It's fair to blame the Steelers defense for Sunday's shocking loss 27-24 overtime loss to the Chiefs -- Kansas City simply shouldn't be able to drive the length of the field in overtime to beat Pittsburgh. It's also fair to point fingers at a Pittsburgh offense that piled up over 515 yards of offense, but squandered all of it with two interceptions, a fumble and three costly sacks.But as the Steelers' fans try to figure out what happened in one of the more embarrassing losses in recent Steelers history, the group that once again is most to blame is Pittsburgh's kick coverage unit -- easily one of the worst group of special-teamers in NFL history.
In fact, only one of the Steelers' four losses -- their first loss to the Bengals -- can not be blamed, at least in large part, on poor special teams play.
Sunday, Pittsburgh lost by three points in a game that the Chiefs opened up with a Jamaal Charles 97-yard kick return touchdown. Last week, the Steelers lost by six in a game that the Bengals returned a kick for a touchdown. They lost to the Bears in a game that kicker Jeff Reed missed two field goals in the fourth quarter.
They've also managed to survive kick returns for touchdowns against the Browns and Vikings. There have been 13 kick returns for touchdowns this year -- nearly one third of them (four) have happened against the Steelers. There were only 13 kick return touchdowns last season; Pittsburgh is on pace to give up seven this year.
At this point, it's hard to see how the Steelers will manage to fix their kick-coverage problems this season. They could hurry up and fire special teams coach Bob Ligashesky now, instead of waiting until after the season. That may make Steelers fans feel a little better, but there aren't any top-notch special teams coaches out there looking for work during the season. They could try to add a special teams ace off the waiver wire, but there aren't really any special teams studs who could fix this problem sitting around waiting for the phone to ring.
So the best answer seems to be that Pittsburgh will have to move some starters back onto kick coverage. Teams don't like to do that because it wears out your starters and risks injury. It's even more of a problem for a team whose defense is filled with guys who are on the wrong side of 30. Mike Tomlin told the CBS crew working this week's game that such a move would be a band-aid when he wanted to fix the problem for good.
But at this point, a band-aid sounds like it would be better than nothing.
Next stop, Skyline Chili. RT @terrellowens: Okayyyyyy I got it now, 2 n's & 1 t! CINCINNATI!! LOL!
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
As the steelers keep losing people to injury. With out are player we are HORRIBLE TEAM. Troy needs to get back so does most of the D line. This isnt the same defense and its killing us. As for special teams um yeah we need to get that straight too. For right now the season is over i hate to say being a big steelers fan but when you lost to a team who only won 2 games. Then you knows whats going to happen when we face the ravens. Steelers are in need for troy and there d-line to get back in
Oh well, there is always LAST year..All of a sudden it's injuries??? Every team gets them so lets not complain. After all they were playing the Chiefs, not some HIGHLY rated team...Seems like the infamous "Steel Curtan" is nothing more then louvered blinds...The chances of the steelers repeating are Slim & None and Slim left town...Just imagine when they have to start facing some "Elite" teams...Steelers don't make the playoff's and if they should get lucky and make it, they are a one and done team at BEST...Injuries???? LOL how about a good ole' fashion azz whooping at the hands of the lowly Chiefs..Not to many Steeler fans on today, I wonder why??? LMAO
Don't worry Steeler fans, at least you don't have Kyle Orton or Chris Simms. Oh yeah, and 4 straight losses with no end in sight!
Everyone has a bad day from time to time and this was the Steelers day for it. They aren't completely out of it yet so let's not count them out just yet. And even if they do not recover this year they are still the undisputable best team ever in pro football. So before any other team can run their mouths they need to hold up and count all of their superbowl rings. Not to mention just the number of times being there.
Ben has been horrible the last 2 games. The Steeler offense seems to be this: OK, you WR's go out and run around in circles while I pump fake just enough to let the pressure get to me...
Max Starks is playing well but the rest of O-Line is terrible. They don't pick up blitzes and don't finish blocks. Case in point --- do you see any linemen around when Mendenhall gets tackled? No. Because they make one block and stop. Watch the next game and see for yourself. Ben had the same look on his face the last 2 games - look of concern...not one of fire and leadership. He needs to grow the hell up.
I think he's happily retired, but I know of one outstanding special teams coach, a very close personal friend of Dick Lebeau, "out there" -- I see him every morning...one wonders if he could be brought in short term to fix this debacle....
Drew
You just like every other steelers famn, a bandwagon fan. I see many people liek you at college. For example in the beginning of MLB season the pirates were winning, but once they started to loose, everyone stopped waring the jerseys. Cant wait to go on campus today to see NO steelers jerseys and look at all the bandwagon fans!!!!!!!
I totally agree with you. I work with a Steelers fan and after their second loss, he said he wouldn't watch their games anymore. He said that at least he still had his Patriots......talk about bandwagon! I'm a Bengals fan win or lose.
Maybe you should take more English courses at school and learn how to write and spell-- or at least learn how to proof read and spell check!
bro one thing get it straight i wear my steelers jersey anytime win or lose i support them. as for the pirates yes there the crap in baseball but they are still my team same as the orioles i also like them and there crappy too. Get it through your head you dont know me or who I'am dont judge cause I'm a steelers fan your the kind of people that make me sick. I dont judge a team fan people like there teams for reasons like if i was at hines field and a pack of ravens fans flooded the stadium i would not pick a fight nor bother them just cause its a game. If you want to stoop so low and fight people cause they came in to you town to enjoy there favoirte team you must have not been raised right.
Although I am really bummed that my Bengals lost due to too many mistakes. I did truly enjoy watching the Steelers lose. This was not a good weekend for the AFC North.
The Bengals lost because someone burned the Terrible Towel & put it on YouTube....look at how the Titans did after they stomped on it last year---the curse was only lifted after 2 players signed the towel to be auctioned off at the Allegheny Valley School, who gets all of the TT proceeds.
I agree that the O-Line has been letting way too much pressure in on Ben and for some reason he doesn't seem to try very hard to get away from the pressure. I've also noticed that there are a whole lot of bad/missed tackles. They look like they are trying to just make big hits and forgetting the basics of tackling. Let's hope they can get their act together before it is too late if it is not already. Oh well it is just a game and all teams experience ups and downs.
Steeler fans don't do the bandwagon thing. Those types are not Steeler fans. Steeler fans get ticked off when they lose, assign blame where it belongs, and get ready to kick some butt next week. If you don't know the history of this team, and claim to be a fan, better do some homework. You can't be a Steeler fan until you know and understand the journey.
Is it possible to teach the 2 kickers to tackle?
We have quaterbacks in the NFL that do a better job!
Take the kid gloves off coach,we are better than this!
Kyleo002,
While you are at college today, how about studying some spelling and grammar.
your a funny guy..you know I was in a rush to get to class to take a test for med school. You know you make fun of my grammar and spelling skills. You are prolly a fat old guy that all he does is sit on his butt and critizize everyone but yourself. But in real life, your just a loser and never went anywhere in life..Lastly, Steelers as long as you guys keep losing you keep a smile on my face..have a nice day TJtimes2 :-)
"Your" "prolly" right. I shouldn't "critizize" somebody in med school. Good luck with that career choice, genius.
515 yds of offense and only 24 pts??? Don't blame the D for that..And the points seem to have come from turnovers..Bottom line is Steelers have a Super Bowl hangover and are not going to recover this yr from it..Its great to see teams like Cincy, Saints, Colts, Chargers come to the forefront...BYE BYE Steelers and your fans..Last yr the state of Pa had a good yr..This yr they are ALL just "also rans"....GO Cincy.
"Cincy" won how many superbowls?? Oh yeah, NONE! So what if Pittsburgh is having a bad year? This "bad year" is better than many "good years" of other teams. Real Steeler fans are fans for life and we take the good with the bad. Your obnoxious "BYE BYE" means nothing to us! We just smirk with the knowledge that our Steelers will always be the top team in the NFL. Face it, the "Cincy" legacy is pretty unimpressive and your team will never enjoy the legendary status that the Steelers have enjoyed for decades.