Positive Threads

[bradshaw2ben]

Maybe Aaron Rodgers doesn't come and it opens the door to a story book twist: Will Howard devotes his heart and soul to the Steelers and grabs the opportunity. Maybe Kaleb Johnson is such an upgrade to Najee that the Steelers neanderthal approach to offense works. Maybe Broderick Jones looks like a new man at LT and maybe Fautanu adds some attitude and quick feet to the group. Hell, maybe Gareth Warren becomes another in a long, long line of stud Poly RGs in the NFL. It could be a special group. Maybe the WR group takes it upon themselves to prove all the naysayers wrong, blocking their asses off and being the best team-oriented WR group in the league. Maybe this is the year Darnell Washington and the other backup TEs get more targets and male the offense less predictable. Maybe Pat Freiermuth grows into the stud they see.

Maybe the addition of Juan Thornhill means Minkah can get more involved and get back to his playmaker form. Maybe the addition of both Jack Sawyer and Jeremiah Moon can keep TJ fresh and let him take over games. Maybe Cam Heyward will continue his impressive late-career play and be even better with fresh upgrades on the line next to him. Maybe Cole Holcomb will be 100% recovered and play so well that the team is forced to play him as an every down LB. Maybe the Steelrs find roles for Peyton Wilson and Patrick Queen that cover for their weaknesses and accentuate what they do well. Perhaps Darius Slay not only upgrades the CB group but also mentors JPJ and raises the level of his play. Maybe Brandin Echols is more than just a STs addition and he will be the NCB they've sought since Mike Hilton left. Hell, maybe they'll play DeShon Elliott some at nickel with Thornhill & Minkah.

Maybe the coaches really took the end of last year to heart and meant it when they said that there were going to be some significant changes. After all, they didn't change many coaches, so the significant changes could be about scheme and game plans and how they utilize the talent.

Schedule is going to come out and it possible we'll all see a path to turing this oil tanker around. Cowher grew and adapted at about this point of his career... maybe Tomlin has it in him to change.

[ironzabo]

Giddy Up .....

Also BY FAR the best RB Room we have had in MANY moons boys and girls

[.Kodiak]

Sign me up for the Will Howard bandwagon! I think it's a great R6 pick. Most of those are busts, and this has huge potential.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

it will be entertaining in the same way Kevin Durant to the Suns and late stage ARod was in baseball.

The bitching will be more competitive than the team.

[SteelerDayTrader]

I really wanna Believe

The 3 biggest concerns I have are:

- The RB unit isn’t close enough at all to being a dominant unit. Simply not enough workhorse bodies. Yet again. All the more frustrating because it’s not a difficult fix but it is maybe the most important one on offense

- The defensive line cannot stop the run when it matters. And hasn’t been able to for a long time. I like Derrick Harmon. One guy is not enough.

- Playmakers, doorslammers, call them whatever you like. As of right now this team doesn’t have even one single entity that scares opponents or at minimum forces opponents to adjust much. Pickens had his problems and I at least somewhat understand getting what they could now but without him the Steelers really really lack elite talent anywhere on the roster

I hope you are right however and I don’t think it’s impossible for at least some of those things you mention to swing our way


Hoping for the best. Expecting less

[955876]

Maybe the coaches really took the end of last year to heart and meant it when they said that there were going to be some significant changes. After all, they didn't change many coaches, so the significant changes could be about scheme and game plans and how they utilize the talent.

I was on board with the rest of your post. This part though???

Leopards don’t change their spots. These cats are who they are. Too much tape to think otherwise.

We might see glimpses of change and it will give us hope. When the rubber meets the road through they will revert to who they are and will do what they do.

[tbsteel]

Fuck this.



No sunshine this year. Nothing but bitter coldness, desolation, and never-ending darkness.

This is a bad draft class. Johnson is smaller than you'd expect and goes down way too easily than you'd think. Harmon looks like he skips leg day and is just going to be good not great. The rest are trash. Broderick will be a complete disaster at LT and will get benched. Fautanu is Willie Colon: a guard who thinks he can play tackle but will get abused by NFL speed. Seumalo is on the downside of his career. We have the worst OL depth we've had in 15 years.

On D, TJ Watt is on the downside and only has flashes of greatness mixed in with long periods where he's a complete non-factor. Expect more injuries. Cam was great last year but that was an extinction burst. He won't approach that again. Queen is a lost cause. JPJ is mentally weak and fakes what his dad actually had: balls. Minkah is fine but not a game changer anymore.

We have the worst QB and WR rooms in the NFL. Our TE group is well below average. Our starting tackles are a disaster and there's no one behind them to save them. Our RB group is... fine. And our D will be okay but will be worse this year than they were last year. And they're still coached by Captain Titties.

[CKSteeler]

I don't have any positivity left with this team and you aren't going to force me to.

I like that they have a lot of resources for next year's draft. It's not the worst idea on paper. They've spent years trying to build the trenches and run game for a young QB. Not the worst idea on paper.

Not on paper is the shit we all know about this franchise's leadership.

[CKSteeler]

In terms of Will Howard, even if he puts his all into it, he's a project. He's not an NFL level thrower. I actually think Arthur Smith works well with QB's. He's shown some ability to develop or at least to take on reclamation projects.

But Tomlin has also shown that he has a quick trigger finger when NHALS is at stake. He's not going to waste a year or two waiting on any QB to develop if that's at stake.

SO I guess there's a fever dream where Howard takes the league by storm ala Brock Purdy. He'd have to improve by leaps and bounds from where he was the last time he took the field in live play.

[K_C_]

I'm excited about the rookie class, especially Kaleb Johnson who I think is going to be a stud.

I think the Steelers are going to add a veteran WR like Gabe Davis, Keenan Allen or Amari Cooper shortly, so that should make things a little more interesting. Roman Wilson and Calvin Austin as #3 and #4 receivers could be very good. Just gotta find a somewhat dangerous #2 and I hope Gabe Davis is the guy. Folks that are saying his best days are behind him I do not understand. He had one down year on a bad Jacksonville team with a massively overrated Trevor Lawrence. He was very good in Buffalo.

While Mason is a decent QB, I think the job is Will Howard's to lose. It's not like the Steelers have a complicated offense and if Howard shows good processing skills and accuracy during the preseason, I think he'll be the starter week one. I like Mason Rudolph but the Steelers are in deep shit if he is the starter long term.

Offensive line is the biggest concern but looking on the bright side, Broderick Jones' natural position is LT and that's where he'll finally be playing. Fautanu was considered a top 2 or 3 tackle in last year's draft and the dude can play. Just gotta hope he stays healthy because there isn't a lot of depth. I love the additions on defense and I think next year, the are going to load up on that side of the ball after adding a QB and WR2.

[smithessmokin]

Maybe Aaron Rodgers doesn't come and it opens the door to a story book twist: Will Howard devotes his heart and soul to the Steelers and grabs the opportunity. Maybe Kaleb Johnson is such an upgrade to Najee that the Steelers neanderthal approach to offense works. Maybe Broderick Jones looks like a new man at LT and maybe Fautanu adds some attitude and quick feet to the group. Hell, maybe Gareth Warren becomes another in a long, long line of stud Poly RGs in the NFL. It could be a special group. Maybe the WR group takes it upon themselves to prove all the naysayers wrong, blocking their asses off and being the best team-oriented WR group in the league. Maybe this is the year Darnell Washington and the other backup TEs get more targets and male the offense less predictable. Maybe Pat Freiermuth grows into the stud they see.

Maybe the addition of Juan Thornhill means Minkah can get more involved and get back to his playmaker form. Maybe the addition of both Jack Sawyer and Jeremiah Moon can keep TJ fresh and let him take over games. Maybe Cam Heyward will continue his impressive late-career play and be even better with fresh upgrades on the line next to him. Maybe Cole Holcomb will be 100% recovered and play so well that the team is forced to play him as an every down LB. Maybe the Steelrs find roles for Peyton Wilson and Patrick Queen that cover for their weaknesses and accentuate what they do well. Perhaps Darius Slay not only upgrades the CB group but also mentors JPJ and raises the level of his play. Maybe Brandin Echols is more than just a STs addition and he will be the NCB they've sought since Mike Hilton left. Hell, maybe they'll play DeShon Elliott some at nickel with Thornhill & Minkah.

Maybe the coaches really took the end of last year to heart and meant it when they said that there were going to be some significant changes. After all, they didn't change many coaches, so the significant changes could be about scheme and game plans and how they utilize the talent.

Schedule is going to come out and it possible we'll all see a path to turing this oil tanker around. Cowher grew and adapted at about this point of his career... maybe Tomlin has it in him to change.

This season has the chance to either wreck Tomlin's legacy or set him up as a lock to be a 1st ballot HOFer.

If all of the above mentioned panned out, the future looks very bright. However, having so picks next year is the theoretical "hedge" against those as well. Steelers have a projected $106M in cap space looking to 2026 and all those picks to help either strengthen the existing core, or find the needed replacements.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

To be fair, the more tape I see of Kaleb Johnson the more convinced I am that he was a steal.

[anpsteel]

Giddy Up .....

Also BY FAR the best RB Room we have had in MANY moons boys and girls

At least since LeVeon and Deangelo Williams

[K_C_]

To be fair, the more tape I see of Kaleb Johnson the more convinced I am that he was a steal.

Right with you. I think Johnson will be a major upgrade over Najee and with Warren, Gainwell and maybe Sermon, the Steelers should have a pretty incredible backfield.

We know the Steelers are going to play caveman football and we just gotta hope the o-line is up for it.

God knows Mason or Will Howard should see plenty of single coverage on all the receivers not named DK Metcalf this year.

[StillerDownSouth]

IMO it’s pretty simple, can the offense put up 23 pts per game, if so they will keep NHALS alive. We are in forever football hell until the next stud QB walks through the door. There’s usually 4 to maybe 5 teams each year that have a legit chance to win a ship, and 4-5 teams that absolutely suck balls, until the Steelers get a young stud at QB they will be one of 20 teams that puts a decent product on the field, can compete with the other 20 mediocre teams and beat the 5 door mats most of the time. I’ll still watch and cheer for victory, but until that stud QB arrives there really is little to no hope.

[tbsteel]

To be fair, the more tape I see of Kaleb Johnson the more convinced I am that he was a steal.

It's funny as for me it has been the opposite.

[steelmann58]

I like Will but I also think Mason can win. I not sold on the coaching staff. Think we still have a CB issue. But the Dl should be better and have quality depth at DL and LB spot. The keys will the Tackles on this team. Still biggest concern is that #2 Wr have a bad feeling

[Steelperch]

All positive threads should results in immediate ban until Tomlin is fired.

[SteelerDayTrader]

Like I said

I wanna Believe

But I have ZERO idea where many of you come up with the idea this RB group is gonna be something legit

Lolololz

[Ice]

Like I said

I wanna Believe

But I have ZERO idea where many of you come up with the idea this RB is gonna be something legit

Lolololz

I think "something legit," based on what we've been seeing the last few years, is a pretty low bar to casually step over.

[Steeldrama]

All positive threads should results in immediate ban until Tomlin is fired.

More than kinda how I feel ^

But

I get where B2B's head is at

For me, your beloved Steelers spending early draft capital on the trenches since Colbert's thankful departure is a major positive.

However,

Ya gotta hit on the picks.

The Steelers haven't hit on a 1st round pick since they were gifted TJ Watt (Tak McKinley? Really Atlanta??)

But at least the approach is finally right.

Man, I miss my guy Cowher.

Build it up the middle.

Steed, Kirkland, Lake, Perry.

Dirt Dawson, Duval Love, Haselrig, Barry Foster (Fuck you Neil O'Tool)

In no particular year or order, but those type of guys were the foundation of some really good football teams.

[gojira5150]

To be fair, the more tape I see of Kaleb Johnson the more convinced I am that he was a steal.

.
I'm a Hawks fan. This dude is legit, great pick in the 3rd. Thing is the Hawks had no passing game as they had an average to below average WR room. This meant that Kaleb faced 8 in box dam every week in then B1G and still had crazy numbers.

[955876]

This meant that Kaleb faced 8 in box dam every week

A perfect pick for us then. Jibbs couldn’t back 8 men out of the box with a flame thrower and howitzer

[bradshaw2ben]

To be fair, the more tape I see of Kaleb Johnson the more convinced I am that he was a steal.

.
I'm a Hawks fan. This dude is legit, great pick in the 3rd. Thing is the Hawks had no passing game as they had an average to below average WR room. This meant that Kaleb faced 8 in box dam every week in then B1G and still had crazy numbers.

In a way, though, packed boxes increase the frequency of long runs. You just have to be good enough to get through the crack in the wall.

[gojira5150]

To be fair, the more tape I see of Kaleb Johnson the more convinced I am that he was a steal.

.
I'm a Hawks fan. This dude is legit, great pick in the 3rd. Thing is the Hawks had no passing game as they had an average to below average WR room. This meant that Kaleb faced 8 in box dam every week in then B1G and still had crazy numbers.

In a way, though, packed boxes increase the frequency of long runs. You just have to be good enough to get through the crack in the wall.

You are correct. Kaleb did break many long runs as he has a knack getting thru the Crack in the wall as he has very good vision and the perfect RB for Artie's zone blocking scheme.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

"In a way, though, packed boxes increase the frequency of long runs. You just have to be good enough to get through the crack in the wall."

Willie Parker standard in effect..."if you take away his long runs"

Najee never had to worry about that as it never made a difference in his averages since there were no outliers

[.Kodiak]

So we had Mendenhall, who liked to hit defenders with unnecessary spin moves all the time.

And we had Najee, who liked to try unnecessarily to jump over defenders all the time.

What will Kaleb's signature move be? Slowing down unnecessarily to stiff-arm guys?

[955876]

So we had Mendenhall, who liked to hit defenders with unnecessary spin moves all the time.

And we had Najee, who liked to try unnecessarily to jump over defenders all the time.

What will Kaleb's signature move be? Slowing down unnecessarily to stiff-arm guys?

Jibbs will certainly help him figure that out.

[anpsteel]

So we had Mendenhall, who liked to hit defenders with unnecessary spin moves all the time.

And we had Najee, who liked to try unnecessarily to jump over defenders all the time.

What will Kaleb's signature move be? Slowing down unnecessarily to stiff-arm guys?

ooops- I didn't realize I was in the Positive Thread- consider this deleted. lol

[Dan Smith--BYU]

"What will Kaleb's signature move be? Slowing down unnecessarily to stiff-arm guys?"

We need to bring in Najee Davenport as a consultant.

Or bring back the tear away since he reminds me of Greg Pruitt.