The Steelers barely beat a pitiful Bengals team and then gets shellacked by the Patriots. What is their problem?:eek:

Their secondary is not very good.

Well when Brady has all day to throw the ball he will make any secondary look worse.

They had one bad game. Unless you are the 1972 Dolphins, it happens.

They had one bad game. Unless you are the 1972 Dolphins, it happens.

They didn't look like world beaters against the Bungals. I think they have more problems than some want to think.

I'm sure they do. And I think it illustrates the gap between the Patriots and the Bengals.

They didn't look like world beaters against the Bungals. I think they have more problems than some want to think.

I believe every team in the NFL is flawed. Heck when you are at the mid-point and every team has at least 2 losses, that should tell you something.

They look out of sync. Something is missing.

Where would you like me to start?

 

1. Starting LT done for the year. A former Buffalo bill is taking his place. Biggest defensive player (not Polamalu) A.Smith on the shelf until possibly the playoffs. Starting RT done before season with achilles. Starting LG out with knee. Starting DT Keisel out with hammy.

2. Mendenhall is no different than Fast Willie was for this offense. A back who simply can't churn out 4/5 yds per carry. Avg looks better than it really is because he'll occasionally snap off a 20 yd run and the numbers are skewed. But for a team who would like to control the clock with a running game, that's not the type running game they have.

3. If you protect the QB and the Steelers can't put pressure on him with a blitz package or with a 3/4 man rush, their secondary guys with the exception of Ike Taylor can't cover. Plain and simple

4. Lebeau, although arguably one of the best DC's in the game, struggles with in game adjustment, or so it seems to me. Perhaps is personnel issues, not sure, but as a whole, the staff struggles to make adjustment. They do what they do, regardless of situation.

 

Remarkably they are 6-3 and in good position, especially when you consider the rest of the league. However, they were 6-2 last year before they went into the crapper. This week against the Raiders, whom they lost to last season when they weren't nearly as tough as they appear now, come to Heinz field and will be a swing game. If they win that one, they'll be 7-3 and basically play .500 football the rest of the way and make the playoffs.

 

Did I leave out that although Ben makes plays while extending them, he also eats way too many unnecessary sacks by the same method?

Where would you like me to start?

 

1. Starting LT done for the year. A former Buffalo bill is taking his place. Biggest defensive player (not Polamalu) A.Smith on the shelf until possibly the playoffs. Starting RT done before season with achilles. Starting LG out with knee. Starting DT Keisel out with hammy.

2. Mendenhall is no different than Fast Willie was for this offense. A back who simply can't churn out 4/5 yds per carry. Avg looks better than it really is because he'll occasionally snap off a 20 yd run and the numbers are skewed. But for a team who would like to control the clock with a running game, that's not the type running game they have.

3. If you protect the QB and the Steelers can't put pressure on him with a blitz package or with a 3/4 man rush, their secondary guys with the exception of Ike Taylor can't cover. Plain and simple

4. Lebeau, although arguably one of the best DC's in the game, struggles with in game adjustment, or so it seems to me. Perhaps is personnel issues, not sure, but as a whole, the staff struggles to make adjustment. They do what they do, regardless of situation.

 

Remarkably they are 6-3 and in good position, especially when you consider the rest of the league. However, they were 6-2 last year before they went into the crapper. This week against the Raiders, whom they lost to last season when they weren't nearly as tough as they appear now, come to Heinz field and will be a swing game. If they win that one, they'll be 7-3 and basically play .500 football the rest of the way and make the playoffs.

 

Did I leave out that although Ben makes plays while extending them, he also eats way too many unnecessary sacks by the same method?

 

Pretty spot on IMO.

 

I'll go ahead and say the Raiders game next week is a must win for Pittsburgh's postseason hopes. I think you're going to see a 10 win team in the AFC miss out this year, and the Steelers can't afford to fall to 6-4 right now with games against @ Ravens, vs. Jets, & @ Cleveland still remaining. On the bright side they have the Bengals, Panthers, and Bills still on the schedule.

Where would you like me to start?

 

1. Starting LT done for the year. A former Buffalo bill is taking his place. Biggest defensive player (not Polamalu) A.Smith on the shelf until possibly the playoffs. Starting RT done before season with achilles. Starting LG out with knee. Starting DT Keisel out with hammy.

2. Mendenhall is no different than Fast Willie was for this offense. A back who simply can't churn out 4/5 yds per carry. Avg looks better than it really is because he'll occasionally snap off a 20 yd run and the numbers are skewed. But for a team who would like to control the clock with a running game, that's not the type running game they have.

3. If you protect the QB and the Steelers can't put pressure on him with a blitz package or with a 3/4 man rush, their secondary guys with the exception of Ike Taylor can't cover. Plain and simple

4. Lebeau, although arguably one of the best DC's in the game, struggles with in game adjustment, or so it seems to me. Perhaps is personnel issues, not sure, but as a whole, the staff struggles to make adjustment. They do what they do, regardless of situation.

 

Remarkably they are 6-3 and in good position, especially when you consider the rest of the league. However, they were 6-2 last year before they went into the crapper. This week against the Raiders, whom they lost to last season when they weren't nearly as tough as they appear now, come to Heinz field and will be a swing game. If they win that one, they'll be 7-3 and basically play .500 football the rest of the way and make the playoffs.

 

Did I leave out that although Ben makes plays while extending them, he also eats way too many unnecessary sacks by the same method?

Finally, a Pittsburgh fan with some answers. Thanks Spindoc. I thought all the Steeler fans on here had left the internet.

And for the bright side:

1. Maurkice Pouncey the rook from Fla. is flat out a stud at Center. Bldg block for the Oline in the future. He's simply Dermonti Dawson only younger.

2. Mike Wallace on the outside is also becoming an elite receiver. Slowly, but he has speed to burn and terrific hands (although he did drop one in the endzone yesterday that ended up in the Jeff Reed gaffe)

3. I really like the play of KR/WR Emmanual Sanders. He has the makings of another standout WR for the Steelers.

4. The Steelers have LB's coming out of their ears. IF they could only draft CB's with the same acquity, they'd be remarkable defensively.

And now, for the most overrated player in Steeler history,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Antwan Randle El.

 

For a guy who had one huge stage in the SB with the heave to Hines Ward on the end around pass, he got a huge check in Washington and tanked. He's back in P'burgh and may arguably have the worst hands of the WR core. He also is terrible at hot reads (and the guy was a QB in college). Poor pattern runner, never catches a ball in traffic. He had several opportunities to make plays last night, and simply didn't very often. Last int. by Ben was underthrown but should have been caught. It wouldn't have made much of a difference in the game, but that's a microcosm of his career. I hope they get development out of the young guys like Sanders and Brown so that I don't have to throw the pillows at the TV anymore during games when El drops another one or the ball goes sailing toward the hash when he's streaking down the sideline because he didn't bother to look inside to see he was the hot route.

And for the bright side:

1. Maurkice Pouncey the rook from Fla. is flat out a stud at Center. Bldg block for the Oline in the future. He's simply Dermonti Dawson only younger.

2. Mike Wallace on the outside is also becoming an elite receiver. Slowly, but he has speed to burn and terrific hands (although he did drop one in the endzone yesterday that ended up in the Jeff Reed gaffe)

3. I really like the play of KR/WR Emmanual Sanders. He has the makings of another standout WR for the Steelers.

4. The Steelers have LB's coming out of their ears. IF they could only draft CB's with the same acquity, they'd be remarkable defensively.

I thought 88 also showed some promise for a rook. Is Sweed still on the roster?

I thought 88 also showed some promise for a rook. Is Sweed still on the roster?

Yep, 88 Sanders is fun to watch. Honestly, I don't know about Sweed. Best I can recall, he was doing well in camp and then was injured and is on IR.