OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Super Bowl? Thats like a giant pot of chips or popcorn right?

[JTG]

They have, but it's almost like we're turning over half the team here. And while that
might be necessary, it just does seem like a lot in a short amount of time if you know what I mean. I think he has done a masterful job. I'm a little lukewarm on our inside linebackers, but beyond that I think he has hit a grand slam with almost every other decision. But from here on in let's just see how the team looks in TC before doing anything else. The only thing I was hoping for is a guy like Brian branch in the draft to help cover slot receivers. That was my only issue with an area I believe we needed to shore up. Other than that I have absolutely no complaints with the additions we've made nor with the value we seemingly were able to extract. I just want them to settle in now and see how they look.

We haven't turned anyone over though. Everyone is here. They are cutting bottom of the roster guys.

I would have preferred Branch also, but that is what it is.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

They have, but it's almost like we're turning over half the team here. And while that
might be necessary, it just does seem like a lot in a short amount of time if you know what I mean. I think he has done a masterful job. I'm a little lukewarm on our inside linebackers, but beyond that I think he has hit a grand slam with almost every other decision. But from here on in let's just see how the team looks in TC before doing anything else. The only thing I was hoping for is a guy like Brian branch in the draft to help cover slot receivers. That was my only issue with an area I believe we needed to shore up. Other than that I have absolutely no complaints with the additions we've made nor with the value we seemingly were able to extract. I just want them to settle in now and see how they look.

I get what you’re saying but I suspect the front office is looking at it differently.

Obviously I don’t know the conversations that are taking place. But it’s possible these puzzle-piece additions we’re seeing are coming based on conversations with the coaching staff. They would have that “settled-in” grasp of who they have to work with more so than we would.

Could also be their approach to creating competition for spots. If they can afford it and make the cap work, maybe they’d rather have more guys around now rather than wait until Latrobe to find out we need a guy. For example, while many like Herbig (the draftee LB one I’m talking here) there are concerns about his spot in the depth chart. Maybe the front office shares it? Or is at least hedging its bets.

 

[Ryder71]

I get what you’re saying but I suspect the front office is looking at it differently.

Obviously I don’t know the conversations that are taking place. But it’s possible these puzzle-piece additions we’re seeing are coming based on conversations with the coaching staff. They would have that “settled-in” grasp of who they have to work with more so than we would.

Could also be their approach to creating competition for spots. If they can afford it and make the cap work, maybe they’d rather have more guys around now rather than wait until Latrobe to find out we need a guy. For example, while many like Herbig (the draftee LB one I’m talking here) there are concerns about his spot in the depth chart. Maybe the front office shares it? Or is at least hedging its bets.

Of course they're creating competition, and I applaud that. But you have a whole new left side of the o line, in theory anyhow. Brand new inside line backing core, and you're changing basically the way you play the game by adding all the beef up front and it looks to be more of a ball controlled offense. That should help insulate Kenny, that's our hope, but it does seem like a lot to chew on in one off season. But to be clear there's not one move I looked at as anything but positive. Including our draft class.

 

[Peat]

In terms of moves made and necessity...

Edmunds out, Neal in - Edmunds had the final call there so they had to
Maulet out, Sullivan in - Maulet asked for release, although, admittedly, after they signed Sullivan
Witherspoon out, Porter in - Obviously all the team's call
Sutton out, Peterson in - Team made the move because they couldn't/wouldn't match Sutton's offer
Jack out, Holcomb in - Team's call and while Jack had a meh season and has injury problems, Holcomb is coming off a foot injury and hasn't been Mr Fit either
Spillane out, Roberts in - Team's call, feels like very similar pieces moving around
Bush out, nobody in
Reed out, Golden in - Team's call, feels like an upgrade
DL is a big question mark as a bunch of guys came in but we don't know who's leaving beyond Alalu (had to, guy looked ready to retire) and Wormley (injury) - Team had to make those moves

So very busy on defence, and I'd say five of the moves had strong whiffs of had to happen due to expiring contracts and fitness. They didn't have to completely redo the ILB room but the performance there sucked so what you gonna do?

On offence -

Claypool out, Robinson in
Gentry to bench, Washington in
Moore to bench (eventually), Jones in
Dotson to bench or out, Seumalo in
Depth OT out, Depth OT in

I would argue that is actually pretty stable, although pretty much all team driven. Replacing the left side of the line is the only thing that feels major.



So... yeah, I'd prefer more continuity, but I don't see how it would have been accomplished without paying out contracts that mean we didn't get other upgrades or keeping bad ideas. Offence should have enough continuity for a step forwards. Defence... defence might be a process, but barring Sutton, pretty much all the new pieces are replacing guys where it's hard to be worse. Guys like Edmunds and Spillane were reliable but limited and from there it keeps getting worse.

As such, I think Khan has mostly only done what he had to.

 

[DanielPlainview]

ILB is going to be a problem next season, which isn't ideal but not the worst issue. Still in a rebuild phase with a 2nd year QB and a rebuilt OL. I expect DL (replacing Cam) and ILB will be the priorities next off-season/draft.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

ILB is going to be a problem next season, which isn't ideal but not the worst issue. Still in a rebuild phase with a 2nd year QB and a rebuilt OL. I expect DL (replacing Cam) and ILB will be the priorities next off-season/draft.

I predict ILB and S (the middle of the field) will remain a huge issue for this group. I'm low key concerned about it.

But regarding the maneuvers, I have no issue with what the FO is doing. Seems like they are finally aligned with what Tomlin wants to do, which is play bully ball. I disagree with that philosophy in general, but it's better than watching them try to execute their strategy with ill-fitting players

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

I predict ILB and S (the middle of the field) will remain a huge issue for this group. I'm low key concerned about it.

But regarding the maneuvers, I have no issue with what the FO is doing. Seems like they are finally aligned with what Tomlin wants to do, which is play bully ball. I disagree with that philosophy in general, but it's better than watching them try to execute their strategy with ill-fitting players

Ya, their issue aren't anything I'm overly concerned with, and you can't fix everything in one offseason.

If their biggest need next season is safety, I'd say things went pretty well in 2023.

Coaching is still my biggest concern.

 

[Wattsburgh]

DeAndre Hopkins released. He is free to choose his own team.

Choose Khan please. I love Pickens, but something is in the water with second year WR in Pittsburgh lately. Ever since Brown left. He could come in and take pressure off our most important player, George Pickens. Yes even more so than Pickett. I think the Steelers need Pickens to be the next Ward, Holmes, and Brown. So many things open up when so…

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

I predict ILB and S (the middle of the field) will remain a huge issue for this group. I'm low key concerned about it.

But regarding the maneuvers, I have no issue with what the FO is doing. Seems like they are finally aligned with what Tomlin wants to do, which is play bully ball. I disagree with that philosophy in general, but it's better than watching them try to execute their strategy with ill-fitting players

What I’m hoping is that, especially at ILB, your two pints actually work together. While I agree it’s a concern from an overall talent perspective, if the guys they brought in prove to be better fits.

 

[Peat]

DeAndre Hopkins released. He is free to choose his own team.

Choose Khan please. I love Pickens, but something is in the water with second year WR in Pittsburgh lately. Ever since Brown left. He could come in and take pressure off our most important player, George Pickens. Yes even more so than Pickett. I think the Steelers need Pickens to be the next Ward, Holmes, and Brown. So many things open up when so…

That's what they have Diontae Johnson, Muth, and Allan Robinson for. Even if you have reservations about those guys, they can all get downs. Pickens isn't going to be asked to be WR1 and teams want to double team him, that's great, the other guys will feast.

 

[Wattsburgh]

That's what they have Diontae Johnson, Muth, and Allan Robinson for. Even if you have reservations about those guys, they can all get downs. Pickens isn't going to be asked to be WR1 and teams want to double team him, that's great, the other guys will feast.

Feast by dropping the ball lol. Pickens will be triple teamed once DJ drops ten balls in week 1. But okay. Keep feasting. They don’t need Hopkins lol. Let him go to Kansas City or Buffalo. They suck and need the help. We are all set.

 

[WickedWrister]

Feast by dropping the ball lol. Pickens will be triple teamed once DJ drops ten balls in week 1. But okay. Keep feasting. They don’t need Hopkins lol. Let him go to Kansas City or Buffalo. They suck and need the help. We are all set.

Maybe if we didn't already add ARob. Dude's gonna be 31 before the season, and is probably looking to play for a clear championship contender (which isn't us) on a 15m per year deal.

He reportedly wants "a QB that loves the game and brings everyone on board with him, a great defense, and stable management." We check all those boxes so it's fun to think about PP recruiting him here though!

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Feast by dropping the ball lol. Pickens will be triple teamed once DJ drops ten balls in week 1. But okay. Keep feasting. They don’t need Hopkins lol. Let him go to Kansas City or Buffalo. They suck and need the help. We are all set.

Maybe GP will develop his route running so he doesn’t get tripple team

 

[ziggyjoe212]

This team won't be better next season. We still have a bottom 5 run D and a bottom 5 offense. Don't forget that Canada is still the OC.
We have 2 backup ILB as starters. And our NT is a rookie. Cam is old. I think 9 wins is as good as it's going to get.

 

[Coastal Kev]

This team won't be better next season. We still have a bottom 5 run D and a bottom 5 offense. Don't forget that Canada is still the OC.
We have 2 backup ILB as starters. And our NT is a rookie. Cam is old. I think 9 wins is as good as it's going to get.

This may be among the worst analysis I have ever read on these boards, congrats!!

Our ILB's were horrific that past 2 seasons. The Dline had several non NFL players holding down roster spots last year. I have no idea how much better the two positions will be, but I GUARANTEE that they'll both be better.

YOWZA

 

[MrBrightside]

This team won't be better next season. We still have a bottom 5 run D and a bottom 5 offense. Don't forget that Canada is still the OC.
We have 2 backup ILB as starters. And our NT is a rookie. Cam is old. I think 9 wins is as good as it's going to get.

Still have a bottom 5 run D? They were a top 10 run D in 2022. I’ll agree that ILB is probably the weakest spot on the roster, but the run D was fine last year and they’ve improved since.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Team could be better but not win more games. Then everyone get to be right!

 

[Peat]

Team could be better but not win more games. Then everyone get to be right!

Ah, the true ray of sunshine prediction!

More seriously, I really struggle with what "better but not winning more games" would look like to me, particularly since the schedule just got a lot easier on paper. I guess the team looking more talented but being less consistent about writing tight games would count, but that'd feel like two steps forwards, two steps back. Ditto Pickett balling but the defence underwhelming.

 

[DanielPlainview]

It's a shame that this team has so many questionmarks at the headset positions.

 

[ziggyjoe212]

This may be among the worst analysis I have ever read on these boards, congrats!!

Our ILB's were horrific that past 2 seasons. The Dline had several non NFL players holding down roster spots last year. I have no idea how much better the two positions will be, but I GUARANTEE that they'll both be better.

YOWZA

Bush and Jack were replaced with 2 borderline starting caliber guys. Improvement? Not really.
DLine still has cam and Ogunjobi. The NT was replaced by a rookie. I don't see any improvement. If anything it got worse because Cam is one year older.

 

[Peat]

Tbh the biggest thing for the defence is whether Watt stays fit. If he does, the difference between fit Watt and what we go last year is the biggest shot in the arm any defence could wish to have.

Although I'd also add that fwiw, borderline starting calibre is a straight improvement over Bush, Holcomb will be better than Jack if he can stay fit, and I don't get why people care all that much about the NT when he's on the field for 33% of snaps. If Benton ain't ready, one of the other guys will do it just as well as Alaulu did last season.

 

[ChaosAgent]

This team won't be better next season. We still have a bottom 5 run D and a bottom 5 offense. Don't forget that Canada is still the OC.
We have 2 backup ILB as starters. And our NT is a rookie. Cam is old. I think 9 wins is as good as it's going to get.

The offense should be better. Canada or not, they averaged 15 points/game through October and then 21 points/game in November-December. Then upgraded the OL in a substantial way.


The defense...I agree. It continues to be thin. Heyward is old. Watt is injury prone. We replaced Sutton with a Hall of Famer but probably not a better player currently.

 

[Captain Hook]

I think our run defense will be better next season. Roberts and Holcomb are much better thumper, run defender types than Bush and Jack. Bush was a weak run defender to the point of getting benched against run heavy opponents late last season. Jack also had a reputation of being inconsistent against the run. If anything I worry more about the new ILB group being bad against the pass. They still don't really have that athletic cover ILB and haven't since Shazier went down years ago. Maybe Herbig kicks inside for some added youth and athleticism or they could still circle back to Kwon Alexander in free agency.

NT won't be any worse. We have the same guy as last year with more competition. Monty Adams was mostly the guy at that spot last year once they saw that Alualu was pretty much washed up. They brought in competition by signing Breiden Fehoko who's pretty much just a run stuffer specialist and Armon Watts who has a little more pass rush to his game. Not world beaters but guys that can rotate in and provide different things until Benton is ready to go.

Cam is older but I ain't betting against that guy.

 

[Ulf5]

Bush and Jack were replaced with 2 borderline starting caliber guys. Improvement? Not really.
DLine still has cam and Ogunjobi. The NT was replaced by a rookie. I don't see any improvement. If anything it got worse because Cam is one year older.

One only getting a 1 year deal coming off his rookie contract and the other one still unsigned tells you all you need to know. They might not be much of an upgrade but they're sure to be more consistent.

 

[Ulf5]

I predict ILB and S (the middle of the field) will remain a huge issue for this group. I'm low key concerned about it.

But regarding the maneuvers, I have no issue with what the FO is doing. Seems like they are finally aligned with what Tomlin wants to do, which is play bully ball. I disagree with that philosophy in general, but it's better than watching them try to execute their strategy with ill-fitting players

They still might be able to address one of these positions as rosters get closer to being finalized. Useful players always becoming available around that time.