Are we really that bad or did we have unrealistic expectations?

[feltdizz]

Seems most people on here expected a rough season. Based on the schedule I don’t blame them even though I think its crazy to predict a losing record because its something I just can’t do.

Now, I get being upset at games we had a chance to win and p!ssed away like the NE and Jets game. But its Hoodie and as we see, the Jets might be better than expected.. or maybe GB stinks this year, lol.

Anyway..
Bungles
Pats
Browns
Jets
Bills
Bucs
Miami
Philly

That is a monster schedule. No excuses but damn, we started with Mitch and now have Kenny playing.

and of course Watt is out on D and last game the team WON with its 2 expensive stars on the sidelines and 3/4 of the secondary in street clothes.

We may be in rebuilding mode but the future isn’t that dim when you step back!

[whisper]

Seems most people on here expected a rough season. Based on the schedule I don’t blame them even though I think its crazy to predict a losing record because its something I just can’t do.

Now, I get being upset at games we had a chance to win and p!ssed away like the NE and Jets game. But its Hoodie and as we see, the Jets might be better than expected.. or maybe GB stinks this year, lol.

Anyway..
Bungles
Pats
Browns
Jets
Bills
Bucs
Miami
Philly

That is a monster schedule. No excuses but damn, we started with Mitch and now have Kenny playing.

and of course Watt is out on D and last game the team WON with its 2 expensive stars on the sidelines and 3/4 of the secondary in street clothes.

We may be in rebuilding mode but the future isn’t that dim when you step back!

The reason some of us think it's dim and you and people like you don't, is that you have confidence in Tomlin and we feel he is a phony, propped up with a HOF QB for 14 years. Even last year, with Ben on wobbly legs and a pop gun arm, STILL manufactured wins that Tomlin would have never got on his own without him. And with "Cowher's team" completely gone, Shades only has his own work to hang his hat on, and paired with his nonsense, undisciplined, unbuttoned up ways with poor in-game mng., we will reap what Shades has sewn.

Pickett has already spoken out about sloppy practices, as have other players. Practice sloppy, play sloppy. But Shades hasn't even learned this yet in 15 years as head coach, plus other years coaching in the NFL. I ask you "How is that possible?" Yet, it obviously is. He wants to be buddies with players before being their coach. That doesn't work.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

Seems most people on here expected a rough season. Based on the schedule I don’t blame them even though I think its crazy to predict a losing record because its something I just can’t do.

Now, I get being upset at games we had a chance to win and p!ssed away like the NE and Jets game. But its Hoodie and as we see, the Jets might be better than expected.. or maybe GB stinks this year, lol.

Anyway..
Bungles
Pats
Browns
Jets
Bills
Bucs
Miami
Philly

That is a monster schedule. No excuses but damn, we started with Mitch and now have Kenny playing.

and of course Watt is out on D and last game the team WON with its 2 expensive stars on the sidelines and 3/4 of the secondary in street clothes.

We may be in rebuilding mode but the future isn’t that dim when you step back!

I predicted a losing season, but I admit did not see us as bad as we are tracking. I'm on Tomlin's case and have been for years.... and the coaches case for not making the changes that should be made. Yes we should be in rebuilding mode sooner, yet the Steelers continue to run the same stupid plays with players I say we need to replace but don't and expect different results.

I watched some of the game between Cardinals and Saints last night. Did you see how quickly the backs hit the hole, and the arm velocity in the QB's arm? Anyone reading see that? Big difference from what we have playing. Yes, depending on who is on the board when we pick, I feel we need a back in the draft like Robinson who I think will be star and a better QB that what we have. Good thing the draft isn't next week and we can learn a bit more about Pickett before its draft day. However I have made up my mind on Harris. He needs to be replaced.

[whisper]

I predicted a losing season, but I admit did not see us as bad as we are tracking. I'm on Tomlin's case and have been for years.... and the coaches case for not making the changes that should be made. Yes we should be in rebuilding mode sooner, yet the Steelers continue to run the same stupid plays with players I say we need to replace but don't and expect different results.

I watched some of the game between Cardinals and Saints last night. Did you see how quickly the backs hit the hole, and the arm velocity in the QB's arm? Anyone reading see that? Big difference from what we have playing. Yes, depending on who is on the board when we pick, I feel we need a back in the draft like Robinson who I think will be star and a better QB that what we have. Good thing the draft isn't next week and we can learn a bit more about Pickett before its draft day. However I have made up my mind on Harris. He needs to be replaced.

But in the typical Rooney way, we will see Harris still get more and more touches, because they don't want to admit they made a mistake in drafting him. It will take over a year longer than would be prudent if they stick to the usual Rooney ways.

[feltdizz]

The reason some of us think it's dim and you and people like you don't, is that you have confidence in Tomlin and we feel he is a phony, propped up with a HOF QB for 14 years. Even last year, with Ben on wobbly legs and a pop gun arm, STILL manufactured wins that Tomlin would have never got on his own without him. And with "Cowher's team" completely gone, Shades only has his own work to hang his hat on, and paired with his nonsense, undisciplined, unbuttoned up ways with poor in-game mng., we will reap what Shades has sewn.

Pickett has already spoken out about sloppy practices, as have other players. Practice sloppy, play sloppy. But Shades hasn't even learned this yet in 15 years as head coach, plus other years coaching in the NFL. I ask you "How is that possible?" Yet, it obviously is. He wants to be buddies with players before being their coach. That doesn't work.

This is a bit sensational. Tomlin had Ben and countless other coaches have other QB’s that are talented and that is usually when coaches have success.

I do have faith in Tomlin and its because I think wins like last week happen more often than not.

Ben had a pop gun arm and we still
made the playoffs. It wasn’t pretty but we kept games close enough to win in the 4th quarter. I think this will continue this year as well as Kenny settles in.

[feltdizz]

I predicted a losing season, but I admit did not see us as bad as we are tracking. I'm on Tomlin's case and have been for years.... and the coaches case for not making the changes that should be made. Yes we should be in rebuilding mode sooner, yet the Steelers continue to run the same stupid plays with players I say we need to replace but don't and expect different results.

I watched some of the game between Cardinals and Saints last night. Did you see how quickly the backs hit the hole, and the arm velocity in the QB's arm? Anyone reading see that? Big difference from what we have playing. Yes, depending on who is on the board when we pick, I feel we need a back in the draft like Robinson who I think will be star and a better QB that what we have. Good thing the draft isn't next week and we can learn a bit more about Pickett before its draft day. However I have made up my mind on Harris. He needs to be replaced.

watched some of the game until it got out of hand. Are you suggesting the cap busting Murray actually has enough talent to win? lol..

and Andy Dalton threw 2 pick 6’s.

Like I said, I don’t think we arenas bad as some suggest especially when you look at our schedule.

[Northern_Blitz]

I was thinking we'd get between 7-9 wins before the season started.

Now, I think it will be more like 5-7.

I think you're right that the schedule has been pretty hard.

Losing TJ really hurts. I think if he was healthy we maybe have 1 or 2 more wins because we've lost some close ones and he's a difference maker.

I think I probably also had some combination of overestimating the talent we had (particularly Mitch) and belief that we'd see some kind of rally like we did with Mason / Duck. So, I thought that the offense would be able to score at about the same rate it did last year (or maybe a bit better). And I thought the D would be better (and I think we've been OK on D except the Buf game...and that's without the dMVP).

I will be interesting to see if we can get it together after the bye and win a few more games.

And while I'd prefer to make the playoffs (and win some games there) most of all, I'd rather have 3-4 wins than 7-8.

I guess we are somewhat benefiting from the fact that the division is also much worse than I expected it to be.

I think we need an infusion of talent is several places (OL, DL, ILB, CB...hopefully not QB).

[Joel Buchsbaum]

I was thinking we'd get between 7-9 wins before the season started.

Now, I think it will be more like 5-7.

I think you're right that the schedule has been pretty hard.

Losing TJ really hurts. I think if he was healthy we maybe have 1 or 2 more wins because we've lost some close ones and he's a difference maker.

I think I probably also had some combination of overestimating the talent we had (particularly Mitch) and belief that we'd see some kind of rally like we did with Mason / Duck. So, I thought that the offense would be able to score at about the same rate it did last year (or maybe a bit better). And I thought the D would be better (and I think we've been OK on D except the Buf game...and that's without the dMVP).

I will be interesting to see if we can get it together after the bye and win a few more games.

And while I'd prefer to make the playoffs (and win some games there) most of all, I'd rather have 3-4 wins than 7-8.

I guess we are somewhat benefiting from the fact that the division is also much worse than I expected it to be.

I think we need an infusion of talent is several places (OL, DL, ILB, CB...hopefully not QB).

Look at the thread predict our regular season record, and try not to laugh at the calls. Winning 7 games is the celling the floor would be 4 games. Don't forget RB as your needs. Of course not addressed is the coaching. One that has taken a nine win season to where we were now. We have squandered Ben's last five seasons. Even you must agree with that.

[whisper]

watched some of the game until it got out of hand. Are you suggesting the cap busting Murray actually has enough talent to win? lol..

and Andy Dalton threw 2 pick 6’s.

Like I said, I don’t think we arenas bad as some suggest especially when you look at our schedule.

The teams we played were not that all-world as you suggest.

Cinci - was not on track yet, was an average team at best when we played them.
NE - average at best.
Cleve - clearly below average.
TB - an average, .500 team.
Jets - an upcoming team, but hardly much better than average.
Fins - a .500 team, been losing after a strong start.
Bills - only legit good team we faced, they murdered us like we were the worst team in the league.
Philly - the 2nd only strong team we faced so far. They will wreck us.
Saints - losing team by a lot
Cinci - still pretty average last time I watched them. .500 team.
Colts - losing team.
Falcons - .500 team and over-achieving at that clip.
Ravens - .500 team.
Panthers - might be worst team in the NFL.
Browns again - losing team, lately getting destroyed.
Raiders - 1 win team.

That's hardly the "murderers row" as it seemed at the beginning of the season.

If we don't flat out suck, we should win 9 games. But with such a weak passing game and even weaker rushing game, will we?

[WindyCitySteel]

If we fall to 2-6 things could look bleak. Cincy's next three are ATL, @CLE, CAR, which they could easily sweep.

[feltdizz]

If we fall to 2-6 things could look bleak. Cincy's next three are ATL, @CLE, CAR, which they could easily sweep.

ATL and Clev should be close games. Car should be an easy win but the NFL is funny like that.

[feltdizz]

The teams we played were not that all-world as you suggest.

Cinci - was not on track yet, was an average team at best when we played them.
NE - average at best.
Cleve - clearly below average.
TB - an average, .500 team.
Jets - an upcoming team, but hardly much better than average.
Fins - a .500 team, been losing after a strong start.
Bills - only legit good team we faced, they murdered us like we were the worst team in the league.
Philly - the 2nd only strong team we faced so far. They will wreck us.
Saints - losing team by a lot
Cinci - still pretty average last time I watched them. .500 team.
Colts - losing team.
Falcons - .500 team and over-achieving at that clip.
Ravens - .500 team.
Panthers - might be worst team in the NFL.
Browns again - losing team, lately getting destroyed.
Raiders - 1 win team.

That's hardly the "murderers row" as it seemed at the beginning of the season.

If we don't flat out suck, we should win 9 games. But with such a weak passing game and even weaker rushing game, will we?

I’m just focused on the first 8 games.

That is a tough schedule.

I expected a SB hangover but Bengals
on the road is a tough first game. Only the most loyal had us winning that game.

NE is above average

CLE is a divisional game and always a toss up these days.

Bills cream of the crop

Jets better than we expected

Bucs average this year but who the hell had us winning this game given our injuries and coming off a beatdown?

Miami beat Buff and are above average with Tua.. hopefully he is rusty

Philly only undefeated team left

second half of the schedule is were we can stack some wins.

[whisper]

If we fall to 2-6 things could look bleak. Cincy's next three are ATL, @CLE, CAR, which they could easily sweep.

Carolina is probably the only team left on our schedule that we are clearly better than. But that's what happens when you are a bottom 5 team in the league.

[Northern_Blitz]

Look at the thread predict our regular season record, and try not to laugh at the calls. Winning 7 games is the celling the floor would be 4 games. Don't forget RB as your needs. Of course not addressed is the coaching. One that has taken a nine win season to where we were now. We have squandered Ben's last five seasons. Even you must agree with that.

Of course we would have liked to do better in the last 5 years of Ben's career.

But I think putting all the blame on the coach for that isn't reasonable when you look at the play.

Check out the cap-buster question I asked you about Ben from 2010 onward.

It's really hard for QBs to carry the cap weight that they have now. Ben was a great QB and he couldn't really do it either.

[feltdizz]

Of course we would have liked to do better in the last 5 years of Ben's career.

But I think putting all the blame on the coach for that isn't reasonable when you look at the play.

Check out the cap-buster question I asked you about Ben from 2010 onward.

It's really hard for QBs to carry the cap weight that they have now. Ben was a great QB and he couldn't really do it either.

One thing some people point out when discussing 4th quarter comebacks is always playing from behind.

Hopefully we can play with more leads this year. Scoring early really helps win games. Hopefully we can start a trend this Sunday night.