For a team standing at 7-7, the Pittsburgh Steelers sure aren’t happy right now. Losing three straight games (four of their last five) and falling to the bottom of the AFC North will do that to you, but there’s more to the story here. On Saturday, the Steelers ran out to a 13-0 lead over the Indianapolis Colts before allowing 30 straight points and scoring no more of their own in an embarrassing loss.
Yes, starting quarterback Kenny Pickett is injured, and Mitch Trubisky is nobody’s idea of a starting quarterback. But this Steelers team seems to have issues related to focus and effort we have not seen from other Mike Tomlin-coached teams. How you put the toothpaste back in the tube is tough to say, because when you have the kind of stuff we’re about to discuss, I don’t know what to do about it.
One reason the Steelers were unable to score after their first 13 points (there were several) was this “effort” in run-blocking from receiver George Pickens.
George Pickens run blocking effort 🥶. Should’ve been a TD. pic.twitter.com/STZjKAD53i
— TJ Goebig (@GoebigTj) December 16, 2023
Pickens has been visibly unhappy about his role in Pittsburgh’s misbegotten offense, but you really don’t want to see this. And for a guy who has been known for pancaking opposing defenders, this is not good. And it’s not the first time.
There was this retreat from No. 14 against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13…
This red zone block wasn’t exactly textbook, either. Nice piledrive from tight end Darnell Washington on the right side of the formation, though. This was fourth-and-1 from the Arizona one-yard line, and that’s another missed touchdown when it was a 3-3 tie.
I’m not quite sure what to say about this “Ole” against Cleveland Browns safety Juan Thornhill in Week 2, but it’s not ideal.
It certainly makes a yinzer long for the days of Hines Ward.
These aren’t your uncle’s steeler receivers. https://t.co/ngMMxqZSTU pic.twitter.com/hbp7wHttpO
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) December 17, 2023
“All right then, let’s be honest, right?,” Tomlin said after the Colts game. “We are a fundamentally poor football group right now. We’re playing losing football and I take responsibility for that. By losing football I mean we’re just not doing fundamental things well enough. We’re not. We’re turning the ball over, we’re highly penalized, we don’t play good in situations and so, I’m just acknowledging that.
“I don’t necessarily have the answers as we sit here today. If I had the answers we would’ve played differently today. But, I will acknowledge things won’t continue the way that they are. We’re not going to keep doing the same things that we’re doing and expect or hope for a different result. So, we got a seven-day turnaround – we’ll see what those seven days hold for us. But, I’m just acknowledging right now that we’re playing losing football, and I own that. Not a good day.”
George Pickens is far from the only problem with the Steelers, but when you watch the decline in intensity here, there is a personification factor, and that’s truly unfortunate.
