Mike Tomlin, These are YOUR Pittsburgh Steelers

While experiencing success as head coach of the storied Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, it has been hypothesized that a large part of that success is credited to Mike Tomlin inheriting a dominant team left behind by former head coach Bill Cowher.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach since 2007, Mike Tomlin - photo courtesy of AP.

Now in the ninth season as head coach, Mike Tomlin has only a remnant remaining of the defensive powerhouse that was the Pittsburgh Steelers when he stepped into his new job prior to the 2007 season.  The Steelers were only two years (or one season) removed from a Super Bowl XL Championship team, led by a defense that was top five in total yards allowed (4th), total points allowed (T-3rd), and rush defense (3rd, 86.0 YPG), and an offense that was top five in rushing (5th).

Fast-forward to 2015.  Of the Championship Pittsburgh Steelers team mentioned above, only four players remain today, with only one of those players on the defensive side of the ball.  Ben Roethlisberger, Heath Miller (both on offense), Greg Warren, and James Harrison are the only players who still find themselves fighting for a third Super Bowl championship whose journeys all started out with Bill Cowher at the helm.  Of the 53 players that make up an NFL team roster, precisely 7.5% of Tomlin's team are Cowher leftovers.

While only two years ago the team still contained a fair-share of the former coach's draft selections and undrafted free agents, it is safe to say that as of 2015, the Pittsburgh Steelers is now Mike Tomlin's team.  With that said, it is worth noting that how Tomlin has taken over this team is to be commended.  He respected the lives and careers of the coaches Cowher had in place, and for the most part held on to the staff left behind, which is a stark contrast to what occurs when a regime change takes place in the NFL.  Tomlin has slowly transitioned to coordinators and coaches he has influenced the hiring on.  So it will be interesting to see if the former defensive backs coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and former defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings can carry over such success as five interceptions in a Super Bowl victory (2003 Tampa Bay), or leading the league in fewest yards allowed against the run (2006 Vikings) with now having complete control over the once feared Pittsburgh Steelers.

The intention of this article was to provide a compare and contrast between the last Cowher year (2006 season) and the most recent Tomlin year in terms of offensive and defensive performance.  However, that analysis will be more analytically appealing after the 2015 season.  I will, however, end with this:  Mr. Tomlin, here are the keys to the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The team is completely yours, but there are a few things you will need to take note.  While the roster is brand new and under your control, there is a tradition that is old, vintage, steeped in pride and worn proudly... the Steelers own an image of being intimidating to opposing teams around the league.  Every contest may not have been won, but the opposition left the field knowing they just played the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The offense imposes it will on defenses by stuffing the ball between tackles and wearing down linebackers and defensive backs.  The defense ran ferociously and furiously around the field, making ball carriers think twice about touching the ball.  We trust you to drive this new team in the manner you deem efficient, but we will demand you carry on the tradition of this great franchise, where our "heads [may be] bloodied, but unbowed."  I know you know where that comes from, now feed your team on it.

Mike Tomlin, we present to you, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Carolina Panthers at Steelers (2015 Preseason Game 4): Halftime Updates

As the 2015 NFL Preseason draws to a close and players state cases for themselves to make a 53-man roster across the league, the Steelers play host to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday evening.  Here are some closing game halftime notes for the Steelers, as they trail the Panthers 17-0.

• Defense continues the trend from Buffalo Bills preseason game 3 (fourth preseason game for the Steelers) of giving up big plays on the first series.  Must avoid starting slow and work on tackling at the point of contact.
• Allow me to repeat... POOR TACKLING by the Steelers defense.
• Secondary can't catch, from the starters on down the chart.  Another dropped would-be INT.
• So far, Josh Harris will not make it beyond the 75-man roster this year.
• Mitchell Van Dyke is a liability and will get somebody hurt in the NFL.
• Carolina did not throw the ball on their second offensive series for eight (8) straight plays.  The Steelers defense could not stop the run.  Carolina is more physical at the line of scrimmage.  The first pass was a screen play, which netted 16 yards.  Sean Spence missed a tackle in the back field.
• Vince Williams is the only Steelers defender who remembers how to tackle.
• Steelers just look ill-prepared, again, tonight.
• Dan Smith appears to have coached-up special teams, as the Steelers looked solid in the "teams game" as Coach Tomlin so eloquently phrases it.
• Dri Archer must stop calling fair-catches on punt returns when he has at least a 10-yard head start on the covering team.  He must feel a false sense of roster security.
• Is Dick Lebeau laughing, in his Titans coaches polo?

Summary:
You know, I was putting together an article on why fans should not worry about the Steelers defense after the Bills game.  The write-up pointed to three key facts.  The first point being that the defense will probably perform closer to what we saw in the Green Bay game.  The second point being that Cam Heyward will be the difference maker on defense, with help from Lawrence Timmons, assuming his return is somewhere on the horizon.  The final point is irrelevant, at this point.  After witnessing two straight weeks of flat performances, being out done physically, outmatched at the line of scrimmage, and quite frankly, outclassed all around, there is becoming a small sense of concern around this 2015 Steelers football team.

Someone will be quick to say, it's the preseason and it doesn't count.  That argument has some merit, as it is the preseason and the games do not contribute to team standings in regards to the playoffs.  However, the concern is not around the scoreboard.  The concern is around the coaching and team preparation.  It is indicated by poor, poor performances put on by those below the first line on the depth chart.  Look at it like this: we are playing second and third string players on the opponents' team.  The difference between execution of the opponents' lesser players and our own is night and day.  It is this observation that pushes me to raise the question: if our second and third string players are not competitive, and they are what makes up the Steelers scout teams which the first string players practice against, how well prepared are our first teamers if this is the competition facing them on practice days?

Another area of concern is, some of these players the Steelers have been putting on the field to compete for jobs this season are the Steelers back-up players.  Allow me to repeat -- they are the BACK-UP!  Aside from Ben and the offensive line, no player gets 100% snaps on game day.  Two, if one of the starters goes down (as the trend has been so far in 2015), these second and third teamers are the guys who are stepping in to play starters of the Patriots, the Seahawks, the Broncos, the Cardinals, the Chargers, etc.  Do I need to mention that it will be for official standings?

In closing, Mike Tomlin needs to shake things up.  Cut some of those players who think their roster spot is secure.  Show the rest of the team this is the big leagues.  And for goodness sakes, get Ian Wild on the line!  This guy at least shows up on game day with enthusiasm and a willingness to play tackle football.  Trust me, we are not going to miss a Mitchell Van Dyke.  Tomlin, this is on you coach!

Maurkice Pouncey Already Underwent Surgery... Recovering

Steelers Pro Bowl center had surgery Monday 8/24 - courtesy of pghcitypaper.com

Maurkice Pouncey, the Steelers perennial Pro Bowl center, suffered a severe injury which caused him to leave the game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.  The game was riddled with injuries for both teams, yesterday afternoon, with players being forced to be out anywhere from a few weeks to an entire season -- which is was the case for the Packers wide receiver extraordinaire, Jordy Nelson.  Nelson suffered a torn ACL in Sunday afternoon's contest with the Steelers, which is a huge upset to his quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Pouncey broke a bone in his ankle during Sunday's game, which will also be a huge disappointment for his quarterback, and to his entire offense, for sure.  If Ben is the field general, Pouncey is certainly the captain in the trenches with his troops, leading them into combat week after week.  He is a vocal leader on this offense, and one who was leading the charge in returning the Steelers back to the physical brand of football so steeply desired by the Rooneys and Coach Tomlin.

If there is anything positive to take away from an injury to the cornerstone of your offense, it is learning that Pouncey is not expected to be out for the entire season.  It has been speculated that Pouncey is a perfect candidate for IR/Expected to Return list.  With the surgery being completed this afternoon, it is promising to know that the Steelers medical staff is categorizing this matter as urgent in nature, to return Pouncey to form, hopefully in time for a playoff run.

Read more about the surgery and Pouncey's status here.

Don't forget to leave your thoughts, below...

Steelers Will Have New Leaders in 2015

Image Courtesy of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

With the Periscope™ broadcast now expired, a follow-up to support the "Bold Steelers Predictions for 2015" entry is due.  The other night, I installed the twitter creation and found it to be a great tool to discuss Steelers topics with fellow fans, writers, and sports enthusiasts.  During the first broadcast, topics such as who to watch out for in the preseason home game against Green Bay, thoughts on Mike Tomlin and the job he's done thus far, and interesting undrafted rookies who have made a name for themselves, were discussed with inquisitive followers chiming in.

In addition to the topics listed above, I made a bold prediction that I am sticking by, whether it manifest itself or not.  Come the end of the 2015 season, I will own up to the gamble, accepting stark criticism if I'm wrong or welcoming lofty praise if it turns out my prediction was accurate.  I'm not one to turn away from any statements I've made, or tries to explain my way out of them.  For instance, go back far enough on my twitter timeline and you will see that prior to the 2014 training camp I went out on a limb to predict Sean Spence will snatch the gift of a starting inside linebacker job from rookie Ryan Shazier.  Now, whether or not that prediction can be considered bold is up for debate, seeing as though Shazier was a rookie for the 2014 season, albeit a first round pick.  It was still enough of a risk to stand as a risky statement given that Sean Spence had yet to see any time on the playing field in regular season prior to the 2014 preseason.  Remember?  Spence had suffered injuries in his rookie and sophomore campaigns that were severe enough to threaten his career.  Many thought his future as an NFL football player was history.  Coach Tomlin, however, had not given up on the prospect out of Miami.  Then linebackers coach Keith Butler was not so optimistic, stating that he didn't think the speedy draftee would ever play again.

Enough for the look back into past predictions.  Are you ready for my bold prediction for the 2015 Pittsburgh Steelers season?  Here goes:

Wide receiver Martavis Bryant (Tay) will end the season with more receiving yards than stud wide receiver Antonio Brown.

Mark it down where you heard it, first.  I would include that he will finish with more touchdowns in addition to receiving yards, but somehow I think that will be expected given the deep threat that Bryant presents.  The possibility of Tay coming down with more yards than Tone is 100% dependent upon injuries to either player.  Any significant injuries to Brown and I will void my prediction as there is no risk, there.  Any significant injury to Tay leads to the obvious.

With the prediction being out there, now, with no retraction possible, let's clarify a few things.  Does this indicate that I believe Martavis will be the better receiver out of the two?  That is an absolutely not!  What I do believe is that Tone will pose so much of a threat, whether it be intermediate, across the middle, or beating coverage deep, it will attract a great amount of attention from opposing defensive coordinators that it will make Bryant feel as though he is facing Pop Warner secondaries.  Bryant and Wheaton will both partake of the buffet, this year, while Brown will have to work a little harder for his contributions to the offense -- which will be significant, however.

Allow me to follow that up with another bold prophecy for the other side of the ball:

At only 20 to 25 snaps per game, James Harrison will lead the Steelers defense in sacks in 2015.

Again, this is barring a healthy Deebo who is able to contribute for more than 75% of the season.  Yes!  I'm saying that even if Harrison misses a quarter of the season that he will still lead this group of youngsters in getting to the quarterback.  The only other defender I see threatening the fruition of this prediction is Cam Heyward, who tied with Jason Worilds to lead the team with 7.5 sacks in 2014.  Without OTAs and a training camp under his belt, Harrison was next in line with 5.5 sacks.  Arthur Moats was the only other player to come close to Deebo, specifically out of the OLBs room, closing the season with 4.0 sacks.

While Moats appears to be playing with some tenacity and toughness this preseason, I don't think he has the repertoire of moves that Harrison sports.  Deebo's dip under the outside hip of the tackle is about the most dangerous I've seen since the Greene/Lloyd duo.  Have I even mentioned his strength?  All I have to say is, opposing teams better put a seasoned veteran at the left tackle position.  Deebo throws around 300lb rookies like rag dolls with his bullrush.  Unless Shamarko becomes a sack specialist this season from the safety position (which we witnessed a glimpse of against Green Bay), there just isn't anyone, including Jarvis Jones and Moats, who will threaten Harrison's impact in the pass rush.

What are your bold predictions for the Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 campaign?  Yes, we all know we will be representing the AFC in Super Bowl L.  Share your performance predictions in the comments.

Bold Steelers Prediction for 2015

Check it out!  I'm new to the Periscope app, but I think I can see using it a lot to discuss matters pertaining to the Steelers.

So, earlier tonight I made my first broadcast about the 2015 Steelers.  During the broadcast I made a pretty bold prediction for the 2015 season.  You won't believe the prediction!  Tired of reading and want to know what that bold prediction is?  Check it out, here:

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aKlPJTEyMzA1MTU5fDY3ODIwNDE4w6ri4XuD-lWV1cb_24g2NZs5bKSXszPGrCZ235q8Jk4=

UPDATE: Click here for the follow-up to this article due to the broadcast being expired!!!
 

Check back for pre-game analysis and halftime updates/player assessments for the 2015 preseason home opener vs. the Green Bay Packers.  Game should be exciting as Aaron Rodgers and company comes to town!