KEEP THIS IN MIND!!!

[Rick5895]

[QUOTE=wutchy;891322]I am a longtime Steeler fan. I can remember watching them in black and white in the 60's. I liked the steelers of the mid-90's the most. 94, 95, 96, 97.
I was thrilled to experience the super bowl wins in the 70's, but my favorite teams were the 90's guys.

That said, I don't want to piss on anybody's parade here, but you have to keep all this post season excitement in perspective. The steelers finished 12-4 this year.

The reality is that we probably won four games on miracles. Miami, Buffalo, Cincy, and Baltimore. We were that close// to being 8-8.

8-8 and is a big difference from 12-4. DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT. THATS JUST KEEPIN IT REAL.

I'm glad we finished 12-4, but just to keep it real, you have to step back and realize that we're more like an 8-8 team talentwise.


You need to keep this in mind....Every team in the NFL wins or loses by close margins most of the time. A play here or there determines the outcome, this isn't college football where teams win by 40 every game. As other have said you can say the same about Ratbirds , Patriots etc. The only thing that matters is the W, it doesn't matter how the win happens.

Keep something else in mind to..... we have the Ratbirds number, they can't seem to beat us when Ben plays, we just make enough plays to win the game. This rivalry reminds me of the Oilers/Steeler rivalry in the '70's. The Oilers beat up the rest of the NFL for a period of time but couldn't beat Pittsburgh when it mattered...Playoffs.

If , Wutchy, you are really a Steeler fan, cut out the negativity and for once look at the positives of the great team/fan base we are. If you are not a Steeler fan .....GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!

[grward]

Originally Posted by Rick5895

If , Wutchy, you are really a Steeler fan, cut out the negativity and for once look at the positives of the great team/fan base we are. If you are not a Steeler fan .....GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!!!

And b/c I don't think you're a Steelers fan .....

[wutchy]

I watched those 4 games again over the past week. [i was jonesing].

They were BAD WINS. I know, I know, any win is a good win, but those were bad wins. Like the Seattle super bowl. I loved it that we got one for the thumb, but it was a bad win.

Those four games this year feel the same to me, no matter how many times i watch them.

The record says 12-4. In my mind, it feels like 8-8.
But i have the advantage of watching the replays on video. You all probably don't do that.

Those 4 games seemed like gifts from God. Especially the Miami, Buffalo, and Baltimore games. The cincy game was different, we outplayed them for most of the game.

[cubanstogie]

Originally Posted by wutchy

I watched those 4 games again over the past week. [i was jonesing].

They were BAD WINS. I know, I know, any win is a good win, but those were bad wins. Like the Seattle super bowl. I loved it that we got one for the thumb, but it was a bad win.

Those four games this year feel the same to me, no matter how many times i watch them.

The record says 12-4. In my mind, it feels like 8-8.
But i have the advantage of watching the replays on video. You all probably don't do that.

Those 4 games seemed like gifts from God. Especially the Miami, Buffalo, and Baltimore games. The cincy game was different, we outplayed them for most of the game.

Hey Glum, will you go away after this week. You posts make me want to take Trazadone or Prozac. The record doesn't lie.

[madtowndrunkard]

Originally Posted by wutchy

I watched those 4 games again over the past week. [i was jonesing].

They were BAD WINS. I know, I know, any win is a good win, but those were bad wins. Like the Seattle super bowl. I loved it that we got one for the thumb, but it was a bad win.

Those four games this year feel the same to me, no matter how many times i watch them.

The record says 12-4. In my mind, it feels like 8-8.
But i have the advantage of watching the replays on video. You all probably don't do that.

Those 4 games seemed like gifts from God. Especially the Miami, Buffalo, and Baltimore games. The cincy game was different, we outplayed them for most of the game.

I know what you are saying....but really the same can be said about our 2005 team...and probably our 2008 team.

The key to winning the SB is getting hot at the right moment.....sure you need the talent....but if you can put it all together come playoff time then you will be a SB winner.

A great example of this is the Patriots.... anyone remember that season they went 16-0? Neither do I. Once you get in the playoffs that is when you have to put it all together. It doesn't matter what you did during the regular season.

I'd agree most of this season I dont think we played anywhere near our capability. We did get lucky to win 3-4 games. We also got lucky to lose a game or two. Are we favorites to win it all? Heck no. I wouldn't put $500 on this team to win it all. But I do believe we have a legit shot if we do put it together.

I disagree with you about the 8-8 talent. I think we have 12-4 talent.....I think our coaching was 8-8 this season. I think Tomlin and Arians did a very poor job this season. Our defenses basically carried us most of this season so you can't really point the finger at DL. Like players though, I think coaches can hit there stride. So hopefully it all comes together on Saturday. Sure we are capable of getting our butts kicked....what team isn't?

[Buddha Bus]

Originally Posted by madtowndrunkard

I know what you are saying....but really the same can be said about our 2005 team...and probably our 2008 team.

The key to winning the SB is getting hot at the right moment.....sure you need the talent....but if you can put it all together come playoff time then you will be a SB winner.

A great example of this is the Patriots.... anyone remember that season they went 16-0? Neither do I. Once you get in the playoffs that is when you have to put it all together. It doesn't matter what you did during the regular season.

I'd agree most of this season I dont think we played anywhere near our capability. We did get lucky to win 3-4 games. We also got lucky to lose a game or two. Are we favorites to win it all? Heck no. I wouldn't put $500 on this team to win it all. But I do believe we have a legit shot if we do put it together.

I disagree with you about the 8-8 talent. I think we have 12-4 talent.....I think our coaching was 8-8 this season. I think Tomlin and Arians did a very poor job this season. Our defenses basically carried us most of this season so you can't really point the finger at DL. Like players though, I think coaches can hit there stride. So hopefully it all comes together on Saturday. Sure we are capable of getting our butts kicked....what team isn't?

Agreed. I think the last few weeks of the regular season, the team was hitting it's offensive stride. The quick slants and passes to players out of the backfield have helped tremendously. We don't need to look 15+ yards down the field on every pass play. Take what the defense gives you and those plays will begin to open up.

The defense has been lights out all year except for the Pats* game. If we can beat the Ratbirds this week, remain healthy and LeBeau can find a way to slow Tom Brady down, I don't know if I see any way we DON'T win the trophy this year. This team is extremely talented and has been underachieving most of the season on offense IMHO. If the D remains on course and our O continues to improve and peaks right now, we're going to be tough to handle.

[steeltheone]

This team is not as strong as many of the 90's teams overall.....But we have a Franchise QB...Makes all the difference.

[madtowndrunkard]

Originally Posted by steeltheone

This team is not as strong as many of the 90's teams overall.....But we have a Franchise QB...Makes all the difference.

I can think of maybe one or two steeler defensive units that are as good as this one....over the past 15-20 years. Our corners aren't the greatest but our safeties are amazing. Troy is the best safety to ever play in a steeler's uniform and that is saying something. Troy is no Rod Woodson (yet) but he played a different position.

Our LB play right now is also among the best we've seen. Harrison is definitely among some of the great steeler LB's we've had over the past 10-20 years. Woodley and Farrior are damn good. Timmons is on the verge of greatness IMO. He just needs to stay healthy and improve his decision making.

Ben is arguably the best QB the steelers have ever had. Ward and Wallace are damn good WR's.

Our O-line isn't as good as we've had during the 90's but how good would any O-line be with out their two starting tackles?

I think the major differences with this team and our past great teams is coaching #1(minus DL) , and then our running game. I think the game planning and preparation is as bad as any steeler team I've seen in my life time. After that I'd say our RB play right now is not anywhere near the level we saw in the 90's. Overall we are loaded with as much talent as any steeler team since the 90's....that is why we are winning now.

If only our teams in the 90's had a QB like Ben. If only we had a running back as good as Bettis now.

[plenewken]

Originally Posted by madtowndrunkard

I can think of maybe one or two steeler defensive units that are as good as this one....over the past 15-20 years. Our corners aren't the greatest but our safeties are amazing. Troy is the best safety to ever play in a steeler's uniform and that is saying something. Troy is no Rod Woodson (yet) but he played a different position.

Our LB play right now is also among the best we've seen. Harrison is definitely among some of the great steeler LB's we've had over the past 10-20 years. Woodley and Farrior are damn good. Timmons is on the verge of greatness IMO. He just needs to stay healthy and improve his decision making.

Ben is arguably the best QB the steelers have ever had. Ward and Wallace are damn good WR's.

Our O-line isn't as good as we've had during the 90's but how good would any O-line be with out their two starting tackles?

I think the major differences with this team and our past great teams is coaching #1(minus DL) , and then our running game. I think the game planning and preparation is as bad as any steeler team I've seen in my life time. After that I'd say our RB play right now is not anywhere near the level we saw in the 90's. Overall we are loaded with as much talent as any steeler team since the 90's....that is why we are winning now.

If only our teams in the 90's had a QB like Ben. If only we had a running back as good as Bettis now.

Great post.

[madtowndrunkard]

Originally Posted by plenewken

Great post.

This is why I hope our #1 draft pick this off season is a RB. Mendy is a good back but he can only take what is given to him. He's not the type of RB who will consistently create yardage on the ground. If Mendy is given a couple yards by his O-line he'll take it. But I think we need a RB who will create yards when they aren't there. (does that make any sense?)

We also need improvement on our O-line and depth on our D-line but I think a really good RB would make all the difference in the world.