What’s wrong with the Steelers? – Part 4
This is Part 4 of a multi-part series that is intended to identify what went wrong with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2009 season.
If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, please click here.
To read Part 2, please click here.
To read Part 3, please click here.
We’ve already discussed three of the reasons for the Steelers’ poor showing this season. Now it’s time to discuss the fourth reason.
Factor #4 – Lack of a killer instinct.
I had to think long and hard before writing this one. I know that many fans are not going to agree with it. More importantly, some will be offended when they read it.
We all want to envision the Steelers as a dominant team of gladiators clad in black and gold marching off to vanquish their opponents. But the truth is that the Steelers play more like peaceful diplomats than gladiators.
Many fans have pointed out that the Steelers have just been the victims of bad luck this season. Most of their games have been very close, and had a few plays gone differently, most of the Steelers’ losses could have been wins. Just think about Joe Burnett’s dropped interception against the Browns, or Jeff Reed’s missed kicks against the Bears. Had those plays gone differently, the Steelers would have probably won those games. Their were similar missed plays in all of their losses.
The most that any opponent has beaten the Steelers by has been 7 points. That was in the loss to the Cleveland Browns. The remaining losses have been by less than a touchdown. Five of the Steelers’ seven losses have been by a mere 3 points. So the Steelers have been close in every one of their losses. If they could take back a play here or there, the Steelers could easily be 13-0.
The problem with that line of thinking is that the inverse is also true. If a few plays had gone differently, the Steelers could easily be 0-13.
If we look at all of the Steelers’ games this season, the average point differential has been +2.62 points in favor of the Steelers. That’s less than a field goal.
Do you see the problem with that? The Steelers don’t seem to be able to gain a meaningful point advantage over their opponents. And that’s true, regardless of the caliber of the opponent. The Steelers seem to play down to the quality of the opponent. They play the good teams close, and they play the bad teams close. They don’t seem to be able to put opponents away.
Simply put, the Steelers lack a killer instinct.
The Steelers have only won one game this season by more than 2 touchdowns. The Steelers’ offense just doesn’t seem to be capable of generating enough points to put opponents away.
In my opinion, one of the signs of a truly dominant team is that they crush lesser opponents. When they get an opponent down, they go for the knockout. The Steelers don’t do that.
Make no mistake, these are not your father’s Steelers. These are the kinder, gentler Steelers. The offense can’t blow anybody out, and the defense can’t shut anybody out.
If we look back at the 2007 New England Patriots, they were a truly dominant team. They went for the jugular. Their average margin of victory was 19.7 points. That’s almost 3 touchdowns. Their offense exceeded 30 points in 12 of their 16 regular season games.
Similarly, this season’s New Orleans Saints have been completely dominant. They don’t play teams close. They blow them out. Their average margin of victory has been 14 points, and they’ve scored 30+ points in 9 of their 13 games.
Wouldn’t you like to see the Steelers do that? But they can’t. As I mentioned before, their average point differential is 2.62 points. That’s just not good enough.
When I think about the Steelers teams of the 70, two thinks jump out at me. Firstly, their offense could score points in bunches. Secondly, their defense could shut teams out. This year’s team can’t do either.
This year’s offense generates lots of statistics. They may end the season with a quarterback who passes for 4,000 yards, a running back who rushes for over 1,000 yards, and two 1,000 yard receivers. Yet, they can’t score points. So what good are all of the yards? They don’t really dominate anyone, despite the impressive yardage.
The same is true for the defense. Statistically, they are one of the best defenses in the NFL. Yet realistically, they can’t stop anyone. They haven’t shut out a single team this season. Moreover, terrible offenses like the Lions, Chiefs, and Raiders have all scored 20+ points on the Steelers defense.
Do you remember when teams used to be afraid to face the Steelers? They used to know that they were in for a long night. They knew that the Steelers were going to beat them up physically. You could see the fear in opponents’ eyes. But that’s changed. Did the Browns look afraid of the Steelers? Did the Raiders? Did the Chiefs? If anything, it was the Steelers who looked intimidated.
We're not intimidated
The Steelers need to get back to good old-fashioned Steelers football, on both offense and defense. Right now they don’t remind me of the Steelers of old. Unlike those Steelers teams, this version lacks a killer instinct.
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Donald,
As much as I want to agree with you, and I do about the killer attitude, I have to point out a glaring spin doctor move of yours.
It’s your fuzzy math, because we could NOT be “easily 0-13″ at all. In all of the games we won, we won solidly. And by that I mean in those games we won by an average of 10.3 points.
Now it could be said that there were instances like in the Minn. game that the defense made sure we won and not the offense. But if we start doing that (shoulda, coulda, woulda’s) we have to do that with every game and that would just get pretty silly.
The facts are that the team has played in ways that would keep any of us from claiming they lack a killer instinct. But unfortunately, I believe offense play calling and defensive miscommunications have put our team in a no win situation too many times. So much so that even great talent couldn’t overcome it this year.
It was hard for me to defend these noddle backs this year but felt I needed to give credit where it was due.
1I don’t know. It’s very hard to determine a team’s drive/desire/killer instinct unless you have access to the locker room or if it is glaringly obvious.
I will, however, defend the defense against this charge. Even though the is a disturbing difference between this year and last year in 4th quarter defensive performance, I believe it is more personnel related than killer instinct.
The loss of Polamalu and Smith is hard to quantify but the impact is real. Between the loss of Polamalu’s splash plays and Smith’s ability to eat up linemen AND apply pressure – the defense is simply not as good as last years. Loss of killer instinct isn’t necesary to explain the loss of performance. Especially when you add the poor play of Clark and Gay in the secondary.
Maybe Clark and Gay are playing worse because of a lack of killer instinct? They are playing worse…but the reason is hard to determine.
The offense on the other hand…well, I’m not sure they ever had a killer instinct. More like a desparate instinct (i.e., play poor for most of the game and then let Ben fling the ball around for the last 2 minutes and pull the game out).
The offense definately has a problem turning yards into points. Whether that is due to killer instinct or poor play calling/execution is also hard to determine. It does seem sometimes that the offense acts a bit lackadaisical – assuming they will pull it out at the last minute because they did so many times before but, again, its hard to say for sure when talking about desire.
2Tony,
I understand your position. They did have a few convincing wins. Well, actually 2. The first win against the Browns was good, and the win against the Bronco’s. So instead of being 0-13, they could easily be 2-11. Is that any more impressive? The bottom line is that the team seems to play down to the level of their competition. They can’t seem to get more than 7 points of separation from their opponents, regardless of the calibre of the opponent. Usually, they can’t get more than 3 points worth of separation. That’s not good.
I don’t know if you follow betting, but the Steelers are a terrible team to bet on (unless the spread happens to be 3 points or less). If the Steelers are favored by 10, you can pretty much forget about it. They won’t cover.
3John,
I’ll admit that it is very difficult to assess “heart”. However, I couldn’t think of anything else to call it. Whatever term you choose to use, the fact is that the Steelers can’t seem to put anybody away. They can’t beat anybody by more than 7 points. Despite racking up huge yardage, they can’t convert that to scoring. How can they beat the opponent easily on 8 yards of the field, but are completely impotent in the final 20 yards?
Yes, some of it is play calling. I still haven’t gotten to Mr. Arians’ role in our failures (but it’s coming). But the team still has responsibility as well. Both offense and defense.
Sure, the Steelers have injuries. But that doesn’t eliminate there need to go out and play. Heck, the Cleveland Browns had 5 starters out (including Shawn Rogers) when they played us. Did they make excuses? Nope, they just came out and punched the Steelers in the mouth. And the Steelers didn’t retaliate.
Frankly, that’s what really bothered me about the game. We didn’t even lose to Browns starters. We lost to a bunch of Browns bench players.
Tyrone Carter has played pretty well as a replacement. So have Travis Kirschke and Ziggy Hood. So I don’t think you can really blame injuries. Rather, what’s wrong with some of the uninjured players like Ike Taylor, William Gay, Ryan Clark, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons?
4I would say that Kirschke, Hood, and Carter have played adequately…not necessarily ‘well.’ For example, while they have not made glaring errors…they have not made many big plays either. The loss of Polamalu and Smith is also felt in the synergistic effect they have on the rest of the team (i.e., they make the rest of the team better).
I’m not making excuses, however, for the loss to the Browns. There simply IS no excuse for losing to the Browns.
And, I was not aware of Rogers being out. That really makes our running performance against the Browns pathetic. We ran 19 times for 65 yds (less than 3.5 yards per carry) – AGAINST THE BROWNS! We simply cannot run the ball when we need to.
5Regardless of how the season ends, and I do feel they will let us down on the 27th, there needs to be some changes made on the Coaching staff. There needs to be a offensive philosophy change, a new coach for special teams and Mike Tomlin needs to hold players responsible. When you say someone is going to the bench, send them to the bench. This team showed something yesterday in the win, but I am not ready to bite. Beat Baltimore and we can talk.
6When a team has to set a season record for offensive yardage to win a game, you have a huge problem.
7It all starts with Mike Tomlin. Tomlin is an outsider looking in with the Steelers. He is not respected by his players (says stuff he never backs-up) and certainly not smart. What pee-wee league coach would have gone for an on-side kick with 3+ minutes left in the game when you are ahead?
Max Starks has the agility of a pothole. He could not block his grandmother if she were in a wheelchair. The Steeler O-Line is obviously coached by a guy (Larry Zierlein) who has never learned how to shift blocking responsibilities when two defenders line-up in a gap. Zierlein, you need to be fired!
The Steeler defensive secondary is the weakest in the NFL. We have guys who cannot cover man for man, have no athletic ability (Troy is the best athlete in all of football but he is not playing), cannot tackle if their life depended on it, and they are all yellow-bellied cowards when it comes to sticking their head into a play. Ike Taylor must be released and William Gay needs to take up water polo.
James Farrier is the biggest joke in the linebacking core. He actually schemes to make sure he is nowhere near the guy with the ball. He is weak, timid and completely unqualified to be in the NFL. Release him NOW!
James Harrison and Lamar Woodley are having a contest to see who can lock up with their offensive blocker the longest. I seriously question the manhood of James Harrison because he has done nothing to resemble a defensive player of the year. If Harrison and Woodly do not learn how to break a block, they are through in the NFL.
There is one other failure that cannot be overlooked. For Tomlin to not have fired Special Teams coach Bob Ligashesky by week 5 of the season, tells me Tomlin is dumber than I already know he is. Nobody can do a poorer job of preparing 11 guys to not know how to contain a kick receiver and put him on the ground than Ligashesky has done. His Tombstone will read….”Only NFL coach to allow 4 kick return TD’s in a Season”. Fire this miserable failure so he can get a job selling pencils on Liberty Boulevard.
Ummmm Captain Sank, how do you REALLY feel? You were so shy in stating your opinion that I couldn’t tell what you meant.
I think you were trying to say that Max Starks is your favorite player, you think Mike Tomlin is the best coach since Chuck Noll, Larry Zierlein is the second best coach since Chuck Noll, Bob Ligashesky is the third best coach since Chuck Noll, and the Steelers’ secondary is the best in the NFL. Does that pretty much summarize your opinion?
8Admin, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. We have a problem in Steeltown. Unfortunately the Steeler organization does not fire coaches. It would be a travesty to see this team revert to 1950′s and 1960′s quality of play, but that is exactly where we are headed.
9People get all hyped up about beating the Packers and the truth is that when it takes 560+ yards of offense to eke out a win, you in reality have a serious problem.
There are so many weak performers on this team that it can only be attributed to bad coaching and a lack of leadership. Do not be surprised to see Dick Lebeau hang it up because it must really hurt to see his defense become the marshmallow of the NFL.
Captain Sank,
I wouldn’t go as far as you have. While the team has struggled this year, I am not yet ready to say that we have wholesale problems, or that Dick LeBeau is on the verge of quitting because of the team’s defensive struggles.
I know it doesn’t excuse the team’s play, but you have to remember that Troy has been out most of the year. And then having Aaron Smith go out didn’t help matters. I think that once we have those two back, and William Gay out of the lineup, the Steelers will begin to look like the 2008 Steelers again.
I still have confidence in Mike Tomlin. However, I can’t say the same about Bruce Arians. Or Zierlein. Or Ligashesky.
10Admin, my major concern with Tomlin is that he made public statements that he would no longer tolerate the repeat sub-par performances of certain players and that there would be changes. The result, he did nothing and made no changes. The players see that as a lack of leadership and weakness and left him on the dance floor without a partner. He lost the team. That is inexcuseable.
11There can be no doubt that the 2009 performance of numerous players is nowhere near their performance in 2008. That is very telling and to allow that to be the trademark of your team is a travesty.
When I see some leadership from him I will acknowledge it, but I see none.
I do agree with you but one point i do have to make EVERY game that we have had a healthy Troy Polomolu we beat teams with our secondary last year troy had 4 interceptions in 3 straight games thats really unheard of with him every aspect of our team steps up and plays their heart out we need him he just basically wins the game for us sooooo many times ive seen Carter fail at his job when i know Troy would have made the play Carter is not at the caliber that Troy is at he doesnt try to pick the ball off like troy does he just goes for the “big hit” he just doesnt play like him the bottom line is when we get him back we will start winning again
12Troy Polamalu is the best athlete on the Steeler team and most likely the best athlete in the NFL. Nobody can make game changing playes like he can. Unfortunately because he plays with reckless abandon, he is injury prone. He is always in the play. We miss him sorely.
13My issue is with the on-going poor performance of 80% of the players on the team, with no attempt to step up their game, and that can only be attributed to inferior coaching. If you tolerate inferior play, that is exactly what you will get. We have a slew of guys who are not even producing NFL level talent. That must change for there to be any improvement in the win-loss summary.
I agree about the killer instinct thing, except that that has been a problem for the Steelers as long as I can remember. We play like garbage when we’re favored. How many AFC championship games did we lose at home under Cowher before we won the SuperBowl as a 6 seed?
14I can’t believe, though, I’m seeing Tyrone Carter’s play described as adequate! How is allowing opponents to ravage the secondary in the fourth quarter in obvious passing situations adequate? We’ve got all the same personnel back there as we did last year except him and Gay…
Tyrone Carter is a solid tackler and a decent Strong Safety if your scheme calls for the SS to function primarily in run support, but he’s terrible in coverage. In 15 games he has only 2 INT’s and 4 passes defensed. Anthony Smith, our former backup, in 7 games with Jags has the same stats.
15The Steelers fielded possibly the best teams in NFL history in the 70′s. But even back then, we did not have true ‘killer instinct’. Just was not a team-trait and persists to this day.
16Now for playing up to our ability, look to the Vegas experts and let them tell you how God-awful Pittsburgh has always been in covering the spread. Play good enough to win but not to our talent level. That all goes back directly to coaching and team preperation.
As far as our secondary, Troy Polamalu is so great that he covers weaknesses in the players around him. Nobody can cover the field like he can. That is why when he is out of the lineup, we look like a bunch of rookies with no talent whatsoever.
Hey it’s time to leave this year behind. Tomlin’s crazy press conference was an appropriate goodbye to 09. Now it’s time to look at #18.
I don’t care what players are still available at 18, I think Pburgh has to burn this pick on a cornerback with star potential. Other early round picks have to be another d-lineman, additional cornerbacks and perhaps a fullback to compliment Mendenhall. Maybe its time to look for a new kicker as well.
OT Derek Hardman out of EKU is setting up to be a steal in about the 5th or 6th round. I watched this kid coming out of high school. Recruited at Pitt and Villanova as a tight end, but moved to OT. He’s a big dude (6-7, 330) and a versatile player. Lots of Press, All American, blah, blah, but too small of a school to get much recognition. Steelers gotta look at this kid.
17Yeah I’ve read about Hardman. He’s solid, but there’s no guarantee and they’re gonna need more than one Offensive lineman. Any word on how A.Q. Shipley has done in the coaches eyes? Our current center is getting beat every other down. I have a problem with the way the Steelers seem to ignore the youth on their roster…with the exception of Wallace.
18Yeah. Well Shipley is history. I don’t know what they were thinking letting a young center slip away. Personally I’d like to see at least two draft picks on the offensive line position. I like the kid Hardman…seems like he’s a little undersized but makes up for it with a brain and athletic ability. But they absolutely have to take a guard or a center as well.
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