Does anyone think the Steelers should fire ...

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Kevin Colbert? I mean, is he responsible for signing the dog meat talent we have on defense? How do we wind up with a secondary as bad as it is, and even the linebackers so bad that JH starts? Obviously, the thought crossed my mind that maybe we should!

[SidSmythe]

Whoever made the final call on Jarvis Jones should be fired

[phillyesq]

Colbert has an interesting track record. From 2000 (Plaxico) to 2007 (Timmons) he was money in the first round. Then there was the 2008 draft, which was an unmitigated disaster. In 2009, the Steelers picked a ton of talent but didn't retain any of them through a second contract. In 2010 - 2012 (Pouncey, Heyward and DD) he again hit in the first. Then there was Jarvis, Shazier and Dupree. Jarvis looks like Clark Haggans - not a disaster, but not what you want or need out of the position. He's had some good games but needs to get to the QB more. The jury is still Shazier and Dupree. He's been much better with building an offense than he has with the D, where he's struggled to find a pass rusher.

He's had some big misses (2008 and 2009 really set the team back), but also some great hits (Bell, AB, Bryant). If, as is likely, the Steelers miss the playoffs again this year, everybody should be subject to review. But I'd lean towards retaining Colbert.

[BURGH86STEEL]

Colbert has an interesting track record. From 2000 (Plaxico) to 2007 (Timmons) he was money in the first round. Then there was the 2008 draft, which was an unmitigated disaster. In 2009, the Steelers picked a ton of talent but didn't retain any of them through a second contract. In 2010 - 2012 (Pouncey, Heyward and DD) he again hit in the first. Then there was Jarvis, Shazier and Dupree. Jarvis looks like Clark Haggans - not a disaster, but not what you want or need out of the position. He's had some good games but needs to get to the QB more. The jury is still Shazier and Dupree. He's been much better with building an offense than he has with the D, where he's struggled to find a pass rusher.

He's had some big misses (2008 and 2009 really set the team back), but also some great hits (Bell, AB, Bryant). If, as is likely, the Steelers miss the playoffs again this year, everybody should be subject to review. But I'd lean towards retaining Colbert.

I don't believe one or two drafts sets a team back. Especially when considering that at the very least 50% of the roster turnover is every 4 to 5 years. Very few players remain on the team from the 2010 SB team.

One reason the roster turnover is so high is because there is always a new influx of talent coming into the league every year. Free agency, the salary cap, and draft probably have the biggest impact on rosters.

[Oviedo]

Whoever made the final call on Jarvis Jones should be fired

Not sure you fire anyone but not sure what anyone saw that they thought Jones would be a great pass rusher. He had college stats but if you watched alot of Georgia games he wasn't able to physically dominate the best players. He had a high motor but that hasn't translated to anything in the NFL.

[Oviedo]

Found this interesting question and answer on Dulac's chat

T-Beavertown: Colbert on the Hot Seat?

Gerry Dulac: No.

Hey, painful as it might be for some to hear, let's not forget they will probably finish 10-6 despite losing 57 manpower games with their best players -- Ben (4), Bryant (5), Bell (9), Beachum (9), Pouncey (15) and Suisham (15),.

Only eight teams will finish better than 10-6. Eight! They shouldn't be firing these guys, they should be giving them raises.

Shows how spoiled fans areand how stupid the philosophy of "fire'em" is. Thank goodness the Rooneys don't listen to fans and reason reigns at the top level

[Iron City Inc.]

I'm backing Colbert. Have we missed on guys like Dri and Limas? Sure but name a GM who hasn't missed on guys? What hurts a bit is area where we've had Ike n Troy retire we've missed on a bunch of mid rounders. Not sure how we don't go DB twice in the top of the 16 draft. Colbert hits on one or both along with a healthy Golson should make us a very dangerous team next year.
Colbert let us all not forget is only one link in the personnel chain and grant it a large link however he is solid IMHO.

[Slapstick]

Found this interesting question and answer on Dulac's chat



Shows how spoiled fans areand how stupid the philosophy of "fire'em" is. Thank goodness the Rooneys don't listen to fans and reason reigns at the top level

You can present facts all you want, but you can't discredit the "eye test"...

[Oviedo]

You can present facts all you want, but you can't discredit the "eye test"...

Oh yes...the "calibrated "eye test." That combined with 20/20 hindsight and second guessing is an unbeatable combination.

[Oviedo]

I'm backing Colbert. Have we missed on guys like Dri and Limas? Sure but name a GM who hasn't missed on guys? What hurts a bit is area where we've had Ike n Troy retire we've missed on a bunch of mid rounders. Not sure how we don't go DB twice in the top of the 16 draft. Colbert hits on one or both along with a healthy Golson should make us a very dangerous team next year.
Colbert let us all not forget is only one link in the personnel chain and grant it a large link however he is solid IMHO.

Still need to develop the pass rush from our OLBs. The top four had a total of 14 for the whole season. That use to be the total for the ROLB by himself. Dupree showed glimmers but hit a wall, Harrison and Moats are nothing but filler material. Jones will be mediocre at best

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Found this interesting question and answer on Dulac's chat...
Only eight teams will finish better than 10-6. Eight! They shouldn't be firing these guys, they should be giving them raises.


Shows how spoiled fans areand how stupid the philosophy of "fire'em" is. Thank goodness the Rooneys don't listen to fans and reason reigns at the top level

So in their annual review they get 10s for achieving the most important metric for the Pittsburgh Steelers: having one of the NFL's top nine W-L records? Hey, that's top half of the NFL - woo-hoo!

Thanks for reminding me that not winning a playoff game in half a decade or more isn't important!

Break out the champagne!

[BradshawsHairdresser]

So in their annual review they get 10s for achieving the most important metric for the Pittsburgh Steelers: having one of the NFL's top nine W-L records? Hey, that's top half of the NFL - woo-hoo!

Thanks for reminding me that not winning a playoff game in half a decade or more isn't important!

Break out the champagne!

If I owned the Steelers, I wouldn't fire Colbert, but I'd sure have a talk with him about the way he neglected the secondary for so many years. But then, I'd bring the HC in, and make sure the two are on the same page.

[MCHammer]

Colbert has an interesting track record. From 2000 (Plaxico) to 2007 (Timmons) he was money in the first round. Then there was the 2008 draft, which was an unmitigated disaster. In 2009, the Steelers picked a ton of talent but didn't retain any of them through a second contract. In 2010 - 2012 (Pouncey, Heyward and DD) he again hit in the first. Then there was Jarvis, Shazier and Dupree. Jarvis looks like Clark Haggans - not a disaster, but not what you want or need out of the position. He's had some good games but needs to get to the QB more. The jury is still Shazier and Dupree. He's been much better with building an offense than he has with the D, where he's struggled to find a pass rusher.

He's had some big misses (2008 and 2009 really set the team back), but also some great hits (Bell, AB, Bryant). If, as is likely, the Steelers miss the playoffs again this year, everybody should be subject to review. But I'd lean towards retaining Colbert.

I'd retain him too, but you left out the persistent head scratcher luxury picks (i.e. Sepulveda, Archer, etc.). There is another thread about this team's arrogance. You can add wasting draft picks on toy players to the signs that this team believes it is better than it actually is and the rot comes from the top.

[NorthCoast]

I don't believe one or two drafts sets a team back. Especially when considering that at the very least 50% of the roster turnover is every 4 to 5 years. Very few players remain on the team from the 2010 SB team.

One reason the roster turnover is so high is because there is always a new influx of talent coming into the league every year. Free agency, the salary cap, and draft probably have the biggest impact on rosters.

In general I would agree with you Burgh. But in the Steelers circumstance, they had a bunch of vets at the end of their careers they desperately needed to find replacements for. The defense in particular needed some draft picks to stick.

I am not sure I would put total blame on Colbert. But I would seriously look at who the talent evaluators are for defensive backs and put them on a short leash. Other than Keenan Lewis, they have failed miserably to find an NFL worthy player. And it's not like they have not tried. It's that the picks have been complete busts with most no longer on a starting roster.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Dog meat talent? Heyward, Jones, Shazier, Timmons, and Dupree are #1 picks. Tuitt a #2. McLendon a quality player at the nose. Harrison is old, but still can bring it. Mitchell is a good safety, Gay a decent #2, very good slot corner. Boykin was the top slot corner in the game a couple years ago. This isn't the Giants' defense. If they aren't getting production from the defense, maybe it's coaching/development/scheme. The talent is there. For instance, Boykin has rotted on the bench most of the year. McLendon is taken off the field in the nickel because they choose to play 4 LBs in that package, even though they can't get to the QB and get run on up the gut with him off the field. Mitchell goes for big hits instead of the ball. Etc, etc, etc. Porter has been given a wealth of talent at OLB and has not developed it. Worilds never lived up to his billing. Lake gets more of a pass because they don't spend top picks on defensive backs, but Cortez Allen has physical talent, he just has a head problem. Why can't they fix it? Keenan Lewis was good but was held back too long and then left for greener pastures after his one year as a starter. They acquired Bryant McFadden to play ahead of him in his early years. None of that's not on Colbert - he's not handing them street free agents and asking them to make them into Pro Bowlers.

They are #1 and #2 picks ... only because the Steelers picked them in the 1st and 2nd round! We picked a kicker high in the draft, and wasn't Archer a high pick too? Imagine if we'd put that towards more quality DBs. I guess I'm wondering why our secondary looks like my ISD school district WRs could give them a run for their money. I'm wondering why it seems we just can't pressure the QB very often. Why we are close to last in the league in at least one or two defensive metrics. Etc.