OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Pathetic Steelers

[Ogrezilla]

Yes, but as a professional athlete he shouldn't show up to OTAs as heavy as he did. Players might not be in "playing shape" during OTAs, but they certainly shouldn't be as heavy as Dwyer was. It's concerning that it seemingly took the threat of Le'Veon Bell to motivate him.

This is true, but if it motivated him enough to be where he needs to be, who really cares how he got there.

ps: I have no idea if he's where he needs to be

 

[lastcupever75]

there are quite a few in camp that have lost weight. foster, redman, heyward. the team as a whole is in better shape.

but during OTAs i didnt hear that was the case. so im going with they were told to drop some LBs then

 

[Jaded-Fan]

I honestly am not all that excited about this upcoming football season. This Steeler team has an 8-8 feel to it, or more likely 7-9 or 6-10, but that range. Yeah, we have the most important element, a top QB, but far too many holes to take advantage of that advantage. Oh, I will go to the games, but I do not have much excitement about it.

 

[Iggy Smalls]

I would be surprised if the Steelers don't win at least ten games. I think this team is a lot better than people want to admit. We have a (potentially) much improved running game, an actual back-up QB and possible starter someday in the near future, and an at one point 1st overall prospect. I'm very excited.

Maybe watching the Cowboys try just puts me in a good mood.

 

[FlyerFire]

Maybe watching the Cowboys try just puts me in a good mood.

This only applies if we do well against the Giants unfortunately

 

[Bennett Brauer]

If the Steelers stay relatively healthy this season, I have no doubts that this team will make the playoffs. People are forgetting that last year looked like a good year...until Ben got hurt. A couple of mistakes costs us a couple of games, if those mistakes don't happen, the Steelers are potentially over .500.

We were 6-3 before Ben got hurt, we had the leagues #1 offense on 3rd down and statistically speaking, we had the league's best defense.

The team seems to be in shape and determined, they don't have the Mendenhall and Wallace distractions, Ben admitted to having problems with Haley's offense but is fine with it now. If our rookies can come in and make an impact, the Steelers will be fine.

 

[JTG]

there are quite a few in camp that have lost weight. foster, redman, heyward. the team as a whole is in better shape.

but during OTAs i didnt hear that was the case. so im going with they were told to drop some LBs then

It seems as though the team as a whole is looking to get faster...not sure if that is on the players or on the coaching staff. Seems as though the defense would like the linemen to penetrate more, and the line is definitely going to need to be faster being a zone blocking team this year.

Yes, but as a professional athlete he shouldn't show up to OTAs as heavy as he did. Players might not be in "playing shape" during OTAs, but they certainly shouldn't be as heavy as Dwyer was. It's concerning that it seemingly took the threat of Le'Veon Bell to motivate him.

If he doesn't show up to training camp a sloppy mess, I could care less how he looks during OTA's. No where at all was it reported that he showed up to camp out of shape, that I've seen.

Is it not in his best interest to show up out of shape to OTA's? Absolutely. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things? I don't think so, as long as his conditioning isn't a problem from when things start to matter one, especially if he has a big game or two in the beginning of the season.

If the Steelers stay relatively healthy this season, I have no doubts that this team will make the playoffs. People are forgetting that last year looked like a good year...until Ben got hurt. A couple of mistakes costs us a couple of games, if those mistakes don't happen, the Steelers are potentially over .500.

We were 6-3 before Ben got hurt, we had the leagues #1 offense on 3rd down and statistically speaking, we had the league's best defense.

The team seems to be in shape and determined, they don't have the Mendenhall and Wallace distractions, Ben admitted to having problems with Haley's offense but is fine with it now. If our rookies can come in and make an impact, the Steelers will be fine.

I was reading something...the team had 9 games where it was decided by 4 points or less...they went 4-5 in those games.

 

[lastcupever75]

If the Steelers stay relatively healthy this season, I have no doubts that this team will make the playoffs. People are forgetting that last year looked like a good year...until Ben got hurt. A couple of mistakes costs us a couple of games, if those mistakes don't happen, the Steelers are potentially over .500.

We were 6-3 before Ben got hurt, we had the leagues #1 offense on 3rd down and statistically speaking, we had the league's best defense.

The team seems to be in shape and determined, they don't have the Mendenhall and Wallace distractions, Ben admitted to having problems with Haley's offense but is fine with it now. If our rookies can come in and make an impact, the Steelers will be fine.

stories of this camp are saying a lot of the players were unfamiliar with the terminology of haley's system

they seem to have worked on it and are not having those issues

 

[UnrealMachine]

I was reading something...the team had 9 games where it was decided by 4 points or less...they went 4-5 in those games.

Even with all of the injuries and (seemingly) bad luck, the team was a lot closer to 10-6 last year than they were 6-10. They've had the #1 defense in the league for the last two consecutive seasons. Just gotta stay healthy.

 

[Crafton]

it's kind of nuts that even after six seasons Tomlin is still one of the youngest coaches in the league. dude is 41. the Chargers' rookie head coach is also 41 and the Raiders' sophomore head coach is 40.

 

[Shockmaster]

That "#1 defense" needs to start pressuring QBs and forcing turnovers instead of being a stat defense.

 

[JTG]

Definitely think we have had a stat defense. It's like the Pens PK

 

[Ogrezilla]

Definitely think we have had a stat defense. It's like the Pens PK

the Pens PK is really good.

 

[UnrealMachine]

That "#1 defense" needs to start pressuring QBs and forcing turnovers instead of being a stat defense.

Well, considering that the Steelers had the 21st ranked offense with the 13th ranked QB (YPA), you are absolutely right - the defense needs to do even more to help the team win games.

 

[JTG]

the Pens PK is really good.

Until games start to matter. Just like the Steelers defense.

 

[UnrealMachine]

Until games start to matter. Just like the Steelers defense.

It was actually the opposite this season:

Regular season = 79.6% (25th)
Playoffs = 92.3% (2nd)

 

[JTG]

It was actually the opposite this season:

Regular season = 79.6% (25th)
Playoffs = 92.3% (2nd)

Yeah, these playoffs it did do really well.

 

[JTG]

Bryan Bulaga out for the season for the Pack. Talk about a shot to the nuts before the season is even under way.

 

[Shockmaster]

Well, considering that the Steelers had the 21st ranked offense with the 13th ranked QB (YPA), you are absolutely right - the defense needs to do even more to help the team win games.

It generally doesn't help an offense when they have to go 80-90 yards on every scoring drive. However, to be fair special teams takes some blame in that area too. Of course, it also doesn't help that the team was more concerned with time of possession than it was with scoring.

For all those numbers the Patriots offense put up last year, take a look at the amount of turnovers their defense forced. Their defense wasn't statistically as good as the Steelers when it came to yards allowed, but it did more to help their team win.

 

[UnrealMachine]

It generally doesn't help an offense when they have to go 80-90 yards on every scoring drive. However, to be fair special teams takes some blame in that area too. Of course, it also doesn't help that the team was more concerned with time of possession than it was with scoring.

The offense didn't help themselves by being among the league leading teams in giveaways.

For all those numbers the Patriots offense put up last year, take a look at the amount of turnovers their defense forced. Their defense wasn't statistically as good as the Steelers when it came to yards allowed, but it did more to help their team win.

The tradeoff between an extra 100 yards/game allowed versus one (1) additional takeaway per game is enormous. That's probably why you don't hear anyone refer to the Pats defense as being the best (statistically or otherwise). Don't forget that the Steelers defense also generally dealt with a shorter field (offensive giveaways + special teams), so that didn't help matters.

 

[Shockmaster]

I don't recall calling the Patriots defense the "best", I'm just pointing out it does more to help them win games. On the other hand, the Steelers philosophy on defense is "tackle the catch." In the last few seasons, the Steelers defense has been hoping the other team's offense makes a mistake rather than forcing the issue. Essentially, they're playing scared, or playing not to lose.

Of course, it doesn't help when the offensive play calling goes something like this:

1st down: Run up the middle - no gain
2nd down: Run up the middle - no gain, maybe even a loss of a few yards. Or maybe we see a bubble screen that gets tackled for a loss.
3rd down: Ben help!

Ben actually was bailing them out from that in the first half of last season as his 3rd down passer rating was the best in the NFL I believe. However, that kind of play calling isn't sustainable. It also goes against the notion of protecting Ben as on third and long pass rushers can just pin their ears back.

Last year's playoff games, most of them being higher scoring, should have shown the Steelers how outdated their philosophies are.

 

[Shockmaster]

Well, I need to give LeBeau credit. I think this is a bit overdue, but at least they are finally trying it:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000226719/article/pittsburgh-steelers-changing-defensive-philosophy

 

[JTG]

Well, I need to give LeBeau credit. I think this is a bit overdue, but at least they are finally trying it:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000226719/article/pittsburgh-steelers-changing-defensive-philosophy

They had to change. McClendon is not Hampton. Whoever plays opposite Woodley is not Harrison. Hood is not Smith.

This defensive line especially is much, much, much more geared towards getting to the QB than Steeler defensive lines of the past, and they have to now. We don't have the stud linebackers to get to the QB by themselves.

I think of all the guys in that defense, the guy it will help the most is Hood. He's not an edge sealer. He's a guy who has always been part of a 4-3 defense where he was able to get after it.

 

[sniugneP]

Burress will miss a season for torn cuff rotator. Probably won't see him in NFL uniform again.

 

[OnMyOwn]

Yea that blows...I really wanted to see him play a final full season here