Don’t look now, but playoff football starts early this season for numerous teams caught up in NFL parity. The Pittsburgh Steelers are definitely one of those teams.

Two weeks ago the Steelers appeared to be in full control of their postseason destiny. Sitting at 7-4 on the season, with back-to-back home games against 2 win teams looming on the horizon, what could possibly go wrong? The answer was everything. Everything went wrong, and the Steelers unbelievably lost both games to fall to 7-6. Now every game has a playoff like feel to it for the Steelers.

Some might even suggest that is just what this year’s Steelers squad needs, to insure that they won’t come out flat and unprepared for this week’s game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. However, I would caution anyone considering that line of thinking, because coming out flat for playoff games has become the new Steelers norm under Mike Tomlin.

Think back to the Steelers most recent playoff performances under Tomlin. I know it’s hard, because those occurrences have been few and far between, plus the results have been something we would all rather forget, but try your best to humor me. Recent playoff history reminds us that the Steelers habitually show up flat and seemingly unprepared for playoff games.

That reality quickly came to mind when I heard multiple players say this week that they already had a playoff mindset, due to current circumstances. That would seem to be the correct approach, as this game features two teams fighting to remain in playoff contention, but can this Tomlin team reverse his recent trend? The proof is in the pudding, and will be revealed this Saturday.

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

• Kenny Pickett’s injury couldn’t have happened at a worse time for the Steelers. Pickett and the Steelers offense played one full game without the shackles of Matt Canada’s game planning and play calling. They produced their most successful and complete performance of the season. Then, midway through the first half of their second game post Canada, tragedy struck. The last seven games were supposed to give the Steelers a more accurate assessment of what Pickett could do, even if they were still limited by Canada’s playbook. Now Pickett is going to miss the majority of those games. Talk about a lost season, and missed opportunities. Here’s a honest statement to blow your mind; I wholeheartedly believe that the Steelers win both of their last two games if Pickett wasn’t out injured.
• Speaking of the last two Steelers losses, how did the Steelers get outplayed at home against back-to-back two win teams who have little to play for outside of draft positioning and future employment. Not only did the Steelers lose to arguably the two worst teams in the NFL, but they did so in humiliating fashion. The Steelers were bullied on their home field, and few players even bothered to fight back. The visiting Cardinals openly mocked the Steelers while they celebrated in the visitor’s locker room. All Bill Belichick did was lead his putrid offense into Pittsburgh and proceeded to spank Mike Tomlin once again in front of a primetime audience. This was obviously the low point of Tomlin’s career thus far, but the season isn’t over yet.
• The Steelers defense is slowly regressing during the season. There are numerous reasons why, starting with the obvious injuries, but every team is dealing with injuries at this point of the season. I believe that the bigger issue lies within their defensive schemes. The Steelers defense has become a passive scheme that most definitely lives in their fears. I will resist going into great detail about how much I loathe the Steelers tendency for soft zone coverages, because that is well known already. Another huge issue for the Steelers defense is the absence of a pass rush coordinator. This is unfamiliar territory for the most effective pass rushing franchise of the last decade. The Steelers employed Keith Butler as LB coach/DC/Pass Rush Coordinator supreme during that time frame. Last season, after Bulter’s retirement, Brian Flores picked up the mantle of pass rush coordinator, and ran with it, all the way to being named the Minnesota Vikings new DC. Suddenly the Steelers find themselves without a proven individual in the position, and the lack of results speak volumes. Inefficient pass rush, with soft zone concepts behind it. What could go wrong?
• I have always been a huge fan of Merrill Hoge, and I value his honest evaluations on the Steelers. That being said, I believe he was being a bit harsh on the Steelers tight ends in a recent interview. He utilized some colorful terminology in comparing the Steelers tight ends blocking to affectionate turtles, which I admittedly found quite humorous. However, I believe it is unfair to lump the tight ends in with the wide receivers when calling out the lack of effort from the Steelers pass catchers. Pat Freiermuth may not be a good blocker, but I wholeheartedly believe he is at least trying. I can’t say the same about the receivers’ efforts however. Bear minimum effort blocking, no effort to disguise intent coming off the LOS, and half speed route running have become the new normal in Pittsburgh. More evidence that a major coaching turnover is needed.
• The Steelers have missed Terrell Edmunds versatility in a variety of ways already this season, without a doubt. But the most glaring example would have to be the team’s inability to slowdown opposing tight ends over their past couple of historic defeats. Early in the season, the Steelers could count on Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander to limit the damage. Most of the opponents turned their attention elsewhere due to the Steelers effective coverage. However, that has changed in Holcomb and Alexander’s absence. Almost immediately, tight end coverage went from being a strength to an exploitable weakness. When Edmunds roamed the Steelers secondary, the Steelers would utilize him to limit any opposing tight end deemed to be a potential problem. Now, the Steelers lack anyone I would consider to be a TE coverage specialist. That weakness has proven exploitable over the past few games. Not every Steelers front office decision from this past offseason has proven profitable this year.