2013-The Wasted Season

8-8, not what the Steelers had hoped for and not what many pundits expected out of this veteran laced team in 2013 but it turns out that’s what the team achieved for the second consecutive season. After the 8-8 finish in 2012, the Steelers refused to say it was time to rebuild, they insisted that the team was only in transition. Having achieved no better record in 2013, will they say the same thing?

Many folks look to the 6-2 finish down the stretch after the 0-4 and 2-6 start and say the arrow is pointed up on this team, that next year they’ll be back and ready to contend and challenge for ring number seven. They’ll mention the team hasn’t had a losing season since 2003.  While yes they finished strong in record, I have to say I don’t see the same arrow as these other folks.

Sure, the team hasn’t’ had a losing season in 10 years but they haven’t had a winning one in the last two. If anyone is happy winning as much as losing, they belong somewhere else because that is simply not acceptable, not in this town where failing to win a title is viewed as a disappointment.  How could one be happy with 8-8? 

Their 6-2 finish included two wins over the Browns, and wins over the Lions, Packers (without Aaron Rodgers), the Bills and the Bengals (who were promptly bounced out of the first round of the playoffs).  Anything impressive there?

The real lesson that must come out of this season is not that the team is close to getting back to championship caliber football but rather they may be further now than they have been in years. They wasted this season by not accepting this reality after 2012.

  They have very little depth on the roster and are short on overly talented stars at key positions. While they have an elite QB (Big Ben) and WR (Antonio Brown) and an extremely talented set of linebackers (Lawrence Timmons and Jason Worilds) they have nothing else that stands out.  You could certainly make a case for Cam Heyward at defensive end as he progressed nicely in 2013 and LeVeon Bell will make strides moving forward but the list stops there.  They need to trim the fat and bring in more talented youth as well as keep and develop the youth they currently have on this roster.

It’s apparent it’s time to part ways with some of the all-time Steeler greats. While these players have had major roles in the title runs the Steelers put up from 2004-2011, it’s time to say goodbye. It may not be easy but if the Steelers learned nothing from 2012, they need to learn it this time around, they can’t waste 2014 too.

Ike Taylor was a top corner for a long time but his deterioration happened over night. He’s no longer a shutdown guy and is not worth upwards of 12 million dollars. 2013 should have showed the team that it’s time to move on. His position must be filled by Cortez Allen or even by someone currently coming out of college.

Brett Keisel is a legend for his play and his beard. He’s a free agent and much like Casey Hampton a couple years back, it’s time to say goodbye. He can no longer stay healthy and since this team is as far away as they are, he’s not a guy that will add any value. He won’t be a part of this team when it’s ready to make a championship run.   His spot needs to go to a young player, which may mean re-signing Ziggy Hood or drafting a guy out of college.

LaMarr Woodley costs way too much money as well. He’s failed to produce numbers for nearly three years now and when he’s on the field, it’s for short stints because he can’t stay healthy. He must go and the team must use that money to bring back emerging star Jason Worilds. Worilds has to be the teams’ top priority this offseason; there are no ifs ands or buts about that.

Larry Foote missed all of 2013 and rookie Vince Williams ended up taking his role. It’s time to admit that Foote is no longer part of the winning formula in Pittsburgh and let him go.  That position is filled by Williams.

Ryan Clark is a free agent and while he has still put up some very gaudy numbers, his age makes him expendable. He’ll cost too much and it’s time to let Shamarko Thomas get more playing time.

Troy Polamalu needs to take a pay cut. He’s in the last year of his contract and is still putting up good numbers but is no longer the same player. They should keep him but at a reduced number, otherwise they may have to consider his release. Here’s hoping it doesn’t come to that.

Not only does the team need to realize who they must part ways from but they must realize who they need to keep. Aside from Worilds and potentially Ziggy Hood, the team should try to bring back Jerricho Cotchery. He had a phenomenal season and since it appears the Steelers will not pay Emmanuel Sanders, Cotchery becomes a must sign.

Jonathan Dwyer is a guy that should be brought back too. He’s a very solid back up and brings a lot of fire and energy to the team. He runs hard and can get the tough yards. They can’t let him play elsewhere.

On the O line it would behoove the Steelers to retain Fernando Velasco and Cody Wallace. Both played very well at center and with the return of Maurkice Pouncey coming next fall, these guys could prove to be very valuable on the line as well as serve as proven backups for Pouncey in the event he gets injured again.

It’s never easy to walk away from guys who have provided you with so much, who have given their heart and soul to the team and are so loved by fans; however, in order to have that type of run again, it’s something that must be done. The team failed to realize it in 2012 and because of that they fell a year behind when they wasted 2013.  The Steelers hopefully learned that they are not a team in transition, but a team who must re build and re tool. 2013 should have provided that information pretty clearly.