With the Steelers, Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures

Mike Tomlin & Kevin Colbert - Both Clinging to
Desperation

With the excitement of the Pittsburgh Pirates, its tough to think about the horrid Pittsburgh Steelers.  However, the Steelers season isn't over yet.  No, even at 0-4 and a quarter of the season already in the rear view mirror, the Steelers still have alot to play for.  If you think I'm going to say they have to play for a playoff birth, well stop reading right now and go find a blog that is not realistic at all.  They are playing for their jobs, careers, and most importantly for pride.  However, alot needs to change for either of those goals to be attainable...lets start with the coaching staff.

I can honestly say that I am getting tired of Mike Tomlin.  Not so much as a coach, but as a public figure.  When the Steelers were winning, the "Tomlinisms" were amusing and funny.  Now?  I want to just tell him to stop talking (thats putting it nicely) and get the job done.  I am sick of hearing "the right things" from the coaching staff.  For once, I would love to see/hear some honesty...and that would be a breathe of fresh air.  The thing is, with a record of 0-4, now would be the perfect time.  Why sugar coat things when you haven't won a game since last season?  You are 0-8 including the preseason and have shown no real signs of any tangible improvement the past 4 weeks...why not be blunt with yourself, the media, and most importantly your players.

Tomlin isn't alone in the Pittsburgh Steelers "Dream World".  No, he is accompanied by an owner that has decided to "meddle" in the football business aspect of ownership, and a general manager that seems alot more general than manager these days.  I'll admit, when Bill Cowher retired and there were rumors circulating about Kevin Colbert leaving with him...I was worried.  Kevin Colbert was the man who made the Steelers machine click with solid draft picks, great acquisitions that fit the system, and knowing when to pull the plug on certain players.  This may be a knee jerk reaction, but the luster of Kevin Colbert's tenure with the Steelers sure has dulled the past few years.  As a friend of mine said, the Steelers have re-structured themselves into a financial hole.  Just staying "afloat" only lasts so long until you drown or get rescued.  Well, drowning might be on the horizon for the Steelers.  When Dan Rooney took over as ambassador to Ireland, and he handed the presidency of the Steelers to his son, Art Rooney II, I thought this would be a seemless transition.  That hasn't occurred.  Mr. Rooney almost seems like he longs to be an owner like Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyder.  Not so much in signing free agents, but with getting involved in the football operations side of things.  How often did Dan Rooney say to the media "We need to run the ball more." or "Our starting QB needs to change his game."  The answer to those questions are NEVER.  These all seem harmless, but don't think there isn't a trickle down effect from up top.

That trickle down effect has now reached the players and personnel that step on the field.  Colbert's flop of a 2nd round pick 2 years ago, Mike Adams, now has the Steelers desperately trying to find someone who can at least impede a pass rusher's progress instead of letting them run right by.  So, in a moment of desperation, the Steelers trade late round draft picks to the Arizona Cardinals (or Pittsburgh West as I call it) for Tackle, Levi Brown.  Brown is an upgrade to Mike Adams, but that isn't saying he is good.  Mike Adams is just THAT bad.  Again, desperate times call for desperate measures, and right now the Steelers are desperate in a bad way.  So bad they just traded for Levi Brown after 4 games in the regular season!  At times like this you can see the true medal of individuals, and unfortunately from the looks of things, for the Steelers, the future is pretty dim.