Issues, Issues, Issues

As we sit at the midpoint of the 2013 Steelers season, it’s become abundantly clear, this team is terrible. There’s no mincing words here, they are as bad as bad can be. It’s a sad state of affairs on the South Side as this once proud organization has slipped into the depths of losing football and can’t seem to find a formula to get out of their losing ways.

There are many reasons why this team is failing at an historic pace and no one stands out more than the poor drafting over the past several years by Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin. If Mike Tomlin and his staff want to preach the “standard is the standard” and “next man up” then they need to draft the talent to meet the expectations. The guys that have been drafted in the past six or seven years or so have largely failed as a whole, save an exception here or there. The whole scouting department needs to be reviewed, the way the team evaluates players needs to be looked at and Kevin Colberts position as a GM should be assessed. Not only has he failed to draft well, he put this team in salary cap hell as he and the rest of the front office back loaded contracts and pushed off money into the future. We are now seeing the results of not being able to keep big time players and overpaying guys well past their prime.

It’s not just drafting, it’s execution as well. Not long ago the Steelers defense was largely considered the best in the league. They were a team that instilled fear in the opposition before even setting foot on the field. Today, this unit is being torched for record yardage and points. They look old, slow, clueless and unable to stop either the run or the pass. It’s possible that Dick Lebeau’s schemes are no longer confusing opposing offenses or it’s possible the players can’t execute what he’s calling. The turnovers this team creates are relatively nonexistent, the ability to get to the quarterback isn’t there and the best players on the team are well past their prime. It’s time to let the older veterans go off into the sunset and pray that some of the newest draftees learn the ways of the NFL and become impact players in the future.

It doesn’t stop there, however. The offense is atrocious in most areas as well. Outside of Big Ben, who’s still a phenomenal quarterback, this unit is not getting it done. They still haven’t found an identity under Todd Haley. Haley’s play calls certainly don’t fit the personnel and the personnel doesn’t seem to fit on most NFL rosters. The offensive line is poor and has been for years. The team continues to spend high draft picks on these guys and these guys continue to get beaten up and down the field. The line can’t pass protect, they can’t run block and they generally can’t get the job done on a regular basis. The running game stinks too. Part of it is a lack of a talented line and the other part is they just don’t know how to read the holes when they are there. LeVeon Bell has started to show bursts of talent but they don’t have enough depth at this position to be effective.

Another issue is the injuries that pile up on this team on a yearly basis. The trainers have to be looked at, at this point don’t they? Sure, injuries happen to every team on an almost daily basis but it seems like this team gets hit the hardest annually. It may be bad luck and freak accidents but at some point you have to question what’s going on in the training rooms and rehab facility.

Overall its plain and simple, the team is not good. The decline started last year, has gotten worse this year and could last many more if things don’t get fixed during the offseason. Changes to staff won’t be made in season, but who plays and how much they do can happen immediately. It’s time to find out what they have and at what positions and prepare to fill in the holes during the offseason. That is, if these guys are capable of figuring it out in the first place.