So... Where Do We Go From Here?

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

This turned into one hell of a crappy season real fast... Crazy how fast things have gone south on them.

Offseason expectations were sky high. Boasting one of the best offenses in the league. No doubt it had placed massive expectations in the minds of fans. Then slowly but surely, one week after another they suffer setbacks that have been dwindling all senses of optimism.

Preseason:
Bell & Bryant get suspended... 2 & 4gm suspensions.
Suisham tears his ACL... Done
Pouncey breaks his ankle... Debatable whether he returns in '15.
Hartley tears his hammy... Done
Gradkowski breaks his hand... Done

Season:
Shazier injures shoulder... out 4-weeks
Ben sprains his MCL... out 4-weeks
Vick tears his hammy... (thankfully) out 2-weeks so far
Beachum tears his ACL... Done
W. Allen injures ankle... out 3-weeks so far
Tuitt injures knee... out 2-weeks so far
Bell tears his MCL... Done

WHAT NEXT????

We only got to see about 20 minutes with all four of the offensive stars on the field at the same time (Ben, AB, Bell, Bryant). And that was without Pouncey & Beachum. Feels like things just keep getting darker and darker on this 2015 season. Snakebitten is putting it lightly!

On The Bright Side:
The defense has been far better than advertised. And it appears to be getting better and better. What many considered to be our biggest weakness, is now one of our strengths. Butler is doing a helluva job so far. They have faced the 3 highest scoring offenses in the league and have held them to their lowest scoring outputs all season. And they are ranked 7th in scoring! Secondary is still the weakness, but they are doing a decent job.

Outlook:
By no means am I saying we are going to the Superbowl, but it is far from a time to panic. 4-4 and just 1 game out of the Wildcard race, the season is far from lost. D-Will is no Bell, but he has all the right tools to be considered dangerous to a defense. He was more than great in Bell's suspension absence. If Ben can shake the rust off and get this passing game clicking on all cylinders, while the defense continues to grow, they will be right back in the thick of things... And they are still a team yet to reach its potential this season. Albeit it will never be the full potential, but still a higher potential nonetheless. There may be an overwhelming sour taste in your mouth at this time, but we're only halfway through the season! There's still hope!

As Always... Go Steelers!

 

[ATL96Steeler]

This turned into one hell of a crappy season real fast... Crazy how fast things have gone south on them.

Offseason expectations were sky high. Boasting one of the best offenses in the league. No doubt it had placed massive expectations in the minds of fans. Then slowly but surely, one week after another they suffer setbacks that have been dwindling all senses of optimism.

Preseason:
Bell & Bryant get suspended... 2 & 4gm suspensions.
Suisham tears his ACL... Done
Pouncey breaks his ankle... Debatable whether he returns in '15.
Hartley tears his hammy... Done
Gradkowski breaks his hand... Done

Season:
Shazier injures shoulder... out 4-weeks
Ben sprains his MCL... out 4-weeks
Vick tears his hammy... (thankfully) out 2-weeks so far
Beachum tears his ACL... Done
W. Allen injures ankle... out 3-weeks so far
Tuitt injures knee... out 2-weeks so far
Bell tears his MCL... Done

WHAT NEXT????

We only got to see about 20 minutes with all four of the offensive stars on the field at the same time (Ben, AB, Bell, Bryant). And that was without Pouncey & Beachum. Feels like things just keep getting darker and darker on this 2015 season. Snakebitten is putting it lightly!

On The Bright Side:
The defense has been far better than advertised. And it appears to be getting better and better. What many considered to be our biggest weakness, is now one of our strengths. Butler is doing a helluva job so far. They have faced the 3 highest scoring offenses in the league and have held them to their lowest scoring outputs all season. And they are ranked 7th in scoring! Secondary is still the weakness, but they are doing a decent job.

Outlook:
By no means am I saying we are going to the Superbowl, but it is far from a time to panic. 4-4 and just 1 game out of the Wildcard race, the season is far from lost. D-Will is no Bell, but he has all the right tools to be considered dangerous to a defense. He was more than great in Bell's suspension absence. If Ben can shake the rust off and get this passing game clicking on all cylinders, while the defense continues to grow, they will be right back in the thick of things... And they are still a team yet to reach its potential this season. Albeit it will never be the full potential, but still a higher potential nonetheless. There may be an overwhelming sour taste in your mouth at this time, but we're only halfway through the season! There's still hope!

As Always... Go Steelers!
View attachment 47215

Good question.

Halfway point and we’re 4-4… to be honest…they have played like a .500 team…up and down like a newbie golfer trying to break 90.

Of course major injuries as you’ve noted have contributed…happens to every team, but when you lose your QB for 4 games and played the schedule they have to this point, .500 is really not a bad job by Tomlin and staff.

Reality is we’re in the mix for the WC and because of some many AFC loses, I’ve already started scoreboard watching…was rooting for OAK last night…, but later thought, hell, they’re in the hunt too and we play them next week! 3 wins and up, yes, you’re in the hunt…that’s going to make for a crazy finish to this second half.

The DEF, as a unit is becoming the most consistent group from game to game and as you said, they are getting better. In nearly every category they have answered the call and improved on from last year…if they can stay on this path, the playoffs are feasible…assuming no further major injuries, there is not another Bell on the roster but they have enough on OFC to win games.

As the old saying goes…one game at a time and it starts this week…OAK @ home…gotta get that one…then focus on CLE the following week. If they are 6-4 going into bye week then I will fell somewhat better about their chances of playing in JAN.

 

[SteelerKing]

I admire you guys' optimism because I feel like I got the piss knocked out of me. I'm hungover, I missed the entire second half of the game (and am not happy about it), Bell is done for the year, Ben looked gimpy and out of rhythm aside from the opening drive and then threw 3 second half interceptions, which I'm hoping aren't a product of him aggravating the knee because a gimpy Ben the rest of the way = no playoffs, and we lost another one we could've won with better play from our quarterback. This time it was Ben. No way he's 100% based on that performance.

But the biggest haymaker to the acorns was losing Bell.

D-Will looked great in relief duty, but he's no Le'Veon Bell. Before tearing up his knee, he was tearing up the field and proving that he's one of the best in the business. This is a different team without him in the lineup and if Ben is gimpy the rest of the way, sayonara Super Bowl dreams. Snake bitten? No we've been served up in a smorgasbord to an entire damn family of snakes.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I admire you guys' optimism because I feel like I got the piss knocked out of me. I'm hungover, I missed the entire second half of the game (and am not happy about it), Bell is done for the year, Ben looked gimpy and out of rhythm aside from the opening drive and then threw 3 second half interceptions, which I'm hoping aren't a product of him aggravating the knee because a gimpy Ben the rest of the way = no playoffs, and we lost another one we could've won with better play from our quarterback. This time it was Ben. No way he's 100% based on that performance.

But the biggest haymaker to the acorns was losing Bell.

D-Will looked great in relief duty, but he's no Le'Veon Bell. Before tearing up his knee, he was tearing up the field and proving that he's one of the best in the business. This is a different team without him in the lineup and if Ben is gimpy the rest of the way, sayonara Super Bowl dreams. Snake bitten? No we've been served up in a smorgasbord to an entire damn family of snakes.



View attachment 47447

Ben...kinda what I was expecting mobility wise...wearing a brace I understand...while I agree there's no replacing Bell, but if they can win the next 2 and Ben get the bye week to give it a break for a week or so...idk...Dwill give you enough on the ground to make teams respect the run and catch a few too.

I don't see the dropoff being as big...the key is Ben. If they lose either of the next 2...they are toast imo.

 

[evolver115]

Hmm... on December 13th, the first person with a clean shot shreds AJ Green's knee? Sounds good to me!

Seriously this time... try for the wildcard. Even if they get the card, I still give them a snowball's chance in hell of advancing if their opponent is one of NE/Den/Cin, and I say that mostly because Le'Veon may just have been the best RB in the game this season, and his season is over prematurely, once again. Don't see why him not being back there would turn out any differently than it did for them last season.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Hmm... on December 13th, the first person with a clean shot shreds AJ Green's knee? Sounds good to me!

Seriously this time... try for the wildcard. Even if they get the card, I still give them a snowball's chance in hell of advancing if their opponent is one of NE/Den/Cin, and I say that mostly because Le'Veon may just have been the best RB in the game this season, and his season is over prematurely, once again. Don't see why him not being back there would turn out any differently than it did for them last season.

Now his 2nd major knee injury, I'm just hoping the kid can bag a nice 2nd contract...he's played so well on his rookie deal...RBs are short lived in general.

Wildcard...right now both spots are up for grabs, but to be honest...the 6th seed probably has a good shot to beat the AFCS Div winner....of the 7-0 teams...I think my guess is CIN ends up with the 4 seed...I can see PIT going in there and winning too.

It's DEN and NE...pick your poison, I'd rather face NE's D and DEN's OFC...from what I've seen to date...I agree, they probably won't win either of those, but I would take that right now.

 

[Delphic1]

I don't feel good about this season at all. I know we had some crap load of bad luck but we had some bad performances as well. Both the Ravens and the Bengals game were winnable, with injuries having nothing to do with it.

Even if we get the wild card I am not sure how we beat NE or Denver. The offense has no identity at all. So many weapons and they can't even have correct schemes in place.

 

[Delphic1]

Now his 2nd major knee injury, I'm just hoping the kid can bag a nice 2nd contract...he's played so well on his rookie deal...RBs are short lived in general.

Wildcard...right now both spots are up for grabs, but to be honest...the 6th seed probably has a good shot to beat the AFCS Div winner....of the 7-0 teams...I think my guess is CIN ends up with the 4 seed...I can see PIT going in there and winning too.

It's DEN and NE...pick your poison, I'd rather face NE's D and DEN's OFC...from what I've seen to date...I agree, they probably won't win either of those, but I would take that right now.

I think CIN gets #3 seed, AFC South winner gets the 4th seed. The trick is to avoid NE as much as possible (let's hope someone else takes them out in the Div round).

1. NE
2. Denver
3. CIN

I would rather have the 5th seed and play the Colts, and hope the 6th seed takes out the Bengals. This way we play Denver in the div round.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I think CIN gets #3 seed, AFC South winner gets the 4th seed. The trick is to avoid NE as much as possible (let's hope someone else takes them out in the Div round).

1. NE
2. Denver
3. CIN

I would rather have the 5th seed and play the Colts, and hope the 6th seed takes out the Bengals. This way we play Denver in the div round.

Good pickup I meant to say CIN ends up with the 3rd seed....Steelers have a long way to go to earn this type chat I guess, but yes...5th would be ideal.

 

[Psych-Ward]

At least the Ratbirds have last place wrapped up, so at least we don't have to look for that to happen!!!

 

[Delphic1]

Good pickup I meant to say CIN ends up with the 3rd seed....Steelers have a long way to go to earn this type chat I guess, but yes...5th would be ideal.

Yes. And with the way our luck has gone so far, I am pretty sure what we wish for will not happen.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Hmm... on December 13th, the first person with a clean shot shreds AJ Green's knee? Sounds good to me!

Seriously this time... try for the wildcard. Even if they get the card, I still give them a snowball's chance in hell of advancing if their opponent is one of NE/Den/Cin, and I say that mostly because Le'Veon may just have been the best RB in the game this season, and his season is over prematurely, once again. Don't see why him not being back there would turn out any differently than it did for them last season.

That is a pretty prick thing to say considering Bell got hurt on a tackle when no one went at Bells knee. Way to go jackass.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

That is a pretty prick thing to say considering Bell got hurt on a tackle when no one went at Bells knee. Way to go jackass.

I would never intentionally wish harm on anyone.

I did have a huge problem with the way Burfict reacted after the injury though. Don't get me wrong, I think the tackle was clean and he wasn't intending to hurt him, but the way he jumped up after seeing him in pain and started celebrating was fucked up. That rubbed A LOT of people the wrong way and for good reason. Not making excuses for anyone but that had me thinking pretty malicious things afterwards.

 

[evolver115]

That is a pretty prick thing to say considering Bell got hurt on a tackle when no one went at Bells knee. Way to go jackass.

 

[SteelerKing]

At least the Ratbirds have last place wrapped up, so at least we don't have to look for that to happen!!!

They're still in contention for a nice consolation prize though.

"With the 1st pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select..."

 

[Tubbs1518]

I would never intentionally wish harm on anyone.

I did have a huge problem with the way Burfict reacted after the injury though. Don't get me wrong, I think the tackle was clean and he wasn't intending to hurt him, but the way he jumped up after seeing him in pain and started celebrating was fucked up. That rubbed A LOT of people the wrong way and for good reason. Not making excuses for anyone but that had me thinking pretty malicious things afterwards.

View attachment 48168

I saw nothing in that video that was a poor reaction. He tackled him and immediately got up and ran the other way. What is the issue?

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I saw nothing in that video that was a poor reaction. He tackled him and immediately got up and ran the other way. What is the issue?

You obviously didn't watch the game then lol

 

[Tubbs1518]

You obviously didn't watch the game then lol

I did. He jumped up after a tackle, ran away to the Bengals sideline. OH GOD NO

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I did. He jumped up after a tackle, ran away to the Bengals sideline. OH GOD NO

lol I'll stick with my previous statement

 

[Cali Steel]

Need a "W" against the Raiders.
Both teams are vying for a wildcard spot, and beating them at home would be rather necessary I would think.
Oakland is playing well this year, and seems to have the Steelers number, winning 4 of the last 5 match ups.
Think tomorrows game is pretty huge at this point.