Pittsburgh Steeler Fans should really get ready for the Draft, since the steelers are not a hard-nosed team anymore.
November 10, 2008 by MarkM · 9 Comments
The Pittsburgh Steelers have looked nothing more than pathetic the past couple of weeks. First, they lose a game where their defense basically had shut down the Superbowl Champion, New York Giants. Then they loose a game to the struggling 4-4 Colts. There has however been a reason, for all this though. The Steelers don’t believe they can run the football.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers had won their last title they had a hard-nose style of football that would pulverize their opponent’s defenses into submission by the 4th quarter. Forcing opponents to have to beat them late in the games, which was a idea not easily fulfilled.The Pittsburgh Steeler’s offense averaged a hearty 35.5 rushes per game, in 2005. They prided themselves on unleashing their dominate offensive linemen on defenses, beating opponents at the point of attack. This tactic, eventually won Pittsburgh a championship. They beat some great teams in the 2005 postseason. Just look at the list. They beat the “High-Powered” Bengals, the Broncos, the Colts, and the Seattle Seahawks, all on the road to win a title. In 2005 we learned, This team had what it takes, however for the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers, we can’t say the same thing. They only run the ball 27 times per game and because of this I am not sure if the Steelers make the post season this year, considering the improving success of teams in the AFC north as well the improved play of the colts.
The most pathetic thing is that is that this team’s offensive strategy has grown far to soft for them to be a strong playoff contender. Its really funny how the fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers can’t admit this fact to be true, sighting their tough defense saying the names like James Harrison and Troy Polamalu. Many fans however will still admit that, The offensive strategy of the Steelers is set up in a way showing that coach Tomlin expects Big Ben Roethlisberger to play as well as Pittsburgh native Dan Marino. I assure you Big Ben is not as talented as Marino, and their record is suffering for it. Honestly, with all the 4 and 5 Wide formations they are running you would think big Ben would have the fastest release in the NFL, which he does not! Big Ben is a victim in this situation and I really empathize with him. With all his winning, everyone has thought that he was a key player in the recent Pittsburgh success. However, his recent play has been proving this idea to be false. Big Ben has been most successful when he was only a role player QB, and this is a lesson that everyone should be starting to learn by now. The Steelers, in 2005, did not put games in the hands of Big Ben. Ben only managed games and Pittsburgh, however, physically beat up on other teams, as stated before. Big Ben has never been a super great QB, but he has been a decent starting NFL QB, on a great team. He does however, have one Superbowl record. Big Ben has the record for the worst QB rating in Superbowl history for a winning QB, at 22.1. Big Ben was 9/21 for 123 yards and 2 interceptions in Superbowl 40. Honestly, if a team can win a Superbowl game when their QB plays this poor, the team must be incredible. I think the Steelers of the 2005 were a team that had it right, my only question is, “why is Tomlin changing the theories of Bill Cowher that had made this team a titan in the NFL?”
Could it be that the loss of Alan Faneca, and the poor play of the O-Line has made Tomlin think they can’t be the physically dominating team they have been in the past? Or maybe they lost the power running game when Jerome Bettis retired? Regardless of the reason, I believe that Tomlin thinks he needs to set up the run with the threat of the pass, which is an idea that won’t pan out well for this team, and I suggest they re-think this offensive strategy. The Steeler defense remains, however, to be a top tier defense and because of this if Big Ben does not turn the ball over they could still be successful. What is the remedy you ask to the Steelers offensive woes? It is simple, Run the F****** ball! (And not out of shotgun!)
Otherwise, you won’t see any terrible towels in this years postseason, I promise.