OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: 5 and 2 Justin who? Hand the Fields to Wilson

[Buddy Bizarre]

Boy, Van Jefferson has really stepped up. We should really put more packages in for him

I was railing about Pickens being on the bench in place of these other WR clowns early in the season. Absolutely ridiculous that Pickens isn't on the field except to take a breather.

 

[Peat]

Have we reached the point where Pickens' fitness might matter as much as TJ's?

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Have we reached the point where Pickens' fitness might matter as much as TJ's?

What is your respective confidence level in Nate Herbig vs Van Jefferson?

 

[Peat]

What is your respective confidence level in Nate Herbig vs Van Jefferson?

Nick Herbig is a fair bit better at his job than Jefferson, yeah.

Watt is still Watt though.

edit: Some stats on how much Watt matters, since it came up

" The Steelers are 1-11 since 2017 when Watt does not play, including playoffs. They have allowed 26.2 points per game on defense in those games, about a touchdown more than otherwise. Their defense has averaged +0.08 EPA per play with him on the field and -0.02 without him, per TruMedia. That’s the difference between ranking No. 1 since 2017, as the Steelers do, and ranking 28th. "

First time they'd try replacing him with two good players iirc, but still a bit scary.

 

[WickedWrister]

Penix named starter in ATL

Well here's your next <30m shitty veteran redemption QB.. or free if they cut him

 

[Peat]

Just another case of a penix shafting cousins in Georgia, huh.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Cousins has to agree to the trade due to having a NTC. Which he probably won't accept because then it won't allow him to specifically decide where to go.

If he is on the roster March 17th, he gets a 10mil roster bonus for the 2026 season. So whoever trades for him is going to sign up for the 27.5mil for 2025 and 10mil for 2026. In QB world that is not alot of money for a starter.

They could also keep him on the roster for 2025 as a backup. But then they are on the hook for an additional 10mil due to the roster bonus for 2026. Then they could cut him and designate him as a post June 1st (Each team gets two of those a year) before 2026. That would leave them with a 17.5mil cap hit for 2026 and 17.5mil cap hit for 2027.

If they go the Russell Wilson route and cut him and designate him as a Post June 1st cut, he will cost 40mil for 2025 and 25mil for 2026.

The other issue in this is, who actually would want Cousins even at his 27,5mil caphit if they traded for him. Looking at the teams that could maybe be interested in him as a starter.....Jets, Browns, Titans, Raiders, Giants, Saints.......That's it.

If the Standings stay the same, the Raiders and Giants are going to draft a QB. And the Giants already have a huge cap charge with Jones. The Jets and Browns have cap hell with their two starters. That leaves the Titans, looks like they have benched Levis. And the Saints...who will have a cap hell with Carr and may just want to suck for 2025 to choose a new QB for 2026.

I think the Falcons cut him as a post June 1st designation because nobody wants to trade for him. He hasn't been good this season and is old. He will have to go the Russell Wilson route and I could see him signing in Cleveland or the Jets.

For a team like Titans, I can see them going with Darnold or maybe even Fields.

IMO, Cousins is going to have to decide whether he wants to play for a reduced rate, 10mil or under or just retire.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Nick Herbig is a fair bit better at his job than Jefferson, yeah.

Watt is still Watt though.

edit: Some stats on how much Watt matters, since it came up

" The Steelers are 1-11 since 2017 when Watt does not play, including playoffs. They have allowed 26.2 points per game on defense in those games, about a touchdown more than otherwise. Their defense has averaged +0.08 EPA per play with him on the field and -0.02 without him, per TruMedia. That’s the difference between ranking No. 1 since 2017, as the Steelers do, and ranking 28th. "

First time they'd try replacing him with two good players iirc, but still a bit scary.

Watt is one of the top 3-5 players in the league. Pickens (and I love the guy) isn't even one of the top 3-5 receivers in the league (not discounting the possibility he becoppmes that at some point).

So yeah I'm with you, I was just trying to think of other ways to consider your question.

 

[Peat]

Watt is one of the top 3-5 players in the league. Pickens (and I love the guy) isn't even one of the top 3-5 receivers in the league (not discounting the possibility he becoppmes that at some point).

So yeah I'm with you, I was just trying to think of other ways to consider your question.

Oh me quoting those stats doesn't make me think it's definitely Watt. After all, the Steelers offence is basically bottom 5 by most stats without Pickens so it feels even-ish.

I was more getting at the idea that the Steelers' offence is so weak that losing their best player seems about as scary as losing Watt, and that's wild.

 

[Andy99]

Yep, and this is why we never win playoff games…for as much as h Tomlin’s a player’s coach, he loses in the strategy game every time…the philosophy of “we do what we do and we lose if we don’t do it well” is not a good one for the postseason…have to go against tendencies and keep the other team guessing…

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[Buddy Bizarre]

Yep, and this is why we never win playoff games…for as much as h Tomlin’s a player’s coach, he loses in the strategy game every time…the philosophy of “we do what we do and we lose if we don’t do it well” is not a good one for the postseason…have to go against tendencies and keep the other team guessing…

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How many times have we seen this from opposing teams over the years?
This is definitely Tomlin's preferred approach to offensive football.

For those who are poor at math, we're coming up on 20 years since this teams last SB win.