Dead Team Walking���� �.By Still Poz
What happened to
the 2009 Stillers?�
It�s the question
on the minds of not only Steelers� fans, but also the so-called experts.��
Keep in mind the
experts were absolutely wrong as they continued to predict the Steelers would
refocus after the Kansas City game.� A
minor tweak here, a little refocus there, and it�s a march to the playoffs as a
�dangerous� team that nobody wants to play.
If the experts were
wrong, then there is no harm in a rube like me providing my thoughts why this
once proud team dissipated faster than a 401K during a recession.
The losing is not
the result of one reason, but a combination of factors.� They all came to a head with the Kansas City
loss.� It is the kind of loss that is a
season-killer.� Like the ghosts of
Christmas past, the Kansas City game raised to the surface all the problems
previously explained away.
A
lack of confidence. This loss transformed the Steelers from a team that
played expecting to find a way win, to a team waiting to lose.� It is beyond belief that no Steelers�
cornerback has an interception all year.�
Swagger has been replaced with doubt.
Age
and a lack of depth.� The loss of
Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith to injury, and the departure of Bryant McFadden
hurt dearly.�� I�m 57 years old, and I
doubt William Gay could cover (much less tackle) me.� Tyrone Carter has heart, but he cannot get it
done.� And it was uncomfortable to watch
James Farrior attempt to stay in the same time zone with Ray Rice.
Coaching.� Mike Tomlin certainly experienced early
success as an NFL coach.��� The
platitudes rolled from the mouth of the King of Clich�s as easy as a knife
through warm butter.��
But now he faces adversity
for the first time.� The banalities are
not resonating.� They fall on deaf
ears.�� This is the only plausible
explanation why the Steelers play their best (a relative term with this group)
against better teams while they play like zombies against lesser
opponents.� It takes less to �coach up� a
team for a big game than it does for games a team is supposed to win.� And I tell you, Coach Tomlin looked
dumbfounded and without an answer during the loss to Oakland.�� For once, he had nothing to say.
This is not a call
for his firing � far from it.� He will
coach this team for years to come.�� But
it will be interesting to see how he responds as this is now his team and not
one inherited with many of the pieces already in place.�� Tough decisions ahead � Coach Tomlin will be
tested.
In my opinion, and
in broad terms, the Steelers are failing for a number of reasons; age, lack of
depth, misplaced expectations of the ability of replacements, and
coaching.� They all came together to
create the perfect storm � a mindset that results in missed assignments, wrong
coverage, and giving up big plays on 3rd down.�� It culminates in uneven play, putting up 37
against the Packers, but unable to score a TD against a woeful Browns�
defense.��
Regardless of what
happens the rest of the year, the Steelers are not a playoff team.�
This Steelers team
is arguably the second best of all time, having won two Super Bowls.� But last year isn�t worth spit this year,
next year and in years ahead.�� Show me a
team talking about their past laurels and I�ll show you a loser - a dead team
walking.� Winners don�t live in the past,
but possess foresight and anticipate for the future.� Waiting too long to make moves leaves a team
in damage control mode.
Certainly the draft
will be critical in shaping the future of this team.� But that is a subject better left to the
draft experts here.� I provide my opinion
of the macro issues that plague this team and, if not addressed, could worsen
and send the Steelers into greater depths of ineptitude.� An interesting offseason ahead.
Closing note:� Ryan Clark expressed his displeasure with
fans that had the audacity to criticize a team that slept-walked through a five
game losing streak.� Clark talked as if fans
don�t understand the pressure placed on football players to perform.
The one who doesn�t
understand is Clark.�
Sure, there is
pressure on a multi-million dollar athlete to give his best effort once a
week.� But I dare say there is far more
pressure on the average citizen that toils each day wondering if a strained
household budget has sufficient funds to put food on the table.� That�s pressure, Ryan Clark.�� Get off the fans. Man up and perform as you
should, and fans will support you, as we always have.
Merry
Christmas to the Stillers� nation.
StillPoz