Pittsburgh Steelers players put the team in their own hands this week as they tried to regroup and get back on the winning path early in the season.
Following a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans, moving their record to 2-2, the Steelers held a meeting to somewhat clear the air. While it wasn't players-only, it did provide a platform for the team to voice their concerns and grow closer as they enter the middle of the season.
"I wouldn’t say players only, but definitely some players that voiced how they’ve been feeling," wide receiver Calvin Austin said. "I think we’ve been on the same page, but we just got even more on the same page and in tune with each other."
The Steelers utilized a meeting last season during the bye week to regroup and find their offensive identity moving into the second half of the year. They use that meeting as groundwork to finish the season 9-8 after starting it just 2-6.
"It went right back to when we looked at film, about each person looking at themselves," Austin said. "It's not anything where we gotta point fingers, look at a different position or anything of that matter. It was just each person looking at it in terms of 'Okay, if I would've strained for this block more, that could've been a big play right here. Would've changed the whole dynamics of the game.' I think we just took that approach of, you know, forget all the other talk about this and that, lets just focus on ourselves. Each person just focus on themselves and play as hard as the team we're lining up against. We have the guys, we have the talent, so we know we can get the job done."
While Pittsburgh isn't in the same situation they were a year ago, they are trying to overcome their struggles early and push for the playoffs. Sitting at 2-2 with the Baltimore Ravens coming to town, this week was a prime opportunity to spark a fire within the roster.
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