So is everyone looking forward to Ike and Troy's return for our end-of-season run?

[bostonsteeler]

I believe this is Ike's last year with the steelers. I don't say this with any satisfaction or lack of respect for Taylor - he's been a phenomenal player for the steelers, but I believe his play has declined and as his salary has risen the steelers have likely passed the point where they keep him on the roster. I also think Troy is one year removed beyond that. Same situation. love the guy and nothing but respect - but can anyone remember the last 'splash play' troy made?

it's sad and unfortunate that two of the greatest dbacks in steelers history are nearing the end of their careers - but it's been wonderful to watch them over the years. not so much lately, but that's life in the NFL.

Growing old sucks. Happens. They've made tons of money, done well, time to ride into the sunset.

[Steelhere10]

And take Dickey and John Boy into the sunset with them.

[NorthCoast]

Least of our concerns? LOL... Ben is great when he is on but he is HORRIBLE when he is off.

Lack of consistency at QB is why we lose so many games to bad teams.

It's also the reason why Roethlisberger's future HOF consideration is slowing slipping away from him. The great ones are consistent. Some of Roethlisberger's games this season are truly Daltonesque. Saints were one of the worst 3rd down defenses in the league and yet the Steelers couldn't crack that nut wide open.

[bostonsteeler]

It's also the reason why Roethlisberger's future HOF consideration is slowing slipping away from him. The great ones are consistent. Some of Roethlisberger's games this season are truly Daltonesque. Saints were one of the worst 3rd down defenses in the league and yet the Steelers couldn't crack that nut wide open.

Ben's star has been on the fade since 2011. He needs at least one more high-quality season to be a HOF lock (not an alternately brilliant and shixty season averaging out to overall good stats, but Jan at home).

Can he put one together? If he got us deep into the playoffs this year, it may do it.

[WindyCitySteel]

Ben was a first ballot HOF'er after the Ravens game. The defense has sucked all season. Ben is 2-4 when the defense allows 25+. You know what Andrew Luck is?

2-4. Rodgers is 0-2, Brady is 1-2, Manning is 1-2.

We need a QB who is better than all of these guys. You know, the mythical QB who can carry his team despite a bad defense (and offensive line).

[Eich]

Ben was a first ballot HOF'er after the Ravens game. The defense has sucked all season. Ben is 2-4 when the defense allows 25+. You know what Andrew Luck is?

2-4. Rodgers is 0-2, Brady is 1-2, Manning is 1-2.

We need a QB who is better than all of these guys. You know, the mythical QB who can carry his team despite a bad defense (and offensive line).

Yet, it's hard to argue that Ben played far better in the Indy/Rats game than he has since. He seems off. He was missing receivers horribly yesterday. Something isn't right in his head. It's not his record when the defense allows 25+ that is alarming. It's the way he's been playing of late, especially the first half of games.

[feltdizz]

Ben was a first ballot HOF'er after the Ravens game. The defense has sucked all season. Ben is 2-4 when the defense allows 25+. You know what Andrew Luck is?

2-4. Rodgers is 0-2, Brady is 1-2, Manning is 1-2.

We need a QB who is better than all of these guys. You know, the mythical QB who can carry his team despite a bad defense (and offensive line).

the problem is 2 or 3 of our losses were vs teams with bad defenses. If Ben could hit the side of a barn in a few of these games I doubt the other team scores 25 points. We keep kicking FG's or give opponents short fields with INT's.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette: ‘I Think This Will Be It For’ Troy Polamalu

December 18, 2014

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) – Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette joined Starkey and Mueller for his weekly segment and talked about what the offense could bring back this week against the Kansas City Chiefs and how much more Troy Polamalu has left in the tank.

Talking about Polamalu, Bouchette gave us his gut feeling on whether or not the All-Pro Safety will be back after this season.

“Oh, I would be surprised,” Bouchette said. “I think he’s done, I really do. He looks heavier, I don’t know what he weighs. He’s still active around the ball, but his reactions aren’t as good as they used to be.”

Bouchette also addressed whether or not Polamalu would look to continue his career with another team if the Steelers don’t want him back.

“I think Troy has a lot of pride and will realize that he just doesn’t have it anymore,” Bouchette said. “They all lose it. The great ones all lose it.”

Looking ahead to this week’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Bouchette speculated that we could see the return of the no-huddle offense this week.

“I remember when we talked about the no-huddle offense and a lot of the advantages that they said early in the season that it brought to them, and one of them was to neutralize strong pass rushes,” Bouchette said. “This is a good one coming in with Justin Houston co-leading the league with 17 sacks and 38 total by the Chiefs, which is sixth most in the league so that would be one way to do it.”

Click the link below to hear more from Bouchette on these topics and who he thinks should be voted the team MVP as voting by the players will take place next week:

[URL]http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/12/18/steelers-insider-ed-bouchette-i-think-this-will-be-it-for-troy-polamalu/[/URL]

[Slapstick]

As Billick said, though I hate him, Father Time is undefeated...

[Oviedo]

one of them was to neutralize strong pass rushes,” Bouchette said. “This is a good one coming in with Justin Houston co-leading the league with 17 sacks and 38 total by the Chiefs, which is sixth most in the league so that would be one way to do it.”

Well, at least one team playing at Heinz Field this Sunday seems to know how to sack the QB. Unfortunately it isn't our team.