No. 1 Thing The Steelers Need To Fix

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  • NorthCoast
    Legend
    • Sep 2008
    • 25614

    No. 1 Thing The Steelers Need To Fix

    The Steelers have been putting drafts picks into the OL but it still has issues. The failure to develop Dotson properly, who would be a great fit at RG right now, and the failed pick of Green at center, plus add in the very slow development of current players have set this rebuild back several years. Someone has got to take the fall for this after this season.

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    Steelers' Organizational Failure Highlighted As All-Pro Teams Are Announced

    by Brogan Noey, Staff Writer

    Jan 10, 2025 • 4:25 pm

    The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a ton of good roster moves since General Manager Omar Khan took over the role. He and Assistant General Manager Andy Weidl have made some great selections through the NFL Draft over the last two seasons that are already paying dividends. Khan has also been aggressive on the trade market and in free agency, but he has had some slip ups. He has failed to fully address certain areas of weakness on the roster, and he has also traded away some players that turned out to be great.

    One mistake made by Khan was trading away guard Kevin Dotson ahead of the 2023 season. It was a bad move to trade him away because he was clearly talented, but it highlighted how bad the Steelers can be at developing a player and putting him in an area to succeed.

    The organization selected Dotson in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he was a primary starter for Pittsburgh during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was viewed highly throughout the league, but Head Coach Mike Tomlin and the offensive staff struggled to develop and use Dotson properly.

    Pittsburgh traded Dotson to the Los Angeles Rams for draft compensation ahead of the 2023 season, and he excelled in Los Angeles. Dotson signed a three-year extension after the 2023 season, and he even earned All-Pro votes in 2024.

    It became clear that Dotson was a valuable offensive lineman early on during his time with the Rams. He became a consistent starter for them during Week 4 of the 2023 season, and hasn't given up his job since. Dotson has found success at right guard in Los Angeles, while Pittsburgh insisted on starting him at left guard during his time with the Steelers. Pittsburgh has a history of playing lineman out of their natural position, and it clearly hurt them in this instance.

    Kevin Dotson works during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, in Atlanta.

    Pittsburgh's offensive line hasn't been great over the last several years. The organization has begun to rebuild the unit with key acquisitions like Isaac Seumalo, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick - however that doesn't erase the mistake of getting rid of Dotson. The mistake with Dotson may have been playing him out of position, but the Steelers also lacked consistency with their offensive line coach.

    When Dotson entered the league in 2020, the offensive line coach for the Steelers was Shaun Sarrett. Adrian Klemm was then hired as the offensive line coach for the 2021 season, before being replaced by Pay Meyer who still serves in the role. Meyer has been heavily scrutinized over the last two seasons, and there is a real chance he will be replaced after the 2024 season comes to a close.

    Steelers Have An Issue Developing Certain Offensive Linemen
    Pittsburgh has done a good finding offensive linemen through the draft in Frazier and McCormick, and the interior of the offensive line looks good. However, it is a bit concerning the Steelers continuously have issues developing offensive linemen in recent years. Dotson was a failure and that was made clear once he found success with the Rams, and Pittsburgh has had issues with second-year tackle Broderick Jones as well.

    Jones was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a left tackle, and he has been played at right tackle since joining the Steelers. He started one game at left tackle and looked good, but has been up and down on the right side of the offensive line. This can ruin a player's confidence, and hopefully it doesn't become an issue once Jones likely moves back to the left side in 2025.
    Last edited by NorthCoast; 01-11-2025, 09:40 AM.
  • Joel Buchsbaum
    Legend
    • Jan 2021
    • 7377

    #2
    We can hope our young tackles develop. And McCormick. Frazier is already a stud.

    We need a new head coach, a new QB, and new back are NEEDS.
    Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game in seven years and counting. The earliest will be eight years. I guess that in Art Rooney's II, opinion is worth a 3 year extension.

    Our 2024 draft looks to be grade A. Our 2023 draft is an A. The roster is talented, but Mike Tomlin is still the head coach.

    *** Mike Tomlin is the best coach since the AFL- NFL merger that has not won a playoff game in 8 seasons or more. It's either him or Lewis. ***

    Comment

    • Northern_Blitz
      Legend
      • Dec 2008
      • 23538

      #3
      The current problem with RG is more about Daniels getting hurt than Dotson being let go.

      Would have been better to keep Dotson (although I think he probably needed the wake up call of getting kicked out). But Daniels has been a good player for us. Personally, I would have liked to extend him and let Isaac go when his contract is up (based on ages).

      Daniels would have made a lot of money if he didn't get hurt. Probably still will.

      IMO Jones not looking very good is the biggest problem with the OL rebuild. Hopefully TF ends up like DeCastro (hurt early, then very good) and his injury isn't a harbinger of what's to come.

      Almost everything about this offensive rebuild has been less than hoped for. Najee is OK, but not as impactful as you want from a 1st round pick. Green was terrible. Kenny wasn't an NFL starter. Freiermuth is OK, but not a difference maker (maybe if we threw to him more?). Pickens is a good player, but attitude might have him off the team. Claypool was a bust after a good first season. Austin is probably a decent WR3.

      Is Fraizer that only recent draft pick on offense to look good! I guess Pickens is probably in this group too. PF is OK (maybe I'm harder on him than I should be because he's the only pick I can remember where I strongly wanted someone else in real-time).

      Before that, is Johnson the best offensive pick? He's the last offensive player to get a big second contract I think (although maybe it was similar to Muth's where it was just at / outside the top 10 at his position when he signed?). Terrible Podcast said the other day that FWP was the last RB to get a 2nd contract from us (although kind of misleading because we tried hard with Bell).
      Last edited by Northern_Blitz; 01-11-2025, 03:16 PM.

      Comment

      • Blitzer
        Pro Bowler
        • Nov 2022
        • 1069

        #4
        6 Super bowl wins. zero without a franchise QB. Need a franchise QB more than anything.

        Comment

        • Joel Buchsbaum
          Legend
          • Jan 2021
          • 7377

          #5
          I just finished my mock draft, 2025. I will post it with detials as soon as the playoffs end for us.
          Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game in seven years and counting. The earliest will be eight years. I guess that in Art Rooney's II, opinion is worth a 3 year extension.

          Our 2024 draft looks to be grade A. Our 2023 draft is an A. The roster is talented, but Mike Tomlin is still the head coach.

          *** Mike Tomlin is the best coach since the AFL- NFL merger that has not won a playoff game in 8 seasons or more. It's either him or Lewis. ***

          Comment

          • NorthCoast
            Legend
            • Sep 2008
            • 25614

            #6
            Originally posted by Northern_Blitz
            The current problem with RG is more about Daniels getting hurt than Dotson being let go.

            Would have been better to keep Dotson (although I think he probably needed the wake up call of getting kicked out). But Daniels has been a good player for us. Personally, I would have liked to extend him and let Isaac go when his contract is up (based on ages).

            Daniels would have made a lot of money if he didn't get hurt. Probably still will.

            IMO Jones not looking very good is the biggest problem with the OL rebuild. Hopefully TF ends up like DeCastro (hurt early, then very good) and his injury isn't a harbinger of what's to come.

            Almost everything about this offensive rebuild has been less than hoped for. Najee is OK, but not as impactful as you want from a 1st round pick. Green was terrible. Kenny wasn't an NFL starter. Freiermuth is OK, but not a difference maker (maybe if we threw to him more?). Pickens is a good player, but attitude might have him off the team. Claypool was a bust after a good first season. Austin is probably a decent WR3.

            Is Fraizer that only recent draft pick on offense to look good! I guess Pickens is probably in this group too. PF is OK (maybe I'm harder on him than I should be because he's the only pick I can remember where I strongly wanted someone else in real-time).

            Before that, is Johnson the best offensive pick? He's the last offensive player to get a big second contract I think (although maybe it was similar to Muth's where it was just at / outside the top 10 at his position when he signed?). Terrible Podcast said the other day that FWP was the last RB to get a 2nd contract from us (although kind of misleading because we tried hard with Bell).
            Take a lesson from Philly. Don't overpay for guards. Move them before they cost $$$. Easy to find good ones. Tackles, yea, you have to pay them if you get a good one.
            The blame for Dotson isn't on Kahn. It's on the coaches forcing him to a position he wasn't good playing. I don't think that will be the case for Jones. We'll see.

            Comment

            • Northern_Blitz
              Legend
              • Dec 2008
              • 23538

              #7
              Originally posted by NorthCoast

              Take a lesson from Philly. Don't overpay for guards. Move them before they cost $$$. Easy to find good ones. Tackles, yea, you have to pay them if you get a good one.
              The blame for Dotson isn't on Kahn. It's on the coaches forcing him to a position he wasn't good playing. I don't think that will be the case for Jones. We'll see.
              I think that makes sense.

              Especially if our Ts pan out.

              But since we should have 3 starters on cheap contracts for a while, I would have been OK having Daniels with ab expensive deal for 3 to 4 years. After that, the OL money will hopefully go to BJ, TF, and ZF.

              I think the issue with Dotson was on not being able to motivate him to focus. His issue here was too many prwanap penalties. He was good between the whistles. Still a coaching issue. But I think it's not getting him to grow up vs being on the wrong side. I know others think differently.

              Comment

              • Joel Buchsbaum
                Legend
                • Jan 2021
                • 7377

                #8
                North / Northern If our tackles don't develop this team is screwed for the next two years as we are not spending a high draft pick or signing a big time free agent tackle in 2025!

                We are not spending a lot of cap space on guards.
                Tomlin hasn't won a playoff game in seven years and counting. The earliest will be eight years. I guess that in Art Rooney's II, opinion is worth a 3 year extension.

                Our 2024 draft looks to be grade A. Our 2023 draft is an A. The roster is talented, but Mike Tomlin is still the head coach.

                *** Mike Tomlin is the best coach since the AFL- NFL merger that has not won a playoff game in 8 seasons or more. It's either him or Lewis. ***

                Comment

                • Captain Lemming
                  Legend
                  • Jun 2008
                  • 15963

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Joel Buchsbaum
                  We can hope our young tackles develop. And McCormick. Frazier is already a stud.

                  We need a new head coach, a new QB, and new back are NEEDS.
                  Per this forum what is lacking that we need are:
                  1. A new QB
                  2. A new back
                  3. A new receiver
                  4. TWO new tackles (hopefully one is on IR).

                  Yet our offense is ONLY struggling because our head coach is holding it back?

                  You guys funny
                  sigpic



                  In view of the fact that Mike Tomlin has matched Cowhers record I give him the designation:

                  TCFCLTC-
                  The Coach Formerly Considered Less Than Cowher

                  Comment

                  • Buzz
                    Legend
                    • Dec 2017
                    • 8190

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Captain Lemming

                    Per this forum what is lacking that we need are:
                    1. A new QB
                    2. A new back
                    3. A new receiver
                    4. TWO new tackles (hopefully one is on IR).

                    Yet our offense is ONLY struggling because our head coach is holding it back?

                    You guys funny
                    I wouldn't say it's ONLY struggling because our HC is holding it back... but I would say he's not really helping it w what he's been doing
                    It's likely not possible that our offense could have been real good with the personnel we have... but it didn't need to be as putrid as it's been
                    I'm hopeful that we see a bit better tonight

                    Comment

                    • Northern_Blitz
                      Legend
                      • Dec 2008
                      • 23538

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Captain Lemming

                      Per this forum what is lacking that we need are:
                      1. A new QB
                      2. A new back
                      3. A new receiver
                      4. TWO new tackles (hopefully one is on IR).

                      Yet our offense is ONLY struggling because our head coach is holding it back?

                      You guys funny
                      Probably two WRs because many want to ship Pickens out. Austin can stay as WR3.

                      Comment

                      • Northern_Blitz
                        Legend
                        • Dec 2008
                        • 23538

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Buzz

                        I wouldn't say it's ONLY struggling because our HC is holding it back... but I would say he's not really helping it w what he's been doing
                        It's likely not possible that our offense could have been real good with the personnel we have... but it didn't need to be as putrid as it's been
                        I'm hopeful that we see a bit better tonight
                        It's impossible to prove, but my guess is that there aren't many other teams that would have gotten as many wins with the QBs we've had since Ben got hurt.

                        Comment

                        • hawaiiansteel
                          Legend
                          • May 2008
                          • 34764

                          #13
                          Originally posted by NorthCoast
                          The Steelers have been putting drafts picks into the OL but it still has issues. The failure to develop Dotson properly, who would be a great fit at RG right now, and the failed pick of Green at center, plus add in the very slow development of current players have set this rebuild back several years. Someone has got to take the fall for this after this season.
                          FIRE Pat Meyer!!!

                          Comment

                          • Ernie
                            Legend
                            • Aug 2013
                            • 8468

                            #14
                            The list of needs is long. Credit Tomlin for another uninspired performance in the 1st half.
                            Poor performance coaching wise on the defensive side of the ball. The backside OLBs routinely collapsed on the RB.. leaving Lamar to pull it and run a free edge.
                            Defenders routinely allowed O to gain several yards after contact due to trying to strip the ball as opposed to making the tackle.. extending drives and killing momentum.
                            Offense again slow out of the gate. At this point im wondering if the problem truly lies with the OC.. or if Tomlin has too much oversight on the playbook/playcalling.
                            Time to make some painful cuts

                            Comment

                            • Sword
                              Pro Bowler
                              • Sep 2011
                              • 2043

                              #15
                              The coaching staff starting with MT…Maybe the Rooneys need to sell the team …

                              Comment

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