What’s to be said of the Steelers?  Are they the best bad team or the worst good team?  They’ve dropped 6 games by a total of only 33 points.  In terms of yards, the offense is #7 and the defense is #5.  So how did they get to be a 0.500 ball club?

In more grim numbers the give/take away stat is a lousy -5.  Opponents are converting 40% of third downs and a mind boggling 77.8% of fourth downs against the vaunted Steeler D.  On Offense, redzone efficiency has been poor and the offense struggles to sustain drives late in the game.

This is truly a team that can beat any team with a dominating performance or lay down to the lowliest team in the league.  Mike Tomlin has preached situational football his entire tenure as a coach but when the game is on the line, you never know if the champs or the chumps will come out of the huddle.

Tomlin has not sat idly by during the recent 4 game slide.  Personnel shuffling has continued the past few weeks.

Signed:  Corey Ivy, Rocky Boiman, Anthony Madison, Tyler Palko,  Donovan Woods

Cut: Donovan Woods, Keiwan Ratliff, Corey Ivy, Sean McDonald, Arnold Harrison.

Practice Squad has seen some turnover as well with Redman, Woods, Harris being replaced by Vincent, Palmer, and Gatewood.

Note that some of those names appear 2 or more times there!

Most of the cuts have been aimed at improving the quality and experience of the special teams players.  For the PS guys, Gatewood seems like a good project but I’m sorry to see Redman replaced by Vincent.  Vincent is allegedly more valuable on the scout team but Redman seemed to have some serious upside.

In Tomlin’s press conference today, he said that Rookie Corners Burnett and Lewis will see some action Thursday night versus the Browns.  Burnett will start in place of Gay who is out with a concussion.  Limas Sweed will see some action with Ward out with a hamstring injury.  The team will likely bring back McDonald in place of Palko.

Injuries this week:   Polamalu is still out with a PCL issue, Gay is out with a concussion, Ward is doubtful with a hamstring, Batch should be coming back to practice after breaking his wrist.