Dead Team Walking ….By Still Poz
What happened to
the 2009 Stillers?
It’s the question
on the minds of not only Steelers’ fans, but also the so-called experts.
Keep in mind the
experts were absolutely wrong as they continued to predict the Steelers would
refocus after the Kansas City game. A
minor tweak here, a little refocus there, and it’s a march to the playoffs as a
“dangerous” team that nobody wants to play.
If the experts were
wrong, then there is no harm in a rube like me providing my thoughts why this
once proud team dissipated faster than a 401K during a recession.
The losing is not
the result of one reason, but a combination of factors. They all came to a head with the Kansas City
loss. It is the kind of loss that is a
season-killer. Like the ghosts of
Christmas past, the Kansas City game raised to the surface all the problems
previously explained away.
A
lack of confidence. This loss transformed the Steelers from a team that
played expecting to find a way win, to a team waiting to lose. It is beyond belief that no Steelers’
cornerback has an interception all year.
Swagger has been replaced with doubt.
Age
and a lack of depth. The loss of
Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith to injury, and the departure of Bryant McFadden
hurt dearly. I’m 57 years old, and I
doubt William Gay could cover (much less tackle) me. Tyrone Carter has heart, but he cannot get it
done. And it was uncomfortable to watch
James Farrior attempt to stay in the same time zone with Ray Rice.
Coaching. Mike Tomlin certainly experienced early
success as an NFL coach. The
platitudes rolled from the mouth of the King of Clichés as easy as a knife
through warm butter.
But now he faces adversity
for the first time. The banalities are
not resonating. They fall on deaf
ears. This is the only plausible
explanation why the Steelers play their best (a relative term with this group)
against better teams while they play like zombies against lesser
opponents. It takes less to “coach up” a
team for a big game than it does for games a team is supposed to win. And I tell you, Coach Tomlin looked
dumbfounded and without an answer during the loss to Oakland. For once, he had nothing to say.
This is not a call
for his firing – far from it. He will
coach this team for years to come. But
it will be interesting to see how he responds as this is now his team and not
one inherited with many of the pieces already in place. Tough decisions ahead – Coach Tomlin will be
tested.
In my opinion, and
in broad terms, the Steelers are failing for a number of reasons; age, lack of
depth, misplaced expectations of the ability of replacements, and
coaching. They all came together to
create the perfect storm – a mindset that results in missed assignments, wrong
coverage, and giving up big plays on 3rd down. It culminates in uneven play, putting up 37
against the Packers, but unable to score a TD against a woeful Browns’
defense.
Regardless of what
happens the rest of the year, the Steelers are not a playoff team.
This Steelers team
is arguably the second best of all time, having won two Super Bowls. But last year isn’t worth spit this year,
next year and in years ahead. Show me a
team talking about their past laurels and I’ll show you a loser - a dead team
walking. Winners don’t live in the past,
but possess foresight and anticipate for the future. Waiting too long to make moves leaves a team
in damage control mode.
Certainly the draft
will be critical in shaping the future of this team. But that is a subject better left to the
draft experts here. I provide my opinion
of the macro issues that plague this team and, if not addressed, could worsen
and send the Steelers into greater depths of ineptitude. An interesting offseason ahead.
Closing note: Ryan Clark expressed his displeasure with
fans that had the audacity to criticize a team that slept-walked through a five
game losing streak. Clark talked as if fans
don’t understand the pressure placed on football players to perform.
The one who doesn’t
understand is Clark.
Sure, there is
pressure on a multi-million dollar athlete to give his best effort once a
week. But I dare say there is far more
pressure on the average citizen that toils each day wondering if a strained
household budget has sufficient funds to put food on the table. That’s pressure, Ryan Clark. Get off the fans. Man up and perform as you
should, and fans will support you, as we always have.
Merry
Christmas to the Stillers’ nation.
StillPoz