NFL Week 9: Calling Out Cam

[Buck]

Becoming more and more convinced we're never going to see the full version of the Steelers offense. If it's not one of the dopes getting busted for smoking pot, it's Roethlisberger getting hurt. The Ravens have a pretty good defense, but the Steelers were totally flat. I'm going to the Dallas game this weekend in Pittsburgh and I'm not gonna be surprised if Pitt gets blown off the field like they did against Philly. The season could crater and then you have to talk about replacing Tomlin.

Would they really replace him for a single losing season?

 

[CD Boogie]

Would they really replace him for a single losing season?

I know they favor stability, but that team has as much or more talent as any squad in the NFL and has for several years, and they've woefully underperformed. Still, a lot (if not most) of that is on players like Bell and Bryant for getting suspended. But the losses this year -- to Miami, getting blown out by Philly -- have really been terrible. You never know which team is gonna walk out of the tunnel each week, and that's on Tomlin and his staff. The last few drafts have not been kind. Jarvis Jones, Bud Dupree, these guys haven't produced. It seems obvious Roethlisberger came back one week too soon. He was dreadful, but so was the whole team.

 

[outofplace]

Would they really replace him for a single losing season?

I doubt it. There is a reason that franchise has had only three head coaches since 1969.

That said, it isn't just one bad season. It is three of the last five seasons out of the playoffs and a maddening habit his teams have of playing down to the level of shirtty competition. At some point, you have to wonder what he coach is doing wrong.

I don't think they will or should make a change no matter how badly the wheels might fall off this season, but I can understand the discussion if they fall apart in a season which began with such high expectations.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Injuries are also a factor.
Yeah, injuries are part of the game, but the Steelers have had their share of bad luck with injuries the last few years.
They don't handle them as well as NE.

 

[outofplace]

Injuries are also a factor.
Yeah, injuries are part of the game, but the Steelers have had their share of bad luck with injuries the last few years.
They don't handle them as well as NE.

Some of that is bad luck. Cameron Heyward had never missed a game in his career until he had to sit out against the Dolphins and Patriots.

That said, you can't say it is bad luck when you put your faith in a player who seems to always be a good bet to get hurt. Trusting Ryan Shazier to stay healthy is a very bad bet. It has gotten to the point that you have to expect Roethlisberger to miss time every season. Ladarius Green was already hurt when they signed him. Pouncey's injury really seemed to disrupt the offense Sunday, but he has been hurt quite a bit. It is no surprise that any of those guys missed time.

 

[Buck]

They're 4-4 in a bad division. Disappointing season to be sure, but they could backdoor into division title.
Tomlin went 10-6 last year, and 11-5 the year before.
I know fans are disappointed with this season, but talk of replacing him seems crazy to me.
He has never had a losing season.

 

[Songbird]

And he's 102-58, including 6-5 in the playoffs, with 2 Super Bowl titles. Clearly he stinks.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Tomblin isn't getting fired.
He's not on the hot seat.
Only way Steelers get a new coach is if he resigns.


Wheaton. Dupree. Coates. Williams (who's also aged). Bey.
Previously there was Bell.
I expect guys to miss a few games, such as Roethlisberger. But season-Enders to Bell and Pouncey.

Pouncey's injury hurt Sunday, but they still should have been able to throw the ball.
I think that loss is much of the offensive game plan as the players.

 

[Batman]

And he's 102-58, including 6-5 in the playoffs, with 2 Super Bowl titles. Clearly he stinks.

Point stands, but he's only won one Super Bowl and made two. They beat the Cardinals and lost to the Packers. Super Bowl XL was with Cowher.

 

[CD Boogie]

And he's 102-58, including 6-5 in the playoffs, with 2 Super Bowl titles. Clearly he stinks.

he's only won 1 Super Bowl. And he's been one and done three times in six trips to the playoffs. Guys like him and play hard for him and you never hear players shirt-talking him. But he consistently makes questionable decisions in the game, and the team has been loaded with firepower the last few years and they have come up short. it's unreasonable, maybe, if you're coach of a different franchise, but as even he always says: the standard is the standard. And they've been falling short the last six years. no AFC title game trips since losing to the Pack in the SB.

 

[outofplace]

Tomblin isn't getting fired.
He's not on the hot seat.
Only way Steelers get a new coach is if he resigns.

Wheaton. Dupree. Coates. Williams (who's also aged). Bey.
Previously there was Bell.
I expect guys to miss a few games, such as Roethlisberger. But season-Enders to Bell and Pouncey.

Pouncey's injury hurt Sunday, but they still should have been able to throw the ball.
I think that loss is much of the offensive game plan as the players.

Some franchises might consider a change, but I'd be stunned if the Steelers went that route.

They have been hit hard at receiver, which I mentioned earlier in the thread, but the real issue is the Bryant suspension. They don't really have a strong No. 2 receiver to pair with Brown even when everybody is healthy. Opponents were every bit as likely to double-team Bryant as Brown because his size and speed presents such a matchup nightmare. Maybe Coates can get there, but he hasn't shown nearly enough consistency yet.

I thought they were too run-heavy early, but I don't think the game plan was the problem Sunday. The Ravens did a good job taking away Brown until they went into the prevent in the fourth quarter and no other receiver stepped up. Also, Roethlisberger was off much of the day. He seemed hesitant at times and missed on throws he usually makes, including a deep ball when Coates was behind everybody. They needed Roethlisberger to play well and he stunk for over three quarters. Then they needed to do everything right to pull the game out late, but Coates dropped a touchdown.

 

[I Should Coco]

Meanwhile, quite the shootout in Seattle. Seahawks already with four TDs before halftime, up 28-17 on Buffalo. Where the heck was that passing attack (and pass blocking) in Arizona?