At 5-8, the Steelers are already making vacation plans for the new year, as they won’t be playing any football after the season finale on December 28th vs the Browns at home.
The club can go 8-8, the same mark as last season, but let’s face it, this has been a year filled with ‘what ifs’ and near misses.
The team is going to once again try to sell the fans about making changes to getting better, and will likely make some heavy offeseason changes.
Today we take a look at the folks behind this 5-8 team to date, and how much blame is right to go around for this season that’s been one already to forget.
1. Kevin Colbert General Manager – He’s the guy who picks the players, and for the last two years it’s his players that simply haven’t gotten it done. This years draft class with Jarvis Jones and Le’Veon Bell have shown promise, but some of the older players that are getting long in the tooth maybe already should have been show the door. Is Colbert on the hot seat? Maybe not, but it’s warmer than it was two years ago.
2. Mike Tomlin Head Coach – Tomlin has taken a beating week after week when this club hasn’t played well, and much like Bill Cowher when he had a few down seasons, fans seem to want Tomlin’s head for all the issues that this team has had. I’m still in Tomlin’s corner, just like I was for Cowher back in the three down seasons of 1998 to 2000. No one seemed to question Tomlin from 2007 to 2011. Sure he’s made mistakes, but who with this downfall hasn’t?
3. Todd Haley Offensive Coordinator – The favorite whipping boy of Steeler Nation, Haley just doesn’t seem like a fit at all with this organization. He promised more running, and that hasn’t happened, and in game after game the offense goes though serious lulls which seems to put the team behind and then they have to rally to catch back up or go ahead. He’s also had some off the field issues, which hasn’t endured him to the fine city of Pittsburgh.
4. Dick LeBeau Defensive Coordinator – Let’s face it, the D has had moments of being good, but overall it’s been a very average to below average unit for most of the season, and that was evident Sunday when with the game on the line they allowed a 55-yard run in the snow to the Dolphins Daniel Thomas and then a score to TE Charles Clay to eventually lose. The unit has given up 10 plays of 50 yards or more, and the starting unit has the oldest average age in the league. LeBeau is a legend, but it might be time for a new voice, and that would be LB coach Keith Butler who has waited long enough for the job.
5. The Players – It’s the players jobs to go out and make it happen, and all too often in 2013 they have not done that. They have given up too many big plays, haven’t made plays in the clutch, and seem to have games of lost focus which drives fans nuts. They are littered with first-round picks, highly paid players, and even two possible Hall of Famers (Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu), but yet haven’t gotten the job done in 8 of 13 games. They have lost five games by 7 or less, meaning they just haven’t made the big play or stop when it’s needed the most. Don’t just give this unit a free pass.
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matthew
December 10, 2013 at 9:03 am
BIg Ben (7) still holding the ball to too long , always looking for the big play, He must understand how to control game ,
George H
December 10, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Lets not be a typical Yinzer. Without Ben this team would have maybe 1-2 wins on the year. Ben has been playing perhaps his best of his career this year. Its a shame that the defense by and large has let him down this year. As much as it is to blame the o-line, they have actually been playing pretty well lately given all the injuries.
The offense really hasnt been the problem these past 5 games or so, its really been the defense letting the team down. I will say though that Heyward has been a beast. Timmons has been playing well and both Jarvis and Worrilds are playing strong. Clearly Jarvis is still learning the position but he shows a lot of promise.
Haley is most likely gone after this year and probably rightfully so. As much as Ben denies having riffs with Haley, the writing is on the wall. I believe Tomlin is safe. I actually think he is growing as a coach and the best of him is still yet to come.
Juman1
December 10, 2013 at 1:44 pm
The steelers need to get rid of everybody over 32 years old. And I mean everybody. And they need new corners. Ike Taylor can’t cover no more he get burned every week.. I would draft all defence. Or get one or two players in free agentcy…
Rob Henderson
December 10, 2013 at 8:05 pm
Ultimately It’s Kevin Colbert & The Rooneys The should of made LeBeau Retire and found something in the FO for him. Defensive 30 somethings need to go. Time to Revamp the defense. Bye bye Troy,Ryan,Ike,Bret.
Blkandgold4life
December 11, 2013 at 12:56 am
Ultimately its the players..Coaches coach..players play! That being said our players aren’t grade A either. The Steelers Defense was so good for soo long that Colbert and company neglected to look forward to this day and now it shows. ID DRAFT 1 offensive player this year (WR) 1st pick and the rest all defense DE ILB CB..CB Being top priority (2nd pick) Ya team is only as talented as ya players and right now we lack talent all over the field on defense.. I blame Colbert for not addressing the issues earlier..Bad drafts ..bad contracts and not giving this franchise a chance to get better through Free Agency like MOST teams in today’s NFL. Draft picks are projects.Go out and get some PROVEN players for key positions
Blkandgold4life
December 11, 2013 at 1:03 am
Ultimately its the players..Coaches coach..players play! That being said our players aren’t grade A either. The Steelers Defense was so good for soo long that Colbert and company neglected to look forward to this day and now it shows. ID DRAFT 1 offensive player this year (WR) 1st pick and the rest all defense DE ILB CB..CB Being top priority (2nd pick) Ya team is only as talented as ya players and right now we lack talent all over the field on defense.. I blame Colbert for not addressing the issues earlier..Bad drafts ..bad contracts and not giving this franchise a chance to get better through Free Agency like MOST GOOD teams in today’s NFL. Draft picks are projects…most dont evn pan out.but he puts all his eggs into the draft year after year..Go out and get some PROVEN jdplayers for key positions. ITS NOT THE 70s any more