Steel City Blitz
Hey Steelers Fans. Welcome to Tuesday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers as an organization tend to be patient and often deliberate in how they operate. That should not come as a surprise to you at all. After dropping their seventh straight postseason game however, the time for patience is over. Last night’s 30-6 loss to Houston was the epitome of the season and the epitome of the last decade. It was an embarrassing offensive performance mixed with a defensive effort that provided opportunities but just couldn’t stop the Texans when they needed to. C.J. Stroud gifted the Steelers three different chances to put points on the board yet Arthur Smith’s unit seemingly went backwards every time. Some will argue that the final score was not indicative of how close the game actually was and that’s fair – it was close on the scoreboard. It was never close on the field though and anyone who “knows ball” could see it.
Seven straight playoff losses. Every one of them has been a double-digit loss. Art Rooney II cannot sit there and tell any of us that this is acceptable. It is time for a divorce. When nothing changes over the course of a decade then the relationship has run its course.
Assuming that ARII will retain Tomlin because “what else would he do…” then a paradigm shift is necessary when it comes to coordinators. First of all, neither deserve to return. Secondly, PAY THE NEW ONES! Thirdly (is that a word? I really don’t care), bring in innovative guys who will be allowed to run their units. I realize I’m screaming into the void but these things need to be said.
T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith may as well have been ghosts last night because they were invisible. Neither one made any impact on the game and Houston often found success running right at Watt. Highsmith had been playing some of his best ball recently too. And the “good news?” Watt will be 32, is coming off an awful season and will be paid a ridiculously large amount of money.
I’m not the biggest fan of Joey Porter, Jr at times but he probably played his best game last night. He has to be CB1 going forward for this team for the next several years… Derrick Harmon acquitted himself well throughout the season but has to stay healthy. The numbers with him out of the lineup for five games were troubling, but they hit a home run with his selection in the first round… They have to find a way to keep Kenneth Gainwell, the team MVP this year, but it’s likely going to cost them… Darnell Washington should be a priority… Zach Frazier is the center we hoped he would be.
The Steelers desperately need safety help. Both Chuck Clark and Kyle Dugger were exposed last night and at several points during the...
