Wexell: STEELERS ECSTATIC ABOUT TUITT

[RuthlessBurgher]

I don't think it should be said sarcastically. LuBaua constantly is unable, or unwilling, to get young guys ready. That just sucks.

Yeah, because he didn't want to give Jarvis Jones any playing time last year as a rookie, or Ryan Shazier any playing time this year as a rookie. Oh wait...

[WindyCitySteel]

The Steelers are essentially using a DL rotation of a 36-year old Keisel (way past prime), Cam Thomas (who is terrible), Steve McLendon (average), and Cam Heyward (above average).

It's a crying shame that Tuitt is down to 2 snaps a game. Is there really nothing he can contribute situationally?

Can McCullers not at least be used in short yardage/goal line?

The stubbornness of this staff is unreal.

[WindyCitySteel]

It's also a very difficult position to play. Both assignments requiring a lot of discipline and technique vs run blockers and just being physically demanding for a 21 year old out of college

Why draft DL so high then? They're drafted high because they have the ability to crush the pocket. Then the Steelers make them unlearn that and play 2 gaps - it takes years in most cases.

Jesus, just get a guy with the right body type in the later rounds and stop wasting high picks on projects.

[papillon]

The Steelers are essentially using a DL rotation of a 36-year old Keisel (way past prime), Cam Thomas (who is terrible), Steve McLendon (average), and Cam Heyward (above average).

It's a crying shame that Tuitt is down to 2 snaps a game. Is there really nothing he can contribute situationally?

Can McCullers not at least be used in short yardage/goal line?

The stubbornness of this staff is unreal.

I'm not one of the Lebeau has to go guys and actually I want him to remain DC for as long as he wishes to remain the DC or doesn't get retired like Bruce Arians. That being said, both Tuitt and McCullers have shown enough in preseason to be getting snaps, IMO. Will they make costly mistakes? I'm sure of it. Has Polamalu made mental mistakes this year? I'm sure of it, multiple times per game actually.

There is no reason for Tuitt and McCullers not to be seeing the field in some fashion IMO, I don't think they could be any worse than McClendon and Thomas from an assignment standpoint and with their youth and strength they could overcame a mental mistake physically. Once they learn the playbook and in McCullers case learn a little technique as well they both should be solid to well above average players.

I'm with you WCS and I don't agree with your opinion very often.

Pappy

[K Train]

Why draft DL so high then? They're drafted high because they have the ability to crush the pocket. Then the Steelers make them unlearn that and play 2 gaps - it takes years in most cases.

Jesus, just get a guy with the right body type in the later rounds and stop wasting high picks on projects.

Seriously? "the right body type"?

Tuitt will play more as the year goes on....but once again we will hear how its "night and day" for him between now and this time next year, and not because it takes 7 years to learn the system its because rookies are rookies are rookies are rookies.......for everyone, not just the steelers.

I imagine he will play on passing downs as the season goes on, and i think he will thrive with that. If you think Tuitt is a wasted pick because he hasnt mastered the 5 technique through 4 weeks of the season you are an idiot

[RuthlessBurgher]

I would like to see Tuitt get some more time in nickel/dime defenses. I don't think McCullers is ready yet to get playing time except in case of injury.

[Oviedo]

I'm not one of the Lebeau has to go guys and actually I want him to remain DC for as long as he wishes to remain the DC or doesn't get retired like Bruce Arians. That being said, both Tuitt and McCullers have shown enough in preseason to be getting snaps, IMO. Will they make costly mistakes? I'm sure of it. Has Polamalu made mental mistakes this year? I'm sure of it, multiple times per game actually.

There is no reason for Tuitt and McCullers not to be seeing the field in some fashion IMO, I don't think they could be any worse than McClendon and Thomas from an assignment standpoint and with their youth and strength they could overcame a mental mistake physically. Once they learn the playbook and in McCullers case learn a little technique as well they both should be solid to well above average players.

I'm with you WCS and I don't agree with your opinion very often.

Pappy

Pappy--good to see that there is hope for you The LeBeau way is failing and has been. Not getting Tuitt and McCullers on the field is inexcusable but not surprising given LeBeau's track record. The problem now is he has no stars or even solid players in place in front of these players to use as an excuse so it just exposes his approach as ridiculous.

[Oviedo]

I would like to see Tuitt get some more time in nickel/dime defenses. I don't think McCullers is ready yet to get playing time except in case of injury.

Do you believe that Cam Thomas is "ready?" Is Kiesel really that "ready?"

[RuthlessBurgher]

Do you believe that Cam Thomas is "ready?" Is Kiesel really that "ready?"

Keisel's fine in a rotation. Sure, Thomas sucks, but McCullers still has many question marks as well. He has no NFL experience, is still learning the defense, plays too high, fell in the draft because of a questionable compete level, etc. There is a reason that Tuitt went in the second round and McCullers went in the second to last round. Give Tuitt some more P.T. on passing downs where he can collapse the pocket, and keep McCullers on the inactive list, because he is more of a long term project that an impact player right away.

[Oviedo]

Keisel's fine in a rotation. Sure, Thomas sucks, but McCullers still has many question marks as well. He has no NFL experience, is still learning the defense, plays too high, fell in the draft because of a questionable compete level, etc. There is a reason that Tuitt went in the second round and McCullers went in the second to last round. Give Tuitt some more P.T. on passing downs where he can collapse the pocket, and keep McCullers on the inactive list, because he is more of a long term project that an impact player right away.

Where I differ in your opinion is that McCullers will learn and develop more getting some downs on gameday than going at 50% speed with no pads or contact in practice. Plus we will have a better assessment of what we have going forward.

[papillon]

Where I differ in your opinion is that McCullers will learn and develop more getting some downs on gameday than going at 50% speed with no pads or contact in practice. Plus we will have a better assessment of what we have going forward.

Man, it must be a bad day for me (agreeing with Ovi again ), McCullers has much to learn from technique and playbook, but I'd like to see him getting some reps. His sheer size alone should make him difficult to move, if he can manage to get his pad level down a bit, he could very good.

Nothing like games to learn and develop, McCullers could get 8-9 snaps and Tuitt many more IMO, unless, there's a seismic change in production in the defensive starters the defense isn't winning any games for the Steelers. Letting a couple young guys get some time can't be the worst thing that would happen.

Lebeau should stay, but get these guys some action with live bullets flying.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

Man, it must be a bad day for me (agreeing with Ovi again ), McCullers has much to learn from technique and playbook, but I'd like to see him getting some reps. His sheer size alone should make him difficult to move, if he can manage to get his pad level down a bit, he could very good.

Nothing like games to learn and develop, McCullers could get 8-9 snaps and Tuitt many more IMO, unless, there's a seismic change in production in the defensive starters the defense isn't winning any games for the Steelers. Letting a couple young guys get some time can't be the worst thing that would happen.

Lebeau should stay, but get these guys some action with live bullets flying.

Pappy

Just proves I'm helping you, and many others on this board, evolve with regards to how we realistically see this defense

[phillyesq]

Its obvious he is missing his assignments. ... and the dwindling snap count is a reflection of that. Meanwhile, the rush defense has improved significantly over the past two games.

Whether coincidental or not, the run defense has improved the last two weeks. Tuitt was a big part of the nickel D that was getting gashed early in the year. Whether that was on him or not, I don't know.

Right now, it's only week 4. I don't think that Casey Hampton even started until week 6. I'd like to see Tuitt play and be the player we hope he is, and I'd love to see it this week. But I understand the reality that rookies often struggle throughout the league.

As for McCullers, right now, he is the last defensive lineman on the depth chart and typically has been an inactive. I'm not sure how you make the numbers work for him to get a hat on game day.

[feltdizz]

Whether coincidental or not, the run defense has improved the last two weeks. Tuitt was a big part of the nickel D that was getting gashed early in the year. Whether that was on him or not, I don't know.

Right now, it's only week 4. I don't think that Casey Hampton even started until week 6. I'd like to see Tuitt play and be the player we hope he is, and I'd love to see it this week. But I understand the reality that rookies often struggle throughout the league.

As for McCullers, right now, he is the last defensive lineman on the depth chart and typically has been an inactive. I'm not sure how you make the numbers work for him to get a hat on game day.

was the D this bad when Casey was a rookie?

a lot of times people reference vets and their slow start but we had good defenses, longer contracts, etc... now we have a bad D and a new CBA. These guys need to see the field. It's not like we are coming off 2 or 3 straight 12-4 season's with a great D.

We have been on the decline so it makes sense to go young and let them get their lumps in while learning.

[Ghost]

Whether coincidental or not, the run defense has improved the last two weeks. Tuitt was a big part of the nickel D that was getting gashed early in the year. Whether that was on him or not, I don't know.

Right now, it's only week 4. I don't think that Casey Hampton even started until week 6. I'd like to see Tuitt play and be the player we hope he is, and I'd love to see it this week. But I understand the reality that rookies often struggle throughout the league.

As for McCullers, right now, he is the last defensive lineman on the depth chart and typically has been an inactive. I'm not sure how you make the numbers work for him to get a hat on game day.

I'd deactivate Justin Brown even if it was just to use McCullers on a handful of 3rd (or 4th) and very short plays. Send him in and tell him, "don't get pushed back". Let's see how he does hopefully needing multiple guys to block him. Never happen though...