Why Are the Steelers...

[Iron Shiek]

I also feel as that can be an excuse, loss of shaz was huge but great teams fond ways to over come injuries

This is an underrated thought. Look no further than NFC Champion Eagles. QB Carson Wentz was the odds favorite at certain Sportsbooks for MVP at one point this season. Let that soak in. They overcame the loss of an MVP favorite with other areas of the team stepping up. While the backup isn't great, he's went on a nice run. But the defense has maintained or even gotten better.

We've lost Ben in the past to multi-week injuries and have had modest success without him. But we lost the QB of our defense this season and everything went to crap. Good teams find ways, through coaching or other personnel stepping up. Our guys didn't get it done. It shouldn't diminish the success that the season was, but certainly did not reach the goals...but come on...it was still a fairly successful season. We gotta do better though.

[Steel Maniac]

This is an underrated thought. Look no further than NFC Champion Eagles. QB Carson Wentz was the odds favorite at certain Sportsbooks for MVP at one point this season. Let that soak in. They overcame the loss of an MVP favorite with other areas of the team stepping up. While the backup isn't great, he's went on a nice run. But the defense has maintained or even gotten better.

We've lost Ben in the past to multi-week injuries and have had modest success without him. But we lost the QB of our defense this season and everything went to crap. Good teams find ways, through coaching or other personnel stepping up. Our guys didn't get it done. It shouldn't diminish the success that the season was, but certainly did not reach the goals...but come on...it was still a fairly successful season. We gotta do better though.

Be careful Iron Shiek,

If you keep telling the truth like that again, the TTG will be getting after you. As a matter of fact, they'll be here in 3,2,1,....

[RuthlessBurgher]

Do I want to know what TTG is? Probably not...

[Slapstick]

This is an underrated thought. Look no further than NFC Champion Eagles. QB Carson Wentz was the odds favorite at certain Sportsbooks for MVP at one point this season. Let that soak in. They overcame the loss of an MVP favorite with other areas of the team stepping up. While the backup isn't great, he's went on a nice run. But the defense has maintained or even gotten better.

We've lost Ben in the past to multi-week injuries and have had modest success without him. But we lost the QB of our defense this season and everything went to crap. Good teams find ways, through coaching or other personnel stepping up. Our guys didn't get it done. It shouldn't diminish the success that the season was, but certainly did not reach the goals...but come on...it was still a fairly successful season. We gotta do better though.

Well stated. Certainly, the team needs to do better...

When Carson Wentz was lost to injury, the Eagles were able to replace him with Nick Foles, a guy who had already started in the league and performed well, even starting a playoff game and playing well (though the team lost by two points)...

When Shazier was lost, our top backup was also injured (he's having shoulder surgery this offseason) and we replaced Shazier with a guy off the street (albeit having some familiarity with the team)...

Imagine if Foles had also been injured and the Eagles had to depend upon now 2nd string QB Nate Sudfield, who was promoted from their practice squad...that is more akin to the Steelers situation...

I wish Spence had been able to hold down the fort...

[Slapstick]

Do I want to know what TTG is? Probably not...

Probably a "derogatory personal insult"...

[Buzz]

Well stated. Certainly, the team needs to do better...

When Carson Wentz was lost to injury, the Eagles were able to replace him with Nick Foles, a guy who had already started in the league and performed well, even starting a playoff game and playing well (though the team lost by two points)...

When Shazier was lost, our top backup was also injured (he's having shoulder surgery this offseason) and we replaced Shazier with a guy off the street (albeit having some familiarity with the team)...

Imagine if Foles had also been injured and the Eagles had to depend upon now 2nd string QB Nate Sudfield, who was promoted from their practice squad...that is more akin to the Steelers situation...

I wish Spence had been able to hold down the fort...

Some blame needs to go to the Steelers FO and coaching staff here, IMO. When Shazier went down, in order to fill his place as a starter, they had to go get a guy who'd been on his couch for a couple of months. What??? You don't have a better option than THAT on your roster, you have NO ONE who is ready to go as a replacement? Of course, I understand that nobody would be as good at that position as Shazier, but to get a guy who hadn't even been on a team and install him as a starter -- that smacks to me of a big time FAIL in addressing the mack position and/or preparing backups for it, up until the point the injury took place. It's like they had no contingency plan in case Shazier went down.

[Steel Maniac]

Some blame needs to go to the Steelers FO and coaching staff here, IMO. When Shazier went down, in order to fill his place as a starter, they had to go get a guy who'd been on his couch for a couple of months. What??? You don't have a better option than THAT on your roster, you have NO ONE who is ready to go as a replacement? Of course, I understand that nobody would be as good at that position as Shazier, but to get a guy who hadn't even been on a team and install him as a starter -- that smacks to me of a big time FAIL in addressing the mack position and/or preparing backups for it, up until the point the injury took place. It's like they had no contingency plan in case Shazier went down.

Stop telling the truth! I'm trying to protect a couple of you but I won't be able to stop the TTG if you keep hitting to close to home.

[Steel Maniac]

Do I want to know what TTG is? Probably not...

oh it's not that bad. LOL. Stands for the "Tomlin Tommy Guns".

[Slapstick]

Some blame needs to go to the Steelers FO and coaching staff here, IMO. When Shazier went down, in order to fill his place as a starter, they had to go get a guy who'd been on his couch for a couple of months. What??? You don't have a better option than THAT on your roster, you have NO ONE who is ready to go as a replacement? Of course, I understand that nobody would be as good at that position as Shazier, but to get a guy who hadn't even been on a team and install him as a starter -- that smacks to me of a big time FAIL in addressing the mack position and/or preparing backups for it, up until the point the injury took place. It's like they had no contingency plan in case Shazier went down.

They did have a replacement on the roster...he also happened to get injured and is having shoulder surgery this offseason...it also happened well after the trade deadline, so options were limited...

[Buzz]

They did have a replacement on the roster...he also happened to get injured and is having shoulder surgery this offseason...it also happened well after the trade deadline, so options were limited...

I believe Steelers' coaches have indicated that they never really envisioned Matakevich as a Mack LB, never expected him to fill that role for more than spot duty, because of his lack of speed.

I understand that Matakevich was pencilled in as the primary backup to both ILB positions, but even if he hadn't hurt his shoulder in that game, they'd have brought in Spence, or someone like him, from off the roster to fill Shazier's role. Heck, Matakevich was healthy enough to play STs for most of the remaining games; if he was truly THE backup at Mack, I have to think they'd have had him in there, playing the position.

[feltdizz]

I believe Steelers' coaches have indicated that they never really envisioned Matakevich as a Mack LB, never expected him to fill that role for more than spot duty, because of his lack of speed.

I understand that Matakevich was pencilled in as the primary backup to both ILB positions, but even if he hadn't hurt his shoulder in that game, they'd have brought in Spence, or someone like him, from off the roster to fill Shazier's role. Heck, Matakevich was healthy enough to play STs for most of the remaining games; if he was truly THE backup at Mack, I have to think they'd have had him in there, playing the position.

look who we had at WR and RB the last few years when our #1 and #2 weren't available. Both times our production was booty.

I can see when you have a backup who fails but when you go third string it's pretty much given you will see a huge drop off.

[Buzz]

Of course you'd expect a big drop off, but wouldn't you think you should have someone on your team who would be better than a guy who hasn't even been playing, a guy who 31 other NFL teams didn't think was good enough to be on their roster?

To me, it doesn't look like they really had any backup plan in the case of Shazier having to miss any extended time.

As one of my mentors once told me, "Failing to plan is really planning to fail."

[Slapstick]

I believe Steelers' coaches have indicated that they never really envisioned Matakevich as a Mack LB, never expected him to fill that role for more than spot duty, because of his lack of speed.

I understand that Matakevich was pencilled in as the primary backup to both ILB positions, but even if he hadn't hurt his shoulder in that game, they'd have brought in Spence, or someone like him, from off the roster to fill Shazier's role. Heck, Matakevich was healthy enough to play STs for most of the remaining games; if he was truly THE backup at Mack, I have to think they'd have had him in there, playing the position.

Unless his shoulder wasn't fit for every down duty...the Steelers will play injured guys on Special Teams if there is no danger to aggravating the injury...Sammie Coates was a good ST player with his broken fingers...

I don't think his shoulder was fit to line up and play defense, just like Coates' hand was not fit to catch passes...

[RuthlessBurgher]

As one of my mentors once told me, "Failing to plan is really planning to fail."

Sounds more like something that Yoda would say to Luke as opposed to something that they teach all you Space Rangers at Star Command as they prepare you to protect the galaxy from the evil Emporer Zurg.

[brothervad]

I want to put the 400lb Gorilla to bed here...

The whole Football Night in America interview with Dungy was bullsh!t media overhype. I am not a Tomlin detractor/hater. I think he has some flaws and I think changes need to be made but that whole "He is looking ahead..." was the hype of a media that is looking for anything to overhype in this 24x7 over-sensitized world that has been created.

Most folks didn't even listen to his words...and his words were telling.

"...but probably if we are both doing what we are supposed to be doing that 2nd game is going to be really big and the first one will set it up..."

Ok what part of that is talk in the definitive form?

He said something that was completely legit, and in fact one of them did do what they were supposed to which was beat their opponent at home. The Steelers did not.

Because of that phrase right there...I meh'd it back then and I think less of it now. Coach Tomlin was being very open and I frankly found it refreshing.

you know a lot of us fans b!tch when a coach uses cliché's and then b!tch when they speak what's in their heart.

I mean screw it, you are damned if you do, or damned if you don't.

brothervad