Why Steelers Lost

[955876]

Maybe that's what you were doing when citing stats, but when stats are cherry picked solely to back an opinion, without applying any context behind the stats,

You have it backwards still.

Stats aren’t cherry picked to support an opinion. Instead, those stats are part of what forms that opinion. That and simply watching this team bumble around trying to gain a yard.

What you and others have been doing is ignoring historically awful statistics and performance because the team pulled a couple rabbits out of their hat.

Meanwhile, the “stats crew” has been telling you that this team can’t keep playing the way they’ve been playing and expect to do shit.

You and others said but but they won the game.

Ok, they did. That was great. Where are they now? Where are they going?

While unfortunate, we were right.

Obviously.

I didn't ignore any of the historically bad stats, I felt there was context behind the bad offensive output.

With a relatively healthy team to finish out with, I thought we could see the historically bad offensive stats change, and the wins would continue, given the teams left on the schedule.

I also explained what I think is a reasonable way to use stats to analyze positive traits of a player/team as well as their deficiencies, while being a fan of a team. I said you might have been doing that with your posts, and if you were, you wouldn't be part of the stats only crew that wasn't/isn't doing this. If you think I'm specifically referring to you, then you're incorrect, because I'm not. Your forum ID isn't jumping out as being part of what I referred to as the stats only crew.

Everyone can see where they are right now, and where they are going given the health of the team on both sides of the ball, and yes it is unfortunate. Some posters are happy they are where they are, while others like you and I think it's unfortunate. It is what it is.

Fair enough. And I’ll be happy when there is a regime change and new attitude on this team.

Till then, their failure is on them and not something I’m going g to bellyache over.

In fact, the worse they look at this point the better. Otherwise, we will continue doing what we do which will continue to give us what we’ve gotten.

And the reason I feel so strongly bout that is that you can’t get better from here. Not u fee Jibbs.

This nonsense about “not doing the fundamentals” after 14 games when your offense has been as wretched as it’s been is a reflection of a coach who isn’t getting through.

Why won’t Pickens block?

Is Najee Harris really Mr. Magoo?

And on and on and on.

Tomlin can’t make this team better. Players just not sucking on their own would go a long way to making this team better.

But even if they do that, Jibbs isn’t taking any team to the next level. He simply isn’t.

That is where we are. I don’t celebrate mediocrity and especially not idiocy.

They dumble down on both.

[swissvale72]

consider that much of your criticism of this team was of the QB position, citing the absymal play of KP8, and often his lack of touchdown passes. Can you consider the possiblity that the team's current slide just MIGHT be due to his being out of the lineup.

This isn’t a good team playing bad because it misses KP.

This is a bad team playing slightly worse because Trubisky is a bit smellier turd than Pickett.

We weren’t going anywhere this season with or without Pickett.

You need to score points to win playoff games. We weren’t doing g that with Pickett and a big reason is because well, he fails to put points on the board.

So while you are celebrating those rushing TDs (pssst I like rushing TDs too) I was accurately being critical of Pickett’s lack of passing TDs which I should have to tell you makes an offense more complete and dangerous.

Think SF would be where they are if Purdy only had 6 TD passes on the year?

No way.

Purdy has 5 games this season with 3 or more TD passes. PR Pickett has not done that for once in his career.

And since you tend to miss the entire point of post, I’ll say it yet again…

I don’t care how we score as long as we win the game.

That is separate from looking at the team and being critical of the huge void we have at QB. Something that will prevent them from advancing so kind of important.

And while Pickett might have gotten the lion’s share of criticism (duh he’s the QB) I’m an equal opportunity hater and throw plenty of shade at Jibbs, Najee, the WRs, and Muuuth.

So my pats on my back were appropriate because I was right.

You can pretend we are some sort of legit contender with a healthy Pickett if you want.

The tape and his historically bad numbers suggest otherwise.

I don't think I missed the point, '95. Your season-long harangue focused your energies moreso on Pickett than any other component of the team. It's just notable that you cite yourself as being "spot the fuck on" following a three game losing streak where Pickett missed two games entirely and the Steelers weren't on the short end of the scoreboard on the 3rd game until Pickett exited with injury.

I'm not suggesting that Pickett doesn't have deep flaws, but he was your primary target season-long, and now, with him gone, you're exclaiming "I was right all along."

The team is fucked, and the injuries in the middle of their defense may well have had more to do with their slide than did quarterback play. It's true, QB play sucked throughout, and without the D stepping up, Steelers lose.

Other play on which this game sorta turned. Watt sacks Minshew, putting Indy in 2nd & goal from the 16. Early season D would hold Indy to a FG. Instead Indy scores next play with coverage by Mykal whathisname.

[955876]

I don't think I missed the point, '95. Your season-long harangue focused your energies moreso on Pickett than any other component of the team. It's just notable that you cite yourself as being "spot the fuck on" following a three game losing streak where Pickett missed two games entirely and the Steelers weren't on the short end of the scoreboard on the 3rd game until Pickett exited with injury.

You can think what you want. QBs need to throw TD passes. Especially those taken in the 1st.

And maybe things would have been different had he played. Although, his 0.6 TD rate per game suggest otherwise.

It’s great our RBs scored a couple some week in yet another non playoff winning season though.

I’m surprised Najee found the EZ and didn’t run to the sideline instead. He’s a regular Mr. Magoo out there.

[Mick]

The world: Literally anything happens
Everyone: “This proves exactly what i was saying all along!”

[955876]

Called an educated guess.

And when you e seen enough “tape” on something it is t that hard to say if they keep doing g X they are going to get Y.

[Kodiak.]

Targeting a high floor and hoping to sneak into the playoffs as the 6-7 seed is never going to result in a playoff run. And the proof is not only that they brought Canada back, but let that offense suck out loud for 3 months before firing Canada. As long as we were winning, Tomlin seemed pretty satisfied with the status quo. If they were really trying to win a championship, we would have gotten more aggressive on offense instead of just trying not to turn it over.

Trying to win every game 16-13 and just not beat yourself isn't taking the team anywhere, And the people that understand this know to break the cycle of mediocrity Tomlin has to go.

If the offense was even serviceable, this maybe could have been a fairly decent team on the rise. And I don't think Kenny is as bad as what he's been putting on tape, but there was no urgency to fix the offense until it was far too late. That outside the numbers stat was damning - you have issues on offense, and by ignoring basically 1/3 of the field you make it even harder on yourself. The bottom line is they are much more afraid of turnovers than not scoring, and that's Reason #1 why Tomlin has to go.

[Steelafan77]

Mitch vs. PR Pickett

When you take a shit and drop two turds does it really matter if one of them stinks slightly more than the other?

[SteelPro]

Let’s just put this out there. The Steelers dump Canada and with Pickett under center they posted 400+ yards of offense against the Bengals and had a 65 yard drive and a 79 yard drive midway through the second quarter against the Cardinals. It looked like things starting to click on offense even if they weren’t capping the drives with TDs. It was the first time all season they put together 5 straight quarters of competent offensive football. All that momentum died as soon as Pickett exited. But I guess momentum is also an intangible that nobody believes is real. None of this is to say Pickett is anything more than a low tier starting QB best. He’s not the answer. But I 1000% believe they don’t lose 3 straight games if he didn’t get injured.

[jeemie]

Let’s just put this out there. The Steelers dump Canada and with Pickett under center they posted 400+ yards of offense against the Bengals and had a 65 yard drive and a 79 yard drive midway through the second quarter against the Cardinals. It looked like things starting to click on offense even if they weren’t capping the drives with TDs. It was the first time all season they put together 5 straight quarters of competent offensive football. All that momentum died as soon as Pickett exited. But I guess momentum is also an intangible that nobody believes is real. None of this is to say Pickett is anything more than a low tier starting QB best. He’s not the answer. But I 1000% believe they don’t lose 3 straight games if he didn’t get injured.

Anything is possible…we will never know.

The counter is despite all that, they still only managed 19 points in those five+ quarters. So points still weren’t coming even if the yards were.

IMO what killed that drive was not just the injury, but the goddam stupid, never works, shotgun run they called on 4th and goal. The play they should rip out of the playbook but instead keep trotting out there so it can fail.

And TBH at the end of the day, this is what Art Rooney is probably gonna think…he’s gonna think we would have made the playoffs but for the Pickett injury and thus Tomlin is going to be given an extension. I’m almost ready to book it now.

PS As the an aside, on Saturday, the Steelers’ second TD was a slight variation of the play on which Pickett got injured, and whatever his faults, Trubisky, unlike Pickett, correctly identified the correct read (Johnson, playing the role that Austin played on the play in the Cards’ game) and Johnson walked in for the score. Imagine if Pickett had done that. We are up 10-3 and he doesn’t get injured.

[Deebo]

I'm not agreeing that we lose to Az w Kenny. If he's in on 4th and goal from 1, much higher chance of scoring than with trubisky running his first play. And we likely don't lose the ball on the low snap resulting in 17-3 as lead.

No, I think it's a good chance that without the KP injury, Steelers are sitting at 9-5 today.

Can't ignore the dif between KP's 4q performance this year vs q1-q3

Mitch has a low floor (meaning INT's) and a higher ceiling (meaning more TD's).
KP has a high floor (meaning he doesn't throw INTs) and a low ceiling (he won't throw TD's either)

KP is the ideal Tomlin game manager QB: don't turn it over, play it safe, let the defense win it

So in a vacuum, I don't think KP is that much better than Mitch. But KP plays the game that's more conducive to winning a Tomlin coached game

And KP being injured is really the worst outcome. Not only are the Steelers losing games, but the Tomlin defenders will be like : well he lost his starting QB and his ILB's and Safety have been injured. It's no wonder!

But these problems have existed for nearly 2 decades under Tomlin's watch. But ball washers are gonna do their thing.

[Rod & Wire Mill]

Back when Cowher was winding down and leaving, I didn’t realize at the time, and came to think later that his wife’s illness was the root cause.

The idea has just come to me that Tomlin’s whole situation with the Steelers has become so bizarre, ridiculous and egregiously bad that something personal has him detached from football/professional reality.

Otherwise, his performance in decision making on player and coaching personnel, game planning, discipline, etc. is so detached it has become malpractice in terms of a football professional.

[Stillchest]

Back when Cowher was winding down and leaving, I didn’t realize at the time, and came to think later that his wife’s illness was the root cause.

The idea has just come to me that Tomlin’s whole situation with the Steelers has become so bizarre, ridiculous and egregiously bad that something personal has him detached from football/professional reality.

Otherwise, his performance in decision making on player and coaching personnel, game planning, discipline, etc. is so detached it has become malpractice in terms of a football professional.

Good points.

Or…that “detachment” is nothing more than arrogance from being allowed to coach with impunity.

[Deebo]

Back when Cowher was winding down and leaving, I didn’t realize at the time, and came to think later that his wife’s illness was the root cause.

The idea has just come to me that Tomlin’s whole situation with the Steelers has become so bizarre, ridiculous and egregiously bad that something personal has him detached from football/professional reality.

Otherwise, his performance in decision making on player and coaching personnel, game planning, discipline, etc. is so detached it has become malpractice in terms of a football professional.

At one point, weren't there rumors Tomlin was having an affair with someone? Was probably 5-6 years ago

[Baltostiller]

Back when Cowher was winding down and leaving, I didn’t realize at the time, and came to think later that his wife’s illness was the root cause.

The idea has just come to me that Tomlin’s whole situation with the Steelers has become so bizarre, ridiculous and egregiously bad that something personal has him detached from football/professional reality.

Otherwise, his performance in decision making on player and coaching personnel, game planning, discipline, etc. is so detached it has become malpractice in terms of a football professional.

At one point, weren't there rumors Tomlin was having an affair with someone? Was probably 5-6 years ago

I believe it was with Matt Canada after Tomlin's kid got the scholarship offer at Maryland...

[jeemie]

Back when Cowher was winding down and leaving, I didn’t realize at the time, and came to think later that his wife’s illness was the root cause.

The idea has just come to me that Tomlin’s whole situation with the Steelers has become so bizarre, ridiculous and egregiously bad that something personal has him detached from football/professional reality.

Otherwise, his performance in decision making on player and coaching personnel, game planning, discipline, etc. is so detached it has become malpractice in terms of a football professional.

Good points.

Or…that “detachment” is nothing more than arrogance from being allowed to coach with impunity.

Here’s what I have come to believe. I have zero evidence for this other than what he has put on tape, but it’s a hypothesis that can fit the available facts.

Right from the start, people accused Mike Tomlin of winning with Cowher’s players and Cowher’s coaches.

I mean, the America’s Game for Super Bowl XLIII was an attempt to show that Tomlin was a bit more than a cheerleader…that he looked ahead to see what kind of defensive performance the team would need to beat Arizona…a nice fit to the Harrison interception with all the blocking that turned it into a 100 yard TD.

But…the charge still was out there that he won mainly by letting Arians, LeBeau and Cowher’s players win.

I think that charge stung Mike Tomlin…it wounded his pride (we KNOW he is a prideful person).

So almost everything he has done since…to the installing of his philosophy on how to win games to him hiring mostly no names for his coaching staff…stems from Mike Tomlin wanting to prove he’s smart enough to lead a team to victory himself.

It of course hasn’t worked in any other way other than it made the Steelers just good enough to never have a losing season (and TBH, the Killer Bees have more to do with that than Tomlin’s philosophy IMO).

But he doesn’t know any other way…so he keeps doing it this way.

And because he is a results oriented person (“we have won more than we lost with this method so this method must be a good one”) he does not change.

He thinks eventually he will have that magical run of perfectly executed games. And if not, at least there is the one thing that is uniquely his and for which he receives praise (for two more games, at least)…NHALS.

It makes his nonsensical decisions make sense…to me, at least.

And it even makes his recent defeatism and dejectedness make sense as well….because he knows NHALS is in serious jeopardy.

I guarantee you if this team somehow wins two of its last three, Mike Tomlin will be crowing like he won the Super Bowl.

If my hypothesis is true, in a way it’s very sad and I almost feel sorry for Tomlin…because no coach can win all on his own.

[Gonzo]

1. Mitch Trubisky sucks

2. Najee fumble

3. 3rd down fuckup between mitch and meuth late 2q. Those fuckers complete that pass, and chances are very good Steelers lead 16-7 at half rather than down 14-13.

4. Kazee's bullshit ejection

5. Down both safetys

People keep leaning into the Steelers injuries but Indy just creamed PIT with a backup QB, without their best WR for most of the game, with their 4th and 5th string RBs, et al. It's not the safeties or LBs injuries that did the Steelers defense in: it's that they're just not that good.

Correct . Colts lost Pittman and moss and still kicked our asses

[bradshaw2ben]

1. Mitch Trubisky sucks

2. Najee fumble

3. 3rd down fuckup between mitch and meuth late 2q. Those fuckers complete that pass, and chances are very good Steelers lead 16-7 at half rather than down 14-13.

4. Kazee's bullshit ejection

5. Down both safetys

People keep leaning into the Steelers injuries but Indy just creamed PIT with a backup QB, without their best WR for most of the game, with their 4th and 5th string RBs, et al. It's not the safeties or LBs injuries that did the Steelers defense in: it's that they're just not that good.

Correct . Colts lost Pittman and moss and still kicked our asses

And their #1 and #3 RBs were out before the game. No matter.

[Greeksteel]

Because we are led by Tomlin and a terrible coaching staff...Everything leads back to Tomlin. Thats it.