OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Ploff wins?!? Fire Tomlin

[xlm34]

I don't think any OCs want Wilson at this point. If the first read you drew up isn't there, the rest of what you did is irrelevant. Even if he could regularly make that work, got to be very frustrating.

I wonder what Wilson's beef was because got to think run game heaviness was mentioned when they were selling Wilson on Pittsburgh. Pretty sure it was reported that way. Could have been that anyway, but I wonder... tbh, I think on some level it was personal. Smith made it sound personal when Fields was replaced.



Graziano both makes Smith the favourite for the Jets job and agrees there's a good chance Fields follows him there.

Rather ambivalent about that possibility.

Oh yeah, I’m paraphrasing but there was that quote about liking Fields’ realness and how he didn’t say what he thought a QB was supposed to say. Which certainly seemed like a little shot at Wilson.

As far as Smith leaving, I’m not a huge fan of his but I think I’d rather he stayed. I have no faith in the Steelers replacing him with an innovative coach so might as well see if things can get better in year 2 if you get him some personnel that’s a better fit for his offense.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Summary - Steelers have the same problems they did five years ago on offense despite using a plethora of RBS, WRs, QBs, OL, and OCs.

Yet they still can’t run or pass the ball well.

I wonder what the one common denominator has been the last five years…?

 

[JTG]

Summary - Steelers have the same problems they did five years ago on offense despite using a plethora of RBS, WRs, QBs, OL, and OCs.

Yet they still can’t run or pass the ball well.

I wonder what the one common denominator has been the last five years…?

The Tomlin/Steelers separation is when they come to him and take some autonomy off of him and he bucks them doing that. I'm calling it.

 

[MissADD]

Summary - Steelers have the same problems they did five years ago on offense despite using a plethora of RBS, WRs, QBs, OL, and OCs.

Yet they still can’t run or pass the ball well.

I wonder what the one common denominator has been the last five years…?

Danny Smith was the special teams coach?

 

[ImporterExporter]

Mike Tomlin hiring lackeys who coached his kid....what else is new?

As pissed as I am with Tomlin and have been for the better part of 7-8 years, this is all on Rooney. Period. The owner has the ability to change direction and refuses.

The Rooney rule doomed us to Tomlin forever. He's not going anywhere unless he decides to.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

... 76586?s=42

This is incriminating stuff from Teryl Austin. Per
@WilliamsonNFL
:

#Ravens used 11-personnel just 11% of the time vs. #Steelers

Ravens used a 6th OL 22.2% of the time vs. Steelers (and often 300-pound FB Patrick Ricard)

Steelers played nickel 45% (!) of the time vs. Ravens

With 3 DBs on field, Steelers allowed 3.8 Y/P
With 4 DBs on field, Steelers allowed 4.2 Y/P
With 5 DBs on field, Steelers allowed 9.5 Y/P

Bunch of little guys taking on a bunch of big guys. What did they think was going to happen?

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

The Tomlin/Steelers separation is when they come to him and take some autonomy off of him and he bucks them doing that. I'm calling it.

I think next year is a breaking point - that puts him one year away from a decade without a playoff win.

He has already doubled the longest active playoff winless streak that Noll and Cowher ever had.

It’s gone from embarrassing to making the franchise a running joke - AR2 has to have some pride and dignity left - right..?

Even AR2 will have to start feeling like a fool if this happens (and it will) again next season.

Danny Smith was the special teams coach?

 

[cookthebooks]

i think it might be a long wait for ar2 to feel like a fool. its already been 70 years

 

[pistolpete11]

I also think people are overthinking the offensive struggles a bit, too. Eagles, Chiefs, and Ravens finished 2nd, 4th, and 9th in points allowed and that's with the Ravens having a horrendous start to the year. I think they showed during the game that since Week Whatever, they were the best defense in football. The last Bungles game I attribute like 90% to the harebrained gameplan of running the ball as much as they did in the first 3 quarters.

We knew the offense wasn't going to be great to begin with given the young line and lack of weapons. Then they lost 2/5ths of their starting line. Then they started playing better teams. I'm not trying to excuse it, it's not good enough regardless, but I don't agree with this idea of "Oh man, they just fell off a cliff outta nowhere!" This was easily predictable. If these games were spread out more or the highest paid defense didn't fold like a cheap lawn chair, the narrative might be a bit different.

To be fair, some of this applies to the defense, too, but I just give the defense a lot less benefit of doubt given how much they have invested into it and that their HC is a "defensive guru'. They either have to do a better job of keeping them in the game or they need to rethink their roster construction or both.

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Personally, given the QB class and all the other holes on the team, I wouldn't take a QB this year at all. Continue to build the team and put the next guy in the best position possible.

I've actually come around to the notion that no matter how "good" the QB class is, the Steelers need to draft a QB every year until they end up with a franchise guy. Just like the 49ers did with Purdy.

I don't care where they draft the guy, obviously this year I would say not til the 4th-5th round, (I really like Dart or Rourke). But if they need to take a swing every year. They have nothing right now, not even a Landry Jones or Dennis Dixon or whatever. That is just ridiculous for a team that needs a QB.

Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft:

2025 NFL Mock Draft, Rounds 1 and 2: How high does Travis Hunter go? Which teams take QBs?

The 2025 QB class doesn't hold a candle to the 2024 version, so what will that mean for the top of this year's draft?

www.nytimes.com

He has the Steelers taking WR, OSU, Emeka Egbuka in the 1st and CB, UK, Maxwell Hairston in the 2nd. I've seen Hairston mocked to the Steelers a lot in the current run of Mocks. Same with Egbuka or Burden, or CB, ND, Harrison which he has going not until the end of the 2nd.

Some interesting other picks. Jeanty to the Broncos at 20. Burden to the Cowboys at 12. Sanders to LV at 6. Kaleb Johnson to Min at 24. Milroe at 32 to NYG, no other QBs besides Ward and Sanders in the first two rounds.

Obviously, still way to early, we know the combine has a decent influence especially for QBs.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I've actually come around to the notion that no matter how "good" the QB class is, the Steelers need to draft a QB every year until they end up with a franchise guy. Just like the 49ers did with Purdy.

I don't care where they draft the guy, obviously this year I would say not til the 4th-5th round, (I really like Dart or Rourke). But if they need to take a swing every year. They have nothing right now, not even a Landry Jones or Dennis Dixon or whatever. That is just ridiculous for a team that needs a QB.

Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft:

2025 NFL Mock Draft, Rounds 1 and 2: How high does Travis Hunter go? Which teams take QBs?

The 2025 QB class doesn't hold a candle to the 2024 version, so what will that mean for the top of this year's draft?

www.nytimes.com

He has the Steelers taking WR, OSU, Emeka Egbuka in the 1st and CB, UK, Maxwell Hairston in the 2nd. I've seen Hairston mocked to the Steelers a lot in the current run of Mocks. Same with Egbuka or Burden, or CB, ND, Harrison which he has going not until the end of the 2nd.

Some interesting other picks. Jeanty to the Broncos at 20. Burden to the Cowboys at 12. Sanders to LV at 6. Kaleb Johnson to Min at 24. Milroe at 32 to NYG, no other QBs besides Ward and Sanders in the first two rounds.

Obviously, still way to early, we know the combine has a decent influence especially for QBs.

I have serious doubts Purdy would have developed under Tomlin.

He was too scared of losing games to allow Rudolph, KP and Fields to sling the ball around.

His whole philosophy is built around protecting the fact that he’s never had a losing season.

There is no room for building for the future and developing a young QB.

This is why his offensive concepts are also stuck in 1992, which is a double whammy for any young QB.

So while I agree with the sentiment of taking flyers every year on QBs, exactly zero will develop under him.

Steelers need to draft a Roth like talent that even Tomlin couldn’t f*** up, or they finally move on, get with the times and bring in a young head coach that knows how to run a modern offense.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

I’ve never seen anything like this in NA sports where a coach can fail for this long and the owner and national media completely ignore the obvious.

It’s beyond bizarre at this point.

This mythical reverence for a man who’s only true accomplishment since 2010 is beating… Alex Smith.

The talk of him being a legendary coach and an eventual HOFer devalues the true legends of this game who actually had real accomplishments.

I believe there will be a breaking point and this 15 year nightmare will end in the next couple of seasons.

I suspect DMR will be the solution.

The only logical answer to this is maybe Tomlin has dirt on Art II and/or others in the organization and is using it to keep his job. Or, Art II is really this stupid. Any other organization with half a brain cell would've fired Tomlin years ago.

 

[JTG]

Decent episode.

 

[pistolpete11]

I've actually come around to the notion that no matter how "good" the QB class is, the Steelers need to draft a QB every year until they end up with a franchise guy. Just like the 49ers did with Purdy.

I don't care where they draft the guy, obviously this year I would say not til the 4th-5th round, (I really like Dart or Rourke). But if they need to take a swing every year. They have nothing right now, not even a Landry Jones or Dennis Dixon or whatever. That is just ridiculous for a team that needs a QB.

If we're talking 6 or 7th round flyers or whatever, I don't really care, I guess. Rounds 1-5, certainly 1-4, need to be BPA at positions of need, though. Chances of getting a good player there are too high to take a QB just to take a QB. BPA can include QB, but of course the vast majority of QBs that are worth a damn are taken in R1.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I also think people are overthinking the offensive struggles a bit, too. Eagles, Chiefs, and Ravens finished 2nd, 4th, and 9th in points allowed and that's with the Ravens having a horrendous start to the year. I think they showed during the game that since Week Whatever, they were the best defense in football. The last Bungles game I attribute like 90% to the harebrained gameplan of running the ball as much as they did in the first 3 quarters.

We knew the offense wasn't going to be great to begin with given the young line and lack of weapons. Then they lost 2/5ths of their starting line. Then they started playing better teams. I'm not trying to excuse it, it's not good enough regardless, but I don't agree with this idea of "Oh man, they just fell off a cliff outta nowhere!" This was easily predictable. If these games were spread out more or the highest paid defense didn't fold like a cheap lawn chair, the narrative might be a bit different.

To be fair, some of this applies to the defense, too, but I just give the defense a lot less benefit of doubt given how much they have invested into it and that their HC is a "defensive guru'. They either have to do a better job of keeping them in the game or they need to rethink their roster construction or both.

At a high level, I agree with this. I am willing to handwave away the offense to not having a good QB and any viable WRs except Pickens, and poor OTs. I am not willing to handwave Tomlin's inadequacy as a defensive coach against good opponents. It is just way too easy for good offenses to shred us, and that is what leads to 38 PPG against in the playoffs. Tomlin only has himself to blame on that side of the ball.

 

[JTG]

I've actually come around to the notion that no matter how "good" the QB class is, the Steelers need to draft a QB every year until they end up with a franchise guy. Just like the 49ers did with Purdy.

I don't care where they draft the guy, obviously this year I would say not til the 4th-5th round, (I really like Dart or Rourke). But if they need to take a swing every year. They have nothing right now, not even a Landry Jones or Dennis Dixon or whatever. That is just ridiculous for a team that needs a QB.

Dane Brugler released his latest mock draft:

2025 NFL Mock Draft, Rounds 1 and 2: How high does Travis Hunter go? Which teams take QBs?

The 2025 QB class doesn't hold a candle to the 2024 version, so what will that mean for the top of this year's draft?

www.nytimes.com

He has the Steelers taking WR, OSU, Emeka Egbuka in the 1st and CB, UK, Maxwell Hairston in the 2nd. I've seen Hairston mocked to the Steelers a lot in the current run of Mocks. Same with Egbuka or Burden, or CB, ND, Harrison which he has going not until the end of the 2nd.

Some interesting other picks. Jeanty to the Broncos at 20. Burden to the Cowboys at 12. Sanders to LV at 6. Kaleb Johnson to Min at 24. Milroe at 32 to NYG, no other QBs besides Ward and Sanders in the first two rounds.

Obviously, still way to early, we know the combine has a decent influence especially for QBs.

It's different drafting a QB somewhere in the draft v. drafting a QB with the direct intention that he will be a franchise QB. Purdy was drafted to be a camp arm/practice squad guy. Anyone that says he wasn't is bullshitting.

If the Pats get McMillan, watch out. Maye-McMillan become must watch TV.

I'd be happy with our draft.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

I think next year is a breaking point - that puts him one year away from a decade without a playoff win.

He has already doubled the longest active playoff winless streak that Noll and Cowher ever had.

It’s gone from embarrassing to making the franchise a running joke - AR2 has to have some pride and dignity left - right..?

Even AR2 will have to start feeling like a fool if this happens (and it will) again next season.

Art II is oblivious to what people think (no one ever tells him and he doesn't care); he lives in his own world in which no one has an unpleasant moment.

It's almost gotten to the point where it's embarrassing to be a Steelers fan. They keep doing the same thing and yet expect a different result. The franchise is myopic/insular, they don't see the trees in the forest. They bulls**t the fan base/media and are never challenged on it. They are an arrogant organization who think/act like they've won the last 10 Super Bowls

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

It's different drafting a QB somewhere in the draft v. drafting a QB with the direct intention that he will be a franchise QB. Purdy was drafted to be a camp arm/practice squad guy. Anyone that says he wasn't is bullshitting.

Three things (very broadly) need to happen for a QB to be/become a franchise guy in the NFL:
1) The player must actually be good.
2) The player must willingly put in the work to become a great NFL QB.
3) The player's team must provide him with coaching and other support to actualize the aforementioned work.

Again, "broadly." Acknowledging it isn't enough to a fully complete picture. But Purdy is proof that those things can also happen sort of by happy accident.

 

[JTG]

Three things (very broadly) need to happen for a QB to be/become a franchise guy in the NFL:
1) The player must actually be good.
2) The player must willingly put in the work to become a great NFL QB.
3) The player's team must provide him with coaching and other support to actualize the aforementioned work.

Again, "broadly." Acknowledging it isn't enough to a fully complete picture. But Purdy is proof that those things can also happen sort of by happy accident.

Well your criteria is Purdy to a T. He was a super accomplished college QB who had a long history of success. He was a coaches kid and a work ethic.

 

[xlm34]

It's different drafting a QB somewhere in the draft v. drafting a QB with the direct intention that he will be a franchise QB. Purdy was drafted to be a camp arm/practice squad guy. Anyone that says he wasn't is bullshitting.

If the Pats get McMillan, watch out. Maye-McMillan become must watch TV.

I'd be happy with our draft.

I’m not sure if the 49ers front office survives the Trey Lance fiasco if Purdy doesn’t save their bacon.

 

[JTG]

I’m not sure if the 49ers front office survives the Trey Lance fiasco if Purdy doesn’t save their bacon.

Oh they should pay him double because he saved so many jobs there. Hail Mary of all Hail Mary's

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

https://atozsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-s ... nt-ravens/

So this is why he didn't play.

I'm torn on this...the article makes it sound like McCormick was being a baby in refusing to play, but what if his injury was more than just a simple broken hand?

But there is smoke with this and the Pickens thing...

 

[JTG]

https://atozsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-s ... nt-ravens/

So this is why he didn't play.

I'm torn on this...the article makes it sound like McCormick was being a baby in refusing to play, but what if his injury was more than just a simple broken hand?

But there is smoke with this and the Pickens thing...

Article was yanked.

 

[Peat]

https://atozsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-s ... nt-ravens/

So this is why he didn't play.

I'm torn on this...the article makes it sound like McCormick was being a baby in refusing to play, but what if his injury was more than just a simple broken hand?

But there is smoke with this and the Pickens thing...

Your links are regularly coming through broken. Don't know what you're doing, but worth reviewing

https://atozsports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers-news/steelers-news-mason-mccormick-refused-to-wear-cast-agaisnt-ravens/

See if this works correctly.

Anyway. Wait and see on that story. I remember all the chat about how Pickett refused to play, and his camp shot back through DK about what their version of what the real story is. It's possible, as you say, that this was more than a simple broken hand.

But anyway. It doesn't sound good.

And the fact that the team is letting this leak isn't good. This shit should be kept behind closed doors. We shouldn't know Pickens has got a stupid amount of fines or isn't showing up on time. This isn't just discipline and desire, it's having guys working together too. Doesn't feel like it's happening.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

The only logical answer to this is maybe Tomlin has dirt on Art II and/or others in the organization and is using it to keep his job. Or, Art II is really this stupid. Any other organization with half a brain cell would've fired Tomlin years ago.

I think it’s as simple as AR2 takes pride in the org only ever having 3 coaches in the modern era, he’s also clearly afraid to make a change out of fear the team could start to have losing seasons.

He lives in his fears like Tomlin.

I also highly suspect that after 18 seasons he’s gotten way too close to Tomlin and doesn’t want to fire his friend - this more than anything is likely the biggest issue.

Art II is oblivious to what people think (no one ever tells him and he doesn't care); he lives in his own world in which no one has an unpleasant moment.

It's almost gotten to the point where it's embarrassing to be a Steelers fan. They keep doing the same thing and yet expect a different result. The franchise is myopic/insular, they don't see the trees in the forest. They bulls**t the fan base/media and are never challenged on it. They are an arrogant organization who think/act like they've won the last 10 Super Bowls

I’m not embarrassed.

I guess if I paid money for season tickets, gear, etc or I might be, but I haven’t spent a dime that will go in AR2’s pocket in many years.

I know he indirectly makes money because I watch the NFL, but that goes for all owners really.

Ultimately, I’ve started to enjoy watching Tomlin’s smug ass try to explain away with his idiotic sayings why his teams are like watching Groundhogs Day.

This year we get:

“It’s not their bag man, it’s my bag man!”

That’s so groovy, man!