Sorry Colbert, But its Time to Go

A loss to the Cleveland Browns, albeit a quality Browns team, is emblematic of a throng of problems for the Steelers organization. Despite the media critics and Snoop Dogg (does it have two g's?) the problem is not Todd Haley. The problem is not an aging Dick LeBeau. The problem is not Mike Tomlin. It's the players. A sheer lack of talent and depth is the reason the Steelers sit at .500 and have now for the past two years.

Kevin Colbert was named the first Steelers GM in 2010 after
spending 10 years as Director of Football Operations

To me, that starts at the top of the football operations food chain. Kevin Colbert, who has helped assembled two Super Bowl championship teams and another one team to make it to the Super Bowl, has dropped the ball. Kind of like Limas Sweed. One of many failed draft picks.

Colbert longed served the Steelers as the director of football operations since 2000. In 2010, the Steelers gave him the keys to the car, naming him the first GM in Steelers history. With that came the responsibility of player transactions and acquisitions. Since he was given that title, the Steelers have yet to return to the Super Bowl, as well back-to-back years without a playoff appearance.

Now, I'm not expecting every draft to be like 1974. But, I'd like a few players to stick around for awhile. No one from the 2008 and 2009 teams are a Pittsburgh Steeler anymore. In 2008, the Steelers went skill player heavy. Rashard Mendenhall (retired to write) Limas Sweed (couldn't catch a cold) Tony Hills, Dennis Dixon, Ryan Mundy. Marginal at best. Sure, Mendenahll was a decent running back. But was that really first round draft pick impact- of course not.

2009 produced better players. However, the mistakes in the first two rounds are notable. Ziggy Hood and Kraig Urbik. A defensive end and an offensive lineman. The Steelers did draft Mike Wallace and Keenan Lewis in the following rounds. Above average wide receiver and corner back. However, those two both dawn different jerseys.

Despite being contributors, from 2008-2014, none of the first round draft picks have become stand out players save for Maurkice Pouncey. Cam Heyward has played better of late, but Jones lacked "splash plays" in his first year. Ryan Shazier was injured early in his first season. DeCastro, has been alright up front. His most notable deed was taking out Pouncey for all of 2013 after tearing his own ACL in 2012.

The Steelers are left scratching their head and wondering what has happened to the semi Steelers dynasty of the 2000s. In essence, it all starts at the top. And I mean the top- the people who watch the games from above the grass. Kevin Colbert, despite all he has given this organization, has to go. He has failed to turn around a team that should only have one down year. But, a myriad of poor contracts, poor draft picks, and poor play puts the Steelers in a position to ponder what his future should be.

"But, this is Mike Tomlin's fault. This is Todd Haley's fault, those are the guys who should be fired." Show me an instance where a poor football team fired its head coach and it led to productive rest of the season. It doesn't happen. Was it really Butch Davis, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski's fault. Of course not. It was the fact that Derek Anderson the franchise quarterback for a few years.

Was it Bill Cowher's fault he didn't reach those Super Bowls in the early 2000s. No- his quarterback was Kordell Stewart. Personnel win championships. General Managers draft personnel. Sorry, Kevin Colbert. We appreciate what you did, but it's time to go.