Looks like from the sounds of it, Mike Tomlin is ready to start making some lineup changes for Thursdays game vs the Browns:
Mike Tomlin promised possible sweeping changes to the Steelers lineup for their next game in Cleveland Thursday night. Enduring a four-game losing streak that has knocked his team to 6-6, Tomlin said there is an” undesirable pattern of behavior” in losing games in the fourth quarter and that he will take an “aggressive look at potential changes” in his lineup and his schemes. Among the changes he noted is the likelihood that rookie cornerbacks Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis not only will play but could start against Cleveland and that veteran cornerback Ike Taylor possibly could lose his starting job. A few changes will be necessary because it appears Hines Ward will not play because of a late-game hamstring injury from the Steelers’ 27-24 loss to Oakland Sunday, Limas Sweed will move up on the depth chart and either he or rookie Mike Wallace will start Thursday and Tomlin also said they will sign a fourth wide receiver for the game since they released veteran receiver Shaun McDonald Nov. 28.
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jay
December 7, 2009 at 7:44 pm
Blahbitty, blah, blah and blah, blah, blah, Mr. Tomlin! Why Sweed? Why now? Really two rookies? I don’t care anymore (which is why I’m still posting, right-tongue in cheek). For real, though, try not too hard to divert the blame from yourself to your players, Mike. Yeah, Gay sucks and Ike has been lost all year…You are the one who continually employs Arians whose offense has more vanilla than Baskin Robbins! if not for Ben and his two minute drill, the Raiders would’ve blown us out. The defense needs DB’s in rounds one or two, an offensive line in round one or two and an ILB in round one or two. Too big of a grocery list for a team that doesn’t participate in free agency and has been bad in drafts as of late.
DrGeorge
December 8, 2009 at 10:51 am
You are right on all counts, Jay. At least Tomlin deserves credit for taking action this season, although he’s several weeks late in coming around to our point of view. Whether the technique of rookies Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis will prove remarkably better than the veterans (Wm Gay and Ike Taylor) they are replacing is anyone’s guess. If they were clearly better, I suspect they would have been starting by now. But at least they will get valuable experience for new year.
As for the receivers, if Ward can’t go, Wallace will replace him, and Sweed will fill Wallace’s position. If Tomlin had not cut McDonald loose, I’d favor McD over Sweed any day. That’s the reason for Sweed in the mix.
Jay also correctly notes that one draft cannot possibly address the Steelers many needs to upgrade personnel. In addition to the O-line, DBs, and ILBs that Jay mentioned, I would add the D-line (Hampton is as good as gone, and Ziggy is unproven), a power running back for the red zone and short yardage, and possibly a QB (we are one concussion from Dixon starting: a 5th round, side-arm slinger who runs much better than he throws).
Kevin Colbert will have to make some astute moves in the free agent market to bring this team back to respectability. Priorities must be set, and I’d vote for rebuilding the lines first; every championship quality team has solid lines.
Arians and the O-line coach should be shown the door at season’s end. The spread offense must be scraped or modified to create a credible and reliable rushing attack. The O-line blocking schemes must be revamped to match the existing talent or new talent must be found. The footwork and speed of Starks, Foster, and Essex is suspect; they are barely adequate at run blocking and deficient in pass protection.
Finally, steps must be taken with Ben to rein in his play calling and style of play. His gunslinger mentality does produce spectacular plays, but it also causes far too many sacks, interceptions, and misfires, especially this year. Ben was more reliable when Wisenhutt called the plays and Bettis was available in the red zone. The Twenty Million Dollar Man is over-paid for his performance this year. More fundamentally, an offense built around one man (Ben) cannot succeed without him. A balanced offense that even a journeyman QB can operate effectively (think Cassell in New England last year and both QBs in Tennessee this year) has better prospects for consistent success. There simply aren’t enough super QBs to go around; a team must be able to win without one. Compare New Orleans with San Diego, for example. The Steelers must devise an offense that will allow them to win without Ben, if only because the Steelers are one concussion away from having to do just that.
mark
December 8, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Well, DrGeorge I think we finally DIS-agree on something. I actually think Ben has been well worth the money paid him this season. His numbers have been awesome. He is going to close in on 4,000yrd passing, anywhere from 20-27 TD’s and a high completion %. All this from a guy who takes a beating every week. Yes, the free reign he has with the offense has caused some turnovers and lumps in our throat, but he produces and he is comfortable and confident. I could nor imagine any other QB, with that line in front of them and a running game that never gets enough attention to be having this sort of year. I dont mind the gunslinger mentality if only because Ben doesnt get gun shy no matter the circumstance. Of course we all want less INT’s, but that goes with the territory. With Wiz calling the plays, Ben would have 17 Td’s and 13 or 14(2004,2005) Int’s. Now we are seeing 20+ Td’s and as of right now 11 Int’s and Mendy is on his way to 1,000+ yards. Balance is key and when the Steelers can run the ball well, Ben with his maturity and confidence will make this offense extremely dangerous.
DrGeorge
December 8, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Mark, I always welcome reasoned disagreement, and you make some valid points. I guess I’m less persuaded by statistics than results. If Ben were more disciplined, he would throw fewer INTs; if he threw more to open short receivers instead of going for big yards, his completion ratio would go up; if he didn’t hold the ball so long, the line would be good enough. The beating he takes is mostly self-inflicted. Worse, Ben is missing open receivers this year more frequently than in prior years, and the team’s anemic performance in the red zone must ultimately rest with him. The offense is built to take advantage of his skills — any QB in the spread with less than 3500 yds is an anomaly in today’s pass-happy NFL. I am not disparaging Ben; he has superb skills. Nor do I disagree with anything you wrote. I’d just like to see more consistency and better production (scoring) from the QB position, given the field position Ben received in the past four games and the dent he makes in the payroll. “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
mark
December 9, 2009 at 8:33 am
DrGeorge, when you put it that way, I guess we both agree and disagree on the same things!! Funny. You agree with my assessment and I agree with your breakdown. I know we want the same things and are both pulling our hair out trying to figure out why we are not getting it.Your analyzing of the “self-inflicted” beating is correct, but I see it as no-matter how its coming…its coming. For Ben to remain productive he has to be both physically as well as mentally strong.I believe he has shown both.