I largely agree with your whole post. All 3 teams in the division have up an
coming QBs with solid or improving teams. We have an aging QB with an aging
line. Lots of talent elsewhere, but that combo is not good.
No one wants to say it but 3 playoff wins in 10 years with the talent we have
had is ridiculously embarrassing. Bill Cowher, Andy Reid, Mike McCarthy.... I
think there comes a time when the team needs to move on from
a coach. Instances like the 4th and 1 and enough for me. Tomlin has a hell of a
regular season win percentage. That greats and all but that is worthy of a
participation trophy not a Lombardi.
Ben is the big question since I see nothing happening on the Tomlin front. I
don't think he wants to go out with that kind of loss, but I honestly don't see
next year being better. Ben and the line will be a year older. I like Dotson at
LG, but we need a LT and we are still looking at an over rated center and a
declining RG. Juju likely gone and while his number didn't show it I thought he
had a solid year. Ebron can't catch a cold and I now see why he was available.
There will be changes on D, but still plenty of talent. A young CB would be
nice. Hopefully we can keep important depth role players like Hilton and Sutton.
I am very curious what the next few months brings. Will Ben retire? Can the
team keep any FA's? Could the team make a move for a QB like Trubisky or
Darnold or take one in the draft ?
Lots of questions and SADLY lots of time to think about it
Scott in Jersey
________________________________
From: steelers_pb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <steelers_pb-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> on
behalf of Eric Johannsen <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 9:20 AM
To: steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <steelers_pb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [steelers_pb] Postmortem
After having a sleepless night to torture myself over last night's disaster,
I've come up with a few things.
1 - Despite the fact that we spotted the Browns 7 points, they deserve credit
for all they overcame to win that game. I can't stand losing to that team but
I give credit where it's due. Something about all that damn 'good
sportsmanship' I used to try to teach my players when I coached baseball.
2 - Tomlin's decision to not go for 4th and 1 on their own 46, down 12, was
awful. The Browns were reeling. Here were the Steelers 4 drives leading up to
that point: Touchdown, Field Goal, Touchdown, Touchdown. Tomlin let the Browns
catch their breath and they went right down the field for a score that
effectively ended the game.
3 - In the Steelers' last 3 playoff losses, they have given up 36, 45, and 48
points.
4 - I recall Dave saying a few years ago something like "Offensive line is a
sneaky need for this team," and sonofabitch if that dude wasn't spot on once
again.
5 - It's gonna be a long time before the Steelers can realistically compete for
a Super Bowl. Every other team in the AFCN is ascending, and this was our last
best shot. Reminds me of when the Aikman-Irvin-Smith Cowboys lost in the 1996
playoffs - you just knew it was over. Only that group had 3 Lombardis to cry
on....
Not looking forward to this offseason. The team is going to be decimated by
age and the salary cap and will look very different next year. That's not all
bad, mind you, because change is VERY necessary at this point. The problem is
that Ben has a doll house sized window remaining and he won't be around long
enough to endure the re-tooling. There IS talent on this team on both sides of
the ball, but the supporting cast is just not good enough.
Eric in NJ