Pittsburgh Steelers: Time for change is now
By Donnie Druin
After another disappointing end to the season, the Steelers are due for big changes.
“The standard is the standard”. If you follow the Pittsburgh Steelers then this mantra is well familiar. Head coach Mike Tomlin is famous around the city for what are dubbed as “Tomlin-isms”, or stretches of vocabulary he uses often in his press conferences. Set upon by the glory days of the 1970s dynasty and 2000s success, the standard in Pittsburgh is nothing short of a championship. For the past nine seasons, that very standard has not been met.
The only way to describe last Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars is embarrassing. From the players essentially looking over Jacksonville and focusing on a potential rematch with the Patriots, to the whopping 45 points given up on defense, and even stretching to coaching decisions down the stretch, the clock seemingly couldn’t hit zero fast enough on the scoreboard. Afterwards, frustration came in the form of All-Pro guard David DeCastro via Ed Bouchette.
"“They were ready to go, they were mad, they were angry, they had something to prove and they did it… It’s embarrassing. It really is, man. It just blows my mind. They beat us 30-9, we played like crap and we want to talk about New England.”"
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All things considered, the Steelers season was impressive. Finishing 13-3, sweeping the division and clinching a first round bye would be satisfactory for fans of all but a handful of teams. However, an impressive regular season wins no Super Bowls, and the Steelers’ championship window continues to draw closer and closer to an end.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting the same result. Certainly the 2017 Steelers were talented enough to win it all, yet a variety of things prevented them from doing so. Given the Steelers are looking to capitalize on their current roster, it’s almost certain change is coming. Many believe it’s time for new faces on all fronts of coaching, while others believe it’s more-so on the players rather than play-calling.
The answer? Perhaps both. The Steelers proved they are on a much lower defensive spectrum without Ryan Shazier, and will need to fix missing pieces to be taken serious as a contender next year. On the other side of the coin, many are calling for the head of offensive coordinator Todd Haley after questionable play-calling in crucial moments of the game, and even defensive coordinator Keith Butler after the dismal defensive performance.
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In time, these questions will find themselves answered. Yet one thing is for sure, not many last long without capturing a Super Bowl in Pittsburgh. With the potential of players like Le’Veon Bell leaving for free agency after next season, the Steelers can officially label 2018 a “Super Bowl or Bust” season. Change can often be viewed as a bad thing, but may very well be the difference between another disappointing season, and a planned parade in February. This off-season, change isn’t an option, it’s a must.