I don't really know where to start. This game was terrible at the beginning and then steadily got better before dropping off yet again. The Steelers (2-2) were absolutely ran all over by the Texans (3-1) who controlled the clock, kept the defense on the ropes and Big Ben on the ground.
It is hard to even pick where to start, oh wait, how about the offensive line? Wow. What else can you really say? The line looked like a bunch of grade school kids trying to block bulldozers. From the left to the right not a single player looked good at all. Even pro bowler Maurkice Pouncey looked bad, but really if you are trying to make up for other players issues wouldn't you?
The Steelers have ignored the offensive line since the departure of Alan Faneca and it is really biting them now. I blame the front office for the issues the offense has had over the last five or so years. Over the last ten years they have only drafted offensive lineman three times in the first two rounds; Gilbert in 2011, Pouncey in 2010 and Kendall Simmons in 2002. The Steelers have spent 100 million dollars on Ben Roethlisberger, 60 million on James Harrision and 50 million dollars on Lawrence Timmons, LaMarr Woodley and Troy Polamalu, but none on top offensive line free agents.
I have to keep bringing up the defense as well, even though this pains me as well. What the hell is happening to this team? Oh yeah, that whole age thing. The defense is getting over matched and destroyed off the ball by everyone. The defensive line cannot get any pressure and the linebackers are making a majority of their tackles ten yards too late. The most surprising part of the defense so far is that the secondary is leading the NFL only allowing 157 passing yards per game, while the front seven is giving up 119 yards per game. That may not seem big but last year they allowed 62 yards per game.
The secondary limited one of the top three passing attacks in the NFL to 138 yards passing while the rest of the team allowed 180 yards to an injured Arian Foster and Ben Tate. The defense is not the same as it has been in the last few years. Where is the fire? Where is that toughness? I don't know what has gotten into the Steel Curtain, but if they need to fix it with a large turnover then so be it.
Now, we can't blame this on the defense alone. No team can win when the offense scores 10 points, well, no team without Bill Cowher can win after only scoring ten points. Someone, anyone needs to explain to Bruce Arians that short slants, dump passes and draws are a great way to keep blitzing defenses back. The Steelers use too many slow developing down field plays, especially since their offensive line is as bad as it is.
One of the most riveting things I seen from the game last night was Hines Ward was not smiling. I have noticed that he is smiling less and that is never a good sign. When the happiest man to ever get up in the morning is not happy anymore then things are really bad.
I love this team more than any thing in the world, and I have seen losing seasons. I was there for the AFC Championship losses in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2004. The Super Bowl losses in 1995 and 2011, and no matter what I will be here next week, the week after that and after that. We need to adjust our team to accommodate the poor offensive line and the aging defense or we will never get back a hold of our season.
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