2017 Steelers: MyFace Champions

[Mugsy's Jock]

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/2017/11/20/Marcus-Gilbert-suspended-four-games-performance-enhancing-substances-policy-PEDs/stories/201711200174

Steelers starting OL Marcus Gilbert suspended 4 games, which will carry through the December 17th matchup with the Pats.

My favorite thing about this PPG article is the poll at the end: "Are you disappointed in Marcus Gilbert?" I voted 'No', of course, joining 18% of voters who presumably all like drugs or hate the Steelers.

 

[NYCSox]

God this team is annoying the shit out of me. That's two near catastrophic losses this month. A win is a win but good grief.

The only saving grace is that there are no garbage teams in the playoffs for them to overlook.

 

[Number45forever]

Meanwhile, their garbage coach is already talking about the upcoming Pats game. So, they're primed to overlook their next two opponents as well, which is nice (as a Pats fan).

 

[tims4wins]

God this team is annoying the shit out of me. That's two near catastrophic losses this month. A win is a win but good grief.

The only saving grace is that there are no garbage teams in the playoffs for them to overlook.

Is this sarcastic? The 3-6 seeds are all going to suck. If the Pats and Steelers finish 1-2 with an AFCCG rematch looming, I could definitely see them overlooking the Titans or Jags or Chargers/Chiefs or Bills or whoever they host in the divisional. Everyone but the Pats and Steelers are garbage IMO.

 

[NYCSox]

Nah there's enough there for them to show some urgency. No one is showing up with some scrub like Huntley who looked like a high school QB last week.

Edit: Also I'd be stunned if they looked past their two biggest rivals. They may not win both (especially the Bengals game) but they won't laugh them off like Huntley or Brissett.

 

[koufax32]

I love, love, love that Tomlin is already talking about the NE game. He’s admitting it’s their SB. So if they lose, they’re already done if they meet again in the Patriot Invitational. If they win, by definition they have the Patriot Invitational in the bag since it would be at their place.

How many Rules of Belichick did he break in that few minutes?

 

[BigSoxFan]

I love, love, love that Tomlin is already talking about the NE game. He’s admitting it’s their SB. So if they lose, they’re already done if they meet again in the Patriot Invitational. If they win, by definition they have the Patriot Invitational in the bag since it would be at their place.

How many Rules of Belichick did he break in that few minutes?

It’s pretty clear that Tomlin approaches things much differently than Belichick but they’re not losing because of his pre-occupation with the Patriots. They’re losing because they keep coming into these games with a horrible defensive game plan. By virtue of Bell being healthy, they will be better offensively in Week 15 than the last AFCCG. Problem for Pitt is that the Pats will be replacing Edelman/Blount with Gronk/Cooks/Burkhead.

Line play and turnovers will likely decide this next game.

 

[dcmissle]

God this team is annoying the shit out of me. That's two near catastrophic losses this month. A win is a win but good grief.

The only saving grace is that there are no garbage teams in the playoffs for them to overlook.

This is the norm.

I think one team has had a clean season. One. The Eagles.

By clean I mean never playing down to your competition and flat out dominating the teams you should beat rather easily.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Tomlin clearly has a complex about the Patriots. He is 1-6 against us when Brady starts and we have beat them convincingly in each of the losses, with none of them really all that close in the 4th quarter. He can make all the headset related excuses he wants, but his team has just been routinely outcoached and outplayed in this matchup and everybody - including Steelers fans - knows it.

Deep shots have been a staple of BB game plans against the Steelers, given their propensity for playing single high safety. I'm looking forward to seeing what Cooks can do in that context.

 

[NYCSox]

This is the norm.

I think one team has had a clean season. One. The Eagles.

By clean I mean never playing down to your competition and flat out dominating the teams you should beat rather easily.

This is fair. But it's also been an ongoing issue for this team for several years now. It's the reason why of late they have been the 3-6 seed and not the 1-2 seed.

Deep shots have been a staple of BB game plans against the Steelers, given their propensity for playing single high safety. I'm looking forward to seeing what Cooks can do in that context.

Big plays have been a problem of late since Haden went down. He won't be back in time for the December 17 game so that's a big concern. They'll have to use safety help which will probably mean the LBs have to stay in coverage even more than usual. The DL has been OK at generating a rush with minimal blitzing but they'll have to get some shots in to slow Brady down.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Big plays have been a problem of late since Haden went down. He won't be back in time for the December 17 game so that's a big concern. They'll have to use safety help which will probably mean the LBs have to stay in coverage even more than usual. The DL has been OK at generating a rush with minimal blitzing but they'll have to get some shots in to slow Brady down.

Yup. Inside pass rush has long been one of the big keys to slowing the Patriots offense. We were fortunate to play you without Heyward both times last year but probably won't have that luck this year. Handling Heyward and Tuitt is going to be a big task for the Patriot o-line, especially if they're still dealing with injuries, and could be a decisive matchup in the game.

 

[NYCSox]

Yup. Inside pass rush has long been one of the big keys to slowing the Patriots offense. We were fortunate to play you without Heyward both times last year but probably won't have that luck this year. Handling Heyward and Tuitt is going to be a big task for the Patriot o-line, especially if they're still dealing with injuries, and could be a decisive matchup in the game.

Those guys are tough to handle. And Hargraves can bring some pressure from the NT spot. Still it's going to require some blitzing as they don't play with four DL. The good news is all four LBs are versatile enough to either blitz or cover.

That said, I've often said that God unfortunately created the perfect 3-4 antidote in Brady.

 

[tims4wins]

One thing that will be interesting to keep tabs on: Bell is going to surpass his career high in carries this week. He has 252 on the season, career high is 261. On pace for ~366 which would be 40% more than his previous high. I don't have the stats, but I believe history has not been kind to guys coming off 350+ carry seasons. I wonder if they will manage his load a bit. They could probably use a couple blowouts and to take week 17 off, but it is hard to see either really happening much.

 

[Toe Nash]

One thing that will be interesting to keep tabs on: Bell is going to surpass his career high in carries this week. He has 252 on the season, career high is 261. On pace for ~366 which would be 40% more than his previous high. I don't have the stats, but I believe history has not been kind to guys coming off 350+ carry seasons. I wonder if they will manage his load a bit. They could probably use a couple blowouts and to take week 17 off, but it is hard to see either really happening much.

If you count the playoffs he had 15 games and 326 carries last year even though he was suspended for 4 games. He also had another 79 receptions so that's over 400 touches.

His YPC is over a yard less than it was last year. We might be seeing the effects of last year this year.

 

[tims4wins]

If you count the playoffs he had 15 games and 326 carries last year even though he was suspended for 4 games. He also had another 79 receptions so that's over 400 touches.

His YPC is over a yard less than it was last year. We might be seeing the effects of last year this year.

Good point

Edit: he is on pace for a whopping 456 touches this year before the playoffs begin. Wow.

Edit 2: there have only been 19 times in NFL history that a player has had 350 or more rushes and 50 or more receptions in the same season. If Bell reaches his projected pace of 456 touches, that would be the 2nd most touches in NFL history, I believe.

 

[koufax32]

1. Does that leave any doubt about whether or not PIT plans on retaining him?

2. Last year I watched his touches pile up hoping he’d be spent come playoff time. Here’s to hoping the same this year!

 

[KiltedFool]

He turned down a contract offer that was likely to be pretty fair and reestablish the running back salary floor a bit, but supposedly turned it down claiming he wanted to be paid like a #1 RB and a #2 WR at the same time. With that in mind he may be a candidate for ride him til the wheels fall off, which he claims to want anyway.

Personally I wish Tomlin would get a few more series running the ball with Conner so that we have less vulnerability to "it's the playoffs Bell got hurt again we have no versatility now". Let alone preparing for a likely circumstance of Bell taking his game somewhere else next year. There have been a few comments that his patience and hesitation is just a bit longer this year and he's getting caught from behind and tackled more often, but I haven't got enough reps watching him to know if there's any truth to that.

 

[KiltedFool]

Those guys are tough to handle. And Hargraves can bring some pressure from the NT spot. Still it's going to require some blitzing as they don't play with four DL. The good news is all four LBs are versatile enough to either blitz or cover.

That said, I've often said that God unfortunately created the perfect 3-4 antidote in Brady.

Yeah Brady eats a 3-4 if you don't have enough pressure or enough DBs to do some credible man to man, otherwise he just finds the one DB who isn't above the line man to man and picks on him relentlessly.

The 3-4 arguably isn't even the Steelers' base D anymore anyway, but even when it was they were still bringing 4 most of the time, it was just not always the same LB coming with the 3 DL. They'll rush one LB typically, I wouldn't call that a blitz.

Current Steelers D-line seems to be pretty underrated. Heyward and Tuitt are beasts, Hargrove was a nice find, and the rotational depth guys they have this year are much better than in the past, and Mitchell the DL coach has had time to mold those guys, he's a little like a Munchak for the D.

 

[tims4wins]

1. Does that leave any doubt about whether or not PIT plans on retaining him?

2. Last year I watched his touches pile up hoping he’d be spent come playoff time. Here’s to hoping the same this year!

He turned down a contract offer that was likely to be pretty fair and reestablish the running back salary floor a bit, but supposedly turned it down claiming he wanted to be paid like a #1 RB and a #2 WR at the same time. With that in mind he may be a candidate for ride him til the wheels fall off, which he claims to want anyway.

Personally I wish Tomlin would get a few more series running the ball with Conner so that we have less vulnerability to "it's the playoffs Bell got hurt again we have no versatility now". Let alone preparing for a likely circumstance of Bell taking his game somewhere else next year. There have been a few comments that his patience and hesitation is just a bit longer this year and he's getting caught from behind and tackled more often, but I haven't got enough reps watching him to know if there's any truth to that.

I totally forgot he was playing on the franchise tag - the Steelers would be smart to let him walk IMO. This may be the last hurrah for the Ben Steelers, given his recent talk about retirement and Bell possibly leaving.

 

[bakahump]

It would be the Frosting on the Frosting on the Ice Cream on the Pie, that the Pats will have outlasted The Manning-Colts, the Manning-Broncos, the Manning-Giants and The Big Ben Steelers. (not to mention lesser lights like the Romo-Cowboys and Palmer-Bengals)
Rodgers and Brees to go. (and to a lesser extent Rivers-Chargers)

 

[BigSoxFan]

I totally forgot he was playing on the franchise tag - the Steelers would be smart to let him walk IMO. This may be the last hurrah for the Ben Steelers, given his recent talk about retirement and Bell possibly leaving.

Just look at Demarco Murray. Always seems to be big dropoff in production for guys coming off huge usage.

 

[koufax32]

I totally forgot he was playing on the franchise tag - the Steelers would be smart to let him walk IMO. This may be the last hurrah for the Ben Steelers, given his recent talk about retirement and Bell possibly leaving.

I find it hard to take BR at his word on the retirement front. I can’t imagine it’s anything more than Favre-ing with a dash of Iversoning.

 

[tims4wins]

I find it hard to take BR at his word on the retirement front. I can’t imagine it’s anything more than Favre-ing with a dash of Iversoning.

Maybe, but on the flip side he doesn't seem to be the type of guy that is going to play until 42

 

[KiltedFool]

Both Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant are likely to have gotten some advice from somewhere that wasn't in their best interest. Bell to try to hold out for max dollars to break the bank, when running back salaries have been trending sharply down. The contract he was offered would have reset the market a bit but he wanted more. So the Steelers will run him hard and wave goodbye, then he can go somewhere that will give him a ton of money but likely doesn't have the offensive pieces around him. Teams that have cap space to give him the money he wants likely have other issues. His choice.

Bryant's rumblings and trying to push for a trade really sounded to a number of writers like an agent whispering in his girlfriend's ear, it was obvious he had absolutely no understanding of the nature of his relationship with the team, at least for another year and a half.

edit: in terms of playing into his 40s Ben is kind of the Anti-Brady, I don't get the impression he does more than basic maintenance to take care of himself. He's a smarter QB than he's given credit for, but he'll never be a Rhodes scholar. Expect a bit of Favre next season, the best outcome is the QB we drafted this year shows enough to transition him to the starter by beginning of 2019, but that's long odds.

 

[loshjott]

It would be the Frosting on the Frosting on the Ice Cream on the Pie, that the Pats will have outlasted The Manning-Colts, the Manning-Broncos, the Manning-Giants and The Big Ben Steelers. (not to mention lesser lights like the Romo-Cowboys and Palmer-Bengals)
Rodgers and Brees to go. (and to a lesser extent Rivers-Chargers)

Don't forget Flacco-Suggs-Harbaugh Ravens.

 

[doc]

Who?

 

[Rook05]

Maybe, but on the flip side he doesn't seem to be the type of guy that is going to play until 42

Somebody on Toucher and Rich (Bert Breer maybe?) had a funny anecdote about interviewing Ben at training camp a couple of years ago after Brady’s diet and workout regime stuff came out. He asked Ben if he had done anything similar now that he was in his mid-30s. Apparently Ben replied “not really” other than that he tried to get an extra 30 minutes of cardio every couple of days.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Somebody on Toucher and Rich (Bert Breer maybe?) had a funny anecdote about interviewing Ben at training camp a couple of years ago after Brady’s diet and workout regime stuff came out. He asked Ben if he had done anything similar now that he was in his mid-30s. Apparently Ben replied “not really” other than that he tried to get an extra 30 minutes of cardio every couple of days.

Hey, that sounds like my workout regimen in my mid 30s!

Update: Now 40 and out of shape.

 

[Valek123]

I've seen many comments on if Shazier can back this season(or even for the Pats game to be clear - not here) doesn't that seem insanely premature instead of if he can walk again? It was horrible to watch that lower back bend on the hit, seemed like a slipped disk or worse. Hope for the best for him, he's been a dynamic player for the Steelers and I hate to see any injury especially one that seems that severe. Updates don't seem to include much information, which frankly is awesome and may be HIPAA at work for once...

 

[KiltedFool]

A lot of Steelers fans recall Tommy Maddox being laid out with a spinal concussion and he was back in a week or two, so there is some memory at work there for a similar injury.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

Shazier has been transported back to Pittsburgh.

 

[Marciano490]

Shazier has been transported back to Pittsburgh.

It is a long walk I guess.

 

[Bergs]

It is a long walk I guess.

 

[InstaFace]

The transport vehicle was photographed, too:

Spoiler

 

[joe dokes]

Shazier has been transported back to Pittsburgh.

For his sake, I hope Scotty was operating the transporter, not one of the redshirts.

 

[5dice]

Is there any doubt that Shazier magically and heroically recovers for the Patriots game?

 

[Marciano490]

I hope not; and not because he's a very good player, but more because I don't want to watch a game for 3 hours featuring a guy who'd just been basically paralyzed two weeks prior wondering if/when his spinal cord was going to give way for good.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

 

[bakahump]

Is there any doubt that Shazier magically and heroically recovers for the Patriots game?

I hope not; and not because he's a very good player, but more because I don't want to watch a game for 3 hours featuring a guy who'd just been basically paralyzed two weeks prior wondering if/when his spinal cord was going to give way for good.

Like you guys I hope not but fear there is little doubt. The Patriots are that much in everyone's head now that teams and players (and the media) will play up the idea of this guy coming back. Think about that. Crazy.

 

[timelysarcasm]

This can't be good, right? What a scary game, I legitimately feel awful for him. Hoping for a good outcome for him and his family.

 

[BigSoxFan]

I have a hard time believing that his career isn’t over. At this point, just have to hope that he is able to walk and live a normal life.

 

[amfox1]

I do not recall ever seeing a team statement on surgery that did not include the word "successful". Hoping for the best.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

I am not a doctor, but I believe that surgery can be performed using minimally invasive techniques, and is a fairly common procedure, so without more information I don't think it tells us much about whether his career is over or not. Doing a little googling, though, it looks like even under the best of circumstances it doesn't seem like someone who has that done should be playing in NFL football games a few weeks later (and the best of circumstances probably isn't having the procedure done three days after lying on the ground being unable to move your legs after a violent spinal cord injury).

 

[E5 Yaz]

I am not a doctor ...

Standard reminder that when anyone begins a post with this phrase, they should think twice and just not bother posting it at all. We have actual doctors on this site, and they know not to post until they have a clear understanding of an injury.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

Standard reminder that when anyone begins a post with this phrase, they should think twice and just not bother posting it at all. We have actual doctors on this site, and they know not to post until they have a clear understanding of an injury.

My post was following a post up-thread speculating that his career might be over. I have some knowledge of the procedure because I used to work for a company that makes the surgical instruments used when a spinal surgeon does it. A quick google search can lead you to a very informative website on recovery times, etc. I wasn't speculating on anything, just providing a little bit of information based on my own personal knowledge of the procedure and some very easily obtained information for patients who are considering or who have undergone the procedure.

 

[amfox1]

Ian Rapoport‏ @RapSheet 53s54 seconds ago
#Steelers LB Ryan Shazier’s spinal surgery will necessitate months of recovery, sources say, before he considers a return to football. His season is over. A very difficult situation.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

No clue about this guy's reliability but it jibes with the rapsheet report above.

 

[johnmd20]

Ian Rapoport‏ @RapSheet 53s54 seconds ago
#Steelers LB Ryan Shazier’s spinal surgery will necessitate months of recovery, sources say, before he considers a return to football. His season is over. A very difficult situation.

So it wasn't a Tommy Maddox injury. This entire thing sucks, but I do hope Shazier can get back to being able to walk without pain. Football's gotta take a back seat here.

 

[koufax32]

Surgery was not necessary for him according to reports.


Edit: uhhhhh...so am I imagining things or was this said on Tuesday/Wednesday?

 

[RedOctober3829]

Surgery was not necessary for him according to reports.

Which reports are you referring to? The ones after Monday night?