THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED

[Slaine]

• Stubborn loyalty to underperforming coordinators (e.g., Matt Canada)

A lot of chatter that they wouldn't move on from co-ordinators because their contracts are guaranteed and the front office (Rooney?) didn't want to pay them to not work there. Bearing in mind how much the players are costing that's really going cheap when you have a guy in over his head (or hamstrung by Tomlin, who knows) like Canada was.

 

[Diamond Dave]

Yeah we know the system is broken. Been saying it for years.

Sorry. Should have consulted your first.

 

[DBS1970]

Sorry. Should have consulted your first.

Lolz.

I'm just agreeing with you.

 

[steelcan58]

Surprised nothing mentioned about our underachieving defense. I think that was the most disappointing part of the team at the end of last season. For all the money we consistently sink into them they should be lockdown year in year out. They haven't even been close.

 

[BLITZ]

Surprised nothing mentioned about our underachieving defense. I think that was the most disappointing part of the team at the end of last season. For all the money we consistently sink into them they should be lockdown year in year out. They haven't even been close.

Man you can say that again.

 

[stillwright]

Surprised nothing mentioned about our underachieving defense. I think that was the most disappointing part of the team at the end of last season. For all the money we consistently sink into them they should be lockdown year in year out. They haven't even been close.

The last 4 or 5 seasons they have been disappointing. Maybe even longer.

 

[slashsteel]

Surprised nothing mentioned about our underachieving defense. I think that was the most disappointing part of the team at the end of last season. For all the money we consistently sink into them they should be lockdown year in year out. They haven't even been close.

Because that falls directly on Mike and his crappy scheme .…

 

[JMM]

A lot of chatter that they wouldn't move on from co-ordinators because their contracts are guaranteed and the front office (Rooney?) didn't want to pay them to not work there. Bearing in mind how much the players are costing that's really going cheap when you have a guy in over his head (or hamstrung by Tomlin, who knows) like Canada was.

Slaine! Good to see you. How's the family? Holy cow Slaine and Dave talking Steelers football in the same thread, first time since 2009.

Maybe the band will get back together...

 

[Ron Burgundy]

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ lack of recent success can be attributed to a disconnect between their ultimate goal of winning a Super Bowl and the system they have in place to achieve it. While they consistently aim for championships, their approach has not consistently supported that objective.

1. Sticking to an Outdated System

Mike Tomlin and the Steelers’ front office have relied on the philosophy of “never having a losing season,” but this isn’t the same as building a championship-caliber team. Their system values consistency over innovation, which leads to:

• Stubborn loyalty to underperforming coordinators (e.g., Matt Canada)

• Failure to adapt offensively in a modern, high-scoring NFL

• Reluctance to make bold moves in free agency or the draft (compared to aggressive teams like the Chiefs or 49ers)

2. Talent Development Issues

• The Steelers draft well on defense but struggle to develop offensive stars, especially at quarterback and offensive line.

• Other teams (e.g., Bengals, Eagles, Dolphins) have offensive systems that maximize young QB talent, while the Steelers’ system stifled Kenny Pickett’s growth.

3. Culture of “Just Enough”

• The Steelers’ goal is often framed as making the playoffs, not necessarily dominating the league.

• A system focused on not losing (rather than aggressive winning) leads to mediocre results in the postseason.

• Tomlin’s streak of never having a losing season is impressive, but it doesn’t translate to championships.

4. Stagnation in Coaching & Strategy

• The best teams in the league are constantly evolving. Andy Reid redesigned the Chiefs’ offense around Mahomes. The 49ers built a dominant run-and-play-action system under Shanahan.

• The Steelers, on the other hand, stick to familiar schemes and conservative play-calling.

Until the system is changed, nothing will change.

Agree 100%.
Especially in recent years, Shades does not play to win, he plays not to lose. There is a difference.
Conservative offense, good defense, don't turn the ball over, let the other team beat themselves. Thing is, that doesn't work in the playoffs when you run up against better teams who don't make mistakes.
Shades is greatly helped by having the Browns and Bengals in his division.
After Cowher's players (and staff) retired or moved on, we see that Shades is awful at developing players and staff. No coaching tree and his hires are all either yes-men or buddies who aren't smart enough about football to challenge him. We'll see how Smith does but so far his best coordinators were the ones he DIDN'T hire, Arians, LeBeau, and Haley.
Player-wise, his best players have been either can't-miss draft picks who were great college players or vets who came from other teams, especially at the DB position which is odd since Shades started out as a DB coach. He can't develop players, either on offense or defense, for ****.
His ego is big enough that he sees no reason to change anything. In his mind his draft picks are great, his game plans are great, his X's and O's are great, we just didn't execute well enough here and there. Like a guy who wears white shoes and leisure suites, he's convinced that someday his style of football will be back.

 

[JMM]

Agree 100%.
Especially in recent years, Shades does not play to win, he plays not to lose. There is a difference.
Conservative offense, good defense, don't turn the ball over, let the other team beat themselves. Thing is, that doesn't work in the playoffs when you run up against better teams who don't make mistakes.
Shades is greatly helped by having the Browns and Bengals in his division.
After Cowher's players (and staff) retired or moved on, we see that Shades is awful at developing players and staff. No coaching tree and his hires are all either yes-men or buddies who aren't smart enough about football to challenge him. We'll see how Smith does but so far his best coordinators were the ones he DIDN'T hire, Arians, LeBeau, and Haley.
Player-wise, his best players have been either can't-miss draft picks who were great college players or vets who came from other teams, especially at the DB position which is odd since Shades started out as a DB coach. He can't develop players, either on offense or defense, for ****.
His ego is big enough that he sees no reason to change anything. In his mind his draft picks are great, his game plans are great, his X's and O's are great, we just didn't execute well enough here and there. Like a guy who wears white shoes and leisure suites, he's convinced that someday his style of football will be back.

Right on, Ron...

 

[NorthernBlitz]

Agree 100%.
Especially in recent years, Shades does not play to win, he plays not to lose. There is a difference.
Conservative offense, good defense, don't turn the ball over, let the other team beat themselves. Thing is, that doesn't work in the playoffs when you run up against better teams who don't make mistakes.
Shades is greatly helped by having the Browns and Bengals in his division.
After Cowher's players (and staff) retired or moved on, we see that Shades is awful at developing players and staff. No coaching tree and his hires are all either yes-men or buddies who aren't smart enough about football to challenge him. We'll see how Smith does but so far his best coordinators were the ones he DIDN'T hire, Arians, LeBeau, and Haley.
Player-wise, his best players have been either can't-miss draft picks who were great college players or vets who came from other teams, especially at the DB position which is odd since Shades started out as a DB coach. He can't develop players, either on offense or defense, for ****.
His ego is big enough that he sees no reason to change anything. In his mind his draft picks are great, his game plans are great, his X's and O's are great, we just didn't execute well enough here and there. Like a guy who wears white shoes and leisure suites, he's convinced that someday his style of football will be back.

I'm not sure how you play to win the the QBs we've had since Ben got hurt (including post-injury Ben).

 

[NorthernBlitz]

A lot of chatter that they wouldn't move on from co-ordinators because their contracts are guaranteed and the front office (Rooney?) didn't want to pay them to not work there. Bearing in mind how much the players are costing that's really going cheap when you have a guy in over his head (or hamstrung by Tomlin, who knows) like Canada was.

Since Canada was the first coordinator we've fired in-season since like the Nixon administration (probably longer), it seems like this a long standing team policy.

I think it's fair to blame the Canada hiring on Tomlin. But waiting so long to fire him seems to be on Rooney. That he got fired at all is probably at least partly Tomlin.

 

[stillwright]

I'm not sure how you play to win the the QBs we've had since Ben got hurt (including post-injury Ben).

For starters. You can't be afraid to use the middle of the field. Living in your fears I once heard is bad.

 

[NorthernBlitz]

For starters. You can't be afraid to use the middle of the field. Living in your fears I once heard is bad.

Remember when Mitch was throwing to the middle of the field? Would you argue that was good for the team? Or bad?

Mason threw to the middle of the field in the few games he started too.

And does anyone actually think that Ben was making decisions on the field based on what the OC / HC was telling him? If they do, I'd refer them to the rest of Ben's career. Ben would be the first to tell you that 80% of the good pays in his career was just him drawing something in the dirt during the huddle.

 

[stillwright]

Remember when Mitch was throwing to the middle of the field? Would you argue that was good for the team? Or bad?

Mason threw to the middle of the field in the few games he started too.

And does anyone actually think that Ben was making decisions on the field based on what the OC / HC was telling him? If they do, I'd refer them to the rest of Ben's career. Ben would be the first to tell you that 80% of the good pays in his career was just him drawing something in the dirt during the huddle.

You can't not throw to the middle of the field consistently. Team will start cheating on your tendencies. Like us running on 99% of the time on first downs. Something like 85% on 2nd downs. Team will game plan defensively around that. Making what we do that mycg harder.

No. We haven't thrown consistently as a part of our game plan to the middle of the field. And it has hurt our offense.

 

[NorthernBlitz]

You can't not throw to the middle of the field consistently. Team will start cheating on your tendencies. Like us running on 99% of the time on first downs. Something like 85% on 2nd downs. Team will game plan defensively around that. Making what we do that mycg harder.

No. We haven't thrown consistently as a part of our game plan to the middle of the field. And it has hurt our offense.

You also can't win with **** QBs.

We have a scheme that gets us more wins than our talent dictates.

But you can't win this way against good teams with elite QBs.

And since there are so many very high end QBs in the AFC, we're screwed in the playoffs.

That won't change until we have a QB that's above average. Likely well above average.

I'm still hoping that we roll with Mason this year instead of overpaying for Rodgers. I'll be interested to see if Mason continues to throw over the middle like he did in the few games he played replacing Kenny.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm not sure how you play to win the the QBs we've had since Ben got hurt (including post-injury Ben).

They’re not playing to win.
They’re playing to get to 9 wins.
There is a difference.

 

[insaniti]

You also can't win with **** QBs.

We have a scheme that gets us more wins than our talent dictates.

But you can't win this way against good teams with elite QBs.

And since there are so many very high end QBs in the AFC, we're screwed in the playoffs.

That won't change until we have a QB that's above average. Likely well above average.

I'm still hoping that we roll with Mason this year instead of overpaying for Rodgers. I'll be interested to see if Mason continues to throw over the middle like he did in the few games he played replacing Kenny.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

More wins than our talent dictates, that's hilarious. Our D has been LOADED with talent, and his scheme has actually COST us more wins than the talent dictates. Only Tomlin could take a generational pass rusher like Watt, and make him completely obsolete based on simple chips and doubles. Only Tomlin could take an all pro safety with instincts near Troy/Ed (near, not equal to), and turn him into a center fielder.

And don't get me started on the Killer B's era. Andy Reid could have got at least ONE SB with that offense. In fact, I'd argue that Reid has won more with LESS talent than we had on those teams. They've never had the trifecta of stars, they've had two of the three main positions, we had a HOF QB, the best WR in the business, one of the most insane vertical threats, one of, if not THE best RB in the league, and a top 10 TE and nothing to show for it.

 

[Badcat]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

More wins than our talent dictates, that's hilarious. Our D has been LOADED with talent, and his scheme has actually COST us more wins than the talent dictates. Only Tomlin could take a generational pass rusher like Watt, and make him completely obsolete based on simple chips and doubles. Only Tomlin could take an all pro safety with instincts near Troy/Ed (near, not equal to), and turn him into a center fielder.

And don't get me started on the Killer B's era. Andy Reid could have got at least ONE SB with that offense. In fact, I'd argue that Reid has won more with LESS talent than we had on those teams. They've never had the trifecta of stars, they've had two of the three main positions, we had a HOF QB, the best WR in the business, one of the most insane vertical threats, one of, if not THE best RB in the league, and a top 10 TE and nothing to show for it.

Mods, can we pin this post to the top of every page for required reading?

 

[NorthernBlitz]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

More wins than our talent dictates, that's hilarious. Our D has been LOADED with talent, and his scheme has actually COST us more wins than the talent dictates. Only Tomlin could take a generational pass rusher like Watt, and make him completely obsolete based on simple chips and doubles. Only Tomlin could take an all pro safety with instincts near Troy/Ed (near, not equal to), and turn him into a center fielder.

And don't get me started on the Killer B's era. Andy Reid could have got at least ONE SB with that offense. In fact, I'd argue that Reid has won more with LESS talent than we had on those teams. They've never had the trifecta of stars, they've had two of the three main positions, we had a HOF QB, the best WR in the business, one of the most insane vertical threats, one of, if not THE best RB in the league, and a top 10 TE and nothing to show for it.

I know that our D is on the field a lot.

But on a good football team, the offense is supposed to play too.


Aside: I was talking about post-Ben injury, not BBB era. But I do think it's worth remembering the guys who was actually suiting up for those playoff games. How many times were the killer Bs on the field together in the playoffs? How did we do in those games? If Reid could have turned injuries off, I think he probably could have gotten us to a SB. Bell was a ******* beast when he was healthy in the playoffs. Sadly, that was very rare.

I've said this multiple times on the site I came from, but I think Tomlin's biggest failure as a coach was totally mishandling the relationship with Blount. Player relationships are supposed to be his super-power. But we rode Bell too hard (as was always the case). And then had no answer when Bell got hurt in the playoffs (against the team Blount went back to).

I'd also like to know how many times Reid's won a playoff game when his offense scores for the other team. I don't think I'll see a better QB in a Steelers uniform than Ben. But he was a very high variance player. He's the reason we won SBs (who else dares to throw that perfect ball to Holmes on 2nd down?). He's also the reason we lost playoff games (DTD in the GB SB...that few remember because we all hate Mendenhall for the fumble, the fumble for DTD in the Jax game, the CLE one wasn't on him...but it was the worst game of his career IMO). QB >>> HC. In the wins. And in the losses.

 

[NorthernBlitz]

They’re not playing to win.
They’re playing to get to 9 wins.
There is a difference.

I get that this sounds nice to say, but what do you mean?

They're playing to win, but only to win 9 games?

How do we win 13 games with the combination of Kenny / Mitch / Mason? What's the game plan to win the SB with those QBs? WC game was Buffalo. Divisional game would have been Baltimore (because we were the 7th seed). Then we would have had KC (assuming KC beats Houston).

How do you get to the SB with Mason under center? Or do you go back to Kenny? Maybe Mitch?

The reason they aren't getting to and winning SBs isn't because Tomlin hates us. It's because we aren't anywhere close to good enough to competing for playoff success in this AFC. And that's not going to change without getting a very good QB. And that's not happening this season either.

 

[insaniti]

I know that our D is on the field a lot.

But on a good football team, the offense is supposed to play too.


Aside: I was talking about post-Ben injury, not BBB era. But I do think it's worth remembering the guys who was actually suiting up for those playoff games. How many times were the killer Bs on the field together in the playoffs? How did we do in those games? If Reid could have turned injuries off, I think he probably could have gotten us to a SB. Bell was a ******* beast when he was healthy in the playoffs. Sadly, that was very rare.

I've said this multiple times on the site I came from, but I think Tomlin's biggest failure as a coach was totally mishandling the relationship with Blount. Player relationships are supposed to be his super-power. But we rode Bell too hard (as was always the case). And then had no answer when Bell got hurt in the playoffs (against the team Blount went back to).

I'd also like to know how many times Reid's won a playoff game when his offense scores for the other team. I don't think I'll see a better QB in a Steelers uniform than Ben. But he was a very high variance player. He's the reason we won SBs (who else dares to throw that perfect ball to Holmes on 2nd down?). He's also the reason we lost playoff games (DTD in the GB SB...that few remember because we all hate Mendenhall for the fumble, the fumble for DTD in the Jax game, the CLE one wasn't on him...but it was the worst game of his career IMO). QB >>> HC. In the wins. And in the losses.

You might have been talking post Ben, but his record WITH Ben is just further proof if him winning LESS with MORE talent.

 

[SteelerInLebanon]

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

More wins than our talent dictates, that's hilarious. Our D has been LOADED with talent, and his scheme has actually COST us more wins than the talent dictates. Only Tomlin could take a generational pass rusher like Watt, and make him completely obsolete based on simple chips and doubles. Only Tomlin could take an all pro safety with instincts near Troy/Ed (near, not equal to), and turn him into a center fielder.

And don't get me started on the Killer B's era. Andy Reid could have got at least ONE SB with that offense. In fact, I'd argue that Reid has won more with LESS talent than we had on those teams. They've never had the trifecta of stars, they've had two of the three main positions, we had a HOF QB, the best WR in the business, one of the most insane vertical threats, one of, if not THE best RB in the league, and a top 10 TE and nothing to show for it.

Respectfully I disagree and think we have been wining more than our talent dictates. I think we often vastly overrate the talent we have. Particularly the depth pieces. The killer B’s were rarely ever healthy together for the playoffs. When they were we did win some games but they were MIA when we needed them most. Winning more than our talent dictates has been the thing holding us back from having the depth we need. That and now we are missing the most important piece at QB. Almost no one wins without a top QB.

 

[NorthernBlitz]

You might have been talking post Ben, but his record WITH Ben is just further proof if him winning LESS with MORE talent.

Can you pick a QB who you think is about as good as Ben for me?

Not someone who's obviously better (I'd argue not Brady or Mahomes). Someone comparable.

 

[Coryea]

I get that this sounds nice to say, but what do you mean?

They're playing to win, but only to win 9 games?

How do we win 13 games with the combination of Kenny / Mitch / Mason? What's the game plan to win the SB with those QBs? WC game was Buffalo. Divisional game would have been Baltimore (because we were the 7th seed). Then we would have had KC (assuming KC beats Houston).

How do you get to the SB with Mason under center? Or do you go back to Kenny? Maybe Mitch?

The reason they aren't getting to and winning SBs isn't because Tomlin hates us. It's because we aren't anywhere close to good enough to competing for playoff success in this AFC. And that's not going to change without getting a very good QB. And that's not happening this season either.

I don't think anyone is necessarily complaining we haven't won a Super Bowl recently, how about just be competitive in a playoff game? There are tons of examples of the team with the better QB losing in the playoffs. Yet when it comes to Tomlin that's the new national narrative, well look at who his QB's have been, that's not an excuse to not have won a playoff game in almost 10 seasons.