Welcome to the terrible take, a daily segment telling Steel or Nation what's on our minds.

I'm Melanie Freelander.

In general, popcorn is a good thing, a buttery salty treat, something we usually enjoy while watching movies.

If you just Google Steelers popcorn, you'll find a variety of options to buy a large tin of popcorn with a team logo on the container.

But if you're a Steelers fan, it probably has a different meaning.

Because for years, that is the reason or excuse, given when a team falls short for a lot of different reasons rather than just one big obvious flaw.

Back in 2016, head coach Mike Tomlin described the team's popcorn issues

as incidents that have popped up here and there at critical times that have contributed

to the difference between wins and losses.

He and his coordinators have referred to that phrase over the intervening years from time to time.

Like most fans, I fell for the fantasy of the Steelers preseason.

Not the wins per se, but the feud drives that the first team offense played

looking organized and effective.

You could argue that they weren't playing the opposing team's first defense,

but that didn't change the fact that quarterback Kenny Pickett, his offensive line,

and his skill players seemed more than able to follow the game plan.

Cut to four weeks into the regular season, where the two and two Steelers feel more like an oh and four team.

What is wrong with this offense? A majority of fans and analysts are pointing the finger at offensive coordinator met Canada, but it's obviously more than just the play calling.

The players aren't executing, picket is bail in unclean pockets, the blocking

is ineffective, popcorn. And what about the defense? Communication breakdowns,

mistackles, misassignments, penalties that give another set of downs to the opposing team's

offense? Popcorn.

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