Players and coaches gone next year

[LVSteelersfan]

Ike has intercepted very few passes in his career. There is no excuse for the others to not have picked something off by now. Lewis has had his chances. We need an Ed Reed like ballhawk back there. I like Ryan Clark a lot, but he is not a ballhawk. We will see once Troy gets back if it gets any better. It would help if the LBs would put more pressure on the QB. They always seem to get the ball out just before they lay a finger on them. Most of the TOs over the years have been caused by the LBs causing fumbles or bad passes. That has been sadly lacking.

[AndyWitmyer]

We are finally starting to get some picks - but as others have noted, we should have had a hell of a lot more. Some of our guys on Defense must be infatuated with Mike Wallace - dropping very catchable balls is not going to cut it. I like what I've seen so far - we've gotten some turnovers, certainly more than at this time last year - and the recent pick 6 was nice - but it came at the start of the game.

A pick-6 is always a good thing, but the timing of one is even better. I don't think anyone would argue that our team has been literally torn to shreds - this has been the case on both sides of the ball. We've been playing without key players now for some time now. And while injuries are nothing new in NFL, since at least the middle of the previous season, I've been finding myself increasingly unsurprised by the sheer number of players who are falling to injury - as in, like, all the time. This has actually been a HUGE issue that's been consistently plaguing this team since as far back as the middle of last season. That's gotta change. Again, the D has been doing well enough - but, if we're going to have to rely on them to win games (which, at this point, we will) then they've gotta step up and make those major game changing plays not just at the start of the game...but also WHEN IT COUNTS. Even when Ben was starting (and playing magnificently), the Steelers D were not always able to seal the deal. Thus, our lousy record.

So, when Ben returns, to me...if this pattern of very close games should continue, it should no longer matter whether we happen to be in lead or trailing - if they want to win the rest of their games, this #1 defense of ours must step it up a notch or three, and prove that they, too, can win a game by either doing everything they can to guard our lead...or save the day with a pivotal play, if they must. They've gotta rise to occasion and in the process, regain some of their fire and steely determination.

Of course, having a competent special teams would also do wonders. Not spotting your opponent 7 points on a return, or losing the ground game on penalties would be a good place to start.

[steelfury02]

Originally Posted by AndyWitmyer

We are finally starting to get some picks - but as others have noted, we should have had a hell of a lot more. Some of our guys on Defense must be infatuated with Mike Wallace - dropping very catchable balls is not going to cut it. I like what I've seen so far - we've gotten some turnovers, certainly more than at this time last year - and the recent pick 6 was nice - but it came at the start of the game.

A pick-6 is always a good thing, but the timing of one is even better. I don't think anyone would argue that our team has been literally torn to shreds - this has been the case on both sides of the ball. We've been playing without key players now for some time now. And while injuries are nothing new in NFL, since at least the middle of the previous season, I've been finding myself increasingly unsurprised by the sheer number of players who are falling to injury - as in, like, all the time. This has actually been a HUGE issue that's been consistently plaguing this team since as far back as the middle of last season. That's gotta change. Again, the D has been doing well enough - but, if we're going to have to rely on them to win games (which, at this point, we will) then they've gotta step up and make those major game changing plays not just at the start of the game...but also WHEN IT COUNTS. Even when Ben was starting (and playing magnificently), the Steelers D were not always able to seal the deal. Thus, our lousy record.

So, when Ben returns, to me...if this pattern of very close games should continue, it should no longer matter whether we happen to be in lead or trailing - if they want to win the rest of their games, this #1 defense of ours must step it up a notch or three, and prove that they, too, can win a game by either doing everything they can to guard our lead...or save the day with a pivotal play, if they must. They've gotta rise to occasion and in the process, regain some of their fire and steely determination.

Of course, having a competent special teams would also do wonders. Not spotting your opponent 7 points on a return, or losing the ground game on penalties would be a good place to start.

Effing special teams and effing Mike Wallace = 10 free points. Flacco, Rice, all WRs get a failing grade and they still manage to win. So agitating.

[Fire Arians]

2013 Unrestricted Free Agents

S Will Allen

LB Larry Foote

G Ramon Foster

NT Casey Hampton

TE David Johnson

G Doug Legursky

CB Keenan Lewis

RB Rashard Mendenhall

S Ryan Mundy

WR Mike Wallace

LS Greg Warren

2013 Restricted Free Agents

RB Jonathan Dwyer 6th

NT Steve McLendon UD

RB Isaac Redman UD

WR Emmanuel Sanders 3rd

LB Stevenson Sylvester 5th

Keenan Lewis, Emmanuel Sanders, Steve McLendon are must-signs in the offseason imo. Players in bold are who I think will be gone. Also have a feeling between Dwyer/Red one might be gone

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by Riddle_Of_Steel

Strength & conditioning - is non-existent and needs to be addressed this offseason. Some of it falls on Tomlin to run a meat-grinder of a camp, but all the injuries tells us they are not in game shape at all.

And when he does that and the entire team hits the wall in December due to being out of gas (see 2007), people will bitch and moan about that too.