Looking For Answers: Pittsburgh Steelers 3-2

The Steelers started the season with drama and it has surely followed them through the first five games of the season. From an unhappy star running back, a tantrum from the star receiver, and a sub par five games from the aging franchise QB, things have not been easy for the Black N Gold. All of this, despite having all stars healthy for the first time in 3 years, having one of the best projected offensive lines, and a revamped young defense that has been doing their part in the passing defense. Uncharacteristic, the defense has struggled against the run, and the offense with all the weapons has just not clicked. Many in the media have placed blame throughout the team, but little have questioned the coaching. Mike Tomlin has shown that he does not have much control over the star players and Todd Haley has proven that his play calling is what we all thought it was questionable at best.

The Killer Bs
The season started with Le’Veon Bell holding out through all of training camp, after reportedly turning down a five year, $12 million per year contract that would have given him $30 million in the first two years of the deal. After a slow start to the season, the young running back Bell seemed to have a breakout game against rival Baltimore with 35 carries, 144 yards, and 2 touchdowns, while catching 4 passes for 42 yards in the AFC North win. Then this week, after only 15 carries he gets into a Twitter scuffle with former Steeler Ryan Clark. The distractions did not stop there; leading wide receiver Antonio Brown threw a temper tantrum on the sideline shortly before halftime in the Baltimore game when he did not get the ball while he wide open in the middle of the field. He later apologized after being called out by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. This action by Brown showed that there is tension behind the scenes in the Steel City. Lastly, all-season Ben Roethlisberger has been saying he must play better, but that was not the outcome this Sunday against Jacksonville. 5 interceptions, 2 returned for touchdowns, he threw the ball 55 times only completing 33 of them in a lackluster offensive performance. The 35-year-old quarterback stated after the game jokingly “maybe I just don’t have it anymore.” The truth of the matter is Roethlisberger is getting older and there were questions last year on wether or not he would return for 2017, but the coaching staff must call a better game and put the ball in the offensive weapons hands. Let Big Ben facilitate but not force or should create because the truth of the matter is the talent is there around him, USE IT!

Coaches Must be Better

Mike Tomlin seems to be having some issues controlling his younger star players and it is making the team look bad as a result. Tomlin has had issues with Antonio Brown; he had the Facebook live issue last year immediately after a victory that sent the Steelers to the AFC Championship. This year he had the Chicago National Anthem distraction and now against Le’Veon Bell and Ryan Clark Twitter scuffle is just another distraction facing Tomlin. It appears at times that Tomlin might be the Head Coach but does not always have control of his team. Then there is Todd Haley, who Sunday against the 32-ranked rush defense in the league runs the ball just 15 times but chooses against a young talented secondary to throw the ball 55 times. Where is the logic in that? How as an offensive coordinator with what looks to be a two-headed monster of finesse in Le’Veon Bell and power in James Conner do you not run the ball? Not saying that the interceptions are completely Haley’s fault because he is not the one on the field playing, but to quote Herm Edwards “Come On Man”, there is no reason that Bell should not have had 30 touches and Conner could not have gotten more involved. Just a poor performance all the way around.

Ultimately the Steelers lost an opportunity to separate themselves from a struggling AFC conference minus the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs. But they are still in control of the AFC North division and are now aware hopefully of what needs to be fixed. The Steelers will travel to Kansas City for a 4:25PM showdown with the Chiefs. A year ago, Pittsburgh went into Kansas City and ended the Chiefs season in the playoffs. For that to be the case again Sunday, the Steelers will need to get back to the run game, which will allow the passing game to open up down field for players like Martvis Bryant and Antonio Brown. Stop forcing the ball and simplify the offense and get back to Steeler football or it could be another long Sunday afternoon for Steelers fans.

Written by
Carlo Guadagnino

Edited:
Daniel Bishop M.A.