Rocky Bleier tore up defenses during his illustrious NFL career. But that’s nothing compared to the way he’s been ripping into the Steelers in recent weeks.
Bleier took to Instagram following the Steelers’ embarrassing 36-10 loss to the Chiefs Sunday, and methodically criticized every aspect of the Steelers’ game. Overall, he says they’re just a bad football team, and it’s time for everybody to recognize it.
“Embarrassing. So why do we continue fooling ourselves just thinking this team is something special? Why did we think this team could get into the playoffs?,” Bleier said. “Well, we’ve become enamored with personalities. We have Najee Harris, Chase Claypool, T.J. Watt, Pat Freiermuth. What we don’t have is an offensive line, a defensive secondary, or in my estimation, a quarterback. Ben can’t run, or take a hit, or dance around in the pocket like he used to. He’s predictable, and opposing defenses know that.”
Bleier is right: Despite some marquee players at skill positions, the Steelers are an incomplete team. They get brutalized on both sides of the ball at the line and Roethlisberger isn’t even an average NFL quarterback at this point. Mercifully, it looks like there will be just two games left in his career. Roethlisberger brought his family to Kansas City Sunday, in another sign he’s planning to call it quits at the end of the season.
Unfortunately, Roethlisberger’s family members were treated to a lousy effort. The Steelers’ ineptitude stretched from the players to the coaching staff.
“I did have questions on our preparation, our game plans both offensively and defensively, our execution of said game plan, and if our coaching staff made any adjustments during the game,” he said. “It didn’t come across as any big bold statements. I guess that’s what I was looking for: a statement. That we’re not be taken lightly.”
The Steelers did make a statement Sunday, but unfortunately, it was a statement of incompetence.
“Unfortunately what we got is, ‘we tried, c’est la vie, see you next year.’ But that’s just one man’s opinion,” Bleier said.
Judging by the chorus of ex-Steelers who have ripped the team in recent weeks, including Bleier, the four-time Super Bowl champ and war hero isn’t alone in his opinions. The Steelers have been tough to watch for everybody this year, but especially the franchise’s greats. The version of the Black and Gold that Bleier knew seems to be long gone.