How the Steelers can seriously contend until 2030 [One old fart's plan]

[Bawb the Revelator]

First, NONE of this will happen! Why? The Steelers belong to the Rooneys, not me. Next, it's based on a WIN UGLY strategy.
I'm a Steeler Lifer age 83, born in PGH, retired in LA as a CA licensed PhD shrink. I watched the George Allen Rams and then
Washington teams contend for over a decade. But George was bat**** crazy too! He sweated the small stuff and P.O.'d everyone.
So GET AN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE COACH WITH A SENSE OF PROPORTION. Bellichik, McVey and Shanahan are examples

Next DEAL WITH REALITY! Ben's gone and the likelihood of the Steelers getting another Franchise QB are Slim, None and Fat.
Still, Art had a great idea to draft Najii Harris #1 Why? Play to your Strengths! Najii is clearly the premier RB of this era.Next, the Steelers have - POTENTIALLY - a first rate Defense with at least 2 young potential HOF players - Watt and Fitz . It needs maintainance NOT a blockbuster deal

Next, sign a serviceable NFL QB who can compete at a Neil O'Donnell level as he did for Bill Cowher's teams. Is Mariota that? Beats me.
I went to UCLA when Bill Kilmer was the QB and Bill might be the dumbest UCLA student ever - But Bill was QB to Washington's SB team.
Draft heavily in OL, DB and LB. George's teams were always defense oriented. They weren't 'pretty' but they always were contenders.

Is Tomlin the right Head Coach? To me he sweats MOST of the small stuff but NOT at the Belichik or McVey level. George Allen was amusing to me
but he had uh...... "problems" worthy of an old movie like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-95QqBXLG2I
So enough of this NFL Copycat crapola. Even with disgustingly good health for an old fart and kibbutzer I'm unlikely to see SB7.
OTOH who knows? Cheers an' 'at

[Northern_Blitz]

If we get lucky and draft an average to above average QB in the next 2 to 3 years, I think we'll have a good team.

Watt and Fitz will be in their primes, so the D will probably remain good.

And a good, super-cheap QB on a rookie deal means that we'll have lots of cap space to build a very good team around them.

But if we miss on the QB, it's probably more like the competing for WC spots and hoping that we peak at the right time / catch lightning in a bottle.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I agree with NB above. We still have a good core group of players but the next season or 2 may not be pretty. However, I don't think we'll need to wait until 2030 to turn it around.

We will have to make wise decisiions and lately we have had a few epic blunders (taking Edmunds instead of Jackson or evan Chubb). There were other good safeties available as well and I think we could have gotten Edmunds in the 3rd.

The latest blunder of epic propotions was taking Pat Friermuth instead of Creed Humphrey. If we want to be serious contenders these types of self inflicted wounds have to stop or at least be minimized.

I'm not for or against Tomlin but I think he needs to improve a bit before 2024 when his contract expires.

Those are my thoughts.

[Bawb the Revelator]

I agree with NB above. We still have a good core group of players but the next season or 2 may not be pretty. However, I don't think we'll need to wait until 2030 to turn it around.

We will have to make wise decisiions and lately we have had a few epic blunders (taking Edmunds instead of Jackson or evan Chubb). There were other good safeties available as well and I think we could have gotten Edmunds in the 3rd.

The latest blunder of epic propotions was taking Pat Friermuth instead of Creed Humphrey. If we want to be serious contenders these types of self inflicted wounds have to stop or at least be minimized.

I'm not for or against Tomlin but I think he needs to improve a bit before 2024 when his contract expires.



Those are my thoughts.

BINGEAUX! In Edmunds case I infer a classic "TOMBERT" cluster****. Why? It's totally unproveable but I pictured a scene like
"OOOOH! TREMAINE EDMUNDS IS STILL ON THE BOARD!!!! QUICK, RUN UP AND DRAFT HIM!!!" Tremaine went to the Billls
several picks before! So Roger let the Steelers take "THE OTHER EDMUNDS" to avoid a PUBLIC EXPOSURE! Speculation, of course.
When I mentioned "Sweating The Small Stuff" THAT would have been a FIRE-ABLE SCREW-UP BY COLBERT AND/OR TOMLIN!
Or do they all look alike? Yeah, I'm opinionated - but it's Rooney's team and that's on him. Cheers an' 'at....

[Oviedo]

If we get lucky and draft an average to above average QB in the next 2 to 3 years, I think we'll have a good team.

Watt and Fitz will be in their primes, so the D will probably remain good.

And a good, super-cheap QB on a rookie deal means that we'll have lots of cap space to build a very good team around them.

But if we miss on the QB, it's probably more like the competing for WC spots and hoping that we peak at the right time / catch lightning in a bottle.

I tend to agree. Use this year to rebuild the OL and restock the DL. If you focus on the OL (which can be done in one year) then you can maximize the contributions of Najee. Start to restock the DL so we don't see the situation we did this year on the Off Line where we lost everyone at once.

Give Mason a chance. General assumption is that he will fail. I'm not so sure with a full off season as "the guy." I've said before, I think he can play to the Kirk Cousin/Derek Carr level. You can win with that. The reality is it is unlikely any QB in this draft is a franchise guy. I have said before the wildcard could be Malik Willis who I think in the right situation could be very good. If Rudolph fails then we are likley drafting high next year in a much better QB draft. I would NOT bring in a Mariota who has proven several times he can't cut it.

Need to add depth at LB. I'd actually restructure Schoebert versus cutting him as many want to do. A full off season could be what he needs to get back to a high level...same for Bush. That said, I'm draft both an ILB and OLB and look to add competition at one of those spots via free agency

I'm resigning Witherspoon and adding depth via free agency to the secondary. Of course I lock in Minkah but I'm also keeping Edmunds who is solid if not spectaclar and never misses a game.

[Eich]

Give Mason a chance. General assumption is that he will fail. I'm not so sure with a full off season as "the guy." I've said before, I think he can play to the Kirk Cousin/Derek Carr level. You can win with that. The reality is it is unlikely any QB in this draft is a franchise guy. I have said before the wildcard could be Malik Willis who I think in the right situation could be very good. If Rudolph fails then we are likley drafting high next year in a much better QB draft. I would NOT bring in a Mariota who has proven several times he can't cut it.

I think the Kirk Cousins/Derek Carr level would be enough, with a good defense, to make noise in the playoffs. Unfortunately, I just haven't seen that yet with Mason. He looks slow in the pocket. He doesn't have anywhere near the energy of Kirk or Derek. His passes lack the zip that Kirk and Derek have. The only thing I've been impressed with is his deep ball. He has the knack of timing and placing those really well.

I'd love to see a big improvement from Mason and be proven very wrong. But I haven't seen it yet and he's played in 16 games. It's not like he's rarely seen the field.

[papillon]

I agree with NB above. We still have a good core group of players but the next season or 2 may not be pretty. However, I don't think we'll need to wait until 2030 to turn it around.

We will have to make wise decisiions and lately we have had a few epic blunders (taking Edmunds instead of Jackson or evan Chubb). There were other good safeties available as well and I think we could have gotten Edmunds in the 3rd.

The latest blunder of epic propotions was taking Pat Friermuth instead of Creed Humphrey. If we want to be serious contenders these types of self inflicted wounds have to stop or at least be minimized.

I'm not for or against Tomlin but I think he needs to improve a bit before 2024 when his contract expires.

Those are my thoughts.

I don't think Freiermuth over Humphrey can be labeled epic fail just yet, the Steelers still made the playoffs this year even though it was an up and down season. Should the Steelers fail to improve the offensive line in this draft and the team performs worse than this year then I would label prioritizing a TE over a much needed center a fail. I'm neutral right now, lets see how the front office follows up last year's shiny object draft with this year's. This draft, imo, should be heavy on the big uglies on both sides of the ball. The Steelers can get by with what they have offensive and defensive skill positions for now.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

I don't think Freiermuth over Humphrey can be labeled epic fail just yet, the Steelers still made the playoffs this year even though it was an up and down season. Should the Steelers fail to improve the offensive line in this draft and the team performs worse than this year then I would label prioritizing a TE over a much needed center a fail. I'm neutral right now, lets see how the front office follows up last year's shiny object draft with this year's. This draft, imo, should be heavy on the big uglies on both sides of the ball. The Steelers can get by with what they have offensive and defensive skill positions for now.

Pappy

I'll take it one step further...contending Freiermuth over Creed is an epic fail is just idiotic. Freiermuth is going to be an impactful TE for years to come. He was an outstanding pick.

The fairy tale narrative that Humphrey would have been the solution to all our offensive issues in naïve. He might had made things a little better but he wasn't going to make us a Top 10 offense. The off line lost too much too quickly and it wasn't going to get fixed with a rookie Center. This is going to require investment this off season via free agency and the draft.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I'll take it one step further...contending Freiermuth over Creed is an epic fail is just idiotic. Freiermuth is going to be an impactful TE for years to come. He was an outstanding pick.

The fairy tale narrative that Humphrey would have been the solution to all our offensive issues in naïve. He might had made things a little better but he wasn't going to make us a Top 10 offense. The off line lost too much too quickly and it wasn't going to get fixed with a rookie Center. This is going to require investment this off season via free agency and the draft.

Come back and discuss in a few years. This was an epic fail or blunder, however you want to put it. Creed Humphrey is a generational Center that touches the ball on every offensive play. The man was born to play center. I literally couldn't believe they passed on him, especially with the history of centers we've had in this organization. Freiermuth is no bum, don't get me wrong. But if you sorely need to improve your run game in general and offense in general (especially O-line) you snag Humphry here.

[Northern_Blitz]

I don't think Freiermuth over Humphrey can be labeled epic fail just yet, the Steelers still made the playoffs this year even though it was an up and down season. Should the Steelers fail to improve the offensive line in this draft and the team performs worse than this year then I would label prioritizing a TE over a much needed center a fail. I'm neutral right now, lets see how the front office follows up last year's shiny object draft with this year's. This draft, imo, should be heavy on the big uglies on both sides of the ball. The Steelers can get by with what they have offensive and defensive skill positions for now.

Pappy

I didn't like the PF pick and still think it was a mistake.

Because C was such an obvious need and Creed - who I liked based on what I read - fell to us in what felt like a DD type draft. Perfectly tee'd up for us to pick a guy that was arguably the best in class at his position at our biggest need.

But I agree that it wasn't an "epic fail" because PF appears to be a good player.

It could have been much, much worse (see Cleveland drafting a TE over a QB).

But I guess this is just arguing about how we're defining words.

[Bawb the Revelator]

I'll take it one step further...contending Freiermuth over Creed is an epic fail is just idiotic. Freiermuth is going to be an impactful TE for years to come. He was an outstanding pick.

The fairy tale narrative that Humphrey would have been the solution to all our offensive issues in naïve. He might had made things a little better but he wasn't going to make us a Top 10 offense. The off line lost too much too quickly and it wasn't going to get fixed with a rookie Center. This is going to require investment this off season via free agency and the draft.

I HOPE you're right about MR and you may well be. I take your point re Pat F. whose rookie year suggests a serious TE upgrade. Also, I probably underestimated the Steelers rebuild year - which I know see actually began a season earlier than I thought. Thanks for the 'heads up,' amigo )

[steeler_george]

Great thread Bob the Revalator!
Hope to see you more of you on here!

I think we been winning U-GLE ( from the Wildcat's movie) since 2019.
And it is ok, I love having a defensive Steeler team lead the way, with power running offense.

So the building blocks are there, we have DOPY Watt, Cam, and Fitz. Now we just need to surround them with the pieces. Add a dominate ILB and I think we could be a top 3 D.
The other block is there on O, in Najee. He is going to explode next year, when we correct the OL.

Neil O'danald led one of my favorite Steeler teams of all time, he had good weapons in Eric Green (Mouth), Bam-Bam, Peagram ( Najee and ?), Slash, Thigpen & Mills ( DJ, Claypool, ?) and a very good OL and D.
Made to the superbowl, only to come short. If we can get Rudolf to play like ODanald, it is not a bad thing. ( please don't bring up he was the reasone we lost the SB, I am setting myself up huh?)

2019 Rudolf had the D in place, the skill players were lacking, and the OL was on the decline. ( almost made the playoffs) I think if he didn't get hurt in the Jets game we were in)

Speaking of 2019, Fosters's last year, that is were we made the blunder, beleiving in the aged player, not Creed over Mouth. ) That is when the OL was on a decline, and should of been restocked! We moved Feiler to RG, and replaced RT with Banner, then Chucks. Drafted Dotson , no RT nor LT, and NO future plan for Pouncey. We signed Finney as to be the stop gap to Green, but Finney sucked ( reached his peak 3 yeas ago, should of signed a better stop gap) and then the injuries to the guards Decastro, Dotson, Turner, & (Finney/JC)

BTW, you can not do redo me drafts, take plaer x over y.

BTW2, last year was THE building year. Pouncey & Decastro were the keys to the offense. Ben was a shell of himself, post surgery.

[Northern_Blitz]

Great thread Bob the Revalator!
Hope to see you more of you on here!

I think we been winning U-GLE ( from the Wildcat's movie) since 2019.
And it is ok, I love having a defensive Steeler team lead the way, with power running offense.

So the building blocks are there, we have DOPY Watt, Cam, and Fitz. Now we just need to surround them with the pieces. Add a dominate ILB and I think we could be a top 3 D.
The other block is there on O, in Najee. He is going to explode next year, when we correct the OL.

Neil O'danald led one of my favorite Steeler teams of all time, he had good weapons in Eric Green (Mouth), Bam-Bam, Peagram ( Najee and ?), Slash, Thigpen & Mills ( DJ, Claypool, ?) and a very good OL and D.
Made to the superbowl, only to come short. If we can get Rudolf to play like ODanald, it is not a bad thing. ( please don't bring up he was the reasone we lost the SB, I am setting myself up huh?)

2019 Rudolf had the D in place, the skill players were lacking, and the OL was on the decline. ( almost made the playoffs) I think if he didn't get hurt in the Jets game we were in)

Speaking of 2019, Fosters's last year, that is were we made the blunder, beleiving in the aged player, not Creed over Mouth. ) That is when the OL was on a decline, and should of been restocked! We moved Feiler to RG, and replaced RT with Banner, then Chucks. Drafted Dotson , no RT nor LT, and NO future plan for Pouncey. We signed Finney as to be the stop gap to Green, but Finney sucked ( reached his peak 3 yeas ago, should of signed a better stop gap) and then the injuries to the guards Decastro, Dotson, Turner, & (Finney/JC)

BTW, you can not do redo me drafts, take plaer x over y.

BTW2, last year was THE building year. Pouncey & Decastro were the keys to the offense. Ben was a shell of himself, post surgery.

I also really liked the NO'D teams, especially when we had Slash.

That's the only time I can remember when we had a creative offense. And when paired with our defense of the time, it was almost enough to win the SB...

[steeler_george]

I also really liked the NO'D teams, especially when we had Slash.

That's the only time I can remember when we had a creative offense. And when paired with our defense of the time, it was almost enough to win the SB...

I was hoping we would of experimenting 5 wide sets with Juju, DJ, Claypool, Washinngton, Ebron/ Mouth/Najee

[Flasteel]

I didn't like the PF pick and still think it was a mistake.

Because C was such an obvious need and Creed - who I liked based on what I read - fell to us in what felt like a DD type draft. Perfectly tee'd up for us to pick a guy that was arguably the best in class at his position at our biggest need.

But I agree that it wasn't an "epic fail" because PF appears to be a good player.

It could have been much, much worse (see Cleveland drafting a TE over a QB).

But I guess this is just arguing about how we're defining words.

This is how I feel about it too. It was a mistake, but one that still brought us an impact player.