How Does Pitsburgh Have A Better Lineup

[Free Agent]

[quote name='Pitts200' timestamp='1314889876' post='772442']
What if we add in some intangibles since these ratings aren't the end all, like:

Clutch Playmaking Defense - Steelers
Clutch Playmaking Offense - Steelers

Coaching Defense - Steelers
[b]Coaching Offense - Ravens[/b]

Least Timely Penalties - Ravens (Steelers always shoot themselves in the foot)

Offensive Team Chemistry - Steelers
Defensive Team Chemistry - Slightly to the Steelers, even though Ray and Reed bring the thunder.


These are pretty stupid categories but oh well.
[/quote]

Funny thing is after last season, pretty much every Ravens fan wanted Cam Cameron gone. I never really though about how Steelers fans feel about Bruce Arians...

[mhead66]

[quote name='Free Agent' timestamp='1314909593' post='772748']

Funny thing is after last season, pretty much every Ravens fan wanted Cam Cameron gone. I never really though about how Steelers fans feel about Bruce Arians...
[/quote]
On the forum Steelersfever.com, there is a stickied thread, 26 pages long, called "The Fire Bruce Arians Thread", where it's pretty much unanimous that Bruce Arians need to be terminated.

Gang Green, the NY Jets' (notorious) forum, universally says that Brian Schottenheimer, their OC, needs to be canned.

I think it's pretty much universal that no one is happy with their own OC... at least it seems that way.

[PuRock]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1314910434' post='772762']
On the forum Steelersfever.com, there is a stickied thread, 26 pages long, called "The Fire Bruce Arians Thread", where it's pretty much unanimous that Bruce Arians need to be terminated.

Gang Green, the NY Jets' (notorious) forum, universally says that Brian Schottenheimer, their OC, needs to be canned.

I think it's pretty much universal that no one is happy with their own OC... at least it seems that way. [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/wink.png[/img]
[/quote]

I was about to say the same thing. Most teams in the league hate their offensive coordinators. This isn't something that we are exclusive too.

Not only that, but many of the same complaints that we have here (on everything) are the same complaints around the league.

Kevin Byrne did a great article last year where he listed all the fans complaints. 1) Offensive Coordinator sucks 2) O-Line Sucks 3) Defense is getting old 4) Cornerbacks are getting beat, etc, etc,etc , and everybody thought he was talking about the Ravens and then said 'these are the complaints from the Steelers fans about their team'.

[YYZ66]

OK, feeling lazy here, really don't want to read the previous 4 pages, so sorry if this was mentioned!

The biggest advantage Pitt has is LaBeau. Absolute defensive genius.

[mhead66]

[quote name='YYZ66' timestamp='1314912352' post='772788']
OK, feeling lazy here, really don't want to read the previous 4 pages, so sorry if this was mentioned!

The biggest advantage Pitt has is LaBeau. Absolute defensive genius.
[/quote]
Agreed.

Luckily for Ravens fans, LeBeau is turning 74 next week. He can't last forever...

[SteelersProphet]

no that cant be true...........THATS IMPOSSIBLE!!

lol sorry im watching starwars

[The Raven]

[quote name='STEELERS PROPHET268' timestamp='1314891500' post='772452']

in my opinion that was defensive players reacting to the fact that they didnt like ward being able to hit them in a way they couldnt hit offensive players

but at the time he was allowed to.......so he did

and he wasnt going to let other teams players tell him how to play......he fights with everything he has for the steelers
[/quote]

I hate agreeing with a Pittsburgh fan..... but I do... I like the way Hines plays football. Sure, he plays dirty at times. But he plays the game they way its supposed to be played. Simple as that. Ask anyone, Football never was, and (hopefully) never will be a clean game. It's meant to be violent.

LT: Ravens
LG: Ravens
C: Steelers
RG: Ravens
RT: Ravens
TE: Steelers
QB:Steelers
FB: Ravens
HB: Ravens
WR: Ravens
WR: Steelers
WR: Steelers

LE: Steelers
NT: Steelers
RE: Ravens
LOLB: Steelers
MLB: Ravens
JLB: Steelers
ROLB: This one's tough... I can't decide on this one.
SS: Steelers
FS: Ravens
CB: Steelers
CB: Ravens
CB: Ravens

[gabefergy]

[quote name='STEELERS PROPHET268' timestamp='1314917047' post='772866']
no that cant be true...........THATS IMPOSSIBLE!!

lol sorry im watching starwars
[/quote]

Admiral Ackbar voice: "that thing's operational"

[ravensfan2430]

When two teams are as close as these two are talents wise, its all about 1 or 2 plays a game.

[lowrider]

[quote name='Blex64' timestamp='1314847482' post='772247']

Apparently Matt Ryan is now better then Aaron Rodgers because one made the Pro Bowl and is younger.

Also, Birk was the best Center in the league last season, with his bad knee. Better then Mangold and Pouncey, who were both Pro-Bowlers. Pro Bowls are vote-based, so your stance is like saying Twilight is a better movie then Inception because it got more votes at the MTV Movie Awards.

Evans is a better route-runner and better after catch. He's also had significantly worse QB's then Wallace. I'm not saying Evans is better, but I think its close.

He plays perfectly fine in the 4th quarter. Insert generic Titans, Steelers, and Falcons examples. Our problem closing games last season was about 99% not Flacco's fault.

Steelers pass rush is better with Harrison healthy and fit, which he doesn't appear to be. Williams had a great preseason last year as well, but he didn't show up at all during the regular season. Maybe things will be different this year (I sure hope so) but don't count your chickens before they've hatched.
[/quote]
Ok the analogy with Matt Ryan and Rodgers doesn't fit and is a poor analogy. Birk is coming off a knee injury very recently and hasn't even practiced for over two weeks. There is no way to be in prime game shape in two weeks off of knee surgery. Unlike Pouncey who is healthy and was the only stability force last year for that offensive line and he was a rookie. If this was an argument who is better in their prime it would be a different argument. But Pouncey week one is going to be better

Then I would not say that Evans is a better YAC guy than Wallace and saying that he is a better route runner is debatable too but it is closer in that degree. The fact is, great WR's still get catches regardless of the qb. Stevie Johnson did better than Evans and they had the same qb. Fitzgerald had over 90 receptions with Derek Anderson as qb. Calvin Johnson has been great with and without Stafford. And so on and so forth. Evans has been inconsistent but has big play ability. He can't handle the number 1 corners. Thats just the facts. I think he is a perfect compliment to Boldin, but to say he is better than Wallace who put up the stats like he did in the second year in the league without Big Ben for 4 games is impressive.

Flacco should have seen Troy come off the corner on that safety blitz which caused a fumble and gave the Steelers a victory. Flacco shouldn't have thrown a bad interception by throwing to Heap in the 3rd quarter of the AFC championship. And I give Flacco half the blame for the bad snap with Birk which lead to a fumble. For better or for worse, those things happened. Now Flacco has brought us back from leads and won games for us. But he has also has his parts in losing them. He deserves more blame than 99% but less blame than what ESPN has been giving him

And I will believe Harrison is out of shape when I see it. I mean he is getting up there in years and he threatened to retire last year so he could be losing passion for the game. But the Ravens defense could be better than the Steelers. But a lot depends on Troy and Harrison's health and fitness, and the Ravens youth and pass rush.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='lowrider' timestamp='1314932770' post='773898']
Ok the analogy with Matt Ryan and Rodgers doesn't fit and is a poor analogy. Birk is coming off a knee injury very recently and hasn't even practiced for over two weeks. There is no way to be in prime game shape in two weeks off of knee surgery. Unlike Pouncey who is healthy and was the only stability force last year for that offensive line and he was a rookie. If this was an argument who is better in their prime it would be a different argument. But Pouncey week one is going to be better

Then I would not say that Evans is a better YAC guy than Wallace and saying that he is a better route runner is debatable too but it is closer in that degree. The fact is, great WR's still get catches regardless of the qb.[b] Stevie Johnson did better than Evans and they had the same qb. Fitzgerald had over 90 receptions with Derek Anderson as qb. Calvin Johnson has been great with and without Stafford. And so on and so forth. Evans has been inconsistent but has big play ability. He can't handle the number 1 corners. Thats just the facts[/b]. I think he is a perfect compliment to Boldin, but to say he is better than Wallace who put up the stats like he did in the second year in the league without Big Ben for 4 games is impressive.

Flacco should have seen Troy come off the corner on that safety blitz which caused a fumble and gave the Steelers a victory. Flacco shouldn't have thrown a bad interception by throwing to Heap in the 3rd quarter of the AFC championship. And I give Flacco half the blame for the bad snap with Birk which lead to a fumble. For better or for worse, those things happened. Now Flacco has brought us back from leads and won games for us. But he has also has his parts in losing them. He deserves more blame than 99% but less blame than what ESPN has been giving him

And I will believe Harrison is out of shape when I see it. I mean he is getting up there in years and he threatened to retire last year so he could be losing passion for the game. But the Ravens defense could be better than the Steelers. But a lot depends on Troy and Harrison's health and fitness, and the Ravens youth and pass rush.
[/quote]

I think you have your facts a little skewed. Now, I'm not going to say the Evans is better than Wallace, but he should essentially provide the same deep threat as he has his entire career. Evans is more proven and he runs a more complete route tree, but he doesnt have the same speed as Wallace. The fact is that Evans has consistently drawn double coverage because there has never been a proven WR next to him in buffalo. The best he has had was a washed up T.O. Steve Johnson will not be able to replicate last season's performance now that he doesnt have Evans to open up the field for him.

[lowrider]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1314933648' post='773930']

I think you have your facts a little skewed. Now, I'm not going to say the Evans is better than Wallace, but he should essentially provide the same deep threat as he has his entire career. Evans is more proven and he runs a more complete route tree, but he doesnt have the same speed as Wallace. The fact is that Evans has consistently drawn double coverage because there has never been a proven WR next to him in buffalo. The best he has had was a washed up T.O. [b]Steve Johnson will not be able to replicate last season's performance now that he doesnt have Evans to open up the field for him.[/b]
[/quote]
That partly is your opinion. I think differently because he is on my fantasy team .

I agree to some of your points. Evans definitely does extend the field and has some of the same talents Wallace does. And I think that having Evans will provide the same threat that having Wallace does for the Steelers. But Wallace has more speed than Evans and can beat cbs enough with his legs that it over shadows his route running abilities. Some of that could be part of a result that Big Ben extends plays and that gives Wallace more time to get open and find holes. But definitely the fact he is an explosive receiver and a top receiver in the league is also part of it.

But even still, if Evans had so much talent why did Stevie Johnson have the great year and Evans didn't? If there was another good wr to take away the double team, then Evans should have been tearing up with that philosophy. There is no way that Evans took all the focus just so Johnson could score. Evans is a great talent, but he isn't a number one wr. And he can't beat number one cbs consistently like Wallace can.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='lowrider' timestamp='1314934392' post='773941']
That partly is your opinion. I think differently because he is on my fantasy team [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img].

I agree to some of your points. Evans definitely does extend the field and has some of the same talents Wallace does. And I think that having Evans will provide the same threat that having Wallace does for the Steelers. But Wallace has more speed than Evans and can beat cbs enough with his legs that it over shadows his route running abilities. Some of that could be part of a result that Big Ben extends plays and that gives Wallace more time to get open and find holes. But definitely the fact he is an explosive receiver and a top receiver in the league is also part of it.

But even still, if Evans had so much talent why did Stevie Johnson have the great year and Evans didn't? If there was another good wr to take away the double team, then Evans should have been tearing up with that philosophy. There is no way that Evans took all the focus just so Johnson could score. Evans is a great talent, but he isn't a number one wr. And he can't beat number one cbs consistently like Wallace can.
[/quote]
I think you are right in saying Evans is not a true #1. He has put up good numbers considering who he has had throwing him the ball, but not great numbers by any means. His role is to make the opposing defense respect the deep ball and that in itself should do wonders for our offense. I would project him to catch about 50-60 passes for 800-1000 yards and 7-8 TDs. Hopefully he can stay healthy all season.

[lowrider]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1314935217' post='773956']
I think you are right in saying Evans is not a true #1. He has put up good numbers considering who he has had throwing him the ball, but not great numbers by any means. His role is to make the opposing defense respect the deep ball and that in itself should do wonders for our offense. I would project him to catch about 50-60 passes for 800-1000 yards and 7-8 TDs. Hopefully he can stay healthy all season.
[/quote]
Evans might have been the best thing to happen to the Ravens this year. I LOVE the trade for him. I'll admit I was skeptical at first, but if he could produce that 50 catch for 800 to 1000 yard season that would be lethal for this offense. Evans being great compliments Boldin, Dickson, Rice, and all the threats we have on offense. We may not have the best WR's but our offense is solid and balanced all around. And there are playmakers everywhere in our lineup

[BloodRaven]

It's simple, as long as Pittsburgh has our number they get the bragging rights.

But nobody stays on top forever.

[SteelYourThunder]

The two teams are very evenly matched but due to their recent history I think the edge goes to the Steelers. However the Ravens could win just as easily as the Steelers.

[PuRock]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1314915107' post='772830']
Agreed.

Luckily for Ravens fans, LeBeau is turning 74 next week. He can't last forever... [img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img]
[/quote]

Well if he's on the Joe Paterno (84) cycle, he's still got at least another 10 good years.

[mhead66]

[quote name='PuRock' timestamp='1314971105' post='774175']

Well if he's on the Joe Paterno (84) cycle, he's still got at least another 10 good years.
[/quote]
I was thinking that as I typed!!

He is still very fit, and honestly could last 10 more years...

It's funny, Paterno turned down the Steeler head coaching job in 1969, before Chuck Noll took it. Paterno was happy at PSU... 42 years ago.

[PuRock]

[quote name='mhead66' timestamp='1314971554' post='774185']
[img]http://content.boards.baltimoreravens.com//public/style_emoticons/default/smile.png[/img] I was thinking that as I typed!!

He is still very fit, and honestly could last 10 more years...

It's funny, Paterno turned down the Steeler head coaching job in 1969, before Chuck Noll took it. Paterno was happy at PSU... 42 years ago.
[/quote]

I'm up in Penn State all the time. My wife is an Alum. And my assessment on Joe is he needs to call it quits. He's breaking hips, forgetting things.....just like grandpa. (Let the negative reps commence from the JoePa club)

But your right about LeBeau. He is the exact opposite. He's a very youthful guy. He keeps himself and the D running at a high level. I have more faith in LeBeau to coach effectively until 85 than I do Joe Paterno.

[H8R]

LeBeau is a great football mind, he's also great because the FO puts good players on the roster.

[SecretAgentMan]

If trade for Lance Briggs, resign Ngata, and sign Lofa, we will have the better defense.

[wizard1]

Ok I luv my team but we are not ready for Pittsburg. For to many reasons to list but I will list the top 5.
!. [b]Joe Flacco[/b]-The Steelers know the formula with Joe-in your face pressure=happy feet and the big mistake-it has happened in every Steeler game since Flacco came on board. And opening day will be no different.
2.[b] Steeler defense[/b] has played together longer which is an added strength unto itself. They aren't consistently rated No. 1 for nothing .
3[b].Our pork belly offensive line[/b]. Bigger doesn't always mean better and in this case these guys are hauling around an extra 400 lbs collectively.
4. [b]Ben Roethlisberger[/b] is exactly the opposite of Joe Flacco. Hard to sack-able to scramble,decisive and a real field general, comfortable throwing on the run doesn't need constant protection to make the big play! Plays tough and plays hurt.
5.[b]History[/b]-those who don't remember it are condemned to repeat it and we have very short memories when it comes to the Steelers

[acranfor]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1314990198' post='774621']
If trade for Lance Briggs, resign Ngata, and sign Lofa, we will have the better defense.
[/quote]

Re-sign Ngata...Yes, we will get this done.

Lance briggs is (was) a good OLB but has an ego, is 30, and is also not a pass rusher. I think his most sacks are 2.5 in a season. Good run stopper though, but we already have that in JJ. No need to spend money on him.

We do need to start building up our ILBs, but I do not think Lofa is the answer. We will build through the draft in the coming years.

Our D line/OLBs are good as of now between: Suggs, Ngata, Cody, Redding, JJ, Jones, Kruger, Kindle, McPhee

In general I think our box D is one of the best in the league right now. We should be one of the tops at stopping the run and putting pressure on the QB, if not the top. My concern is our pass D. We should be great at putting pressure on the QB, but what happens when the QB gets the ball off before we get the sack is where I am still skeptical.

I have a lot of faith and excitement in Jimmy and Carey being our futures at CB, and a great future at that. Just hope they prove it this year. We have Reed back there which is always solid. Other than that, our ILB's coverage skills is what scares me. Lewis continues to slow down and I have still not seen any great coverage from McClain, Gooden, or Ellerbe.

With all the blitzes from the SS and CBs that Pagano has been throwing, this leaves a lot of pressure on our ILBs to fill the voids left.

[Blex64]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1314991529' post='774640']
Ok I luv my team but we are not ready for Pittsburg. For to many reasons to list but I will list the top 5.
!. [b]Joe Flacco[/b]-The Steelers know the formula with Joe-in your face pressure=happy feet and the big mistake-it has happened in every Steeler game since Flacco came on board. And opening day will be no different.
2.[b] Steeler defense[/b] has played together longer which is an added strength unto itself. They aren't consistently rated No. 1 for nothing .
3[b].Our pork belly offensive line[/b]. Bigger doesn't always mean better and in this case these guys are hauling around an extra 400 lbs collectively.
4. [b]Ben Roethlisberger[/b] is exactly the opposite of Joe Flacco. Hard to sack-able to scramble,decisive and a real field general, comfortable throwing on the run doesn't need constant protection to make the big play! Plays tough and plays hurt.
5.[b]History[/b]-those who don't remember it are condemned to repeat it and we have very short memories when it comes to the Steelers
[/quote]

Error: You have reached your quota for negative votes for the day.

[counts52]

i think the wizard has been watching too much espn and nflnetwork

[wizard1]

I've been watching my team from the second they got the hell out of Cleveland and we have always been a statistical middle of the pack team. We have never led the league in overall offense and even in the super bowl year we were not the number one ranked offense in the league even tho we hold the record for lowest points allowed in a season. Every year we get the same stale offense and a good defense that always seems to fall apart when needed the most. Is this year going to be any different? Well according to the pundits it will be more of the same. I take a shellacking on this site because I refuse to get up on the Super Bowl horse that always fades in the stretch every year. Until we get a bonafide pro bowl quarterback who will carry our team to the promised land I will remain deeply entrenched and grounded in realism. We have a good team again this year but unfortunately good teams don't win championships great ones do.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1315001507' post='774845']
I've been watching my team from the second they got the hell out of Cleveland and we have always been a statistical middle of the pack team. We have never led the league in overall offense and even in the super bowl year we were not the number one ranked offense in the league even tho we hold the record for lowest points allowed in a season. Every year we get the same stale offense and a good defense that always seems to fall apart when needed the most. Is this year going to be any different? Well according to the pundits it will be more of the same. I take a shellacking on this site because I refuse to get up on the Super Bowl horse that always fades in the stretch every year. Until we get a bonafide pro bowl quarterback who will carry our team to the promised land I will remain deeply entrenched and grounded in realism. We have a good team again this year but unfortunately good teams don't win championships great ones do.
[/quote]
you can have your opinion, even if its wrong.

[wizard1]

OOPs that supposed to be that we were not the number one ranked defense in the super bowl year even tho we hold the record for lowest points allowed in a season. Thank you for letting me have my opinion and I do wish I was wrong.

[ellicottraven]

[quote name='gregreid5' timestamp='1314824118' post='771948']
Jarrett Johnson is better than Lamar Woodley? WOW
[/quote]

No? Double J is not better than fat Woodley? I think he is a more complete player who just played hurt last year... Fat Woodley is a pass rusher and is all he has ever done!

[gabefergy]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1315003267' post='774875']
OOPs that supposed to be that we were not the number one ranked defense in the super bowl year even tho we hold the record for lowest points allowed in a season. Thank you for letting me have my opinion and I do wish I was wrong.
[/quote]
I guess my point is we dont have to have the #1 ranked offense to get to the SB. We have a great defense, #3 in scoring last year and it has been improved. We got younger, faster, more athletic on both Offense and Defense. Joe Flacco may not be an elite QB, but he is more than capable of leading the offense and winning in the playoffs.