DK’s Daily Shot of Steelers: The pessimist’s outlook

[hawaiiansteel]

DK’s Daily Shot of Steelers: The pessimist’s outlook

[Bawb the Revelator]

Listening to it as I post. DK's beyond terrific.

[WindyCitySteel]

I listened to his Optimist version yesterday, which depended heavily on Bush/Jack rebounding and the DL staying healthy.

[Captain Lemming]

I listened to his Optimist version yesterday, which depended heavily on Bush/Jack rebounding and the DL staying healthy.

Those are huge.

There are so many unknown variables with this team that can swing the pendulum WILDLY.

Inside LBers are young and could absolutely shock if they bounce back. Last season they were trash and could well remain such.

Alualu might return to form or might be done.

No idea what the QBs are capable of, ESPECIALLY once KP takes over.

With pieces finally in place will Canada's offense shock the world, or will it fall flat as a proven gimic at the NFL level?

Can our oline be "average" with the changes? (I still hold out hope for a vet cut).

Can Weatherspoon maintain what he flashed last season?

THAT would be amazing. I'd roll up the Brinks at seasons end because that was All Pro caliber.

[Steel Maniac]

Those are huge.

There are so many unknown variables with this team that can swing the pendulum WILDLY.

Inside LBers are young and could absolutely shock if they bounce back. Last season they were trash and could well remain such.

Alualu might return to form or might be done.

No idea what the QBs are capable of, ESPECIALLY once KP takes over.

With pieces finally in place will Canada's offense shock the world, or will it fall flat as a proven gimic at the NFL level?

Can our oline be "average" with the changes? (I still hold out hope for a vet cut).

Can Weatherspoon maintain what he flashed last season?

THAT would be amazing. I'd roll up the Brinks at seasons end because that was All Pro caliber.

A ton of variables.

I think Jack rebounds and we see the Jack we saw in his first season in Jacksonville. But I think Bush is done. Our cornerbacks are really average at best and the best way to help them is a hellacious pass rush.

Our O-line is still not good but Trubisky offers some mobility which will help the line. But if Trubisky isn’t better under pressure than he was in Chicago, then it’s going to be a long year. Canada is going to have to show way more creativity on offense than what we saw last year. Trubisky has weapons so I’m expecting him to really get the ball out quickly in the first couple of games to get the offense in rhythm.

[NorthCoast]

I listened to his Optimist version yesterday, which depended heavily on Bush/Jack rebounding and the DL staying healthy.

This team is very easy to take a plus or minus view on because they have so many uncertainties.

As is the case for most teams in most seasons it will really come down to QB play. Avoiding bad decisions that put the team in bad situations will be key. And if it comes down to close games needing a big play it's not clear any of the QBs have it in them. In fact I posted elsewhere how Trubisky has struggled late in games (lower 4th qtr QB rating than Rudolph). It's just hard to predict how the QBs will play in a new offense for an OC that had an uninspiring first season.

[feltdizz]

A ton of variables.

I think Jack rebounds and we see the Jack we saw in his first season in Jacksonville. But I think Bush is done. Our cornerbacks are really average at best and the best way to help them is a hellacious pass rush.

Our O-line is still not good but Trubisky offers some mobility which will help the line. But if Trubisky isn’t better under pressure than he was in Chicago, then it’s going to be a long year. Canada is going to have to show way more creativity on offense than what we saw last year. Trubisky has weapons so I’m expecting him to really get the ball out quickly in the first couple of games to get the offense in rhythm.

if Trubisky wins the gig and struggles early I doubt he gets a long leash. KP is on deck and he is going to shock the world!!!

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Those are huge.

There are so many unknown variables with this team that can swing the pendulum WILDLY.

I agree. I thought last year was very simple. My take was always that if the OL was at least average then the team is a contender. The problem was that the line on its own was five different question marks. As it turned out the line was awful and team made the playoffs and was one and done, so I'm pretty confident that an average line or better would have done a lot of good.

This year the question marks are all over the field. They don't have to all turn out good, but there will have to be a lot of them - including, once again, the Oline.

[Flasteel]

I agree. I thought last year was very simple. My take was always that if the OL was at least average then the team is a contender. The problem was that the line on its own was five different question marks. As it turned out the line was awful and team made the playoffs and was one and done, so I'm pretty confident that an average line or better would have done a lot of good.

This year the question marks are all over the field. They don't have to all turn out good, but there will have to be a lot of them - including, once again, the Oline.

I'm not sure I can remember the last time this team entered a season with so many question marks. However, a lot of the question marks represent areas where the team stands a decent chance to improve over last year. Obviously, the biggest one is at QB. We can either look at it like a less-mobile Ben operating a hybrid offense last year was underwhelming and not that hard to upgrade. Or we could say that 7 of our 9 wins were largely the product of Ben's 4th quarter magic and that will be very difficult to improve upon. On top of that, we have no real clue as to what the new QBs will bring to the table.

I love what we did to restock the receiver room and beef up the interior of our O-line. The recent move to get Larry O, was huge in my opinion and I think we have the look of a very solid group with a lot of upside. I like our corners too, although I would not be opposed to Haden coming back on the cheap.

The question marks that loom largest for me are OT and ILB. If we are going to lean on the running game, this team needs to dedicate some of that huge chunk of cap space it's sitting on to go find an upgrade at tackle. We need an established road-grader who can come in and at the very least platoon with Moore (and even Chuks) but has the potential to be a better than average starter. Swing a trade, if necessary.

The inside backers both need to rebound from dreadful seasons. I don't think any of us can predict how that will turn out, but if they can return to their levels of previous play, there is a lot of pedigree and upside there. The Larry O signing and return of Alualu should help these guys tremendously.

[NorthCoast]

I'm not sure I can remember the last time this team entered a season with so many question marks. However, a lot of the question marks represent areas where the team stands a decent chance to improve over last year. Obviously, the biggest one is at QB. We can either look at it like a less-mobile Ben operating a hybrid offense last year was underwhelming and not that hard to upgrade. Or we could say that 7 of our 9 wins were largely the product of Ben's 4th quarter magic and that will be very difficult to improve upon. On top of that, we have no real clue as to what the new QBs will bring to the table.

I love what we did to restock the receiver room and beef up the interior of our O-line. The recent move to get Larry O, was huge in my opinion and I think we have the look of a very solid group with a lot of upside. I like our corners too, although I would not be opposed to Haden coming back on the cheap.

The question marks that loom largest for me are OT and ILB. If we are going to lean on the running game, this team needs to dedicate some of that huge chunk of cap space it's sitting on to go find an upgrade at tackle. We need an established road-grader who can come in and at the very least platoon with Moore (and even Chuks) but has the potential to be a better than average starter. Swing a trade, if necessary.

The inside backers both need to rebound from dreadful seasons. I don't think any of us can predict how that will turn out, but if they can return to their levels of previous play, there is a lot of pedigree and upside there. The Larry O signing and return of Alualu should help these guys tremendously.

$$$ money post Flasteel $$$

[WindyCitySteel]

Too much has to happen for a magical season, so I'm lowering my expectations. Hoping we see a spark out of Pickett that makes it look like he's a franchise guy, bounce back years for several young players (Claypool, Bush, Dotson, etc.), and 2nd year jumps from Najee and Pat.

We get all of that we could be ready to compete again in 2023 by adding a few more pieces.

[Captain Lemming]

A ton of variables.

I think Jack rebounds and we see the Jack we saw in his first season in Jacksonville. But I think Bush is done. Our cornerbacks are really average at best

Do you realize how well Witherspoon played last year? It was at an ELITE level. I think he gave up a TD early, then he did a nice Revis imitation the rest of the way.

In 368 plays Witherspoon was targeted 37 times and allowed 14 catches (under 39 percent) and led the team in picks having started only 3 games (played in 9). QB rating is like 35 when throwing his way.

I said he allowed 14 receptions right?
With 9 breakups and 3 picks he was nearly even money with receivers to get his mitts on the ball. That is insane.

Dude has crazy measurables always showed high potential. Is it possible a bulb just went off in his head?

I will say this. His numbers last season are so ridiculous IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to maintain it.

But he showed enough I don't think it is impossible that he has turned a corner.

I gotta wonder if he is having an Ike like confidence spike that let's him play to his IMMENSE potential.

As I said those numbers are not sustainable. But they were sustained long enough that most GOOD corners cannot match it in a 368 play season.

[NorthCoast]

Do you realize how well Witherspoon played last year? It was at an ELITE level. I think he gave up a TD early, then he did a nice Revis imitation the rest of the way.

In 368 plays Witherspoon was targeted 37 times and allowed 14 catches (under 39 percent) and led the team in picks having started only 3 games (played in 9). QB rating is like 35 when throwing his way.

I said he allowed 14 receptions right?
With 9 breakups and 3 picks he was nearly even money with receivers to get his mitts on the ball. That is insane.

Dude has crazy measurables always showed high potential. Is it possible a bulb just went off in his head?

I will say this. His numbers last season are so ridiculous IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to maintain it.

But he showed enough I don't think it is impossible that he has turned a corner.

I gotta wonder if he is having an Ike like confidence spike that let's him play to his IMMENSE potential.

As I said those numbers are not sustainable. But they were sustained long enough that most GOOD corners cannot match it in a 368 play season.

Witherspoon is on his third team already. Who gets credit for turning his game around?

[Northern_Blitz]

Witherspoon is on his third team already. Who gets credit for turning his game around?

No one yet.

Needs more snaps to see is his game turned around or if he just looked good because of a small sample size.

[flippy]

I say the D + Najee + coaching is good enough to make us above average.

Just a couple of the question marks turning positive can be enough to get us into the playoffs and capable of beating anyone on any Sunday.