AFCN Hate Guide

[Superbelt]

 

[thedddd]

I expect Pat Meyer and Teryl Austin to be the sacrificial lambs. But whoever replaces Austin will be another flunky playing second banana to Tomlin's Defense.

Yep. The names will change but the roles won't.

 

[thedddd]

Steelers: Old definition: NFL Team from Pittsburgh with a long-storied tradition of greatness and HOF players.
New definition: Doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.

​

 

[Caliskinsfan]

What a cutie patootie

 

[Bridgeburner]

Congrats to the purple browns. Honestly, their RB is playing some of the best football at QB I've seen in my lifetime. They are probably the best team in the league right now.

Steelers can fuck themselves raw until Mike Tomlin is gone.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Saw a quote the other day that basically said - Pitt is in NFL purgatory/hell with this current cycle.

Always doing enough to win in the regular season at roughly 9-10 games, but never good enough to win the post-season because they lack a true Franchise QB.

Yet, all of that work to just remain mediocre in the regular season means they can't ever get far enough down in the draft to draft a Franchise QB (without some kind of massive trade).

There was a reason why most of the talking heads kept saying "Teams do not want to see the Bengals in the playoffs"...It wasn't because suddenly the defense was good (it wasn't - smoke and mirrors against really bad teams). It's because when you have a guy like Burrow at QB - that guy can will his team to wins. Got this team to 9 wins despite one of the worst defenses I've ever see in the NFL.

 

[Superbelt]

Saw a quote the other day that basically said - Pitt is in NFL purgatory/hell with this current cycle.

Always doing enough to win in the regular season at roughly 9-10 games, but never good enough to win the post-season because they lack a true Franchise QB.

Yet, all of that work to just remain mediocre in the regular season means they can't ever get far enough down in the draft to draft a Franchise QB (without some kind of massive trade).

There was a reason why most of the talking heads kept saying "Teams do not want to see the Bengals in the playoffs"...It wasn't because suddenly the defense was good (it wasn't - smoke and mirrors against really bad teams). It's because when you have a guy like Burrow at QB - that guy can will his team to wins. Got this team to 9 wins despite one of the worst defenses I've ever see in the NFL.

We lack coaches who play to win games. We lack coaches who can develop talent. With this coaching staff, we could have landed Patrick Mahomes when he came out and we would have ruined him under luminaries like Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada.

 

[Cincyfan78]

We lack coaches who play to win games. We lack coaches who can develop talent. With this coaching staff, we could have landed Patrick Mahomes when he came out and we would have ruined him under luminaries like Randy Fichtner and Matt Canada.

From the outside looking in - I'm not sure I agree. However, I also feel similarly about Taylor - which may also seem odd to the outside, but being more on the "inside" as the fan - you see things at a micro level whereas most people see things at a macro level....so, I won't argue your point.

But - winning 9 games consistently (at worst) is hard. Steelers have done well enough to not have a losing season since...I don't even remember.

But, all of that aside for a moment - the Steelers really took a huge hit when Ben got hurt. Since he came back, that is really where the drop-off started. Once Ben was no longer elite, the Steelers have missed on their QB drafts and gotten mediocre QB's out of F/A. Wilson is a fine QB, but he's clearly on the back-end of his career. Fields is a serviceable backup, but isn't a long-term starter in this league. Trubisky, Rudolph, Pickett, Hodges, Jones....the list is...not great.

When you look across the landscape of teams that are winning in the post-season, and winning big in the regular season...QBs that are elite, or in that next level down. Pat, Allen, Burrow, Jackson, Daniels (maybe too early but playing like that right now)...in a league that is very, very much QB/passing driven...having a QB that is barely middle of the pack is going to make it really hard to consistently win in the post-season. You can get by in the regular season, which is exactly what we are seeing with Pitt...but they don't have a guy that can really lift that team up and carry them.

Is a part of that coaching? Sure. But it's also front office, and maybe a reluctance to really do what needs to be done to re-set that roster and situation...and that is...really just losing for a year.

I've said the same with a buddy of mine and the Browns. I know it would wreck them for a year...but just cut Watson. Trade Myles. Load up as much as you can on draft capital for 2026/2027 and just gut that roster for 2025 and lose. Get out from all of that money, bad contracts, and bad roster management - and just blow it all up. We see it in MLB all the time. While it is different a bit in the NFL, I think there comes a time that it should be seriously considered - and I think the Browns are absolutely there. To a lesser extent, I think the Steelers might also be nearing a similar situation.

 

[Superbelt]

We've seen this story over and over. And yes I agree it's on the front office.

Tomlin seems to have the motivation to get to a winning record, then sighs a big sigh of relief once he does and doesn't work the rest of the season. You just saw them start their season 10-3, and then drop their last 5 straight games. That's all very familiar for us.

Only maybe a half a dozen players actually were trying against Baltimore. Everyone else was checked out. It was pathetic.

Tomlin knows he's safe, he can shit the bed year after year, and hold on to sub-standard coordinators and Rooney won't ever put his feet to the fire. So he's learned to be satisfied with a non-losing season. Tomlin's legacy is NHALS. That's it. His one ring came with a star-studded staff and team that Cowher built.

Tomlin ran off people like LeBeau, Arians, and Haley. Those were guys who actually ran their units. Tomlin wants to be in full control of both to run his Living-In-Our-Fears strategy. That's why we only get flunkies.

 

[thedddd]

NSFW

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Congrats to the Ravens faithful... I think they have a legit shot at the chip this year. Will be interesting to see how Lamar fairs against a defense that is coached well. Luckily he has Henry he can hitch his wagon to when adversity strikes.

I'd say shame on the Steelers for churning out the same tired product... But we already expected the result. Before the game I took the Ravens 36-13. If it weren't for the Steelers defense generating 2 straight drive stops late in the game I think that score prediction would have come close to being spot on.

 

[dare2be]

Saw a quote the other day that basically said - Pitt is in NFL purgatory/hell with this current cycle.

Always doing enough to win in the regular season at roughly 9-10 games, but never good enough to win the post-season because they lack a true Franchise QB.

Yet, all of that work to just remain mediocre in the regular season means they can't ever get far enough down in the draft to draft a Franchise QB (without some kind of massive trade).

There was a reason why most of the talking heads kept saying "Teams do not want to see the Bengals in the playoffs"...It wasn't because suddenly the defense was good (it wasn't - smoke and mirrors against really bad teams). It's because when you have a guy like Burrow at QB - that guy can will his team to wins. Got this team to 9 wins despite one of the worst defenses I've ever see in the NFL.

It's been 8 years since the Steelers won a playoff game. 5 of those years, we had a franchise QB who put up some of the best numbers of his career. I'm getting sick of hearing that the Steelers problems are the lack of a franchise QB.

It's the coaching. Most glaring of that is that there have been no playoff wins after defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau left.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

It's been 8 years since the Steelers won a playoff game. 5 of those years, we had a franchise QB who put up some of the best numbers of his career. I'm getting sick of hearing that the Steelers problems are the lack of a franchise QB.

It's the coaching. Most glaring of that is that there have been no playoff wins after defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau left.

Everyone is so quick to scapegoat and nobody wants to accept facts that Tomlin is the problem. But I think this is the loudest it’s ever been with blaming Tomlin.

 

[BeaReylo]

 

[Maximus Rex]

It's been 8 years since the Steelers won a playoff game. 5 of those years, we had a franchise QB who put up some of the best numbers of his career. I'm getting sick of hearing that the Steelers problems are the lack of a franchise QB.

I think it's both the lack of a franchise QB and dumbass coaching philosophy. Common sense says you can't win a whole hell of a lot in the NFL with at least good QB play. The coaching to win with defense and the play calling with the "low risk" b.s. Tomlin brings to the table magnifies the problems tenfold without good QB play which is hard to overcome, like when Ben used to go with playground "let's ignore the call and see what happens" stuff that actually usually worked.

 

[dare2be]

I think it's both the lack of a franchise QB and dumbass coaching philosophy. Common sense says you can't win a whole hell of a lot in the NFL with at least good QB play. The coaching to win with defense and the play calling with the "low risk" b.s. Tomlin brings to the table magnifies the problems tenfold without good QB play which is hard to overcome, like when Ben used to go with playground "let's ignore the call and see what happens" stuff that actually usually worked.

Good QB play got them 12 and 13 wins in the regular season, but squat in the playoffs because they were outcoached. Especially on the defensive side where they gave up season high points in their last 5 playoff losses, not counting this year.

 

[Cincyfan78]

It's been 8 years since the Steelers won a playoff game. 5 of those years, we had a franchise QB who put up some of the best numbers of his career. I'm getting sick of hearing that the Steelers problems are the lack of a franchise QB.

It's the coaching. Most glaring of that is that there have been no playoff wins after defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau left.

I'm not trying to deflect blame from Tomlin, but I'm also calling out that just saying you "had Ben" isn't exactly the truth.

Last time you guys won a playoff game was 2016. In 2017 you lost with Ben. 1 game. You lost in 2020 with Ben, 1 game. I point those two games out because Ben did play very well (which was surprising in 2020 because coming off the injury in 2019 it was clear that the end was nigh - his elbow was shot). You did lose in 2021, but he threw for 200 yards...I mean, Prime Ben was LOOOOONG gone.

So, in 2 of those years you "Had Ben". Not 5. Not 6. Not even 4. Two. If you want to count the last year where he didn't really play that well...fine...3. But not 5.

Again - is Tomlin an issue? I have no doubt there are issues with Tomlin - that isn't what I'm driving at...what I AM saying is that there is absolutely more to the story. Since 2016 the Steelers have received Elite QB, or even just 2nd Tier QB, play two times. Twice. It's really, really hard to win without really good QB play. It can be done, but it's not how the Steelers were ever set up.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Good QB play got them 12 and 13 wins in the regular season, but squat in the playoffs because they were outcoached. Especially on the defensive side where they gave up season high points in their last 5 playoff losses, not counting this year.

Good QB Play?

That is being....generous at best...Wilson was 22nd in yards, Fields actually had a better comp%, had 15 TD's (even if you combine that with Fields 6 that's barely 1 TD a game), his QB rating puts him smack in the middle, and his QBR is worse.

Pitt won a lot of early games they were able to squeeze out with timely play on offense, along with a stout defense. But as happens in the playoffs nearly every year - you come across a team that just has a good night on offense, mitigates your defense to a certain point where the offense needs to step up - and they can't. That has been the case with the Steelers since 2020 when Ben had his last 'elite' level game for Pitt.

 

[Cincyfan78]

I think it's both the lack of a franchise QB and dumbass coaching philosophy. Common sense says you can't win a whole hell of a lot in the NFL with at least good QB play. The coaching to win with defense and the play calling with the "low risk" b.s. Tomlin brings to the table magnifies the problems tenfold without good QB play which is hard to overcome, like when Ben used to go with playground "let's ignore the call and see what happens" stuff that actually usually worked.

THIS is what I'm getting at.

Tomlin is an issue.

QB play is an issue.

Both can be true at the same time, but good QB play can mask bad coaching. Look at Burrow and Taylor.

 

[Bridgeburner]

Elite QB play by Ben was sometimes enough to cover up the horrendous coaching by Tomlin.

Without elite QB play the emperor has no clothes.