SI.com's 2005 NFL Team Previews

[SteelersNation7]

For us to win The Super Bowl...Cowher's going to have to stop being stubborn and make the right adjustment in the big game (When needed) stop running on first and second down EVERY single Time.....He did that a few years ago against the Pats and he did it last year against them...and it killed our Roookie QB...Ben was a sitting duck...because Cowher would not go against Steeler Football...Run,Run Run...even if it meant going to the Super Bowl..
Ever wonder Why Cowher hasn't won the big one yet????

[clevestinks]

yeah I figured as much. Its hard to ignore them.

[clevestinks]

Originally Posted by SteelersNation7

For us to win The Super Bowl...Cowher's going to have to stop being stubborn and make the right adjustment in the big game (When needed) stop running on first and second down EVERY single Time.....He did that a few years ago against the Pats and he did it last year against them...and it killed our Roookie QB...Ben was a sitting duck...because Cowher would not go against Steeler Football...Run,Run Run...even if it meant going to the Super Bowl..
Ever wonder Why Cowher hasn't won the big one yet????

Cowher has taken the team to the big one. Look how many coaches come and go and never come close. Cleveland has had eight head coaches to our two, since 1970. They have never made it with any coach. This is not as easy as it seems. Cowher puts competitive teams on the field often. He has played for the AFC championship 5 times. Although his record is 1-4 in these games. In these days of free agency, I think he manages his talent well. Does he NEED to win a bowl ? Yes. He has had to good a career already , for it to have all been forgotten, because if no ring.

[Livinginthe past]

Originally Posted by SteelersNation7

For us to win The Super Bowl...Cowher's going to have to stop being stubborn and make the right adjustment in the big game (When needed) stop running on first and second down EVERY single Time.....He did that a few years ago against the Pats and he did it last year against them...and it killed our Roookie QB...Ben was a sitting duck...because Cowher would not go against Steeler Football...Run,Run Run...even if it meant going to the Super Bowl..
Ever wonder Why Cowher hasn't won the big one yet????

I agree totally with this analysis. There is one school of thought that says you have to stick with the game plan that got you so far but I think that leads to you being a predictable side.
The Patriots thrive on being able to adapt to any given situation - you have to change your look to be able to stay with them.
In the same way we know what is going to happen to Peyton Manning every year we also know what the Steelers will bring.


Knowing this, of course, is no guarantee of winning - but it sure makes life easier.

Regards

NM

[ironcitychef]

I think that balance comes in time. To pass more often on first would require us to put more options in play as well. The TE's instead of blocking for extra protection would leek out allow a possible rusher(plus our TE were not pass catching pedigrees), or since Duce was hurt it would require Bettis to get to the outside for a swing pass or such(and he had that bizarre fumble deal last year which rarley happend before), so I like rolling the dice with the highest % of just handing off. Since NE was playing 8 LBS roaming anyway we might not have handle the screens as well anyway. Maybe this year, Ben can read and recognize a little better to allow some protection to go pass active to give us more balance. Does anyone know which 50% of the playbook we were using anyway? Maybe some of the balance was in that...

[Avoid LLoyd1975]

I think we could steam roll through our schedule again. We are more experienced at key positions and most importantly the experience of our youth has developed some. The team has the taste of victory still from last year even though we got handled by the patriots when it counted.