The Steelers’ postseason prospects have taken a steep turn for the worse over their past three games. Losses to the Cardinals, Patriots and Colts have Pittsburgh sitting at 7-7, and struggles on offense could produce more changes than the ones already made. 
The Steelers made an extraordinarily rare move in firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada last month. The switch to Mike Sullivan as play-caller appeared to be a shrewd move in the team’s first game, but things have not gone according to plan since then. Starting quarterback Kenny Pickett – who has not made the Year 2 jump which many passers experience – exited the Arizona loss with a high ankle sprain. No firm timeline has been placed on his return, but a four-week absence has been reported as the team’s expectation.
Backup Mitch Trubisky has played in place of Pickett, but his performances have left plenty to be desired. The former No. 2 pick has thrown as many touchdowns (three) as interceptions since taking over for Pickett in Week 13, failing to eclipse 190 passing yards in a contest during that span. Pittsburgh’s offense gave the team a 13-0 lead early against the Colts on Saturday, but came up empty afterwards en route to a 30-13 defeat.
In his post-game remarks, head coach Mike Tomlin indicated (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) the Steelers are “going to do things differently next week.” While adjustments on defense could be included in the coming days, the team’s offense will be a unit to watch. Tomlin declined to confirm Trubisky as the Steelers’ Week 16 starter. That could be due to the fact Pickett’s availability is uncertain, but it could also mean third-stringer Mason Rudolph could be in play to get the nod next week.
The latter finished Saturday’s loss, his first appearance in the 2023 season. Rudolph did not see the field last year, and he has made just two starts since the beginning of the 2020 campaign. Giving the nod to the 28-year-old would come as a surprise given his lack of game action, but it would likewise not come as a shock to see Pittsburgh make a notable switch in another bid to produce a spark on offense. Inconsistencies in the passing game in particular have been an ongoing source of frustration for the team, one which is still in the mix for an AFC wild-card spot.
Tomlin’s streak of never posting a losing season is once again under threat, but the way in which this year ends is not expected to have an effect on his job security. The way in which he and the rest of the team’s staff proceeds in the near future will nevertheless be a key storyline to watch as Pittsburgh aims to rebound from the current skid.
The Cowboys should trade for Tomlin
Why trade? They could likely have him after 2024, barring an unexpected turnaround.
Why not trade. The cowboys do not need a first round pick after getting bounced from the playoffs. Clean break for the Shittsburg Peelers and get a desperately needed extra pick to rebuild the piece of crap offense they run out there every week
Cowgirls fan, huh?
Nope a football fan. And that would be best for business
Casting aside your prepubescent comment about the Steelers, please note that it would take many more draft picks to turn this team around. No one should be untouchable
Total b.s. Tomlin won’t change, and ownership won’t do anything about it.
It’s apparent Tomlin will keep his job. Hopefully Rooney puts his foot down and demands some better quality assistants on the offensive side of the ball. Randle El, Duce Staley & Leftwichbare all former Steelers and there are no excuses on why they shouldn’t be on this staff. You can throw Larry Foote on the defensive side too.
I don’t know officially how tight the Colbert/Tomlin team worked together in regards to the draft but I also feel it is time for Tomlin should have some of that power pulled back too. I know Tomlin has been outspoken on how much of a team effort the draft had been with Colbert and him but I think that should be Andy Weidle’s responsibility to run & have final say. I know one of the Rooney’s has some power in that department too & he may very well be the reason the drafts have been horrible more times than not. Let Andy draft Omar figure out the contracts/cap & Mike T coach.
I know the Tomlin cult is hardcore but even the loyalist supporter gotta question a lot of his decisions this year.
I know his biggest thing is well he got the most out of the talent wasn’t for him where would we really be. Well he had nothing to do with z Marcus Peters dropping a pick 6 or a couple other plays that opposing teams failed to capitalize on.
Last 4 first round picks:
– Broderick Jones – might be good
– Kenny Pickett – always hurt
– Najee Harris – not good
– None (trade for Minkah)
– Terrell Edmunds – not good
– Devin Bush (traded up) – not good
And you’re saying this is Tomlins fault?
Please
Promoted Matt Canada – horrible
Stuck with canada — horrible
Scouted and input on players you mentioned
6 consecutive years with 3 game losing streaks
Team consistently commits mental mistakes, a completely undisciplined team
Tomlin has lost this locker room.
I was a big supporter of tomlin coming into this year and would never buy into the crap about him winning with someone else’s players.
But these past 2 seasons have been trash. The above .500 record is great and all but their issues are often self inflicted.
Time for tomlin to go
Well said
Couldn’t agree more sounds like you stopped sipping the Kool Aid but at the end of the day you know as well as I do he is not going anywhere anytime soon
Only hope we got is if Washington wants him bad enough & he wants to go bad enough. But I could actually see them running with Riverboat Ron next year & then bring in Mike T when his contract is up so they don’t have to give up compensation.
Be careful what you wish for. Teams have been searching for good head coaches for years. Josh McDaniels is available
Hey he is the guy who always said it was always a collective effort when it came to the draft. You can only go by what the man says.
I personally feel one of the Rooney sons that holds a title in the scouting department has a lot more say then some may acknowledge.
But Tomlin is extremely outspoken on how much weight he carries in regards to the draft.
Kenny Pickett – not good.
He’s flat out awful
I can’t give Kenny a final grade yet because of how bad Canada’s system is & before everyone jumps up & says well they suck and he is gone ITS STILL HIS PLAYBOOK you can’t change the playbook mid season you just bring in new eyes to see if different calls bring better results
Everyone in SteelerNation other than Tomlin knew Canada’s playbook sucked
Need a whole new offense not one assistant on that side of the ball needs to return.
You’re saying a head coach isn’t responsible for his players being considered good picks or bad ones? They have talent when drafted that high and don’t tell me Tomlin is getting the best out of them.
Sorry, Gaupo, but you’re only mistaken on Najee. In his time here, game in and game out, he gets the ball at about the same time the entire D-line gets to him. I appreciate Warren’s quick bursts that has him hitting holes very quickly but I suspect that with at the very least a decent line, Harris is a pretty good back. I’d wonder if playing behind these guys ruined this kid
You know Colbert isn’t with team anymore? Omar Kahn from the eagles is the GM now and he drafted Jones.
Omar Khan didn’t come from the Eagles he was Colbert’s assistant GM for years. You are talking about Andy Weidle think it’s spelled right
He came from Philly
Weidl built those lines with the Eagles. Dear Lord, allow him to do the same here
Watching that D give up 130 some yards to back up running backs, D changes are needed as well in Pit.
In fairness, they are on like 5th and 6th string ILBs at this point and were down their top THREE Safeties once things started going downhill.
But the tackling and discipline has been poor pretty much across the board.
Defense played well when fully healthy but for the price that unit costs it needed to be deeper & better
The 3 safety nonsense has been a failure Edmunds was not the greatest safety but he improved every season was dependable and had a great relationship with Minkah
Holcomb was coming off a major injury and you needed to anticipate having depth. The Alexander signing was great but they drafted Hrbig & brought in Golden when you already had 2 ProBowl level guys in their primes on the outside
And Cam is an old man Loudermilk been a bust & Leal plays small Steelers we’re always able to find late picks that contribute on both lines offensive & defensive
How many chances does Harvin get
How many chances does McFarland get
Chukes has been terrible from day 1 & he gets a 2nd contract because you back yourself into a corner
Wholesale changes need to be made
(I was at the Indy game). You could see the game was going down hill fast after Kazee was ejected and Minkah went down the next play.
But this is the first time I can remember ever seeing a Steelers team give up on themselves. That is directly tied to the lack of veteran leadership and lack of locker room discipline. Is it the message or the messenger? I don’t know. Either way… Tomlin’s time has to run out.
Serious question if someone objective wants to do some research…how many games this year have they received quality QB play?
1 not hard to research that but again when the playbook is not designed to play on the QBs strengths what is he supposed to do ?
His 4th quarters are very good to great so talent is there
Now if he had no 4th quarter success either than I would say he sucks but I can’t fully commit to that opinion yet
I see terrible line play especially a center whose every 3rd snap is at his feet and an interior line that can’t stop anybody and probably the worst LT in football and with all of that he still doesn’t turn the ball over that gotta count for something
Not willing to give up on Najee either I don’t think his style of running fits the style of run blocking that this line is expected to play
Don’t forget last year James Daniels & Mason Cole were having major problems with the new Oline coach’s style. That is well documented.
Bring in the Samoan & a rookie who didn’t have a lot of experience even in college seems like to me it’s been a recipe for disaster
OK, so…the team is so bad that we can’t blame the QB or RB for being bad because it’s hard to know who exactly is to blame because they are all so bad, but they should still be 10-4 or 9-5?
Also, I did the research…
I defined quality QB play as 250 yards and 2 TD’s, not exactly asking for the moon there. Then I checked Kenny and Mitch’s stats…
The Steelers have gotten 250 yards and 2 TD’s from their QB’s in exactly zero games this year.
In a league of Mahomes and Allens and Jacksons, etc.
Is it a coincidence when Pouncey & Green both are screaming that he is not a center gets traded & finds immediate success or Dobson gets traded & becomes one of the best guards in football
I don’t
Toss in the fact that the Oline coach was a Canada guy & the new WR coach was a Canada guy
I don’t see coincidences in that I find patterns
I’m not a Pickett supporter anymore but as stated above, here’s a guy saddled with inept play calling and a truly bad o-line which to me at least has no equal in the NFL when it comes to being ridiculously bad
I’m sure they’re going to give him another year but if the circumstances are going to be the same, I can’t imagine any improvement forthcoming.
I don’t know that any starter in the league could play at a superior level behind this group
As for “ offensive changes” being contemplated, the horses are already out of the barn
I think major changes on offensive side are coming considering Pat Meyer & the WR coach name slips me were all guys hired because of their connnection to Canada more than anything else.
Eddie Faulkner also has a connection and coached on staffs Canada was on as well.
I think Andy Weidle can & will fix the offensive line issues rather quickly. Oline & Dline are his supposed strengths in scouting.
What I am really interested in learning is how much power Dan Rooney Jr has on the organization. He is basically 2nd in command after Khan. I don’t know how much his influence has been had in drafts.
I read recently he was infatuated with trying to move up in the draft to get Trubisky & not Mahomes and Colbert was more than ecstatic when Trubisky went 2. Some even say his relationship is what got Canada the job & kept it last year. Have also heard in other discussions that Tomlin wanted to actually see if his power would be reeled in before he signed his extension. The supposed power struggle started when Dan Jr wanted Malik Willis in the draft & Tomlin & Colbert wanted Pickett. Art fearing they would be burnt again in the same way the non Marino pick did he made the call on Kenny
From what I hear Dan Jr has held a lot more power in the draft than anybody has ever been let on & it’s caused a lot of friction between him & Tomlin over the years.
Well, the changes looked good while Pickett was starting. Harris looked much better, too (imagine running Harris from behind the QB under center, downhill, with a fullback, where he is most effective-wow, huh, he’s playing better…?). So it’s hard to blame the Sullivan interim team when they’re playing with a pasted together offense right now, after having minimal time to experiment with the starter. Undoubtedly, the Steelers will need to make an upgrade over the offseason, at playcaller as well as at talent spots. Have we forgotten how badly Pittsburgh needs linemen, by the way?
On defense, the injuries to the linebacking corps have left some really low level backups in the middle. That’s how the Patriots beat them. Belichick has always had a thing for the traditional Steelers zone blitz, but in that game, the Pats simply worked the ILBs as nauseam over and over. It’s not difficult to see how obvious that is as a weak link right, and there’s not much that Pittsburgh can do about it right now. It sort of reminds me of Detroit’s secondary woes last year, when the Lions’ entire starting secondary was hurt for a few games. New England had a similar issue in the secondary to begin this year.
Bottom line to me is that a new offensive coordinator and some significant offensive lindvinvestment should the top priorities of the next offseason. There’s not much to be able to change right now at this point in the year. The Steelers aren’t out of it yet, and for now, they need to make what they have work as best they can. There aren’t reinforcements this late in the year. Switching coordinators again, with all of the other adjustments they’ve needed to make, may just confuse things worse.
When you have opposing players coming out and saying they knew the plays that were being called before the Steelers left the huddle is a problem.
When you have opposing players telling Steelers offensive players what the next play is on the way to their huddle & they are right & the play still gets called is a problem.
Yeah, and it appears that a number of guys here are mailing it in.
Sure seems Pickens and Johnson are malcontents. I’m not even sure Najee wants to be here
I get that Tomlin can’t go out there and play the game but where he was once an inspiring coach, it often seems now like he has to babysit and that his message isn’t hitting home.
Here’s an idea for an offensive change: try having an offense.
This all boils down to ownership. Art II has no idea what he’s doing. This team wouldn’t be this way if it wasn’t for him. His father and grandfather would be embarrassed on how he’s running the team.
Yeah, I’d agree that the owner largely is hands-off. But if you’re of a certain age, you’ve seen this before
The old man went through decades of having a bad team. Dan had the Malone and Brister eras with Noll and then Cowher as coach
It’s interesting to me that Tomlin was able to manage Antonio Brown, Bell, Bryant, Plax and at times, James Harrison but is coming up empty now
We hear there are still leaders in that locker room but apparently not of the caliber we saw before
But everything is cyclical. More than anything else, Tomlin, Colbert and now Khan have put together a group that is just inferior to contenders in this league
It’s amazing to me that you think he was able to handle Brown and Bell, they were poison to this team and he let them do what they wanted. Steelers tradition started in the 70s and made us a great team, Noll and Cohwer made us Steeler proud, this team is in shambles and it starts at the top.
But Miz, for the most part those two guys competed. They wanted the ball, didn’t take plays off. Please don’t misconstrue as me being a fan of either of those guys.
I tend to agree with you. Then the guys in the locker room must have been strong leaders