2018 was a season of wasted opportunities for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their goals were all there for the taking if only they could have remained focused on the big picture. If they could have put egos and pettiness aside, the Steelers could’ve realistically ended the season hoisting a seventh Lombardi Trophy. Instead, memories of 2018 will be filled with nothing but could haves and should haves.

It should be painfully clear to everyone within the Steelers organization who watched the New England win their sixth Super Bowl, that it could’ve, and likely should’ve been them winning their seventh. Why? Because that fact is painfully clear to every fan who tuned in to the worst Super Bowl ever played.

So where did it all go wrong?

The problems within the organization go far beyond talent, and go back a decade. Many of the issues can be characterized by a lack of flexibility, accountability, and culpability. Most importantly it was the inability of all involved to accept responsibility for it. As a result, Art Rooney II has been more vocal than he has in years.

Lack of flexibility

Mike Tomlin is a good football coach, but his biggest problem is a lack of flexibility. The fact that he’s refused to put someone in the booth to help with challenges because he didn’t feel the need to, is a small indication of this. The most critical evidence is how he’s dealt with the locker room environment, or rather how he hasn’t.

When Tomlin was hired, he was blessed to have inherited a strong core of locker room leaders who were capable of policing their own. He was justified letting them continue to do so. However, when those leaders all left, and issues started to creep up, Tomlin should’ve begun asserting more control.

Giving grown men the chance to act like men is understandable, but when some prove they can’t act in a mature fashion, it’s time to lay down the law. Nobody is bigger than the team. Giving certain players specific privileges and preferential treatment always leads to issues. When you allow them to violate basic team rules in addition to preferential treatment, you end up with the Steelers 2018 locker room.

Lack of Accountability

The biggest question facing the Steelers this offseason revolves around accountability for their on-the-field failures. Who should be held accountable for those failures? Frankly, everyone should, from ownership on down to the players. Nobody is blame free in this debacle.

The players shouldn’t have to be told to act like adults, or what proper locker room etiquette is. Unfortunately, some players were given far too much leeway and took advantage of every inch of it. Perhaps the best way to hold them accountable is to end their weekly radio shows and restrict their social media accounts to offseason only status.

Part of Tomlin’s job description is keeping the players in line. The lack of discipline some players have shown all year is unacceptable, and on Tomlin. Why? Because their actions affected the on-field performance and he allowed it to continue. Mr. Rooney needs to hold Tomlin accountable and put him on notice. Rooney needs to tell Tomlin that it will cost him his job should this behavior continue.

Lack of culpability

We’ll never find out exactly the things that occurred within the locker room that lead to the collapse and Antonio Brown’s actions in week 17. Unfortunately, we have yet to see anyone accept any culpability for it. The quickest way to move past all this is for those at fault to collectively own up to their failures and learn from them, provided they can put egos and pride aside. Until they can accept responsibility for their part, nothing will change. Hopefully, reason and cooler heads will prevail.

Down to the wire

The Steelers certainly have issues, but they’re not the circus they’re made out to be. However, ownership and Tomlin definitely have to step up, get more involved, and lay down the law in the locker room. They need to treat everyone the same and hold everyone to the same standards of conduct and discipline. The game and environment are much different than it was just a decade ago, and the organization needs to adapt. They don’t have to change the family environment that’s been cultivated throughout the years. They need to reinstall the pride that comes from wearing the uniform and winning championships.