Big picture: When a win feels like a loss

[SteelerDayTrader]

The Steelers are now squarely atop the AFC North and IMO looking at the other AFCN at the quarter turn of the regular season are likely to remain “in the hunt” as it were most of the season.

That seems like a good thing on the surface. However it also comes with some rather sharp downsides

- Matt Canada isn’t going to be fired anytime soon and if this team merely makes the playoffs it’s likely he will be extended and in cheap ass Rooney world that virtually guarantees he will be the OC for several more years. Could this conservative run heavy offense get better ? Sure. It’s not impossible to put together a great team that is small ball run heavy. Never in a million years would I think Canada is capable of that however. Will the Canada offense evolve and become even somewhat dangerous down the road ? I highly doubt it. I see zero evidence of advanced football thinking. I see zero plays that set up other plays. I see zero thought put into attacking a given defenses weak spots. All of it seems to me to very basic ideas and we do what we do. If individual players bulldog their opponent a play might work. If they don’t we are screwed. How long can that philosophy work in 2023 ?

- Mike Tomlin definitely is going nowhere even if the Steelers wind up with a non playoff year. If they make the playoffs a 5 year extension would not surprise me. I’ve never thought Tomlin was a bad guy. He might be the worst HC in the NFL when it comes to putting together a coaching staff. I can’t think of even one coach I like a lot moving forward. I think several have been able to stick around simply because it’s very apparent there is a worse scapegoat coach than them thats gonna get the axe and they know the Steelers won’t fire everyone. Disliked Tomlin during the Ben years ? Well whip several years worth of shit sandwiches to knaw on for the next several years during the Kenny era

- Kenny Pickett simply doesn’t have the arm talent to compete with top NFL QBs. Everything gets worse from there. However if you think this team won’t give TryHard Kenny a C2 I’m not sure you’ve been following along. If THK gets a team to the playoffs or merely pulls out some key division wins once in a while that keep the Steelers somewhat relevant Kenny is gonna get a C2

Is it possible the Steelers improve and become a serious contender ? I highly doubt it. They don’t seem great at drafting and they continue to look unwilling to put enough C2 money into the offense

I like winning

I hate knowing regular season wins means we are likely stuck with guys in key positions who would need a perfect season of luck to possibly contend for a Lombardi

[K_C_]

So that walk around the trailer park didn't make you feel any better about the game?

[Steelperch]

We’ve got 3 AFC North teams hell bent on fucking around and letting the Bengals get away with a slow start to the year. This whole division might be 9-8.

[the-other-burg]

Its so ridiculous how many people on here that used to defend Tomlin to the grave, now all of a sudden have caught on that Tomlin sucks, and want to blame a second year QB for the downfall of the franchise

Wake up, a lot of us are waaaaay past this part of the tomlin grief curve. And a lot of us are the ones that are rooting for Kenny. Thats not a coincendence.

[K_C_]

Wait....I don't understand........

The Bengals, Ravens and Browns all have HIGHLY PAID, highly respected, young FRANCHISE QB's and somehow the Steelers with Kenny are in first place?

Whoah.

[BethlehemSteel]

I knew Kenny audibled second I saw Canada not celebrate

Should be fired before midnight in my mind

Proof

https://x.com/blitz_burgh/status/171111 ... 51109?s=46

Proof #2
https://x.com/jaredwkane/status/1711116 ... 23555?s=46

[Texas Black & Gold]

Wait....I don't understand........

The Bengals, Ravens and Browns all have HIGHLY PAID, highly respected, young FRANCHISE QB's and somehow the Steelers with Kenny are in first place?

Whoah.

That is a very good point.
KP will improve and so will the offense.

[zeke5123]

Its so ridiculous how many people on here that used to defend Tomlin to the grave, now all of a sudden have caught on that Tomlin sucks, and want to blame a second year QB for the downfall of the franchise

Wake up, a lot of us are waaaaay past this part of the tomlin grief curve. And a lot of us are the ones that are rooting for Kenny. Thats not a coincendence.

I’ve been anti Tomlin for a while. Difference is I see Tomlin and Pickett need to get on with their life’s work.

[zeke5123]

Wait....I don't understand........

The Bengals, Ravens and Browns all have HIGHLY PAID, highly respected, young FRANCHISE QB's and somehow the Steelers with Kenny are in first place?

Whoah.

That is a very good point.
KP will improve and so will the offense.

What evidence do you have that KP will improve? Had another terrible game.

The thing the Steelers have going for them is #90. He is a top five NFL player (and best non quarterback).

[chippedhamsandwich]

I knew Kenny audibled second I saw Canada not celebrate

Should be fired before midnight in my mind

Proof

https://x.com/blitz_burgh/status/171111 ... 51109?s=46

Proof #2
https://x.com/jaredwkane/status/1711116 ... 23555?s=46

Everyone is talking about Canada’s reaction, makes sense if that was not the call.

Also makes sense of what Canada SHOULD be doing with his young QB and let him get the offense to make the best play.

Canada is a fuckface and an absolute disgrace to the Steelers organization.

Fuck Tomlin too for letting this shit go on with his young QB

[chippedhamsandwich]

Good info from our young QB:

https://steelersdepot.com/2023/10/kenny ... e-pickens/

[Texas Black & Gold]

Wait....I don't understand........

The Bengals, Ravens and Browns all have HIGHLY PAID, highly respected, young FRANCHISE QB's and somehow the Steelers with Kenny are in first place?

Whoah.

That is a very good point.
KP will improve and so will the offense.

What evidence do you have that KP will improve? Had another terrible game.

The thing the Steelers have going for them is #90. He is a top five NFL player (and best non quarterback).

I don't have any "evidence" but as he gets more experience I'm sure his confidence will grow and he will learn to read the defense better.

[zeke5123]

That is a very good point.
KP will improve and so will the offense.

What evidence do you have that KP will improve? Had another terrible game.

The thing the Steelers have going for them is #90. He is a top five NFL player (and best non quarterback).

I don't have any "evidence" but as he gets more experience I'm sure his confidence will grow and he will learn to read the defense better.

KP is 25 and hasn’t shown that skill to date. I guess he could improve (hard to get worse) but that’s true for most busts.

[K_C_]

What evidence do you have that KP will improve? Had another terrible game.

The thing the Steelers have going for them is #90. He is a top five NFL player (and best non quarterback).

I don't have any "evidence" but as he gets more experience I'm sure his confidence will grow and he will learn to read the defense better.

KP is 25 and hasn’t shown that skill to date. I guess he could improve (hard to get worse) but that’s true for most busts.

He does have a flair for reading defenses with the game on the line.

[Steelersfan]

I am by no means thrilled with Pickett right now.....BUT, I do think he deserves a shot with a real offense, offensive coordinator, running back coach, run game & QB coach, before he is given up on

No matter though, wouldn't stop me from drafting a QB high every year or two to either push him or take his job away.

[R_S]

I knew Kenny audibled second I saw Canada not celebrate

Should be fired before midnight in my mind

Proof

https://x.com/blitz_burgh/status/171111 ... 51109?s=46

Proof #2
https://x.com/jaredwkane/status/1711116 ... 23555?s=46

Possibly. Or he's just so over his head and beaten down by his failures that he cannot even enjoy small wins.

[tbsteel]

The Steelers are now squarely atop the AFC North and IMO looking at the other AFCN at the quarter turn of the regular season are likely to remain “in the hunt” as it were most of the season.

That seems like a good thing on the surface. However it also comes with some rather sharp downsides

- Matt Canada isn’t going to be fired anytime soon and if this team merely makes the playoffs it’s likely he will be extended and in cheap ass Rooney world that virtually guarantees he will be the OC for several more years. Could this conservative run heavy offense get better ? Sure. It’s not impossible to put together a great team that is small ball run heavy. Never in a million years would I think Canada is capable of that however. Will the Canada offense evolve and become even somewhat dangerous down the road ? I highly doubt it. I see zero evidence of advanced football thinking. I see zero plays that set up other plays. I see zero thought put into attacking a given defenses weak spots. All of it seems to me to very basic ideas and we do what we do. If individual players bulldog their opponent a play might work. If they don’t we are screwed. How long can that philosophy work in 2023 ?

- Mike Tomlin definitely is going nowhere even if the Steelers wind up with a non playoff year. If they make the playoffs a 5 year extension would not surprise me. I’ve never thought Tomlin was a bad guy. He might be the worst HC in the NFL when it comes to putting together a coaching staff. I can’t think of even one coach I like a lot moving forward. I think several have been able to stick around simply because it’s very apparent there is a worse scapegoat coach than them thats gonna get the axe and they know the Steelers won’t fire everyone. Disliked Tomlin during the Ben years ? Well whip several years worth of shit sandwiches to knaw on for the next several years during the Kenny era

- Kenny Pickett simply doesn’t have the arm talent to compete with top NFL QBs. Everything gets worse from there. However if you think this team won’t give TryHard Kenny a C2 I’m not sure you’ve been following along. If THK gets a team to the playoffs or merely pulls out some key division wins once in a while that keep the Steelers somewhat relevant Kenny is gonna get a C2

Is it possible the Steelers improve and become a serious contender ? I highly doubt it. They don’t seem great at drafting and they continue to look unwilling to put enough C2 money into the offense

I like winning

I hate knowing regular season wins means we are likely stuck with guys in key positions who would need a perfect season of luck to possibly contend for a Lombardi

Honestly putting into words (better than I did) a lot of the feelings I had today.

[SteelerDayTrader]

I knew Kenny audibled second I saw Canada not celebrate

Should be fired before midnight in my mind

Proof

https://x.com/blitz_burgh/status/171111 ... 51109?s=46

Proof #2
https://x.com/jaredwkane/status/1711116 ... 23555?s=46

Possibly. Or he's just so over his head and beaten down by his failures that he cannot even enjoy small wins.

Could be a good point. Either way the Steelers as an total organization infamously didn’t allow HOFer Roethlisberger to audible so I think we can safely assume the cuffs on KP are in place too.

There are often times the Steelers are the dumbest team in the NFL