SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The ‘It’s Past Time’ Edition

Good Victory Tuesday to you Steelers fans.

Mike Tomlin has forgotten more football than I or you will ever know. But that doesn’t mean he can’t learn. What does he need to learn you might ask? He needs to learn that when something has run its course, it’s time to move on. You know where I’m going with this don’t you? If I can see it and you can see and every analyst in America can see then why can’t Mike Tomlin see that Matt Canada needs to go. The Steelers’ normally respectful (I use that term loosely) fan base had seen enough in the stands of Acrisure Stadium last night too when the “Fire Matt Canada” shouts rained down on the field. I was receiving texts from people at the game yet that was unnecessary because I could hear the chants through my TV as if the fans were next to me. This offense has no identity. It has no creativity. It has no one playing a consistently high level. After two plus years of this, it’s time to do the most un-Steelers-like thing ever and fire him during the season. I’m not naive and don’t expect this to happen (and I understand that San Francisco and Cleveland have very good defenses) but… The rushing attack is stuck in neutral. Our upper echelon tight end has two receptions while our fourth round pick has zero from the same position. If this should happen we must understand that things would not change overnight. The offense itself would largely remain the same but a new play-caller could not do any worse. It’s past time to send Canada back to the college ranks where he belongs.

Stop It

The hit on Nick Chubb which ended his season last night was not dirty. That same exact play happens many times every game. Unfortunately it was the perfect storm if you will of when the tackle happened and the position Chubb was in. Minkah Fitzpatrick plays hard and often times violently but this was not a dirty hit. If we eliminate going low then what’s left for defenders to hit? I wish Chubb the best. He’s a class act.

The Last Play

Did Joey Porter, Jr get away with a hold on the Browns’ final play? Yep I think he did. Did he get away with pass interference? No, I don’t believe he did and the biggest reason why was the ball was not catchable in bounds. That said, he could have been called for the defensive holding there giving the Browns new life. JPJ is going to have to do better. This was one of the knocks on him when he entered the Draft. He’s “too handsy” and it almost cost him.

Accountability

The Steelers committed several dumb mental errors last night one of which gave the Browns an extra point. The tackling was atrocious. I can’t recall seeing a Steelers’ defense miss more tackles than last night. So I ask, where is the accountability that Mike Tomlin talks about all the time?

Three-Headed Monster

Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and the offensive line. There’s your three-headed monster and I don’t mean this in a good way. All are part of the problem as to why the running game isn’t working but none are THE problem alone. Again, the Niners and Browns have some of the best defenses we’ll see all year but this element of the offense has to get its’ poop in a pile.

Not Sustainable

If you’re keeping score at home, the Steelers’ offense has scored 19 points in two games while the Steelers’ defense has scored 14. That’s not good and there’s no way any of us can expect the defense to score two touchdowns every week.

Minkah

Rumor has it that he may have suffered a collapsed lung last night. We’ll wait to hear more from Mike Tomlin today. His loss would be yet another blow to this defense.

Remember This…

In the coming weeks, fans will get on T.J. Watt and/or Alex Highsmith for not having games like the one they put forth last night. Please remember that isn’t realistic. Their performances last evening cannot be expected every, single week. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t expect sacks, QB hits and so on but to expect these guys to also score every game is asinine.

Get George Pickens the Ball More. That is All.