VP at Pierce and Pierce said:

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12mn95 said:

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it was amazing how much last year people thought he was going to make a HUGE difference. As if all our other guys we had before just sucked and this one guy knew something that no other S&C coach knew.

Reminded me of when we had Black Death during Sumlin era...people were creaming all over themselves when we won then we started losing and they couldn't wait to get rid of him...as if he was the only problem...

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I was disappointed in 2024 when our players still looked like chewed up bubble gum like we did under Jimbo and huffin and puffin from the start while other teams look carved out of wood. The lack of explosiveness since 2018 is astounding. I think nutrition program needs some tinkering. Hopefully we see some major strides in 2025.

Regarding Black Death, the 2012 team was noticeably in better shape than 2011 and his teams were always strong and in shape. I recall the board being pissed he was let go and knew he was scapegoated for Sumlin's poor decision making and coaching hires. Black Death and Schmidt were the two best S&C guys we have had. Moffitt is TBD until the fall.

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I honestly think in 2012 we just had way better players than what Sumlin recruited later one. Sherman left him a super talented team and as players left to the NFL the ones we had with sumlin, overall, were not as good. What did we have, like 9 offensive players from that 2012 team that eventually got drafted? and several from the defense. i think they were just better players..

We had 3 NFL defensive lineman last year plugging up holes and taking up double teams… yet we had piss pour linebacker play. We have a significantly weaker defensive line and the same linebackers… should he a fun year No one talks about how awful our linebacker group is. York can't play every down because he couldn't cover a lineman in pass coverage and the other backers couldn't tackle to save their life.

Doesn't matter. 8-5 forever until they can actually prove otherwise and this won't be the year

Ugly said:

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If we get fantastic results from S&C, maybe it will be enough to offset losing three high-level draft picks on the DL simultaneously. That's unlikely, though.

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There is always the chance that the three high-level draft picks that went to the NFL are replaced with guys who put out way more effort.

We really need upgrades at LB

The switch from Durkin to Elko was rough for York. He'd have been wise to find a new spot to a defensive scheme that suited his skill set but I won't blame him for toughing it out. He also got better and more comfortable as the season went on.

The one thing about the DL and them all being "out of shape" or "not trying" to protect for the NFL is, in pre draft interviews when asked about their weight during the season and cutting for the draft they said Elko preferred them to play bigger. This isn't new. I remember the same with Leal. He always looked a little too big when playing for us and I know he was a tweener but in the NFL the Steelers have embraced him playing more at his natural weight and he's been serviceable.

Regardless of all of that, Elko is now running the defense completely this year, so he'll either succeed or fail as our head coach with that decision.

"The one thing about the DL and them all being "out of shape" or "not trying" to protect for the NFL is, in pre draft interviews when asked about their weight during the season and cutting for the draft they said Elko preferred them to play bigger. This isn't new"

Thank you for this insight.