The vibes across the Pittsburgh Steelers proper now are not particularly strong following a 31-28 loss to the Chicago Bears. It’s their fourth loss prior to now six video games and has dropped them out of the AFC playoff subject for the primary time all season. When mixed with the truth that the Steelers haven’t received a playoff recreation for the reason that 2016 season and have settled right into a stage of sustained mediocrity, successful 9 or 10 video games each season earlier than shedding within the first-round of the playoffs.
That appears to be the ceiling once more this season.
Not solely is it getting outdated for followers, however former gamers are additionally beginning to hold forth as nicely.
James Harrison, Trai Essex have harsh criticisms for teaching workers
The harshest of the criticism got here from Harrison, a Tremendous Bowl champion below Tomlin in the course of the 2008 season (and a member of their 2010 crew that misplaced the Tremendous Bowl), as he sounded off on each the offensive and defensive teaching staffs for not solely Sunday’s efficiency, but additionally the season as a complete.
He was particularly important of the defensive technique and system, which he boldly called “trash” on his podcast.
“Protection, [chuckles] delicate,” stated Harrison. “I’m uninterested in seeing the offensive lineman pushing our d-line two, three yards deep. We’re undisciplined, or poorly coached, or each. We’ve a horrible defensive scheme; it’s trash, it’s rubbish. We will’t regulate at halftime; it’s nonexistent, or we’re simply being out-coached, or each.”
Tomlin’s fame is as a defensive coach, they usually have constructed their crew primarily across the protection, investing extra cap area and cash into that aspect of the ball than another crew within the league.
It has not produced outcomes this season.
After Sunday’s recreation, the Steelers rank twenty eighth within the NFL in yards allowed per recreation and twentieth in factors allowed per recreation. Given their monetary funding and Tomlin’s background, that’s merely not ok.
They’ve already allowed 30 factors 5 occasions this season, and if they aren’t producing takeaways they wrestle to persistently cease groups from transferring the ball.
Essex, a former offensive lineman in Pittsburgh with two Tremendous Bowl rings, echoed a number of Harrison’s feedback and targeted extra on scheme than participant personnel.
