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I purposely waited until the regular season was done before writing this, but wanted to get it out before the Wild Card game tonight. I feel that knee-jerk in season reactions don’t always do a team justice, you need to see it in total. Tonight, both teams are 0-0, hoping to go 4-0 in the “second season”. Despite the fact that I really wasn’t in favor of the Steelers getting Aaron Rodgers or DK Metcalf, they worked out pretty okay this year. Sure, Rodgers will still play his off-season hold everyone hostage while he meditates in a dark cave and/or puts down a few ayahuasca’s to determine his football fate, and DK Metcalf will be a dropped pass and a 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct a game self, but that’s what goes with the positives, right?! I had a hard time liking this team for much of the season, from the aforementioned players (neither of whom I ever liked) to the coaches calling some really awful plays at key moments or misusing the clock, but in the end, this team did pretty well. All the pundits, media, and former football players turned podcasters (including long-time Steelers) had this team in bottom swamp of the AFC North, 3rd or 4th, with the non-losing streak “definitely coming to an end”. Didn’t happen, did it? Frustrating at times? Yes. But as a whole, I came to like this team because it is a team. How many guys played an important role at some point in the season, or made a big play or two when they got the chance? Truthfully, no one, with the possible exception of Cam Heyward, who was absolutely a wrecking ball the second half of the season, really stood out too much. But the guys that kept showing up, that stepped up when others fell or failed (can you feel me, Darius Slay?), kept making those small contributions that pushed us to 10 wins. Jaylen Warren, James Pierre, Dylan Cook, Spencer Anderson. Rookie DL. Almost rookie DLs Otomewo and Lee? They all added something, all made a play or two that helped in the wins. This is the team I grew to like. This team is quite imperfect. Truly ugly at times. But, overall, I still wouldn’t want to be a fan of any other team. Go Stillers—keep the MNF home streak going!
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Agree that this is a team of contributors vs. headline superstars. To me, building a team is always about if this guy will be around to play a role when the team is ready to contend. That's why I never cared if the QB this year was Rodgers or Rudolph because either is just a placeholder until the future QB comes along. All that is to say that while I don't think it's a team full of star playmakers, I believe there are a lot of pieces in place for if/when those players do arrive. I think there were several players who stepped forward this year to claim their spot on that future team. -
Maine - Super random, non football related but do you know of an author Named Paul Doiron? Writes crime/mystery novels that center around a Maine Game Warden. Outstanding!!! I am on book 5 of the series and will read them all.sigpicComment
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DK had your brutal drop today. Ugh. Hoping Rogers has magic, but so far in 3 quarters he has played scared. The O line has not helped. The biggest issue for me is drafting. Pickens was an absolute bust. Broderick Jones is looking like a wasted 1st rounder. And Fauntanu is playing like absolute a$$ tonight. You cannot miss on 3 1st rounders. Sets the team back years and years.sigpicComment
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Ghost, yes, I do. I'm an avid reader and (as usual) got a stack of books for Christmas, including the first of that series. Haven't cracked it open yet, but will soon. On the Wild Card game, Metcalf again disappoints, only has the big drop and not the 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty. Just can't get a complete game out of him.Comment
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