Willie Colon Telling Jets to Not Take Steelers Lightly

Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers are 0-4, believing that veteran castoffs like Stevenson Sylvester, Will Allen, and Levi Brown can help their team, and are essentially out of the postseason picture in the AFC.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars are considered by many to be the “worst” team in the league right now, Pittsburgh is not far behind with the way they have played during their first four games of the regular season.

Ben Roethlisberger is also on pace to be sacked 60 times this season, the offense has turned the ball over 11 times, the ground attack ranks 31st in rushing yards per game, and the offensive line is hodge-podge of veteran castoffs, high-round draft busts, and career backups.

Heck, I would hand the team MVP to kicker Shaun Suisham for simply putting points on the board.

Of course, the Steelers’ defense has been just as terrible as their offense so far too.

Not only has the unit struggled to stop the run, they have not collapsed the pocket with any consistency (ranked 32nd in sacks), and they have yet to force a turnover! The defense has been picked apart by the likes of Jake Locker, Andy Dalton, and Matt Cassel, and Dick LeBeau’s defensive scheme itself just invites opposing quarterbacks to dink-and-dunk their way down the field.

Despite the team’s litany of issues, former Steeler and current Jet Willie Colon is trying to keep his new squad motivated and focused for tomorrow’s game. In fact, Colon had this to say in a recent interview which was posted on Steelers.com:

"But nevertheless, like I’ve been telling these guys, just because they’re [the Steelers] 0-4, by no means can we overlook this team. Pittsburgh, even when I was there, was extremely prideful on defense. They’re going to give us their best shot. That’s just kind of the attitude that, ‘Hey, these guys are going to come into town and give us their best shot, and we’ve got to be ready to go.’"

Like any veteran who is in his eighth year at the professional level, Colon knows what a “trap game” is. He understands that his team is in the midst of a “short week” and that Pittsburgh has had two weeks to prepare for the upcoming game. Moreover, Colon knows how desperate the Steelers are to turn things around after their uncharacteristic 0-4 start.

By that same token though, the rudderless Steelers must be willing to “give their best shot” against the Jets tomorrow afternoon. In addition, they must not assume that a short-week and overconfidence will derail New York on their home field either. This team can ill-afford to fall to 0-5 with the Baltimore Ravens coming to town next week, and I hope that Pittsburgh can bring their collective “A Game” to MetLife Stadium in an attempt to turn their season around.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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