Pittsburgh Steelers Thread

OOnegative · 28-12-2020 10:42pm

Seeing there’s a few of us active at the moment:

Super Bowl run or wild card knockout?

I think if we can get the offense to motor like yesterday’s second half we at least have a possibility of making it to Arrowhead for the AFC championship game. Despite the players we’ve lost on defense, it’s still operating at a SB level or very close to it. Hilton was all over the place yesterday as was Williamson who has been a decent pick up for little cost.

The_Honeybadger · 28-12-2020 10:58pm

If they can carry yesterday’s momentum forward and get the offence rolling they will be competitive in the playoffs I hope. I don’t think they will beat the Chiefs however, and I would be extremely nervous about seeing the Ravens again also, they seem to be over their injury and Covid issues and are looking strong. Bills would also be a very tough matchup. They’d need to play well for four quarters and not just a spot here and there to beat any of the above, we haven’t seen that yet this season. The margin for error is going to be much smaller going forward. The second half yesterday was promising but they need to sustain it.

The injuries on defence have been detrimental, they had a potentially historic defence at the start of the season but losing blue chip players has made them vulnerable. They have been getting killed with the short stuff to running backs with no Bush there to stop it, Mckissic against Washington, Hines yesterday etc, giving up easy first downs. The pass rush and run defence is also much less formidable without Bud. Highsmith will be a good player but he is not Bud Dupree. I don’t trust this defence to get the stops when needed the way they were doing earlier in the season.

OOnegative · 28-12-2020 11:09pm

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

If they can carry yesterday’s momentum forward and get the offence rolling they will be competitive in the playoffs I hope. I don’t think they will beat the Chiefs however, and I would be extremely nervous about seeing the Ravens again also, they seem to be over their injury and Covid issues and are looking strong. Bills would also be a very tough matchup. They’d need to play well for four quarters and not just a spot here and there to beat any of the above, we haven’t seen that yet this season. The margin for error is going to be much smaller going forward. The second half yesterday was promising but they need to sustain it.

The injuries on defence have been detrimental, they had a potentially historic defence at the start of the season but losing blue chip players has made them vulnerable. They have been getting killed with the short stuff to running backs with no Bush there to stop it, Mckissic against Washington, Hines yesterday etc, giving up easy first downs. The pass rush and run defence is also much less formidable without Bud. Highsmith will be a good player but he is not Bud Dupree. I don’t trust this defence to get the stops when needed the way they were doing earlier in the season.

But when the **** hit the fan yesterday who won the game last night, the defense. If there was any bit of confidence in the offense they would have gone for that 4&1. I think the Bills maybe a bust in the playoffs this year, young and naive possibly.

The_Honeybadger · 28-12-2020 11:19pm

OOnegative wrote: »

But when the **** hit the fan yesterday who won the game last night, the defense. If there was any bit of confidence in the offense they would have gone for that 4&1. I think the Bills maybe a bust in the playoffs this year, young and naive possibly.

The defence is still very very good, but they are a bit diminished is all I’m saying. They were frightening earlier in the season and had no obvious weakness. There are things that teams can expose now with all the injuries.

I think they’ll be in every game, nobody is going to blow them out in January but I think the divisional round is probably where it ends for them if I had to make a prediction.

dfx- · 30-12-2020 8:43am

Confirmed Rudolph to start so 12-4 is the likely end result for the season. This is a chance to eliminate the Browns. As it stands they are due to play Baltimore in Pittsburgh in the Wild Card. That went wrong a few years ago...

Dufflecoat Fanny · 30-12-2020 1:02pm

If we lose to the browns its almost certain we meet them in the playoffs unless ravens lose aswell, we meet them instead.

The_Honeybadger · 30-12-2020 2:10pm

I think the Steelers seeding is dependent on the result of Buffalo @Miami as well. Buffalo will likely rest everyone there too.

We will be playing Baltimore, Cleveland or Indianapolis depending on how multiple games go at the weekend. None of them are gimme games but the Ravens would be exceptionally dangerous right now imo.

Dufflecoat Fanny · 30-12-2020 2:30pm

The Giants can still make the playoffs on 6-10 if Washington losses. CRAZY.

namloc1980 · 30-12-2020 6:09pm

Dufflecoat Fanny wrote: »

The Giants can still make the playoffs on 6-10 if Washington losses. CRAZY.

If all the 10-5 AFC teams win at the weekend an 11-5 team will miss the playoffs while a 6-10 team could get in from the NFCE.

dfx- · 31-12-2020 9:33pm

Cam, Pouncey and Watt now also not playing. I'd add maybe Hilton personally...he has been instrumental in blitzing/dropping in coverage. Spillane was rumoured to be aiming to return for week 17, but I don't know now..

Dufflecoat Fanny · 31-12-2020 10:12pm

Browns are riddled with covid now too

The_Honeybadger · 31-12-2020 10:38pm

Yes unfortunately the Browns seem to be having big issues with Covid. I hope the league doesn’t try to move the game to Monday / Tuesday and make both teams face in to the playoffs on a short week.

Dufflecoat Fanny · 31-12-2020 11:15pm

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

Yes unfortunately the Browns seem to be having big issues with Covid. I hope the league doesn’t try to move the game to Monday / Tuesday and make both teams face in to the playoffs on a short week.

I highly doubt that. it would screw up the real important tv spots.

The_Honeybadger · 31-12-2020 11:21pm

Dufflecoat Fanny wrote: »

I highly doubt that. it would screw up the real important tv spots.

If the game is not safe to play Sunday they mightn’t have a choice. Don’t forget they cancelled the highest rated games of the year on thanksgiving night due to safety concerns. Hopefully won’t come to that.

Dufflecoat Fanny · 31-12-2020 11:25pm

I hope they do pull it it means i might actually get to see it live during the day but it would really mess up our next game.

The_Honeybadger · 02-01-2021 9:56pm

Joe Haden has tested positive for Covid meaning he will miss the first playoff game, this is big because they really don’t have an adequate replacement in that key position. Neither Sutton nor Layne have been convincing when they’ve had to play outside this season.

Haden may well have played his last game as a Steeler. He is probably a cap casualty in the off season.

Eric Ebron and Cassius Marsh also gone on the Covid list

The_Honeybadger · 03-01-2021 11:48pm

Solid showing from Rudolph today with 300 yards plus passing. Looks a different player, his command of the offence vs last season was night and day. One ugly and costly interception but he was under pressure and it actually should have been called back for roughing. He’d have a long way to go before you’d trust him with the job full time but I think he can be a very good backup if they can improve the offensive line and running game to help the QB.

Rematch with the Browns next week now at Heinz field. Hopefully getting back the 6-7 guys that were missing today will see them through. You never know of course, the Browns are a good team and will be getting some guys back as well.

The_Honeybadger · 04-01-2021 3:28am

Browns @Steelers WC matchup set for 8.15pm (1.15am GMT) Sunday Night Football. Ugh! Give me any other time slot!

dfx- · 04-01-2021 10:07am

Rudolph had a good end of game but Dobbs impressed me with his mobility. Rudolph was a bit slow, the OL are not in a place to give him that much time.

Overall probably the soundest overall performance since the first half in Buffalo though they still were 24-9 down.

The_Honeybadger · 05-01-2021 4:49pm

Colbert has committed to another year as GM so I think that takes him through to the 2022 draft which is good news.

Highsmith and Dotson have been named to the PFF All Rookie team, Claypool must have been close too but it was a ridiculous class for receivers in fairness. Considering that the Steelers didn’t have a first round or third round pick that’s a stunning draft, if you include Minkah as their first rounder they got unprecedented value from their draft resources by the looks of it.

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-all-rookie-team-chargers-justin-herbert-qb-vikings-justin-jefferson-washington-chase-young

They’ll need another good draft this year looking at all the 18 pending free agents and the lack of cap space.

dfx- · 11-01-2021 6:02am

Well...

10-0, 19-7 up late on Baltimore and Dupree goes off.

11-0 and 14-3 up on Washington and a 3rd and 14 to defend on the 5.

Since then..

The_Honeybadger · 11-01-2021 6:14am

dfx- wrote: »

Well...

10-0, 19-7 up late on Baltimore and Dupree goes off.

11-0 and 14-3 up on Washington and a 3rd and 14 to defend on the 5.

Since then..

18 free agents and Ben is 39 at the start of next season. He may want to come back and try to prove a point but this team is looking at a rebuild. The cap situation is a total mess as well. IDK

dfx- · 11-01-2021 6:31am

Judging by the end on the bench, I wouldn't be surprised if Pouncey calls it a day and that makes up his mind to follow him.

Given the coming departures and no ready replacement, I'd still rather him stay.

The_Honeybadger · 11-01-2021 6:41am

Things aren’t going anywhere next season. Ben may as well retire and let them tidy up the cap situation. His salary is $19m next year

Tom Mann Centuria · 11-01-2021 10:00am

Disappointing result but not really surprised. I'm not up on all the cap and finance side of things but sounds like it's going to be messy next season.

Dufflecoat Fanny · 11-01-2021 12:09pm

Just watched the highlights i don't think I'll bother watch it all later awful stuff. Ben needs to retire now or move on to let us free up the cap.

The_Honeybadger · 11-01-2021 3:26pm

I’ll be interested to see how the Rooney’s react to last night, it can’t just be business as usual this off season where all the same coaches are brought back and they do extensions / restructures with all the veteran players. These late season collapses have unfortunately become a thing we have come to expect, but last night felt like a bit of a Nadir. I don’t know how much appetite I have for watching a reincarnation of this same team again next year quite frankly.

Ben won’t want to go out on a performance like last night but I don’t see a Peyton Manning type fairytale ending if he comes back either.

ELM327 · 11-01-2021 4:38pm

Ben had a good performance last night. Most of the 4 picks/5 turnovers were not his fault. Fumbled catches, bad snap, that 4th down they should have gone for etc. He threw over 500 yards.

Ben to NE anyone?
Good coaching, plenty of cap space, one more run at the playoffs

The_Honeybadger · 11-01-2021 5:08pm

ELM327 wrote: »

Ben had a good performance last night. Most of the 4 picks/5 turnovers were not his fault. Fumbled catches, bad snap, that 4th down they should have gone for etc. He threw over 500 yards.

Ben to NE anyone?
Good coaching, plenty of cap space, one more run at the playoffs

It would be serious straw clutching to claim that was a good performance, lots of stats with the Browns in prevent defence does not equal a good performance. Some of the turnovers were absolutely his fault.

I don’t know if you are serious about him going to NE but I don’t think they’d want him and I doubt he’d want to go there.

dfx- · 12-01-2021 5:59pm

Things aren't going anywhere next season with or without him probably. Unless the idea is to tank and I don't think that has ever been in the Rooney's or Colbert's plans - even last year, giving up a first in a season when they were 1-4.

They'll be aiming to put out the strongest team and with the current QB situation, that still includes Ben. Using the money to sign others and having Rudolph as QB behind that OL is not a great prospect either.

OOnegative · 12-01-2021 6:12pm

Think a new OC wouldn’t go a miss either, the dog on the street knew Fichtner’s schemes come the end of the season. Could Ben restructure his contract to free up cap space? Pouncey always said he’d continue as long as Ben was the QB playing.

Read a fair few saying that this is Big Al’s last season but Feiler is a ready made replacement and probably an upgrade, as much as I admire and love Big Al. Rudolph isn’t a positive future but he may well be the future.

The_Honeybadger · 12-01-2021 6:52pm

Looking at the cap 2020 was a bit of an ‘all in’ year, with big money pushed in to 2021 to keep a veteran roster together for a championship run. It was always a long shot and it didn’t work out after a pretty good start as we all know.

I’ve no idea who stays or goes but they are going to be a much weaker roster next year, regardless of whether Ben stays or not, I’m not quite sure what he’d be coming back for, he must know it’s over. If he is coming back they can extend and restructure him to get nearly $10m off the books but I definitely wouldn’t be giving him any new money.

Agree on the OC, albeit I do think Fictner was limited to what Ben could / would run, he didn’t want to play under center by all accounts which made running the ball or using PA very difficult. They have a ready replacement on staff already in Matt Canada

Kirk Van Houten · 14-01-2021 5:09pm

Fitchners contract not being renewed. Presume Canada may step up.

OOnegative · 14-01-2021 5:18pm

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

Fitchners contract not being renewed. Presume Canada may step up.

Sarrett gone as OL coach to.

The_Honeybadger · 14-01-2021 5:38pm

If Fictner is leaving that pretty much confirms Ben is retiring I would think? No way he is learning a new offence at this stage of his career, especially given his physical limitations.

Sarrett had to go too, OLine was getting pushed around all year and the run blocking in particular was hopeless

Kirk Van Houten · 14-01-2021 8:55pm

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

If Fictner is leaving that pretty much confirms Ben is retiring I would think? No way he is learning a new offence at this stage of his career, especially given his physical limitations.

Sarrett had to go too, OLine was getting pushed around all year and the run blocking in particular was hopeless

Did I hear or read that Ben took the least sacks/hits this season? The O line was there to let him throw not run the ball.

Kirk Van Houten · 14-01-2021 8:58pm

Fitchner, O Line, Secondary and TE coaches all gone.

The_Honeybadger · 14-01-2021 9:18pm

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

Did I hear or read that Ben took the least sacks/hits this season? The O line was there to let him throw not run the ball.

I’m not so sure they were actually that good at doing either. I think Ben getting rid of the ball so quick was a necessity, and it masked a lot of issues with the line. Big changes coming there anyway, doubt any of Pouncey, Villanueva or Feiler are back so a good time to change coaches if they were not happy with Sarrett, which they clearly weren’t.

Looks like they are cleaning house on the coaching side. Retirements and cuts on the playing side next.

dfx- · 15-01-2021 12:49am

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

Did I hear or read that Ben took the least sacks/hits this season? The O line was there to let him throw not run the ball.

That's with Ben getting the ball out from the shotgun in three seconds. I think at some point it was a case of that's what they're able to do. Even with Bell, there were not many explosive runs or big holes created.

If Ben was injured and lacked movement, the easiest thing to do is get him to hand off the ball every time. If it doesn't work, he has to throw it..

Kirk Van Houten · 15-01-2021 8:31am

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/01/14/pittsburgh-steelers-mike-tomlin-Randy-Fichtner-Shaun-Sarrett/stories/202101140125

Seems there might be more coaching changes coming. Canada being interviewed by the Dolphins.

I do think it's looking less and less likely that Ben will be coming back.

The_Honeybadger · 15-01-2021 8:58am

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2021/01/14/pittsburgh-steelers-mike-tomlin-Randy-Fichtner-Shaun-Sarrett/stories/202101140125

Seems there might be more coaching changes coming. Canada being interviewed by the Dolphins.

I do think it's looking less and less likely that Ben will be coming back.

Teryl Austin is interviewing with the Titans for their DC position as well. I thought Keith Butler might retire and Austin take over but it seems KB is staying on a year to year basis.

The_Honeybadger · 21-01-2021 8:40pm

Was not expecting this.

https://twitter.com/albertbreer/status/1352326482543177734?s=21

Kirk Van Houten · 21-01-2021 8:52pm

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

Was not expecting this.

https://twitter.com/albertbreer/status/1352326482543177734?s=21

Very much out of the blue but a good signing. He's on little money and has a lot to prove. Low risk with potential for high reward for the Steelers.
I know there's the possibility he's a liability in the locker room but if anyone can manage that type of personality well it's Tomlin.

The_Honeybadger · 21-01-2021 9:19pm

Kirk Van Houten wrote: »

Very much out of the blue but a good signing. He's on little money and has a lot to prove. Low risk with potential for high reward for the Steelers.
I know there's the possibility he's a liability in the locker room but if anyone can manage that type of personality well it's Tomlin.

Yeah and I suppose we shouldn’t be that surprised given they only have thirty something players signed and are already in cap trouble, so they need cheap guys to backfill the roster. With Ben and Rudolph both going in to their final years it could be an opportunity for Haskins if he works to turn things around. It’s only a futures contract in any case, he may not even make the team.

OOnegative · 22-01-2021 3:31pm

Vance has retired, solid player since he was signed. Will always remember that STIFF ARM!!!

The_Honeybadger · 22-01-2021 4:03pm

OOnegative wrote: »

Vance has retired, solid player since he was signed. Will always remember that STIFF ARM!!!

Thought he had another year in the tank but they were probably going to have to cut him anyway for money reasons. Solid player for sure, should have been more involved this year. Best of luck to him in retirement.

Pouncey is also likely to retire by all accounts, maybe Ben and Decastro too.

OOnegative · 22-01-2021 4:19pm

The_Honeybadger wrote: »

Thought he had another year in the tank but they were probably going to have to cut him anyway for money reasons. Solid player for sure, should have been more involved this year. Best of luck to him in retirement.

Pouncey is also likely to retire by all accounts, maybe Ben and Decastro too.

Strong rumours Big Al will retire to, that’s some amount of quality to replace on the OL. Granted this year was none of their best, but all 3 were super players in their pomp.

dfx- · 28-01-2021 11:07pm

Hodges signed by the Rams. Rooney interview saying the cap is tough and to paraphrase on Ben's return, the contract is hard to swallow as it is and may need work..

The_Honeybadger · 29-01-2021 12:19am

Going to be an interesting off season for sure. By all accounts the cap is going to be in the region of $180m. That is going to be a big problem for the Steelers among other teams.

They’ll never say it publicly but you’d have to wonder whether the team is secretly hoping he retires. Getting rid of Fictner looks like a bit of a nudge towards the exit door to me. I was reading up on Matt Canada’s career, no way in hell Ben is going to want to run that type of offence.

Kirk Van Houten · 29-01-2021 12:21am

Canada confirmed as OC.
Ben says he's willing to work Steelers to rework cap numbers.

Pittsburgh Steelers Thread

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