Just plain hell. Not hell unleashed. Steelers lose to Raiders.

 

I know, it took me a few days to write a post.  First, it took me a full day to get over this pathetic loss of the highest sucktitude.  And second, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it.

So, here goes…and bear with me, this post will be largely stream of consciousness.

I heard a lot of talk about the sucktitude that is our defense.  Well, lets be clear.  It’s not the line. Some have had a great year.  Harrison, Woodley, Kiesel, Farrior and Snack are having a great season.  So, let’s get specific.  Without Troy, our secondary is highly suspect.  Neither of the corners have any take aways and honestly, other than tackling at the spot, which they do well (as a parent, I am told never just to criticize, but to also highlight the things people do well) there’s not much else going on.  Tackles.  At least they have one advantage over Skippy. *ahem* (I just can’t talk Special Teams today)

There just aren’t big plays happening in the secondary without Troy.  Or at least not often.  I can think of some great hits from Clark.  And Ty had that interception against Minny.  But where was the hell unleashed?

I expected some big get down – score blown out (I should never even get excited about this since even I have admitted that the Steelers never blow out anyone) blitzing like crazy, Gradkowski laying on his back for most of the game….Instead, the Raiders looked stellar.  Well put together and on it.  They blew up the secondary.  And did it right over the top.  Something that they could never do if Troy was in the game.

 

That said, why is it that one individual player has that much impact on a team?  That to me is a problem.  Don’t get me wrong, Troy is spectacular.  He’s arguably the best strong safety in the NFL.  The game is played differently on both sides of the ball when he’s there.  But why don’t we have a back up that can also fill that gap?  Maybe not to the extent that Troy does, but what is it about Ty and Ryan that isn’t AS scary?  I want to see fear from the opponents.  Instead, they look like they are going to have tea at a picnic in the park….and then they do.  It’s called defeating the Champs.

I’m a Steelers fan, will always be a Steelers fan…but man, this season is painful to watch.  How many 4th quarter leads can you blow?  I really, really mean it when I say we need an energy drink sponsor. Or an oxygen at halftime sponsor.  Or hyperbaric chambers for everyone sponsor.

December was supposed to be a win-out.  Sorry Steelers, I love you, I do…but you don’t deserve the playoffs.  (Aaaaaannnddd cue the Steeler Nation comments)

IF by some strange act of karma the teams that need to lose do lose and the Steelers get a wildcard, how in the world do you expect to beat anyone past the first round (if that) playing just mediocre?  I mean, where’s the hell unleashed?  That’s the only way – THE ONLY WAY – the Steelers can beat anyone…and I will say it here, because I am in my “realistic” mode, you better be ready to seriously unleash crazy hell on these teams or go home and sit on the couch watching the playoffs.  Did you see Green Bay put the beat down on the Ravens?  And Miami beat the Patriots.  Steelers, it’s going to be a long, long December.  We just got started.  It’s not going to be pretty.

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