Thoughts on The Season & Going Forward

[tbsteel]

Well gents, this was certainly... something. As Yogi Berra once said, it's like deja vu all over again. Just some running thoughts:

*Let's be real, the final score wasn't even reflective of how bad this really was. It seemed to me that the Steelers had a 15 or so play script that actually caught the Texas a bit off guard early in the game, but once they adjusted it was just a complete lockdown of everything the Steelers were trying to do. Stroud looked like he was on the take at times. If he plays anywhere near where he usually is at that would've been something like 44-3. Just complete and utter domination on both sides of the ball. How many first down runs did they have that went for 6 or more yards? Felt like 20.

*Let's summarize the Steelers offseason moves coming into this season: brought back the same coaching staff, traded away George Pickens (All Pro this year), traded a second round pick and gave $30+ million a year to DK (suspended for punching a fan, then came back to make two whole catches tonight), signed ARod after he was able to pass a drug test, had their big FA signing as Darius Slay (basically retired midseason lol), and traded away Minkah for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith (and of those three players, guess who far and away has the better trade value now). The Gainwell signing was nice tho. Props! That's championship stuff.

*I have no idea what his final stats were, but it felt like this season that Jonnu Smith had 10 catches for 20 yards. What a disaster. And I hated everything about his negative body language, his laziness and ever so quick ability to just quit on routes, and that whole blocking thing. Arthur Smith's fetish for this guy is disturbing.

*TJ Watt is 31 going on 40. Great career, but he's washed. That quick-twitch and elite bend coming around the edge is not coming back. I think I saw some charting online about how his average get-off has been consistently declining for years (but don't worry, my get-off abilities are still elite lol). The culmination of all that wear-and-tear and injuries over the years have finally taken their toll. Oh well.

*I legitimately think it's over with Tomlin. If they don't mutually agree to part ways, I actually think they'll make the call to let him go and wish him well. Here's the thing: ownership needs this fanbase to have hope. And going into next year with Tomlin, there is no hope. They have no QB. They have no elite level talent outside of Joey Porter Jr. Watt will be 32. They're not going to be in a position to draft Mendoza or Moore. Maybe he steps away to take a year or two off, and then comes back with another team where the Steelers end up getting some draft compensation. That seems to be the most favorable scenario, and one that makes the most sense for all parties.

*Looking back on it, I've been a curmudgeonly, oftentimes trolling, outright asshole on here for the last year or two. To all here, I apologize. I don't know you all personally but I don't genuinely wish any ill will on anyone here (even Swiss lol) and we're all just frustrated diehards to varying degrees. I think maybe it was that Browns playoff game that sort of broke me. The good thing is, I'm properly medicated now lol, so in other words: I'm trying to be better. This is such a soul-sucking situation to be in a Steelers fan though. We need hope, and the only thing that can bring about that hope is change.

[Stlcrtn1974]

I watched every game, and tried to enjoy the season. Det and Bal games were great, miss those types of games.
At least we have a place to come to and bitch about the team we all love.

[Steelperch]

Ideally, they grow some balls and trade away Watt and whatever else they can this off-season. Heyward too if anyone will take him. Make Tomlin come back on a lame duck season with no QB and end that fucking NHALS streak. Kill it with fire. Make Tomlin suffer for a year with the shit he has built the franchise into then send him away.

Take that top 10 pick Mike earns you on the way out the door and then draft a young QB and hire an offensive minded HC. That’s how this all needs to end. With Tomlin going out in an embarrassing losing suck fest of a final season.

Fuck him and all his enablers in the front office, media and fan base. Bunch of ball washing bastards.

[Gonzo]

Well gents, this was certainly... something. As Yogi Berra once said, it's like deja vu all over again. Just some running thoughts:

*Let's be real, the final score wasn't even reflective of how bad this really was. It seemed to me that the Steelers had a 15 or so play script that actually caught the Texas a bit off guard early in the game, but once they adjusted it was just a complete lockdown of everything the Steelers were trying to do. Stroud looked like he was on the take at times. If he plays anywhere near where he usually is at that would've been something like 44-3. Just complete and utter domination on both sides of the ball. How many first down runs did they have that went for 6 or more yards? Felt like 20.

*Let's summarize the Steelers offseason moves coming into this season: brought back the same coaching staff, traded away George Pickens (All Pro this year), traded a second round pick and gave $30+ million a year to DK (suspended for punching a fan, then came back to make two whole catches tonight), signed ARod after he was able to pass a drug test, had their big FA signing as Darius Slay (basically retired midseason lol), and traded away Minkah for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith (and of those three players, guess who far and away has the better trade value now). The Gainwell signing was nice tho. Props! That's championship stuff.

*I have no idea what his final stats were, but it felt like this season that Jonnu Smith had 10 catches for 20 yards. What a disaster. And I hated everything about his negative body language, his laziness and ever so quick ability to just quit on routes, and that whole blocking thing. Arthur Smith's fetish for this guy is disturbing.

*TJ Watt is 31 going on 40. Great career, but he's washed. That quick-twitch and elite bend coming around the edge is not coming back. I think I saw some charting online about how his average get-off has been consistently declining for years (but don't worry, my get-off abilities are still elite lol). The culmination of all that wear-and-tear and injuries over the years have finally taken their toll. Oh well.

*I legitimately think it's over with Tomlin. If they don't mutually agree to part ways, I actually think they'll make the call to let him go and wish him well. Here's the thing: ownership needs this fanbase to have hope. And going into next year with Tomlin, there is no hope. They have no QB. They have no elite level talent outside of Joey Porter Jr. Watt will be 32. They're not going to be in a position to draft Mendoza or Moore. Maybe he steps away to take a year or two off, and then comes back with another team where the Steelers end up getting some draft compensation. That seems to be the most favorable scenario, and one that makes the most sense for all parties.

*Looking back on it, I've been a curmudgeonly, oftentimes trolling, outright asshole on here for the last year or two. To all here, I apologize. I don't know you all personally but I don't genuinely wish any ill will on anyone here (even Swiss lol) and we're all just frustrated diehards to varying degrees. I think maybe it was that Browns playoff game that sort of broke me. The good thing is, I'm properly medicated now lol, so in other words: I'm trying to be better. This is such a soul-sucking situation to be in a Steelers fan though. We need hope, and the only thing that can bring about that hope is change.

I took note of that all,game with Jonnu … horrible body language and pouting or slumping … odd ? Maybe why the dolphins wanted him gone

[Gonzo]

And I agree
I didn’t think it was possible …. But think Tomlin is gone and the whole staff and maybe Khan
It is a perfect storm for the clean slate
Tomlin slumped off the field
Watt Rodger’s and Cam’s play was dreadful

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Watt retention, DK signing are a cancer on the team going forward

Fuck Khan

[tango_mike]

Well gents, this was certainly... something. As Yogi Berra once said, it's like deja vu all over again. Just some running thoughts:

*Let's be real, the final score wasn't even reflective of how bad this really was. It seemed to me that the Steelers had a 15 or so play script that actually caught the Texas a bit off guard early in the game, but once they adjusted it was just a complete lockdown of everything the Steelers were trying to do. Stroud looked like he was on the take at times. If he plays anywhere near where he usually is at that would've been something like 44-3. Just complete and utter domination on both sides of the ball. How many first down runs did they have that went for 6 or more yards? Felt like 20.

*Let's summarize the Steelers offseason moves coming into this season: brought back the same coaching staff, traded away George Pickens (All Pro this year), traded a second round pick and gave $30+ million a year to DK (suspended for punching a fan, then came back to make two whole catches tonight), signed ARod after he was able to pass a drug test, had their big FA signing as Darius Slay (basically retired midseason lol), and traded away Minkah for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith (and of those three players, guess who far and away has the better trade value now). The Gainwell signing was nice tho. Props! That's championship stuff.

*I have no idea what his final stats were, but it felt like this season that Jonnu Smith had 10 catches for 20 yards. What a disaster. And I hated everything about his negative body language, his laziness and ever so quick ability to just quit on routes, and that whole blocking thing. Arthur Smith's fetish for this guy is disturbing.

*TJ Watt is 31 going on 40. Great career, but he's washed. That quick-twitch and elite bend coming around the edge is not coming back. I think I saw some charting online about how his average get-off has been consistently declining for years (but don't worry, my get-off abilities are still elite lol). The culmination of all that wear-and-tear and injuries over the years have finally taken their toll. Oh well.

*I legitimately think it's over with Tomlin. If they don't mutually agree to part ways, I actually think they'll make the call to let him go and wish him well. Here's the thing: ownership needs this fanbase to have hope. And going into next year with Tomlin, there is no hope. They have no QB. They have no elite level talent outside of Joey Porter Jr. Watt will be 32. They're not going to be in a position to draft Mendoza or Moore. Maybe he steps away to take a year or two off, and then comes back with another team where the Steelers end up getting some draft compensation. That seems to be the most favorable scenario, and one that makes the most sense for all parties.

*Looking back on it, I've been a curmudgeonly, oftentimes trolling, outright asshole on here for the last year or two. To all here, I apologize. I don't know you all personally but I don't genuinely wish any ill will on anyone here (even Swiss lol) and we're all just frustrated diehards to varying degrees. I think maybe it was that Browns playoff game that sort of broke me. The good thing is, I'm properly medicated now lol, so in other words: I'm trying to be better. This is such a soul-sucking situation to be in a Steelers fan though. We need hope, and the only thing that can bring about that hope is change.

But at least they get to pay TJ Watt $41 million next year. What a joke.

[RealSwiss]

Well gents, this was certainly... something. As Yogi Berra once said, it's like deja vu all over again. Just some running thoughts:

*Let's summarize the Steelers offseason moves coming into this season: brought back the same coaching staff, traded away George Pickens (All Pro this year), traded a second round pick and gave $30+ million a year to DK (suspended for punching a fan, then came back to make two whole catches tonight), signed ARod after he was able to pass a drug test, had their big FA signing as Darius Slay (basically retired midseason lol), and traded away Minkah for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith (and of those three players, guess who far and away has the better trade value now). The Gainwell signing was nice tho. Props! That's championship stuff.

That is just a brutal summary.

Toward the end of the season, I found myself looking forward to games. Now, Im feeling a bit foolish for the time I spent reading and following. With the time I wasted on this season, I'd have been better off binge drinking and passing out under a bridge near a homeless camp. At least Id have some more interesting memories.

[Gonzo]

Just a prototypical Tomlin playoff game
It’s all on tape
Same shit different playoff opponent
They scheme and make changes to help their struggling young QB who was panicky
We change Nothing and in fact refuse to rerun successful plays …

[stillcajun]

Just a prototypical Tomlin playoff game
It’s all on tape
Same shit different playoff opponent
They scheme and make changes to help their struggling young QB who was panicky
We change Nothing and in fact refuse to rerun successful plays …

As much as my heart wanted them to get into the playoffs w/ Rodgers and go on an epic run to the SB, my head knew that this movie was gonna end the same as it always does. This was Tomlin's Final Destination 13 and it always end in the death of this football team's season.

[14Thumb]

Going into tonight, I didn't think Tomlin was going anywhere. After this embarrassment, I don't think Tomlin will be fired, but I think he makes the call, with a little help from AR2, to walk away. I don't see how he can come back after this drubbing.

T Austin will be gone this week. The whole staff and Khan need to leave. There is little to salvage.

My first game that I was alive for was the Immaculate Reception and this was the first playoff game in my 53 years where I just didn't give a damn what happened because I feel like Charlie Brown whiffing on the kick because fuckin' Lucy (or MT) keeps pulling the ball away.

Here's to an eventful off-season of change.

[Gonzo]

Going into tonight, I didn't think Tomlin was going anywhere. After this embarrassment, I don't think Tomlin will be fired, but I think he makes the call, with a little help from AR2, to walk away. I don't see how he can come back after this drubbing.

T Austin will be gone this week. The whole staff and Khan need to leave. There is little to salvage.

My first game that I was alive for was the Immaculate Reception and this was the first playoff game in my 53 years where I just didn't give a damn what happened because I feel like Charlie Brown whiffing on the kick because fuckin' Lucy (or MT) keeps pulling the ball away.

Here's to an eventful off-season of change.

This is the oft overlooked real issue
He doesn’t just lose playoff games
They lose them in embarrassing fashion each time
Same scheme
Same roll over and quit … especially after Ben left
And as has been pointed out here numerous times …once NHALS is secure any and all wrinkles are gone and it’s back to same shit different day
It really is absurd

[LakecrestSteeler]

Tomlin is all world at tweaking personalities for one game.

He can tweak and get the talent that every team gets by just showing up at the fish in the barrel exercise called the Draft. Throw a dart at the barrel filled with a couple hundred D1 and a smattering of some D something else players and anyone can assemble a team and get .500!.

Judging competency and talent, Tomlin is historically bad. He must shun HR and business process designed to improve organizations and prevent unilateral decisions on talent; it is the only thing that explains this organizational demise.

Back to the opening statement…he could always sell his soul or the soul of his players for one game, but that was it. They’d shoot their wad and it would leave the team physically and emotionally bankrupt for a week or two afterwards, licking wounds and bruises trying to get their game day speed back. We saw it so many times after the Baltimore rock fights. They were great games and theatre, but the bill came due the next week and/or the week after, hence NHALS.That is his lasting legacy.

Puncher’s chance in one big game, but building an organization with process to develop and harness football talent on the field and in the coaching ranks that would allow a streak of games with an upward trend of improvement culminating in a ring. he was and is a complete failure. The hulking ruin is there for all to see.

Time to hit reset and start rebuilding.

[bradshaw2ben]

Well gents, this was certainly... something. As Yogi Berra once said, it's like deja vu all over again. Just some running thoughts:

*Let's summarize the Steelers offseason moves coming into this season: brought back the same coaching staff, traded away George Pickens (All Pro this year), traded a second round pick and gave $30+ million a year to DK (suspended for punching a fan, then came back to make two whole catches tonight), signed ARod after he was able to pass a drug test, had their big FA signing as Darius Slay (basically retired midseason lol), and traded away Minkah for Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith (and of those three players, guess who far and away has the better trade value now). The Gainwell signing was nice tho. Props! That's championship stuff.

That is just a brutal summary.

Toward the end of the season, I found myself looking forward to games. Now, Im feeling a bit foolish for the time I spent reading and following. With the time I wasted on this season, I'd have been better off binge drinking and passing out under a bridge near a homeless camp. At least Id have some more interesting memories.

If you had memories you wouldn’t have been drinking enough to forget the bad taste of this team.

[tbsteel]

Going into tonight, I didn't think Tomlin was going anywhere. After this embarrassment, I don't think Tomlin will be fired, but I think he makes the call, with a little help from AR2, to walk away. I don't see how he can come back after this drubbing.

T Austin will be gone this week. The whole staff and Khan need to leave. There is little to salvage.

My first game that I was alive for was the Immaculate Reception and this was the first playoff game in my 53 years where I just didn't give a damn what happened because I feel like Charlie Brown whiffing on the kick because fuckin' Lucy (or MT) keeps pulling the ball away.

Here's to an eventful off-season of change.

This is the oft overlooked real issue
He doesn’t just lose playoff games
They lose them in embarrassing fashion each time
Same scheme
Same roll over and quit … especially after Ben left
And as has been pointed out here numerous times …once NHALS is secure any and all wrinkles are gone and it’s back to same shit different day
It really is absurd

Seven straight playoff losses and they've been down by 21 or more points at some junction of all seven of those games.

There's not another coach in sports history that can survive that.

[MJG75]

Good stuff, TB. I knew you weren't really about all that losing stuff, but I did understand where it was coming from. Genuine desire to want to see this team be what it was for about 50 years since 1970, instead of the playoff joke we have become in most recent years. I never wanted to live long enough to see the return of SOS.

Yeah, I also got suckered in this year after going a bit catatonic after failing to make the playoffs in 2018, around the time I gravitated from his message is just getting stale, to maybe it was never his message to begin with. It was Dick Lebeau's. It was Bruce Arians. It was a team of highly talented, highly mature leader types on the roster. Maybe it was never him, after all. But yeah, Rodgers was starting to make me believe, heading into the playoffs with a head of steam instead of limping in gave me that jolt of optimism, an attitude I am inclined to anyways.

I just want to go out not seeing the team I have loved all my life have their image tarnished and continue to be humiliated in playoff games. I will never root for losses but something definitely has to change. From top to bottom. Have never been more disappointed in ownership and management than now. Damn.

[langer]