The Steelers, playoff caliber?

[Killer]

Originally Posted by TRH

I've noticed the exact same thing...going on 2 years now. At times it looks like the defense just got out of bed and are looking for their morning coffee - practically yawning.

maybe Hardass Mike is wearing them out in no-pads practice

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by TRH

and Rivers exposed another part of that "blueprint" as well. Pass to the OUTside - not inside.
.

actually brandon weeden and the browns can get credit for this.

i believe it was pat kirwan, the day after the browns loss, who pointed out how the browns made a concerted effort to target the outside and to expect all other teams who faced the steelers #1 pass defense for the remainder of the season, to do so as well.

the chargers did so. (ravens were too dumb to, and probably a main reason cam cameron was fired today).

dallas and the bungles will look at this as well, so you know lebeau and the secondary coach are going back to the drawing board, especially with taylor out.

[Killer]

a confession

maybe I was too high on Worilds, bring back the 295 lb run stuffer, Woodley

[StainlessStill]

Playoff caliber? Of course and we ALL should thank Ben Roethlisberger for that! This dude is a downright TERMINATOR. Too bad he has to run for his damn life while doing it but nonetheless, Big Ben is our only hope!

[Stairway to 7]

Team in transition, simple as that. The offense is young and improving, the defense needs a dominant pass rusher, and a little help elsewhere.

The offense is new and needs time to bed in. The talent is there on the o-line it's just never healthy.

I think the two things this team needs most clearly are a real every down type back, because this RBBC will never get it done week in week out. We need a feature back, simple as. We also need someone who can actually get to the QB, our sacks are all really coverage sacks, Harrison is too slow now, and Woodley is far too fat/hurt all the time, to get consistent pressure.

Get a feature back, get a pass rusher and we're good to go.

[maddog78]

Originally Posted by Stairway to 7

Team in transition, simple as that. The offense is young and improving, the defense needs a dominant pass rusher, and a little help elsewhere.

The offense is new and needs time to bed in. The talent is there on the o-line it's just never healthy.

I think the two things this team needs most clearly are a real every down type back, because this RBBC will never get it done week in week out. We need a feature back, simple as. We also need someone who can actually get to the QB, our sacks are all really coverage sacks, Harrison is too slow now, and Woodley is far too fat/hurt all the time, to get consistent pressure.

Get a feature back, get a pass rusher and we're good to go.

Unfortunately, we're way over the cap next year and will have to flush a ton of vets that are still playing. That's going to be a blessing or a curse, depending on how well Tomlin and Colbert have drafted recently, especially on defense.

Quite possible that Hampton, Keisel, Harrison, Foote, and Taylor are all gone next year. If they were all hurt now, are you comfortable with their backups?

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08...cap-situation/

[Atlanta Dan]

Ed.B. of the P-G shares his thoughts

They have consistently lost to bad teams, as they did in 2009. If they do not make the playoffs this season, that will be twice in four seasons, and also leave just one season in the past four in which they’ve won a playoff game. Maybe they’re just not that good and many of us overrated them.

http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/i...to-new-england

[Stairway to 7]

Originally Posted by maddog78

Unfortunately, we're way over the cap next year and will have to flush a ton of vets that are still playing. That's going to be a blessing or a curse, depending on how well Tomlin and Colbert have drafted recently, especially on defense.

Quite possible that Hampton, Keisel, Harrison, Foote, and Taylor are all gone next year. If they were all hurt now, are you comfortable with their backups?

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08...cap-situation/

I think there's guys we can get rid of, Harrison for one. Probably Hasmpton too. But I know the cap situation will be bad again, and we don;t sign FA's anyway. I never even get interested in FA because I know we will do nothing.

Who was the last major FA we signed?

I'm probably not comfortable with their backups, but what do you do? keep overpaying past it veterans?

We could resolve the Wallace situation, we could dump Redman who serves no purpose, and of course Spinthenfall should be gone. I'm in favour of getting a RB who can do it all, I can't stand this RBBC nonsense.

To me the bigger issue is the clown in the sunglasses, no-one can tell me what he brings to the table, and as if that were not enough, he cannot manage a game. His team comes out way too flat way too often. We have all seen it.

But I know he will be back.

I like the offense, it just needs a feature back, FWP looks like AP to me right now. There's a ton of good YOUNG talent on the line, they just need to gel and stay healthy, Starks is the oldest guy at 31.

[teegre]

Originally Posted by Stairway to 7

I think there's guys we can get rid of, Harrison for one. Probably Hasmpton too. But I know the cap situation will be bad again, and we don;t sign FA's anyway. I never even get interested in FA because I know we will do nothing.

Who was the last major FA we signed?

I'm probably not comfortable with their backups, but what do you do? keep overpaying past it veterans?

We could resolve the Wallace situation, we could dump Redman who serves no purpose, and of course Spinthenfall should be gone. I'm in favour of getting a RB who can do it all, I can't stand this RBBC nonsense.

To me the bigger issue is the clown in the sunglasses, no-one can tell me what he brings to the table, and as if that were not enough, he cannot manage a game. His team comes out way too flat way too often. We have all seen it.

But I know he will be back.

I like the offense, it just needs a feature back, FWP looks like AP to me right now. There's a ton of good YOUNG talent on the line, they just need to gel and stay healthy, Starks is the oldest guy at 31.

After Starks (31) & The Colon (27), the rest if them are yoooung.

Adams, DD: 22
Beachum, Gilbert, Pouncey: 23

[Stairway to 7]

Originally Posted by teegre

After Starks (31) & The Colon (27), the rest if them are yoooung.

Adams, DD: 22
Beachum, Gilbert, Pouncey: 23

And 27 is not old. If he could stay healthy Colon could play 5 more years minimum.

Even Legursky who can play a bit is only about 26-27.

They don't actually need help, they need health.

The defense is more of a WIP, but even in transition it's as good as a defense is allowed to be these days, just lacks TO's and QB pressure.

We need a feature back so badly IMO, if the Rooney's want a strong ground game, then get us a real back.