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Yikes. I've been a follower for decades. One of the late Mr. She's proudest boasts was that he'd taught his British-born wife to drink American Whiskey and to watch American football.
And nothing has changed since he died more than five years ago.
My team has always been the "Stillers." Lordy me. One of the most storied teams in NFL history, winner of no fewer than six Super Bowl championships, and so many individual records.
And yet.
Things have gone a bit sideways over the last few years. And on Sunday night, things went as might be expected. The Stillers, as the late and much beloved Myron Cope would have said, "stunk up da joint." (Gosh, I really miss him. And Tunch and Wolf, and so many others.)
More than a couple of friends/fans texted me today when they learned that Mike Tomlin has resigned as coach.
This was my response to all of them (nothing I haven't said before in conversation in numerous venues, one way or the other):
My theory on this is that for some bloody reason, Pittsburgh hasn’t been able to step up and develop new quarterbacks for almost half a century, if not more. If the guy doesn’t arrive with the preferred Pittsburgh game (Run! Run! Run!) ethos already embedded in his being, the coach will beat his native talent out of him in order to make him conform to the Steelers way. Thus, they have had quarterbacks like Kordell Stewart (perhaps the best example), who were brilliant in their own way, but who didn’t quite fit in the Steelers idea of what a quarterback should be. And quite a few others along the way. Other teams seem to have adjusted themselves far better to their “star” players, rather than demanding that their players conform to the team ideal.I don’t think it’s been a coaching problem. I think it’s been an ownership problem. The Steelers seem to understand, and are very good with, kickers. They are terrible with quarterbacks. But what the hell do I know? I'm just a British girl, steeped in an appreciation with soccer kicking.
I'd really love to have all those who know much more than I do weigh in here with the problem and a possible solution. Have at it!
Discussion (30)
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I kind of disagree about QB's the last 50 years. Ben Rothlesburger was very good. He won them a Superbowl. His last 4 or 5 years were pretty gritty but mediocre. I think the main problem with the Stillers is they had average talent that always overachieved. This put them in a purgatory where they were always barely above .500 and never hit rock bottom where they could draft an elite QB. Tomlin not being an offensive minded head coach didn't help. They're an old team led by a 42 year old QB. They probably need to go against their instincts of always competing and sell off their older players for draft picks and rebuild thru the draft. Hire Kevin Stefanski. The former Cleveland Brown leader can coach. The Browns front office and ownership is a dumpster fire. Stefanski will prosper in a good and solid franchise like Pittsburgh. It's also a good way to stick it to Cleveland. I'm convinced if I'm ever stuck in purgatory (85% chance according to Polymarket) it will be exactly like Cleveland.
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I haven't read the post yet, but I expect you will outshine my attempts, rulebook and idiot's guide in hand, to figure out cricket. I will check and get back to you.
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In the pro game you need a quarterback that can throw the ball. A college quarterback can have some success running with the ball in their first year in the NFL. Eventually punishing tackles when running the ball leads to early retirement for a QB.
They need a QB that can throw and a running back like Jermiah Love.
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No comparison. You have clearly watched more NFL games this century than I have cricket games. My team was so poor they went for years without a name. I tried to get back into watching a few years back, and they lost three quarterbacks in the two games I watched. This is how I knew I was the problem. And then Kaperknucklehead came along and there will be no reconciliations in the foreseeable future. I did hear about the absurd pageant that they've made now of kickoffs. Actually noticed one while grabbing lunch at a bar last year. So, with apologies to Jurgensen and Huff and Kilmer and Theisman and Riggins and and Jacoby the rest, I am no longer worthy of the game.
Condolences on the plight of your Stillers. In better times, Bradshaw and the boys crushed Theisman and company 38-7 in 1979. 372 net passing yards to 149. All pre-salary cap. The box scores says the Skins got two sacks, but I don't remember any.
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There's a Bud Light commercial early in the game with Rodney Dangerfield getting no respect. Some things never change.
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