Steelers at Broncos Game Thread

[Crash]

The coaching staff is awful and the front office is lazy.

Plenty of solid wides were available at the deadline and we did nothing. When Ryan Switzer is getting 50 snaps in a game you have problems.

[Garrett Garlits]

The worst part about Grimble's play wasn't the original fumble. That was bad enough, but if he'd moved his hands an inch or two, he would have recovered out of bounds and the Steelers would have kept possession.

I give Conner a pass for his fumble since he was hit from behind. There's no way he could have stopped it. I know the circumstances of a turnover don't matter to most angry observers, but that one was just a good play by the defender.

Speaking of which, the lack of confidence in the running game alarms me. Conner's the best you have and the best you're going to get this season. If you fancy yourselves a Super Bowl team, you have to run him the way Franco and Fast Willie were run when the team won it all (at least twenty carries a game). If the only way we can win is Ben throwing for five hundred yards a game, not only can't this team win a Super Bowl, but Fichtner has no business as an offensive coordinator, Ben's friend or not.

Lack of confidence in the running game regardless of the other team's defense was the main reason for Ben's last interception. I'm honestly not sure what down it was when he threw the pass, but I know it wasn't fourth, so Conner should have gotten the ball and the Denver defense should have been forced to stop him. The only time they should have passed was on fourth down.

The defense may be regressing. Manny Sanders was the only guy Keenum seemed to throw to all day, yet he was wide open almost every time.

AB may have the reputation, but JuJu is quickly becoming the go-to guy when we need a game-breaker. He'll be as good or better than AB before it's all over, if he's not already. Let's just hope he's in a Steeler uniform when he is.

Congratulations to our new go-to-passing duo of Boswell and Big Al. Let's just hope we don't need them again for a long, long time!

The board wiped my last paragraph out, so let me restate this: The Steelers will lay a beatdown on one of the Chargers, Pats, or Saints. The other two games in that group will be close and could go either way. The Cincy game will depend on who's playing or resting come Week 17. That leaves another West Coast trip to Oakland, and that's the scariest game they have left in my opinion. The bottom line is this: If things go right, we could be 11-4-1 and fighting the Pats for a bye. If things go wrong, we could be 9-6-1 and fighting the Ravens for a division that most people thought we'd as good as won before yesterday.

[Crash]

No Conner doesn't get a pass. He tried to hurdle a guy and lost the ball.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Connor get no pass. I get it, he's a hometown hero and all, but he has to play smart. I'm not a big fan of Connor, but was warming up to him until the last 2 weeks. He is what I thought he was. Serviceable at best.

Someone, just tell me what Ben was thinking on the int in the end-zone?? He did the same thing last week, but was saved by a penalty. And the N.E. game last year. F'N Ben has 15 years in the league, you don't throw ints. in the end-zone. Especially to a bright orange NT. Even if he wasn't there the CB would have intercepted it.

[Chucktownsteeler]

We're just not a smart team right now, offensively speaking.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Wasn't Grimble the player that made no attempt to block in last year's game against the Bears? I think they blocked the FG and got points out of it. Game went into OT and we lost. Had we won 14-2 (in lieu of 13-3) would have given us a better chance at home field.

Point being every play counts and you have to play smart.

[Crash]

It was James I think in Chicago.

Ben wanted to spike the ball against New England. Tomlin told Haley to get a play ready, Haley didn't, they basically ran that play on the fly.

Eli was grabbed then too, of course, no penalty.

Every play does count, and we waste too many of them trying to give bums like Nix and Grimble snaps.

54 snaps for Ryan Switzer? LOL

[SimplySonder]

Man you guys are hardcore overreacting to this game. They were clearly the better team for the majority of the game yesterday but lost because of flukey shit and untimely mistakes. Ben made one of the dumbest throws ive ever seen him make at the end but he was still really solid for the majority of the game. The only thing that really concerns me about this team is their lack of playmakers on defense. I expect them to win out except for probably the @ saints game.

[SimplySonder]

Also why all the hate for switzer? He's been great this year

[Chucktownsteeler]

I get it, Connor and Switzer are fan favs, but they aren't getting the job done.

[Crash]

Also why all the hate for switzer? He's been great this year

Ryan Switzer has played 20+ snaps in three games this season.  

#Steelers are 1-2, and have scored 20 points or less on offense in all of them.  

The ONLY three games of 20 points or less on offense since Fichtner was named OC.

The more #10 plays, the lesser the offense performs.

[SimplySonder]

Also why all the hate for switzer? He's been great this year

Ryan Switzer has played 20+ snaps in three games this season.  

#Steelers are 1-2, and have scored 20 points or less on offense in all of them.  

The ONLY three games of 20 points or less on offense since Fichtner was named OC.

The more #10 plays, the lesser the offense performs.

Those are team stats though. I don't really see how Switzer is responsible for that when he's caught 27 of 33 targets thrown his way this season. I actually think Switzer is one of the saving graces of this season considering washington has taken longer to develop than most people would have expected.

[Chucktownsteeler]

To me a Switzer type player is a luxury which we can't afford. We need a solid #3 WR. Switzer is "The Chain Mover 2.0", but we need a solid #3.

Would Eli help?

[Garrett Garlits]

Switzer is who he is. He's s second-year player who's still learning and growing. As for Rogers, he's still on the PUP list as far as I know. If they don't feel comfortable activating him, I'll defer to their judgment.


As for Conner, one fumble doesn't derail five or six good weeks of play since the Cleveland game. He's only a second-year player too, so he's not a finished product any more than Switzer is. But he's by far the best back on the team right now, and even if he was as mediocre as some are saying he is today I'd rather lose because of a hometown kid with character than win a Super Bowl with LeVeon Bell. As I've said before, there are six other Steeler Super Bowl wins I can see right here on this site if I choose to, so I'm glad they didn't sell their souls just to win one this year, assuming they don't. At least I can cheer for James without feeling sleazy.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Switzer is who he is. He's s second-year player who's still learning and growing. As for Rogers, he's still on the PUP list as far as I know. If they don't feel comfortable activating him, I'll defer to their judgment.


As for Conner, one fumble doesn't derail five or six good weeks of play since the Cleveland game. He's only a second-year player too, so he's not a finished product any more than Switzer is. But he's by far the best back on the team right now, and even if he was as mediocre as some are saying he is today I'd rather lose because of a hometown kid with character than win a Super Bowl with LeVeon Bell. As I've said before, there are six other Steeler Super Bowl wins I can see right here on this site if I choose to, so I'm glad they didn't sell their souls just to win one this year, assuming they don't. At least I can cheer for James without feeling sleazy.

Saying he's the best back on the team isn't sating much: Connors, Samuels, Ridley.

One fumble? he let Cleveland back in the game fumbling deep in his territory, dropped a 4th down pass and a TD pass last week, not to mention turning the wrong way on the same drive, almost leading to a pick. He isn't a #2 back on most NFL teams, running behind one of the best O-lines. To me the coaches may be getting a littled concerned as well as he's only rushed 25 times in the last 2 games. I'd kick the tires on Charles. 

We need to draft a RB one day 1 next year, no doubt. Should be plenty available in Round 2.

[Crash]

Switzer is who he is. He's s second-year player who's still learning and growing.

No, he's a guy who been on three teams since the 2017 draft.

While the team who first got rid of him, traded for Amari Cooper and now leads the league in 3rd down conversion rate since the Cooper trade was made.

If the #Steelers are worried about Conner's endurance how about we bring in C. J. Anderson for a quick look?

Or does Colbert actually doing his job not matter?

[sandfan]

I don't see Switzer as a problem. He may not be a burner but moving the chains is not a bad thing and he seems to have the hands and guts to make the tough catches. He's also been servicable in the kicking game and takes some heat out of Brown's kitchen. I was a fan when they made the trade and continue to be one today.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I don't see Switzer as a problem.  He may not be a burner but moving the chains is not a bad thing and he seems to have the hands and guts to make the tough catches.  He's also been servicable in the kicking game and takes some heat out of Brown's kitchen.  I was a fan when they made the trade and continue to be one today.

I'm not saying he's bad or won't be good down the road. But he beat out a #2 drafted WR for the #3 WR slot. That's the problem. He isn't a true #3.

[Crash]

Grimble, our 3rd string un-drafted tight end was on the field for 13 of our first 22 plays on offense.

And people wonder why we always tend to start slow.

[Garrett Garlits]

Charles is an old man with surgical knees. Anderson could barely get on the field for Carolina. You're telling me they'll help the Steelers eleven games into the season?

It's Conner twenty times a game no matter what or Ben throwing for five hundred yards a game and hoping it's enough to win. There are no other options I'm comfortable with.

[Crash]

They didn't have to sell their souls.

But with Ben at 36 years old? You can't dump Bryant for nothing, you can't let Bell sit at home and not do anything with the cap room he gave you.

[Chucktownsteeler]

You can't seriously expect to go deep in the play-offs with Connor, Ridley, and Samuels.

Look at the Super Bowl teams last year, RB by committee. Different styles for the defense to contend with.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Grimble, our 3rd string un-drafted tight end was on the field for 13 of our first 22 plays on offense.  

And people wonder why we always tend to start slow.

With McDonald and James you have to wonder why he even sees the field, let alone is on the roster. He sucks.

[Rollers]

Grimble, our 3rd string un-drafted tight end was on the field for 13 of our first 22 plays on offense.  

And people wonder why we always tend to start slow.

RIght!  So imagine McDonald catching that pass.  We get 6.  Grimble?  IDIOT!  cut the guy and use Nix as a tight end if you have to

[Garrett Garlits]

Crash,

You can't say that Bryant was traded for nothing until Rudolph has a chance to develop a few years down the road. Contrary to what some of you may wish to believe, the Steelers have a whole lot more to care about than just winning a Super Bowl this season. If they lose in the playoffs this year but win back-to-back Super Bowls under Rudolph in 2023-2024, I think they'll call that trade a rousing success I know I will.

As for Bell, they had no way of knowing if he was going to report, so they couldn't use money that they might have had to end up paying him. It's a shame, but that's the way the franchise tag and the salary cap work. I have no problem with the way they handled the situation at all. They may be caught short a bit this year, but they should be in good shape long-term, You need to learn to trust the Rooneys and take the same kind of view that they do. You'll never be happy as a Steeler fan otherwise.

[Rollers]

Charles is an old man with surgical knees. Anderson could barely get on the field for Carolina. You're telling me they'll help the Steelers eleven games into the season?

It's Conner twenty times a game no matter what or Ben throwing for five hundred yards a game and hoping it's enough to win. There are no other options I'm comfortable with.

We should cut all three of our running backs on the active roster right now.

[Crash]

You need to learn to trust the Rooneys and take the same kind of view that they do. You'll never be happy as a Steeler fan otherwise.

Would these be the same Rooney's who cut Johnny Unitas and who's football team won NOTHING for 40 years until their first HOF QB showed up?

[Rollers]

You need to learn to trust the Rooneys and take the same kind of view that they do. You'll never be happy as a Steeler fan otherwise.

Would these be the same Rooney's who cut Johnny Unitas and who's football team won NOTHING for 40 years until their first HOF QB showed up?

and passed on Dan Marino?  Let Rod Woodson walk?  The Rooney's are not infallible and lately have been looking like sticking to the "Steeler way" as our franchis QB gets older is not working out well at all.  But ok, we'll simply shut up and trust the Rooney's

[Crash]

Art II ruined Ben's career by hiring his unqualified whack job buddy to be the OC.

The Browns of all teams realized that was a mistake after 7 GAMES.

[Garrett Garlits]

What other choice do you have than to trust the Rooneys? They aren't selling any time soon, and their partners won't have anything to do with running the team as long as Roger Goodell has anything to say about it. He made hat quite clear when the five brothers began bringing in outside investors.