Question: Are we that bad going into 202?

[Ernie]

But we will also be adding a HOF QB. I doubt any of them can say that.

Yea.. but you need to put a big * next to that

[Ernie]

or maybe a ??

[whatever]

But we will also be adding a HOF QB. I doubt any of them can say that.

Yup, but probably losing key players on defense.
Of course, our hof QB will more than likely play at middle of the road.

[Captain Lemming]

Our best chance is a wildcard.
The two wildcards now that are better than us,and on the rise, have 57 and 90 million in cap space.
Teams close to us, CLE, Indy, SD etc have at least 45, IND has 90+.
We have 1.5 and few draft picks.
Gonna be tough to sniff the playoffs for a few years.

Yet we could make the playoffs, get to an AFCCG you still gonna bash Tomlin for not winning the 2021 SB when you just admitted we don't got the talent.

[whatever]

Yet we could make the playoffs, get to an AFCCG you still gonna bash Tomlin for not winning the 2021 SB when you just admitted we don't got the talent.

Well, when you have a HC that can't be replaced by anybody, I expect his awesome coaching to make up for the lack of talent

[Northern_Blitz]

Well, when you have a HC that can't be replaced by anybody, I expect his awesome coaching to make up for the lack of talent

No one says he can't be replaced by anyone (another strawman)

What people say is that you would expect most other coaches to do worse.

There's a big difference between those two statements.

[Northern_Blitz]

Overall the team isn't in that bad shape. The still have a solid group of core players in which they can build around. They are limited from a salary cap perspective at this time. They can find ways to move money around to create cap space like they did in the past.

Top of the list needs to be adding a solid back up QB. They need to address the RB position. Dupree wants to test the market. I believe they can add one of the tags (transition or franchise) . OLB will need to be addressed if Dupree doesn't return.

I think we'll basically be forced to have the same QB lineup we had this year in 2020. Too much cap hit to even bring in a decent scrap heap guy. Even someone cheap like Fitzmagic has a cap hit of something like $5.5M.

I don't think we have the space to do anything but roll the dice on Mason getting better and having Duck and Lynch compete for QB3.

[BURGH86STEEL]

I think we'll basically be forced to have the same QB lineup we had this year in 2020. Too much cap hit to even bring in a decent scrap heap guy. Even someone cheap like Fitzmagic has a cap hit of something like $5.5M.

I don't think we have the space to do anything but roll the dice on Mason getting better and having Duck and Lynch compete for QB3.

They will need to find ways to manufacture cap space.

[Ernie]

i went back and looked at the team defensive rankings for the past several years. Looking at points/yards per game.. we ranked alot higher on average than i thought we would. At no point would i say we fell below the average...and for the vast majority of that time.. we were well above.
With that in mind.. i dont think theres any doubt that we have under achieved.. too many HOF caliber players..."Once in a generation" All Pro types to not have more post season success. If memory serves.. one year we had at least 4 or 5 probowlers on on offensive (maybe more). I believe "The 3 Bs" will go down as one of the most under achieving trios of their era. With that being said... i realize it is damned difficult to win in the NFL..

[Ernie]

sorry guys meant to post this in another thread.

[BURGH86STEEL]

i went back and looked at the team defensive rankings for the past several years. Looking at points/yards per game.. we ranked alot higher on average than i thought we would. At no point would i say we fell below the average...and for the vast majority of that time.. we were well above.
With that in mind.. i dont think theres any doubt that we have under achieved.. too many HOF caliber players..."Once in a generation" All Pro types to not have more post season success. If memory serves.. one year we had at least 4 or 5 probowlers on on offensive (maybe more). I believe "The 3 Bs" will go down as one of the most under achieving trios of their era. With that being said... i realize it is damned difficult to win in the NFL..

The 3 Bs were really not together for very long. I believe they only played together for one complete post season run.

Rankings, stats, HOF status, ect doesn't matter in one game elimination. The only thing that matters is how well players perform. Ben didn't always perform like a HOF player in the post season.

It's interesting that some people on this site ridicule Bell as a bum or use his stats this season as a way to define him as a player. At the same time it seems people want to be overly critical of the organization for failing to win a championship with Bell.

I agree it's extremely difficult to win games in the NFL. Fans might begin to appreciate that in the coming years.

[Ernie]

The 3 Bs were really not together for very long. I believe they only played together for one complete post season run.

Rankings, stats, HOF status, ect doesn't matter in one game elimination. The only thing that matters is how well players perform. Ben didn't always perform like a HOF player in the post season.

It's interesting that some people on this site ridicule Bell as a bum or use his stats this season as a way to define him as a player. At the same time it seems people want to be overly critical of the organization for failing to win a championship with Bell.

I agree it's extremely difficult to win games in the NFL. Fans might begin to appreciate that in the coming years.

I agree with just about all of that... and while i think that Bell was certainly a top tier RB for much of his career in Pitt.. I also think there is some validity in folks who argue his decline has been steep... and that his price tag at this point in his career far exceeded his worth.

[BURGH86STEEL]

I agree with just about all of that... and while i think that Bell was certainly a top tier RB for much of his career in Pitt.. I also think there is some validity in folks who argue his decline has been steep... and that his price tag at this point in his career far exceeded his worth.

Hard to say considering how the Jets used Bell. Bell is still a fairly young player that could have a successful career going forward. He appears to in a bad situation with the Jets. That might change if Darnold can improve.

[Ernie]

Hard to say considering how the Jets used Bell. Bell is still a fairly young player that could have a successful career going forward. He appears to in a bad situation with the Jets. That might change if Darnold can improve.

its certainly possible. "Top 2 money" though?

Jets only finished one game behind us this year.. and are trending upward. Some of Bell's woes have to be placed on Bell IMO.

[NorthCoast]

I saw a graph someone put together that showed offensive salary cap vs pts/gm (2017-201
The Steelers were the farthest point to the right and slightly above average for pts/gm.
NE was one of the most efficient pts/salary cap $ teams.

I'm afraid the Steelers offense will be very ordinary until the entire old guard is gone. This is going to take a few years and it won't be smooth sailing. Focusing on defense will help, but still need to score points to win.