How should the Steelers go about rebuilding this team?

[Scunge]

I don't think the Steelers will do anything with Tomlin or Colbert. If they fired Tomlin they would still be on the hook for $11.5 million remaining on the last two years of his contract. That is guaranteed money. I have the feeling Colbert is in the same situation.

What they should do is finally figure out if Tomlin is indeed worthy like Cowher and Noll before him. Give him the power that Cowher had in filling out his coaching staff. Many hate when I bring this up but Cowher was able to shitcan all of the coaches that were under Noll in 1991 with the exception of RB coach Dick Hoak. Hoak was a former player for the Steelers and was very, very close to the Rooneys. He had a job for life and was able to retire on his terms, regardless of who was the head coach.

Some of the notable coaches that Cowher did not want were DC Dave Brazil who had our defense ranked #1 in yards and #3 in points allowed in 1990. John Fox the head coach of Denver and formerly of Carolina was our defensive backs coach. We had Rod Woodson and Carnell Lake, we had Greg Lloyd and Hardy Nickerson. They had done a fine job of developing talent and the defense was not really a shambles. Yet, Cowher was allowed to blow it all up and get rid of the entire defensive coaching staff and BRING IN HIS PEOPLE, AND RUN HIS DEFENSE!

Why can't Tomlin finally be given the chance to do the same? Get rid of LeBeau and Butler and John Mitchell. Those three have been together for 11 years now and LeBeau and Mitchell have even more time together dating back to 1994. Change is needed, a breath of fresh air is needed. I don't care if we change to a 4-3, or keep the 3-4 but it has to be with different coaching. The coaching is just really, really bad right now and they can't even evaluate their own players and recognize when it is time to start a player.

On offense get rid of Haley. I can't help but feel that a young, talented, ambitious offensive coordinator prospect who may be a QB coach right now, or a WR coach, wouldn't love to work with Ben, and Antonio Brown and Leveon Bell. How the hell we settled for Todd Haley is mind boggling to me.

Finally, cut the dead weight. Troy, Ike Taylor, Harrison and Keisel do not have a place on this team next season. Time to go, thanks for the memories and all you have done. On offense, we draft a TE in the first round and Miller becomes the second TE as he should have been two years ago. You sign two free agents like a WR or T and the offense would not be a problem with an OC who knows what he is doing.

It just feels like a 1992 is needed. Trust your HC and GM and replace the coaching staff, do a reset and hope for the best.

[Nick79]

6. Next year go full on youth and up-pace football -- even if you are building up to attrition football again still throw and attack to compete for these next two years as IMO it is your only chance to win with Ben now.

Why MUST it be that? Why can't you just forget that OBSOLETE GARBAGE forever and move on?

[Gonzo]

Gonzo, I 100% agree. In fact... It's exactly what I think will happen, but not until it's basically too little too late.

B2B, I wish but do not share your optimism. I believe this is a matter of the current group -- HC, DC, GM and Owner -- all believing in a set path. Even if they change course to win a few now, when they are up against it they will revert. I think LeBeau has far more say than people think.

Like the comment above from Scunge, we have a basic disagreement on who has set this path. I am not picking a fight - simply stating I personally believe that MT has far far more to do with this than others. I think switching out your coordinators will have little effect. I also believe Colbert to an extent is drafting what he is tasked to draft. There is a definite patter - to me - in how we ar drafting especially contrasted to the past.

[Gonzo]

6. Next year go full on youth and up-pace football -- even if you are building up to attrition football again still throw and attack to compete for these next two years as IMO it is your only chance to win with Ben now.

Why MUST it be that? Why can't you just forget that OBSOLETE GARBAGE forever and move on?

I am not advocating this Nick -- merely stating that the future choice is irrelevant IMO to the current choice.

[Legacy User]

I would:

1. Still try and compete now and throw caution to the wind go full throttle aggressive O and D;
2. Shitcan a few of the bad eggs like Cam Thomas and let the young guys play come hell or high-water;
3. at the end of the year cut the last of the ties with Troy, Heath and Ike;
4. Demote beachum and foster and find a FA at LT;
5. Next year early rounds draft, CB, TE and DL and a LG later -- also look for a FA WR.
6. Next year go full on youth and up-pace football -- even if you are building up to attrition football again still throw and attack to compete for these next two years as IMO it is your only chance to win with Ben now.

I think they have young players on O and really just need a TE, reliable WR and LT.
On D they have LBs and S -- but are in desperate need at CB and DL. DL less so with Tuitt and Heyward.

Love it. Even in losing, it would be fun to watch.

[Legacy User]

Step 1: Get rid of everybody who sucks at their job.
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Win.