Steelers look to cure their defensive woes

Sink or Swim: Which NFL coaches will survive the hot seat?

The Browns (0-10) have their own issues, starting with being the only winless team in the NFL. But I have burned by the Browns every time I have shown some faith in them. Since purchasing the team in 2012, Haslam has fired three head coaches.

“No chance, ” he said on a conference call before playing along and rattling off “a buddy of mine” Bruce Gradkowski, Josh McCown, Robert Griffin III and Colt McCoy. Steelers have lost five in row just once in coach Mike Tomlin’s 10-year tenure (2009). It’s AFC North football. I think I have to put them in better situations. While Brown now has an NFL-high 69 receptions, no other Pittsburgh wide receiver has more than 23.

The Dallas Cowboys-Steelers game last week didn’t have too much wrong with it on Pittsburgh’s behalf – in fact, it was one of the best games of the season. “We’re not in the right place enough”. That is having to do it right on a consistent basis, play in and play out for 55-60 snaps is tough. Nonetheless, if I were to put a number on the percentage of fans who want Tomlin go I would say 40%, which is really high for the Steelers, but it is nothing new.

“We’ll continue to tweak it, move some things around and change some things throughout the week”, Roethlisberger said. The defense has allowed an average of 28 points and 134 yards rushing in those losses. “All his ‘Tomlinisms.’ So, we just expect the same”. It is just that Cleveland’s run defense is horrendous. “That’s a recipe for disaster”, Shazier said. Isaiah Crowell led a miserable performance from the Browns ground attack, with 23 yards on 9 carries.

That’s the last thing this team needs, because the 2nd half of their schedule is very soft; do not play down to anyone at this point, and take what’s yours for the giving (the AFC North title). That figure, of course, has been hampered by injuries on the Browns’ offensive line. Now they’ve got to clean up the mistakes without him.

Whether it be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger using his size and uncommon ability to absorb contact and extend plays, wide receiver Antonio Brown streaking down the field and creating windows to throw into by getting behind defenders and running back Le’Veon Bell sprinting through the front seven, the Steelers are a multi-faceted offense able to challenge any and all defenses. He’s caught 51 passes for 627 yards (12.3 avg.) and four touchdowns. “The guy alerts people to a lot of things, so it’s hard to replace that, even though you’ve got somebody maybe a little bit better physically (in Davis)”. LB Christian Kirksey had 13 tackles last week and according to NFL.com leads league with 94 total tackles. The fifth-year QB broke a bone in his shoulder the first week of the season and is expected to begin practicign again next week. What are we preserving him for? The Browns can take this one.

“The days of winning are coming”.

He also admitted he’s “frustrated with talent walking out the door”, per Browns beat writer Daryl Ruiter, and hopes the Browns can retain outside linebacker Jamie Collins. Ben Roethlisberger had arguably his most efficient game of the season, racking up 408 yards and 3 touchdowns on 37 of 46 passing.

Steelers tight end Ladarius Green could have his first big impression against the Browns.

Heyward returned against Baltimore on November 6 and the defense seemed to make significant strides against the Ravens and held Dallas rookie Ezekiel Elliott largely in check last Sunday before giving up a pair of touchdown runs in the final two minutes of a 35-30 setback that left Heyward fuming and led quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to call out some of his teammates for a lack of discipline. The two teams close out the regular season on January 1 in Pittsburgh.