What is your state of the Steelers now!

[Ron Burgundy]

Pros: Pickett has a year of experience.
Cons: Flores gone, Canaduh still here, Shades still here.
8-8-1, never a losing season, greatest coach ever.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Nonsense, another 40 or so players, and a half a dozen in the coaching positions, and they're right there with them.

I think we need a total of ten each for offense and defense, ONLY requirement is they have to all be 1st round picks.

Bonus would be STs gets 10 but lower requirements of all 2nd round picks.



Salute the nation

 

[Confluence]

Free Agency:
- Sign Sutton: 4 years, 9M avg , 18M guaranteed
- Extend Highsmith 4 years, 12M avg, 25M guaranteed
- Go get a DL with value between 6-8M avg, Tomlinson, Rankins or Larry O again
- Thought on cutting Myles Jack and saving 8M but the free agency pool is horrible and sad beyond Tremaine Edmunds, so only if I had a contract in hand with him for about 10M avg I would cut Jack. Another option is to renegociate Jack's contract lowering 3M his cap hit.
- Cut WJ3, save 12M
- Cut Trubisky, save 8M
- Cut Witherspoon, save 4M
- Sign Terrel Edmunds, 6M avg
- Sign Damonta Kazee, 4M avg
- Sign Parris Campbell WR, 4M avg. Chain mover and can complement the current group, if healthy.
Total spent yearly avg 42M
Total saved 27 M
Differential 15M that can be spread in signing bonuses to make it a net zero of cap won and lost.

Then it's draft time.
- with only Sutton, Wallace and Pierre in the CB room plus kazee as a Nickel CB/S I'm looking for a starter in the 1st round. Here's hoping gonzalez or Cam Smith or witherspoon are available at 1.17. If not it probably means that a LT like Skoronski or Broderick Jones fell. If none of the 4 are available I'd really try to trade back a few spots.

- assuming I got my CB, at 1.32 I go for best OL available, Anton Harrison or Torrence. Else I might get DT Siaki Ika right here or one of the ILBs Simpson / Sanders if they fell. If I didn't get a CB in the 1st I'm going all in with Emmanuel Forbes. If none of these are available then it's a toss between Dawand Jones, John Michael Schmitz and Darnell Wright.

- 2.49 whatever I didn't previously draft either OL, ILB, DT. Adding to the list names like Mazi Smith DT, Henry Too Too ILB, Mauch OT/G, any of the fringe 1st round Edges that might have fell.

- rinse and repeat in the 3rd round adding ILBs Campbell, sewell and pappoe, DT, Edge players , TEs and WRs to the list.

And so on. Hopefully I got a starting CB, an OL that would push either Dotson or Moore and extra depth there, a plug and play NT, a LB to compete for a starting spot and a backup edge project.

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

Excellent.

Make it so!

 

[Ironcitysteelers]

you're a poo poo head

Damn. The bad language filter is really getting out of control. I’d rather see the *****

 

[ZonaBurgh]

I think we need a total of ten each for offense and defense, ONLY requirement is they have to all be 1st round picks.





Salute the nation

Cooch is the only one here that could pull that off, just ask him.

 

[Omar10213245]

the state of the Steelers? Let me answer that with one picture, and one song:

just play this on loop forever, or at least until we have a new cadre of coaches.

 

[keslerclan]

While I won't hold my breath, the organization needs to change philosophy on the merits of coaching players up...

You can either draft/trade/acquire/pay stud players who do not need to be coached up OR you can have a reasonable expectation that it is not realistic and find coaches who are the best in their trades to get average players to play well. Some of it is done through scheme and some is done through knowing what the hell you are doing.

The question is, how much does it cost to TRY to do the former vs the latter? I'd say you can save a ton of money and time getting a coach or two rather than hoping your "trade-down pick" pans out at a superstar level where he is drafted.

Here is what I do:
1. I get a top shelf OL coach and make a run at either Munch or Jeff Stoutland (who I wanted when Klemm departed). These guys can make an offensive line shine regardless of top flight talent. Look at what they both have done with playing with garbage lines due to injury or ignorance over the years. Give them the big money you will save by not having to have superstar players along the OL.

2. Get a good quality passing coordinator like the kid in SFO (as someone else suggested) as his record working in a rookie 7th round pick totally wipes out the notion of continuity and simplicity sometimes whined about new quarterbacks/new systems. IF you have a good system, a quality QB can learn it and use it quickly. Route design and recognition is not that difficult to learn. IF not, just pay a guy to collect tape on what other successful teams with better OCs do and copy that ****! Look at the Ravens run plays to see how we could use more of baby Heyward in the same way they use Piccard from the "wingback"/fullback/TE hybrid or SFOs use of Kyle Juszczyk

3. I hire a REAL WR coach with moxie. Hines Ward would have been a perfect choice to coach up our prima-donnas. Teach them not to be divas, to block with tenacity and to get separation with movement. He might not have had a long coaching tenure but his play on the field with very limited physical traits is all he needs.

4. Stop treating special teams as a place to stash backups and develop a real unit. We have a horribly inconsistent punter and a few specialists who haven't been so special and the rest of our ST is leftovers. Its not supposed to be this way.

5. On defense, we have no game-plan, only schemes. We play many teams that can run the ball well and we cannot stop the run with only 2 big uglies on the DL. Our LBs need to be kept clean and our scheme doesn't do that anymore. We used to have our DL "occupy space" and now they are allowed to get upfield and get after the QB. How is that working out? We started using more down-linemen towards the end of the season after giving up record numbers against the run. It is embarrassing. We can't stop even the weakest of passers in our league UNLESS we have a pass-rush. We get the pass-rush and we get torn up on the ground. We need to control the LOS much better but our players are not "gap sound". Better players or better coaching...which one costs more Art? We also really need a slot CB like Mike Hilton who averaged 60 tackles/season w us. We just haven't found a replacement for that production, and we need to.

As far as players needed to complete the transition from perennial non-losers to winners?

1. We need a true DT who can eat up OL. Doesn't have to make tackles or rush the passer...just occupy OL.
2. We need a ILB/S prospect who is capable of coming in on 3rd down to cover TEs.
3. We need a dominant IOL who has some mean streak in him.
4. We need the aforementioned "slot" defender similar to Mike Hilton who can also boost the run support numbers.
5. We need a big ILB/OLB capable LB like a Drew Sanders who can play both positions in case we lose an OLB to injury again.
6. We could use another possession WR with a bigger body as I'm tired of using DJ as a possession guy when he really is just a "can get open" guy.

IF we address the coaches, even just a bit, we should be ok on the OL. Our OL coach is ok but any coach who takes half a season with the OL isn't worth a **** to me when other OL coaches are playing with half their starters (or more) from week to week and doing much better. Run blocking is the easiest thing to teach and the fastest to learn if you have been doing it your whole life. IMO Pass blocking requires a bit more from the player themselves in terms of attributes to start with.

 

[TDX27]

The bad thing so far is the Steelers (all the way up to Rooney) seem OK with just being OK. They had no real criticism or (and especially or) firing of Canaduh. They kept their terrible special teams coach. They lost Flores, as expected. And, they seem to have no inclination to bring in someone (say a Caldwell type who went to the Panthers) as an assistant who can especially work with Canaduh and the offense. This person would then be ready to take over after 4 to 6 games of suckage as we are all expecting from Canaduh. Maybe things will change. The team should improve, especially on offense just from KP and Pickens having a year under their belt. But, if they aren't putting up 23+ points from game 1, Canaduh's seat needs to be very hot but, unfortunately, we all know he and our special teams coach are now here until the end of this coming season and no help appears coming either because Tomlin doesn't want it or Rooney doesn't want to pay for it.

P.S. Whatever happened to the replay assistant they were supposed to have hired to be in the booth a few years back to help Tomlin with his throwing of the red flag? He is still the worst in the NFL at it.

 

[Drink IRON City]

While I won't hold my breath, the organization needs to change philosophy on the merits of coaching players up...

You can either draft/trade/acquire/pay stud players who do not need to be coached up OR you can have a reasonable expectation that it is not realistic and find coaches who are the best in their trades to get average players to play well. Some of it is done through scheme and some is done through knowing what the hell you are doing.

The question is, how much does it cost to TRY to do the former vs the latter? I'd say you can save a ton of money and time getting a coach or two rather than hoping your "trade-down pick" pans out at a superstar level where he is drafted.

Here is what I do:
1. I get a top shelf OL coach and make a run at either Munch or Jeff Stoutland (who I wanted when Klemm departed). These guys can make an offensive line shine regardless of top flight talent. Look at what they both have done with playing with garbage lines due to injury or ignorance over the years. Give them the big money you will save by not having to have superstar players along the OL.

2. Get a good quality passing coordinator like the kid in SFO (as someone else suggested) as his record working in a rookie 7th round pick totally wipes out the notion of continuity and simplicity sometimes whined about new quarterbacks/new systems. IF you have a good system, a quality QB can learn it and use it quickly. Route design and recognition is not that difficult to learn. IF not, just pay a guy to collect tape on what other successful teams with better OCs do and copy that ****! Look at the Ravens run plays to see how we could use more of baby Heyward in the same way they use Piccard from the "wingback"/fullback/TE hybrid or SFOs use of Kyle Juszczyk

3. I hire a REAL WR coach with moxie. Hines Ward would have been a perfect choice to coach up our prima-donnas. Teach them not to be divas, to block with tenacity and to get separation with movement. He might not have had a long coaching tenure but his play on the field with very limited physical traits is all he needs.

4. Stop treating special teams as a place to stash backups and develop a real unit. We have a horribly inconsistent punter and a few specialists who haven't been so special and the rest of our ST is leftovers. Its not supposed to be this way.

5. On defense, we have no game-plan, only schemes. We play many teams that can run the ball well and we cannot stop the run with only 2 big uglies on the DL. Our LBs need to be kept clean and our scheme doesn't do that anymore. We used to have our DL "occupy space" and now they are allowed to get upfield and get after the QB. How is that working out? We started using more down-linemen towards the end of the season after giving up record numbers against the run. It is embarrassing. We can't stop even the weakest of passers in our league UNLESS we have a pass-rush. We get the pass-rush and we get torn up on the ground. We need to control the LOS much better but our players are not "gap sound". Better players or better coaching...which one costs more Art? We also really need a slot CB like Mike Hilton who averaged 60 tackles/season w us. We just haven't found a replacement for that production, and we need to.

As far as players needed to complete the transition from perennial non-losers to winners?

1. We need a true DT who can eat up OL. Doesn't have to make tackles or rush the passer...just occupy OL.
2. We need a ILB/S prospect who is capable of coming in on 3rd down to cover TEs.
3. We need a dominant IOL who has some mean streak in him.
4. We need the aforementioned "slot" defender similar to Mike Hilton who can also boost the run support numbers.
5. We need a big ILB/OLB capable LB like a Drew Sanders who can play both positions in case we lose an OLB to injury again.
6. We could use another possession WR with a bigger body as I'm tired of using DJ as a possession guy when he really is just a "can get open" guy.

IF we address the coaches, even just a bit, we should be ok on the OL. Our OL coach is ok but any coach who takes half a season with the OL isn't worth a **** to me when other OL coaches are playing with half their starters (or more) from week to week and doing much better. Run blocking is the easiest thing to teach and the fastest to learn if you have been doing it your whole life. IMO Pass blocking requires a bit more from the player themselves in terms of attributes to start with.

EXCELLENT post keslerclan !!!!

All needed but less likely to happen. Until HC is replaced we will be mediocre non-losing season franchise.

O’h how we have fallen.



Salute the nation

 

[Steeltime]

P.S. Whatever happened to the replay assistant they were supposed to have hired to be in the booth a few years back to help Tomlin with his throwing of the red flag? He is still the worst in the NFL at it.

I believe he lost so many that his new approach is, "**** it, save the timeout."

 

[SteelerSask2]

Only thing I want to emphasize is that the term restructure is the same as re mortgage. And is the same as you talk about your neighbor who has bought a whole bunch of **** he cannot afford when your home is paid for.

 

[steel dino]

Its all about the young man filling the QB position.

Hope he has a great off-season program, especially around nutrition and strength programs...

He has the talent and mental capability to exile at the position, but he needs to develop/strengthen his body to stay on the field to be "the guy"...

No one ever won a champion spending time in the tent...

 

[Confluence]

My first read on Mitchell, Assistant Head Coach, retiring just after Flores leaves is that Tom/Khan really effed this up. If Mitchell's decision was known, did the Steelers not offer the Assistant HC spot to Flores?

If they didn't know that Mitchell was gonna retire, they do not know their most senior personnel; if they knew he was retiring and didn't offer to Flores, why not? And if they knew he was leaving and did offer to Flores, then Flores turned that down for the ViQueens.....not a ringing endorsement for the team that gifted him a job when he was on the outs.

Messy.

Or. maybe Bubbles is the new AHC!

 

[TDX27]

My first read on Mitchell, Assistant Head Coach, retiring just after Flores leaves is that Tom/Khan really effed this up. If Mitchell's decision was known, did the Steelers not offer the Assistant HC spot to Flores?

If they didn't know that Mitchell was gonna retire, they do not know their most senior personnel; if they knew he was retiring and didn't offer to Flores, why not? And if they knew he was leaving and did offer to Flores, then Flores turned that down for the ViQueens.....not a ringing endorsement for the team that gifted him a job when he was on the outs.

Messy.

Or. maybe Bubbles is the new AHC!

They also should have pursued Caldwell. Look at the coaching staff they assembled in Carolina. Very interesting with the young and the veterans.

 

[SteelerFan448]

My first read on Mitchell, Assistant Head Coach, retiring just after Flores leaves is that Tom/Khan really effed this up. If Mitchell's decision was known, did the Steelers not offer the Assistant HC spot to Flores?

If they didn't know that Mitchell was gonna retire, they do not know their most senior personnel; if they knew he was retiring and didn't offer to Flores, why not? And if they knew he was leaving and did offer to Flores, then Flores turned that down for the ViQueens.....not a ringing endorsement for the team that gifted him a job when he was on the outs.

Messy.

Or. maybe Bubbles is the new AHC!

The title of assistant head coach doesn't get Flores on the fast track back to being a head coach. Being a coordinator will...and probably with a better payday as DC as well over special assistant.

 

[Drink IRON City]

The title of assistant head coach doesn't get Flores on the fast track back to being a head coach. Being a coordinator will...and probably with a better payday as DC as well over special assistant.

I think the “PAY” of any coaching position is subjective. The STEELERS sure could have offered more money to keep him, but that would also put a coach on the team that would be an equal to Coach Tomlin. Someone who could out-shine MIKE And most know that Mike doesn’t like those kind of assistants.

Had we been able to retain Coach Flores another season, then he left we would be eligible for an additional draft pick.


Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

I think the “PAY” of any coaching position is subjective. The STEELERS sure could have offered more money to keep him, but that would also put a coach on the team that would be an equal to Coach Tomlin. Someone who could out-shine MIKE And most know that Mike doesn’t like those kind of assistants.

Had we been able to retain Coach Flores another season, then he left we would be eligible for an additional draft pick.


Salute the nation

I think a bit much is made about having coaches who won't outshine Tomlin on staff. He once had a staff with LeBeau, Munchak, and Haley. Arians was an OC and he just had Flores on his staff. All of those guys were very good at their jobs, though I hated Arians' philosophy. As pointed out earlier in the thread, this staff is simply too comfortable and satisfied with mediocrity.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

P.S. Whatever happened to the replay assistant they were supposed to have hired to be in the booth a few years back to help Tomlin with his throwing of the red flag? He is still the worst in the NFL at it.

I thought that was Austin’s old job but I don’t think they replaced him after he was promoted to DC.

 

[TDX27]

I thought that was Austin’s old job but I don’t think they replaced him after he was promoted to DC.

Whatever they've been doing, it has never worked under Tomlin. This past year he was either completely oblivious to throwing the flag on obvious or close to obvious calls and when he rarely did throw the flag, it was almost always slim to no chance of reversing the call. I have never seen another coach nearly as bad as Tomlin with replays.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Here is a great article, talks about someone protecting O'Canada..(tomlin).

It refers back to Noll in 88' and how he nearly got canned, except Joe Green garnered a truce between Noll and the Rooney. Ot was about coaching.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/did-the-steelers-mike-tomlin-make-a-critical-mistake-by-resisting-change-and-retaining-matt-canada-in-2023/ar-AA17zW6i?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=76c19b0433844309b5a692c298f4bf96

Salute the nation

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Here is a great article, talks about someone protecting O'Canada..(tomlin).

It refers back to Noll in 88' and how he nearly got canned, except Joe Green garnered a truce between Noll and the Rooney. Ot was about coaching.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/did-the-steelers-mike-tomlin-make-a-critical-mistake-by-resisting-change-and-retaining-matt-canada-in-2023/ar-AA17zW6i?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=76c19b0433844309b5a692c298f4bf96

Was posted on the SN FB page too. As I said there, there are two things that Tomlin never does: 1) Have a losing season and 2) Admit he made a mistake. Firing an assistant that he hired is tantamount to admitting a mistake. Second, Deuce doesn't pay people not to work. So between the two of them, that is why lousy assistant coaches stay here until their contracts run out no matter how bad they are at their job.

 

[SojournerSteel]

Whatever they've been doing, it has never worked under Tomlin. This past year he was either completely oblivious to throwing the flag on obvious or close to obvious calls and when he rarely did throw the flag, it was almost always slim to no chance of reversing the call. I have never seen another coach nearly as bad as Tomlin with replays.

Remember that one year when he said he did not challenge because he did not get a chance to watch the Jumbotron replay in the opponent's stadium?

 

[Hypocycloids]

Pennsylvania.
It always was, always will be the state of the Steelers. As long as the Rooneys are the owners there is no chance of this franchise ever relocating to another state.

People think Pro Football was born in Canton, Oh., It was not. Pro Football was born in Western Pa.
The NFL was born in Canton.

OOOPS! ^^
The state of the Steelers.

 

[Drink IRON City]

OOOPS!
The state of the Steelers.

****-ing hilarious, thanks Stewey !!!


Salute the nation

 

[steel dino]

The State of the Steelers....is currently stronger than the state of the Union..

And what makes this even more concerning...is that the Steelers are currently mediocre..to be optimistic..