Last Saturday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts was a great example of the Steelers recent playoff tendencies under Mike Tomlin. I fully understand that it really wasn’t a playoff game, regardless of what many players said leading up to the game, but it sure felt like one. For all intents and purposes, it was one, because the Steelers were one and done once again.

The 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers are not a good football team. The Steelers have no identity, on either side of the football, and no team chemistry. I have always viewed the Steelers as an extended family, from the top down. After all, it is a family owned business. Just listen to all the players who have left for greener pastures, or at least places where they would get paid more of the green stuff. Almost to a man, they always end up admitting that there’s no place like Pittsburgh.

That is a huge part of the Steelers culture that I fear is slowly starting to fade away. The family like culture that has been cultivated by the Rooney family even prior to the Steelers dynasty is in real danger, and it’s a huge part of the mystical Steelers Way.

I grew up hearing stories about how Art Rooney cared more about the well-being of his employees than he did winning ballgames. Back before the Steel Curtain days, most players had to have jobs in the offseason. Even then, few jobs paid as well as professional football. Mr. Rooney had a reputation for retaining players a little longer than he probably should have because he cared about the well being of the players and their families.

Not the ideal way to run a franchise or business, but Mr. Rooney believed somethings were more important than the bottom line. More important than the almighty dollar. Compassion, caring, and character have always been components of the Steelers culture. Honestly, the Steelers most likely never win any of their six Lombardi Trophies without the brilliance of Dan Rooney.

The present day Steelers franchise misses Dan Rooney’s presence far more than many fans realize. Dan helped maintain the fragile balance between family like environment and billion dollar industry. He was a grandfather like figure to the players towards the end. A respected source of knowledge and wisdom. Listen to the testimonials of so many former Steelers greats. However, he was also the man willing to accept responsibility for the tough decisions every great franchise leader inevitably has to make.

Who is willing and able to make those decisions now for the Steelers? Is Art Rooney ll up to the task? Is he willing to make the tough decisions necessary to revamp the coaching staff and continue replenishing the roster this offseason? Is he willing to step out of the Steelers comfort zone when necessary; like Dan Rooney first did when he hired Chuck Noll, and then gave him the control and scouting department to become a legend?

Only time will tell, but the rapidly approaching offseason appears destined to be a determining factor in shaping Art Rooney ll’s Steelers legacy.

Now it’s time for some more of my random thoughts and observations about the Steelers:

• The Steelers offensive line has failed to meet expectations this season. I thought the free agent acquisition of Isaac Seumalo would solidify the unit, but the expected improvements never came to fruition. I believe a huge part of the problem is Seumalo no longer has Jason Kelce playing next to him. Now Seumalo is surrounded by Dan Moore Jr and Mason Cole, two players who have struggled mightily this season. I thought Seumalo’s fundamental excellence would positively impact both players, but the line is actually worse than last year at this moment. Actually, last week’s performance against the Colts was the offensive line’s worst game of the season. The Steelers have to decide if Pat Meyer is the right man for the job, or if they need a new OL Coach, because the product on the field is unacceptable.
• The Steelers really need to move Broderick Jones to his natural left tackle position. The Steelers have developed a nasty habit of asking their offensive linemen to play out of position. Versatility is often necessary in an emergency, but the Steelers are slow to switch the player back to their preferred position if they show any aptitude at the new position. Take Kevin Dotson as a recent example. Dotson looked like the eventual replacement for David DeCastro at RG during his rookie season, but the Steelers switched him to the left side out of necessity. The problem was Dotson was never as effective at left guard, but the Steelers refused to switch him back to his natural position. Now he is playing RG for the Los Angeles Rams at a Pro Bowl level. The Steelers are presently playing first round selection Broderick Jones out of position at RT, and I fear it is negatively impacting his professional development. Jones struggled throughout the game against the Colts, especially in pass protection. He was getting beat by simple stunts and swim moves. His fundamentals are suffering on the right side; particularly his footwork and hand placement. It’s past time to bite the bullet and bench Dan Moore, move Jones to his natural position, and reinsert Chuks Okorafor at RT.
• The Steelers once enjoyed a well earned reputation for drafting and developing wide receivers, or at least they did under Kevin Colbert, but we are starting to see kinks in the armor. The first flaw in the theory is rather obvious; Ben Roethlisberger made plenty of receivers look better than they really were. The transitions were often so seamless it almost seemed too easy. Like you got replace almost any of them and receive basically the same production. As long as prime Ben was still slinging the rock. But that far too often taken for granted production stopped dead in it’s tracks when Big Ben became Old Ben. However, there was another often overlooked event; the death of WR Coach Darryl Drake. Drake’s loss has definitely impacted the wide receivers in a big way. The basic  fundamentals at the position are lacking, and the effort levels are inconsistent at best. Regardless of what anybody tries to tell you, coaching matters, even at the highest level. Maybe even more at the NFL level, where everyone is talented, and even the slightest advantage makes a difference.
• Lastly, I want to wish my SCN family and community a Merry Christmas making precious memories with family and friends!