The Tampa Bay Rays are in the midst of a losing season and they’re not happy about it.
The behind the steel curtain is a popular meme that has been around since around 2000. It refers to the idea that Ben Stiller’s character in the movie Zoolander is firing his gun at nothing, but behind the steel curtain, there are people he can’t see.
In 2021, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have the largest variety of outcomes in the NFL. With their offensive talents, excellent coaching, and explosive defense, the club may be a playoff contender. The team’s elderly quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, inexperienced offensive line, and insistence on airing it out may propel them to the top of the NFL Draft in 2022.
Steelers great Terry Bradshaw chastised the organization before of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. He criticized the team-building approach and the franchise’s reluctance to commit to the run. The Steelers followed Bradshaw’s advice, and the team’s prospects for 2021 seem to be improving.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger are struggling.
Through 11 undefeated games in 2020, the Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to be the greatest team in the NFL. The league then exposed the club and its 39-year-old quarterback during the final six regular-season and postseason games.
The Steelers lost five of their last six games, including a 48-37 defeat in the Wildcard Game against the Cleveland Browns. In those games, Ben Roethlisberger threw 12 interceptions, including four in the playoffs.
After an unsettled summer in which it seemed like the Steelers’ veteran quarterback might retire, the former Miami (OH) quarterback has returned. He returned with a revamped offensive line and a fresh running back who is both young and skilled.
While the early results were promising—including a surprise Week 1 win in Buffalo—the following three games looked like they were scheduled for the end of 2020.
Roethlisberger threw the ball an average of 46 times per game in these contests. The Los Angeles Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, and Green Bay Packers all suffered losses as a consequence of this. In six games, the quarterback threw four interceptions and averaged a shockingly low 6.22 yards per attempt, which ranks 31st in the NFL.
Despite the widespread belief that Big Ben’s career as an NFL quarterback is over, others, including a Pittsburgh Steelers icon, disagree that Roethlisberger is the offense’s primary flaw.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are singled out by Terry Bradshaw and the ‘FOX NFL Sunday’ team.
(L-R) Ben Roethlisberger and Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Terry Bradshaw | Joe Sargent/Getty Images; Bryan Steffy/WireImage
The storyline surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ problems revolves on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s decline. The FOX NFL Sunday team, on the other hand, thinks there are more perpetrators. Among them are the offensive line and the absence of a rushing game.
The FOX commentators chastised the Steelers for their lack of a rushing game ahead of their Week 5 showdown against the Denver Broncos.
In the first round of the 2021 draft, the organization selected Alabama running back Najee Harris. However, the club hadn’t run for more than 100 yards since a Week 11 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020. Since James Conner’s 101-yard run against the Cleveland Browns in Week 6, no Steeler RB has rushed for 100 yards.
The Steelers did not select an offensive lineman with any of their previous 18 first- and second-round choices, according to Howie Long. In the first four weeks of 2021, the Steelers passed on 73 percent of their offensive plays, according to Michael Strahan.
Finally, former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw defended his replacement with zeal:
A football team’s toughness is determined by the offense’s ability to run the ball. That has always been the case. With a terrific running back, you can’t repair a bad running game. Linemen are required. They need to make wrinkles. They haven’t done anything — and you’re correct, Howie — they haven’t drafted linemen. It’s Ben’s fault, they say. Listen, you protect Ben, you put Ben in Tampa Bay, and he’s firing away, throwing long passes like he’s always done because their offensive line is so good.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Terry Bradshaw
On Sunday, Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Matt Canada were clearly not watching the pregame programs in anticipation of their game. But it seems that they got the message loud and clear.
On Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger’s offensive line performed well.
Najee Harris is the only rookie in Steelers history to run for 100 yards and catch for 100 yards in his first five games.
Najee has 102 receiving yards against the Bengals and 122 running yards against the Broncos on Sunday.
October 12, 2021 — Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel)
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ much-maligned offense went out and beat up on the Denver Broncos, 27-19, after receiving criticism from Terry Bradshaw and company on Sunday.
Harris rushed for 122 yards on 23 carries, breaking the offense’s team and individual 100-yard running streaks. Roethlisberger only threw it 25 times all season and didn’t throw an interception. The Steelers led 17-6 at halftime because to their balanced approach. The squad was ahead 24-6 at the start of the fourth quarter.
After the game, Harris praised the offensive line, which Bradshaw had slammed only a few hours before.
According to ESPN, Harris remarked, “Man, the 100-yard game.” “It’s not so much about me; I’m more thrilled about how the offensive line performed, just because they’ve been subjected to so much criticism and have persevered.” We’ve never had a problem.”
The offensive line, which included tackles Chukwuma Okorafor and Dan Moore, guards Trai Turner and Kevin Dotson, and center Kendrick Green, played admirably against a strong Broncos defense that included All-Pro Von Miller. The Steelers’ offensive line allowed just one sack in addition to the 100-yard running game.
The offensive line still has a long way to go before it becomes as feared as Pittsburgh’s been for the greater part of the past decade. Maurkice Pouncey, a nine-time Pro Bowl center, Alejandro Villanueva, a two-time Pro Bowl tackle, David DeCastro, a six-time Pro Bowl guard, and veteran starting guard Ramon Foster were among the group.
It’s up to Tomlin, Canada, and Roethlisberger to commit to the Steelers Way for the line to gel and become as outstanding as the Steelers’ previous lines. This entails rushing the ball and playing excellent defense.
If they don’t act quickly, Big Ben’s last season in the NFL may be one of his worst.
Pro Football Reference provided all stats.
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The steelers draft picks 2021 is a quote from the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, Mike Tomlin. In the 2017 NFL Draft, the team drafted quarterback Mason Rudolph and wide receiver James Washington.
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