Steelers/NFL
Coaching, Personnel issues…..Where to start….. Brian Hoyer and the Cleveland Browns delivered a beat-down on the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-10 on Sunday afternoon as the Steelers were embarrassed all over the field.
After continued missteps in the red zone by the Steelers offense in the first quarter, Hoyer and the Browns offense exploded with a 21 point second quarter, en route to a rout over Pittsburgh.
A Hoyer 51 yard touchdown pass to Jordan Cameron in the second quarter that put the Browns up 14-3, was just the beginning of the Browns gashing the Steelers defense all over the field for the second straight game.
Cleveland did their damage with Hoyer completing just 8 passes but he averaged 12.8 yards per attempt. The quarterback on the other side, Ben Roethlisberger, averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt.
The Steelers gave up explosive passing plays of 51 yards, 31 yards, 31 yards, and 24 yards in the loss. Browns running back Isaiah Crowell also gashed the Steelers for a 24 yard run.
It’s been clear for more than a year now that the Steelers loyalty to Dick LeBeau has set this organization back. They continue to run a 3-4 yet they don’t have the personnel to run a 3-4. There’s no Bill Belichick in this organization who could care less about loyalty. Mike Tomlin is a proclaimed defensive minded coach who when hired was a Tampa Cover-2 coach. Tomlin just goes along with whatever ownership wants, a reason his job security has been so strong and still is.
The Browns attacked the Steelers with the same game plan they had in the second half of their week 1 matchup. Attack the Steelers with an outside zone running game and setup the big plays in the passing game with play action.
Today’s debacle was a combination of a personnel and coaching problem that isn’t going away, despite the Steelers cupcake schedule that will still lead them to likely hover around .500 all season.
When the coaching can’t make up for personnel issues, it’s time to evaluate things and that should also be directed at upper management. When you could release your three key free agent signings Mike Mitchell, Lance Moore and Cam Thomas, and not miss a beat, and in fact upgrade by going with younger players, you’ve got problems and that starts up top.
Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher said it best on the CBS Post-Game show, “I never thought I would say this but they are finesse on offense and soft on defense.”
We’ve all known the defense was going to be a weak spot this season and the disappointing part with this team is the offense has in fact regressed from where they were in the second half of last season. It’s a group that needs to carry the defense and it just can’t get it done.
With a core of Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown, it’s inexcusable. Todd Haley was not the answer when hired and never will be. This group has no identity.
Over their last six quarters vs Cleveland, the Steelers with a superior quarterback, running back and No. 1 wide receiver to the Browns, have been outscored 55-13 and the Steelers lone touchdown came during those six quarters with 2:36 left in a blowout game.
