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*** 2025 Pittsburgh Steelers: oh no, we suck again! (24 Viewers)

There was news running last night that the Steelers are eager to bring Rodgers back next season
Was probably one of those human interest sideline reporters but still it was being talked about

Things were rosy at 4-1, then the Steelers drop two games and looked pathetic on offense in the 2nd Half, defense wasn't much better but the offense did not help
You play the Packers, you might need 30 to win, they got up 19-7 and just went into cruise control, wasn't until 4 minutes left in the 4th Q when the Steeles finally moved the football

The Mike Tomlin look I saw when DK had the personal foul call in the 4th...Mike Mike Mike, the game was already slipping away, maybe over actually and you want to put on that old school look like you were personally violated and had the answers to win the game but DK moved it from 3rd and 2 to 3rd and 17, that's HOGWASH MIKE and you know it...I finally see a little of the frustration of having this guy for the last 20 seasons. Tomlin is a major improvement over many coaches or organizations throughout the NFL but that doesn't mean he gets a pass in Pittsburgh where they have real standards. I still respect the heck out of Mike Tomlin and what he's done but that look he had said it all.

It's like the Steelers were playing a different game in the 2nd Half, and by that I mean a game with different goals and outcomes vs what Green Bay came out and showcased in the 2nd Half
Lot of drives that ended in FG attempts for the Steelers, won't work vs the better teams IMHO

Cheers!
 
Judge Smails said:
The secondary just has huge problems tracking the ball.
Click to expand...

They are, mostly, geriatric and just plain slow.

But the coaches keep insisting that they can run a ton of Cover 1 man, even though they have 7 games of proof that they cannot.

Not like theyre much better in zone, since the two ILBs are regularly out of position when they do, but these DBs just cant man up on any remotely legit receivers and the coaches need to "stop trying to make "fetch" happen."
 
The offense has at least looked respectable. Problem is the better teams will start to sit on the quick pass game like GB's D did for most of the second half. Steelers could only muster a FG in the previous 5 drives until the late TD vs a prevent base. They never adjusted, which is normal around these parts.

For the D, there really is no fix with the coaching staff and players they have available. The secondary and ILB's are putrid, and if the overpaid front can't get to the QB, it's over. Quality QBs love playing this defense for a reason. Top 4 cap hits totalling over $82 mil play on D, so money well spent I'm sure.
 
Once Ike got hurt and they werent able to roll out their preferred Jumbo lineup, the offense shifted into some form of "welp, I guess we're boned now so lets not even attempt to run anymore."

They had done a pretty good job up to to that point against the league's best run defense, and to just completely abandon it because one dude got hurt allowed Green Bay to do nothing but sit on those flat passes that the Steelers love to run to lower Rodgers exposure to pass rush. At some point, Tomlin is going to have to let these offensive tackles block 1v1 versus rushers sometimes. If he is still too terrified to do that, then that is a massive massive problem.

We saw Rogers moving around more in the pocket to try to extend plays this game rather than take that automatic two yard quick hitter to a running back ( at least it felt like it). I wonder if he is starting to get frustrated by all the dump offs/playcalling?
 
- Almost 400 yards of total offense against per game on the season (bottom 3 in the league)
- Over 270 yards passing offense against per game on the season (DFL in the league, and 20 yards worse than #31)


That's a recipe for a winning season, fer sure.
 
1, effort on the field
2, uniforms
3, pitt logo seen underneath the Steelers logo at mid field
4, Packers fans easily heard in Steelers stadium

Overall a complete embarrassment by the Steelers and for the city of Pittsburgh. And they still havent hit the bottom yet.
 
I wouldn't be shocked if Tomlin offers up Austin as his latest sacrificial lamb soon. Someone has to pay for the highest paid defense being laughable, meanwhile the issue runs far deeper than the figurehead at DC.
 
Not that he’d have saved the day but for as little as Roger McCreary just got traded for and the surplus of picks I just don’t understand why they were not involved.
 
menobrown said:
Not that he’d have saved the day but for as little as Roger McCreary just got traded for and the surplus of picks I just don’t understand why they were not involved.
Click to expand...
Good point and the Steelers sure could use a better slot corner than anyone on their roster, but I'm sure many teams will be questioning why they never got involved. This kid was had for pennies.

Good job by McVay and company. Rams needed help and can now focus on Lake playing his natural safety role more frequently.
 
Wild to see the run game working 1st half. Something like 80+ yards then stopped running in the 2nd. Still wouldn't have been enough to win with the D giving the packers punter the 2nd half off.

Defense looks lost out there not getting much pressure/lack of turnovers. Would like to see Tomlin step up and hold himself accountable. Team paying for blue fin tuna and getting served carp.
 
H8fulHuck said:
Would like to see Tomlin step up and hold himself accountable.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the first words out of his mouth post-game (after doing his normal "Congrats to those who just kicked our asses on all the kicking of our asses") were ragging on the offense for "settling for FGs against good teams" (as if some other dude is the one deciding whether to go for it/not go for it on 4th and short when their defense was looking like a wet paper bag). So, I prolly wouldn't hold your breath. :geek:
 
"Deebo & Joe" podcast was...surreal last episode. 🤓

TL;DR: James seems a little mad about the state of the team's current D. Joe Haden tried to calm him down, Deebo told him (paraphrasing) "You dont get it cuz you came from a line of losers." 😂
 
Welp based on Tomlin’s comments, it doesn’t look like this is the week where any changes will happen. He’s fully supportive of Austin. They just “got to play better”. That should be enough to solve their problems. The standard is the standard.
 
fred_1_15301 said:
Welp based on Tomlin’s comments, it doesn’t look like this is the week where any changes will happen. He’s fully supportive of Austin. They just “got to play better”. That should be enough to solve their problems. The standard is the standard.
Click to expand...
there will not be any changes until offseason, and then its still a maybe. Rooney hates paying anyone that is not working for him. Austin, Tomlin, whoever else can rest easy they are collecting their checks thru december. Probably for 2-3 more years. Nothing changes in Pittsburgh, we're stuck in purgatory.
 
fred_1_15301 said:
Welp based on Tomlin’s comments, it doesn’t look like this is the week where any changes will happen. He’s fully supportive of Austin. They just “got to play better”. That should be enough to solve their problems. The standard is the standard.
Click to expand...
Tomlin made a big deal about the O getting upset and out of sync when early in the 3rd the refs missed an obvious offsides on the GB Def, ARod took a shot downfield, it was incomplete, and then 4th down. ARod gave the refs an ear full.

I don’t get it. The offense is doing all we can hope for and more. While not called out by name felt like a shot at ARod.

I happen to like the fact that ARod gets fired up and shows leadership. Wish Tomlins defense would do the same.
 
5-ish Finkle said:
H8fulHuck said:
Would like to see Tomlin step up and hold himself accountable.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the first words out of his mouth post-game (after doing his normal "Congrats to those who just kicked our asses on all the kicking of our asses") were ragging on the offense for "settling for FGs against good teams" (as if some other dude is the one deciding whether to go for it/not go for it on 4th and short when their defense was looking like a wet paper bag). So, I prolly wouldn't hold your breath. :geek:
Click to expand...
Those were all 50 yard FG too. Wasn’t close to the end zone. Glad I didn’t watch his presser. Might have broke my phone.

Tomlin is living in his fears.
 
H8fulHuck said:
5-ish Finkle said:
H8fulHuck said:
Would like to see Tomlin step up and hold himself accountable.
Click to expand...

Pretty much the first words out of his mouth post-game (after doing his normal "Congrats to those who just kicked our asses on all the kicking of our asses") were ragging on the offense for "settling for FGs against good teams" (as if some other dude is the one deciding whether to go for it/not go for it on 4th and short when their defense was looking like a wet paper bag). So, I prolly wouldn't hold your breath. :geek:
Click to expand...
Those were all 50 yard FG too. Wasn’t close to the end zone. Glad I didn’t watch his presser. Might have broke my phone.

Tomlin is living in his fears.
Click to expand...
He's been an absolute joke for years. Maybe it's starting to catch up to him with outsiders but not the terrible ownership who just ignores it. The original Art Rooney must be turning over in his grave.
 
Max55 said:
fred_1_15301 said:
Welp based on Tomlin’s comments, it doesn’t look like this is the week where any changes will happen. He’s fully supportive of Austin. They just “got to play better”. That should be enough to solve their problems. The standard is the standard.
Click to expand...
Tomlin made a big deal about the O getting upset and out of sync when early in the 3rd the refs missed an obvious offsides on the GB Def, ARod took a shot downfield, it was incomplete, and then 4th down. ARod gave the refs an ear full.

I don’t get it. The offense is doing all we can hope for and more. While not called out by name felt like a shot at ARod.

I happen to like the fact that ARod gets fired up and shows leadership. Wish Tomlins defense would do the same.
Click to expand...
Offense is definitely not the issue.
 
Okay, totally jilted IDP guy here. I almost never do this, but I'm irritated and think Rodgers, Tomlin, Khan, and Rooney are the Prince of Plenitude, Two Fools, and a Nepo, so I'm going to go ahead and let fantasy scores inform my football analysis. Cheers!

www.post-gazette.com

Steelers let Nick Herbig get lost in the shuffle in Cincinnati. But does the explanation make sense?

A torrid start to the season saw Nick Herbig rack up 4½ sacks, six tackles for loss, a game-changing forced fumble and an interception. Then, last...
www.post-gazette.com www.post-gazette.com

Where's Herbig? Or do we have to wait for Highsmith to turn an ankle again before you guys can put a "W" on the board again? LOL. Pittsburgh and Aaron's aDOT.
 
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Max55 said:
Godsbrother said:
Steelers trade for New England Safety Kyle Dugger. New England get a 6th round pick, Steelers get Dugger and a 7th
Click to expand...
Guy signed a 4-year and $58million contract last year.

No idea how that plays into cap management, dead money if cut, etc.
Click to expand...

Restructured apparently, so that he is a FA at the end of the year, and we don't get a comp pick. Sounds like this is pure to offset Elliot this season only. Swap of 6th and 7th round picks is nothing.

Could be a bigger trade looming at WR and ILB.
 
Dugger was essentially free, and is basically an Elliot clone (e.g. seems to be able to stay on assignment, and on a team full of guys who can't tackle he can actually tackle). Perhaps he helps them stop the bleeding/maintain vs. the run (the Packers were noticeably more successful running last week after Elliot's injury), but he's not going to help them in coverage much though. And he's not going to drive both Clark/Thornhill to the bench....which really, really needs to happen.

After re-watching the last few games, they need to blitz less IMO (and they need to play less man/Cover 1 behind the blitzes they DO run). Every team so far is murdering them on their hot reads with alacrity, and particularly the last few weeks. I get they are attempting to mask their coverage issues by sending 5 or 6 guys, but it's not working. They're either tipping where the blitzes are coming from, or they are using guys who just aren't able to get there on the blitz (maybe both :sick:). Either way, it's exposing them to these 3 yard dumps that turn into 30 yarders because, like, one guy in the back 7 can tackle.

They have had cover issues in Zone too, but it's been much more a FS/ILB issue (looking at you Patrick Queen. Guy is out of position in Zone a lot). Slay is not a man cover guy anymore (he wasn't last year either really, Fangio's scheme is far more predicated on Zone). Ramsey can still man up on a lot of guys, but he isn't a shut down dude anymore. He's also at his best in the slot when he's allowed to read and react (he actually tackles pretty well too, all other suspects considered). Porter is their best man CB, even with the grabbing, but he's not a shutdown guy either. Trice was a man guy at Purdue, but he's still hurt.

If they intend to continue running all these Man looks, they almost have to get Slay out of there. He just can't do it. Can Echols? No idea, but he's able to play outside. Would prefer to keep Ramsey as the "slot specific"/Rover, so if I were coaching I'd be giving Echols a shot in practice this week to replace Slay. Porter on the outside on the other side. Ramsey gets dedicated Slot duty, and perhaps some run at FS. If they go nickle/dime then Ramsey stays Slot and I guess they go with Thornhill at FS, since at least he can still run some. SS has to be Dugger or Peppers. Chuck Clark should get cut. Slay becomes the most expensive 4th CB ever, unless they go heavier to zone concepts.

Guys like Pierre and Bishop wouldn't usually be worth discussing, but do they have to give a dude like Bishop some run somewhere at this point? He at least showed a nose for the ball a little last year.

That secondary is ugly at the moment. Real ugly.
 
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FWIW, most stuff I'm seeing around the innerwebz from Pats beat types regarding Dugger is pretty ungood (which makes sense, given they got him for nearly free).

Basically very similar stuffs to Peppers: "Used to be good. Got hurt and hasn't been the same since. He can still help a team in the box, but that's about it. He's more a S/LB hybrid at this point."

So it's pretty much same ol' same ol' with Mike. All "We gotta stop the run, man. Period." while having QBs completing 20 passes in a row on them.
 

Mike Tomlin, Steelers Hit With Major Critique Following Packers Loss​


The above article really resonated with me pertaining to “When Mike Tomlin is your head coach, in theory, you shouldn’t need the highest-paid defense in the history of pro football to have a great defense,” Wright said. “They gave that to him anyway, but for the defense to be this bad with that many star players on it and a defensive-minded coach is unforgivable.”
 
sm8680 said:

Mike Tomlin, Steelers Hit With Major Critique Following Packers Loss​


The above article really resonated with me pertaining to “When Mike Tomlin is your head coach, in theory, you shouldn’t need the highest-paid defense in the history of pro football to have a great defense,” Wright said. “They gave that to him anyway, but for the defense to be this bad with that many star players on it and a defensive-minded coach is unforgivable.”
Click to expand...
The Steelers don't have any stars in their prime on defense. It's highly paid because of the names on it and what they used to be.

It's clear that Ramsey and Slay aren't close to what they used to be and it's just as clear the Porter Jr isn't close to being a star.
Watt isn't winning as often at the line and has only 4 sacks in his last 11 games, and only a full sack in 2 of them. Giving him $40M per year was a public relations driven mistake.
Cam Heyward is 36 and is starting to look like it

Who are the stars they supposedly have?

They're soft in the middle against the run because Queen isn't productive enough and Wilson isn't big enough. And when opposing offenses repeatedly talk about how vanilla and predictable our defense is, it's a recipe for exactly what they've been.

After the season, there will be a fall guy or two, but the blame won't fall on Tomlin like it should. It's as dissapointing as it is predictable.
 
For the record I fed ChatGPT various feeds, direction to help guide this write up. I tweaked some of it as well. Keep in mind I know Mike Shanahan appears to be that coach with no personality. But the results are there.

🏈​

In the pantheon of NFL coaching legends, few names evoke as much debate as Mike Shanahan and Mike Tomlin. Both are Super Bowl champions. Both have led storied franchises. Yet, the national media seems to favor Tomlin’s Hall of Fame candidacy while Shanahan remains on the outside looking in. It’s time to challenge that narrative.

🥇 Super Bowl Pedigree: Advantage Shanahan​

  • Mike Shanahan won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos (1997, 1998), building a championship team from the ground up.
  • Mike Tomlin won one Super Bowl in 2008, just one year after inheriting a roster built by Bill Cowher one that had already won a title in 2005.
Shanahan’s back-to-back titles were no fluke. He revolutionized offensive football with the zone-blocking scheme, a system still used today across the league.

🌳 Coaching Tree: Shanahan’s Legacy Grows​

  • Shanahan’s coaching tree includes Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and Matt LaFleur—three of the most innovative minds in today’s NFL.
  • Tomlin’s coaching tree? Virtually nonexistent. His assistants rarely ascend to head coaching roles, and many of his hires have been criticized for underperformance.
This isn’t just about wins it’s about impact. Shanahan’s influence is felt every Sunday across multiple franchises.

📉 Staff Development: A Stark Contrast​

  • Shanahan consistently hired and developed top-tier assistants, many of whom became successful head coaches.
  • Tomlin has been criticized for hiring lesser-quality coordinators, with few showing upward mobility or success elsewhere.
The lack of staff development under Tomlin raises questions about his ability to mentor and elevate coaching talent.

🧠 Innovation vs. Stability​

  • Shanahan was a visionary, reshaping offensive football and mentoring future innovators.
  • Tomlin is a stabilizer, known for never having a losing season—but often criticized for playoff underachievement and conservative game management.

🗳️ Hall of Fame Politics​

Despite his résumé, Shanahan has been repeatedly passed over in Hall of Fame voting. Even with support from legends like Bill Belichick, he remains a semifinalist among nine coaching candidates. Tomlin, meanwhile, is often discussed as a “lock” despite having fewer championships and less systemic impact.
 
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