Mark Madden wrote this little number which I cut down for space.
The Steelers had a Hall of Fame quarterback, a generational talent at receiver and arguably the best back of his era. They currently have an elite defense.
A lot of bad decisions had to be made to underachieve so badly.
The worst might have been made in 2011. The Steelers lied about making it. Perhaps they were trying to disguise the shakiness of the decision.
It was firing offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
The Steelers said Arians “retired.” Arians didn’t. He will coach Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV a week from Sunday.
Since “retiring” from the Steelers, Arians has won NFL Coach of the Year twice and four playoff games, one more than Mike Tomlin. During stints at Indianapolis, Arizona and Tampa Bay, Arians has had less to work with than Tomlin. Well, till Tom Brady showed up, anyway.
The Steelers’ skill-position personnel got better after Arians “retired.” Rashard Mendenhall gave way to Le’Veon Bell at running back. Antonio Brown emerged. The offensive line coalesced around Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro. Tight end Heath Miller was still solid.
But the Steelers became a regular-season force and a playoff bust: Paper champions. Individuals bloomed statistically, their egos accordingly. But the only quarterbacks the Steelers beat in the postseason over the past nine years are A.J. McCarron, Matt Moore and Alex Smith.
Roethlisberger got sacked an absurd 215 times during Arians’ five seasons. One reason for replacing Arians was to put Roethlisberger at less risk. Roethlisberger held the ball longer in Arians’ offense by way of looking to make plays.
The article continues after comparing some offensive numbers post Arians. Tell me if this next so called Tomlin quote you heard this year sounds familiar.
“No risk it, no biscuit” is one of Arians’ favored phrases. He has a shot at the ultimate biscuit when he coaches in Super Bowl LV. The closest the Steelers have come to a Super Bowl since Arians left is a 19-point loss to New England in the 2016 season’s AFC championship game. (Which is still true today).
If the Steelers have underachieved since Arians left, it’s not because they haven’t been talented enough.
New offensive coordinator Matt Canada has his work cut out for him. His predecessor, Randy Fichtner, didn’t make the receivers drop balls. He didn’t make the offensive line stink. He didn’t assemble the NFL’s worst group of running backs. Scheme didn’t kill the running game. Personnel did.
Bottom line... As an organization the Steelers have been liars, poor decision makers, and underachievers for a while now and Kenny Pickett didn't cause that. But ya know.... Yinz keep telling yourself he is why yinz ain't winning Super Bowls N'AT.
The Steelers had a Hall of Fame quarterback, a generational talent at receiver and arguably the best back of his era. They currently have an elite defense.
A lot of bad decisions had to be made to underachieve so badly.
The worst might have been made in 2011. The Steelers lied about making it. Perhaps they were trying to disguise the shakiness of the decision.
It was firing offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
The Steelers said Arians “retired.” Arians didn’t. He will coach Tampa Bay in Super Bowl LV a week from Sunday.
Since “retiring” from the Steelers, Arians has won NFL Coach of the Year twice and four playoff games, one more than Mike Tomlin. During stints at Indianapolis, Arizona and Tampa Bay, Arians has had less to work with than Tomlin. Well, till Tom Brady showed up, anyway.
The Steelers’ skill-position personnel got better after Arians “retired.” Rashard Mendenhall gave way to Le’Veon Bell at running back. Antonio Brown emerged. The offensive line coalesced around Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro. Tight end Heath Miller was still solid.
But the Steelers became a regular-season force and a playoff bust: Paper champions. Individuals bloomed statistically, their egos accordingly. But the only quarterbacks the Steelers beat in the postseason over the past nine years are A.J. McCarron, Matt Moore and Alex Smith.
Roethlisberger got sacked an absurd 215 times during Arians’ five seasons. One reason for replacing Arians was to put Roethlisberger at less risk. Roethlisberger held the ball longer in Arians’ offense by way of looking to make plays.
The article continues after comparing some offensive numbers post Arians. Tell me if this next so called Tomlin quote you heard this year sounds familiar.
“No risk it, no biscuit” is one of Arians’ favored phrases. He has a shot at the ultimate biscuit when he coaches in Super Bowl LV. The closest the Steelers have come to a Super Bowl since Arians left is a 19-point loss to New England in the 2016 season’s AFC championship game. (Which is still true today).
If the Steelers have underachieved since Arians left, it’s not because they haven’t been talented enough.
New offensive coordinator Matt Canada has his work cut out for him. His predecessor, Randy Fichtner, didn’t make the receivers drop balls. He didn’t make the offensive line stink. He didn’t assemble the NFL’s worst group of running backs. Scheme didn’t kill the running game. Personnel did.
Bottom line... As an organization the Steelers have been liars, poor decision makers, and underachievers for a while now and Kenny Pickett didn't cause that. But ya know.... Yinz keep telling yourself he is why yinz ain't winning Super Bowls N'AT.