Plain and Simple - The Steelers Just Need to Play Better



If the Steelers DO THEIR JOBS, They'll Be Just Fine


After enjoying the bye week it became clear to me after watching some college football on Saturday that the Steelers' issues aren't just injuries.  Sure, its an easy scapegoat for any NFL team, but lets be honest...there is no way you can put ALL of the Steelers' slow start to the fact they have some injuries.  Some say the issue is the lack of a running game.  It doesn't help when you are one dimensional, but the Steelers have put up more than enough points through the first 3 games to win football games.  What do I attribute to the Steelers slow start?  It may sound stupid, but the Steelers just need to play better.

The Steelers are guilty as charged when it comes to the fact that some times it feels like they out smart themselves.  Sometimes NFL teams can get so hyped up into the scheme that they forget the small things that can win and lose games.  We've heard it from Brett Keisel, Ryan Clark, Willie Colon, Casey Hampton, and numerous others.  The Steelers just aren't doing their jobs on certain plays.  Whether its assignment, location, blocking, or tackling...they aren't doing their job.  Its these plays where major breakdowns are happening that the opponents are scoring TDs.  (Ex - Darren McFadden's big TD run, D. Thomas' catch and run in Week 1 in Denver, etc.)  These are the plays that the Steelers need to clean up if this team thinks they can bring a 7th Lombardi back to the Steel City.

I shouldn't get ahead of myself.  Its way to early to talk playoffs or Superbowl, especially with the Steelers playing the way they are.  This is something that needs to be rectified before the Philadelphia Eagles come to town next Sunday.  Michael Vick and the Eagles high powered (yet turnover prone) offense comes to town waiting to put their foots on the Steelers throats and send them to 1-3 on the season.  The Steelers have had an entire week to digest the loss in Oakland, hopefully get healthy, and prepare for the Eagles.  Dick Lebeau says the game of football comes down to blocking and tackling.  It seems simple, but he is right.  I guess its just funny that those are the two things that the Steelers haven't done well in the first 3 games.  The Steelers are traditionally a very good fundamental football team.  With that being said, there is hope that the team can right the ship and turn this thing around in a hurry.  Sure, getting players like Troy Polamalu and Rashard Mendenhall back in the lineup will help, but plain and simple, the Steelers just need to play better football if they want this season to be truly special.