The Pittsburgh Steelers are 5-8 heading into a matchup with the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. A large portion of Steelers fans have never endured a black and gold losing season. The Steelers’ last losing season delivered Ben Roethlisberger in the first round of the NFL Draft, but they weren’t that far removed from missing the playoffs in four of the previous six seasons.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A visit to the AFC Championship game was sprinkled into that span from 1998-2003, as well as two playoff victories. But make no mistake, Bill Cowher was on the hot seat. He was coming off of a 53-44 stretch as a head coach, but it was a down period that was only exceeded by Chuck Noll’s stretch of missing the playoffs for four consecutive years before his final playoff victory in 1989. The legendary coach finished his career missing the playoffs in six of seven seasons, but did produce one playoff victory.
The Steelers, since they last won a playoff game in 2016, are 56-36-2 in the last six seasons. The black and gold might not have had any losing seasons over that period, unless of course they lose one of the next four games, but this is the longest drought since they went 33 years without winning a playoff game. Barring a miracle, Pittsburgh will extend the playoff win drought to seven consecutive seasons after the 2022 season is in the books.
This week on 93.7 The Fan, Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller made a keen observation during their popular afternoon drive show The PM Team w/Poni & Mueller. They were dissecting the Steelers current roster issues when the pair came to a startling conclusion:
“I’m going to change my take on this,” Chris Mueller interjected. “I think a lot of what has frustrated me since their last playoff win has been this feeling that has kind of filled me with sports fan dread is this feeling that the way the game is played at this level is starting to pass them by. Especially [Mike] Tomlin who I really believe wishes it was fifteen years ago and the game was much more physical.”
“Mean” Joe Greene was a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain defense and a team that became a dynasty in the ’70s. (Associated Press)
The Steelers have played physical hard-nosed football for 50 years. Whether we agree or not, NFL football is not the same physical game anymore. Clean shoulder first hits that used to thrill fans are flagged for essentially being too hard, while blatant penalties like the one that put Kenny Pickett into concussion protocol are ignored. It won’t satisfy the older fan base, but you just can’t show up and maul your opponent into submission anymore.
“You had [Matt] Feiler and [Javon] Hargrave and you let them leave in free agency,” Fillipponi responded. “I get it next man up, but they couldn’t replace either one. Since they last won a playoff game, the Steelers have only used a day 1 or 2 pick on an offensive lineman one time and it was for Kendrick Green.”
The modern NFL is emphasizing edge rushers, cover cornerbacks and the passing game. The Steelers over the last few seasons have not prioritized big bodies to protect their quarterbacks, or a nose tackle to anchor the 3-4 defense they are intent on playing. Javon Hargrave has grown into a top 5 defensive tackle and the Steelers sorely miss his presence in the middle of the defense. Matt Feiler might not have been a star, but objectively he is still better than Dan Moore and Chukwoma Okarafor.
Omar Khan has replaced Kevin Colbert and it will be interesting to see how much he turns over the current roster. The Steelers will likely have two of the top 34 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft thanks to the Chase Claypool trade which are essentially two first round draft picks. Those players have to be converted into above average NFL players. Pittsburgh has a chance to use the 2023 draft picks as a springboard to return to the playoffs next season, but they have to start building for the 21st century NFL.
Detroit, UNITED STATES: Pittsburgh Steelers team owner Dan Rooney holds the Vince Lombardi trophy after his team won Super Bowl XL, 21-10 against the Seattle Seahawks 05 February 2006 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. AFP PHOTO/JEFF HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)
The Steeler way is supposed to equate to playoff victories and if that means they have to adapt, so be it. It is doubtful Noll and Dan Rooney expected the black and gold not to evolve the way they play the game over a half century. There is no doubt that they fully expected the Steelers to keep winning playoff games and championships. Contrary to popular belief that is the standard.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do Poni & Mueller have a point about how the Steelers are building the current team? Please comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
