Optimism for the Future

[Legacy User]

It seems like we changed our philosophy a little bit on the draft starting in 2017.

We all noticed it at the time - the Steelers prioritized "character" just as much, or even more, as production. The FO seemed to be looking for guys who were not only good at playing football, but also guys who enjoyed playing the game and valued the idea of "team" over "self."

Looking back, I thought it was a great move at the time, especially coming off the shitty Facebook Live stunt that AB pulled in the playoffs that year. After that season, I felt strongly that we needed new leaders and new blood, and the draft certainly paid off in that way.

TJ Watt, Juju, James Connor. Character guys.

Last year was the same thing -

Edmunds / Washington / Samuels / Chuks = all high character guys.

The question was always -- Can they play?

The 2017 draft certainly paid off in a big way. All 3 are Pro Bowlers.

Hopefully the 2018 draft next year will look as good as the 2017 draft looks right now.

With a higher draft slot this year, and with the prospect of picking up a couple of extra picks (via AB trade), we might see another 3-5 guys who will immediately impact the roster next year.

After that 2016 season, it seems like we are slowly cleaning house - Bryant gone, Bell and AB will both be gone. The roster is being made over.

[Legacy User]

My optimism went out the door with the lack of a necessary offseason shakeup

Same ol

Same ol

[Jobu]

As long as the future includes Mike Tomlin wearing aviators on the sidelines, there is no reason for optimism...

[steelmann58]

I don't see the steelers winning a sb with Tomlin. But i look at FA and see what the steelers do in FA if the go again for Bargain FA then its the same old way,and if the sign a big playmaker then yes i will be a bit optimistic.

[the-other-burg]

With status quo on the horizon, each day is better than the next.

[Legacy User]

I hate Tomlin as much as anyone here....
BUT

we are bereft of talent in a lot of places..

Sure, Tomlin is responsible (with KC) for player acquisition, but drafting in the high 20's slot eventually catches up.

Dupree - 22
Burns - 25
Watt- 30
Edmunds - 28

I just see a different draft philosophy starting in 2017, and it is paying some dividends now. Character/ Personality seem to have a higher weight in the decision matrix.

With the higher draft slot this year, and the extra picks, could position us for a nice injection of talent

[Legacy User]

Lmao, optimism- I don't feel you at all.

Ben is going to retire soon and he isn't going to start playing any better than he already is, only will get worse.
Dumblin still "unleashing" hell with this team and not the good kind.
Butler still has a job.
Art doesn't give a flying fuck and it shows, he is fucking happy to be at or braley above .500

HURHURHUR tOmLiN hAs NeVeR hAd A lOsInG sEaSoN!
STEELERS DON'T MAKE COACHING CHANGES HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUR BECAUSET HAT IS OBVIOUSLY FUCKING WORKING FOR THEM NOW ISN'T IT!?!!

Ownership is content, coaching is content and the players are running the show.
Team of clowns.

This team wont sniff another SuperBowl until major changes are made and that is assuming we have another great QB because Ben is onehit away from retiring.
God. Fucking. Damn. It.

[Steelperch]

Everybody has character on a rookie contract. I can see some of these guys becoming assholes once they get their money and fame like AB and Brown did.

[alancac98]

I hate Tomlin as much as anyone here....
BUT

we are bereft of talent in a lot of places..

Sure, Tomlin is responsible (with KC) for player acquisition, but drafting in the high 20's slot eventually catches up.

Dupree - 22
Burns - 25
Watt- 30
Edmunds - 28

I just see a different draft philosophy starting in 2017, and it is paying some dividends now. Character/ Personality seem to have a higher weight in the decision matrix.

With the higher draft slot this year, and the extra picks, could position us for a nice injection of talent

Hasn't stopped NE or even slowed them down has it? You can win if you do what it takes to win - if that is the top priority, but strong management and leadership must be there, which the Steelers do not have. Even though BB is an unbelievable coach, if he had gone on this shitty streak like Tomlin has, do you think Kraft would have kept him around as long as the Steelers have kept Tomlin? I doubt it. Kraft would have axed him years ago! Kraft wants rings and doesn't give a shit about anything else and will do whatever it takes to get them (including cheating of course).

[Obviously]

NE wins with guys named James White, Chris Hogan and Kyle Van Noy. They draft a guy like OT Nate Solder who isn't all that in the first round, dump him and just plug and play Trent Brown in there. Who you say? Exactly. Fucking JAGs who buy into a system and do their fucking job because Belichick and Co. demand it of them.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, we have fucking Tomlin and the inmates run the asylum. We're gripping because we can't hold on to superstars AB and Bell. You know what? Fuck superstars! Just get all you can out of your players. Have a grown up in charge. Is that asking too much? I guess it is with EMR.

[jeemie]

NE wins with guys named James White, Chris Hogan and Kyle Van Noy. They draft a guy like OT Nate Solder who isn't all that in the first round, dump him and just plug and play Trent Brown in there. Who you say? Exactly. Fucking JAGs who buy into a system and do their fucking job because Belichick and Co. demand it of them.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, we have fucking Tomlin and the inmates run the asylum. We're gripping because we can't hold on to superstars AB and Bell. You know what? Fuck superstars! Just get all you can out of your players. Have a grown up in charge. Is that asking too much? I guess it is with EMR.

No superstars?

Why- that would mean Mike Tomlin would actually have to be able to coach.

[Nick79]

NE wins with guys named James White, Chris Hogan and Kyle Van Noy. They draft a guy like OT Nate Solder who isn't all that in the first round, dump him and just plug and play Trent Brown in there. Who you say? Exactly. Fucking JAGs who buy into a system and do their fucking job because Belichick and Co. demand it of them.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, we have fucking Tomlin and the inmates run the asylum. We're gripping because we can't hold on to superstars AB and Bell. You know what? Fuck superstars! Just get all you can out of your players. Have a grown up in charge. Is that asking too much? I guess it is with EMR.

No superstars?

Why- that would mean Mike Tomlin would actually have to be able to coach.

Exactly, half the time we win because after they fucked around for 58 minutes Tomlin hands Big Ben the ball and sends him out to play street ball with AB and Juju!

[Steelafan77]

Optimism for the Future

At this point for me it's seeing a complete rebuild unfold.

[Legacy User]

I absolutely hate Tomfuck, but he's not going anywhere for at least 2 years, if not longer.

I fucking HATE AR2 with a passion -- but he is never going anywhere.

I bitch and moan with the rest of you too about these assholes, but I do some a silver lining - regardless of the jackasses in charge.

[jeemie]

NE wins with guys named James White, Chris Hogan and Kyle Van Noy. They draft a guy like OT Nate Solder who isn't all that in the first round, dump him and just plug and play Trent Brown in there. Who you say? Exactly. Fucking JAGs who buy into a system and do their fucking job because Belichick and Co. demand it of them.

Meanwhile in Pittsburgh, we have fucking Tomlin and the inmates run the asylum. We're gripping because we can't hold on to superstars AB and Bell. You know what? Fuck superstars! Just get all you can out of your players. Have a grown up in charge. Is that asking too much? I guess it is with EMR.

It's not even just the superstars with this team.

As we saw on another thread, LJ Fort called out Chris Boswell on Twitter yesterday.

LJ Fucking Fort...probably feeling his oats with his career-high 48 tackles and blocked FG (which ended up not mattering because we still lost).

The team might just be rotten to the core right now.

[Legacy User]

My optimistic scenario is 4-12 next year, 2-14 the next, Tomlin is fired and we pick up Trevor Lawrence.

[Steelafan77]

More optimism, you ask? Yes. More optimism isn't a bad thing when you have some fresh perspective to go with that optimism. Can the Steelers staff learn from the two losing conference championship teams and their mistakes on Sunday? I say they can and should. This is my 'newest' optimism. The Steelers will look at the two teams that lost Sunday and avoid their results. After all it's not impossible.

Saints coach Sean Payton and Chiefs coach Andy Reid may both be wishing this morning that they had been more aggressive before halftime, and again before overtime. Because both losing coaches decided to get conservative at the ends of both halves. https://www.yahoo.com/sports/both-losin ... 42207.html

[Legacy User]

As we saw on another thread, LJ Fort called out Chris Boswell on Twitter yesterday.

Did he?

[lifelongsteel]

As we saw on another thread, LJ Fort called out Chris Boswell on Twitter yesterday.

Did he?

meh

he commented that all teams left have elite kickers. pretty funny actually with so much talk about elite coaches and QB's.

Could have been a shot at Boswell.

But, just as likely it was just a comment.

[lifelongsteel]

My optimistic scenario is 4-12 next year, 2-14 the next, Tomlin is fired and we pick up Trevor Lawrence.

Might as well go 19-0 then 2-14. I mean if you are being optimistic