Stillers 2020 Regular Season

[NTP66]

Man idk. Hillgrove isn't great anymore. But just as Lange isn't at his peak, it'll be tough to adjust to hearing someone else. When I hear Hillgrove jumbling players names I just know it's a Steeler Sunday

Agreed. I'll still take Lange and Hillgrove any day of the week.

[NTP66]

Outstanding.

[iamjs]

Is there an heir apparent for the current crew? Who broadcasts the games in Pgh now? WTAE had them the 25 years that I lived there. Fleming and Cope are hard to beat.

I know Rob King has called some games in the past, but I don't think he's in line to take over for Hilgrove.

[DigitalGypsy66]

We listened to the game on the radio yesterday. I've only listened to a couple of Steelers games that way, so I don't have much of a point of reference, but I liked it. Tunch didn't sound good, obviously. And that Washington 3rd down catch was not played up enough by Hillgrove. I saw the replay this morning and almost **** my pants. WTF was Ben doing there?

[meow]

Tirico tried to explain it as Ben calls Washington his “contested ball guy” which is apparently football speak for “lame duck pass catcher”

[genoscoif]

Just really feel bad for Dupree personally. On the tag, he probably just lost a decent chunk of money. I used to not enjoy his game, but he's developed himself into an elite disruptor that lives in the backfield. Completely selfishly, I hope that this increases the chances of seeing him in black and gold beyond this year...but would've rather seen him healthy and gone.

For the team defense overall, that removes probably your 2 most athletically gifted players off of the field in Bud and Bush. That's going to be very significant if/when they have to face Maholmes...or even Lamar again. It's a big blow.

[Dickie Dunn]

$15.8MM was Dupree’s franchise tag value, which he filed a grievance over because he more frequently lines up as a 4-3 defensive end which would have given him a tag value of $17.8MM.

[willeyeam]

I feel like franchising him again is the right thing to do if they can fit it in the cap

[Morkle]

Honestly don't know what to do with Bud now. Hightower gets a shot to see if he can be worthy. Franchising Bud again would likely hurt the cap big time, and now, maybe you could get him for less on the market due to injury. Don't know, it's unfortunate for Bud.

[NTP66]

BAH GOD THAT'S JAMES HARRISON'S MUSIC!

[shafnutz05]

It's hard to pick too many holes in the Steelers' résumé, but if there's one thing that stands out, it's the inefficiency of the Pittsburgh rushing attack. The Steelers rank 27th in the league in rush offense DVOA despite facing the easiest schedule of opposing defenses in football. James Conner & Co. have been below average in short-yardage situations, and Pittsburgh has only two runs for more than 30 yards all season, one of which was a 58-yard end around by Ray Ray McCloud.

This is definitely a major concern if we go up against a legit pass defense.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

ACTUALLY

it is pretty easy to pick holes in the stillers resume

[tifosi77]

IND is potentially a bad matchup for the Steelers' offense; they are the penultimate game on the schedule, and depending on how things shake out could easily be an early playoff opponent.

[King Colby]

$15.8MM was Dupree’s franchise tag value, which he filed a grievance over because he more frequently lines up as a 4-3 defensive end which would have given him a tag value of $17.8MM.

Really weird to differentiate by positions at this point with all the hybrid defensive alignments used in this day and age

[King Colby]

I actually think the Football Team is a bad matchup for the steelers offense as well

[tifosi77]

I don't disagree with you, but they are a playoff non-factor. PIT is in a position to maybe play IND twice in a few weeks.

[willeyeam]

i think the stillers are gonna lose monday

[NTP66]

[nocera]

It's really fun how everybody says "worst 11-0 team ever!" as if they were the first person to ever say it.

[NTP66]

11-0 is still 11-0, and again, we lose at least 3 of these games in previous seasons. We can only play the games we're scheduled to play, so **** those people.

[willeyeam]

sounds like people who wish their team was 11-0

[LeopardLetang]

all these people are underestimating the minkah factor

[blackjack68]

And the Patriots played the Jets, Dolphins and Bills twice a year during their dynasty years. What’s your point.

As NTP said, you play the hand dealt.

[tifosi77]

This was the first year Brady has ever been swept by a division rival, which obviously also covers his years with Belichick. For 20 years they've been able to pencil in 4-6 wins a year off the bat. Which means they would only have to win 4-6 of their non-divisional games to get to 10 wins, which would be enough to make the playoffs most years (certainly would be enough to win the AFC East many of those years).

I'm not questioning their greatness, and like NTP alluded it's not NE's fault NYJ, MIA, and BUF have generally been clown cars during that time, it has to be said their path could've been a wee bit harder.

[tifosi77]

interesting.......

The big 3 defensive stats are takeaways, sacks, and points allowed; those numbers generally tell the story of a defense most accurately. No team has ever finished a season ranked #1 in all three, but three teams have finished #1 in two: Legion of Boom, '00 Ratbirds, '85 Bears.

The Steelers are currently #1 in all three (including being #1 in both total turnovers and turnover diff)

They are also the #1 in pass defense in: YPG; opp completion %, passer rating, and total completions; interceptions.

They are pretty good imo.