Pittsburgh Sports In Review for 2013

Dec 29, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback

(left) and offensive coordinator Todd Haley (right) look over the playbook against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It was a tale of two seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers. First off, to recap last season, 8-8 did not get the job done and myself along with many others were calling for coach Mike Tomlin’s head.

This past season in a sense was copy and paste; however, I feel better about this 8-8 as opposed to the previous one.

The Steelers started off the season with an 0-4 record, which is not acceptable to say the least. This is especially true when you lose the opener to a team that gave you two points on the first play of the season. Losses to the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders and Miami Dolphins were all early daggers.

Once again at 0-4 Tomlin’s head was on the chopping block and his response was “I have to get better.” If you told me that the Steelers would rally and go 6-2 in their final eight games, I would not have believed it. This was the same team that allowed a 93-yard run to Terrelle Pryor on the first play from scrimmage and looked lifeless against then-winless Minnesota in London.

The Steelers would gain traction with a win against a depleted Buffalo Bills squad. They played the Bills at the right time with E.J. Manuel just returning from injury and Stevie Johnson injured. The Steelers allowed 27 second-quarter points to the Detroit Lions, and not only survived but outscored the Lions 17-0 in the second half. The wins against the Browns were expected. The Steelers deserved to lose against the Ravens and Tomlin’s “Sideline Gate” likely cost the Ravens four points, but it didn’t matter.

The Dolphins loss was the dagger and many believed that was the end of the season – everyone that is except for the Steelers. Whatever was said in that locker room worked. The Steelers hit their peak with the win against the Bengals, which was not as close as the score showed. Think the Steelers wanted to prove themselves? How about a 21-0 first quarter? The Packers game was huge for the Steelers. You can’t discount that Aaron Rodgers was not playing, Matt Flynn succeeds in the Packers offense, and that game was a chess match. Plus Le’Veon Bell backed up Tomlin’s press conference remarks that the Steelers coach would again take the running back from Michigan State over Eddie Lacy who went to the Packers.

Some will say that had the officials paid attention to the rule book in San Diego that the Steelers would have made the playoffs. This is true, but you can’t deny that had the Steelers taken care of business early in the season, that they would not have gotten into this mess.

While Tomlin did not back his coaches at Monday’s press conference, I would retain all of the major coaches. The team especially the offensive line were decimated with injuries. A name that does not get much credit is Jack Bicknell, Jr. He is the team’s offensive line coach and frankly my pick for Steelers MVP. He was dealt a terrible hand to say the least. He lost an All-Pro Player in Maurkice Pouncey in Week 1 and the team needed three centers to survive the season. Players constantly had to rotate, and yet in the end it all worked despite Ben Roethlisberger being sacked 12 more times than last season.

Todd Haley and Dick LeBeau both deserve to keep their jobs. Haley definitely lets Roethlisberger’s voice be heard, but he also challenges his quarterback. While the two occasionally butt heads, it all works out in the end and Haley stopped being predictable around midseason and the results showed. LeBeau had some setbacks and holes to fill this season and wasn’t as successful as Steelers fans would hope. The results were inconsistent but a spirited cakewalk over the Browns. LeBeau deserves to leave on his own terms with all of the time he has put in the league.

Looking at next season’s schedule, I expect to see at least five road wins and another four or five at home. That of course depends on what could be a huge roster turnover coming up. The road opponents outside of Baltimore, Cincinnati and Carolina shouldn’t pose too much stress. I do think the Steelers have a winning record.