we had long term success. couldn't get over the hump to get to a SB but we had long term success. bad drafts happen.
2 or 3 seasons isn't long term success Junc. Chargers had a larger window then us with Rivers. Not as much postseason success but they had more opportunities Steelers prior to Troy retiring, just examples of having good a good core set of players. We didn't have enough cracks at it and it goes back to the draft.
ROFLMAO. I have him on permanent ignore, so am always unaware in which threads he posts, and don't care.
I would tend to agree with you on this. There's some other dynamic going on here like you said, that we don't know about. Maybe they want to see more out of Wilkerson than what they have already. Who knows but its a dangerous game they're playing here. Precedence setting can bite in the ass at the worse times..
unlike SD w/ Rivers we actually got close to SBs. they made one title game when Rivers got hurt and they weren't very competitive in that title game. it wasn't 2 or 3 seasons, it was more than that. we were a playoff contender nearly every year- the only times we weren't were b/c of QB injuries- '99, '03, '05, '07 we had plenty of cracks at it but were always playing for WCs since 2001 b/c of Brady.
Even newbie GM's must know that there's a downside to making a starter, arguably a key player, in his contract year be told they will be dealt with after the FO takes care of implicitly more important stuff. Heh. Hopefully they feel they have a good reason to hold off on dealing with Wilkerson.
Well, another factor is.... Revis. Mo knows how Revis got paid and probably won't have any problem at all holding out until he gets his. Frankly, given the futures these big guys face after their playing days are over, I don't blame them one bit for getting every dime they can, while they can. If history proves correct, they're gonna need every dollar of it just to survive the physical torture that seems unavoidable in their future.
100% agree, I know he is a force on the line, BUT nothing stands out to SAY OMG we are dead without him.
Those yrs are valid, I give you those. What about 2011? What about now? Also, the Chargers in 2007 - that team if healthy beats the Patriots. Rivers had a torn ACL I believe. Look at the Steelers consistency in the 2000s. Consistent drafting.
no it doesn't b/c they had Rivers. healthy Rivers w/ better SD team at HOME and much worse Pats team they couldn't beat them. we were not the Steelers, the biggest difference is they have a future HOF QB and we never did.
No, it was because Rivers had a torn ACL in the conference game. That Chargers team was beat up in 2007. Brady played awful that game. What about 2000 to 2003 prior to Ben arriving? 2 winning seasons with Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox. Even so, when Big Ben first came aboard, he wasn't elite or very good, he was average at best.
Pitt won a weak division in 2001 and 1 playoff game, they won 1 playoff game in 2002. they were 6-10 in 2003 then 15-1 in 2004 w/ Ben. if Rivers is healthy they may not make the title game as his backup led SD to GW TD. Brady was banged up too, injuries are part of the game.
Injuries, are but a torn ACL makes a huge difference. I think LT was hurt that game also. In regards to Pitt and the weak division, I still don't think that's an excuse - they were still a good team during the regular season. They still consistently got better until they were able to get over the hump. Big Ben's first SB, he was awful in that game. They had a great defense and a strong running game. That goes back to good drafting. 2004, one of the more underrated defenses we've seen in the NFL. Majority of the components were from the draft. 2001: Casey Hampton 2002: Antawaan Randle El (Big reason why they won the SB) Larry Foote Brett Keisel 2003 draft: Troy Polamalu Ike Taylor Those are just examples. 3 straight years of getting at least 1 good player in the draft.
Ben was awful in that SB but was GREAT in the 3 AFC playoff games, they don't get close to a SB w/o him.
Or more specifically w/out that defense and running game. That is why the draft is important Junc. You make my point even more valid.
Pretty sure defense and running games are what made the Steelers great in the first place. That is their identity. How many SBs did they win with that formula? even so, they don't go 15-1 w/out that great defense. that defense was highly underrated. one of the best of that decade.
how many SBs were they winning pre-Ben? of course they don't go 15-1 w/o that defense but they don't go 15-1 w/o Ben either and in the biggest game of the year that D was shredded by NE. underrated? everyone calls them a top D of that decade- they weren't Bal '00 or TB '02 but they had consistent top Ds.
Big Ben is not going to carry that team to the SB - still validates that you have to build through the draft because the impact players on that team were acquired via the draft. You can nitpick that, but the end of the day, the draft is very much important.
who said you don't have to build through the draft? were the Steelers shipping off established top guys for draft picks? that is what this discussion is about, fans treating draft day like it is a SB. wanting to lose games for better draft position, wanting to get rid of good players for more picks. was Pitt losing games for better draft position? were they shipping off good players for picks?
