Do the Steelers deserve to make playoffs?
Since last week’s win against the Baltimore Ravens, Steeler Nation has been obsessing over the various scenarios that will result in the Steelers making the playoffs.
The purpose of this article is not to discuss the chain of events that needs to happen in order for the Steelers to make the playoffs. There are plenty of articles out there that do that. Just Google the words “Steelers playoff scenarios”, and thousands of articles will pop up that outline the myriad playoff scenarios.
The purpose of this article is slightly different. In this article, I want to answer a different question. Rather than focus on what needs to happen for the Steelers to make the playoffs, I want to answer the question “Do the Steelers deserve to make the playoffs?”
This year’s Steelers team is unlike any that I can remember. For the first time, I find myself feeling embarrassed about the Steelers.
When I look at the Steelers special teams, I see a unit that is the worst in the entire NFL. They seem to enjoy watching their opponents celebrate touchdowns. Perhaps that’s why they’ve given up so many of them.
When I look at the Steelers’ defensive backs, I see a unit that doesn’t seem to be able to stop even the most meager passing attack. The cornerbacks can’t catch a cold. It’s hard to see this unit as being playoff worthy.
The Steelers’ offensive line doesn’t seem to be able to get an adequate push to allow the running game to operate effectively. That’s part of the reason why head coach Mike Tomin seems content to allow the offense to throw the ball 90% of the time. He doesn’t have confidence in the Steelers’ ability to run it effectively.
Kicker Jeff Reed couldn’t make a kickoff reach the endzone if his life depended on it. His lack of distance further exacerbates the problems the Steelers have with their special teams. It’s a good thing Reed is able to kick field goals accurately at Heinz Field (which isn’t easy to do), otherwise the Steelers would probably have gotten rid of him years ago.
Steelers kicker Jeff Reed
Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians doesn’t believe in traditional smash-mouth Steelers football. He doesn’t believe in using a fullback. He shows no commitment to running the ball. Nope, Bruce loves to throw the ball. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that Bruce Arians will be the first NFL offensive coordinator to utilize a 9 wide receiver set. Or perhaps 5 wide receivers and 4 tight ends. Either option would probably give Arians the orgasm of a lifetime.
The majority of Steeler Nation would probably like to see Arians executed, rather than just fired. Is execution legal in Pittsburgh?
I’ve been a Steelers fan for a long time. I can remember some terrible Steelers. Cliff Stoudt. John Reinstra. Jamaine Stephens. Tim Worley. Delton Hall. Sean Mahan. Huey Richardson. Troy Edwards. Tom Ricketts. Limas Sweed. You get the picture. Yet I can barely remember an entire Steelers team that was as flawed as this one. O-line, D-backs, special teams, coaching, etc. That’s a lot of flaws.
This Steelers team is just barely over .500. Two weeks ago, they were below .500.
The 2009 Steelers have managed to play down to the level of their opponents, no matter how bad the opponent may have been. The Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns were the worst of those opponents, and the Steelers lost to all three of them.
So, does a team that has struggled to stay above .500, and that has lost to several of the worst teams in the NFL deserve to make the playoffs? Surprisingly, I believe the answer is “yes”.
Despite their many shortcomings, the 2009 Steelers have just as much chance to win it all as any team in the playoffs. I guess that’s NFL parity for you.
If the playoffs were to start today, the Steelers would not be in them. However, they will have played 5 of the teams that would make the playoffs. Moreover, they’ve beaten 4 of them (San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and Green Bay Packers). The Cincinnati Bengals would be the only playoff team that has beaten the Steelers this season.
Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that the Steelers have lost to the 3 worst teams in the AFC. But if they do get into the playoffs, winning is actually a possibility.
Some fans probably hope that the Steelers don’t make the playoffs. That way, they’ll get a better draft pick and can begin fixing their woeful offensive line and defensive backfield. I can understand that line of thinking. However, if the Steelers DO make the playoffs, they can actually win some games. Just so long as the Chiefs, Raiders, or Browns aren’t in the playoffs. Then the Steelers wouldn’t have a chance.
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First, I would like to say that I NEVER hope my team loses – whether to get a better slot or any other reason. I mean come on, its only going to make a difference of…well, normally it would only mean a few slots – with soooo many teams around 8-8, they could land anywhere from the 12-21 slot.
Anyway, I will go into tomorrow hoping Pittsburgh wins and that other teams lose so they can keep the season going.
Do I think they deserve to go to the playoffs? No, but I don’t think any of the AFC wild cards teams ‘deserve’ to go either. These are all teams that have only themselves to blame for their position. If Palomalu can play in the first playoff game, then I beleive Pittsburgh would be the best team among the prospective wild card teams. They also tend to play their best against the better teams. However, since they have been so inconsistent this year, that does not mean that much.
So, I hope they win, I hope they get in, but I’m not really expecting too much.
1Is it possible that a team of mostly veterans, some quite old in football years and participants in many hard-fought games, struggled to rise to the neccessary level of emotional intensity against lesser teams? Last year’s schedule posed a daunting challenge virtually every week against potential play-off teams, followed by the “win-or-you’re- out” playoffs. This year the schedule was widely viewed (by fans and pundits) as so easy as to be merely a warm-up for the post-season. Perhaps crucial injuries and a bit of “we’ll win it at the end” hubris carry the most weight in assigning blame for otherwise inexplicable losses.
2This article is pointless. If they win against Miami, and Houston and the Jets Lose, then they deserve to be in the playoffs. If that does not happen(most likely playoff shot scenario) then they don’t deserve to be in. THE END.
As far as you crying, “oh noes kill him, they never ruun the ball….no fullback”, BLA.BLA.BLAAAAAAAAA. The Steelers are using the weapons they have. They have two 1,000 yard receivers, and 1200 yard running back(so far), So they do run the ball. Maybe not as much as in the past, but like I said they are using the weapons they have. And right now that happens to be passing more so than running.
The steels had a bad slump this year. That’s it. They’ll either win and get in or they won’t and if not they have no one to blame but themselves.
I can tell you that no true fan would like to see them lose so we can get a crap pick somewhere in the middle of the draft. And if any of you do feel that way, you’re not really a fan.
3Tom,
Thanks for your comment. But I must make a few points.
Firstly, the article is NOT pointless. Many Steelers fans feel that the team does not deserve to make the playoffs. Or have you had your eyes and ears closed for the last month?
I agree with you that the Steelers have many weapons, and that their best weapons are in the passing game. Just read a few more of my articles, and my opinion on this will be obvious.
Finally, I always think that it’s silly for any fan to try to set the rules for what a “true fan” would do. Fans are people. No more, no less. People are going to have diversity in their opinions. Moreover, there is no law that says that only one opinion is correct. If a fan believes that losing games to get a better draft pick is a good strategy, that is their prerogative. That doesn’t make them a bad fan. Likewise, if a fan voices his/her frustration when their team loses, that doesn’t make them a bad fan.
If you think about it, you’d realize that only a fan would take the time to voice their opinion in the first place. Wouldn’t it be pretty boring if all fans agreed? All of the message boards would disappear, that’s for sure.
Many of my readers disagree with me on a number of topics. Sometimes I sway them to my point of view, and sometimes they sway me to their point of view. But either way, the discussion is enjoyable. You see “true fans” enjoy talking about their team, whether they agree or not.
4Ok first I’d like to say the steelers USED to be a running team. How in gods name can you be a running team when your offensive line can’t hold the opposing teams deffense for more than like maybe 2 seconds. Second the running backs that the steelers have right now are not Jerome Bettis, he is no longer with the team and his postion has never been completely filled. No running back will be the Bus not a single one or at least not the ones that are on the team now. I’m not saying that the running backs aren’t good cause they are but they aren’t good enough for the steelers to always run the ball or even run the ball more than throw the ball. If you were a running team then why do you we have Big Ben? Duh to throw the ball! I am a steelers fan I love them but a lot of die hard fans from back when the steelers ran the ball all the time need to keep an open mind cause whether they want to realize it or not it isn’t Arians fault that they don’t run the ball because news flash Tomlin makes the final call on whether they run or pass the ball. I just don’t understand how you can love a coach when the teams winning and then hate him when they aren’t doing so hot. He’s not the one out on the field that players are. He makes the call however the players carry out the play and if it doesn’t work it isn’t always the coaches fault. This is all stuff that real football fans know so I don’t get why everyone hates Arians so much this year but he was amazing last year. A lot of the players on the team have gotten old and playing football is rough on the human body so they slow down so just accept it and look to the future. The steelers will not always be a running team if they want to be successful because you can’t run the ball like that without an absolutely supreme running back like Bettis was and like Adrian Peterson is now theres just no way.
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