Column: Time for Steelers to turn the page

Always on point, Dejan. Good night, and pay this man.

Being a little too young to have witnessed the greatness of the 70s, Troy will forever be what I envision as a Steeler. Will be sad to see him go. but it is time.

Well said, DK.

For those curious as to why this entire column is on the home page, that's because I've offered it as a free sample through social media. The hope is that newcomers will find the coverage of enough quality to consider subscribing. I won't do this often. Felt like the right time.

Just curious, DK. You list a lot of people to say good riddance to, but do you think they actually will say so long to Mitchell, Allen and Gilbert? Mitchell and Allen would be fine because the replacements can't be much worse (better in the case of Allen, though with Ike likely gone, I can see them hanging on to Allen). Gilbert/Adams -- there's no backup on hand, unless they can score one in the draft or bargain free-agent signing.

Made me cry again, man.

Do we honestly have a chance of LeBeau being gone next year? I don't see him stopping until he can no longer walk and, since he doesn't age, it looks like we are stuck with that old-school, terrible defense forever.

DK- well written, but I have a few gripes.
1. If you're claiming Mitchell is as bad as you say he is, and that both Troy and Ike have lost steps (I agree with all those things), then why might it be time for LeBeau to go? One could also make the argument that that same 77 year old coach transformed an AWFUL defense into a somewhat respectable one for the last quarter of the season.

2. In a previous article, you claimed Gilbert wasn't as bad as what many people would believe; here, you're saying parting ways wouldn't be such a bad thing?

For the record, I think both Ramon Foster and Gilbert are "below the line," and I've been claiming that since about August. Munchak is about as close to a miracle worker as there is in the NFL, and that's evidenced by Pouncey's all-pro selection and Beachum/Decastro's vast improvements, but LG and RT were problematic all year. Imagine what Bell could do if he didn't have to patiently wait for holes to open up! OK, I'm now bordering on a rant.

It's long past LeBeau to be gone, you're right. And please spare me this "He doesn't have the right players" nonsense. So every Defense he has has to be at an all pro caliber for him to be on the hook for anything?! Please. What happened to his "diabolical schemes" and getting the most out of players since The Steelers don't usually spend a lot on F.A. And he's freaking 77 years old. How much longer do you honestly expect he'll be here anyways??

The longer this team lives in the past, the longer it will take to make them a true contender again.

The Ravens free agent signings include Dumervil,Forsett,Daniel,and Steve Smith. Contrast that with Mitchell,Cam Thomas,Blount and Moore. Flacco has won 5 straight post season games. Ben has lost 3 in a row.Harbaugh is 10-4 in postseason. Tomlin 5-4.
Newsome/Harbaugh/Flacco have surpassed Colbert/Tomlin/Ben.

I thought the Ravens front seven was the difference in the game. For the past couple years, I think Ozzie Newsome has been a lot better turning over the Ravens defense compared to Colbert with the Steelers side.

As I've read on the site by both Dejan and others, there is no easy fix on defense. It needs talent at every level.

I realize some posters are gonna have issues with the coaching staff, but I think Kevin Colbert and Art Rooney I I have a lot of questions to answer. The Steelers use to be known for letting veterans go at the right time and smart FA signings. Lately they have hung onto some guys way too long and their free agent signings have been disasters.

Rex Ryan anyone?

For DC, just so people do not misunderstand.

This team was not considered to be a playoff team at the start of this season. They will go into /2015 as a playoff team. That is progress.

Not in my memory has such an excellent column been written about such a bad game. This was the team that lost to Tampa Bay, not the team that had won the last four in row. Time to turn the page, indeed. Kudos, DK!

When you lose at home to a team you beat by 20 at home, then management has license to make any changes they want. Let's see how much they live in their fears this off season.

To me, a lot of this result was from the Crows gaining back a superstar on defense, Ngata, while we lost one on offense, Bell. But it felt like their oc and dc had out schemed us all game.

And Dejan nailed it about our lack of discipline, resulting in all those penalties.

Well, to quote Dennis Green............ the Steelers "are who we thought they were".

Poor Defense most of the year, passive offense most of the year, and last night was the result.

Question is, which Steeler team is the real one? The one which won 4 in a row in December? Or the one last night?

One thing is for certain, the "braintrust" doing the drafting CANNOT draft another LB in the 1st round, while completely ignoring the secondary............ unless a 3-6-2 defense is implemented. Dont care if it is Tomlin, or Colbert, those 2 have to be held accountable for the drafting failures of the past 3 years.

A very subdued column. Fits the locker room mood. A wake for this frustratingly unsatisfying season that has crashed to an end.

Just a minor point-> in the graphic on W-L of active coaches, Coughlin's record should be 12-7 not 12-2.

Besides that, what a chart, sums up a lot doesn't it? The "real season" indeed, and Mr. Tomlin's Steelers look woefully inadequate to that test.

First home game at PNC in 99 days.