Tar Heel Bill Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 CBS Sports article Everyone wants to know the secret to the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. How can a team that was once 7-5 now find itself one game away from the impossible, getting a ring after ripping off seven consecutive victories, including three on the road in the playoffs? Is it the improvement of Ben Roethlisberger? How about the play of All-World safety Troy Polamalu? Maybe great run defense? They've all been a big factor, but if you really want to see the secret to the Steelers' turnaround, it's really right in front of our faces. How could we possibly miss 1,700 pounds of them? It's the Steelers' powerful offensive line, five guys who have suddenly jelled into a unit that not only protects Roethlisberger, but also can run the ball when the Steelers get a lead. They are strong enough to play the road-grader line, yet nimble enough to handle blitzing teams as they did Sunday against Denver in the AFC Championship Game. That's one thing about the NFL and good teams: Their offensive lines are usually pretty dominant. For that to be the case, it usually takes premium picks to be successful. The Indianapolis Colts' line was dominated by the Steelers a few weeks back. Do you know how many first-, second- or third-round picks are on that line? One. The Steelers have three former first-round picks, a second-round pick (Smith) and a third-round pick (Starks). The front office has made drafting big bodies a priority, although Hartings was signed as a free agent from Detroit. "This is a team that uses high picks on linemen," Starks said. "When they drafted us, they expected us to be successful. And right now that's apparent." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movinon Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 CBS Sports article Everyone wants to know the secret to the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. How can a team that was once 7-5 now find itself one game away from the impossible, getting a ring after ripping off seven consecutive victories, including three on the road in the playoffs? Is it the improvement of Ben Roethlisberger? How about the play of All-World safety Troy Polamalu? Maybe great run defense? They've all been a big factor, but if you really want to see the secret to the Steelers' turnaround, it's really right in front of our faces. How could we possibly miss 1,700 pounds of them? It's the Steelers' powerful offensive line, five guys who have suddenly jelled into a unit that not only protects Roethlisberger, but also can run the ball when the Steelers get a lead. They are strong enough to play the road-grader line, yet nimble enough to handle blitzing teams as they did Sunday against Denver in the AFC Championship Game. That's one thing about the NFL and good teams: Their offensive lines are usually pretty dominant. For that to be the case, it usually takes premium picks to be successful. The Indianapolis Colts' line was dominated by the Steelers a few weeks back. Do you know how many first-, second- or third-round picks are on that line? One. The Steelers have three former first-round picks, a second-round pick (Smith) and a third-round pick (Starks). The front office has made drafting big bodies a priority, although Hartings was signed as a free agent from Detroit. "This is a team that uses high picks on linemen," Starks said. "When they drafted us, they expected us to be successful. And right now that's apparent." 583416[/snapback] Hmmm, Mike Williams was the 4th overall pick - Guess we gambled and lost on that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 CBS Sports article Everyone wants to know the secret to the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. 583416[/snapback] A busted knee and a missed fg helped a bit. Not that's there's anything wrong with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlamnSam Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 CBS Sports article Everyone wants to know the secret to the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. How can a team that was once 7-5 now find itself one game away from the impossible, getting a ring after ripping off seven consecutive victories, including three on the road in the playoffs? Is it the improvement of Ben Roethlisberger? How about the play of All-World safety Troy Polamalu? Maybe great run defense? They've all been a big factor, but if you really want to see the secret to the Steelers' turnaround, it's really right in front of our faces. How could we possibly miss 1,700 pounds of them? It's the Steelers' powerful offensive line, five guys who have suddenly jelled into a unit that not only protects Roethlisberger, but also can run the ball when the Steelers get a lead. They are strong enough to play the road-grader line, yet nimble enough to handle blitzing teams as they did Sunday against Denver in the AFC Championship Game. That's one thing about the NFL and good teams: Their offensive lines are usually pretty dominant. For that to be the case, it usually takes premium picks to be successful. The Indianapolis Colts' line was dominated by the Steelers a few weeks back. Do you know how many first-, second- or third-round picks are on that line? One. The Steelers have three former first-round picks, a second-round pick (Smith) and a third-round pick (Starks). The front office has made drafting big bodies a priority, although Hartings was signed as a free agent from Detroit. "This is a team that uses high picks on linemen," Starks said. "When they drafted us, they expected us to be successful. And right now that's apparent." 583416[/snapback] So say you, then why the hell cant they win a superbowl then? Meaning this era of cower. Gee whiz maybe its thier white uni's, well at least thats what Pittsburg thinks it is. There isnt any dam secret formula, it all depends in the way a team becomes a team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typical TBD Guy Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 Good article. Normally I'm against unsubstantiated psychoanalyses of Bills players and personnel... ...but in the case of Tom Donahoe, I think it's perfectly reasonable to suggest that his failures in Buffalo were in large part due to ego. Case in point: building an NFL offense through the draft. Here was a guy who came from the aforementioned successful Rooney/Steeler school of thought on this subject. As the Steelers' GM, TD used a lot of his day 1 draft picks on offensive linemen in the 90's, and the skill positions were for the most part a secondary concern. This makes sense because - as Bills fans should know more than anybody - it's hard to evaluate the talent you have at the skill positions when there is no line blocking for them. But then TD was fired, came to Buffalo, and got so caught up with proving his Pittsburgh doubters wrong that he all too often jumped on the high risk/high reward draft day opportunities that attracted national attention (examples: the Bledsoe trade, the McGahee selection, the Losman trade) instead of sticking to the bread and butter fundamentals of building the OL first. Note that after Mike Williams was drafted #4 overall in 2002, no OL player was drafted within the first day thereafter . Instead, from 2003-2005 we drafted a boatload of offensive skill position players (McGahee, Losman, Evans, Parrish, Everett) while the OL continued to deteriorate as CV got older and JJ grew greedier and MW became more of a kitty. Anyway, sorry to beat this dead horse . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tar Heel Bill Posted January 25, 2006 Author Share Posted January 25, 2006 Steelers much more successful than Bills.......Cannot win Super Bowl - That will probably change in a couple weeks. AS for the Bills, can we even get to the playoffs.........What are the playoffs???? So say you, then why the hell cant they win a superbowl then? Meaning this era of cower. Gee whiz maybe its thier white uni's, well at least thats what Pittsburg thinks it is. There isnt any dam secret formula, it all depends in the way a team becomes a team. 583431[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlamnSam Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 Steelers much more successful than Bills.......Cannot win Super Bowl - That will probably change in a couple weeks. AS for the Bills, can we even get to the playoffs.........What are the playoffs???? 583448[/snapback] If I read that right you actually believe Pittsburg has a chance against the Seahawks? Lets see if its the white unis or the road GRADDER. I just see a plain ole "L" next weekend for the steel white shower curtain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orton's Arm Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 Hmmm, Mike Williams was the 4th overall pick - Guess we gambled and lost on that one 583421[/snapback] That was just one pick!!!! The Steelers used FOUR first-day picks on their OL, plus they signed another guy who was also a first-day pick. Any player you draft, at any position, can turn out to be a bust. There's no way of getting aroud that. But that hardly excuses TD's failure to spend high picks on the OL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obie_wan Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 That was just one pick!!!! The Steelers used FOUR first-day picks on their OL, plus they signed another guy who was also a first-day pick. Any player you draft, at any position, can turn out to be a bust. There's no way of getting aroud that. But that hardly excuses TD's failure to spend high picks on the OL. 583482[/snapback] Ben Sobieski is still our secret weapon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Movinon Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 That was just one pick!!!! The Steelers used FOUR first-day picks on their OL, plus they signed another guy who was also a first-day pick. Any player you draft, at any position, can turn out to be a bust. There's no way of getting aroud that. But that hardly excuses TD's failure to spend high picks on the OL. 583482[/snapback] Understand, but your statement "that hardly excuses TD's failure to spend high picks on the OL. Enlighten me; who you would have taken with that pick we used for Williams? McKinney?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albany,n.y. Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 Ben Sobieski is still our secret weapon 583500[/snapback] He's already been waived off the team, we need a new secret weapon-how about Lawrence Smith? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 What a stupid analysis. Everyone knows it's the 12th Man's fault. We can't hold a candle to the wielders of the Terrible Towels. THEY absolutely care about their team. We obviously don't. We ran a near-Christ-like General Manager out of town because we couldn't appreciate his genius. We spit on his choices for HC and didn't appreciate how much hard work they did and how nearly impossible it is to win in this league on any given Sunday. We grew impatient because our lying eyes couldn't see the obvious progress going on from week to week. I blame only myself, and oh yeah - those who secretly hope for The Bills to get back to 2-14 so they can buy cheap seats and then walk through a cavernous empty Ralph every Sunday and have their pick of any of 50,000 empty benches in the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffOrange Posted January 25, 2006 Share Posted January 25, 2006 If I read that right you actually believe Pittsburg has a chance against the Seahawks? 583472[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRT88 Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 CBS Sports article Everyone wants to know the secret to the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. How can a team that was once 7-5 now find itself one game away from the impossible, getting a ring after ripping off seven consecutive victories, including three on the road in the playoffs? Is it the improvement of Ben Roethlisberger? How about the play of All-World safety Troy Polamalu? Maybe great run defense? They've all been a big factor, but if you really want to see the secret to the Steelers' turnaround, it's really right in front of our faces. How could we possibly miss 1,700 pounds of them? It's the Steelers' powerful offensive line, five guys who have suddenly jelled into a unit that not only protects Roethlisberger, but also can run the ball when the Steelers get a lead. They are strong enough to play the road-grader line, yet nimble enough to handle blitzing teams as they did Sunday against Denver in the AFC Championship Game. That's one thing about the NFL and good teams: Their offensive lines are usually pretty dominant. For that to be the case, it usually takes premium picks to be successful. The Indianapolis Colts' line was dominated by the Steelers a few weeks back. Do you know how many first-, second- or third-round picks are on that line? One. The Steelers have three former first-round picks, a second-round pick (Smith) and a third-round pick (Starks). The front office has made drafting big bodies a priority, although Hartings was signed as a free agent from Detroit. "This is a team that uses high picks on linemen," Starks said. "When they drafted us, they expected us to be successful. And right now that's apparent." 583416[/snapback] Secret to the Steelers success two head coaches in my life time. Hint: I was born in 1969. We have had more coaches this century and we are talking only a 5 year period! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Ben Sobieski is still our secret weapon 583500[/snapback] No he's not, he's San Fran's answer to Jennings-a-la-Cart. Sobieski signed a two-year deal with SF a couple of weeks ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 CBS Sports article Everyone wants to know the secret to the Pittsburgh Steelers playing in the Super Bowl. How can a team that was once 7-5 now find itself one game away from the impossible, getting a ring after ripping off seven consecutive victories, including three on the road in the playoffs? Is it the improvement of Ben Roethlisberger? How about the play of All-World safety Troy Polamalu? Maybe great run defense? They've all been a big factor, but if you really want to see the secret to the Steelers' turnaround, it's really right in front of our faces. How could we possibly miss 1,700 pounds of them? It's the Steelers' powerful offensive line, five guys who have suddenly jelled into a unit that not only protects Roethlisberger, but also can run the ball when the Steelers get a lead. They are strong enough to play the road-grader line, yet nimble enough to handle blitzing teams as they did Sunday against Denver in the AFC Championship Game. That's one thing about the NFL and good teams: Their offensive lines are usually pretty dominant. For that to be the case, it usually takes premium picks to be successful. The Indianapolis Colts' line was dominated by the Steelers a few weeks back. Do you know how many first-, second- or third-round picks are on that line? One. The Steelers have three former first-round picks, a second-round pick (Smith) and a third-round pick (Starks). The front office has made drafting big bodies a priority, although Hartings was signed as a free agent from Detroit. "This is a team that uses high picks on linemen," Starks said. "When they drafted us, they expected us to be successful. And right now that's apparent." 583416[/snapback] They also draft hard hitting defenders. And, FFS would be delighted to know that the last time they drafted a qb in the 1st Round before Big Ben was 1980. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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