HARD PRESSED FOR THE RIGHT WORDS

Things the Steelers need to do to be contenders again next season.

#1. Either fire or reprimand Bruce Arians for being a complete dumb ass.

This is in reference to horrible play calling for as long as he has been in Pittsburgh. He and Ben made up their own playbook and have changed the style in Pittsburgh without having the personnel to apply it. You have an O-line that is about a 8/10 in run blocking and about a 4/10 in pass blocking. Most recently you decided that Ben with one leg could carry the Steelers into Denver and win a shootout against the Broncos. So you’re first string running back is injured; Redman proved last week that he is a more than capable option as an every down back. He rushed for more than 7 yards per carry. Ride your work horse. You sit him twice after big runs to get him fresh and instead of running with John Clay you try a play action pass and a pass where Clay blocks. Why is he even in the game. No one is going to bite on a play action because he hasn’t gotten the ball all game. Play calling is horrible, philosophy is retarded, and scheme is only good for the receivers. Having a QB that is hard to take down and can extend plays and make big “back yard” type plays should not be your game plan.

#2. Fix the defense.  

First and foremost, stop letting James Harrison do whatever he wants. He costs the team 15-30 yards of penalty yards per game and his constant media attention is always negative. Teach him to wrap up, aim at the waist, and not run his mouth all day. Get younger and faster at the corner position and bring along the young D-linemen more. Cameron Heyward is going to be a beast and Ziggy hood is going to be another no credit defensive end that does nothing but support great linebacker play. 

#3. Draft for NOW this year.

Most of the time I love the way the Steelers draft. They take the best player off the board that they can teach for a few years and mold into true “Steelers”. This year however, they need to go out and get the best talent on the board at these 5 positions- CB, OL, P, DL, LB- in that order. They need a young, physical corner who can match up with the receivers in the AFC. The CB’s in Pittsburgh are aging and only one is reliable against #1-#2 receivers. They need more young linemen on offense who can stay healthy and (if they are going to keep Ben throwing 35+ times per game) pass block better. They need a punter who isn’t going to tear a knee ligament every season. I love Sepulivida, but he can’t stay healthy. The D-line’s starters are all around 33-36 years old and aren’t staying on the field enough. They have two young linemen already and adding a third will only bolster an already (always) top run defense. Lastly the Steelers need to draft a linebacker. They have two young starters, two or three young back-ups, 2 old starters, and an old back-up, but adding a big, fast, athletic outside linebacker and/or a smart middle linebacker to help fill in for Farrior/Foote/Timmons and be brought up in the system.

In addition to this critique I think Batch, Farrior, Hoke, Smith, and Ward should retire this season, and maybe Foote, Harrison, Hampton, and Keisel should retire within the next two or three seasons.

All of you have been incredible and I grew up with most of you on my childhood team and you were some of my favorite players.