Mike Tomlin Is Making Moves, But All the Wrong Ones

Why This Man, Kirby Wilson, SHOULD Be A Change
Mike Tomlin  Makes

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin, sees a team that is 2-5 and in need of an overhaul.  Unlike the 2010 Tomlin that declared that changes would be made and the Steelers would "unleash hell" in the month of December...and nothing happened, the head coach is making moves for a team that is searching for an answer.  The only problem is that Tomlin is making the wrong moves.

The Steelers released punter Zoltan Mesko yesterday and demoted Jarvis Jones to 2nd string behind Jason Worilds.  I have been a harsh critic of Zoltan Mesko and his erratic, downright pitiful, and as Tomlin called it "Junior Varsity" punting this season.  This move is long overdue, but will it make a difference in the team winning and losing?  No.  Jarvis Jones hasn't been the impact player that people expected and although has shown flashes of the SEC player that dominated competition at Georgia, the bright spots have been outweighed by the missed tackles and blown assignments.  So, with Jones out, re-enter Jason Worilds as the OLB that will line up across from Lamarr Woodley.  Jason Worilds knows his assignments, but thats about the only difference between the two OLBs at this point.  Will benching Jarvis Jones make a big difference in the team winning and losing?  Probably not.

Tomlin had to make moves to appease the media and fan base, but if you know this team and you know the people in the organization you know that these moves were simply not enough.  If Mike Tomlin truly wants to make changes he will make moves that will send a message, not just moves that make tiny ripples in the overall ocean that is the Pittsburgh Steelers team.  One move I would make is to start playing Shamarko Thomas at safety more and more for Ryan Clark.  Someone tell me what Ryan Clark brings to this team that is helping them win?  Exactly, he has been more of a detriment than an asset.  Signing Max Starks again would at least add quality depth at a position that has been horrendous for the Steelers.  The biggest move that I want Tomlin to make is to tell Todd Haley that his services are no longer needed anymore.  Think back to the Baltimore Ravens last season.  Cam Cameron gets canned mid season and the offense thrives because of it.  I don't think Todd Haley is the main problem with the Steelers' offense, but it might just be time to eliminate one of the problems and let someone like RB Coach Kirby Wilson call the plays for the duration of the season.  Could it get worse than what it already is?  I don't think so.

I realize Tomlin is between a rock and a hard place, but changes need to be made...not so much for this season, but the future.  If you constantly threat to make changes and nothing ever changes, then the players know you are doing nothing but blowing smoke you know where, and that does no one any good.

For the Steelers, Is This the Beginning of the End?

Is This the Beginning of the End for the Steelers?

The loss to the Oakland Raiders still stings amongst SteelerNation.  How could the Pittsburgh Steelers travel across country and leave with a loss against the Raiders, again?!  Well, if you look at this team logistically you see some serious flaws.  Not only this past Sunday, but this entire season.  What once was a promising season has turned into a fiasco, and it could get worse.  Some fans say, "Play for a draft pick." while others scream, "We should be better."  Either way, what the team "should" be is not fixable with one draft pick.  Plain and simple.  Which brings me to the title of the article.  Is this the beginning of the end for the most successful organization in the NFL?  I'm starting to think that it very well could be.

There are alot of arrows that can point to the long term demise of the Steelers' organization, but there are a few that I am going to focus on.  First, missed draft picks.  One could point directly at the Steelers' 2008 draft class that consisted of 7 players that are not wearing black and gold except for fun in their free time.  Then you can look at the 2009 draft class that has 9 players in that class, with 2 that are still in the Steelers' organization (Ziggy Hood and the oft injured David Johnson).  To me, this isn't just about draft classes, but about drafting players high in the draft that simply were busts.  Players like Jason Worilds (taken in the 2nd round in 2010), Mike Adams (2nd round pick in 2012), and a guy like Chris Rainey garnering a 5th round pick when it was well documented the off the field issues with that individual.  When was the last time the Steelers had a pick that absolutely shocked everyone?  Can't think of one can you...thats because the Steelers' draft picks have been unbelievably underwhelming and that is why although the team has talent, it lacks skill and depth at some of the most important positions on the football field.  What is going to happen with Ben Roethlisberger leaves or retires?  Landry Jones?  That is laughable.  The answer is nowhere to be found.  It looks like the Steelers will be entering a new Mike Tomczak, Bubby Brister, Neil O'Donnell, and Kent Graham era if you ask me.  That sound like success?  Me neither.

There is more than just draft blunders.  How about the front office?  Under Art Rooney II, the Steelers have faultered.  Sure, they won Super Bowl 43 in Tampa Bay, but that was essentially under Dan Rooney.  The Steelers drafting issues fall on the scouting department, general manager Kevin Colbert, and head coach Mike Tomlin.  The hole that they have dug themselves might take YEARS to climb out of.  This same board also dismissed Bruce Arians.  Whether you liked or demised Arians, you cannot argue he wasn't successful.  Ben Roethlisberger thrived under Arians, and after the dismissal bringing in Todd Haley has done nothing but inject controversy to the team and the organization.  Questionable decisions across the board that, in my opinion, will only set this team back for years to come.

Simply look at the roster and you will see a team that is old in spots, and extremely "green" in others.  Although across the board you see one thing and one thing only...NO QUALITY DEPTH.  This team is 2-5 and hanging by a thread...literally.  Not just injury concerns, but after the starters there is NO ONE qualified to step up.  Mike Tomlin's "the standard is the standard" has become as old and worn out as the age old "we have 6 super bowls and you don't" mantra of SteelerNation.  I am a Steelers fan, and I hope that this isn't the beginning of the end, but if you look at it realistically...its hard not to see more darkness than light ahead.

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The Steelers Loss Falls On Everyone

After the Steelers embarrassing attempt at playing the sport of football last night I posted on Twitter that Shaun Suisham should not hold ALL of the blame for the Steelers loss.  Below is my exact tweet:

Ppl cant blame suisham alone for this loss...the entire team played like garbage. #Steelers #SteelerNation
— Black n' Gold Blitz (@BnGBlitz) October 27, 2013

Shaun Suisham Can NOT Bare All the Blame For the Loss

After reading the comments I received after that tweet you would have thought that I personally insulted someone's mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, and their grandmother.  Some people on Twitter forget that everyone is entitled to their own opinion...that's a completely different can of worms that I am not going to open here today; however, the purpose for the above tweet was obvious.  Shaun Suisham missed 2 chip shots that when looking at the final score was extremely costly.  However, were those the only 2 mistakes made by the Steelers?  No.  How about the first play from scrimmage going 93 yards for a TD.  How about the blocked punt that lead to a Raiders TD.  How about Antonio Brown's drop on 3rd and 17 that would have extended a drive.  How about Antonio Brown's dropped pass that lead to an interception deep in Raiders territory?  How about having to burn a crucial timeout late in the game...whether thats on Haley or Ben Roethlisberger doesn't matter...it was costly.  How about a defense that had the Raiders pinned at their own 1 foot line and gave up a 3rd down conversion?  Do I need to continue?  Hopefully you get the picture. The final score dictated that the missed FGs were HUGE, and I'm not a Shaun Suisham apologist.  No, he deserves his slice of the "blame pie", but the entire loss can't fall on his shoulders.

No, this loss falls on everyone.  Coaching staff, offense, defense, and special teams.  Mike Tomlin continues to struggle in the time management game, and that was very evident coming down the stretch in the 4th quarter.  One question that still has yet to be answered that I hope gets asked at Tomlin's press conference tomorrow is this: When you convert the 2 point conversion to make the game 21-18 with just under 2 minutes left, why would you not kick the ball deep?  Kicking the ball deep would at least pin the Raiders back in their own end, and as they would run the ball 3 times to try and run out the clock you would at least be getting the ball in position to actually get in FG range.  That, and many other, coaching decisions had me scratching my head.

I obviously glossed over the physical errors on the field that had a hand in the Steelers dropping their 5th game of the season, but for some reason people want to pin this loss on Shaun Suisham.  Some people even want the Steelers to "make an example" of the kicker and release him.  Are you nuts?  The people who put ALL the blame (remember I give Suisham blame, but not all of it) remind me of a golfer that shoots 86 and someone asks why he shot 86 and he responds with, "Well I missed 2 par puts on 9 and 16." and doesn't say anything about the 3 double bogeys that he registered throughout the round.  The Steelers have major issues right now, and ones that aren't easily "fixable".  Oh yeah, don't forget next week the Steelers travel to see Tom Brady and the Patriots in New England.  Should be a fun week.

Fantasy Focus - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Oakland Raiders

Le'Veon Bell - a START for your Fantasy Team

A new feature on the site is going to be an all Pittsburgh Steelers "Fantasy Focus" where I tell anyone that plays Fantasy Football and has a Steeler on their roster whether or not they should "start" or "sit" the player in black n' gold this week.  I take a look at this week's matchup in Oakland vs the Raiders.

START 'EM
- Heath Miller - Lets be honest, Heath Miller is Ben Roethlisberger's safety blanket.  When in doubt, throw it to #83.  Heath will get his touches, especially if Todd Haley decides to deploy extra tackles to help in protection that will allow Heath to run his routes instead of blocking.  The Steelers redzone problems most likely will be solved at some point, and don't be surprised if they are solved with Heath Miller getting more receptions in the red area.  That equals fantasy points for all those that have Heath on their team this week.

- Shaun Suisham - Shaun Suisham is having a career year, and even though the Steelers hope to score more TDs, they will still have plenty of FGs.  Suisham is a solid kicker who should be in your lineup until proven otherwise.

- Steelers D/ST - The Steelers defense is starting to get going in terms of getting pressure on the QB, not to mention they are facing a rookie QB.  Pryor is a different beast though, as he is leading the Raiders in rushing, but the Steelers defense typically does well against QBs like Pryor.  The Steelers special teams have been good all year, and Emmanuel Sanders is already lobbying for more chance to return kick offs, and that could mean points for your fantasy team.

- Le'Veon Bell - The rookie RB is Mike Tomlin's "boy".  Drafted by him, the entire zone blocking scheme was employed for just him.  His patience is something that is rare to see anymore, but ever game he has played he has improved and so have the Steelers rushing totals.  Look for that to continue, but also look for Bell to catch the ball out of the backfield and use his great hands to help the Steelers be more versatile.  Screen passes and swing passes could be the equalizer for a Raiders defense that likes to get after the QB.

- Antonio Brown - I've said it before, and I'll say it again.  Antonio Brown is turning into a younger, faster, and just as versatile Hines Ward.  He will get his catches, but the only question is will be break a long run or get deep?  I say start him anyways for the simple reason is you know the ball is headed his way.

SIT 'EM
- Emmanuel Sanders - Sanders has struggled to get open, and has had some misfortune where Ben was unable to find him when he did get open.  The Raiders do give up passing yards, but Sanders is too much of a question mark to start, in my opinion.

- Jonathan Dwyer / Felix Jones - With Le'Veon Bell visibly turning into the feature back that the Steelers thought he'd be, the work load for Dwyer and Jones is becoming less and less each week.  No need to start either of these two RBs unless someone like Dwyer carves a niche for himself as a goal line back, but I wouldn't bank on that anytime soon.  Sit both of these players.

- Ben Roethlisberger - Although last year Big Ben put up great numbers (over 300yds passing and 4 TDs) in Oakland, this Steelers offense is much more controlled, especially when they are running the ball.  Roethlisberger's stat lines have looked very mediocre in the past 2 wins.  Great news for the Steelers, but bad news for Fantasy owners.  I saw sit Big Ben with the Steelers not trying to be "pass happy".

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