Talent is no longer an excuse for the Steelers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tendency to play to the level of their opponents. Last week, the Steelers looked flat against an average Oakland Raiders team. The week prior, the Steelers played their arch rival, the Baltimore Ravens, played at a high level and picked up a win. So call me crazy, call me insane, and everything else I’ve heard over the years, but I am calling for a Steelers win this Sunday at New England.
To those who have played sports past or present, the notion that you play better with better competition is a valid statement. As a player, you rise to the occasion, you focus on the task at hand, and you want to know that you could hold your own with the best on the field, court, rink, course, etc. On the other hand, when you play lesser talented teams, you lose focus, you take the foot off the pedal, and go on cruise control.
The Pittsburgh Steelers as we know are lacking depth as injuries continue to mount throughout the season. But what about the New England Patriots? The Patriots have a who’s who roster this year and are still atop their division with a 6-2 record. Aside from Brady and Gronkowski, the Patriots aren’t stacked in the talent department and have lost key players to injury. Specifically, they lost DT Vince Wilfork.
At the end of the day, these are professional athletes that have been playing a game their entire lives. So when I hear, “this guy sucks!”, That guy is one of best players to ever play at his high school and he dominated at the college level enough to get drafted. That being said, this is not entirely a talent issue, this is a coaching issue.
Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert have built a flawed roster over the past few years with some highly questionable draft picks. Furthermore, Mike Tomlin has not had this team prepared to play this year and Haley’s play-calling continues to be sub-par at best.
“Well, the reality is, the proof is in the pudding. We didn’t perform well in all three phases, so I took responsibility for that.” Said Mike Tomlin after the Oakland game.
Changes will be made in 2014, as to what extent, we will have to wait and see.
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
