The Steelers Are Just That Bad

This Has Become a Regularity W/ the Steelers

If you are like me and never miss a snap of Steelers football, then you know.  The only way you DON'T know is if you are somehow blind to the fact that the product being put on the field that resembles the Pittsburgh Steelers is (to put it mildly) bad.  Not just "Oh well, we will get them next week bad...", I'm talking "How in the world are we even going to win 4 games this season?!" bad.  Yeah...the Steelers are that bad this year.  Is it a shocker?  To me, yes it is, but not a complete blindside hit.  I predicted big things for this team...after all, they have a top tier QB, a solid defense, and some youth being infused into a lineup that has big game experience.   That typically lends itself to at least SOME success.  However, when the QB can barely count to 2 before nearly having his head taken off, the defense lacks any playmaking ability, and the youth that is infused just isn't enough to turn the tide...what does that give you?  An 0-4 record...thats what.

The Steelers are a team that prides itself on a few things, and one of those things is defense.  Lets be honest, even though the Steelers have had mediocre offenses in the past, the calling card of the black n' gold has always been the defense.  Huge timely plays, not letting the opposing runners even breath, and a relentless pressure on the QB that forced turnovers.  Boy, those were the days weren't they?  Now we have the pleasure of watching a defense that not only gives up valuable yards on the ground up the gut, gives up valuable yards in the passing game, but hasn't created ONE turnover in the first 4 games of the season.  Not ONE!  The defense can't even put pressure on the QB and don't think for a second that the inability to get "home" isn't playing a huge role in the failures the defense is experiencing.  When your best defender, Troy Polamalu, is playing the line of scrimmage on nearly every down, a team would be silly not to take advantage of that down the middle of the field.  The defense simply isn't doing their job to help the Steelers win games.

Now, thats not to say the offense is without blame.  There are enough issues with the Steelers offense that I could write a doctoral dissertation on the topic, but I'll save you the worry.  Want to know the biggest issue with the offense?  It starts and ends with the line.  Sure, Ben Roethlisberger has been anything but "on" this season, but how can you put the blame solely on his shoulders when the man drops back and has about a blink of an eye until defenders are crashing down on him.  Put any other QB in the league behind that line and they would probably be hurt by now.  Roethlisberger is a magician in the pocket, and his ability to extend the play is what has made the offense even close to respectable the past few games.  Notice when he extends the play and drives the ball down field for a big gain he is HOLDING ONTO THE BALL.  You live and die by the sword, and the sword I'm speaking of is that Ben is going to take sacks because of his style, and fans need to realize that is just a part of what he does.  Since the issues aren't solely on Ben's shoulders,  where does the blame lie?  Its the offensive line.  Did anyone else see Mike Adams literally look like a turnstile yesterday?  How many times did he want absolutely NOTHING to do with Jared Allen?  How about Jared Allen's high school "swipe the hands" move that allowed him to get to the QB untouched.  Pathetic doesn't even begin to describe the play of Mike Adams.  The line's inability to do much of anything inhibits the entire offensive group.

I wrote an article before the season started about how the success of this 2013-2014 Steelers team was "in the trenches", and that is the truth for this team.  The offensive and defensive lines have been well below par this season, and nothing will change unless those units start to play better.  Now everyone is asking about a "turnaround"...I even discussed it on my podcast last week.  I have to say that these are two words that shouldn't be even close to considered at this point.  No, the only thing that should be talked about is trying to WIN A GAME.  Forget playoffs, forget the AFC North division, forget anything other than winning a damn game.  Before I get a ton of tweets from my followers (follow me on Twitter - @BnGBlitz) complaining about the coaching staff and the front office...don't worry...thats an article that is on its way.  This is a bad organization...not just the team.