark, I think that is a fair assessment.

Watt still gets his stats. The great ones always do. Minkah has simply been an average player getting paid as the best.

 

[slashsteel]

Watt still gets his stats. The great ones always do. Minkah has simply been an average player getting paid as the best.

For me I would like him to stay deep FS and see how his game is. I get you want more takeaways. I get you want salary to match that. Just think how they are playing him is altering statistics.

Watt is used as he admitted to mostly as a pass rusher. He can focus in on that and produces. Minkah isn't focusing in on one position.

 

[SteelerFan448]

For me I would like him to stay deep FS and see how his game is. I get you want more takeaways. I get you want salary to match that. Just think how they are playing him is altering statistics.

Watt is used as he admitted to mostly as a pass rusher. He can focus in on that and produces. Minkah isn't focusing in on one position.

Playing Minkah in the box eliminates the best part of his game. It'd be like reducing Watt's pass rush attempts so he can drop into coverage more often.

 

[slashsteel]

Playing Minkah in the box eliminates the best part of his game. It'd be like reducing Watt's pass rush attempts so he can drop into coverage more often.

Yep it confuses offenses if the pass rushers are less predictable. Worked well the last time the Steelers won a SB. Even then I think he went off instinct if I remember reading correctly.

 

[stillwright]

For me I would like him to stay deep FS and see how his game is. I get you want more takeaways. I get you want salary to match that. Just think how they are playing him is altering statistics.

Watt is used as he admitted to mostly as a pass rusher. He can focus in on that and produces. Minkah isn't focusing in on one position.

Playmakers make plays.

 

[slashsteel]

Playmakers make plays.

Even out of position?

 

[MT~Forged]

How do you know what we would be getting out of him? You are speculating. The last couple of years he has been just another player ... yet his pay is top in the league. Don't the coaches know best where to play him and get the most from him and every other player? Or are you simply smarter than they are like most on this board think.

Do you actually WATCH the games?

 

[fedderone]

That might be. You say the word havoc and I think of Troy. Minka is no where close to Troy's level of play. Just my take. For what we pay Minka I expect so much more from him.

1) Minkah, as previously pointed out, isn't playing his "natural" free safety position because he needs to help every other deficient secondary position.
2) Where is his Chris Hope / Ryan Clark to help him?

We're wasting Minkah because we're asking him to be something he's never been, and because our HC and DC are retards that couldn't scheme a successful trip to the bathroom.
And please spare me "good players find a way and can learn new things, blah blah blah" nonsense.
How good would Troy have been playing Left Tackle?
How good would Ben have been playing Right Cornerback?
I mean, it's almost like taking your number 1 LT pick and putting him at RT for........................reasons.

 

[stillwright]

1) Minkah, as previously pointed out, isn't playing his "natural" free safety position because he needs to help every other deficient secondary position.
2) Where is his Chris Hope / Ryan Clark to help him?

We're wasting Minkah because we're asking him to be something he's never been, and because our HC and DC are retards that couldn't scheme a successful trip to the bathroom.
And please spare me "good players find a way and can learn new things, blah blah blah" nonsense.
How good would Troy have been playing Left Tackle?
How good would Ben have been playing Right Cornerback?
I mean, it's almost like taking your number 1 LT pick and putting him at RT for........................reasons.

Lol.....yep. Asking Minkah to play another safety spot is like asking Troy to play left tackle. Or Ben playing CB. You made me laugh. I appreciate it. I really do. I will give an example. Asking Lake to play CB. How did he make out at that? Your comparisons are more reasonable though. Thanks again for chuckle.

 

[fedderone]

Lol.....yep. Asking Minkah to play another safety spot is like asking Troy to play left tackle. Or Ben playing CB. You made me laugh. I appreciate it. I really do. I will give an example. Asking Lake to play CB. How did he make out at that? Your comparisons are more reasonable though. Thanks again for chuckle.

Or telling Rod we only see him as a CB, and that he couldn't possibly play S?

Your "for what we pay Minkah, I expect more" comment got my ridiculous analogies flowing.
If we didn't have ignorant retarded paperweights running our D ( looking at you, Tomlin and Austin ) this wouldn't be an issue.
And/or if we had the appropriate personnel.
I agree with you we're currently wasting Minkah, and TJ, and Cam, and Pickens, and all the other capable players on our team.
Compare Minkah's first year here when they told him, "Just go play, be you, and we'll instill scheme later" vs the now here's our scheme, and because we don't have any real support in the secondary for you to count on, you'll need to cover EVERYTHING and be EVERYWHERE.

Since Minkah's career isn't over, it's not fair to compare.
But Troy is obviously a Hall of Famer, and a generational talent.
But ask yourself, would he still be if he was dropped into this current defense?
Maybe. And there's no real way of knowing.
But I suspect he wouldn't look as special if he had this coaching staff and supporting cast.

 

[stillwright]

Or telling Rod we only see him as a CB, and that he couldn't possibly play S?

Your "for what we pay Minkah, I expect more" comment got my ridiculous analogies flowing.
If we didn't have ignorant retarded paperweights running our D ( looking at you, Tomlin and Austin ) this wouldn't be an issue.
And/or if we had the appropriate personnel.
I agree with you we're currently wasting Minkah, and TJ, and Cam, and Pickens, and all the other capable players on our team.
Compare Minkah's first year here when they told him, "Just go play, be you, and we'll instill scheme later" vs the now here's our scheme, and because we don't have any real support in the secondary for you to count on, you'll need to cover EVERYTHING and be EVERYWHERE.

Since Minkah's career isn't over, it's not fair to compare.
But Troy is obviously a Hall of Famer, and a generational talent.
But ask yourself, would he still be if he was dropped into this current defense?
Maybe. And there's no real way of knowing.
But I suspect he wouldn't look as special if he had this coaching staff and supporting cast.

Ben playing CB. Troy...LT. LOL. You crack me up. Again....thank you for the good laugh.