2013 Steelers

[PaxtonShelby]

At this rate the Brownies will handle us. We might beat the Ravens... Looks like a top 5 pick in next year's draft...

[travj31]

I think there are maybe about 5-6 players that need to be on the roster at the start of next season. In my opinion, these players are all above average at their position and can be a good core to build off of as they all probably have a minimum of at least 3 more good productive years left in the league. Outside of these guys... I wouldn't be all that disappointed to see anyone go.
1 - Big Ben
2 - Timmons
3 - Heath
4 - Pouncy
5 - Brown and/or Sanders
6 - and potentially Bell????

There are some veterans that I think that have been great both on and off the field but if the team doesn't get younger and upgrade there speed and athleticism, then these guys will do more bad than good. Ex... I love Troy and I love the way he plays, but for they money he is costing, I just don't know if he is worth all of that at this point in his career, especially when he is paired with another aging vet in Ryan Clark. In Troy's younger years, he was good for 2-3 amazing plays per game and not really have any bad plays to go along with it. Now it seems like for every great play he makes, we have 1 or 2 bad ones that go along with it... plus his forte has never been in coverage and I think his lack of top end speed with the rest of our secondary has really showed this year.

As far as draft/free agents pick ups this upcoming off-season, I'm not sure as there are so many gaping holes that need addressed but I'd probably go defensive side of the ball. If Ben, Heath, Bell, and Brown are all back, I'd like to think there is an opportunity to put some points on the board. But you need to be able to stop somebody too. I think the Pats drive right before half-time sealed the deal for me yesterday realizing that this team needs to get younger and more athletic. If they won't do this, I think times will only get tougher over the next 2-3 years.

I can't remember the Steelers being this bad in a long, long... time. It's tough accepting this reality, but it's obvious that they are one of the worse teams in the league. I finally accepted that this isn't a fluke, and that they're pitiful in ALL phases, including coaching. OK, where do they go from here... what changes do they make... what positions will they be targeting in the draft?

[SteelTownStang]

They're only 3 games out of first... LOL

[SteelTownStang]

... 2 1/2 games out. Good win! AFC North is pathetic...

[PaxtonShelby]

Good win today. Unbelievable job of shutting down Megatron and Stafford in the second half. Ben was solid today. The whole team hung in there after that awful second quarter. Wow is Detroit's coach a tool - that fake FG call was moronic! Browns lost. Ravens lost. Jets lost. Chargers lost. We're not too good - but at least the rest of these games might mean something...

[Mark Aubele]

Wow is Detroit's coach a tool - that fake FG call was moronic!

I didn't see it that way, at all. They were up by four, a FG only puts them up by seven, still a one possession game. If they would've missed (which isn't exactly unlikely in those conditions) we have great field position. If they make it, we are down by seven with the ball (likely) at the 20 or better. We ended up at our own 3 yard line, down four, which effectively made the play into a nearly perfect punt. The likelihood of us going 97 yards wasn't very good, in fact, the odds were in the Lions' favor of getting the ball back with great field position up by four. Hindsight is 20/20.

[SteelTownStang]

... 2 games out. With the exception of Ike Taylor, they looked pretty good. Still need some help in play calling... the end of the first drive was brutal- running off the LT on 3rd and 7?!?!

Oh, and how about the new punter, #7?

[PaxtonShelby]

Can't believe I'm actually excited about Thursday's game! Ben is getting the ball out of his hands very quickly and the O-line has to be liking that. No turnovers is huge - and the defense somehow is hitting its stride. A stat today surprised me - we have more 20+ yard plays than any team in the league. Whaaaat? I hope Thursdays game doesn't ruin my appetite!

[SteelTownStang]

Yes, +4 in TOs is huge... Should be a good game on Thansgiving!

[95V6]

I love thanksgiving games

[PaceFever79]

Still hard for me to put full faith in a comeback, but, if they can beat the Ravens in Baltimore, a 10-6 season is possible. Even if it doesn't happen, I have to give the team credit for sucking it up. The Steelers have been here before, not the best team in the league, but plays the hardest down the stretch and wins the big games by shear determination.

[travj31]

If they play like they did yesterday, they have a good shot of winning out or at least going 4-1 down the stretch and have a shot at the playoffs. If they finish 8-8 or better, they made something out of nothing.

Interesting thought brought up in yesterday's game was with the younger guys on defense stepping up finally, do they look at letting Woodley go in the off-season?

[PaxtonShelby]

I like Woodley, but to me it never looks like he is in shape. He's a beast - don't get me wrong - but he just doesn't have the speed to cover anyone because he's so thick. The fact that he pulls muscles frequently also points to a lack of training / conditioning. Trav - good point on the younger players stepping up. Worilds (sp?) seems to finally have arrived. Timmons has improved greatly over the last 2 seasons as well. Lets hope we can keep things rolling along so we have something good to watch in December. It is too early to watch hockey!!

[travj31]

I loved Woodley when we first drafted him, but the last 2-3 years I have been very disappointed with him. I agree, he is hurt too much and his coverage skills are below average. Although he can make some great plays time to time, I'm starting to wonder if his money could be better spent in other needed areas???

I like Woodley, but to me it never looks like he is in shape. He's a beast - don't get me wrong - but he just doesn't have the speed to cover anyone because he's so thick. The fact that he pulls muscles frequently also points to a lack of training / conditioning. Trav - good point on the younger players stepping up. Worilds (sp?) seems to finally have arrived. Timmons has improved greatly over the last 2 seasons as well. Lets hope we can keep things rolling along so we have something good to watch in December. It is too early to watch hockey!!

[cLockWise]

I agree with you guys, Woodley has been a huge disappointment. His only consistent the past 3 years has been injuries. As much as I wasn't a fan of Jason Worrilds, he has played pretty good in Woodley's spot with Jarvis Jones on the opposite.

[SteelTownStang]

Just announced that LaMarr Woodley is out for his third straight game. 50 million well spent dollars... NOT! We desperately need a win tonight. Go Steelers! BTW, Happy Thanksgiving!

[PaxtonShelby]

What the heck is wrong with Ike Taylor???

[SteelTownStang]

Young money? Should have let Sanders go to New England. He could have dropped passes from Brady. I see Kiesel was back in sweats... that's nice. Good to see Adams get a couple snaps... He has to be the worse tackle ever to play for the Steelers... Special teams- pitiful. Not a lot of bright spots this season. Hopefully most of these losers will not be returning next year...

[PaxtonShelby]

We outplayed the Ravens but the mistakes were too much. Bell looked fantastic. We make our field goal and it might have been different. No idea wtf Suisham was thinking. Defense was pretty good except for Ike/Troy not being on the same page a few times.

And Ray Rice - what a chump he is...


At least the bill for playoff tickets won't show up next week...

[Cam99]

Outplayed in every aspect of the game. Again. I hope its an eventful offseason because there is a lot of dead weight on this team