Sky Is Not Falling

[Smashmouth21]

Thursday night was a shit show no doubt. This is a Steelers squad that in its current configuration can beat any team or lose to any team. That’s what happens when you rely on defense to win games. The good news is the schedule from here out has 5 very winnable games remaining (maybe 6 if Ravens are in coast mode week 17). One game at a time.

I know this message board is the epitome of overreaction central — both ways. But making the tournament is always the goal. It’s still attainable. After that, any given Sunday. Don’t lose then faith. We ride.

[Kodiak]

Offense DVOA is 28th in the league....the 4 teams below us (MIA, CIN, NYJ, WAS) are a combined 5-31.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Offense DVOA is 28th in the league....the 4 teams below us (MIA, CIN, NYJ, WAS) are a combined 5-31.

Well the Steelers will play at least two of those teams. That should help.

[El Kabong]

Thursday night was a shit show no doubt. This is a Steelers squad that in its current configuration can beat any team or lose to any team. That’s what happens when you rely on defense to win games. The good news is the schedule from here out has 5 very winnable games remaining (maybe 6 if Ravens are in coast mode week 17). One game at a time.

I know this message board is the epitome of overreaction central — both ways. But making the tournament is always the goal. It’s still attainable. After that, any given Sunday. Don’t lose then faith. We ride.

I agree. I think we beat the Bengals, and I think we beat the Browns in Heinz.

[Stillchest]

Thursday night was a shit show no doubt. This is a Steelers squad that in its current configuration can beat any team or lose to any team. That’s what happens when you rely on defense to win games. The good news is the schedule from here out has 5 very winnable games remaining (maybe 6 if Ravens are in coast mode week 17). One game at a time.

I know this message board is the epitome of overreaction central — both ways. But making the tournament is always the goal. It’s still attainable. After that, any given Sunday. Don’t lose then faith. We ride.

I agree. I think we beat the Bengals, and I think we beat the Browns in Heinz.

Can’t seen them beating the Browns.

[JJT07]

Thursday night was a shit show no doubt. This is a Steelers squad that in its current configuration can beat any team or lose to any team. That’s what happens when you rely on defense to win games. The good news is the schedule from here out has 5 very winnable games remaining (maybe 6 if Ravens are in coast mode week 17). One game at a time.

I know this message board is the epitome of overreaction central — both ways. But making the tournament is always the goal. It’s still attainable. After that, any given Sunday. Don’t lose then faith. We ride.

I agree. I think we beat the Bengals, and I think we beat the Browns in Heinz.

Agree. 7-5 hopefully. Our whole team will be more rested and prepared.

[Jobu]

Right now, I honestly believe they will lose in Cincinnati. Poor OC, No running game, no QB, injury depleted WR group...no offense.

[Jizz Mop]

Right now, I honestly believe they will lose in Cincinnati. Poor OC, No running game, no QB, injury depleted WR group...no offense.

We squeak out a win

[Jobu]

Right now, I honestly believe they will lose in Cincinnati. Poor OC, No running game, no QB, injury depleted WR group...no offense.

We squeak out a win

3-0?

[Steeldrama]

The sky is not falling
It’s already fallen

The offensive line is falling apart
The running game is historically bad
The receivers are inexperienced
Mason Rudolph is David Woolley/Kent Graham bad

Randy Finchtner can be mentioned in same breath as Joe Walton and Ray Sherman (Irony in there somewhere)

That offensive performance against the Browns has me as disheartened as I’ve ever been after a loss.

Even IF Ben comes back 100% from major elbow surgery what’s he coming back to?

The Steelers have major holes at every position on the offense and possibly the most important position in pro sports....quarterback

[JJT07]

The sky is not falling
It’s already fallen

The offensive line is falling apart
The running game is historically bad
The receivers are inexperienced
Mason Rudolph is David Woolley/Kent Graham bad

Randy Finchtner can be mentioned in same breath as Joe Walton and Ray Sherman (Irony in there somewhere)

That offensive performance against the Browns has me as disheartened as I’ve ever been after a loss.

Even IF Ben comes back 100% from major elbow surgery what’s he coming back to?

The Steelers have major holes at every position on the offense and possibly the most important position in pro sports....quarterback

This, Ben is obviously better than Mason, but he won't solve all of our issues. He will be coming back to a shit offense with an o-line that is a year older and shittier.

Last year with the season on the line, against a team that sucked and had given up (the Bengals), without AB, we won 16-13. And that was with a healthy (since folks think his poor play this year was due to injury) Ben and I believe Conner. 16 points at home against a terrible terrible team.

[Kodiak]

People forget how much Ben called his own plays, and what he did with audibles and also OL blocking assignments. I don't expect a first-year starter to be anywhere near that level, but that's a huge difference maker.

The other aspect is simply that Rudolph is leaving a ton of plays on the field. Someone posted our receivers were like 5th in separation. Some of that is defenses daring Mason to beat them, but there's no question this would be a much better offense with Ben.

The CIN game last year without AB isn't really a comparison. Huge distraction all week, and I don't think they really expected to make the playoffs because BAL wasn't going to lose to CLE.

[JJT07]

People forget how much Ben called his own plays, and what he did with audibles and also OL blocking assignments. I don't expect a first-year starter to be anywhere near that level, but that's a huge difference maker.

The other aspect is simply that Rudolph is leaving a ton of plays on the field. Someone posted our receivers were like 5th in separation. Some of that is defenses daring Mason to beat them, but there's no question this would be a much better offense with Ben.

The CIN game last year without AB isn't really a comparison. Huge distraction all week, and I don't think they really expected to make the playoffs because BAL wasn't going to lose to CLE.

So the AB distraction caused Ben and the team to play poorly with the season on the line? I think it was AB not being there to open up the entire field, for everyone.

And the Browns almost beat the Ravens, sure looked like they cared when they were all watching it on the jumbotron after their game was over.

The issue is that Mason hasn't really passed the "eye test" for a lot of us. His statistics (QB rating) aren't terrible, especially before last game. But to blame him solely for this offenses struggles I think is wrong. To put an essentially rookie QB behind a very average o-line, with not one weapon a defense is scared of, and a terrible offensive coordinator is not a good combo and can make anyone look bad.

Folks can make whatever excuses they want, Ben was hurt, it was the Pats, etc. But since AB left, the 2.5 games Ben played he looked average as shit. So of course Mason is going to look terrible with the same (arguably less) supporting cast.

[Kodiak]

So of course Mason is going to look terrible with the same (arguably less) supporting cast.

Mason is going to look terrible with any supporting cast because he's not an NFL qb.

[StillerInCT]

Right now, I honestly believe they will lose in Cincinnati. Poor OC, No running game, no QB, injury depleted WR group...no offense.

We squeak out a win

3-0?

You laugh! But....not....unrealistic

[Steelafan77]

The sky is not falling
It’s already fallen

The offensive line is falling apart
The running game is historically bad
The receivers are inexperienced
Mason Rudolph is David Woolley/Kent Graham bad

Randy Fichtner can be mentioned in same breath as Joe Walton and Ray Sherman (Irony in there somewhere)

That offensive performance against the Browns has me as disheartened as I’ve ever been after a loss.

Even IF Ben comes back 100% from major elbow surgery what’s he coming back to?

The Steelers have major holes at every position on the offense and possibly the most important position in pro sports....quarterback

Thank You! Saved me the trouble of writing this. No need for a double post....

[El Kabong]

Thursday night was a shit show no doubt. This is a Steelers squad that in its current configuration can beat any team or lose to any team. That’s what happens when you rely on defense to win games. The good news is the schedule from here out has 5 very winnable games remaining (maybe 6 if Ravens are in coast mode week 17). One game at a time.

I know this message board is the epitome of overreaction central — both ways. But making the tournament is always the goal. It’s still attainable. After that, any given Sunday. Don’t lose then faith. We ride.

I agree. I think we beat the Bengals, and I think we beat the Browns in Heinz.

Can’t seen them beating the Browns.

We know that the visiting team has a hard time playing on Thursday. I think the Steelers will look a lot better against the Browns when playing at Heinz with a full week to prepare.

[El Kabong]

Randy Finchtner can be mentioned in same breath as Joe Walton and Ray Sherman (Irony in there somewhere)

I'm seeing this a lot, but last year Ben had 5000 yards passing and 34 TD's, which seems to indicate Fich did pretty well last year. Did Fich suddenly become stupid since last year?

[steelmann58]

I am curious was Ben making Randy look good as the OC or was it Vise versa? I ask because Randy play calling this season has stunk

[steelmann58]

I hope the steelers at least tryout Pryor or Dez we need WR

[meanjustinbarlow]

They will struggle in Cincinnati but they should be able to eek out a win, and then they will pound Cleveland without Garrett.

I think they lose in AZ though. Then they will beat Buffalo at home and beat the Jets.

9-6 going into the Ravens game trying to sneak in as a wild card. Ravens may have the bye locked up and resting starters.

[Quixotic]

Right now, I honestly believe they will lose in Cincinnati. Poor OC, No running game, no QB, injury depleted WR group...no offense.

We squeak out a win

3-0?

10-3…because Minkah.

[R_S]

Steelers win the next 3. The Browns game will be their super bowl. that's a guaranteed win.

[955876]

The sky is not falling
It’s already fallen

The offensive line is falling apart
The running game is historically bad
The receivers are inexperienced
Mason Rudolph is David Woolley/Kent Graham bad

Randy Finchtner can be mentioned in same breath as Joe Walton and Ray Sherman (Irony in there somewhere)

That offensive performance against the Browns has me as disheartened as I’ve ever been after a loss.

Even IF Ben comes back 100% from major elbow surgery what’s he coming back to?

The Steelers have major holes at every position on the offense and possibly the most important position in pro sports....quarterback

This, Ben is obviously better than Mason, but he won't solve all of our issues. He will be coming back to a shit offense with an o-line that is a year older and shittier.

Last year with the season on the line, against a team that sucked and had given up (the Bengals), without AB, we won 16-13. And that was with a healthy (since folks think his poor play this year was due to injury) Ben and I believe Conner. 16 points at home against a terrible terrible team.

Ding ding.

We haven’t been getting it done with Ben.

He will be older, rustier, and more injury prone next season.

I say you go all in hoping he can put together a season or two and if not you gut the whole damn thing. Be woefully bad for 2-3 years and then hand all that draft capital to a new staff.

[955876]

Huge distraction all week, and I don't think they really expected to make the playoffs because BAL wasn't going to lose to CLE.

This team is easily distracted under Jibba.

Oh noes. What do we ever do about the anthem???

Then goes out and loses to bad Chicago team who’s QB had but 100 yards passing.

[Kodiak]

Huge distraction all week, and I don't think they really expected to make the playoffs because BAL wasn't going to lose to CLE.

This team is easily distracted under Jibba.

Oh noes. What do we ever do about the anthem???

Then goes out and loses to bad Chicago team who’s QB had but 100 yards passing.

Tomlin has said you can't demand 100% every week or guys are mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the year. I don't buy it, but Cowher had the same philosophy.

So there is 0 doubt in my mind that a road game against a weak NFC opponent is a much, much easier week in practice & gameplanning than a home game against BAL, or when the season is on the line.

[955876]

Tomlin has said you can't demand 100% every week or guys are mentally and physically exhausted by the end of the year.

Ya, can’t have the guys tired heading into their early vacations after missing the playoffs or exiting early from the playoffs.

Yet again.

[TemporaryDuck]

Myles Garrett did what Cam Heyward couldn't. Wake our offense the fuck up and showed them what pussies they were. Remember earlier this year the Defense was messing with the O-line giving them shit? Well, we just saw why. They knew they were being soft and were trying to toughen them up.

Well, of course they didn't listen, and it almost got our quarterback killed. So, hopefully they've now gotten the message and are ready to be on point.

They should bring Hines Ward back in to coach the receivers. If they aren't going catch any passes, they better start lighting people up, or it's lights out.