12/30/18-Relying On Others Results In Long Off-Season

By: Mike Pelaia

The Cleveland Browns finished their season with a much improved 7-8-1 record. But as Baker Mayfield threw that season ending pick in Baltimore, the Steelers season died along with it. 

Though you could say the season died in Cleveland four months ago, long before Mayfield had ever taken the field for the Browns. It died the day the Steelers tied the Browns to open the season.  That tie very well may be the reason the Steelers had to rely on the Browns to beat the Ravens in the final week of the season just to slip into the playoffs.

But the Steelers, with as talented a roster as anyone in the league, should never have to rely on the Browns or any other team to make the playoffs. 

As Cameron Heyward stated after the game; “It’s frustrating because we put ourselves in this position like that. It hurts.” “To know you gave it your all in this game right here but you’re still looking around saying we gotta get somebody else to do their job.”

He’s exactly right about having to look around and hope for help to get into the playoffs.  This team should not have fallen short like that.  Heyward continued; “It’s not how we wanted this season to go”. 

And it never should have gotten to that point.

You can pick any number of games this season that were the ones that kept the black and gold from making the playoffs.

It started with the season opening tie to the Browns who had one win in their previous 32 attempts. But it doesn’t end there. You can easily look at the losses to the Broncos or Raiders on the road, two games the team was favored to win and should have won. Or you can look at the blown fourth quarter leads to the Saints and Chargers. 

If any one of those games came out the other way, the Steelers would be preparing for a home playoff game right now rather than booking their plane tickets for their early vacations. 

Instead, they had to rely on the Browns and when you have to do that, you end up at home in January.

But those losses and that one tie went bad for many reasons, and the season went bad along with them.

You can blame the kicking of Chris Boswell, who finished the year a dismal 13 for 20 on field goals and 43 of 48 on extra points.

You can blame the entire defense for its’ clear inability to create turnovers or get off the field on third downs. If you do that, point the finger directly at Keith Butler, who must be fired this offseason.  His inability to scheme for opposing offenses was horrifically bad.  

You can blame the offense for the amount of turnovers they had, to go along with the untimely turnovers. Ben Roethlisberger threw 16 interceptions this season, a few of which occurred in the red zone, one, in the end zone in Denver in what would have been a game winning drive. A game winning drive that would have put the Steelers in the playoffs, as it turns out.

The team MVP JuJu Smith-Schuster had an untimely fumble in New Orleans that may have cost the team that game, and the season (though I think out of all the players and reasons to blame this season on, JuJu falls, way, way down on that list)

You could certainly blame the lack of discipline by the entire team who ranked 28^th in penalty yards given up per game. An excess amount of penalties will almost always cost a team a game or two a year and the Steelers were no exception.

But as David DeCastro said after the season ending win vs. Cincinnati; “It’s just a couple of plays here and there in the game, that’s football, that’s the NFL. That is what people want, close games. We didn’t’ find a way to separate the games by more points to overcome those errors. Those errors cost us, and we didn’t have those errors last year.”

You can even blame a guy that never played for the team this year, LeVeon Bell, if you want to. James Conner put up a great season as Bell’s replacement and between he and Jaylen Samuels the Steeles future at running back looks bright but neither of those guys are quite the talent Bell is.  Bell just brings an extra threat to the offense that opposing defenses need to scheme for. Without him in Pittsburgh, defenses focused more on Antonio Brown.  The lack of Bell forced the offense to throw more, Roethlisberger ended up with over 5,000 yards but along with those yards came those 16 interceptions, his most since 2015 and tied for second most of his career.

Bell is a man who not only protects the football but moves the chains, so his absence did come back to bite this team as it turned out. 

Any way you want to slice it and no matter who you want to blame or what game you want to choose to single out as the one that kept the Steelers out, it all came down to the black and gold relying on the Cleveland Browns and when that happens, it ends up just like Cam Heyward said “It’s going to be a long offseason.”

12/28/18-Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

By: Mike Pelaia

The Steelers enter the final game of the season in a must win situation and in need of help from their rival Cleveland Browns over their other rival, the Baltimore Ravens.  However, if the black and gold don’t get past the Bengals on Sunday, nothing else matters.  I fully expect a Steeler victory and I don’t expect it to be close.  Beyond that, they have to hope and pray and keep their fingers crossed that the Browns come up with the upset.

 

Here Are The Keys To Victory:

 

Stop Joe Mixon:

The Bengals are with out Andy Dalton and AJ Green, the only offense they have at this point is a running game that starts with Joe Mixon. If the Steelers can stuff Mixon at the line, they’ll force the ball to be distributed by Jeff Driskel, the Bengals backup quarterback who isn’t someone to truly fear.

 

Create More Turnovers:

The black and gold have created turnovers the past couple of weeks and they need to continue to do so this week in order to flip the field and gain some momentum.  Turnovers have been extremely difficult to come by this season for the black and gold so getting a pick or two or a fumble will go a long way in setting up the day for the Steelers and helping them edge their way to victory.

 

Limit The Penalties:

The Steelers rank near the bottom of the league in penalty yards given up and there is no better way to keep a bad team in the game than giving up free yards.  Yes, the refs played a huge part in the penalty yards given up last week, no arguments here, but the Steelers need to help themselves and stay out of those situations (when they can). No reason to provide free yards or easy points to a inferior opponent.

 

Matt McCrane Must Make His Kicks:

Matt McCrane was signed off the streets this week to replace Chris Boswell who was placed on IR.  McCrane must do what Boswell hasn’t done consistently this season, hit kicks. Problem is, McCrane kicked for the Raiders earlier this season is 5 of 9 for the year himself. Kicking in Heinz Field is no picnic so let’s hope he can get the job done when called upon.

 

Conclusion:

The Steelers really shouldn’t have any challenge this week. The Bengals are a horrible football team and the black and gold are playing for their lives. If they don’t win, nothing else matters. I expect a large margin of victory in this one with a 34-14 victory. 

From there they need to scoreboard watch and hope the Browns get it done. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Ravens will falter in a must win game at home and I think they’ll get by the much improved Browns by a score of 23-20.

 

12/26/18-Mike Tomlin Needs To Be Fired

By: Mike Pelaia

The time has come.  The Mike Tomlin era needs to be over in Pittsburgh.  Barring some miracle run that gets the Steelers to the Super Bowl, the black and gold must move on.

Why should the Steelers move on from a coach who has never had a losing season, you are probably asking.

While it’s true; Tomlin has never had a losing season, the only thing that matters to Pittsburgh, or should, at least, is winning championships.  Not of the division title variety, but of the Super Bowl variety.   Tomlin did win one, 10 years ago, he did appear in another one, eight years ago, and he’s gone 3-5 in the post-season ever since (when he’s made it).

Of those five post season losses, you can count the devastating loss at Denver to the Tim Tebow led Broncos in 2012 and the disastrous home loss to the Blake Bortles led Jacksonville Jaguars last season by the score of 45-42. 

Neither of those should have been losses yet either way, had the team won, they never would have gotten past the New England Patriots in the following round, a team, that up until this season, Tomlin hasn’t been able to beat in seven years. 

Turns out, that victory over the Patriots may have been the Steelers Super Bowl this year.  If you’re ok with that, you’re not seeing the bigger picture.

Nobody involved with the Steelers in any capacity, ownership, management, players or fans, should ever be accepting of the Steelers most exciting moment of the season being a regular season victory over the Patriots. Yet here we are, in the Mike Tomlin era. 

Ask yourself, are you okay with that?

Are you ok with ‘winning seasons’ that end up falling short of the ultimate goal, a championship?  If so, go get involved with a team like the Browns who would kill for that.

But this is Pittsburgh, a city of champions. Falling short is not acceptable. Is the standard too high? Perhaps it is but as Tomlin would say; “the standard is the standard”. Quite frankly, he’s not living up to that standard at this point.

It shouldn’t be lost on anyone that good coaches often get fired. I’m not saying Tomlin wouldn’t or shouldn’t be picked up by another team should the Steelers part ways with him. He’d be the hottest coach available, understandably, but what I’m saying is quite simply he’s lost his voice in Pittsburgh. He’s been tuned out, moved on from internally, lost respect of the players.

There have been far too many discipline issues off the field with the antics of Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown to name a few.  Let’s not forget that when Ben Roethlisberger was having his off field issues years ago, that was on Tomlins watch too.

Or how about the National anthem flap in 2017 and how poorly that was handled?

I could go on.

The Martavis Bryant disaster.

The Joey Porter bar fight. Oh, and just as a reminder, this was when Porter was a coach!

The list goes on.

You cannot have a successful team on the field if you don’t hold your players accountable both on and OFF of it. Just look at Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati to understand that.

But the discipline issues aren’t just off the field, they are on it as well.  The Steelers rank 28^th in penalty yards this season, 9^th in 2017 (that’s good, no argument), 26th in 2016, 19^th in 2015, 15^th in 2014, 4^th in 2013 (I’m amazed) 24^th in 2012 and 22^nd in 2011 (the season after they last went to the Super Bowl). That’s an average of 18^th in the league, bottom half in other words. Championship football doesn’t  consist of averaging 18^th in the league in penalty yards given up, I can tell you that much right now. If you think that’s acceptable, go root for the Bengals where it is and oh by the way, where they don’t win championships.

Tomlin has never put the hammer down on these players.  Bill Cowher’s teams averaged 6^th in the league his last three years, which were the first three years I was able to pull for this data. 

My point is, I don’t want to hear the argument that this has always been how the Steelers play football, it hasn’t.

Yet if it were just discipline, perhaps that could be lived with. Yet Tomlin is a terrible game manager, can’t handle clock management, use his timeouts properly or even make in game adjustments. He’s brazen at the wrong times and calls bone headed plays like the fake punt this past week vs. the Saints in a game that had their entire season on the line.  The idea of failing and giving Drew Brees the ball with less than half a field to go apparently didn’t matter to Tomlin, he called it, it failed, season over.

But it’s not just the bad decisions in game. It’s the lack of prep pre game. The season opening tie to the Browns, the losses at Denver and at Oakland, the blown 4^th quarter lead to the Chargers, any one of these games can be looked upon this season as the one that cost them a playoff spot.

When you’re a team like the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, New England Patriots or Pittsburgh Steelers, the expectations is to win it all, not just make the playoffs.  It’s not happening anymore.

Just like in Philadelphia with Andy Reid or in Green Bay with Mike McCarthy the teams had to move on after a while, things just got stale.  Both guys were great, successful coaches for those two organizations. McCarthy even has a Super Bowl under his belt, like Tomlin does (by beating Tomlin in fact) yet the Packers saw it was time to move on.

McCarthy had an all world quarterback with Aaron Rodgers and the team didn’t want to waste his last remaining years not winning it all. 

Tomlin has an all world quarterback with Roethlisberger, an all world receiver with Brown and another one with JuJu Smith Schuster, an amazing offensive line and he had an all world running back with Bell when he was in town as well, yet the team falls short consistently.

With talent like that on the roster, it shouldn’t be acceptable to consistently fall short of the ultimate goal. The window is about to close and what do the Steelers have to show for it?  At this point, nothing.

Tomlin came over as a defensive specialist and when Keith Butler was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2015, it was proclaimed that Tomlin would be heavily involved in the defensive schematics and game planning. It is widely known that he was very involved in the 45-42 loss to the Jaguars at home this past January in the divisional round of the playoffs. 

The defense has been far less than stellar in the last four years and it was down right atrocious in that playoff loss and there are absolutely no arguments about that.

If the head coach can’t utilize his ‘specialty’ and improve the team, then what can he do?

Well who would they hire, you are probably saying.  You’re saying there aren’t many other coaches in the league you would take over Tomlin.

Ok, fine, that may be true. But would you have taken Tomlin in 2007 over anybody?  Probably not. Would you have taken Cowher before him in 1992 over anyone, doubtful.

Yet, the Steelers did. They have an incredible ability to find hidden talent and hire them and win with them. So if you’re the kind of person who’s afraid of change because you think they can’t replace Tomlin, you’re a doubter of the Rooney’s. They have proven over and over again that the success the team has had starts from the top with them and then it funnels down to the field. Why wouldn’t they be able to do it again?  There is no reason.

The front office hires the coaches and provides the talent, it’s up to those coaches to win with that talent that is provided.

Tomlin has a lot of talent in that locker room but he’s not getting the job done with it any longer.

Ask Rocky Bleier how he feels about this team under Tomlin, aside from the “I’m Done” comment.

“With three games remaining, the Steelers’ destiny lies in their hands, but it is shaky with the Patriots, Saints and Bengals on the horizon. How they fare will dictate the team’s future and it may be without [head coach Mike] Tomlin”

I don’t expect him to be fired anytime soon but it’s about that time the Steelers should consider it. If however, Tomlin does bring another Lombardi back to Pittsburgh someday, I’ll write a raving review of him and admit my mistake in judging him. This is in print, hold me to it.

Until that happens though, don’t hold your breath.

 

 

 

12/21/18-Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints

By: Mike Pelaia

The Steelers may have saved their season this past Sunday when they took care of business against the Patriots, coming out on top of their longtime nemesis, 17-10.  The challenge doesn’t get any easier this week as they head out of town to New Orleans to face the 12-2 Saints.

To me, the Saints are the best and most complete team in football and the Steelers will have their hands full.  If the Ravens lose to the Chargers on Saturday evening and the Steelers pull off the victory on Sunday, the black and gold will punch their division title playoff ticket.  Should both teams win or lose, the saga will go on for one more week. Should the Ravens win and the Steelers lose, the team will find itself in some serious trouble headed into game 16.

 

Here Are The Keys To Victory:

 

Contain Drew Brees and Michael Thomas:

Drew Brees is a leading candidate to win NFL MVP and his top receiver Michael Thomas knows exactly why.  Thomas has 109 receptions and 1,267 yards to go along with eight touchdowns this season so far. He knows how to get open and get open often. Joe Haden will be tasked with covering him and that’s no easy ask.  Haden may be able to slow him down but he will certainly need safety help.

Brees is as accurate as the come, with a 75% completion percentage and 31 touchdowns thrown vs. only five interceptions all season.  The front seven will need to apply heavy pressure in order to force quick throws and keep the ball away for Thomas.  You know Brees will complete the pass but the defense needs to ensure those passes are for short yardage only.

 

The Offensive Line Must Keep Cameron Jordan Away From Ben:

Cameron Jordan came out this week and stated Ben Roetlhisberger isn’t a hall of fame player and isn’t a top five player of his era. 

First of all, how ignorant is that?  Secondly, he’s going to regret saying it when Ben torches his defense this week. 

However, Jordan is a heck of a defensive end and he possesses 12 sacks already this season. He’s a force to be reckoned with and the O Line will need to ensure they keep him out of the backfield. If they get beat, Jordan will wreak havoc on the offense all day long.

 

Antonio Brown Must Step Up:

Antonio Brown is in the midst of another fantastic season but it is sometimes overshadowed by the year that JuJu Smith-Schuster is having.  JuJu hurt his groin in practice this week and his availability is in question. If he’s able to play, how effective will he be? 

Brown is more than capable of taking a game over and he’ll need to do so on Sunday to help move the offense down the field in the event JuJu is not out there or not 100%

 

Chris Boswell Must Make His Kicks:

A bit redundant at this point but Chris Boswell cannot miss any more kicks down the stretch here. He missed another big kick vs. the Pats last week that almost cost them the game. Yet, he did hit a critical 48 yarder in the fourth quarter. We’ll find out if that kick propelled him back to the top of his game or if he’ll go back to missing his kicks. In a game that I fully expect to be a shootout, every point is needed and Boswell cannot blow it by missing yet another short field goal or extra point. If he does, the black and gold won’t be as lucky to win this time around.

 

It’s going to be another battle this week and one that will probably come down to the fourth quarter once again. I think the Steelers will be unable to stop the Saints and unfortunately won’t come out on top as they’ll lose 34-24.

12/19/18-Steel Nation Radio Patriots Wrap Up and Saints Preview

By: Mike Pelaia

I wrap up the miracle win against the Patriots and preview the Saints game as well as talk about the Steelers six pro bowl players and the obvious snub of two of their guys. Listen to it all right here on this weeks’ episode of Steel Nation Radio!

12/17/18-What To Make Of This Group?

By: Mike Pelaia

Fourteen games into the 2018 season, it’s still very difficult to decipher just exactly what to make of the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

How good are they? 

Can they win the Super Bowl?

Will they make the playoffs?

These are all questions that don’t really have answers….until now.

 

How Good Are They?

This is a great question and one that’s hard to answer, even this deep into the season but I’m going to give it a shot here.  This team started the season losing two of their first four, went on a six game winning streak after that, followed that with a three game dud of a losing streak, including losses to the Broncos and Raiders and then, with their backs against the wall, exorcised some demons and beat the New England Patriots to keep their hopes alive.

It’s been whacky, it’s been interesting and it’s shown that the Steelers can be as good or as bad as they want to be. 

This team is as good as its’ focus.

When they put together a game plan, run the game plan as designed or make adjustments when needed, they can beat anyone in the league.

When the offense is flowing with Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner and Vance McDonald making plays; they can score with anyone in the league.

If the defense applies pressure to the opposition and masks their weak secondary, they can go on a long winning streak (hence the six game streak this season). 

Yet, if they begin to consistently make mistakes, turn the ball over in the red zone, not put pressure on the quarterback, fail to prepare and make adjustments, they are capable of losing to anyone (hence the three game skid they just snapped).

So, their talent is tied to their focus, and when they focus, they are as good as any other team in the league. 

But perhaps the questions should really be, how focused are they?

Can They Win The Super Bowl?

When talking about the Steelers in Pittsburgh, the Super Bowl always comes up. It’s always the goal and the fans expect a trip to the big game every season, this season was and is no exception.

But can this team win the Super Bowl? 

Immediately, fans and experts alike would put the Steelers behind teams like the Saints, Rams and Bears in the NFC and the Chiefs, Chargers and still the Patriots in the AFC.

I wouldn’t argue the odds favor those six over the Steelers, even with the Steelers most recent win of New England.

That said, the black and gold CAN win the Super Bowl, as previously stated, if they focus.  There is no reason this team can’t get hot and go on a long run.  They’ve proven it earlier this year with he six game winning streak and they have now proven they can beat the Patriots.

They’ll get a shot at the Saints this week in a game that will go a long way in helping us understand just what they’re made of. 

This team has the talent to win the Super Bowl but in order to do that, they have to actually make the playoffs first!

Will They Make The Playoffs?

Obviously in order to win the Super Bowl, you have to make the playoffs. Thanks to their three game skid, they went from a shoe in and possible first round bye to a measly half game lead and a chance of missing the playoffs entirely.

The way I see it, if the Steelers lose to the Saints and beat the Bengals and the Ravens win out, the Steelers are out of the playoffs entirely.  

That first game tie will keep them out as they will finish a half game behind the winner of the season finale between the Titans and Colts (assuming both win this coming Sunday in games they are favored to do so).

I think the Steelers will go 1-1, losing to the Saints this coming Sunday by a score of 30-24 (Chris Boswell will NOT miss a kick though) and then they’ll beat the Bengals in the season finale at Heinz Field.

So, that leaves it in the hands of the Ravens who are at the Chargers, who have a division title and first round bye at stake and an upstart Browns team who is good and only getting better (watch out in 2019).  I think the Ravens can win both of those games but won’t, therefore the Steelers will slip into the playoffs and as I said from there, if they are on their game and focused, they absolutely can win the Super Bowl this season.

Let the games begin…

12/13/18-New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

By: Mike Pelaia

The Steelers are in dire need of a win after having lost their last 3 games, in rather unimpressive fashion. Their reward? A game against a New England Patriots team who’s coming off a loss and just needs one win to clinch the AFC East. 

The Steelers find the Baltimore Ravens hot on their heels only a ½ game back with a far easier schedule, meaning the black and gold really need to win against New England, a task that hasn’t exactly been an easy one to accomplish over the years. 

The Patriots do have four losses this season and all have been on the road, something the Steelers will need to take advantage of.

 

Here Are The Keys To Victory:

 

Pressure Tom Brady:

Tom Brady is still one of the best quarterbacks in the league and he has a history of destroying the Steelers.  In his last eight games vs. the Steelers, Brady is 7-1 with 23 touchdowns vs. only one interception. The only way to even attempt to prevent these gaudy numbers is to pressure him.  He’s not as strong when the pocket collapses on him and he isn’t given time to throw the ball down field.  That means the front seven are going to need to do their jobs extremely effectively, specifically Cam Heyward, Stephon Tuiit, TJ Watt and Bud Dupree.  If these guys can collapse the pocket, they may just have a chance.

 

Find A Way To Stop Rob Gronkowski:

Rob Gronkowski has crushed the black and gold over the years. It seems he almost always goes for close to 100 yards and a touchdown or two.  Couple that with the fact that the Steelers are one of the worst teams in the league at stopping tight ends this season and there seems to be a recipe for disaster. 

Last year Keith Butler had Sean Davis trying to stop Gornkowski and it worked for about two and a half quarters before “The Gronk” blew up.  I think Davis is a bit better this year and he’ll draw the first opportunity to stop Gronk but if things go awry, Butler better make adjustments quickly.

 

The Steelers Must Rush The Ball:

No matter who is playing running back for Pittsburgh, the Steelers must find a way to rush the football to provide a balanced offense but more importantly to control the clock. By keeping the clock moving, ideally, the Steelers can keep Tom Brady off the field.  The Steelers offense can score with anyone but the problem is their defense can give up a plethora of points to anyone. The black and gold must shoot for a lower scoring game, one they win late.

 

The Defense Has To Finally Create Turnovers:

The only way I see this team even having a chance to win this game is by creating turnovers. Considering they have only created 12 all season, it’s a tall task to ask but it’s necessary. If they can flip the field, gain the advantage of setting up their offense and stop Brady and the Patriots all at once, they may give themselves a chance.

 

Conclusion:

The Patriots are not what they have been over the last five years or so but they are still a team the Steelers cannot beat.  They haven’t proven they can do it and until they do, I won’t believe it. Despite the fact the Patriots have four losses on the road this season, I don’t see them getting a fifth one this week.  The Patriots are going to win this one 34-21 and the Steelers may find themselves on the outside of the playoffs looking in.

12/11/18-STEEL NATION RADIO – Raiders Wrap Up and Patriots Preview

By: Mike Pelaia

I recap the debacle in Oakland and preview the stretch ahead, including the game vs. New England this weekend. I also go OFF on Chris Boswell and Keith Butler, among other things.  It’s worth the listen.

12/10/18-It’s Time To Shake Things Up

By: Mike Pelaia

Super Bowl windows typically aren’t open for very long, unless you’re the Patriots.  Seemingly, the Steelers have had a pretty wide open window over the last four years, when they have made the post-season and had the Killer B’s.

That window was supposed to be pretty wide open again this year and about a month ago, it appeared as though it was possible the Steelers would finally jump through that window and win that elusive 7^th Lombardi.

Three losses later and the team is staring at that window shutting on the season and possibly beyond.

As long as Ben Roethlisberger is in town, the black and gold will have a chance but the Steelers got a glimpse of their future in the second half of the game against the Raiders and it didn’t look pretty. 

Knowing full well that Roethlisbergers days are numbered, the Steelers better recognize they need to take advantage of what they have now, because a rebuild, or at least a retool, is on the horizon.

This all leads me to the first shakeup that needs to take place.  With apologies to Chris Boswell, it’s time to cut ties with the former All Pro.  I am fully aware of what the man did for this team in 2017 and I think any fan or teammate of his can appreciate that.  Just as equally, those same people can appreciate that this is a win now business, especially when your future Hall of Fame quarterback is 36 years old and in the twilight of his career.  Allowing a kicker to literally blow the season, cannot and should not happen.

Boswell is the reason the Steelers tied the Browns, he’s the reason they lost to the Raiders and he’s 34^th in the league in place kicker field goal percentage (39 kickers have attempted kicks this season).  He’s dead last for any kicker who has attempted 10 or more kicks this year and he’s only made 63% of his kicks.  That doesn’t even take into account the five missed point after attempts, where he’s only making 88% of his kicks. 

What other job in America allows someone to do 63% of their job for greater than three months and allows them to stay? All while paying them millions! Forget 2017, he’s got to go, now! 

If the Steelers want to attempt to salvage their season, he’s got to go. If they want to find a way to stash him and allow him an opportunity for next year, fine, but the man cannot and should not kick for this team the remainder of 2018.

When the Patriots come to town this coming Sunday, Boswell can’t miss anything. It will be bad enough that the defense wont’ be able to stop Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski but Boswell cannot leave points on the field. He’s already left 23 of them out there this season.

And that brings me to the defense. The one led by Keith Butler. The one that can’t stop anyone in the 4^th quarter, can’t get off the field on third down, can’t create a turnover, can’t get to the quarterback enough, can’t cover tight ends to save their lives and can’t be relied upon to step up when the offense falters. 

The defense is just as, if not more, guilty than Boswell for the way the season has unfolded and the three consecutive losses, including the debacle in Oakland to a previously two win Raiders team.

Keith Butler must go. He makes zero adjustments at half time, Phillip Rivers confirmed that (though we all knew it) and he insists with sticking to a game plan despite it’s failures.  He’s literally insane. The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results. It’s not working, Butler. Change it up!

Now the difference here, with three games to go is this, it would be more detrimental to replace Butler now than it would be after the season but it’s very clear, Butler has to go, period.

I’ve seen enough, I imagine you have too.

The thought of Bill Bellichick coming off a loss last week and headed to Pittsburgh is frightening.  The Patriots own the Steelers, not the Rooney’s and they will prove that again this coming week as they carve up the Steelers pathetic defensive unit. 

Who is going to cover Gronkowski?  LJ Fort? Vince Williams?  Jon Bostic?

Who? 

The answer is none of them. They may all try, but none will get it done.

And that, folks, is why it’s time for a change.

The Steelers may statistically be in first place in the AFC North and in the playoff picture but after they lose to New England 34-21 this weekend, they’ll be on the outside looking in. 

Changes must occur.

12/4/18-STEEL NATION RADIO Chargers Wrap Up and Raiders Preview

By: Mike Pelaia

I recap the devastating loss to the Chargers, preview the Raiders game and destroy the refs in this latest edition of Steel Nation Radio.  

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